Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Culinary Dropout

    4.3 (279 reviews)
    ModerateNew American
    Open 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Culinary Dropout Takeout or Delivery

    Culinary Dropout Photos

    Business Info

    From this Business

    CULINARY DROPOUT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

    Recommended Reviews - Culinary Dropout

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Amy R.

    Stopped by on the way back from a doc appointment and just loved the name of the place. We sat outside and started with the whipped feta appetizer. HIGHLY recommend this dish. Apparently it changes seasonally. We got the deviled eggs which I don't eat but my husband loved. Last we split the ribs (which they put on 2 plates for us which I love) . We swapped out the sides for salad and mac n cheese. Super bomb. Can't wait to try more next time we are in the area

    Inside seating
    Kali F.

    Culinary Dropout has some of the best wings we've had in North County! So good, we've been back 3 times and only order wings and drinks every time. We've always sat at the bar and the bartenders are super attentive. It's also fun to get to talking with others that have bellied up and sometimes there is even live music on the patio. The inside seating is very hip and stylish but the restaurant still has a laid back vibe. Make sure to check out the wallpaper in the bathroom if you can, it always makes me giggle.

    Room Service
    Loan N.

    Such a cute spot in the Del Mar Plaza! The layout is so cool with the bar splits the outdoor patio and the interior, giving it a really open feel. Even though we sat at the tables, I loved the cute interior with the chandeliers, dim lighting, and those dark green velvet booths. It sets the perfect mood for a long catch-up with great company. I was skeptical seeing sushi on a menu that's mostly American comfort food, but I'm so glad I gave it a try! The Rainbow Roll was delicious and the Pork Belly Nachos are a total standout. I also ordered the Room Service cocktail and it was so refreshing. Our server was incredibly attentive and sweet. We skipped dessert because we were so stuffed, but I'll definitely be back to try more of their cocktails!

    Outdoor covered patio
    Alyssa S.

    Brussels: very flavorful and yummy, big portion, and a good value. definitely worth ordering. Crispy tuna rice. Only five little pieces for $20 but they were hearty. Not the best value here but tasty. Turkey pastrami sandwich was OK, nothing spectacular. Kid's burger was great for an adult who is not too hungry. Pretzels and burger were all good. Fries were ok. And people in our group were raving about the buffalo wings which they said were super fresh and the best they've had. Overall, a solid four-star takeout experience and we will order from here again.

    Crispy Chicken Katsu
    Erin Y.

    Our server explained the menu as elevated comfort food, she was right! The provolone fondue tasted exactly like the cheese from the cracker snack packs from childhood. I personally loved the chopped chicken salad! I got the evil princess (could be wrong on the name) and it was delicious! My cousin got their non-alcoholic society spritz which was pretty good too! Definitely spread the word about this place to my friends

    Good cocktail
    Shannon C.

    The menu here is VERY limited. The fried chicken was burnt after taking 20 minutes to prepare. The drinks were good. The chips and dip were really good. The fish and chips were good. I just can't get over the burnt friend chicken. We came here because the name was fun.

    Yummy sandwich
    Nicole C.

    What a great space for a group event! Came for a vendor event and had a lovely time. The shrimp and zucchini appetizer surprised me with its lasting crunch and what tasty burger! The service was superb, really I commend the staff for being attentive and ohh so friendly. My only complaint was the heat lamps had oddly placed handles that the staff lined up in the isles that smacked me in the head every time I needed to move between tables! Could you please rotate towards the table, the left or right ... just not in the isle. Poor flow management!

    Shaved Prime Rib Dip
    Jeremy A.

    Every time I go here the live music is awesome and the bar staff is outstanding. Lots of great food, can't go wrong. Good draft beer selection as well.

    Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice*
    Abdullah P.

    The positives: The staff was super friendly and the apps (especially the brussel sprouts) were great! Very spacious interior with lots of seating. Located in the Del Mar Highlands, with plenty of parking available. What could be improved: The mains left more to be desired in terms of taste. Most of the mains also felt a bit greasy/oily as well Verdict: Probably just an average experience if you're hoping to enjoy a good meal (like I did), but probably a better place to hang out and order drinks and apps

    Evil Jungle Princess
    Celene R.

    Cocktails were decent ( they didn't have Meyers Rum) as I ordered a Mai Tai and instead they made me the "Evil Princess" - pretty cocktail but not a true Mai Tai. The best part of our experience were the sushi rolls! Crunchy roll and spicy tuna (both a 10 out of 10)! The place was packed on a Wednesday night. They have TV's to watch sports games and the vibe was lively. We also ordered the Wagyu pigs in blanket thinking we were getting an elevated dish but it literally was basic pigs in a blanket (blah). Otherwise I'd still recommend visiting, if you're in the area.

    Mabel B.

    Came for lunch since we were in the area. Great space and fun vibe. Variety of items to pick from off the menu. My cocktail was great but felt nachos and my sushi fell short and just tasted typical. Wanted to get a "wow" to match the trendy surroundings. My daughter did enjoy her salad. It's a great atmosphere but would come back for drinks.

    Soft Pretzels & Provolone Fondue
    James K.

    Ok! First time here. Definitely won't be my last. Stopped by here to grab lunch and was not disappointed. When my cousin and I walked up we were pleasantly greeted at the front with a smile, then seated right away out on the patio as the weather was perfect. Our server, Cadin (Hope I got that right), came right up to the table. She had great suggestions and we were not disappointed. I don't normally go for bread items but the pretzels were insane. Don't regret them at all. I got the Mongolian Short Rib as an entree. Yes please. I'd definitely do that again. Super chill vibes mid day for lunch. Would love to come by for happy hour or dinner next!

    Shaved Prime Rib Dip*

    See all

    16 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    19 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    19 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Debbi U.

    Debbi U.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 day ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 3
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Meri D.
    115
    1284
    6479

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 3
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kat G.
    0
    47
    8

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alex S.
    116
    537
    1474

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Elijah K.

    Elijah K.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kelly W.
    10
    31
    22

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of James H.

    James H.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Culinary Dropout

    Are there gluten free options for someone in our party who has celiac disease?

    View All 4 Questions

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for New American 119,680 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Craft House at Sky Deck - Del Mar - Shrooms+Truffle Burger

    Craft House at Sky Deck - Del Mar

    3.9(406 reviews)
    0.2 miCarmel Valley
    $$$

    Craft House is a full sit-down restaurant within Sky Deck, not a mix-and-match setup. You order and…read moredine within the restaurant, and it has its own bar, which makes the experience feel more cohesive and elevated. I ordered the shroom and truffle burger with sweet potato fries. The burger comes with garlic aioli, and I asked for extra on the side for my fries. I finished the burger and almost all the fries, which says a lot. The burger was flavorful and satisfying without being overly heavy, and the fries were crispy and paired well with the extra aioli. My husband got the classic burger, which comes with their version of a 1000 island style dressing, and he liked it. He also ordered a beer that paired well with the burger. My sister-in-law had the ahi tostadas and tuna ceviche and enjoyed both. The flavors leaned fresh and bright, especially the ceviche, which balanced nicely with the heavier items. The space itself is a highlight. There's a lot of natural light coming in through large windows, and the decor is very aesthetic and thoughtfully designed. It feels bright and inviting without being too loud. It's better suited for smaller groups rather than large parties. Service was great. Our server was very kind and attentive. At one point they accidentally dropped a couple of my husband's fries and immediately brought out a full fresh basket to replace them, which was a nice recovery and honestly a win. With three sodas, one beer, all the food, and a 20% tip, the total came out to $144. Not all food and drinks are pictured (missed my husband's burger and beer, and my sister-in-law's tostadas). Overall, good food, solid portions, thoughtful service, and a well-designed space. A strong option if you're in the area.

    I always look forward to our weekly date nights! So when my wife proposed dinner @ Craft House Sky…read moreDeck with some friends- I was thrilled! Craft House is located in San Diego's Del Mar Highlands Town Center. It's a food hall with multiple restaurants and breweries. This spot serves up handcrafted burgers, seafood, and delicious cocktails. It's a hybrid between American fare and Mexican food. My wife ordered the fish & chips with parmasean garlic truffle fries, and I ordered the Oaxacan braised short rib. To cap off the evening I ordered the Dead Man's Old Fashioned (an absolute must). Overall, the food was exquisite! Ingredients and flavors were on point. The braised short rib was juicy and tender (just the way I like it). Service was great too! And the atmosphere was warm, inviting, and aesthetically appealing. But the real highlight of my experience was the Dead Man's Old Fashioned- it was smooth with a hint of smokiness from the cherry wood. And the cocktail smoke encasement was a nice touch!

    Photos
    Craft House at Sky Deck - Del Mar - Craft House Bar

    Craft House Bar

    Craft House at Sky Deck - Del Mar - Guest Favorite-Charred Octopus!

    Guest Favorite-Charred Octopus!

    Craft House at Sky Deck - Del Mar - Short rib poutine

    See all

    Short rib poutine

    Beeside Balcony - Mussels! The broth is delicious

    Beeside Balcony

    4.3(1.1k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Fun place with a great view. We went for brunch and they had a good brunch menu. I liked the way…read morethey keep the bee theme going with the cocktails too. Food was good, service was great, and the atmosphere was laidback. And yes, I had oysters for breakfast. No regrets.

    My fiancée & I have come to really appreciate San Diego Restaurant Week as an opportunity to try…read moreout eateries we've never been before. Which is what brought us to Beeside Balcony in Del Mar during the 1st SDRW of 2026. We had Saturday night reservations & got into town early with some time to kill. We found nearby street parking fairly easily. The hostess was able to quickly accommodate us with a table despite our early arrival. Indoor dining space is minimal. But as an upstairs restaurant with "Balcony" literally in its name, the outdoor patio is where you want to be. Our server was a inconsistent on attentiveness & was slow to warm up, though she was quite personable later in the meal. Along with all of the al fresco charm dining on the balcony offered, there was also a curious & less desirable element of the ambiance. During our meal, someone went around shooting pics/ videos for social media. It felt distracting & intrusive. While the SDRW menu was what brought us here, we opted for the Chef's menu after looking over all the options. I ordered the Salmon Croquette/ Denver Steak/ Churros. She ordered Cioppino Soup/ Barramundi/ S'More Cake. Although the pacing of our courses from the kitchen was uneven, most of what we had was good to great to wonderful. Sharing tastes of our dishes with each other, the 1 egregious miss for me was the Cioppino Soup. The seafood in it was good. But that broth was not. Aside from that, the Salmon Croquette & the Barramundi were delicious. The Denver Steak was a revelation. I'd never heard of this cut before, so I looked it up. Truly, a bang for the buck all star. & prepared perfectly here with a fantastic chimichurri. For our desserts, my Churros were good but not anything to get particularly excited about. Now, on the other hand, that S'More Cake? Wow. insanely indulgent with an ooey-gooey center. I honestly can't think of a better way to end a meal. Overall, the ambiance, service, & food all had highs & lows. Collectively, though, the sum total of the experience was pleasant enough that I would be interested in coming back. My threshold for 4 stars is if I'd come back. So, 4 stars it is.

    Photos
    Beeside Balcony - Covered patio brings outside in

    Covered patio brings outside in

    Beeside Balcony - S'mores cake

    S'mores cake

    Beeside Balcony - Bubbly H20

    See all

    Bubbly H20

    Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas - Burger and fries

    Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas

    3.4(1.8k reviews)
    0.0 miCarmel Valley
    $$

    As an avid movie-goer and Loyalty member, I looove going to Cinepolis. I'm definitely sold on the…read moreconcept of dining just by a touch of a button while watching a movie. Overall, I've had positive movie experiences at this location. Once I've started going to a luxury cinema, I didn't look back at the plain ole movie theaters mainly... - Your fresh food and refreshing drinks are served to you at your seat. No more waiting in line which takes up time and may cut into movie trailers; - Happy Hour and other deals going on daily not just for one day; - Comfy leather recliner chairs including accessibility; - Friendly staff; - Elevated atmosphere created by the beautiful decor with a lobby used for socializing; - And hosting fun events. A movie over lunch or dinner even breakfast now sounds lovely to me!! Come on a Yelp Community join this luxe experience!

    2 stars only based on last Wednesday outing to Cinépolis 7:45pm outing in Del Mar. but should…read moreprobably be one star. Normally love going to this theater. Here's what did and did not go well. Movie was great and what we expected. One of the recliners was not working properly, but enough to get by. Asked the server if they had old school chips, jalapeños and yellow cheese nachos. Wrong! it was white dip with stale cold chips, and no jalapeños. Ordered their "new" pizza sticks. Was told they were running short on Mariana sauce so they gave me ranch. Not exactly what I wanted or needed. BTW they are just mozzarella sticks with pepperoni inside. I ate both of sticks but wasn't aware it was only two sticks. Not worth the money. Bathroom: ladies have 3 stalls - one had a floor sign stating out of order, one had a broken seat, and the only one working someone got sick all over it. They never cleaned the bathroom for the two + hour duration we were there. Terrible service standards especially with sanitation. I thought places are supposed to check them at least every 30mins. Not going back anytime soon, too bad

    Photos
    Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas - 3-1-24

    3-1-24

    Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas - Popcorn & m&m peanut

    Popcorn & m&m peanut

    Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas - Real D theater seating

    See all

    Real D theater seating

    Farmer & The Seahorse - Buddha bowl is with tofu, farro, kale, squash, edamame, cucumber, and pickled ginger. SO fresh!!!

    Farmer & The Seahorse

    4.0(1k reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$

    I attended a private event and was pleasantly surprised to learn that the venue had private rooms…read moreand a very nice catering team. Our party of 40 had an open bar with a bartender who took excellent care of us. We had a buffet that featured spicy pork belly, portobello mushrooms, rice, beans, fresh corn tortillas, and all the toppings to build our own tacos. For dessert, we had fruit tarts. Everything was delicious and nicely presented. If you're considering a venue for a business event or a holiday gathering, I recommend checking them out.

    Overall positive experience. Emily our server was so sweet, professional, and checked in on us a…read morelot. There was a bit of a delay getting our food and drinks, and we got our drinks after our food finally came out, but other than that it was overall a nice service experience. The outdoor space is dog friendly, and you will definitely see some cute pups. The food was pretty straight forward. Highlights were the Spicy Senorita drink and the Paloma. I think next time maybe some shared apps and drinks would be the way to go. I thought the fish tacos were a little bland, but the half salad half fries option is 100% the way to go. I love that they have that option as a side here. Sometimes you want the best of both worlds. Nice touch having coffee and pastries out for those who are waiting to be seated. Love that. Though the coffee was out when I went to get some, I still appreciate the nice gesture. Parking is not tricky, there is a dedicated lot. You just have to make that right turn immediately when turning in. I can see how the curvy entrance and tucked in restaurant could be a little confusing to first time visitors. Would go again with my girlfriends and on a date here. Great large space and clean beautiful vibes.

    Photos
    Farmer & The Seahorse - Inside restaurant.

    Inside restaurant.

    Farmer & The Seahorse - Mediterranean Shrimp Salad - Avocado replacing shrimp upon request

    Mediterranean Shrimp Salad - Avocado replacing shrimp upon request

    Farmer & The Seahorse - Lavender latté

    See all

    Lavender latté

    Jake's

    Jake's

    4.1(3k reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$$

    Pretty damn nice view of the Pacific Beach here and decided to take myself out after a pretty…read moregrueling couple of weeks of work, which included weekends. I like my work immensely, but also need to recharge too. My motto in life is, "work hard, play harder, you only got this one life, make it count." I asked chatGPT to find me a place in Del Mar that has sick ocean views and no matter how I asked chatGPT this question, Jake's kept popping up as number one. I needed some lunch so came in here after 3pm, and it was closer to happy hour. As soon as you walk in, you just see the ocean and it just calms you. I sat down at the bar and it wasnt too busy but with a few people. This place is for grown ups, so act like one. It had a laid back, ocean vibe so very relaxed for sure. Bartender very professional, and very courteous. Poured me a blonde to get started and gave me time to chose my food. There is happy hour here but not too many selections. Today, it was choices of some of flatbreads and a salad and I wasnt interested. Happy hour only Mon - Wed anyways. I wasnt terribly hungry so ordered the ceviche. I love fish, doesn't matter how you make it, as long as its good, I will like it. Ceviche was spot on fresh and yummy and appreciate a bit of avocado added. It was the perfect snack, while watching the ocean view and washing it all down with an ice cold blonde. A perfect gown up way to spend the afternoon celebrating life and how gorgeous Mother Nature is. There is valet parking here which is $8 and peak times $10. I was able to find free 2 hour parking on the street though. Bathroom was clean and everything about this place would bring me back in again. I cant wait to show off this place to friends and family when they come visit me!

    I chose this place for lunch because of its location. It's so hard to find restaurants that are…read moretruly right on the sand, so that's definitely a huge bonus here. And if you can get a table in the dining room along the beach, even better. Definitely worth the wait. We started lunch with two mai tais, and they were absolutely fabulous -- classic all the way. The food, however, is where the restaurant didn't really shine. They seemed to play it safe. If you prefer lighter, more understated flavors, this may be the perfect place for you. We started with the ceviche. The guacamole had turned color and didn't seem very fresh, but overall it was still a light and decent starter. For my entrée, I ordered what was essentially a cioppino, even though they call it something else on the menu. The mussels tasted slightly off, though the two pieces of fish were tender and nicely cooked. Unfortunately, the dish really lacked flavor, and I ended up having to salt it heavily. Our waitress was wonderful -- very sweet, attentive, and diligent throughout the meal. Overall, this is a great spot for the atmosphere, drinks, and staff. While the food didn't particularly impress me flavor-wise, the beachfront setting alone makes it worth visiting.

    Photos
    Jake's
    Jake's
    Jake's

    See all

    Culinary Dropout - newamerican - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...