We visited Culinary Dropout in San Diego on Father's Day with high hopes, and while there were definitely some standout moments, a few missteps kept it from being a 5-star experience. Let's start with the food--easily the highlight of our visit. The Whipped Feta and Tahini Dip was hands-down our favorite--creamy, flavorful, and served with perfectly toasted bread. We also tried the 36-Hour Pork Ribs (fall-off-the-bone tender), the Mongolian Beef Short Rib (great flavor, slightly on the sweeter side), and the Korean-Style Ribeye Cap (well-seasoned and juicy). The Crispy Chicken Katsu Sandwich was decent, but got a bit lost among the other bold dishes. As for the Soft Pretzels with Provolone Fondue--delicious, but the portion of pretzels was massive--easily enough for a group of 6+, which felt a bit excessive for a table of 4.My husband enjoyed the Signature Old Fashioned, which was smooth and well-crafted. The ambience was lively and modern, but it was oddly difficult to tell who worked there since there were no uniforms--just something that added a bit of confusion in an already busy setting. Now for the downside: we had a reservation for 5:45 PM, and when we politely checked in at 5:41, the hostess curtly told us to " wait FOUR MINUTES, until our EXACT reservation time" - even though we could see several open tables and booths. We completely understand if the section wasn't ready or there's a system in place, but the tone felt unnecessarily sharp and left a sour first impression before we even sat down. Overall, Culinary Dropout has great food and a cool vibe, but service and hospitality matter just as much. We'd return for the food--but hope for a warmer welcome next time. read more

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Absolutely AMAZING!!! So good, I couldn't even wait until tomorrow to tell all about it. Just got back from Date night with my wife. We made a last minute reservation early today for 7pm with no issues. Arrived and was seated immediately. For. Thursday night, this place was packed! The vibe is hands down the best. Has a very casual, but still classy look. Huge bar area. There is both inside and outside seating. And I'm not sure if this is a nightly thing, but live music on the patio all night was on point. Honestly forgot there was live music, thought it was as awesome playlist just being played. Food is good. A little on the pricey side, but for Del Mar, it's to be expected. Portion sizes are worth the extra $$$. Food was great! Pretzel cheese fondue is a favorite and the nachos was a great shareable for the table. My wife and I shared a steak which was cooked to perfection. Highlight of the night was our server Tori! 100% the best service we have had in a long time. She knew it was our first time and did a phenomenal job of pointing out the menu highlights and fan favorites. She checked in on us just enough and really let us enjoy our time. 2 managers stopped by our table throughout the night and were so nice. Asked us how we enjoyed our food and encouraged us to save room for dessert. Which we did! The Mississippi Mud Pie was so good! It comes with an expresso chocolate sauce that was a kiss goodnight. Thank you Tori for the exceptional care you gave us tonight. You made our mommy and daddy date night such an enjoyable experience. We can't wait to come back again! read more

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Came here to celebrate a birthday and check out this new hyped place in the Del Mar plaza across from One Paseo. This is where the old Tilly's used to be. Overall, its a nice, slightly fancy spot with a great ambiance. The vibe is fun and lively -- lots of drinks to choose from, live music, and TVs everywhere if you're there to catch a game. It's a good place for sports and entertainment while still feeling upscale. That said, it does get pretty pricey, especially if you're coming with a big group and ordering food and drinks. Overall, it's a fun place to hang out and grab drinks, just be prepared to spend a bit more than expected. Service was incredible! Really nice and attentive. Food: - Mongolian Short Rib Rice: Delicious.. but small! Definitely well cooked - Popcorn Shrimp: also a top food choice for me. Wonderfully cooked, crispy and good for sharing - Pork Nachos: super good for sharing as this portion is pretty big. Nothing more than nachos with melted cheese, and chopped meat on top - Steak Frites: this was good, steak was well cooked but pretty small and salty, nothing super special for me. read more

My first time at Culinary Dropout and it did not disappoint! The vibe was beachy, upbeat yet chill and a decent crowd for a Tuesday night. Parking is super easy which I appreciate. We had the whipped feta and tahini dip which was a unique and tasty dish that was a little savory yet sweet. We also got the tempura sushi roll and the Mongolian short rib. The short rib was incredible, the meat was super rich, almost like pork belly and the sauce that was layered with the bok choy and rice was the perfect combination. We will definitely be back! read more

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Nice venue, open seating. Our server was great. Service does not wear uniforms, caught us off guard in the beginning but I assume it's part of the "dropout" vibe. Server gave us a few recommendations, the whipped feta and tahini dip was the best dish we had that night. The bread it came with was a perfect pair to the dip. Light and creamy. The rest of the food was okay. The fried chicken tasted bland to me, the potatoes were tasty. The Caesar salad was smothered with cheese and had cheese croutons, which was too much for my liking. Looks like a great place to hang out with friends and socialize. TY Culinary Dropout! read more

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The food was amazing and the service was great. Riley gave great recommendations and the drinks were sooo good!! read more

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Ambiance..very dark place inside with black lights and dark walls Seevice..guy was in a cowboy hat..didn't seem happy to be working there Food..we went for sat and had brunch and lunch menu..loved the food. Got the watermelon bubbly ans ham and cheese grilled cheese with potatoes. Good portions read more

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

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Super cute although the artwork looks like AI which makes me sad. When we were there on a Sunday afternoon there was live music outside which was nice. The menu is huge. The waitstaff is interesting, not sure they're adequately trained. We were sat immediately without a reservation in a comfy booth. Our waitress was really sweet but not a good listener. We ordered the pretzels with the cheese fondue and they were amazing. Ended up being the star of the show. I ordered the prime rib sandwich. When I saw it on the menu my mind went to a pile of soft pink meat. What I got was tough grey meat on a dry bun. Similar to a Denny's type French dip. Not worth the steep price. I also ordered a side salad that I hated. It was limp and covered in a salad dressing I would never recommend. Not sure I would give this place a second try. It's in a location rife with great places. read more

Culinary Dropout - Prime rib? - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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First time visit to this location. Had a great mother's day meal with Ariel as our server. She was nice, fun, and attentive. We ordered the deviled eggs to start that were very tasty. For entrees, our server suggested the steak frites and the salmon. Both were very flavorfull and plenty big to fill us up. Would recommend this place and will be visiting again to have Ariel serve us. read more

Poor service cold food not worth the price they are selling the food for.Waited for like 30 minutes and no one was in the restaurant I rather go to Dennys then this place. read more

This was my first time trying this spot since it opened and it was a great experience. There were lots of people, but we were seated fairly quickly. The staff were all very pleasant and welcoming. The restaurant itself is super cute inside, lots of seating both indoor and outdoor, and there was a live singer yesterday, which was a great touch! they also were very considerate of my allergies. The food was also pretty good! There is plenty of free parking available in the lot. Definitely worth a shot if you're in the area. Food/drink review: Crispy Brussel sprouts: (4/5) These were very tasty! They had a good balance of flavors and were perfectly crisp! Pretzels with fondue: (4/5) This is a great starter for the table. The pretzels were a little cold, but soft. Pretty tasty! Mongolian beef: (5/5) Super tender, great flavor, and a good portion size! Cacio e Pepe: (5/5) Super delicious! It was very creamy and flavorful. Definitely would order again. Bolognese: (3.5/5) It was OK. I was starving so I ate it, but it was too watery in my opinion. Wouldn't order again. Roasted salmon: (5/5) I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious this was. The salmon was cooked to perfection and the dish had a great blend of flavors. read more

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We came for Happy Hour (M-F, 3-6 pm) and were not disappointed. Although its bar only for the HH specials, the bartenders were friendly and gave great recommendations for drinks. The bar was sizable and wrapped around the outside patio so we had no problem finding seats. A good variety in drink choices and the bar food was plenty & generous. We stuffed ourselves trying the all the "snacks" and forgot to leave room for dinner or even dessert! I heard they serve a delicious mean brunch, so that will be my next foodie adventure. read more

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I went here recently with a small group of friends, as I had been to their Arizona location some years ago. The restaurant has plenty of parking and it's a pretty spacious venue. We ordered several items and the crispy rice was our favorite. We also tried the nachos which were ok, but i probably wouldn't order again. All the ingredients were there, but it just seemed like something was missing in the flavor. One thing I feel i should mention is that some of the items don't list all of the ingredients in the menu so be careful. The turkey pastrami came with horseradish and the person who ordered it could not have it. They did remake it without and were very nice about it, but it did make me wonder what other ingredients aren't listed on their items. The service was good and very friendly. Id like to eventually go back and try the brunch which is only on the weekends. read more

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Finally making its way to Del Mar, my fiancé and I made our way to Culinary Dropout since we wanted somewhere casual to go for a last minute reservation. It was clear there's still some quirks that need to be worked out when it came to being seated but overall not a big deal. We were still sat fairly fast and the staff was warm and welcoming. Vibes were great - live music, waiters dressed to their own style. It was laid back and calm, but still fun! Having never been there before, we asked our waiter for recommendations and he definitely delivered. When he mentioned he was a sucker for Asian inspired food (as am I) it only felt right to order his favorites. We ended up with the following for two people: - Soft Pretzels & Provolone Fondue - Crispy Chicken Katsu Sandwich - Mongolian Short Rib Now I may be biased because I LOVE provolone cheese, but the fondue was delicious. My only gripe would be that the tea light candle they used to keep the cheese warm and melted went out within minutes of being served so the cheese started to harden quickly. And I did see someone mention the large portion size of the pretzels which I didn't necessarily mind, but can confirm is true! We had plenty of pretzel leftovers to take home with us. Both my fiancé and I couldn't decide if we liked the chicken katsu sandwich or the Mongolian short rib more. On the sandwich front, the bread was beautifully toasted, but just in the way that gives the sandwich structure and not in the way that cuts up the roof of your mouth when biting into it. Also, my fiancé who isn't a sauce person AT ALL, couldn't stop raving about the miso aioli and how delicious it was. On the short rib front, the meat was incredibly tender and well seasoned. Veggies were cooked thoroughly but still had the good crunch in them. The dish felt balanced and tasted just as good reheated the day after as leftovers. Given this spot is down the street from us, I can see it becoming a staple for us to grab drinks and good food. Based on the experience we had, I wouldn't have had any idea the restaurant was a chain. Definitely recommend this spot and will be returning to try some other items on the menu! read more

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Been here a few times. Never disappointed with the food. We really enjoy the deviled eggs and steak frites. Service has always been friendly and helpful. Food comes out in a timely manner. The inside of the restaurant looks nice, is clean, and has a decent amount of seating. They have a few TVs at the bar area if you want to watch a game. Parking might be a challenge because the Town Center has many shops. read more

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Let's start off with the service and vibes were amazing!! Such an enjoyable atmosphere to dine at! The food did not live up to the price unfortunately. Brussel sprouts were a little over cooked with too much sauce and made the overall taste a little bitter. Wagyu pigs in a blanket were good but the pastry wasn't as flaky and it honestly didn't taste very special. The creme fraiche was good but a think an aioli would've been better. Korean Style Ribeye Cap was good perfectly, super tender, but portion was small for the price and the toppings or the sides for it were very minimal. The mongolian short rib was also perfectly cooked and with a sweet delicious sauce. But too much sauce and not enough sticky rice to soak it up. The amount of rice was truly so little! My rice was drenched in sauce and I couldn't taste the yuzu. read more

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My husband and I came here Sunday to celebrate his first Father's Day. We made dinner reservations for 4:30 (life with a baby) and the food was delicious. I would definitely recommend making reservations bc there were a lot of people waiting to be seated, but we were seated pretty quickly. We ordered the pretzels and fondue an appetizer. It was good. I got the Cobb salad for me entree and it was fantastic. I asked for a hard boiled egg instead of a deviled egg. My husband got a burger and added an egg. He loved it! We will definitely eat here again. They were really cool with making alterations, which I loved. For 4:30 on a Sunday, the food came out a little slower than expected. I think that is because they forgot our appetizer. They ended up bringing it at the end of the meal after we reminded them. So I would not recommend this place if you are in a hurry, but if you want delicious food and you have a little time to wait, I would highly recommend it! The decor is pretty cute as well! I think this restaurant could be both casual and upscale so it would be perfect for a casual family dinner or a date night or a life celebration--like a birthday dinner! read more

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Awesome new restaurant that just opened up in Del Mar Highlands! I have already been twice! If you are planning on coming for dinner or the weekend, make sure to make a resy! Seating inside & out, pretty spacious. This restaurant has a slew of items from sushi, salads, sandwiches, pastas, steak, salmon & more. Something for everyone! Friendly & attentive service! Soft Pretzels & Provolone Fondue: A must order! I have ordered these twice. Dense, soft, slightly salty. Flavorful fondue. House Potato Chips: One of the best chips I have had! Thin & crispy. The onion dip is to die for. If you order the pretzels, make sure to dip it in this onion dip. Crispy Chicken Katsu: Best bang for your buck! My friend & I split this during my first visit & good thing we did because it was huge. The katsu could have fit in 2 sandwiches! Crispy outside, juicy inside. Served with tasty salad. Chicken Cacio E Pepe: Delicious sauce. Pasta Bolognese: A bit bland. Order something else. Roasted Salmon: Lightly flavored. Good cocktails. read more

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

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Although it is the only California location of this chain restaurant from Fox Restaurant Concepts, the ownership group has multiple other venues in the SD area (e.g. Blanco Cocina + Cantina, Flower Child, The Henry). Culinary Dropout opened less than two weeks ago at the ground level of the Del Mar Highlands Town Center replacing a clothing store. The space was quite large including a covered front patio and some decor in homage to skateboards and sneakers. I visited at an off-peak time on a weeknight, but one may want to make an OpenTable reservation for larger parties at busier hours. I sat at a two-top table along a back wall of the dining area. There was a bit of confusion as to who was going to be my server. One lady introduced herself, however another man came by to take my order. The staff didn't seem to be wearing attire that made them stand out as employees. I couldn't distinguish between a waiter and a busboy. Anyway, on to the food menu which had offerings spread across two pages. Starters, sushi, salads, sandwiches, and entrees were the categories. The Crispy Brussels Sprouts and the Mongolian Short Rib were my choices. For both dishes, I felt too much sauce was used. The brussels sprouts were dressed with gochujang, mint, and cilantro. The serving size was solid, but the char and glaze were overwhelming. I took the unfinished portion home for leftovers, yet I wasn't able to consume it all. For the short rib, several pieces of beef were served with charred scallion, bok choy, soft egg, crispy onion, yuzu sticky rice, and Thai chili. While presented nicely, the bottom of the serving vessel had a pool of sauce. More rice and meat were needed to counter this. There was a promotion in which you scanned a QR code to join a mailing list that will result in a $10 discount at your next visit if you spend more than $20. That won't be an issue as I hope to return with some friends to try some other items. Hopefully, the service and the food execution will be better because my first impression was nowhere near the five star ratings that have been posted to date. read more

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Attention service, cool decor with live band, smooth beer, and tasty food. Worth repeat visit. Not 5 star because the food was a bit too salty for my taste and portion is on the small size. read more

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Located in Del Mar and NOT in San Diego as the Yelp page address is wrong. Culinary Dropout is the latest restaurant to open in the Del Mar highlands shopping town center, where there's plenty of free parking in the lot. Indoor and outdoor seating at this casual restaurant that offers most food favorites along with drinks. Must check with the schedule for a local live band that performs weekly. Staff were all nice and helpful. The menu offers lots for those who like bar/pub foods, but salads and entrees also offered. As much as I like pub food, I wanted something a tad healthier and the Asian crunch salad and the Roasted Salmon is what we chose and shared. The salmon was on a bed of pearl like couscous and corn and was delicious. The asian crunch salad was light but included cashews, avocado and a medley of veggies, it paired perfectly with the salmon. The restaurant was filled with diners in the bar lounge area as well at the dining areas. It would be cool to to check out and see the band play; lively music, great food and drinks makes for a winning recipe for fantastic vibes, even if you're a culinary school dropout ;) Recommend read more

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Showed up on Mother's Day at 2:25 p.m. There were a lot of empty tables inside. We were asked if we had reservations for our party of 4 to which we said no. The hostess then informed us that they stopped taking walk-in's so they could prepare for their dinner hour. Yes, at 2:25 p.m with a lot of empty tables!! Seems like poor restaurant management. Don't think we will be back. Note- We did walk-in seating the week it opened and felt the food was decent enough to go again. Thus, we tried on Mother's Day and were turned away. read more

We came here yesterday for an early lunch. Was very eager to try this place when we saw it was coming our way. SERVICE - Everyone was so friendly! The staff was definitely on their A game. Everyone we interacted with was very kind. DRINK Summer Tan Sangria - This was refreshing and a nice drink to start the day with. FOOD Soft Pretzels w Fondue Cheese - This was the star of our meal. The pretzels were nice and soft. The cheese paired perfectly with each bite. Caesar Salad w Chicken - I really wanted to love this as I am on a huge Caesar kick. Currently on a mission to find the best Caesar. This was a little too lemony for my liking. It took away from the dressing and I mainly just tasted lemon. Fried Chicken & Biscuits - This was too salty. The chicken itself was solid but the gravy made the dish unappetizing. Hopefully it was just an off day for it. Overall, we would still come back to try other dishes. They just opened so I am sure they are working out some kinks. Location is great. Staff were awesome. read more

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

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I was famished and needy a semi quiet spot to eat lunch and take a Zoom call. Both hostesses were smiley and friendly. I was sat at a back booth upon arrival. My server Sammy was delightful. I left him know I was minutes from jumping into a meet and he recommended the Turkey Pastrami on a Pretzel bun. That is something I would not typically order, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. He returned immediately with my iced water with lemon, and less than 7 minutes and my food was delivered too. Sammy was attentive during my call, he refilled my water without disturbing me. Lots of great menu options sure to please the whole family. Very great upbeat vibes! I spoke to the manager on the way out to let him know Sammy was stellar! Can't wait to be back when in the area. Such a fun name too! read more

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The newly opened Culinary Dropout in Del Mar Highlands, offers a fun casual dining atmosphere. With ample seating in the main dining area, the outdoor and bar area seem to have to most activity with almost every seat filled. For starters our party went with the Soft Pretzels and provolone fondue. The pretzel was soft and baked fresh and paired well with the cheese. The House Potato Chips were great as they were freshly fried. I would recommend these both as they were a great way to start the meal. We also ordered the BBQ Pork Belly Nachos but I was not a big fan as there was a sweetness to it that just didn't sit well with me and I felt there was alot going on with all the toppings. I would pass on the Nachos. In keeping with the sharable theme, the party ordered from the sushi menu of the Rainbow Roll and California Roll. Surprisingly very good for not being a sushi restaurant. Presentation was great and cut with precision. The table did order one entree of the Fried Chicken consisting of a breast, thigh, and drumstick, smashed potato, coleslaw and freshly made biscuit. The chicken was tasty with a bit of saltiness as I suspect they brine their chicken. The batter was good but not super crispy. Smashed potatoes were fresh but were just ok. Biscuit was good but not memorable. For the cocktails they have a pretty good selection and the servers can help recommend their popular drinks. I was able to order their daiquiri and it was good and simple. For my second drink I went with the Evil Jungle Princess consisting of arum blend, spiced orgeat, pineapple, guava, lime, pineapple rum float. Great presentation and good drink. The smell of cinnamon hits you each time you take a sip. I would order this drink again as it was citrusy and refreshing. Service was great with many attentive staff on hand to make sure guests are taken care of. Plenty of parking throughout as well as an entrance in the back if you park in the garage. Overall good first experience as the menu had a wide variety and there was something for everyone. read more

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Celebrated my friend's birthday here the past weekend. Ample parking with a parking lot and very spacious inside. We had a reservation and my party was immediately seated. Service was on point and food was good! The dishes were reasonably priced. We ordered a few apps and entrees to share between 6 people: - Pork nachos (5/5): It was supposed to be pork belly but reminded me of pulled pork. Nonetheless still tender and it was a big portion, good for sharing. - Popcorn shrimp (4/5): Another dish that's great for sharing. Crispy and tasty! - Chicken chopped salad (5/5): Creamy and tangy, this was a bit on the smaller size. - Steak and frites (3.5/5): Unfortunately this was way too salty for me so I didn't enjoy this as much. - Mongolian short rib (5/5): My favorite dish of the night. The rice was soft and pillowy and the short rib was super tender! I thought it was supposed to be yuzu rice but I didn't taste any yuzu flavor in it. We brought a cake in to share and the staff coordinated with us to surprise our friend. Our server was also careful with the cake and didn't want to ruin it with the candle. Def appreciate the thoughtful gesture! read more

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Wow! Delicious food and amazing service! Great place for a lunch. Menu wasn't overwhelming, which is great! They specialized in a few dishes and all of the ones we had tasted amazing. I think it's a place you need to come back to try everything at least once. First off, service was really nice, seated quickly, friendly when taking our orders and checking in. Very pleasant. We had 2 apps and 2 main courses for me and my bestie. Did we finish it? No, but that was on purpose, to take home for later. Did we get a dessert? Yes, yes we did...mud pie. Totally worth it, we were celebrating. Everything was great, totally recommend...Except for snooty ladies that sat next to us complaining that we got too much food...keep your eyes on your own table! I really should have chewed louder. -_- read more

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Finally I was able to find this pub atmosphere, dim lights, cozy and chic restaurants thanks so some friends who were in town and invited me;) We shared a couple of appetizers and then 3 of us ordered the pub burger and another the pasta with chicken that was nothing special. Burgers were solid. I liked the brussel sprouts a lot, very spicy and satisfying but didn't fancy the humus and cheese appetizer. Nice ambiance with noise level perfect so was able to talk without having to raise our voices to be heard. I liked the decor, especially the beautiful chandeliers. Eclectic vibe but didn't quite get the theme. read more

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I felt compelled to write this review because I was super surprised at my experience last night! Shay was out server and she was a delight and the service was exceptional! Thank you Shay and my group of women friends and I will be most definitely coming back way more frequently so it's great to have a neighborhood spot! Chris, the manager was extraordinary, as well. He came over to check on us and made the experience so great as he genuinely appreciated us choosing to be there! The food was amazing~ a few of the women were surprised and so yay all around we loved our time there and think we're going to become regulars! Ty for making the evening fun filled and the music was off the charts too! Great girls night out and so much fun! Ambiance too was a treat! Thank you! Mimi read more

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

A solid new addition to the del mar highlands! Everything we tried tasted pretty good, and the decor inside is really cute! Service was good. Overall, we were satisfied and would come back. Nice place to hang out and/or grab a drink! read more

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Off to a great start! Opening week was VERY well-staffed, and service was excellent. Kona Joe had our table and really made us smile. The space is open and spacious, with a nice view into the busy kitchen and a sizeable front patio. It's in the old Tilly's space, next to Philz and Mendocino. Plenty of parking in the lot or parking structure. The cocktail list is creative, with most drinks featuring a fresh puree or flavors, well poured and attractive. We really enjoyed touring the drinks. They are full-strength, and tend a little to the sweet side. Sangria is a light variant, more light and fizzy than red or heavy. Beer list also legit and locally sourced. The pretzel-ball fondue came hot, and with an obscene number of pretzel balls.. plenty to share for four people. The cheese dip is good, if a little salty. The chips and dip were also good, but a little oily for cold chips. Dip was excellent, and crossing over with the Pretzel balls and fondue is the way to go. If I'm honest, "Salty" is a bit of a menu theme, with the consensus that most things were rather salt-forward. Could do with less, perhaps. Desert mud pie was excellent, and the espresso dessert cocktail surprisingly good. I would get that again. The fried chicken looked great! Can't wait to try that one. The steak and fries was okay, salty, and not generous with either. If you want something dinner-size, go chicken. Many more things to try on this menu -- will be back. Probably more than once. read more

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This restaurant I've been to in Arizona, so I was happy to see it was coming to San Diego! It was busy and newly opened with lots of staff around to help. The food was really fresh and tasty. We ordered the Asian crunch salad and they split it, so it's only a 1/2 order in the picture. I'm a huge fan of fresh herbs, so the mint in the salad was delicious. The vegan spicy curry has a little kick and it's got a good variety of veggies. It doesn't look that big but it's filling. We sat outside and there was live music. It's a nice addition to the neighborhood. read more

Culinary Dropout - This is the spicy vegan curry but not spicy just flavorful - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here last night for happy hour! Loved loved loved it here. The service was AMAZING!!! The best I've received so far here. The food was so good, personally the chips and pretzels were my personal favorite. We god beer and long islands and it was great! Definitely loved it here. Will definitely be back next week. read more

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

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Checked out the new Culinary Dropout in Del Mar and it definitely has that cool, laid-back vibe they're known for. The place was packed -- lots of people watching the game, eating classic American comfort food, and enjoying the live music (which was actually a nice touch -- the singer had a good voice and wasn't too loud or overbearing). We tried a few things: the BBQ Nachos, Popcorn Shrimp, Mongolian Short Rib, and Steak Frites. Overall, everything tasted pretty much how you'd expect -- solid, but nothing that really stood out or wowed us. The Steak Frites was probably the highlight -- steak cooked perfectly and the fries were crispy just how I like them. The BBQ Nachos came in a big portion, which was great for sharing, but the flavor was just okay. The rest of the dishes were fine but nothing memorable. Service was solid -- our waiter was friendly and attentive throughout the meal. Kind of funny though, all the servers looked like regular people hanging out, so it took a second to figure out who actually worked there. All in all, it's a lively spot with good vibes, solid service, and straightforward food -- just don't expect to be blown away flavor-wise. Great place to grab drinks, watch a game, or listen to live music, but maybe not a destination for a standout meal. read more

Culinary Dropout - Crispy Popcorn Shrimp - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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First time at Culinary Dropout for a friends birthday and it's great they are able to accommodate large groups of 10. That can be difficult for a restaurant in Carmel Valley. The decor is trendy and the vibe is upbeat. I am gluten free and unfortunately none of the menu items are labeled. I asked the server what I could have and the advice I was given is that anything can be gluten free as long as it's not fried. I wasn't quite comfortable with that answer since the Brussels sprouts were recommended. The Brussel sprouts had gochujang sauce which is typically not gluten free. I would have liked a bit more specific information about allergens rather than that open ended statement so the only item I felt comfortable ordering was the truffle deviled eggs. The deviled eggs were delicious but wasn't quite satisfying enough to replace a full meal. The rest of my group enjoyed the food and drinks although the lemon drop martini seemed weak. read more

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

My partner and I had such a wonderful experience from start to finish! I made a reservation online with a note that we wanted to celebrate our anniversary. The host noticed this and wished us a happy anniversary. We got sat inside at a booth. Our server (the lady with the tattoos) was awesome! She was so friendly, attentive and welcoming. The overall service was stellar. The food and drinks came quickly. I ordered a prosecco. We ordered the pretzels to start, and we each ordered entrees. The pretzels are a heavy portion so you'll get your moneys worth. The pretzels could have used more salt but we added some at the table. The cheese comes in a cute pot and it was nicely melty. It is a filling appetizer. We almost didn't want to eat the entrees too. I ordered a Cesar salad with salmon as my main meal. The salmon had a crispy top. The salad was dressed well and had some croutons. I felt it was a bit too lemony overall for my preference but it was still okay. My partner liked his sandwich. It was so special that we got a free dessert for our anniversary. We could choose it too. We got the mud pie which was creamy and chocolatey. It had a slight bitter aftertaste which wasn't preferred. The presentation was lovely and comes with a cup of fudge to pour on top. What was super sweet is that as we were heading out, the bartender also wished us a good night. The staff noticing these things really goes a long way! Overall, the prices are standard. I'd definitely come back! read more

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

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The service was great! Our waitress was awesome and checked in regularly. The Brussels sprouts were great and the patio was quite comfortable for lunch. The short rib was solid but could have been a bit more flavorful and warm. Felt like a good spot for a lunch meeting. read more

Culinary Dropout - Mongolian Short Rib - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

Great first time visit - service, ambiance, live music, HH wine and antipasti plate. We sat at the bar to take advantage of the HH specials. White and red wine (Chardonnay and Cab) were easy to drink. I loved the antipasti plate which had prosciutto, cheese, asparagus, raisins, truffle deviled eggs, apple slices, and fantastic toasted bread. It was just a fantastic variety. After a glass of wine, we tried the double blind and we ended up with a light beer and whisky shot. It was really more fun than anything since I'm not a beer fan. The last drink I tried was the summer sangria which I felt was too diluted and lacked the fruity flavors. Overall though, I enjoyed my first time here! read more

Culinary Dropout - Antipasti Plate HH - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Went to Culinary Dropout on Tuesday for lunch so it wasn't crowded at all. Got a table at patio. The 4 of us ordered Strawberry and Spinach salad, crispy chicken katsu sandwich and Mongolian Short Rib entree to share. Server was very nice and even had kitchen cut sandwich into quarters without us requesting it. So thoughtful! Food was very delicious! I would order every one of those dishes again! Since we were celebrating a birthday, we got a complimentary Strawberry Lemon Torte to share (it is like a strawberry shortcake with lemon curd and meringue around it). Also very delicious! I look forward to trying other dishes too in the future. read more

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I will definitely be back. The food was so good. I saw some reviews saying it was underwhelming as well as some saying bad customer service but that was not my experience at all. To start, I had a 530 reservation for 6 but unfortunately we weren't going to get there until 540 and we now had 7. They were very accommodating. My husband has the fried chicken, my son had the katsu sandwich and I had the chicken chopped salad. We also had a Mac burger and fish and chips as well as the California roll and deviled eggs at the table The mashed potatoes with the fried chicken dish wee probably the best I've had. I don't even care for mashed potatoes anymore since I was on a low carb diet for a couple years but these were amazing. My son's sandwich was also really good. I would probably order that next time if not for how tasty my salad was. Love that it came with a deviled egg. Love the deviled eggs. My husband said the truffle flavor was too strong but I wholeheartedly disagree. The guys likes the Mac burger. The fries were good but not great. My sons had a Caesar instead of fries with his and I liked that option. Fish and chips and sushi roll enjoyed theirs. The iced tea was also fresh which I always appreciate. There was a bit of a hiccup with service but the manager made sure to take care of us and brought my husband a piece of cake since we were there to celebrate his birthday to make up for the misstep. Food was great, felt valued as a customer and we will be back read more