We decided to check it out and were pleasantly surprised. I had the BLT w/avocado and husband had coq au vin, both tasted great. Husband was very excited to have cream soda on tap. We are planning on dinner one Sunday - kids eat free! We'll definitely be back. read more

We've driven by this sleek-looking restaurant several times but just tried it out for the first time last week. We've been back 3 times! Finally--a really good, reasonably priced restaurant in Carlsbad! What an oasis in a culinary desert! Everything I've had has been terrific. I love their "custom salad" that you put together yourself. Their dressings are homemade and delicious. The tri-tip is perfectly cooked and tender. Ditto the roast turkey. The rolls they use for their sandwiches are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and they stack the sandwich just right with meat, cheese, lettuce and tomato. And of course, as noted here often, the French fries are out of this world. Twice-fried like I remember those I used to get from a greasy spoon on the pier in Santa Monica--you dream about French fries like these! We have yet to try their "family dinners" for $30, you take it home in a dutch oven so it's still hot when you get it home! (deposit required.) Pricing is reasonable for what you get--high quality ingredients and wonderful service. Like the James Beard quote on their wall advises, use the best and freshest ingredients and prepare them simply and deliciously. And Tin Leaf does just that! read more

First timer, was excited over the menu and all the fresh veggies and the choice to create your own salad. The cashier was friendly, the actual salad was great along with the balsamic dressing. However I added grilled chicken to my salad and the chicken was SO dry I couldn't eat it, my boyfriend also ordered chicken and his was just as dry. Sooo disappointing. When somebody came to clear our dishes I told him about the chicken. He seemed very surprised and apologized. Not sure if I will return, if I do I will be sure to not order chicken! read more

I love this place! When I came in I got a Mediterranean salad and it was delicious. It was suggested to me by Ashley. She was extremely helpful and very friendly. She made my first experience at Tinleaf a great one. Definitely will be going there again in the future. read more

Visiting Legoland, needed something a little lighter for dinner, compared to a lot of the other local choices. The salads were really tasty, definitely thinking of another meal from them. Great take out service and convenient to order online and have ready for pickup. Our child enjoyed the grilled cheese, the tri-tip, and tuna salads were good as well. Lentil soup was good too. Great value. read more

this place was great!! i had the oriental salad and it was delicious!! i even had to take half of it to go because there was so much! i went during lunch since it's right down the street from my office. we were in and out of there in no time, which is great when you're on a time schedule. i would recommend this place to everyone! read more

We went here on a weekday for lunch and were so excited to see this new place in our neighborhood. I had the small salad and you can pick five toppings for free and all of the dressings sounded so good it was hard to choose. I ended up with a yummy mixed greens salad with applewood bacon, eggs, avocado, red onion, something I can't remember with the yummiest blue cheese dressing. My husband had the Backyard BBQ sandwich and really, really liked it. It was on the higher end for a lunchtime sandwich but very filling so he ate a light dinner later that nite. The staff was super nice and even though it's a counter service restaurant you're still waited on and treated like it's a sit-down. The decor is very modern and the bathrooms are so clean which is always good. So excited Tinleaf is here and hope it stays so go eat there! read more

We went there on a Saturday night and the service and food was awesome. I highly recommend the santa maria tri tip sandwich, fabulous

Our family has been a handful of times and we have thoroughly enjoyed every dinner! I'm thankful that we have this restaurant right down the street. Unique concept in this area. read more

Food was cold and salty and tasted like elephant toes.

This urban, counter style restaurant is both fresh and delicious. I enjoyed the "Thanksgiving on a Bun" sandwich; fresh sliced turkey breast, tangy cranberry sauce, crisp lettuce, and the BEST sage stuffing I've ever had. Even the roll was delicious. read more

this kitchen style restaurant is fresh change from the chain restaurants. we went for an early dinner and food was so yummy. lots of fresh organic ingredients. food was flavorful and made to order. don't forget to order dessert!! its a must!! coconut cake! fabulous!!! we will back again for lunch and dinner! read more

Simple but really good. Had tomato purée soup which was sweet! Would go back just for that. Had roasted portobello that was flavored perfectly with baby Brussels sprouts and quinoa. The quinoa was cold and too herby for me but the mushroom and baby Brussel sprouts were fantastic. Also had the holiday turkey sandwich that was just like the day after. Good and healthy meal read more

Nothing extraordinary about it. Food was good. Service was nice. But nothing special.

I live nearby and love grabbing the Family Style meals to-go. The meals are super tasty, well prepared, and easy to have on the table in 15 minutes. The Coq Au Vin is excellent! read more

My new husband and I absolutely loved using Tin Leaf for our wedding. They are relatively new to catering but they did a great job. And, like always, Tin Leaf's food is absolutely amazing! We ordered an overkill amount of food but it went fast since it was so good. A couple people even went back for thirds. Food is very important at a wedding and their food was absolutely perfect. Thank you Tin Leaf! read more

Fun atmosphere, definitely a hidden gem in the Vons shopping center. expect a busy lunch hour, but well worth it. While overpriced and decently expensive, the salads are very large and could last you more than one meal! Their fries are delicious, along with the variety of dips they come with. Don't forget to try their fresh lemonade, so good! read more

Great food ,yummy desserts and everyone there working very nice. Outdoor patio was very nice. Must go and eat there.

We went to Urban Plate in Encinitas- line out the door at 7:45, probably a half hour wait just to order. Heading north, went to Tin Leaf instead. No line at all; that was probably a sign. Ordered the turkey melt with "Belgium hand cut fires". Cheese was not melted and turkey was cold, bread dry. Fries were room temp and served with a small soggy paper cup of ketchup - really? Wife had salad ODed in dressing. Servers were too busy clearing tables to close to ask if we needed anything - like salt or pepper, which were not on our table or if we needed another soggy paper cup of ketchup.. We have been coming here once every three or four months since they opened and food is just getting worse. Fortunately Urban Plate has opened a mile or so away.The 4 and 5 star ratings for this place must be from shills........................ read more

I've eaten in here several times. The food is good if not a bit over priced. Yesterday, I got the takeout Tri-tip salad. It seemed like the 4.5 pieces of razor thin steak on the salad wasn't quite the same portion as the in-house meal. For 13.99, it seemed a little like I got hosed on the takeout. read more

Used to come here all the time, but it seems to have declined since the owners opened additional restaurants. No one is watching the kitchen. For example, tonight I ordered the twisted blt on toast. Received on untoasted bread. When it came back again only the top bread was toasted and the bacon was burned. Done with this place after years of being a patron. Second time we've have similar food quality issues. read more

Ordered rare tri tip and even asked the cashier to make sure it was rare . Generous portion but only the top 2 pieces were rare. The young cashier admitted the remaining pieces weren't rare but said he wouldn't replace the remaining portion read more

The Tin Leaf is very difficult to find due to its tricky corner location and poor signage. Once in, though, it's bright, clean, and welcoming. Service was spot on, even when we changed a few items. Our sandwiches were fresh and hot, and we loved the chunky coleslaw. We will return. read more

I work up the street from Tin Leaf - no joke, I come here two times a week at least. The staff know me! The food is fresh, everyone works hard, the staff are friendly and accommodating and it's a no stress atmosphere where you can come with friends, colleagues or by yourself (as I normally do). Take out is always good, but I prefer to sit in. I love the salads and my favorite sandwich is the ALT (avocado, lettuce, tomato) and before I stopped eating meat, the Twisted BLT was my to die for go to! Best bacon ever! What makes their food so good are the unique touches like for instance, basil mayo on the sandwich, it introduces a whole new flavor that takes the meal from great to incredible. They have the best fries around - make sure to try all their different dipping sauces, I have never been disappointed in one of them! My favorite is the wasabi mayo. Come here with your vegetarian friends, vegan friends, meat eaters or alone - just come here, it's quick, easy, delicious, fresh, healthy dining done right! read more

GOOD FOOD! Our family of three ate at Tinleaf for dinner. We had the tri-tip steak salad and the seared ahi sandwich, which were both tasty, the ingredients fresh. Our kid had the mac & cheese which had a mild herb cream sauce. We adults thought it was delicious, but our 8 year-old found it too fancy. We appreciate the local produce, the green design, and the attractive atmosphere. I think it's smart that you can get family dinners to go, or eat a quick salad on site. read more

A hungry bunch of kids and adults descended upon this restaurant at 8pm last night and had an amazing time! This place is healthy, with excellent food and impeccable service. Children were treated kindly and with respect. I wish I lived closer, since San Jose is too far away for a casual meal. read more

There is a great menu of unique healthy selections to choose from. The staff was very attentive to guests. The cost of the meals are a little higher than I would like to pay, but delicious just the same. read more

i LOVE this place! the decor is clean, simple, and urban, the food is delicious, and the staff is pretty friendly. i've been there many, many times, and have never been disappointed with their food. i also like that they have the outdoor patio option, and that it's a casual atmosphere. i know that a lot of people are complaining about the prices, but it's not any different than the prices at mediocre chain places, like Panera or SF Boudin. the big difference is that the food here is AWESOME! my favorite sandwich is the thanksgiving on a bun sandwich. it's soooo good. their mashed potatoes and french fries are also yummy. read more

Fresh, delicious, healthy food. Family friendly. Have dined in, dined on pleasant garden patio, and utilized take-out service. The staff is the greatest...very accommodating. We arrived from another state 4 weeks ago and are taking friends & fam to TinLeaf at least weekly. Everyone agrees TinLeaf Kitchen is the best casual upscale healthy restaurant in the area. Judy W. read more

This was my second visit to Tin Leaf. My first one left a lot to be desired in terms of service but on my second visit the service was great and the staff was very attentive. My husband said his turkey sandwich was very good and the fries were nice and crisp. I had the turkey plate and wasn't thrilled with the turkey (kind of dry and lukewarm, although a generous serving) but what I really like about this place is their sides. I've had the onion strings (which I love), the ratatouille, the fries, and the quinoa taboule and they were all outstanding. If they only had a plate with just 3 or 4 sides I'd eat here all the time. read more

Went for lunch and split the turkey melt and backyard bbq sandwiches with a friend. The turkey melt ($10) was top notch; thick cut turkey like the day after thanksgiving with horseradish cheddar on a nice thin and fresh ciabatta roll...would definitely recommend it. The backyard bbq ($10) however, was not as satisfactory; the artisan roll was tasty but i thought the tri tip was a bit overdone and dry, and the bbq sauce wasn't anything special. Its worth noting that both sandwiches were hearty and will definitely fill you up. The belgian style fries were nice, fresh and crispy. Overall, the place had a nice vibe and the ingredients seemed quality and fresh. I will be back... read more

Excellent food. Always great quality & fresh. Have had the Ahi, turkey, tri tip & portabella all were great! Love the Boylan fountain sodas the best soda Ive ever had. This is one of my favorite places I come here all the time. read more

Great food. Great selection and extra healthy options too! If I lived down the street i would eat here 3-4 times a week.

Just happened on this place. Was looking for something easy and healthy in the Carlsbad area. Had nice curb appeal so I decided to try it. And I'm glad I did. I got the ahi tuna sandwich. My daughter got a kids meal - tri tip. Both dishes were very tasty. The restaurant is clean and nicely decorated. The staff was friendly. Quality food, good portion size, nice menu - plenty to choose from. Seemed a little pricey, but I did get ahi. I'm glad I stumbled upon this place and will be eating there again and again. read more

My daughter took me here last night. I had the salmon, green beans, lentil soup and fruit medley. It was delicious, light, and healthy! My daughter comes here often and says it's always consistent. I would def. recommend this for anyone wanting a quick, casual, healthy meal. read more

Love this neighborhood joint with quality food in a modern casual atmosphere. Perfect for families and casual meals. They make their own chicken tenders from scratch (not frozen Sysco)-kids love them. Love the steak salad, family meals in a pot which feeds family of 5, belgian fries are killer, and fresh lemonade is the best. So glad I have this in my hood. read more

What a little gem! It is so nice to have an independent restaurant do it right. I had the Cuban sandwich which was perfect. I thought the portion sizes were appropriate for lunch. Great atmosphere and a really friendly attentive staff. I will be back. read more

We've been here several times, and although it's not always perfect, it is always good. We really like the salads and any of the turkey sandwiches. The tri tip is hit or miss- I would recommend skipping it. They also have a good menu for kids. read more

The tri tip salad is amazing. I look forward to going in for my weekly lunch of tri tip salad. Kids eat free on Sundays is another favorite! read more

Food is ok but service needs improvement. The older lady at the register was rude. Once we received our food and we reminded them that they forgot to bring our desert, they still forgot to bring it. This is the 2nd time it happened to us. The Salmon Salad was too leafy and just tasted green, nothing special about it. read more