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    Docent Brewing

    4.4 (497 reviews)
    ModerateSandwiches, Brewpubs
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Docent Brewing Photos

    Business Info

    DOCENT BREWING ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Docent Brewing

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    Cubano Sandwich
    Elizabeth H.

    Situated in an industrial area where auto mechanics and warehouse workers work which is a suitable place to be for a brewery. Looking for the brewery even at lunchtime was challenging behind warehouses. Finally saw it by asking around. The Cubano Sandwich was decent. Just a tad bland of pork, ham, cheese (?), pickles. They forgot to add the mustard though. And a side of Potato Salad which was decent as well. The Rube beer was pretty good. The restaurant is informal and rustic. A nice outdoor seating is beside the brewery along the waterway.

    Jonathan H.

    This is a great place to go if you can find it. My wife and I almost didn't. Our GPS kept telling us to turn left into a parking lot, only it wasn't a parking lot. It was a lane on the side of a warehouse with forklifts and trucks clogging up the lane. Finally, after several attempts to find Docent Brewing, I parked and asked a woman in a store where Docent Brewing was. Turns out I was supposed to turn into that lane on the side of a warehouse. But she was kind enough to let me park in her lot. Turns out that there was a small white sign pointing down that alleyway that was blocked off by a truck. Docent Brewing is at the very back of the warehouse. Our persistence paid off. It is a great and atmospheric brewpub with a pleasant ambiance where great beers are being brewed in large tanks on premises. I got a Red Rye Rube and it was delicious. A first-rate beer. For a sandwich, my wife and I got the Cubano with orange and coriander pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and Docent IPA mustard. Only there was barely any mustard on it and I had to go back and ask for more. The potato salad served with the Cubano was delicious. The reason for the 4 vs. 5 score was the Cubano was just okay. It really wasn't much of a sandwich. I'll definitely return for the first-rate beer and next time around I'll know where to go.

    Selection board
    John I.

    I like this brewery. Came here with friends after a bike ride. The staff was friendly. I had the 8.4% stout, which was good. Here's the tap list- https://docentbrewing.com/beer-2/ My favorite thing about this brewery is the location. It's right off the San Juan Creek Bike Trail which is a nice artery to get to and fro. Be responsible and safe of course

    My friends and I were excited to stop by Docent last Saturday 1/3 around 8:40 PM to grab a quick bite and a pint of Double Nickels. Unfortunately, the experience was disappointing. It took about 10 minutes for us to be greeted, as the server was busy chatting with regulars. When we politely asked if the kitchen was still open, the gentleman with the long beard responded, "Why would I keep our kitchen open when we close in 20 minutes?" We apologized and explained that Apple Maps showed the restaurant closing at 10 PM. I even tried to show him so other customers wouldn't run into the same confusion, but his response was, "I don't make the rules for whatever people write online." At that point, it really felt like we weren't welcome. The tone and lack of customer service completely killed the vibe, which was a bummer since we were genuinely looking forward to closing our night at Docent. Next time, we'll just make the drive to Carlsbad. Super bummed.

    Food Menu
    Danise O.

    We've been twice and both times were a great experience. This is a nice brewery with great food options. Service is excellent and friendly. I really like all the seating options here, from the bar to leather couches to the outdoor area, you can find a comfy spot.

    I maybe be "Handful" but so is the name of this beer!
    Mandy E.

    Our local go to spot for a brewery. Tacos are amazing ; especially the chili Verde ones. Also, who doesn't love a good grilled cheese and tomato soup? I love the chill atmosphere and happy people that congregate there.

    Front of the building
    Rob C.

    The food here is a blend of pub food with a Korean/Asian twist. I love their Beerwurst. Also ordered their Korean Reuben and that too was good! But this place is a brewery so if you are into it, try this place as a local watering hole besides the good food. Good! Service - really just order and get texted when the order is ready Ambiance - rustic brewery feel. Quite unique and is in the middle of a business area. So a hidden gem. Verdict - yes. Give it a shot for sure

    SUPER TONIC (COFFEE OATMEAL STOUT)
    Loren B.

    Docent is my favorite brewery in the San Clemente / Dana Point / Laguna area. We come here once per year to visit my daughter and her husband and Docent is a required stop. The building is designed to take maximum advantage of beautiful California sunny days with lots of natural light to illuminate the concrete, wood, and stainless steel materials the proliferate inside the high-ceilinged room. On our second visit, we had some time to kill before a later light out of LAX and enjoyed sitting upstairs and playing some tabletop shuffleboard. The beer menu is full of solid recipes with some mild surprises. This is not a stunt-brews kinda place. And Cali in general is light on my favorite genre (barrel aged stouts) which proliferate in Texas. But, the Super Tonic and Luna were enough to keep me happy while my lovely and I hung out biding time until our late flight. I'm a merch-bearing fan of Docent, which is fun in Texas. If you're looking for some local brews in San Juan Capistrano, Docent is highly recommended!

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    4 months ago

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    1 month ago

    The most flavorful and delicious IPAs. I love them all!!! But my absolute favorite is Rabbit Hobbit. The food is incredibly tasty as well.

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    1 year ago

    Docent Brewing is a super fun, cute spot for beers! They have adequate indoor and outdoor seating and a fun vibe and location!

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    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - Docent Brewing

    Do they fill growlers?

    Yes

    Is this place family/kid friendly?

    We are kid and family friendly.

    Hi are you guys open for dine in?

    Hi Liana, Yes we are and we have created an outdoor section as well. Hope to see ya soon.… Read more

    Are dogs allowed?

    As of yesterday because of health code violations apparently, only service animals are allowed.

    Is wine offered?

    Yes we offer wine.

    View All 11 Questions

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    Capo Leisure House

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    (128 reviews)
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    Capo is such a great place for grabbing good food and enjoying a drink in a fun western…read moreenvironment. The service is great with hard working friendly workers. I would recommend this place to anyone

    I've been enjoying checking out the various spots at River Street Marketplace, and Capo Leisure…read moreHouse has quickly become one of my favorite happy hour stops in the area. One of the things I appreciate most is that the happy hour actually feels like a good deal. Happy hour runs all day on Mondays and Tuesday through Friday from 2pm-6pm, with $10 cocktails, $6 beer and wine, and a few food specials that are worth ordering. We went with the chicken nachos ($10) and the taco special ($10 for two tacos, with mix-and-match options like birria, carnitas, chicken, and sweet potato). Both were surprisingly generous portions for happy hour items. The nachos came loaded with toppings and could easily be shared, while the tacos felt substantial rather than the smaller portions some places serve on their happy hour menu. The space itself fits right in with the River Street vibe. It's casual, lively, and makes for an easy place to hang out with friends after work or spend a relaxed afternoon grabbing a few bites and drinks. The entire marketplace has become a fun destination, and Capo Leisure House is one of the spots helping make it worth the visit. If you're exploring River Street Marketplace for the first time, I'd definitely recommend stopping by during happy hour. Can't wait to come back during regular hours to see what else they have to offer!

    Photos
    Farmers daughter and Amarillo sling
    Farmers daughter and Amarillo sling
    Beer tanks
    Beer tanks
    Delicious Pinot Noir

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    Station Craft

    Station Craft

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    Finally made it to Station Craft. We have been eyeing this place for years but it always seems…read morepacked, so we just drive past. Today, on a Saturday at 12-ish, as a family of 4 we were able to get seated right away. Our server was attentive and offered/brought waters right away. We were seated inside which was open and spacious but loud enough to make it family friendly. The tables were far enough a part that you did not feel like you were on top of each other. Next time, we might ask to sit outside so our young boys can watch the cars drive by. We learned that the kitchen is nut free (always double check as this could change), which was amazing since our son has a severe nut allergy. He was so excited to learn this as he can be limited at other places due to cross contamination or the wrong oils. Then when the food came out and it was delicious - it sealed the deal. It is now in the top of our list of places to go. The kids cheeseburger is good size and not a smaller version as some places do. The chicken tenders were panko crusted which was so crunchy. My husband and I shared the smoked carrot and chicken tacos and we enjoyed them both. The beer was also very good with my husband and I each trying a different kind - an IPA and a Pale Ale. We are so glad we finally stopped in and so should you!

    After a beach day, I was craving wings and came across Station Craft on yelp. Glad I tried it out…read more As others have mentioned, parking is limited. My server was super sweet, and the overall vibe of the restaurant was very chill. I got the smoked wings and a side caesar salad for balance. The wings were pretty good. I'm more of a dry rub person, so I enjoyed the wings especially dipped in blue cheese! The caesar was ok. The croutons were good, but it was too much cheese for me. I'd come back again to try their other food.

    Photos
    Partial interior before it packed out.
    Partial interior before it packed out.
    Fish and chips and a Smash Burger.. Yummy
    Fish and chips and a Smash Burger.. Yummy
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    Craft House

    Craft House

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    I made reservations here last night for 20, having never been there before but needing a semi…read moreprivate area for a group to gather. The venue was perfect for our size. They could have had more servers there for sure. That said, the guy serving us worked his butt off, gracefully, friendly, and attentively. Any gaps were filled by the bartender delivering drinks and (I think) the manager here and there. We were well taken care of. Food was great, bacon old fashioned my buddy had looked (and reportedly) was incredible, beers were great, staff were awesome (despite being low in numbers). Highly recommend.!

    I came here for dinner on a Sunday night, and it was a very good experience…read more This restaurant has loud, trendy bar vibes for a family dinner, a date night, or even a girls night out. The parking is definitely limited, as I saw from other reviews on Yelp. On a Sunday evening it was very easy, however. The menu is fairly limited, and I wish they had a few more fish options, though the salmon I saw looked absolutely incredible. I had the chicken caesar salad. The chicken was a large portion, and so tasty. The dressing was SO good. They did forget dressing on both of our salads which was kind of annoying for a simple caesar (so we had to get a side of it). That being said, once we did get dressing, I seriously could've drank the stuff it was so yummy. They also scorch their tomatoes in the salad to perfection. I also tried the crispy tuna appetizer, which was surprisingly different from similar versions I have had at sushi restaurants (not in a bad way). The fish was very fresh and I would order this appetizer again. I think it came with five fairly small pieces (just so you know how many to order for a crowd). If you are feeling dessert, they have an incredible (and massive) butter cake!

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Craft House
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    Patio seating
    Pizza Port

    Pizza Port

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    (1.3k reviews)
    5.2 mi
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    3.75 stars rounded up for this local gem. Pizza port is like your local pizza spot meant for lots…read moreof kids running around after a baseball game. 2 stories of tables, video games and 2 separate bars to grab their famous beers from. You order at the counter down below and they call your food as each item is ready. Pizza came out first so we started there. Not my favorite pizza. Very doughy and soft, the sauce is a little sweet. My 13/14 year old LOVED the pizza so who am I to criticize. Next came the baked wings. Ask for them well done so they come out crispy and yummy. I appreciate that these are not fried and seed oils. These were the gem of the meal. Only thing I would change is the freezing cold wing sauce they put on the side from the refrigerator. But def a winner. Next came out the salad, we got the port salad with roasted butternut squash, grilled portobello's, Argus and loads of blue cheese. This salad was FIRE!!! The only knock is they don't make their own dressing so you get a little side of plastic canister of Ken's salad dressing, which is a decent dressing but full of canola and soybean oil next time I would probably bring my own dressing or just squeeze some lemon on it and put some olive oil that I brought with me, but that's just me being picky. It's a damn good salad. I wish it didn't come out 30 minutes after i ordered. It was 12pm so I didn't have any beer, my mistake I'm sure. Consensus: I would come back for wings and salad for sure, the pizza needs some work.

    From 11 months ago…read more To Whom It May Concern, I'm writing to formally report a safety incident that occurred at your Pizza Port location on July 10 at approximately 8:10 PM. While entering toward the second-floor parking lot, my daughter slipped on what appeared to be discarded pieces of salad near the stairwell. This posed a serious hazard, and it's unacceptable that no preventative cleaning or signage was in place. As a general manager in the restaurant industry, I understand that accidents happen -- but how they're handled is what defines your operation. When I brought the issue to the manager on duty, it was met with a dismissive and careless attitude. No guest complaint form was offered, no apology was extended, and no effort was made to make things right. At the very least, we should have been offered a complimentary meal - especially given that we were there to enjoy dinner, and it's not easy for families to dine out in today's economy. This situation was not only poorly managed, but it showed a lack of regard for guest safety and hospitality. I expect a follow-up on how your team plans to address this issue, both in terms of cleanliness and customer service, to ensure no other guest has to experience this. Name of manage on duty was Carson and general manager Braden nuxoll still hasn't done a single thing. Very sad for such a good establishment to get ruined by bad management While that was terrible experience I have still come and enjoy coming as a poor shift leader does not reflect on food quality. Food is still great

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Our pizza
    Our pizza
    Cruisin' pale ale 5.8% May2024

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    Cruisin' pale ale 5.8% May2024
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    Talk about a place with the perfect beach town vibe. It's all open air with indoor and outdoor…read moredining spaces being seamless. There's a bar to sit at right next to where you order. We came down from up north for lunch on Taco Tuesday. They have a special menu for that day. Fortunately it includes their soon to be famous birria egg rolls. We walked up and placed our beer and food orders. Everything was delivered quickly. The tacos were overflowing their tortilla bases! The egg rolls were up to the hype. They have a bunch of their own beers on tap in a wide range of styles.

    Really cool hipster brewery in the surf ghetto. My son was across the street at Fight Strong and I…read morethought hey I've been reading about this place and I just moved to the neighborhood. I had to check it out. Really cool vibe when I walked in as I grabbed a beer at the counter. I think it was 16 ounces and I think it was $10. Felt a little bit expensive. Maybe I'm just getting old and everything seems expensive. Tasted solid. I wish I had some more healthier food varieties and everything wasn't fried in the fryer, but still a really cool place. I even bought a hat as I'm pretending I'm a local even though I've lived here 25 days now. I'll definitely be back and I'll bring my dog, that seems to be the vibe at this place.

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    Catch some surf, drink a beer and admire the art!
    Catch some surf, drink a beer and admire the art!
    Birria egg rolls, pretzel with cheese curds
    Birria egg rolls, pretzel with cheese curds
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    Excellent food and service and the food was served nice and hot!…read more Came here for Mother's Day with family and we ordered some appetizers to share, including the kale and quinoa salad, Guinness brown bread, and Reuben rolls. The salad was fresh and the quinoa was toasted so it added a lovely crunch. The bread was served warm and the honey butter was delicious. The Reuben roll didn't quite do it for me but it seemed like a fun concept. For entrees I shared the fabled chicken and fish and chips, both of which were fantastic. The entrees were served hot and the portions were quite large. The chicken had lots going on but all good stuff, especially the jalapeño cornbread. The fish was also perfectly battered and light inside. Would definitely return!

    Photos
    Pretty table setting.
    Pretty table setting.
    Fabled Fried Chicken. Thick battered chicken with spectacular jalapeño cheddar cornbread, potato purée, and smoked bacon collard greens.
    Fabled Fried Chicken. Thick battered chicken with spectacular jalapeño cheddar cornbread, potato purée, and smoked bacon collard greens.
    Fabled Fried Chicken. Spectacular jalapeño cheddar cornbread!

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    Fabled Fried Chicken. Spectacular jalapeño cheddar cornbread!

    Docent Brewing - sandwiches - Updated July 2026

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