We went to Craft & Commerce just to try something new, and it ended up being such a unique experience. When we walked in, we were greeted by this woman who was busy at the moment and later introduced herself as Kim, she came back, warmly welcomed us, let us pick our own seating, and ended up being our server and making our drinks, which was really cool. We sat outside by a fire table (even though the fire wasn't on lol), had great cocktails, and honestly the best part was just talking with her she was so genuine that we didn't even want the conversation to end, and I never thought talking about space could get so deep lol , but it was wonderful. The food was okay, but the atmosphere and service completely made up for it and made the night feel special, so I'd definitely recommend going for the drinks, vibe, and overall experience. read more

Phenomenal, delectable, show-stopping, pants-dropping .... ah hopefully yelp doesn't censor me because I'm bout to BUSTTT. This meal healed me. Practical aspects: -fantastic decor & vibes -short wait! -im not a biscuit person but WOWIE MAMA they have great biscuits -i AM a shrimp person, and the shrimp skewers BLEW ME AWAY (yum yum yum) -chicken tenders sent me to heaven -potato skins gave me hope for humanity read more

The atmosphere and theme is unique and a bit odd but they went all out and it is well done! Our waiter was awesome when he came by but be prepared to do a lot of waiting here. The bathroom situation here is literally one of the worst I have ever seen in a restaurant. You have to leave the restaurant and go down a sketchy hall on the side of the building and then wait for your turn in the way too small bathrooms. Food is eccentric and well executed but not like good or something I'd want to eat again, everything is fried and made us feel a little sic afterwards. Lastly... one of the best traditional old fashioned I've ever had!! If I ever come back it will be just for the bar. read more

Four stars would be too kind. Here's why: This is the gateway to the speakeasy False Idol. I've been to False Idol several times before, and I've walked through thinking I should try this place. We arrived and stood at the desk for four or five minutes until a bartender came over and seated us, as the hostess never did appear. Beyond that, the weight staff was very good, attentive, and I couldn't have asked for more. The food however was forgettable. We started with the Shishido peppers. While they were tasty, they were a bit overcooked and on the mushy side. Next we moved on to the skewers and had the shrimp and the beef skewers. The shrimp was decent, and we had a couple of those. The beef however was overcooked and closer to jerky - this is a risk with Wagyu, and it was a disappointment. The beer selection was good, however as expected, they lack some of the cocktail served in the speakeasy behind. So for me, having one good item out of three, does not justify a return trip. read more

Craft & Commerce - Shishito Peppers - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

The service was good and our server was super nice. The ambiance was cool and we liked the table fire pits--however, it was so dark inside we needed to use flashlights to read the menu. The food was...not good. No photos, because it was too dark to take photos without flash. We ordered: - wagyu egg rolls: okay, not amazing. Crispy but nothing spectacular. - shrimp tempura: awful. When the menu says spicy mayo, it means it: those bad boys were drenched in mayonnaise. and soggy. I guess if you LOVE mayonnaise, you'll love these. - Mac and cheese: best thing on the menu, in my opinion. We ordered two plates of Mac and they both came out cold. We sent them back, and after they were reheated they were actually super good. If you're eating here, I'd get this. And nothing else. - bone marrow: actively bad. Not much marrow, way too many toppings/additional ingredients to the point you couldn't taste the marrow. - chicken nuggets: tempura battered. Drenched in grease. Chicken was dry and tough. Also bad. In sum, I think this is a super cool place for a drink. But I'd skip the food. read more

Service and ambiance was incredible! Our waiter was super friendly, attentive and quick. Food came out warm and delicious. The bathroom is a little ways away to get to and needs two separate codes and was a little inconvenient but not a major issue. Definitely will be coming back! Be aware the parking is not easy to find here but there paid lots around the area and street meters. read more

Craft & Commerce - og c&c burger and schmaltz fries. need to order separately, doesn't come together automatically - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

FOOD: My friends have been coming here for years for the holidays and boy did their menu change! Our server said that it changed 3 months ago. They have limited food options like skewers, nuggets, burger, fried chicken, etc. Ordered a bucket meal which came with 6 fried drum sticks, mushrooms, slaw, pickles, and different sauces. The food was SALTY. I would rate the bucket 2/5. My friend ordered chicken nuggets and he said they were bland. Another friend had a burger (it didn't come with fries), he asked for medium, but it was well done. The quality of the food went down. They don't offer duck tacos anymore. I would suggest adding more tapas style options. DRINKS: As usual, their drinks DID NOT disappoint. Boyfriend ordered Yippie AI YAY (honey butter mezcal, tequila blanco, marshmallow, and chocolate bitters). (5/5) I ordered Jelly of the Month Club (tequila blanco, parking rose, cranberry, cinnamon, rosemary, genepy, lemon). (5/5) It came in a clear boot mug which was cute. I loved it and it was quite refreshing! SERVICE: Staff was friendly. No issues! AMBIANCE: I love their decor here especially when it's Christmas. The place is cozy and dim. PARKING: On a Sunday evening, it's easy to find a parking spot. read more

Craft & Commerce - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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Sat at the bar, Soooo here's what they didn't have on the Menu the waygu Egg rolls, nor the skewers , and not even the mixture for my Adios. So I opted for Long island And Buffalo Cauliflower and Vegan Spaghetti Music was vibin and the speakeasy bar was Holiday decorated. Bartender were nice and friendly. Will I go back? Maybe read more

Really cool, fun spot. Tables were fire tables. Food simple but delicious. Outstanding service. Wanted to go in the Speakeasy but the line was too long. read more

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Craft & Commerce has to be one of my favorite happy hours. The food is delicious, even if they removed a couple of my favorites, it's alright, I'll end up having new favorites anyway. The design of the place is nothing short of spectacular as well. Service is fast and the staff is always great. read more

10/10 Tiki Bar! I stumbled upon this spot when in the area and had the most amazing experience. I only had drinks but the bartender was sweet and amazing. The menu is huge with something for everyone! They also have a speakeasy at this spot (so cool). The only note is that their bathroom is outside of the establishment. As a female it can feel a little uncomfortable so be sure to have someone with you!! read more

Craft & Commerce - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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We stopped in here for a quick drink during Happy Hour. Bartender was friendly and was so nice to take photos for us . We ordered the Hemingway Daiquiri and an espresso martini. Both cocktails were very good. We didn't eat anything but the restaurant had a very cool vibe. There were some taxidermy animals displayed there which I never care for but it's part of the esthetics. Theres also a cool speak easy with tropical tiki theme called the False idol inside. It wasn't open til 5pm but we had to leave by then . Definitely check out this place if you're in Little Italy ! read more

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Overall, I think this place is a very hyped place due to the decor and ambiance, however their food overall was just okay. Definitely more of an apps and drinks stop than an entree stop. We went during non-happy hour time on a weekend and were luckily able to be seated right away before 6pm. The staff was very attentive and super nice The drinks menu was plentiful and fun - there's also a speakeasy False Idol attached to Craft & Commerce which is another cool perk! However, the food for us although unique was a bit of a miss for us. Bone Marrow was massive and a show stopper, but I don't think it required the sauce that they slathered on. The onion rings with trout roe and corn dog batter lacked the nostalgic crunchiness of an onion ring. I'd rec coming during happy hour as their non-happy prices are a bit of a splurge. read more

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I didn't dine here, their menu was disappointing. I was looking for dinner and drinks. We ended up leaving. read more

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Craft & Commerce is such a gem in downtown San Diego! I came to the bar for the very first time while family was in town. The moment you walk in, the trendy, cozy, cabin-like vibe with its dark interior sets the perfect mood for a night out. The bartenders here are amazing and super attentive. They make some of the most unique mixed drinks I've ever had. Including a drink that is shaped in a boot! It does get busy, so I definitely recommend coming a little early if you want a good spot. The music is pleasant and at the perfect volume so you can actually chat with friends without yelling, which I appreciate. One thing to note is the restroom is located outside of the restaurant, but honestly, it doesn't take away from how awesome this place is. Parking downtown can be tricky, but there's usually plenty of street parking right in front. Overall, Craft & Commerce has a beautiful atmosphere, a chill vibe, and some of the best cocktails in the city. I will definitely be coming back to try the restaurant. But so far I highly recommend! read more

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Chose this place due to the decent reviews and being walking distance from my hotel. Saw that you could make a reservation but looked like there were lots of opening so I walked over. The line was short but chaotic. They were making sure anyone with reservations got sat so I went online while standing in line and made a reservation. The have a speakeasy called False Idol that you can also make reservations for and most didn't know what line was for what. The restaurant seemed to be very understaffed. There was one waitress and she was also trying to be hostess and seat people. She was very nice but spread very thin. Food was ok but nothing extraordinary. Spent $29 for burger, fries, and tip. Was looking forward to some things I saw in reviews and online menu like the bread pudding but it wasn't listed and she said ice cream was all they had. read more

Craft & Commerce - Burger - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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I've been coming to Craft & Commerce for years and have always enjoyed the atmosphere/ambiance, the food, drinks, and dessert options. Having not visited in quite a while, I popped in for drinks and dessert. I was disappointed to see the menus had been completely overhauled and the only dessert offered is now ice cream. The menus themselves were also updated and are now really difficult to read. I get they were going for something unique and interesting, but it honestly detracts from the experience when you have to spin your menu and squint to read the hardly legible font. Regardless, the service is still great and I thoroughly enjoyed their "Cheetah Sweat" cocktail which was reminiscent of boozy fruit loops milk or horchata. read more

Craft & Commerce - Cheetah Sweat (Left) and Tourist Trap (Right) - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

I came during Christmas time and loved the ambience and decor! I had the wagyu egg rolls which were so savory and delicious the bone marrow was huge and definitely worth it for me alone! So mouthwatering. The Christmas drinks were also palatable for someone who doesn't like the taste of alcohol read more

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Love this place! Is on of my top 5 restaurants in San Diego. Drinks are amazing and I love how they're always adding stuff to their menu. Service is always on point and it's just the perfect ambiance for a date night. Don't forget to get their corn bread, it's the best one I ever had. read more

The Christmas decor is fabulous! In the spirit of Christmas, we wanted to check out bars with decked out dining rooms and serve festive drinks and Craft & Commerce did not disappoint. They have happy hour from 3-5pm and the selection for happy hour drinks and snacks was decent. I had the Ex-Pat and my friend had the Caballo Blanco -- had both Mezcal and Tequila. My friend thought the Caballo Blanco was too strong but I really liked it! Later we got the holiday cocktails (only available after 5) and they were all very tasty and of course came in cute little mugs. For food, we got biscuits to share and C&C burger and fries. The biscuits were good. It is under appetizer, but with the honey, I can definitely eat this for desserts. Service was kinda slow, perhaps because it was a busy Friday night. It was pretty chaotic at the beginning because they couldn't seem to find our reservation, but it worked out in the end. And we were debating about ordering another round of drinks or get the check but our server disappeared for so long that we decided to just close out instead (which also took a long time to come back). read more

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Good but expensive. I had a party of four and we stopped by just missing happy hour. We ordered a couple of chicken tenders, a salad and raclette fries. Plus a cocktail each. I was a bit surprised the bill was over $150 before tip. Final bill $178 WOW! This place is really cool inside and overall I enjoyed the snacks but to me these were snacks. The menu is set to change and hopefully they add some affordable snacks, or next time I'll forego the Manhattan. read more

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We stopped in here after visiting the speakeasy next door and were glad we did. We loved the ambience. Our server was very attentive and provided prompt service. We all enjoyed our drinks. read more

Craft & Commerce - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here last night for dinner and overall was really good. We ordered the wagyu egg rolls, big green salad, wagyu skewers, veggie skewers, and chicken tenders. The Wagyu egg rolls were great, really crispy and not greasy. I love their ranch that they serve it with. The big green salad was a BIG surprise as it was spicy which was not expected at all. On the menu it said it comes with a fermented pepper vinaigrette which I wrongfully assumed was just black pepper but they really need to give a heads up that it's got a spicy kick. So if you can't do spicy, skip this one. Wagyu skewers were delicious, served with a peanut sauce and pickled onions. The veggie skewers were nothing to write home about, not too much flavor and nothing exciting about them. The chicken tenders were by far my favorite. They're extra crispy and have a honey glaze that goes great with their ranch. Highly recommend these. Loved all their Christmas decor, they left no inch lacking in Christmas spirit. They also had a holiday drink menu that we didn't try but sounded good. It's a small spot so would recommend making reservations. Overall had a great experience, and would order most of the foods we had again read more

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Sadly I need to update my review. Recognizing that they were probably understaffed but the communication was overall poor. There was nobody at the hostess stand and we waited in line for the "speak easy" to be told it's separate and we sat at the bar after that and it was still overall not helpful to ordering a drink. We were informed happy hour was over- which was fine but still nobody could help us in getting a table for an unknown amount of time and then weren't offered pricing for other drinks we saw on the shoot hour menu. It's sad because I went here one time and it was incredible. read more

Food was good, pricey but out of the way fancy. The fries were the best fries my daughter and I have ever had! Mac and cheese had a little too much truffle oil for our taste. Place was nice with looks to look at. Water was room temperature and I felt like I needed ice. Tables were a little close together, all parties sit so close. They brought all the food out at different times, which made eating a little more difficult. Would I recommend, yes, but just to try the fries and drinks. Would I come back, probably not. read more

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Popped in to Craft & Commerce off the strength of visiting False Idols the night prior. I needed to chow down on something quick before our dinner reservation later in the day. The bar is really cool, and they have a lot of fun drink options on the menu. I tried the waygu egg rolls, and loved them. Wouldn't mind checking out Craft & Commerce again while visiting Little Italy in San Diego! read more

Craft & Commerce - Waygu egg rolls! - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

I love this restaurant and the speakeasy inside false idol. The lighting and vibe are great for happy hour or a night out with friends. I got this delicious cocktail that I can't remember the name of for the life of me so sorry. BUT it came with a tarot card for my sign (I'm a Taurus ) which is the cutest addition ever. I got the chicken strips and fries both were yummy. Service was a little slow, not the servers fault though. It was kind of busy and it seemed like it was just her so that kind of sucked. Love this place though, thanks! read more

Craft & Commerce - One of their fabulous cocktails! - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

Was not a fan of their food :( pretty disappointed I ordered the burger, it was slathered in some weird cheese and secret sauce that I liked. And nothing else! Needed lettuce and tomatoes at least. Asked to add avocado.. guess they didn't have any that night? Would not order again. The egg rolls, Mac and cheese, and fries were good. But what bar/restaurant does not serve ketchup?!!! Please not a big ask! The chicken sandwich/sliders were literally the size of a dinner sized Hawaiian roll. Nothing great at all! The speakeasy in the back was good, waitress was great! Fun and laid back atmosphere:) just don't order food lol read more

I arrived just before closing of kitchen the vibes were right and the service was swift and smooth. I was able to get a late night meal and the server was kind and attentive, I look forward to returning and trying drinks at the bar and their beef tallow! I ordered chicken tenders and potato skins. read more

Came here for drinks on a Friday night before exploring little Italy. Drinks were fairly priced and were tasty. Service was good even though it was crowded. The decor was very festive and great for getting into the Christmas spirit :) read more

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Visited this place with my friends for dinner and I fell in love with the bone marrow and bread, I had to come back for round 2! Seating is pretty fast, and there is a speak easy as well in the back. If you're lucky on a weekday, you can make it into false idol! Very dim inside and the ambience is nice and chill, perfect for a date night if you're walking / going around downtown. I got a few drinks here and they were all great, enjoyed the whiskey. The bone marrow was my favorite along with the steak plate. The food menu is definitely small and simple so don't expect a lot of options coming here. Customer service is always on point, nice and friendly staff! read more

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Simply put, try Craft & Commerce. Confit duck tacos? Why not? Raclette fries? Yes, gooey cheese and potatoes really do bring out your grin and dimples. And on and I could go about a somewhat rotating menu. Drinks are punchy, perky, and delicious, but what would you expect with a speakeasie on premise (separate reservation required). If it feels pricey, know you are in San Diego, near Little Italy, and this geography means you are on a good leg of the monopoly board. Put on your monocle then and go for it. Also, prepare to forgive the distraction any bibliophile will have upon entering. Your suspicions are correct. They are eyeing the walls and hearing only half of what you say. read more

Craft & Commerce - Bee pollen in your cocktail? Try it honey, you'd be surprised, especially with that mezcal's smokey agave doing its thing. - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here for an after dinner drink late on a Tuesday night, and the place surprisingly popping! Cozy and dark vibes at the bar, knowledgeable bar tenders, and interesting signature cocktails. The espresso martini was solid, would definitely go again read more

Craft & Commerce - Espresso martini - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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A great place to go around the holidays for the ambiance and fun holiday cocktails or a drink before catching the coaster. The food is good but that's not why I'm going. The menu has recently changed and I'm not sure if it was just seasonal or there's new management. The only decent tables are on the raised dais in the back, northwest corner. The booths near the door are basically in a walkway and make you feel like you're being leered at by people waiting to get into the speakeasy. The fire pit tables are annoying because you feel too far away from people on the other side of the table and your plates fit on it awkwardly and the flames are always turned up uncomfortably high. Just get a table in the back room or eat at the back bar. It's a cool space but inconveniently laid out. The entrance kind of smells like pee because of where it's located so I wish they allocated more resources towards maintaining the cleanliness of building entrance and hallway to the bathrooms (which are tiny and out of the way). Especially because the line is often out the door so you have to wait a bit, even if you have a reservation. This is not a good place to come with a baby. read more

Came after a stop at False Idol for late dinner as we were super hungry, Thursday night at 10:15PM we were able to be seated immediately for two. The service was friendly but very slow, as they seemed to be understaffed. Onion rings were decent with the crème fraiche and trout eggs, but the batter was too thick and it was underfried. The chicken sliders were exactly what was on the menu: Hawaiian buns with lettuce and a chicken nugget, no more, no less. The spaghetti to me was the most disappointing--the sauce was too acidic, did not mix well with the noodles, and the vegan meatballs were far too salty. Pasta was al dente though, which was a plus. Food is unfortunately just not worth it for the price point, even though the ambiance is quite nice. read more

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Came here for happy because they bring you in with "cheap food options" but boy there was 4 of us, we got Expresso martinis which isn't on their HH menu! We ordered a few food options from HH and our bill came out to $167 for 4 of us.It's was alright, nothing really special here so glad I got to try it, but probably won't be back as nothing is memorable. The food was just eh. We got everything on the HH menu for food and the only thing we liked was the shishito peppers - they were delicious! The bone marrow, wings, fries, sliders were all just eh and quite dry... we left half of our food. The Expresso martinis (we had the regular and creamy version) were good. Although they're at other places. read more

Craft & Commerce - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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Get there for the Happy Hour. Saves you money for more drinks at the Tiki Bar. The HH menu is better than most places, and not too expensive. Definitely worth getting there early. Make sure you get a reservation for the Tiki Bar. read more

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This place had some interesting decor. There is a lot going on, but it all somehow worked together. I sat at the bar and the bartender was really great throughout the night. I started with their Songbird, which I really enjoyed and ended up getting two of them. Foodwise, from most to least favorite, I ended up getting to try their Steak Tartare, Confit Duck Leg "Tacos" and Bone Marrow. The tatare was soo good! I really enjoyed the flavor of this, but it came with the thinnest and cheapest chips to ever exist. The chips would break any time you tried to use them and it ended up taking away from the deliciousness of the actual tartare. I ended up eating the tartare with the bread that came with the bone marrow and it was such a better combination! Made a world of difference with the flavor. The duck was perfectly cooked and I had fun making the tacos myself so I could add as much or as little of each ingredient as I wanted. I ended up dipping my taco in the duck juice itself and it was soo good! Downside to me was the bone marrow it came with as it was way too salty and wasn't as good as the appetizer (which was still not the greatest). As much as I had fun with the dish, I did end up getting bored of it after the second taco. Dishes should always get better with each bite, not viceversa. The bone marrow was the one that was highly recommended, but the most disappointing. I wasn't impressed with the presentation or the flavor of it and there was barely any bone marrow for the price. I feel like I mostly paid for the bread if anything. I'm giving this place a 3 because the only dish I would get again is the steak tartare and hopefully be able to change the chips to bread. Each dish had a disappointing factor to it and, overall, just doesn't seem to live up to the hype or the quality I like in my dishes. read more

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Pros: Burger was amazing (seriously, you have to try it. They have got it DOWN!), ambiance, lots of tables, and quick and friendly service. Cons: Limited menu. read more

Craft & Commerce - Gastropubs Near Me - San Diego, California

Craft & Commerce is such a vibe! I usually come here for a a nightcap cocktail on my way home but today I decided to come here to celebrate a friend's birthday! There's not a ton of food options on the menu, but I kind of prefer that so I'm not overwhelmed. It was a little pricey, having to pay extra for dressing on my burger and bread with my mussles, but nonetheless, tasty. Service was OK. They never brought me the lemon or ice that I requested for my water, although reminded twice. They came by one time to check on us right when our food was delivered, but checked on us several times after they delivered the check. read more