Encontro North Park

I’ve been here about 10 times and the food is either really great or mediocre. For the price, it’s not worth the gamble. They obviously switch the chefs out at non peak hours and the food quality isn’t as good as when it’s very busy. I’m not exactly sure when to get the good chefs but if I could check beforehand without being a douche I probably would.
When it’s good, it’s worth the money. The ambiance and food are delicious. Staff is nice. Props to grilled little gems and portabello fries. Unique and tasty!
When it’s bad, the Brussels are under cooked and they skimp out on the bacon, grilled little gems are bitter (not enough dressing) and possibly under cooked, the burger was overdone once.
Also, square register is so awkward when it comes to tipping. How do I know I am going to like your service when I order my food at the register? It’s not a full service place type deal so you drop off my food and don’t have to see me again unless I need to get your attention. And if I don’t tip at the register, I look like a dick. The cashiers can see your tip amount (not saying they’re bad servers by any means. It’s just a weird situation.)

They’ve raised prices and cut quality. I knew this day would come but it still breaks my heart!
Still decent food for a price you’d expect of a location like that.

The internets tell me that «encontro» means «found» in Spanish. Which is interesting because there’s practically nothing on the menu that is Spanish or Mexican or otherwise Latin American. What the name reflects, and the menu confirms, is that the restaurant’s concept seems to hinge on «finding” – in the sense of Columbus – the cuisines of other cultures and giving them an American spin. So, yeah, there’s a degree of cultural appropriation going on here, but I’d lying if I said that the result doesn’t often approach deliciousness.
I ordered the lamb sausage, which comes with tzatziki sauce and mint on a French roll. Basically, it’s Mediterranean kofta/​kefta on a bun, which means the dish isn’t terribly original, but it was still pretty tasty. The one item on the menu that did strike me as being fairly original, the portabello fries, also ended up being the real highlight. (The other reviews suggest I’m not alone.) The preparation reminds me (favorably) of chicken-​fried steak, complete with a hearty, meaty texture.
Summary: Find it.