Just another place that spent an abundance on the decor and not enough on the food. Nachos were good (has anyone had bad nachos at a restaurant before?). To spare the details, the fish and chips was inedible. The mac and cheese was inedible. Service was good. read more

Culinary Dropout - Fish and chips. Taste like charcoal. - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

We have been to the one in Scottsdale and didn't know they had opened one in Del Mar! What a fun atmosphere- this place was hopping! From local gathered around the bar to young 30 something's outside on the patio watching the tvs posted around! We tried several different drinks and loved them. Bartender explained they make all their simple syrups and own ingredients for their cocktails. They also have many wines and beers to choose from as well. Our server talked us into getting an appetizer which was bagels and fondue cheese. Our bagels might have been a little overdone, or a little dry, but was still good and a great pairing with our drink choices. I'm sure we will be back. read more

Culinary Dropout - My Mexican Dojo was delicious - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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We went to Culinary Dropout to watch the NBA finals and eat dinner. We loved our food, the service was excellent and the game was great!!! It was pretty packed but everything was handled smoothly and calmly. It is a good option to listen to live music and/or watch the games. The food was healthy and fresh. read more

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I really wanted to love this place because, honestly, much of the food was excellent. The burger was outstanding. Juicy, high quality, and one of the best items we ordered. The sausage rolls with the dipping sauce were absolutely delicious and probably my favorite appetizer of the meal. The dessert was fantastic and a perfect way to end the meal. The cocktail was very tasty and surprisingly strong. One drink was more than enough. The spicy salad was excellent for anyone who enjoys heat. Full of flavor and one of the better dishes we tried. The salmon was fine, but nothing memorable. It was good, just not something I would order again. The deviled eggs were disappointing and lacked flavor. The fried chicken looked amazing, but for me only the crispy coating was enjoyable. The chicken itself did not impress. Unfortunately, the service completely ruined the experience. I have visited twice with different servers, and both experiences were disappointing. Service was extremely slow, impatient, and came across as arrogant rather than welcoming. On more than one occasion, staff started clearing plates before we had even finished eating. Requests for simple items, such as hot peppers on the side, felt like an inconvenience, and when they finally arrived they came near the end of the meal. The overall atmosphere from the service team felt rushed, dismissive, and unfriendly. It's a shame because most of the food was genuinely very good. However, when service is this slow, inattentive, and unpleasant, it overshadows the entire dining experience. For that reason, despite enjoying several of the dishes, I would not return. read more

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When in need of a casual lunch, the family and I headed out to the Del Mar area and found Culinary Dropout. For a weekend with no reservations we were seated immediately. Service was great, too! The reason I'm giving 3 stars mainly has to do with the quality of the food. It's good pub fare, just looking for something a little more inspired. Overall we had a good meal...just nothing stellar. read more

We stopped into Culinary Dropout for lunch today and had such a great experience. We had never been there and wanted to try something new. The decor was awesome with unique chandeliers and the coolest artwork including a wall of converse shoes and a "fancy" stormtrooper wall piece. Our server, Ryan, was fantastic! He was super attentive and he took the time to explain different items and gave some solid recommendations and was super patient when I asked for explanations for some of the menu items. He came back often to check on us and the quality of the food. We chose the pork belly nachos, loaded with melted cheese, black beans, pico, and honestly one of the best guacamoles I've had in a while, it was fresh, flavorful, and the perfect balance to the richness of the pork. They had just the right amount of cheese so that the chips stayed crunchy and not soggy. We also ordered the chicken Caesar salad, which was crisp and well-dressed, and a half order of their pretzels... which might have been the star. They came out warm and soft with a melted provolone cheese dip served in a heated cast iron bowl...so good. Drinks were just as impressive. The Dropout Mule with mint and candied ginger was refreshing with a nice kick, the Giddy Up espresso martini had the perfect touch of cinnamon on top, and the Red Can Black Bird (think michelada with tequila and Tecate) was bold and unique. The Wellness Retreat with vodka, pineapple, jalapeño, and champagne was light, slightly spicy, and super refreshing. Overall, great food, great drinks, and even better service. We'll definitely be back. read more

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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. read more

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What a great place to go for brunch! Culinary dropout is our latest local bar/restaurant there has happy hour with music and the music is there for lunch as well! We start with a better than average surprisingly good glass of Prosecco. We follow that up with a Shrimp Louie (salad). And then for dessert we split a mud pie .... but split is probably not an accurate word. I have a three bite rule that I like to follow. First bite: oh wow that is good. Second bite: really good. Third bite: Now I am being naughty. And it's not that I'm really being naughty it's just I'm getting to enjoy every bite I take which is a much different experience than just struggling through dessert, because you're stuffed. For both vocals and tourists I would say this is a good place for happy hour with music and brunch with music. And if you make sure you bring some good company you find yourself lingering there for hours and hours. Enjoy! With garlic, gusto & gratitude, Chef Marian San Diego Foodies & Carlsbad Foodies on Meetup read more

We sat at the bar. Had a couple of drinks. Bit of a week pour for my vodka, but did the trick. We split fish and chips, it was a huge portion! Overall friendly service. She kept on forgetting the water, but the other server helped out. Was quite busy for a Tuesday. A lot of locals. Very large restaurant. Looks like it would be fun for a party. We'll try it again! read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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! read more

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Service is amazing, interior is nicely designed, they had live music when we went in the patio. We ordered the Soft pretzels and provolone fondue which is a must have appetizer. Perfect texture. Hot wings were quite flavorful and zesty. Chicken chopped salad was solid. Mongolian short rib had great texture. Beer battered fish and chips could be a bit crispier but still yummy. Definitely coming back. read more

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. read more

Culinary Dropout - Outdoor covered patio - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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I was so pleasantly surprised with this place! We came on an early Friday evening with reservations, there's quite a bit of seating but it does get packed. They have a very large bar you can sit at and then also lots of tables. The service was great and had good recommendations! They have a wide array of cocktails and all their syrups are made from scratch. The food is American style but they do have sushi. For appetizer you have to get the whipped feta!! It's delicious and comes with some amazing sourdough. I got the prime rib sandwich which was super good and all my other friends food was great! If I'm ever up at one paseo again I'm definitely stopping by! read more

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 read more

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The food was great. You will love the food. The interior is huge. It doesn't look like it from the outside but the place is big and very nicely decorated. However, the reason I didn't give a 5 was the service. Take my drink order and disappear. Finally bring drinks and disappear. Come back take food order, bring food, disappear. Finally check on us when we are almost done eating. Now you finally refill drinks. Oh wait you disappeared again. Ask if we'd like dessert and you bring a dessert menu and guess what happened. Poof gone again. Ok no dessert please bring check. Drops check and poof gone for over 5 minutes. I was trying to give you my card when you got to the table. Let me pay and get out of here. read more

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. read more

Culinary Dropout - Good cocktail - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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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 read more

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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! read more

Culinary Dropout - Yummy sandwich - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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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. read more

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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 read more

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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! read more

Culinary Dropout - Soft Pretzels & Provolone Fondue - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Culinary Dropout was a neat option to check out when I dropped by here for lunch! The ambiance and vibes were nice and we opted to dine out on the patio. For my meal I tried their Brussels sprouts (generous portion) and their shaved prime rib dip sandwich with fries (excellent with rich au jus) along with their salad (fresh and filling). Overall the drinks were refreshing and food was flavorful. Service was friendly and attentive, overall a solid option when in the area of Carmel Valley! read more

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I've been here twice now, once for lunch last month and again yesterday for brunch. For my first visit, I had an assortment of the sushi rolls (rainbow row, spicy avocado roll, and spicy tuna crispy rice) and a salad with grilled salmon on the side. For my second visit, I had the Asian Crunch salad. For both visits, I thought the food was pretty decent. There wasn't a lot to choose from on the sushi roll menu, but I enjoyed it. The fish was fresh, which was most important! I enjoyed the Asian Crunch salad, but thought it was rather expensive, considering it was a small portion (the price of a full salad but the size of a half salad) that came with no proteins. Three of my friends ordered the ham and eggs grilled cheese and were not pleased with this dish. The bread was very thinly sliced and was extremely greasy. The scrambled eggs and potatoes were too salty to eat. Our server had the kitchen fix their orders, but it was still very bad. The potatoes were no longer salty; however, the eggs were still very salty, and the thinly sliced bread was still drenched in grease. I felt bad that my friends didn't enjoy their food because I loved my small salad, even though it wasn't very filling. The ambiance is really nice and I loved the vibe. I think if they can work on the details of the food and cut down the amount of grease and salt, this could be a fun hangout place. It's not bad in my opinion, but here's room for improvement. read more

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I love this place! The Double blind is a crazy vibe! Also if you come here you HAVE TO get the Tijuana Spa Water. All the apps and entrees are amazing! Also, Tori is the one of the best waitress I have had anywhere! read more

Why this pace has 4 stars and not 5 is beyond me! The restaurant is beautifully decorated inside, the servers all of them were attentive and friendly. The food was delicious, we went during happy hour time and tried several of the happy hour options and all of them were delicious, however I would say my most favorite part is them having live music and the singers are always amazing. It's really a vibe to be there on a Friday night, good food, some drinks and awesome entertainment with a beautiful voice. I will most definitely return. read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here to catch up with some friends on a busy Saturday. Was seated quickly for an early dinner and service was prompt. The cocktails are notably good - they have a good mix of sweet and classic drinks to satisfy almost any pallette, including a couple drink specials that are rotating. Highly recommend the current Playboy one! The food is unfortunately where we were let down a little. The starters (pretzels and popcorn shrimp) had great portions for sharing and, while not unique, were solid in their flavors. Among the four of us, we got the short ribs, the pork ribs, and the fish and chips. Unfortunately, after tasting everything, they were all just a bit on the salty side. Not inedible, but certainly had me reaching for my glass a notable amount. Flavors themselves were otherwise good. Overall, great for a few drinks and shared plates, but the main courses could use just a tad bit of work. read more

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Popped in for a drink with my bestie today, and I was seriously craving a cucumber jalapeño margarita with a salted rim. Was there one on the menu? No. Did our awesome bartender make me one anyway? Yes. It was so good, my best friend asked for one too. I told our bartender that it should be on the menu, and when he asked what to call it, I said "you can use my name?". But I've done one better I believe: call it "The Luteal Phase" - spicy, salty, and desperately trying to keep my cool. He gave me the recipe he used to make it since he created it on the fly, and I will absolutely be making this at home and calling it that. I forgot his name (I'm so sorry), but he's got a lovely floral tattoo covering his entire right arm. And by the way, the pretzel bites with fondue were delicious. read more

First time at Culinary Dropout Del Mar! I popped in on my lunch break and tried the fish & chips . Service was solid--they were super mindful of the fact that I was on a time crunch and even offered to bring me a to-go container and have me pay right away . Loved that thoughtfulness . The food itself was good , but I left wanting just a bit more . The portion came with three pieces of fish , but they weren't very big--one extra piece would've made it feel right . The fries were kind of "meh" (not the standout of the plate), but surprisingly, I didn't mind their coleslaw --and I usually never like coleslaw . Overall, a nice first visit . I'd come back, maybe for happy hour or a non-lunch outing , to try something different and see how the vibe is then. read more

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Came here on a Friday with a party of 4 for dinner. The restaurant was super busy so it was good we had a reservation. There's usually parking in the plaza out front but if not there's also a parking structure in the back. We ordered a few appetizers: soft pretzels with provolone fondue, white truffle deviled eggs, Wagyu pigs in a blanket, and spicy tuna crispy rice. The pretzels and pigs in a blanket were fine, nothing crazy to note. I always enjoy deviled eggs and their was pretty good. The tuna crispy rice was probably my favorite appetizer. For entrees we ordered the crispy chicken katsu, beer battered fish and chips, steak frites, fried chicken and Mongolian short rib. The chicken katsu was a bit dry, probably my least favorite. The fish and chips were pretty tasty and cooked well. The fried chicken was pretty standard. The steak frites and short rib were probably the best plates, they were both flavorful and tender. For dessert we got the monkey bread, which was pretty good with the ice cream. Overall I had a pretty good first experience here. The food is good overall but nothing to rave about. Service was super friendly and attentive. The restaurant had live music, which was nice. It's definitely a nice spot for dinner with a group or for a date. I would just recommend making a reservation ahead of time. read more

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Great place for a group. Everyone enjoyed their meal. Had a little trouble accommodating a vegan option but the server was nice and tried his best. read more

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. read more

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I've been going to the Culinary Dropout in Tempe for a few years now and was pretty excited that they opened here, and have suggested the restaurant to friends and family, based on our previous experiences. This was our third visit to this location since they opened, and regrettably, last night's visit missed the mark. We started with a few drinks and a fried shrimp appetizer. The fried shrimp was the highlight of the meal. Unfortunately, my Old Fashioned wasn't good. Mostly ice and watered down. For our entrees, we ordered a Chopped Chicken Salad and Beer Battered Fish and Chips. The salad was decent, but the fish and chips pieces were small, almost like they came off the kids menu. Service was slow and inattentive. We will probably return, hopefully this was just an off night. read more

Culinary Dropout - Beer Battered Fish & Chips - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

This spot was so delicious. We came back two nights in a row during our weekend visit to Oceanside. It tasted like a homemade meal. read more

Culinary Dropout - Fried Chicken - New American Near Me - San Diego, California