Service was great-- food was not. We had the caesar salad, steak frites, brussel sprouts, and barbecue shrimp and nothing had any flavor. It was so bland and painfully average. The cornbread was tasty. Very overpriced for the taste. read more

The food was not great. The cornbread was sweet and then the honey butter on top of it was sweet. Not my favorite. The vegetables were overcooked and sweet. The service was horrible. It was fine ordering and getting our food, but when we wanted to order dessert, we had to wait until our server waited on several other tables before getting back to us. I then asked for the check and then it was another 10-15 minutes before we Were able to pay. I had to ask for items I needed with my meal multiple times before getting them. Such as water, lemon. The waiter gave me the impression that he was only concerned with the food cost and not the service. I will probably not go back. It's probably good for people who want to drink in the bar and order typical American junk food. The music was loud, which would be fun for a group going there. Not great if you want to have a conversation at the table. The hostess sat us in the bar area, not considering we may want to talk. I was with my 12-year-old grandson so it was obvious we were not be drinking or partying. read more

Enjoyed a Wednesday night dinner at this spot and had a great time. It is a large space with plenty of room to hangout and sit. They had a talented artist playing live music and a half off deal on their cellar wines! The service was friendly and accommodating. The shrimp & grits had really great flavors and the portions were rather generous. Everyone really enjoyed their food, I'd be happy to visit this place again! read more

Union Kitchen and Tap Encinitas - Pesto Flatbread - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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We booked a party for 25 ppl and everything was perfect. The min spend was fair. Amy who handled the booking was very clear and responsive in her communication. The food was amazing. I covered the food and they were fine with my guests doing their own checks for alcohol. Our server Dill was on it and oh so nice. I highly recommend this place if you need to book a venue for a group. read more

decent experience here on Thanksgiving day. our party of 8 was originally seated outside even tho they had plenty of space indoors, so it was kind of annoying that we had to ask to be moved indoors. our outdoor table was way out in the back corner of the outdoor patio with no heat lamps and it was FREEZING outside. they moved us in without any further trouble and service was great from there. food came out quickly and was delicious. the burger was exceptional because of the bacon, and the brussel sprouts and sweet potato fries were tasty. truffle fries aren't worth the upgrade, the truffle was too light and the aioli was basically just plain mayo. overall, a good Thanksgiving dinner for a time when it's too much of a relaxing day to cook, so we're thankful for their kitchen and staff! read more

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The service was great, sever was very friendly. Ambiance was good as well. They had indoor and outdoor dining, which was nice to have options. Inside was a little loud with the music so we opted to sit on their patio. Food was not so great. We ordered the buffalo and honey sriracha wings, and the ahi tuna. Ahí tuna was ok but the honey Sriracha wings were too sweet and not much flavor on the food. Cocktails were ok as well. Not sure if we ordered the wrong thing on the menu but after tasting two items, we decided we didn't want to risk ordering more and not satisfying our taste buds. read more

My brothers rehearsal dinner was out back and the there was a larger cocktail hour after. The drinks were great, the food was delicious, and the patio was really nicely laid out. The service was great, everyone was very attentive. They kept the regular crowd inside and there were no problems at all. It was a beautiful night and everyone really enjoyed it. read more

Union Kitchen and Tap has gone all out to create the vibe and culture, see inside pic. In fact their website has a Google map 3D virtual tour. Here you can check out the dark wood and brick tap room with their many TVs (no still picture can do this justice). As you can see we were cooling down with a G&T which was prepared as ordered. We munched on a side of Sweet Potato Fries, which came with ketchup and ancho peach BBQ sauce (the real reason for ordering this). The fries were plentiful, fairly crunchy and the insides were still soft and chewy. These fries had seasoning but most of it fell to the bottom of basket. Look for it, it does add flavor and salt. Now the ancho peach BBQ sauce was interesting ............ sweet as expected with a mild bit of heat and smokiness from the ancho peppers, but not too much depth. I tasted a bit of fruit, but not noticeably peachy. I'd like to come back and try something from their Union Favorites or a Craft Burger. Union lists their Executive Chef on their website which is uncommon - it's worth it to check it out because of this. read more

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Came here on Friday night and were seated very quickly. The server was quick to get us water and take our drink orders - she made excellent recommendations for cocktails to try. I ordered the poke nachos and Brussels sprouts. The nachos were a relatively large portion but I felt there were a ton of chips and not enough fish to even it put. Overall they tasted great. The Brussels sprouts were absolutely delicious! I'll definitely be visiting here again sometime in the future. The service and staff are excellent. read more

Union Kitchen and Tap Encinitas - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Although I didn't have an actual meal , the fries and draft beer was perfect! Fries cooked slightly crispy with rosemary and served with a garlic aioli sauce and ketchup. My draft beer was ice cold and refreshing. Our server was extremely friendly and courteous, and highly customer service oriented. Will definitely revisit in the near future. read more

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We were a party of 14 and everything was perfect! Seating was amazing, service fast and efficient and food was phenomenal!

I come here quite often, and always have an incredible experience. It's literally a stone's throw from Cardiff's stunning shores and some of California's best surf spots - talk about a dream location! What I love most is the vibe - it's stylish but not pretentious. The service is always absolutely stellar and beyond excellent. Now, let's talk food. The menu screams classic American goodness, and they're all about fresh, local ingredients. My go-to dishes? The Poke Tartare is a game-changer, and the Fishermen's Stew is a seafood lover's paradise - seriously, flavors on point! Union has a massive drink selection. Everything from craft-cocktails, local brewski's, to a killer beer list, the whole experience at Union Kitchen & Tap is just spot-on, making it one of my favorite restaurants in North County. If you have the chance, check it out and tell them Craig sent you! That's not going to get you any favors from anyone, and no one will know who I am, (but I bet you have a smile on your face and this world needs more of that.) Seriously though, check this place out, you won't regret it! read more

Union Kitchen and Tap Encinitas - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

My first time here so I was looking forward to checking it out. When we checked in we were sent to the patio and not even asked if we had a preference. I noticed the party behind us was seated inside. I think there were only two people in that party, though. We wondering if they wanted to seat the older people outside? Guests older than us were also were seated out there, after us. The inside did seem busy, but not packed. Anyways, service was good! I mentioned it was my friend's b-day and the waitress brought out a treat afterwards. We did not even have to even ask so that was nice! The chocolate was very decadent and delicious. I ordered the Creole bbq shrimp appetizer. The flavor was good, but the shrimp did seem a little dry on the outside. I wish I would've asked for lemon or that it was offered! read more

Union Kitchen and Tap Encinitas - Birthday Treat - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

I stopped by this place last time I was in Encinitas. I liked the feel of the place. It was exposed brick, reclaimed timber and old union worker photos. I had a bloody Maria and a corn cake Benedict with sausage. I really liked the twist on the old standards. The sausage was like a hot link.The cornbread came out on a mini cast iron pan with a mustard Hollandaise sauce and two poached eggs. There was a hint of jalapeno coming through that was perfect. Great bloody also. Come check this place out next time your out by the beach. read more

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Been here a few times and we really enjoy this place. This last visit was great. Our server was super friendly, the food and drinks came out quickly, and everything was delicious. My over easy eggs and crispy bacon came out perfectly done, along with the poached eggs on the avocado toast. We all enjoyed our cocktails and will certainly be back. read more

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My friend and I were visiting Encinitas and found this place for dinner. There were four of us in the party and we decided to go to dinner here. The ambiance was very nice and chill. The music and location was perfect for a night out or drinks/dinner with friends. We ordered the roasted brussel sprouts, truffle fries and skillet cornbread to share. OMG I can tell you all the plates to share were amazing! The brussel spouts were delicious, the truffle fries were off the hook and the skillet cornbread was so good we ordered another skillet! The cornbread was moist and sweet almost like a pancake, which comes out in a hot skillet where it is baked. If you visit here, those are a must try! As for the main meals, we stuck to light stuff. We ordered the kale and quinoa salad with steak, I had the pan seared salmon. The main courses were so good and tasted just heavenly. Our server was awesome too, she had a funny sense of humor and was really great to have. Parking was fairly easy, as we had dinner early. The downtown area of Encinitas was fun and clean. There was also outdoor dinning seating area for those that would like to sit outdoors. We chose to sit inside the restaurant as they do have large windows that open and you feel like your outdoors too! Definitely a place to go again! read more

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Another case of the yelpers know whats up. Since I live down south, I'm extremely in the dark of the top food spots up in north county and really rely on what's highly rated on here. A win! We've been doing a lot of day trips up in the area since getting membership to the SD Botanic Garden nearby and looking for some tasty yums after we leave heading back to SD. UNION was an easy choice. Parking in the area wasn't too bad and we found a spot in one of the pull in parking spaces on a neighboring street. Sat on the patio and looked around at all the union burgers being served...seeing them with a fried egg (I always forget that is an option) and bam, choice was made. There is a reason everyone gets it. Messy and delicious. If you are coming hungry that is a very satisfying and gluttonous selection. I recommend getting the salad for the side just to take some heaviness off. Sitting on the patio on a nice sunny day this is definitely a place to hang out and stay awhile. They have a great draft beer list and some hard seltzer and kombucha options. I'm not a dog owner but I love that they have a doggy menu. For your spoiled pup needs! read more

Beautiful experience, lunch was amazing and they were so nice to our little dog we brought with us. I highly recommend going to Union Kitchen!! read more

Union was a great place to go for a casual family dinner. The vibes are bar-like, with sit down seating most available. The service here was efficient, helpful, and friendly! Our server had great recommendations about the food. I ordered the crab cakes with a side Caesar salad, like my server recommended, and the serving size was perfect, and the crab cakes were probably the best I've ever had. read more

Dinner menu: listed as a half chicken for $30.95 but no wing, no thigh and no leg . Dinner came to table without bone as two small slices of chicken w bare amt of a side. Pitiful.!! false advertising.!! other entrees also small and overpriced.!! read more

This place is really nice. It's big in size has seating inside and out. We sat inside had great service. We had crab cakes for appetizers which were really good. I had the steak frites w chimichurri sauce which was really good. My husband had the chicken wings which were good size and he enjoyed them. We also had truffle fries as a side. These were amazing. Check this place out if you're in the area for sure will be back again when in the area. read more

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Food was our best meal of the weekend for sure! As a group we ordered probably 13-14 menu items and not one of them disappointed! Appetizers were fantastic. Drinks were awesome, beer selection was good, and the service was on point. Staff was super friendly and very attentive! Will go here again for sure... read more

So FIRST...The 4 stars is ZERO REFLECTION ON THE BUSINESS... we just only had a drink here... didn't try food. So dont judge the stars. The ambiance is awesome. Outside...inside...its all fantastic. It's rock in brews and saddle ranches KID. LOL The staff was great! The drinks were good. So... when we come back (we dont live in the area), we will try the food...so now it can OFFICIALLY be 5 stars. Now summer is coming, so grab ur seats outside...put ur phone down and enjoy your company read more

Plenty of parking on the street. Staff is friendly and plenty of seating inside or outside. TV's everywhere in the bar area. Food comes out quickly and restaurant has an efficient ordering and payment system. Kids meal were good size portion. I was even able to eat a few slices of my sons cheese flatbread. Food was consistently tasty. Great place to come and get food and drinks with friends or family. read more

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Quick stop here today for a little bite to eat while riding the motorcycle on the coast. Enjoyed some cold beer and yummy pork belly that I coupled with the fresh green salad. The food was delicious. The server was very attentive and nice. The restaurant is huge. So whether you want a seat at the bar, something outdoors or seating for a large group. Union Tap has you covered. read more

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This is in the strip of Encinitas with a ton of restaurants and shops. Parking was easy with a few spots behind the restaurant but also lots of street parking. We decided to sit outside because they had outdoor heaters for each table! Felt nice and warm. 1. Skillet Cornbread 5/5 This was a great appetizer to share among three people. It has a nice kick to it because of the jalapeno but also a sweetness to it because of the honey. Would highly recommend this one! 2. Truffle fries 4/5 Decently good truffle flavor and I liked that the fries were shoestring style. There's a good toppings to potato ratio. Other than that, pretty standard. 3. Shrimp and grits 4.5/5 Loved this dish! The grits had fantastic cheesy flavor and there was a nice sausage and shrimp flavor as well. 4. Sweet potato ravioli with chicken 5/5 Get this item without the protein addition. We added grilled chicken to it and that was super dry and didn't go with the ravioli that well. The ravioli was perfectly cooked and had a nice sauce on top of it with sage and onion. 5. Flourless chocolate cake 4/5 What a great dessert item! It tasted like a gooey brownie. Perfect to share between 2 people. Overall, all the items I had were excellent. We ordered a lot, but the bill came out much bigger than expected at about $60 each. Thought that was a lot higher than what I would've expected to pay, especially when there are so many other great options in this area. read more

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Jennifer Hickey is one of the most professional waitresses that has ever waited on us. We have been there at least ten times. My wife used to own a restaurant and my son worked at Houston's in SF. She should be promoted to something where she could train wait staff on what it takes to be courteous yet professional. Whoever hired her should also be commended! read more

Customer service was outstanding, I came in with my dog and I was right away taken to the patio in the back. I wasn't aware that it was a dog friendly environment. I love that they have a menu for dogs. I had a drink and wings, 2 thumbs up. read more

I came here for Super Bowl Sunday, was prepared to get appetizers, but ended with a delicious entrée instead! I got the shrimp and grits, which was seasoned very nicely, and the shrimp was super flavorful. I only wish I got an extra side of grits on the side, because they were so good and I wanted to sop up all the yummy sauce. We got cornbread to share for the table which was to die for, possibly the best I've ever had! The drinks were amazing as well. I ordered one with blackberry infused bourbon, and it was so unique and perfect with the vibes of the shrimp and grits. The service was very quick and attentive, even though we were sitting in the Oak room in the back. I can't wait to come back here and try more things off of their yummy menu! read more

Union Kitchen and Tap Encinitas - Shrimp & Grits - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

We had a large to-go order. a bit confusing to get the order done but they were kind and helpful and it was ready when promised. The food was fantastic! read more

Food was all pretty awesome. Where can you get prosciutto and a fried egg on the same pizza. The flat breads, while delicious, were clearly underscoring the other appetizers and entrées presented at this event. Service from the cocktail server was clearly above a level of perfection. Our drinks never got empty. Water was always graciously provided and kept topped off. Excellent service! I didn't get to really check out the place because our party was confined in a private room and area that had its own restroom. Food items sampled included the excellent crab cakes, cornbread skillet, meatballs and flatbreads. We were even given some really tasty Gumbo to take home. If given the opportunity, I shall return. Dicks read more

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Stop by here after surfing. This place is few minutes walk from swami's beach, I loved the patio, perfect for sunny day. Server was very attentive, she was checking on us constantly, though this place is quite a big, I didn't have hard time getting server's attention. Food and drink was pretty good, reasonably priced. Perfect for quick drink after surfing lol read more

Union Kitchen and Tap Encinitas - Basket of Fries - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

Drinks are pricey as was the executive burger, however -Food was excellent. Service is great . Good for people watching.

Been a few times over last couple years and experience was consistent with my visit tonight. Service has always been pretty good, and food quality has been high. Split a plate of bbq and regular wings tonight, they were some of the better I've had in the county. Went with the NY Strip plate after and felt like it was worth the price. Mashed potatoes were really good and broccolini were definitely better than I can make at home. Finished up with a Old Fashioned, little bit too many bitters but overall it was fine read more

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The staff were really friendly here and we were accommodated in a big tabletop that had a fireplace built into it. I don't often go out in this area but it was fun to try out something new. I had been warned that the menu was a little bougie... But to be honest that's always fun for someone who is a foodie like me. I dithered for a while but in the end I decided to go with the skillet cornbread. It was so sweet, it felt like a dessert - which is a good thing because they didn't have much dessert to pick from. I wish it had been served with pickles though because I ended up stealing the pickles from my friend's dish next to me (he had ordered something that was much healthier but was kind enough to share the acidity). This helped cut the sweetness and the richness of the cornbread - which I think is important because it was all the same flavour... It was still very good! read more

Union Kitchen and Tap Encinitas - Cornbread skillet yo - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

Thank you to general manager Tyler for excellent customer service. They allowed me to bring a birthday pie in and didn't even charge a fee. He was so nice. Our sever Shay was very attentive. The food and drinks were excellent. I'll be back. read more

A family favorite! Whether downtown or north county, there's usually a union stop for us! Large pet friendly patio, great bar area, plenty of patio seating. Great for large groups. Great food variety for all to choose. Attentive service ties it all together! read more

Union Kitchen and Tap Encinitas - Bar area - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Chill spot to grab some drinks or have a meal, but reminded me of the big chain restaurants.... With less hype and not as good of specials. Service was decent and the drinks were pretty good. Overall, if I'm in the area I could see myself checking it out again. read more

Union Kitchen and Tap Encinitas - New American Near Me - Encinitas, California

It's been a while since I have returned to Union , Ambience is great. This place is a great place to hang out with friends or go on a date. The service was great, our waitress was very attentive. Next, the food filet mignon was perfect, very savory. Creole BbQ Shrimp was ok, lacked flavor. The worst dish was steak frites, very chewy. I would still return and try their other dishes. read more

OMG. This place is fantastic! Always searching for good Cajun food and it is very hit or miss, but Union did it right! We ordered shrimp and grits and the gumbo. Both were mouthwatering! The grits were rich and creamy. The shrimp full of flavor! Gumbo was hardy. Very yummy! The atmosphere is very relaxing. I like that you can sit by the big windows and watch the world outside while you dine. We are for sure coming back! read more

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