I love Karl Strauss for brunch, but I’m disappointed in my dinner. Out of all brewery’s I believe this place has the best food. I ordered a ribeye steak, and I’m a big fan or red meats. I was upset that they gave me a cut up piece of meat that doesn’t resemble a piece of ribeye. Allowing something like that to come out shows the lack of care in your food. On a positive not brunch is great here!
Shira M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 South Lake Tahoe, CA
We love coming for brunch! Food is much better than most buffet brunches. Love the omelet and pasta station. The prime rib was tender and deliciously seasoned. The whip cream on the waffle bar was real deal heavy whip cream, no substitutes here. The best part is the atmosphere, beautiful! It’s so relaxing being down in a tranquil Japanese garden surrounded by beautiful koi pond. You would never know you were surrounded by tech buildings. Love coming and we’ll be back!
Erika M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 San Diego, CA
I never knew this location existed! I’m so use to going to the 4s location. Definitely a hidden gem. My manager in this area told me about this place and took me here on our lunch break. The parking lot was full and even street parking was scarce. Once we parked I was nervous it was going to be a while before we got sat. Fortunately they sat us right away! Right when you come here you see a pond with coi fishes in there, its beautiful, very zen. Service was on point as well. I ordered the fish and chips, i like that the cole slaw had broccoli and spinach in it. They give generous portions too. It seems like this location has a lot more food choices than the 4s location. I can’t wait to come back here to try their different macaroni selections!
Alex N.
Rating des Ortes: 3 San Diego, CA
The food looks beautiful. But the meat was dry and cold. We waited 30 minutes dish. Very unsatisfied, I will not come back.
Jessica T.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Long Beach, CA
I came here for the brunch buffet on Sunday and loved it! What a cute atmosphere with live music playing from the center of the pond. All together the brunch buffet was ~$ 30/person. The buffet comes with either 1 glass of beer, a flight of 4 beers(customizable), their beer+mimosa mixer(they let you sample this), or bottomless mimosas. I sampled the beer+mimosa mixer and it was not that great in my opinion, a strange mix. The brunch buffet had customizable omelettes, prime rib, chicken, shrimp, customizable pastas, smoked salmon, potatoes, mashed potatoes, biscuits, waffles, and lots more! Everything tasted great. There were also desserts such as cheesecake, carrot cake, chocolate cake, and fruits. I definitely recommend this place if you want great food and a nice ambiance. There was plenty of parking and you have the option of sitting on the patio by the pond or inside with an open view of the pond!
Jericho S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Diego, CA
What a great place to come to after work! The building design displays an unique entrance. Half patio, half sports bar? Not bad at all! The beer is definitely quality! Start with a sampler before committing to a pint or two. I definitely recommend the carne asada fries if you’re a newbie here. Pros: Plenty of parking Laid back crowd Friendly staff Cons: Some prices of their food menu can be argued. It’s just above the normal value– but I’m really here for the beer, so it doesn’t matter.
Ashley E.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Diego, CA
This restaurant was better than I remembered. I hadn’t been here in over 10 years when I decided to stop by for dinner one night since I was in the area. Luckily it was during happy hour. I was also very fortunate to get a table outside next to the koi pond which kept my 3 year old entertained. There is a great deal on a beer flight for $ 5. You can choose any 4 on the menu. It was a great opportunity to try some of the beers that are offered. The waiter also suggested beers that would go well with what we were ordering. For an appetizer we ordered the pretzels. I personally only liked the cheese sauce that came with it but the pretzels didn’t really need it. They were absolutely delicious. For our main entrees I ordered the asada fries, my husband the piggy bank mac and cheese and for my son chicken strips. The asada fries were very good and different than any other carne asada fries, however once I tried the piggy bank mac and cheese I no longer wanted my food. That mac and cheese was amazing and it is all I wanted. If you love pork items, make sure you order it. You will not regret it. My son liked his chicken and the fries although he hardly ate because he loved the koi pond. This was a great night out for dinner and happy hour is a great time to come. We will definitely be back.
Alan N.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Cupertino, CA
I had a wonderful experience here. Coming here for my friend’s surprised birthday dinner, I was a little confused with its location since its tucked in a very corporate heavy area. Nonetheless, we followed the signs and found ourselves in front of Karl Strauss. I have to say I was taken aback by how gorgeous this brewery garden was. It felt almost Disneyland-esque with the large koi garden, the bridge to get to the restaurant, and the homey lodge cabin vibe inside. Although I didn’t personally order any beers, I had sips here and there but everyone seemed to be enjoying their respective beers — the flight plates being the most popular choice for our party. The food itself won’t be the most spectacular food you will ever eat. However, it definitely is better than most and I thoroughly enjoyed devouring my mesquite chicken sandwich. The farmhouse burger was also a popular one ordered in our party, which had smoked pork belly and a fried egg. I didn’t catch our servers name, but she was extremely sweet and even did checks separately for our party of 17, so it would be easier for us to pay within our group.
Crystal B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Torrance, CA
It’s a very interesting location for a Karl Strauss restaurant. It’s really in the middle of nowhere. It is located in the center of a huge business community with absolutely no residents near by. But despite the centrality of businesses, its one bustling restaurant with many people eating and drinking at the same time! I came to visit this place on a Monday afternoon and evening, and I was surprised to see how packed and busy a restaurant was on a Monday. One thing I found funny about this place was the size of their menu, a huge paper menu with the front written of all the food in maybe a 16 size font, with the whole back menu written in 40 size font the alcohol Karl Strauss Beer menu. Apart from the variety beer and alcohol menu, the food seems to be normal and average. But what makes this restaurant worth 5 stars is the ambience and the view and the gorgeous outdoor patio seating of the restaurant. Most bars restaurants are dark and noisy and bustling, therefore I tend to just eat and leave but this place… the ambience and atmosphere of this restaurant makes all the customer want to lounge around longer. The peaceful view of the garden, the small pond filled with coy fish along with the amazing san diego weather, you can’t help but want to order another meal and sit and chat for hours!
Karen G.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Jose, CA
Tucked in between a parking lot and tall building off of the street, this is quite literally a «hidden gem». I’ve stayed at hotels in this area several times and had never been here(and I had definitely not seen it). It’s a beautiful restaurant both inside and out! There is a lovely pond as you walk up to the retaurant, which has plenty of outside seating on a raised patio. The atmosphere is great for a happy hour with coworkers or a fun dinner date. Our server, Cynthia, was spectacular. She was very sweet, attentive, and so helpful. The menu left me wanting to try everything on it. All the items on the menu sounded unique without being pretentious. Here’s what I ordered and I thought all were delicious: — Hummus platter: came with pita and a side of chopped up kalamata olives — Asada fries: bits of carne asada and sauce over fries — Grilled shrimp and grits: A bit on the spicy sauce(not too much), with jack cheese mixed into the grits. First time I’ve actually liked grits! The shrimp was marinated and perfectly cooked. Cynthia even offered for us to try some beer samples to pair with our food. I opted out but my coworkers did and they liked it. I’ll definitely come back and do that one day. I can’t wait to return and try many more of their dishes!
Patrina C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 San Diego, CA
I like Karl Strauss because of its view! The food here is A-OK but the atmosphere if you are sitting outside is very nice. Located in an industrial area of Sorrento Valley is a little green space and they have done a nice job after its recently remodeling. We come here for Brunch. It is AYCE with mimosa for about $ 26 per person. My favorite item would be their fish and chips. It is so darn good! Come and enjoy a beautiful San Diego day here!
Robert S.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Fremont, CA
Met up some cousins while I was in the area and they suggested we come here for brunch. While pulling up to the parking lot, I missed it initially. The brewery is nestled in between two office buildings and isn’t clearly visible from the road. The nice thing is the seating area is tucked away in the garden so it doesn’t feel like youre in a business park just off the freeway. Also, the parking lot is huge and so there was plenty of space available. We showed up around 11 and while they were busy, we were seated right away. We were greeted by our waitress who was friendly and ordered our drinks while we were waiting for a couple of others to join us. With brunch, you get your choice of bottomless mimosas, a beer, or a flight of beer tasters. I went with the tasters and enjoyed every single one. I forgot what the seasonal beer was but it was a delicious IPA. The atmosphere was awesome. They had a musician playing in the middle of the pond in the outdoor garden area. The volume inside(both from people talking and the live music playing over the speakers) was moderate but not loud enough where you could not hold a conversation at your table. Once the rest of our party arrived, we went to get some food. There was a great spread of various types of food. They had your typical breakfast items including pancakes, waffles, eggs, sausges, etc; they also had an egg station for custom omelets; various lunch items such as ribs and chicken; and they even had a pasta station where you could custom order your dish. Something to note is that they do have a 2(or maybe 2.5) hour time limit on your table so that they can seat other patrons. Luckily we were finishing up as the time on our table ran out. Overall, I enjoyed brunch here and would love to go again when I’m in the area.
Abby W.
Rating des Ortes: 4 San Diego, CA
Brunch Review I’ve heard great things about Karl Strauss’ brunch so I was excited to give it a try when my boyfriend said that his family was visiting from out of state. I’m happy to say that it lived up to my expectations. There was a great selection of food, so great that I wasn’t even sure where to start! Ultimately, I decided to give breakfast a try first. The highlights for me were the waffle bar with strawberries and whipped cream(and a bunch of syrups that I didn’t try) and the breakfast potatoes. There’s an omelette station that sounds great but I’m a picky omelette eater. If there was turkey instead of ham, I definitely would have given it a try. For lunch, the pasta bar hit the spot. There’s a nice selection of veggies, noodles and sauces and the chef will prepare your pasta right in front of you. I combined all three sauces: marinara, alfredo and pesto, which is what I often do at home, and it was amazing. If you haven’t tried this combination, I highly suggest it. The chicken wings were good but a little spicy for a spice-wuss like me although a side of ranch for dipping helped balance that out. The meat from the carving station was a little disappointing. The beef was overcooked and the turkey was a little dry. The dessert station is lacking with only a few choices of cake. I’d prefer pie to cake any day. The bottomless mimosas were great. Just don’t plan on driving for awhile because they’re constantly topped off and it’s hard to judge how much you’ve actually drank. I did think it was odd that only one beer is included in the price yet the mimosas are unlimited. It was fine for me but my beer-drinking boyfriend didn’t like it.
Ros A.
Rating des Ortes: 3 University City, San Diego, CA
This review is for their Sunday Brunch. If I had to compare Karl Strauss to other Sunday brunch buffet(94th aero squadron, Tom Hams Lighthouse, Bali Hai, etc), I would say Karl Strauss is my least favorite. It is the cheapest, at about $ 26/person, since it doesn’t include seafood such as crab legs, but does have shrimp and some fish. And it is the closest to me, so I don’t have to drive far. I didn’t particularly enjoy brunch here because of how crowded and loud it was. Most tables, including ours, was very tight. They try to seat the most amount of people in the smallest possible tables. I had reservations set ahead of time, but yet was given a small table for a party of 10. Aside from our table being crowded, the next table is pretty close to you. And getting food, well of course that was a small area that was crowded as well. It’s pretty loud. There is live music, but I could barely hear the person two seats down from me. The food itself isn’t bad. For the food alone, I would rate higher. There is a made to order omelet and pasta station. Breakfast choices include biscuit and gravy, sausage, bacon, roasted potatoes, waffles, pancakes, and danishes. Lunch choices were blacked salmon, fish and chips, buffalo chicken, salads, etc. Fruits and desserts were included as well as mimosas. I would come back for brunch with a smaller party. With a large party it is hard to hear and you’ll likely be crowded. Reservations are highly recommended for brunch and they usually accept reservations for 10 and 12. Brunch hours are 10am — 2 pm.
Tiffany T.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Diego, CA
Karl Strauss really knows what they’re doing in terms of food preparation and great service. They REALLY care about good service and really train their servers and other employees well. Out of all the Karl Strauss restaurants I’ve been to(which is 3 including this one), I would say that this one is by far the best location. Parking: There’s a large amount of parking, so you never really have to worry. The restaurant is a bit tough to find for some people because it’s a bit hidden and located within a business area, but look out for the gazebo that says«Karl Strauss» on top to enter. Service: Wonderful service. They’re extremely professional here, but still very personable and the management is incredibly organized. Probably one of the most organized restaurants I’ve ever visited. Often times at lunch, there will be large crowds due to its location being heavily surrounded by businesses, but the management is very good at handling the stressful environment and accommodating all parties effectively. Food: Pretty much everything on the menu is very good and I have tried almost everything. My favorite would have to be the the Piggy Bank Mac & Cheese(it’s huge!) and all of their Mac & Cheeses are great and popular. All the beer here is really good too and you can’t go wrong with the Tower 20 or the Mosaic. Happy Hour is M-Th from 3 – 6PM. Tip: ALWAYS, ALWAYS reserve a table before coming in because it gets very crowded sometimes. Reserving ahead of time will save you a LOT of time, especially if you want to do brunch on Sundays where the crowds are the longest. This is the location with the beautiful koi fish pond and the pond seating is heavily requested, so if you reserve in advance, you can request the pond and be guaranteed a spot there. Also, this is the only Karl Strauss location that does brunch and the brunch is SUPER worth it! It’s around $ 26 – 27 per adult. Quality food throughout and you get a pint of beer, a taster flight, or a choice of bottomless mimosas.
Mel B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Diego, CA
Service and food was awesome at this location! I had came by for a private event and ordered: Prime top sirloin with garlic mashed red potatoes, sautéed broccolini and wreck alley imperial stout mushroom gravy. My sirloin was prepared medium. The top sirloin was seasoned well accompanied with the delicious gravy. The garlic mashed red potatoes and broccolini were excellent sides for this dish. The only complaint I had was that I wish my sirloin was cooked a little longer. Other than that, this dish was awesome. For dessert, I had the beeramisu. This was a slice of their tiramisu with a shot of their stout beer. The contrast of sour beer with slightly sweet tiramisu was a great combination! I nearly licked my plate clean. Service was impeccable. I really enjoyed my dinner here.
Merek C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Diamond Bar, CA
Before we get in to debate in the exoticism of Asian culture let’s just appreciate how awesome it is you can walk around with a beer in your hand while strolling through a Japanese inspired garden. This review is for the beer and the experience of drinking beer here. I’ve actually been here twice with company but the first time we found the place closed due to a Karl Strauss employee event going on elsewhere. However, the grounds were still open and we were able to walk around their facility. You would never know such a serene space could be built inside a commercial office district, but they managed to get it done. Our second visit was a couple nights ago to check out their beers after dinner. This time the place was open and boy was it packed. Luckily there was seating at the bar and we sat down to try their pours. Thursday and Friday night is cask night and I definitely recommend their tower 10 off the cask, dry hopped with Simcoe hops. It might be a bit different given year your beer is hand pumped(less carbonization) and served at around 55 degrees, but the fact that all the ingredients of the beer become more present, the aroma of the hops and the sweetness of the malt really make this a unique drinking experience you will be pressed to find elsewhere. Check out their other beers on tap and take a stroll though the garden if it’s still open. And grab a bite as well if you’re hungry, their menu looked quite amazing
Justin S.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Independence, MO
Solid enough. The food and the beer are all good. Nothing out of this world, nothing really to complain about. The service was good, the food felt fresh, I was pleased. Nothing overwhelmingly amazing, but no reason to shy away from the place.
Amanda B.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Poway, CA
My favorite place for Sunday brunch! This is also a good spot for a business dinner or date night. I will be back!
Mel H.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Diego, CA
My friend took me out this morning for brunch. I’ve been here before but only for happy hour; first time for brunch. Totally surprised me. Brunch buffet was good. Make ur own omelette was the bomb. They had all sorts of good from pancake, pasta salmon, roast beef etc. etc. was not able to try them all plus the endless mimosa. Pastries were really good too. Giving them 5 stars due to the atmosphere so nice sitting next to the Japanese Garden; cleanliness, delicious food and most important customer service. All of the staff that waited on us were very helpful, attentive and even took our bday pic and so nice and friendly. I will definitely return. We were there early so did not get a chance to listen to music that was suppose to start around 11. Highly recommend. Love the bright colorful fishes swimming around the pond.
Amy T.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Diego, CA
BRUNCHHERE! It’s buffet style(unlimited!!) and you get unlimited mimosas(OR…you can choose either 2 beermosas or 1 craft beer). I highly recommend sitting at the bar because BOB is the best. He’s fun, attentive and provides great service… plus you get to sit right next to the TV. Other then brunch, this venue has a great view and vibe. The do a lot of events(birthdays, rehearsal dinners and just any party). Seriously…try their beermosa(champagne, orange juice and windandsea).
Jennica S.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Chula Vista, San Diego, CA
This is the first brewery I have ever been to, and it wasn’t even for beer. Apparently this brewery is known for their brunch, and that’s the reason I went. I give the food a 3 – 3.5 rating, but because of the waiter and the ambiance, I give this place a high 4. Sunday brunch is a popular thing here, so the wait was to be no more than 45 minutes. My party enjoyed the scenery as we waited – there’s a beautiful Japanese looking garden with a koi pond by the entrance. There’s plenty of outside and inside seating, so if you can, sit outside to get that great view. Our waiter(I don’t remember her name, but she was a younger, blonde female) made my party’s experience even better because she was chill and hilarious. Only one person from our group has been to this place before, and I believe she liked it even more the second time around. The vibes of this place are awesome. The food is pretty tasty, but not the best ever. It’s buffet style, so you get up and choose whatever food you want. It’s a little overwhelming, but going section by section is always a good idea. Their bottomless mimosas were delicious and tricky because you mainly taste the orange juice, and they kept refilling as we would drink, even if the glass wasn’t empty yet. My favorite part of the buffet was the bacon, poke(it was rather spicy), and the omelette. I would definitely come back!
Michelle C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 San Diego, CA
Their food was good! Came here for lunch with my colleagues! :) Always make a reservation! Or the wait for lunch can be about 25 – 30 minutes! Waiters/waitresses were nice and helpful!
Meri D.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Escondido, CA
Out of all the Karl Strauss Restaurants this one stands out the most for the beautiful grounds with the Japanese Garden with the outdoor patio and the Sunday Brunch. The other ones I’ve tried were: Universal Citywalk, Costa Mesa, Carlsbad, La Jolla, and 4S Ranch. Downtown and Temecula locations would complete my K.S. bucket list. :P The food menu is great and every item I’ve tried has been satisfying. The fries are tasty and I used to always customize my fries and get garlic parmesan fries with a side of their cajun seasoning. The hummus & pita bread is also one of my favorite items to get along with their appetizing burgers. Tonight’s visit we were quoted a 45 minute wait, but then accommodated sooner which was a plus. The service was on the slower, forgetful side as my table got neglected and a refill which was asked for was never brought out until we asked a second time so minus a star for that, but other than that usually service has been good here. And of course the beer I absolutely love: Red Trolley, Wreck Alley, and Windansea! And their seasonal beer I was a fan of Padre Porter which they had a long time ago and currently their Peanut Butter Cup Porter is sooo perfect like a Reese’s taste all infused into a Porter pretty much. I’ve been going to this location for a long time for celebrations, happy hours, and dinner etc. Perfect for any occasion Karl Strauss Sorrento Mesa is the perfect brewery restaurant to eat and down their craft beer with nice scenery!
Angel K.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Jose, CA
It was New Years day and SEASTAR(aka Andrea K) had called in the night before to see if they would be open for brunch. However we didn’t realize that being open for brunch meant open for a brunch buffet. Our spirits were slightly crushed, however after walking inside to see the spread, hope was not lost! They had a make-your-own omelet station AND a create-your-own pasta dish station which was in addition to all the regular brunch goodies and more. The omelet and pasta stations had TONS of options with anything you would want in an omelet or pasta! There was huge slabs of meat that you could get slices of too! I wish I took a picture of it because it was incredibly delicious! Some of the other items available at the brunch buffet to take note of were ahi tuna, smoked salmon, the regular eggs, bacon, etc, really tasty pancakes with tons of different toppings and many, many desserts. The service was quite nice as well. We were seated outdoors and feeling rather cold, asked if we could turn on one of the patio heaters. However, when they turned it on, black specks started popping out of it and sprayed all our food with a nice coating of mystery black soot. The servers were really nice and got all of us new drinks and cleared our plates of food(that we hadn’t even eaten yet!). Oh, did I mention that the brunch buffet includes either one beer or endless mimosas that is already included in your bill? Whether you order it or not, the price is the same, so what’s to stop you? I definitely want to come back again some time and try their regular menu items. It’s such a nice place to hang out, especially with such good food!
Mandy L.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Encinitas, CA
I had my rehearsal dinner here, and I also come here after work for HH occasionally. First, my rehearsal dinner was obviously pre-planned. We had about 30 guests, and we were placed up on the deck behind the koi pond. Everything we set up when we arrived, with pitchers of beer for self-serving, and a pre-planned menu that we were able to select ahead of time. Everything ran smoothly, and all of our guests enjoyed the food, drinks and ambiance. I did get a mosquito bite for the first time in years, the day before my wedding :( I work in the area, so we occasionally come over here for HH. They have great specials, $ 4 flights of 4 tasters, or $ 5 glass of house wine. Appetizers are also on special, but I cannot recall the deal at the moment. Red Trolley is one of my favorites, but everything is worth a taste. Parking is somewhat complicated, as the lot is shared and sometimes parts of it are closed if you get there too early(I think before 5pm?), but I’ve always been able to find parking on the street if the lot is full. I’ve never had a problem finding a seat in the bar area, but it can get pretty packed.
Diann D.
Rating des Ortes: 4 San Diego, CA
What a welcome addition to the hum-drum lunch options in the Sorrento Valley area! You can relax to the point that you really forget you have to go back to work after your meal. My parents whom were visiting from out of town just met me here for lunch. This is classy and tranquil place to have a lunch or dinner, or even brunch according to other reviewers! Parking is a little crazy, but it’s easy to find a spot if you wait. So many people are coming and going that you rarely have to wait over a few minutes. I called ahead to make a reservation for 12:30 since I read it can get busy during lunch hours and I am so glad I did! There was a wait and the line kept building throughout our meal. We were seated promptly when we arrived and they let us choose between a high top and a seat right next to the koi pond. We took the seat next to the pond because the pond is absolutely gorgeous! My parents started with beer and we ordered the squid pro quo(calamari and baby green beans), beer belly(pork belly, brocollini, and poached egg), tabouli and melon salad, and plain mac and cheese for the table. It may have been an off day because the waitress kept forgetting to bring my dad a water, and the food took a while to come out, but once it did, it was all so good! My parents and I loved the creative combination of the fried calamari and baby green beans and this dish was quickly finished. The beer belly was one of my favorite food experiences I’ve had in awhile — the egg yolk and soft egg was so complimentary to the smokey pork belly, while the brocollini added an amazing crunch. My only complaint is that it got cold quickly since we were seated outside. The tabouli and melon salad was divine. It is one of those dishes where everything just works, even if you don’t know why. I’m glad we got the plain mac and cheese because it was perfect to round out the rest of the flavors we had going on in the meal. I would love to come here again and try the brunch, or as a getaway during the work week to step away from my job and relax a little bit. The food and atmosphere are perfect!
Chris R.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Tucson, AZ
Very nice place. A little outside of San Diego where I usually stay but worth the trek! Great meal, on a coy pond, in an Asian Garden?! Yes please!!! Food was solid. Good menu selection staff was professional polite and knew their beer.
Maria A.
Rating des Ortes: 4 San Diego, CA
I’ve only ever been to Karl Strauss for business lunches and happy hours, but I have to say it’s a nice hidden(literally, it is hidden, you can’t see it!) gem. There is usually a crowd at lunch so be sure to make a reservation ahead of time. There is seating outdoors around a koi pond and really nice landscaping(Japanese garden like), and there is also indoor seating. I’ve found that it gets really loud indoors, so prefer to sit outside weather permitting. The food is good, nothing amazing, but good enough where you can bring a client and not worry about it. Prices are fair. Overall a solid lunch spot in Sorrento Valley, which typically lacks solid lunch spots.
Aaron R.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Diego, CA
I love this place! My first visit was awesome. Everything just came together, from the entrance to the ambiance to the food. It’s in a place you most likely would least expect and the walk to the entrance is unique. You’re walking through what looks like a Japanese garden and then you find yourself at the entrance of the restaurant l, which is open air mostly. On one side of the restaurant they have a beautiful pond with perfect lighting at night. Sets the mood for a casual date, gathering, or to have great conversation. The food was great tasting! They have a menu with unique options of food and great tasting combination of flavors and of course a perfect variety of beers they brew. The service was friendly to the point where I almost wanted to ask the waiters to sit with my party haha. I don’t remember the waitresses name but she was awesome, she took care of us from when we sat down until we left the front door. No question about me coming back!
Ivory R.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Diego, CA
Found this gem through Unilocal searching for breakfast and brunch spots in my area. They suggested to make a reservation because walk in waiting times can be over an hour. So I made a reservation for Sunday brunch. I wanted to take my friend there for her birthday. Upon arriving, it’s very hidden. It’s in the business area in Sorrento Valley. Lots of parking available, however. The restaurant itself isn’t that big but it’s got a lot of character. The Japanese Garden with the lily pad pond makes for a serene view. There is plenty of outdoor seating if you choose to be outside. I asked to be indoors being that it’s been so hot lately. They do have AC inside even though the doors are open. The sliding windows were closed this time and I’m assuming because of the heat. Brunch is about $ 26 per person. What it gets you is access to the full brunch buffet and your choice of bottomless mimosas, a flight of Karl Strauss beers or 1 pint of beer. If it’s your birthday, either way you get a free pint of beer and a souvenir glass. The buffet had a omelette station, carving station, fruits and pancake/waffle table, breakfast table, entrée table and desserts. It’s a great deal. Our server Zachary was very friendly and accommodating despite how busy it was. He was nice enough to give us the heads up on the birthday special on the free beer and souvenir glass. They had a live band playing. 2 tv’s by the bar area showing NFL Football Sunday games too. Sundays open hours is from 10−2pm.
Ruby Y.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Los Angeles, CA
This location of Karl Strauss is BEAUTIFUL. It’s in an odd area, kind of like an industrial park, but it has a beautiful japanese garden outside that makes it a destination. The place can get quite packed, so maybe call ahead to make a reservation if you have your heart set on sitting somewhere specific. We came recently and sat on the patio and had a great time. The beers are all excellent and the service is very good — you can always ask to sample something before you order it so you know you’ll like what you get! The menu is humungous, and has a lot of variety, so it can be very difficult making a decision and some items are hits and some are misses, but the service and ambience are the real draw. Of the food items I’ve tried, I really enjoyed the hummus, which we get every time, and any of the mac and cheeses. The fries are also good. My friend ordered the steak and we were pleasantly surprised to find that it was cooked to a perfect medium rare. I’ve had the piri piri wings, but I didn’t enjoy them.
Amy S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Arlington, VA
The first thing you see when you walk in is their beautiful pond and garden. You definitely want to sit on their patio just to be surrounded by a one of a kind atmosphere. My friends and I ordered calamari and their wings as appetizer. The wings were really good! The flavor isn’t your typical American wings. It had more of a tangy zest to it. The calamari was served with green beans that were also in tempura batter. That was good too. I ordered their beer brined pork chops. There were two large pieces. Surrounding it came with a sweet sauce topped with wasabi. The dish also came with mash potatoes, green beans, carrots, and broccoli. It’s a lot of food but you’re getting what you paid for!(I believe it was $ 22. I may be wrong.) I had to give a piece to my friends cause it was just so much! I enjoyed the dish very much and I hope I can come back and try their brunch buffet!
Lawrence C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Palm Desert, CA
This brewery garden was one-of-a-kind! I have never been to a bar with a koi pond alongside the dining area. It was stunning and a complete surprise, considering how the area looked more like a business complex with corporate grey buildings galore. You wouldn’t suspect this beauty of an establishment to be hiding here. I went straight to the bar and the bartenders were great. They were very knowledgeable about all the beer and could help pick for the indecisive drinker. And the beers are all very good. They are not what I call very unique beers, but they are a high quality beer that I commend. Definitely coming back here for dinner some time. They have happy hour specials and awesome food that goes beyond«bar food». If you are in the area and love craft beer, you have to stop by this place.
Michelle H.
Rating des Ortes: 4 San Diego, CA
I’ve been here on two occasions: a close friend’s wedding which we were apart of & Easter Sunday brunch. For the wedding, the restaurant had not been remodeled yet so the layout was different. The patio area is more spacious now and the new wood feels more refined. The event coordinator seemed to do an okay job the day of the wedding and everything went smoothly but I wouldn’t know first hand since it wasn’t our wedding ;) the garden and pond is beautiful, however, and their wedding pictures turned out pretty epic(hint: get a good photographer). Onto brunch! We had called to make reservations for our friend’s birthday which happened to coincide with Easter and the only slot available was 9am when they opened. This ended up working to our advantage though, since the buffet lines became incredibly crowded and a huge hassle to navigate through towards the end of our meal just before 10am. They had a table with refreshments and small hot sauce cups filled with cut fruit for people to munch on while waiting to be seated out front, and we were promptly seated and greeted on the upper deck of the patio. The omelette station moved pretty quickly and it’s nice to be able to build your own. There’s also a pasta station and a carving station with prime rib along with some breakfast foods in warming trays serving the usual eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, biscuits, and gravy. The pastry table had an assortment of danishes but no croissants. Plenty of bagels but I couldn’t spot the cream cheese. There were also plenty of pancakes and waffles with assorted toppings including strawberries, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, almonds, chocolate chips, etc. for the record, the waffle was surprisingly excellent – crisp on the edges and fluffy within. There’s also a long table in the back with more lunch type items like buffalo wings, sliders, chicken tenders, build your own salads, shrimp, vegetables, and mashed potatoes. The dessert table boasted slices of cake and cookies. The buffet that day was $ 31, even though they had told us $ 24 when we made the reservation. Our server had also accidentally charged us for a coffee that was ordered, but another server was able to take it off our bill saying he probably pressed the wrong button… Check your receipts! The mimosas here were mostly orange juice but you have the option of asking for just champagne or beer as well. Food overall was good, especially for a buffet, but the area in which the buffet is layed out felt waaayyy too cramped… Especially when the restaurant started to fill up with more people. It was difficult to get by any of the lines to reach something you wanted because the line essentially wrapped through every part of the buffet by 10am. I suggest you go early and get a head start if you don’t want to stand around forever waiting to get food with heavy plates in your hands. An overall good value for a brunch buffet with a nice ambience. There may not be as many options or space as Tom Ham’s but a good alternative if seafood isn’t your main priority.
Shanise M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Redwood Shores, CA
4 stars mostly for the scenery haha. Very pretty Japanese-style garden and pond nestled in a huge office park(nearly got lost finding the place…). Glad my group got seated right next to the pond! I got their burger and it was average, probably wouldn’t get it again. Got a beer sampler of 4. I’m not a big fan of any of their specific brews but it was a good relaxing end to my day and it’s still delicious beer. Brewery environments with decent food are always a fun place to just hang with some friends. I’d be back just to stare out into the garden again. :)
Bill T.
Rating des Ortes: 4 New York, NY
Another brewery-type setup in an office park! Oh San Diego, you’re so intriguing! Came here for a post-conference dinner and was delighted by everything. The setting is actually beautiful… we were seated outside on a deck in a parklike setting. Service was excellent and the food was tasty. I had a chicken sandwich and was very pleased. One of my dining companions had the porkchops which featured a pair of chops the size of a baby elephant’s ear! The beer was just okay, in my uneducated opinion. I tried two that sounded good on paper but were a little flat, weak and lacking flavor. Parking was tough in the main lot right in front of the entrance, but there are more places to park in the office park. All in all, I had a wonderful evening here so I must give it four stars.
Orlando Javier M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 México, D.F., México
Otro restaurante muy recomendable en San Diego, la variedad de vinos en la carta no es muy amplia pero ellos mismos hacen su cerveza y el meatloaf del miércoles es extraordinario aun cuando tiene champiñones que detesto. El jardín estilo japonés lo hace único y el servicio es muy amable.