4. Restaurants

Plan 9 Alehouse

155 E Grand Ave, Escondido, CA, 92025
  • (760) 489-8817
  • Store is closed

Plan 9 Alehouse Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

  • L A.

    Took my team of 9 here for a company lunch. We try some place new every quarter and because of the high yelp ratings, we gave it a go. I have a bunch of finicky eaters and for the most part, everyone loved their meals. The appetizers Jalapenos - Not the typical breaded and fried . . . these were freshly grilled and stuffed - excellent Falafael - nothing extraordinary Brussel sprouts with Bacon - as good as it gets Entrees Cubano . . . not the original, but as good as i've found in North County - Excellent Caesar salad . . . Not what we're use to . . . has tomatoes (not a fan) and it is a head of lettuce cut in two and then the cut side was grilled - not a crowd pleaser Porky's Revenge - ordered by several and they all loved it I really wanted to try the grilled cheese with Bacon Jam . . . next time! Because it was a work function, no beer was had . . . but the selection looked wonderful . . . some expensive bottles though . . . as high as $37 The place was slow and service was good. I will go again . . . and have a beer!

    (4)

  • Yochanan Sebastian W.

    Totally mediocre place. Beer selection was undistinguished, food was boring and the ambience was absolutely unmemorable. The falafel appetizer was the worst example of Middle Eastern food I've ever had. Prices are premium too. No thanks.

    (1)

  • Scott C.

    What a great place to grab a Brü some delicious food you wouldn't expect and grab a Brü...I might have mentioned that twice but the selections are worth talking about more then once! The atmosphere is cool and welcoming from the knowledgeable staff on all the beer available. With so many great choices, do yourself a favor and try a samplers choice to taste before a final decision. The food was incredible with choices of a wide variety all delicious full of flavor! But don't just take my word...go and enjoy it for yourself!

    (5)

  • Fiona M.

    Oh yea! Best Brussels Sprouts Eva!!! Roasted, with Bacon, orange zest, syrup and their own IPA mustard! Oh , and the beer! Yess!!!! There is a small play area for kids...where were places like this when my kids were young??? A must try!!!

    (4)

  • Josh T.

    Gross food tonight. It took over an hour and a half to get our food. Our server was sweet, the atmosphere was okay. I think this place deserves another chance to redeem itself. I had the pulled pork and they ran out of the coleslaw for the pulled pork. The BBQ sauce wasn't edible.

    (2)

  • Fritz P.

    Everything seemed awesome it was a slow afternoon as it was 15:00 but the menu looked great and my BLT was unique and delicious. The lunch menu would have been a better choice as the single serving of the BLT was a lot great service with a bar you can slide drinks 20 ft down to customers like you see in the movies.

    (4)

  • Amy L.

    Just had dinner there and enjoyed it a lot. Husband had the coffee & lavender steak and i had the porkys revenge (pulled pork sandwich.) Great food, good beer and the rootbeer is authentic, not cheap nasty crap. Service was perfect. Thanks guys!

    (5)

  • Kashurra U.

    So this is my second time here, and have to say I'm disappointed... The first time we came, we had the Plan 9 Frites; french fries, porter gravy, mozza, and charred green onions. The green onions really make it pop, delish! Today the fries arrive with no green onions. The server tells me they ran out?! Who the heck runs out of green onions? Why not send someone to any one of the numerous grocery stores in the area? And just so we're clear, the fries are quite popular, I saw 4 tables other than ours who ordered them. Service is so-so, you get the feeling they don't care one way or the other if you're satisfied. Also ordered the Porky's Revenge pulled pork sandwich. The meat was tender and tasty, but overwhelmed by the too-bitter red ale bbq sauce..actually made it inedible to me. However, they get top marks for the awesome root beer float made with their home brewed root beer. We would come back just for that! Amending this review slightly as my float came out with the spoon practically submerged, how am I supposed to use it? Service needs work for sure.

    (3)

  • Bill P.

    Why haven't I written this review before??? Hmmm maybe because every time I come in I'm having such a good time that I forget to write about it. Knowledge. ..that's what comes to mind when we're talking about the staff and craft beer. No matter who you get behind the long concrete bar they all know their shit when it comes to craft beer. I don't even order any more, they just pour me the best IPA'S they have on draft, and trust me they are always spot on. Enough about the the beverages, let's talk food. One word comes to mind when we're talking about the food AMAZING!!!. My go to is a toss up between the BLT, which is a root beer braised pork belly and the skirt steak with chimiechurrie. ..yummm . everything on the menu is top notch. And the service is nothing short of impeccable. If you want the best of both worlds, come here for your foodie and your craft beer fix, this place is a must try on your quest for full satisfaction . They also offer wine so feel free to include those friends in your party. I will be coming back often because I know a good thing when I see it. Try it yourself you will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Mykka S.

    First time coming here! And they have been awesome Chris THE Man behind the bar knows his stuff! So helpful for me and my friend! Picking the right beer with the right food. I will come back again and with friends!

    (4)

  • Rob P.

    I met a friend for a beer here while staying in San Marcos. We came in rather late, and we only had a beer each. But the staff was great, letting us chill and catch up while they closed up shop around us. The beer list was great, too. I don't remember what we ended up ordering, but there's something for everyone here. My only complaint is that the bar was lacking a super fun vibe, it was just sort of mellow.

    (4)

  • Richard H.

    Been there twice and I will not return. The service staff is slow and disorganized. It's not like the place was very busy. Server didn't write the order down so when our lunch arrived, 2 of three plates were the wrong menu item. Then the server says" are you sure you didn't order this?". So there I sit with my correct meal, while my two guest wait for their pulled pork sandwiches for almost another 15 minutes. The kitchen must be small and understaffed like an after thought. If you can stand the "service", the food is good as is the beer. I had the Skirt Steak and it was very good. My lunch friends enjoyed The Porky's Revenge pulled pork sandwiches. I hope these guys will figure out how to run this place as it could be great. You either need more staff and/or a very pro-active manager. While I was there, I never felt that my business there was appreciated. Too many other places get it right from the time you enter to the time you leave. I'd say give it a try but understand it maybe the same experience i had , twice! Cheers.

    (2)

  • Katie H.

    Definitely not worthy of 4 stars. We had high hopes because of the yelp reviews but this place was a waste of time. We ordered the blt sandwich to split. Took 30 minutes to get our meal when the place wasn't even crowded. The sandwich was horrible. Only good thing about the meal was the garlic fries. We were expecting a few house brewed beers but they only had guest beers. Definitely disappointed.

    (1)

  • Phoebe C.

    Ambiance: Open loft feel with concrete floors and the garage wall rolled up. Cute children's section in the back with chalkboard to doodle and toys to play with...not that I have kids or anything. Also, checks off my irrelevant list of things I have a penchant for: cursive writing and taxidermy, to name a few. Food: Non-standard bar food that surpasses all expectations. Got the No-Meat Sandwich with portobello mushrooms and a side of salad with Plan 9 vinaigrette. Salad dressing was light and on par. My friend got the BLT with fries and she devoured the whole thing as well. I can't speak for my friend, but this is probably the first time I've felt satisifed without feeling guilty eating "bar food." Food tasted fresh, and was both light and filling. Next up: have to try the beers on tap.

    (5)

  • Jennifer D.

    I've been coming here since before the grand opening and I must say the crew is awesome I love the atmosphere and the beer is always on point, Chad and Aaron are great people and I highly recommend checking the place out if you are ever in the area! definitely will be coming here till my death bed arrives.

    (5)

  • Gutzy S.

    Awful service. Meh food - trying to be trendy without flavor goes no where. Atmosphere is loud and sterile and industrial. If youre not a loud talker you will be lost in the clanging volume. Did I say awful service? No drink order to start - just menus. For 5 minutes try to catch the servers attention but she's got tunnel vision. I think if your "friends" with the staff you might get some attention so buddy up. Finally beers ordered. Any change from the menu was an ordeal for the server.

    (1)

  • amanda n.

    We've been to Plan 9 twice and had a great experience both times. The first time was one of their "keep the glass" nights with Julian Hard Cider. We had the duck wings, cheese plate, and "porky's revenge" sandwiches and everything was great. We had to wait a bit for the pork because they had run out earlier, but we weren't in a rush and our server warned us right away (and we chose to order them anyway). We finished the night w/root beer floats which were also great. Today, we went back for lunch and sat on the patio with our pup. Our server brought him a dish of water which was greatly appreciated. I ordered the shrimp sandwich and my husband got the cubano. I loved my sandwich! I was looking for something a little less heavy and it fit the bill. The shrimp were sweet, the slaw was amazing w/pickled strawberries, and I had fruit on the side (strawberries and cantaloupe). My husband enjoyed his sandwich, but preferred the "porky's revenge." We finished our meal with a root beer float for my husband, and the "key limey" for me. Both were great. Their beer selection is amazing, featuring more sours and specialty beers than you see on other craft beer menus which makes me happy. We'll keep going back!

    (5)

  • Amy B.

    I am rounding up to be kind. 3 1/2 is my actual "grade." They have a nice selection of beer. I like the atmosphere as it's pretty comfy and I find the look appealing. The service is weird. Never been great or awful yet somehow makes you feel a little uncomfortable. Food is good enough. Nothing spectacular. Maybe they should be a three star...but there isn't anything much better in the area so it wins by default.

    (4)

  • Joel A.

    So i had to update this review. The level of service is at the floor. So we start off by sitting down and i was going to ask a waitress walking around for some menus but before i even finished my 2nd word ahe cut me off and said "hes your waiter" (pointing at another guy, he was chubby, white, and it seemed like he was a red hair with beard) So this guy comes up to our table and literally throws us our menus. What the heck kind of waiter does that? This place seriously needs to up its game. The food was good tho. And the beer selection is in my opinion the best in Escondido. However, after we got our food and beer they just left and never came back. We were looking for a waiter /waitress but the only ones we saw were the ones at the restaurant across the street. Lol. I seriously had to get up and ask for a glass of water. And then i had to get up and ask for the tab. Dude this placr sucks. I paid about 60 bucks. And i left them a $1 tip. IN YOUR FACE CRAPPY SERVICE. The 2 stars is for the good food and great beer selection. Would i come.back? No way.

    (2)

  • Amy D.

    Great place to catch up with friends. Great beer selection ! Food is mostly consistently good (unless they have a full house, but then, those who can keep up with a full house certainly deserve 6 stars! ) While not often, they do change up their menus. Must try: skirt steak & fries or ceasar salad, duck wings (if you love spicy food), corn cheddar soup. Pork belly sandwich is a bit on the extremely greasy side (yes, I know what pork belly is, but theirs is just too "juicy"). Nice ambience indoor, dog friendly outdoor. Overall, highly recommended.

    (4)

  • Dimple B.

    In "downtown Escondido" there were a few places to check out for lunch, but a couple of friends and I opted for this location because of their vast beer selection and appetizing menu. We were just in time for lunch specials - $8 for half a sandwich or salad plus a side. Not bad! Especially because the food was really good. So were the drink options. I really wanted to try the black & blue Julian cider but unfortunately it was by the bottle only (22 oz) and I wasn't feelin that for 11 am on a later-busy day. I tried the Aprihop and really enjoyed it. I like that they have sampler sizes (4 oz) for between $2-3 for many, if not all, their craft beers. For lunch I tried the 'haus' salad which came with strawberries, mandarin orange, and a pale ale vinaigrette that was delicious (and this comes from someone who doesn't usually care for vinaigrette dressing). That salad was perfect for such a warm day. I got the side of fries, which was a generous portion and tasted so fresh and good. It may sound weird but the highlight of my meal was the "house ketchup", which was darker and a little spicier than the ol' Heinz we're all used to. I really enjoyed the fries and ketchup. One of my friends got the exact meal as I did and also really liked it. Our other companion tried the BLT (also part of the special) which came with pork belly as the 'B'. His review of that meal consists of leaving a completely spotless plate behind. The desserts were intriguing (house root beer float, fudgy stout brownie!) but we were too full this time around. Next time I'm in the area I'd like to return for happy hour and to try more of their menu!

    (4)

  • Mike P.

    Sure, this place is pretty hip. The minimalist, industrial design is reminiscent of a certain fast casual burrito chain. But that's no matter. The beer selection is pretty top notch. They have a brew for pretty much any palette and reasonably-priced tasters. All pretty standard for a San Diego gastropub. The food is really what makes this place stand out. Unlike other tap houses, Plan 9 has what seems like gourmet and artisanal food. The BLT is made with pork belly, for example. Everything I've tried is good. Seriously a step up from 49 cent wing days. Oh, and they make their own amazing, homemade ketchup. They get points for that. It's not the cheapest place to grab a drink, and the service can be slow at times, but if you're a foodie or craft beer aficionado, pay them a visit.

    (4)

  • Jen E.

    Don't get me wrong, I love beer and I love alehouse, breweries and where ever else I can get a large beer selection AND tasty grub, but with the explosion of the San Diego region's beer movement the numbers have swelled to the point that the quality has slipped. Case in point, Plan 9 Alehouse. Here's the thing, on the surface it seems like a great establishment. While definitely minimalist in nature, I could almost feel a Chicago vibe in the air. The people working there are way friendly and though really loud inside (ever think about some tiles on the ceiling to cut down on the din?), it's a cool place -- lots of light and space and air. Also great prices and a big beer list. Problem was, there were a lot of the same kind of beers. Bigger problem still, the menu was small and the food did nothing to distinguish itself. I found it bland, trendy, and definitely overpriced. I like the vibe, as rough around the edges as it is, and would hope that this is all a work in progress. There are the makings of a great place to hang out, if only in some diversity...and perhaps an injection of personality.

    (3)

  • Richard F.

    Well we ended up coming back sooner than I expected. Some friends of ours hosted a bottle share here. Plan 9 was very awesome to no charge a corkage fee. So for this reason we all knew we would be buying food and a few bottles from their list(wish offers a great selection). The manager on duty was very helpful and attentive to our group. My wife and I started with stuffed jalapeños. They came out quickly. I was slightly disappointed that they weren't crispy fried jalapeños but that didn't matter after we tried them. They were delicious and the sauce was a perfect complement! Next we ordered the bacon jam grilled cheese to share. Great sandwich lots of flavor, has green apples which gave it s fresh crunch and nice sweetness. Came with golden crispy fries! Perfect sandwich to share! All in all I was ver happy with my visit this time. I would recommend this place to any foodie or craft beer enthusiast!

    (5)

  • Summer A.

    I have to go from a four star to a three star... The service is still just eh. This forever for a server to "claim" you so you get consistent service. Once you get a server, you're golden, but it's the lead up that sucks. Beer is still great. Food... Last time, the food was pretty decent. This time I just wasn't thrilled. I got the Haus Salad with tarragon chicken. The salad itself was decent. The chicken, however, was barely seasoned and actually tasted boiled. I ate half of the chicken and gave up. I feel their menu needs to step up a knotch...

    (3)

  • Jacinta Á.

    The best place to have beers in downtown escondido in my opinion, they have a wide selection that can fit any taste and there selections always changing, they also have a beer of the month thats cheaper if ur on a buget, i like the light beers they have here very soothing and refreshing, the food here looks pretty good to but it is pricey which is why i dont really eat the food but is ld like to try there steak and garlic fries eventually, the only thing that sucks here is i wish there hours were longer, if they were then i would probably give this place the five stars it deserves

    (4)

  • Renee M.

    What a busy place on a Friday! Employees at the bar were so friendly and nice for how crowded it was. I had hard cider, my man had a beer! Lots to choose from on the beer menu, not much for wine and cider, but at least they have something other than just beer! Will be back- their menu looks pretty awesome, and the car show on Friday draws in a lot of people!

    (4)

  • Caligirl P.

    First lemme start by saying that anytime you're in a restaurant where multiple servers are taking care of you chances are you're in for a great service experience and that's definitely what's happening here ;)) The food is outstanding and goes above & behind bar food in so many ways...the steak with lavender and frites is one of the most tasty dishes I've ever had and the vege sandwich was above and beyond delicious! Their homemade ketchup and chimchurri sauce is delectable! Oh yes and of course...great beer!

    (5)

  • Holly C.

    I came here with my toddler for a quick bite (and a beer). The staff were really sweet to my daughter and the play area for kid's in the back is a nice thought. But I think it is just an afterthought. There was no diaper changing table in the restroom I used, which I thought was a little strange if they cater to families. The play area made me nervous because the entrance and exit, which is not gated, is right next to a side station and the busy traffic area going to and from the kitchen. My daughter played with a 6 year old who was disappointed at all the electronic toys in the play area that had the batteries taken out of them. Better to not have battery operated toys at all in my opinion. I found it amusing that some kids tried to cover up the "as slaves" part in the "Unruly children will be sold as slaves" sign with chalk. The kids menu was limited - grilled cheese or chicken fingers. It was a good deal, though. $5 for a huge grilled cheese plus a lot of fries. The food that we tried was just ok, though. I tried a nachos special that sounded good with spicy cheese, green onions, sour cream, and salsa. But the chips didn't taste so great. The beer selection was good, although I don't recall seeing anything unique. It was unclear whether they brew their own beer. If so, I didn't see any Plan 9 selections on the beer menu.

    (3)

  • chris m.

    Decided to try this place on a whim, since we were in the area. Delicious food, great beer selection, fun movies on the television (as well as sports events on another). I had their steak and caesar plate & it was amazing! I didn't get my bacon bread croutons, so that made my caesar salad a little plain, but I figured I didn't need the extra carbs anyway, since I was having beer. I love their version of a caesar salad: grilled romaine wedges. So good! I also had a taster size of a beer and their homemade root beer, which is delicious. Plenty of seating & even an extra area in the back to relax. Would be good if you were just going for beers & snacks. Great service, friendly staff, we'll be back.

    (4)

  • Cristi W.

    This place is awesome! We happened upon it while at cruising grand. It was super busy but that didn't hurt the service or the wait for food/drink. Everyone was friendly and our food was unique and delicious!! We will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Carmen V.

    4 girlfriends, Saturday night and a semi deserted downtown Escondido. And wine in the to drink list but everyone closing their shops. Oh, wait, a new ale house in town looking pretty, full with people and nice design. So there we go, giving it a try. We all liked it a lot and had a great time, maybe because we were in very good mood after being pampered at a fashion show:) We liked the for kids space, although I guess I would not like to be in such place surrounded by them, but good for parents. Then I noticed that there was another space behind the children's area...a very cool one all decorated with some sort of series B Sci-Fi movie posters and items. Very neat, plus our table was super cute and photogenic with those bottle caps. Service was prompt and we ordered a bottle of wine for the 4 of us plus the sweet potato wedges, Brussels sprouts and shrimp. Everything was tasty as we were very hungry, but we really wanted the Brussels à la Bo-Beau... but no, they were kind of saggy. I liked them as well but cannot compare if you have tried those before. Definitely I will go back to try craft beer and more items in the menu.

    (4)

  • Jeff S.

    This place is a bit of hidden gem in Escondido. They have an awesome beer selection and a unique happy hour pricing system. It's roomy and clean inside and still has some nice outdoor seating along the street as well. Like I said, their beer selection is solid and their happy hour, albeit a little unique, for the most part, is pretty solid as well. Their HH pricing on select beers is "progressive", meaning that they are $3 at 3:00, $4 at 4:00 and $5 at 5:00-end of HH. It's a unique approach to say the least. It's cool but perhaps flawed if you're a late HH patron. With that said, indoors is nice, spacious and has a cool pub style decor and has plenty of tables and seating. Definitely a cool vibe. There are a couple seats and tables outside as well if you feel like hanging out streetside. Service was great although they did run out of a Beer I wanted to try. Other than that, it all went smoothly. I can't really knock on this place much other than I wish their HH pricing was just $3 during the entire HH period. However, that caveat isn't enough to deter me from coming here. Especially when you consider that it's probably the best place in the area to get some quality/craft beers. Anyway, that's my take on this place.

    (4)

  • Jason K.

    Food was excellent, service was incredible! Janelle and Millard were on the ball and very very friendly! I would have to say our table was cleared once we liked the plates and the beer and tasters were fast and COLD! I think we just found our new bar!

    (5)

  • Kari S.

    I just moved to the area and have been spoiled by having several breweries always withing a walking distance or short bike ride from my house. Escondido is definitely more spread out and I was on the hunt for some awesome beer. Upon recommendation, a co-worker told me to stop by O'Sullivans. On my way through the Farmers Market (which is also on Tuesdays) to O'Sullivans, I walked past Plan 9 Alehouse. I knew i wanted to stop by after dinner for a night cap. The beer list was pretty phenomenal from the Bruery to many local beers. I liked how the layout of the bar/dining room and even a kids area was set-up. There is so much room, I highly doubt you would ever feel super crowded in this bar. All of the servers were super nice and attentive. My glass was never empty. I'll definitely be back again and most likely for SDBeer week in November. They have a great list lined up already. I didn't give it 5 stars because I did not get a chance to try the food. Shrimp and grits looked pretty dang tasty. I'll have to revise my review once I've had some grub.

    (4)

  • V C.

    The beer is good here but the service was not. The guys at the bar were throwing coasters at customers. Not sure if that is a thing but I didn't get it. They were not very friendly towards my friend and I. Maybe because we aren't hipsters or regulars. They didn't even ask if we needed change when we payed our bill but assumed all of it was for them. I will be going down the street to O'Sullivan's instead. The last time I went here there was a girl at the bar working and she was really nice. The 2 guys however were not.

    (2)

  • Rayna J.

    Of course yelping around I saw this lil spot pop up! Cool right in my neighborhood. It's Friday night why not give it a shot. First impression was the place was packed. We grabbed one of the last tables available. Well it was actually a oak barrel keg table with 3 stools. Perf! I liked the vibe. We sat. We stared. We waited. Nothing. Finally after we considered leaving a waiter popped up to tell us he'd be right with us. We sat. We stared. We waited. Another 10 minutes and finally our order was taken for drinks. Btw only 4 employees in the whole joint on a Friday night. Fail. Ok rough start. But it got a lot better hence the 3 stars. They brought out our drinks within minutes of taking our order. We ordered the sweet potato wedges as an appetizer. Legit 4 wedges. Huge wedges. Equalling one sweet potato. That's ok cause it was amazeballs. Yes amazeballs. Soft delish dipped in ketchup or house mustard I think it was. Mmmmm little bit of spice. Perfect way to add some flavor. We tried several tasters of beer. All flavorful but like most places now a days carrying most local beer is the reg. I had the haus salad with chicken. I loved it. I mean it was just a regular chicken berries apples vinaigrette salad but it was tasty. I would pick it up to go. Husband had the Blt. Should have paid attention that it was pork belly. Not norm bacon. But still bomb. So atmosphere was cool but the walls were plain. They had an awesome corner with tons of kids toys and crafts. Seemed cool to bring ur kids. A whole back area with couches. Had I seen them from the front I would have rushed back there. One of my favorite parts or barrel room in rb is the couches. Definitely have to check it out next time!! So going to give them another chance to rectify their service time. Or at least time to take drinks! & try those couches!

    (3)

  • Rawley D.

    Well I thought going in they brewed beer (They used too) But nice selection of local beers on tap, Maybe 15? Nice menu of food, Good prices. I just wish they were showing both versions of Plan 9 the movie on the monitors...Oh well.

    (4)

  • Michelle Y.

    I'm unfortunately a bit meh on Plan 9. I'll come back for drinks but more than likely not hungry. I don't eat red meat and their entire menu is pretty much based around beef/pork dishes. I had the no-meat-which and it was extremely boring and underwhelming, French fries were good. Think my friend enjoyed the Cubano but menu for my diet choices just doesn't work out/enthuse me. Server was nice, place was busy and patio is dog friendly though so drinks it is!

    (3)

  • Marisol L.

    I just wanted to leave a tip that for those with younger kids: bring your Heinz. :-) We went for dinner with our set of 2 adults and 2 toddlers along with another family of two adults, 1 toddler, and 1 baby. The 8 of us had a great time. Our one glitch was that they make their own ketchup - which taste good to me - but it definitely not what the little ones expected (even though they are pretty good eaters). I totally get P9A's standards for excellent food but, unfortunately, our kiddos were not having it. They did give us a bowl of gravy to dip their fries, which some of our kids enjoyed. Overall, great addition to the Grand strip of restaurants.

    (4)

  • Kasey R.

    First off I want to say I think it's pretty pathetic that the owner of this place likes to come on here and bash customers for leaving a bad review! Its bull that you turn someone's bad experience around on them and tell them what they should of done differently. Why don't you take the bad reviews and build off them instead of getting offended and trying to make yourself look perfect. Not everyone is going to like your hipster hangout so your just going to have to suck it up. Now let me tell you about my personal experience... off the bat you can tell it's a locals hangout with mostly regulars and that's fine but when you are getting ignored because the bartender is too busy grab assing with his buddy's then it becomes a problem. When we did get the food we ordered it was brought out directly under a giant beard on a guy that looked like he should be the bouncer there. We did not enjoy the food at all. Call me crazy but this weird menu thing they have going just does not work for me. I guess I'm just old fashioned and prefer my food to have good flavor. I had a bad experience all the way around so shame on me! There is better dinning options in the area. I'm sure the owner will tell me how wrong I am and what I could do differently to have a better experience. Yelp is here for people to share their personal experiences. .. get over it big guy.

    (1)

  • Rudy D.

    It's been a while since I've been but when I do go its for the beer AND food. They not only have an amazing beer selection, but they have very tasty bar food! In fact, I would not categorize it as bar food, but more like bar delectables. Filling flavorful and fresh. I think better than the offerings at Toronado in NP. I came during their opening month and I love walking by seeing the place thrive!

    (5)

  • Miranda C.

    This is a fun place to hang out in grand avenue. I've always been able to get a table without having to wait too long. The have a great selection of beers. Great people watching too. I've never eaten here but the drink selection is great. I love the variety of hard ciders they have here.

    (5)

  • Jenn C.

    Came here last week for a quick drink, but saw the menu and wanted to try some food too. Husband and I ordered a cheese and meat plate, which was pretty good. I thought the chorizo was great, although husband liked the wine salami better. We loved the honey comb, although we wished there was more of it. The plate came with a sprinkling of almonds they roasted, and some roasted lavender as well. Personally, I found the lavender a bit overpowering. Overall, yummy cheese and meat plate. I had a Stone Saison, which tasted great. Husband had a porter by Great Divide (magnificent). Our friends ordered the Russian Imperial Stout by Stone (called Fyodor). It was quite good, although I preferred the Great Divide. One of our friends ordered the skirt steak. I had a bite, and it was juicy, and to die for. Hopefully, we'll be back soon. I don't have kids, but they had a cool play area with toys for children.

    (4)

  • Jen S.

    Worst service we've had in a long time. The server didn't write down our order which made me a little nervous and for good reason. We ordered our drinks and our food at the same time. By the end of the order I had to remind him what my drink order was. For our drinks, we ordered an iced tea and a beer. It took 10 minutes to get our iced tea and he forgot to bring our beer. The food was sub par as well. We had the duck wings which was supposed to come with pickled carrots. There was no pickling of the carrots. More like a quick dip in vinegar right before they plated it. The duck wings had great flavor but barely any meat. Definitely not worth $8 for 4. We also ordered the brussel sprouts which were just plain bland. I would stick to the beer. Let's hope your server remembers to bring it to you.

    (2)

  • Amy C.

    Awesome service! Great selection. The man, Chris, commonly known to peasants as the pissy fat red head, is actually fantastic!

    (5)

  • Christina P.

    Plan 9 Alehouse earned their four-star review as soon as I noticed a picture of Christopher Walken on their walk-in fridge. Get it?! Ha. My friend and I stopped in for lunch last Sunday - he had the pork belly BLT and loved it. I wasn't starving, so I grazed on his French fries which were so delicious - but the shining stars were their housemade ketchup and ranch. WOW - those were scrumptious! The ranch was thick, creamy and very flavorful - not the run of the mill bottled crap you get everywhere else. I ordered the root beer float - mostly because it sounded good, as they make their own root beer in-house - but also because their pairing suggestion for it was "your mouth." Clever menus, industrial/rustic vibe once you get in - very cool place. I can't wait to bring my hubs back. I would have left five stars - but it was SUCH a hot day and we walked in expecting that amazing wave of A/C you get when coming in from the heat -and nothing. It was uncomfortably stuffy in there! Turn down the thermostat please!

    (4)

  • Megan Z.

    Finally Escondido is getting a great restaurant and beer scene, I've reviewed before but wanted to add a new one as Plan 9 has evolved well past expectation. The food is top notch. The care given to each dish is apparent in both the plating and the taste, and you can tell the ingredients they use are fresh. I have yet to have a bad dish. The beer selection is still impressive as well. More over it changes, constantly, to sample the wealth of craft breweries in San Diego and elsewhere. The staff know their stuff and they'll find something for you to try and fall in love with. This is a place for people who *like* beer. I will make the trek up to Escondido for this place anytime.

    (5)

  • Medea D.

    What a fantastic place to have a family dinner !!!!The atmosphere is so comfortable and the food is awesome. The waitstaff is the best. My mom didn't know what beer she wanted and they gave her a great suggestion, even giving her a taste test before ordering. Millard is a class act, even when he messes up. He was great waiter and so friendly with us this evening. He took awesome care of us and when my mom is satisfied then the world is good. We'll be back!!

    (5)

  • Danielle T.

    We went here after seeing a movie nearby. We were there on Saturday night and took the last table around 7pm. The place was bustling mostly with a youngish, hipster-bearded types. The selection is small but that doesn't bother us. They were out of the meatloaf sandwich and the grits were not in patties but again, not a problem for us. Your job when you go here is to ORDER THE AMAZING DUCK WINGS! They are spicy but so worth it. I didn't want to share! The poutine fries were HUGE and definitely an anti-vampire remedy with the amount of garlic they had included. (which is a good thing in case you couldn't tell) Beer was great and almost 30 beers on tap so we all found multiple beers to try. Lots of beers from Lost Abbey. There was an amazing casual but positive vibe to the place and it elevated Escondido in my mind. I would drive up to Escondido again to go here again.

    (5)

  • Amanda B.

    I had the pleasure of dining and having drinks here with friends last week and I loved everything!!! From the AMAZING craft beers, to the fresh & delicious food, to the funny and attentive staff, the modern and edgy decor, I mean EVERYTHING. I wish I would've know about this place sooner. I feel like I've missed out on A LOT of great beers and good times. Plan 9 just earned a customer for life!!

    (5)

  • Robin P.

    Good beer selection with several choices for non beer drinkers - Apple ciders, berry cider, pear cider, and alcoholic ginger beer. Food was also tasty. Asked for medium duck wings but got the spicy duck wings, they were too spicy for me. Kids meals were good. Cheese plate was ok. Specialty burger was yummy. Garlicky fries were very very garlicky which is a good thing. Shrimp and grits were also good. You have to wave the servers down to get any type of service. They don't come by to check on you. Little play area for kids. Toys in there are worn and a bit sticky... But kids liked playing in there.

    (4)

  • Monica L.

    This place is a breath of fresh air on Grand. The menu is a short list of delectable plates of food. The meatloaf sandwich is great, the BLT is a force to be reckoned with-- slabs of pork belly! Sausage plate will make any pork lover swoon, but the Scarface skirt steak is my ultimate favorite at Plan 9. Or just stop by for a brew. A big selection of locally crafted brew to please many different tastes. Adding in the open layout of the suite previously known as Theatrx, this place makes for a great hangout for groups or a night out for two.

    (5)

  • Steven W.

    This place is great! Great selection of craft brews, and good food. Love the atmosphere, and I've always had good service. Would recommend.

    (4)

  • Remy W.

    I live in Sydney now and I crave their steak and chimmichuri every week. If you live nearby, do me a fav and eat some and steak and drink a big IPA for me. Cheers.

    (5)

  • Jane R.

    This alehouse is awesome: not only is it a very welcoming place (everyone who works here is very nice and they don't rush customers) the beer selection is great too. Plus, they are one of the very few places in Escondido that stay open late. I've been here several times and will return. It's a great place to hang with friends.

    (5)

  • James R.

    Bacon Grilled cheese was a smash! Defiantly a good variety of beers to choose from! I loved the Java Stout

    (5)

  • Sheilahn K.

    Let me just start with their beer selection. It is excellent! Came here a few weeks ago when they had 12 sours on tap! I freaking love sour beer so I was in heaven. The food is even better! Whoever I go with, we always order a few things to taste what they've got to offer. The employees have always been great and I love a place where the bartender actually makes conversation with you. Cool vibes and great atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Amy J.

    Go for the food, and the beer! In addition to the local taps, the in house brews are solid when on. Everyone is friendly and fun, and they can get really busy. Be patient! While I know this place is still young and constantly improving operations, I look forward to seeing what they do for North County craft beer!

    (5)

  • Amy L.

    We enjoy visiting Plan 9 Ale House for a quick pint or during Friday's "Crusing Grand" festivities. The first time we visited was shortly after their opening and the owner came by to greet us. My husband is in food service industry so he enjoyed the nice customer service touch. The children's corner is perfect for families who want to enjoy a night out. My two year old loves the toys and the staff are friendly and understanding with families. My husband loves the pork belly BLT and there are several types of beers on tap, always changing so that you can try something new. I love stouts but also like to try local gluten-free ciders, so there's a lot to choose from. Happy Hour Nachos are a good deal if you just want a small bite to share. I left off one star only because I wish there were a few more options on the dinner menu. It's typical pub fare, but we've never tried anything we didn't enjoy. Great job Plan 9!

    (4)

  • Gus L.

    I went back to Plan9 this past weekend early, decided to get a different take...I really want to give them that 5star mark, and I know they will be there soon. This is one of those rare groups of people that deserve the patronage...the business, or more specifically the menu has a little growing up to do. The food choices have a great gastro pub flare...but they just are not there yet. I would also love to at least sample some of their house made beers but they keep running out which is good for them..bad for me I guess. They have some great staff running this place, some great locale beers and a great atmosphere that is really coming along (that big blank wall could use a really killer local mural don't ya think :) ). I will see ya all again soon.

    (3)

  • Trish T.

    Great location on Grand Ave. Easy to find and park. A large variety of beers. Delicious food. We had the BLT and the no meat sandwich, both were excellent. Great atmosphere for lunch or dinner. We visited on a Sour Beer day, loved them all. Very friendly and responsive staff.

    (4)

  • Lee P.

    Seeing the mixed reviews on Yelp prompted investigation. Great unassuming storefront, minimalist and comfy inside. Simple and well executed, casual. Beautiful poured concrete bar and 'altar' dominates the room with lots of supporting table seating as well. Private, secluded seating in the back for intimate rondezvous, too. There's about 30 beers on tap and Chad is the house sommelier of beer. Don't tell him what you want, but instead let him know what you like. He recommended some real gems. Good balance between lights and darks and short pour tasters are available fir all tap beers. In fact, the queen was with me and she observed that plan 9 was like a virtual swingers club for beer because she could try all the darks and lights in one visit. Not sure what the real context was there, but I knew that potentially it wasn't flattering for me! Food is fantastic. The menu is simple, but the food far from it. The roasted corn and pasilla (chile) bisque as a starter is great, especially on a cool fall evening. The BLT main is something way beyond what one might expect, cosisting of braised pork, bacon bread, bleu cheese, fresh tomato, baby greens and a Hess imperial stout au jus - also perfect for the delicious shoestring fries. Damn tasty. The queen held court with the shrimp and grits, also beautifully executed. The shrimp was perfectly cooked. No rubbery chunks there. On a Sunday night, it was steady and running at about 50% capacity. Service was friendly, warm and timely. I was watching the service at other tables based upon reviews and noted that uniformly service was similarly warm, prompt and efficient. Based upon the experience, food, ambiance and price I definitely will be back.

    (4)

  • Gabriella V.

    Amazing craft beer!! I haven't tried their food yet but they have amazing appetizers! My favorite beer is the Leifmans Cuvee-Brut

    (5)

  • Eleanor E.

    My oh my what a great surprise. I ordered the streak and garlic fries. Unbelievable flavored. Cooked perfection. It melted in my mouth. Flank steak who wood have thought it could be this fine. The garlic fries were also tasty delights. My husband had the sausage and fries. It was gone so fast I couldn't get a picture. You get twice the amount that is shown in the first picture you see on yelp. The Julian's hard cider w/ cherry bomb worked perfect with my meal. They are an ale house so they have 24 beers on tap. Great pub atmosphere. Best of all GREAT service. I don't know why the place isn't packed. We were in on a Sunday late afternoon.

    (5)

  • Chuck B.

    We had lunch at Plan 9 yesterday. The BLT was great and unlike any other BLT. My wife loved the vegetarian sandwich. The food and beer were top-notch, but it took a long time to get our food. The server said a couple of times that it would be out soon with nothing. When I asked the manager why it was taking so long, he went into the kitchen and even then it was a few minutes before he brought the food out.

    (3)

  • Kim S.

    the duck wings are great but will blow your brains out!!! HOT HOT HOT

    (3)

  • Weston P.

    First time customer and was treated very terribly by the Plan 9 staff. The bartender nearly bent my ID in half when confirming my age. Upon the conclusion of that.. It took him an extra five minutes to serve me the beer I ordered. He bent my ID in half again when I went to order my second beer even though I had an open tab already. They keep their keg lines really clean which I appreciate however their service was absolutely terrible. They served me fries without ketchup and the servers are difficult to identify because they all dress however they please in their hipster garb. Our server put his fingers all over the top of my glass where I'd be placing my mouth.. They were clearly poorly trained The beer they brew themselves is terrible btw. Stouts w/ Belgian yeast= terrible idea. They also refused to give my friend a different drink when she explained to them her displeasure. I will definitely not be coming back and telling my friends to avoid this place

    (2)

  • Katie B.

    This place is a solid 3. It's not bad. Not great. Just ehh. Food was all right. The menu is pretty limited. My boyfriend got the meatloaf sandwich and I got the corn soup and brussel sprouts. My soup was not very flavorful. The brussel sprouts looked great but when I started to eat half of them were really hard (under cooked) same with the bacon. Some of it was burnt hard and some of it was perfect. It was just really inconsistent. I had a bite of the meatloaf sandwich and I liked it but my boyfriend said it needed salt or something else. Again not a lot of flavor. Service was slow. Like other reviews say. They were nice but it took 10 minutes to get a drink. Also, our food took over 30 minutes to come out. They did tell us that there was a printing issue with the computer and the kitchen wasn't receiving orders. Not their fault but still, a little annoying. But again, everyone was really nice just a little slow. Atmosphere in this place is weird. The bar looks great but the wall on the other side is completely plain. It reminded me of being in a warehouse. It was so loud because it was just an open space. Also, I thought it was really funny that they had one tv playing an old cheezy movie. Beer selection is great. I love places with craft beer. That gets a 5 star in itself. Overall it was an all right experience. I would go back but I'm not excited about it.

    (3)

  • Tiffany L.

    My husband and I have went here a couple of times now. The last two times we have been here have been not so great. We waited almost 30 minutes, while sitting at the bar, for them to ask if we wanted another. The guy literally looked at us more than 5 times and just walked away. This last time we went in, just yesterday, the same bad service. We sat at a table because the bar was full, one of the bartenders came up and gave us menus and told us he was busy and someone else would be by to help us. There were only 7-8 people at the bar, and 2 bartenders.....We sat around and waited a good 10 minutes and no one came back to help us. We got up and walked out. It seems the regulars get all of the attention here. So sad because they wont be getting any new regulars at this pace. Sorry, as much as we enjoy your beer, we will not be back!

    (2)

  • Bree B.

    Service was slower than I would have liked, the sweet potato wedges were in fact wedges of potato, didn't seem cooked very well.. We had a pork meatloaf sandwich and fries.. I was not a pork fan but the sandwich was okay, TONS of meat.. The fries my favorite. the patio awesome. the beer list great.

    (3)

  • Christina R.

    Overall I enjoyed coming here. Yelp seems to think that this is a brewery though. (Spoiler alert: It isn't.) Our server was kind of abrupt with us until we ordered food. A little odd, but okay. It was pretty noisy in here until the Chargers game was over, then abruptly people left and we could hear ourselves talk again. The selection of beer is pretty nice. I definitely appreciate their sense of humor - a picture of Christopher Walken on the walk-in cooler made me lol. We had some nachos, which were pretty tasty (a bit overpriced in my opinion, especially the add-ons which the server failed to mention would cost extra).

    (4)

  • Tiffany P.

    Great beer, great food and the kitchen stays open a little later so I can get some good grub when I get off work late.

    (5)

  • Thom H.

    Nice place, friendly staff, good choice of brews. When I was there, they were out of their own adult beverages. But they had a wide selection of other craft breweries. They also serve food. For lunch I had their Lunch Special FFSSSA!!! 1/2 BLT sandwich in bacon bread with sweet potato wedges and the Avery Brewing White Rascal. Tasty! I will definitely return. :)

    (4)

  • Em D.

    I come here often because my husband and I like their casual unique atmosphere, the selections of the menu and the price. There are two TVs and one plays sports and the other plays old cult-ish movies which I am found of. There are a large counter seating, tables and When it gets busy, the place gets really loud because of the hard surfaces. They hardly turn on AC and keep the restaurant open to Grand Avenue. Dogs can sit with you outside seating. There is a kids play area and extra seating in the back. They do not brew own beer there, but they serve so many craft beer on tap from everywhere and beer menu changes often. The food menu is not big, but fair selections. I like their skirt steak which is bistro style. Their services are depending on the server. Some are super friendly and fast, some are not. It's a great place to hang out alone, two or friends and family.

    (4)

  • Cate S.

    Just finished what was supposed to be lunch after waiting almost 2 hours for our food. Several tables came, were served and left before our server realized we still didn't have our order. Staff was generally unapologetic. Will not come back.

    (1)

  • Allan S.

    Great place! Beers are quality and well priced. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is ideal for an ale house. Great place to stop by and grab a beer or a meal. Exited to see how the menu develops and the location builds character overtime. The only thing I can be critical about is that I would love to see a solid burger on the menu and maybe a chicken dish or sandwich. Overall Plan 9 Ale House is a great place to hangout with friends and grab a beer or bite to eat!

    (5)

  • Brian J.

    Having participated in the kickstarter, I was pretty excited for the restaurant to finally open. I've never been a huge beer fan, but I've always believed that was mostly because I just hadn't tried enough different beers, and I knew Plan 9 would be a great opportunity for me to explore my palate. Now, a year+ after they opened, they've certainly come through in that promise. Their wide selection of beer from local breweries makes them a great place to explore San Diegan creations. I have pretty tame taste buds, so I'm not a huge fan of their food offerings, but I enjoy their wide range of tastes they have available. Plan 9 is a great place to hang out with friends in a relaxed atmosphere, and enjoy some local beer. There's something here for everyone's tastes!

    (4)

  • Nick C.

    We haven't been here ever but are locals to the area. We have past by several times and this location has been closed. Sat down and it took 5 minutes to get service. Finally someone came and gave us menus and a few minutes later came back and asked for drink order. Drink list was good but service and food was poor. It took 23 minutes to get 2 sandwiches and when we got those cold sandwiches on a hot plate I noticed that the food had been sitting in the window for some time. Which tells me that the server hasn't been checking on our order. When the restaurant first opened they started with beer battered fries. At least that is what it looked like on pictures. Now it looks like skinny smart and final fries. Disgusting. Service didn't exist and after having that terrible food no one even asked how our food was. So after paying full price (over $50 for just two people) for food that we didn't even eat. I will now let everyone know that this place is TERRIBLE and to never go there. Thanks for a horrible date for my wife and I. Instead we went for Mexican fast food which was 100 times better.

    (1)

  • Gina C.

    My husband and I have been to this place at least 5-6 times, and if you aren't a regular - get ready to be ignored for the most part. The service is consistently lacking if you sit at the bar and not very friendly at all. They have a good beer selection, but nothing you can't get elsewhere. The steak and fries seems to be one of their best and most popular menu items, it is pretty great....but not worth the consistently bad service.

    (1)

  • Kelly H.

    Oh and if it wasn't said before, the kegs change multiple times a week....sooo if you didn't like the beer selection one day, that does not mean it will be anything like that on your next visit.

    (5)

  • Adam A.

    The beer selection is great! However, I had the shrimp and grits and the flavors contradicted each other. The grits were great and cheesy while the shrimp had balsamic flavor, but it just didn't mesh well.

    (3)

  • Eos B.

    Food and drink are worthy of a full five star rating. However, the service was not good. We got there and no one came to our table. No one brought us any menus or water. Finally after we got or own menus and waited some more, somebody came and took our appetizer and drink orders. We thought things would speed up, nope. While we did get our appetizer right away, our drinks took forever to show up. This was a problem because our appetizer, a spicy baked sweet potato, was actually somewhat spicy and my girlfriend needed the water she still had not received from the very beginning. I then noticed the group behind us, who came in after us, received both food and drink. At this point we're really wondering what's happening with the drinks and someone finally comes up. She starts to grab our plate and silverware. We gently remind her that we ordered drinks. She says "ok" and stops, removes the fork and knife from our appetizer plate, covered in the contents of what we just ate, and places then back on top of our napkins. The sweet potato residue smeared all over napkins and my girlfriend grimaced. I get we're trying to conserve water but if that is the case, say so. Our drinks finally did come, as did our food. Both food and drink at this place are very good. No complaints in what they served. Both beers we ordered were had very distinct flavors. My girlfriend ordered a blonde beer and it had some kind of beautiful lavender taste to it. I ordered the local ale and it was dark and rich. Both beers instantly agreed with my taste buds. They did a great job in what they've created there but that service needs to be on task. If that ever happens the place could actually have a very reputable restaurant on their hands. Maybe next time.

    (3)

  • Veronica D.

    Not a very busy night when I visited this location. Plenty of seating available. The decor had a modern urban feel to it, not much up on the walls, empty feeling. Ambiance was laid back and fairly quiet for being a bar. Service didn't start off great, we sat for a while, were told our waitress would be with us soon, but didn't see her until the end of our meal. There was another male who I am assuming was a server who jumped in to offer us drinks and menus, that was a nice recovery and service was fine after that. They are pretty laid back, sitting with friends at their tables, throwing coasters across the bar. The bartender was pretty slick though when he served beer by sliding it down the length of the bar to a guest. There is a good selection of beer, a bit high priced but I enjoy the sampler size available for purchase. We ordered the sausage which was interesting, the dipping mustard was tasty. The brussel sprouts with bacon were light and flakey, tasted home made. I read other reviews on the duck wings and ordered them. My one mistake was ordering the 'stupid hot', it's was stupid. There is zero flavor when your mouth is on fire and you are tearing up. They did give the warning that this was made with ghost peppers, again, stupid not to mind the info. So, I'm sure they are tasty when your mouth is not on fire. The place seems to have potential, the menu could be beefed up a bit, maybe add to the decor. I would recommend making the 'stupid hot' duck wings a type of food challenge rather than a regular item on the menu.

    (3)

  • Melissa C.

    Cool place. Pretty busy most nights. Nice, open, modern feel. Super yummy grilled brussel sprouts !

    (4)

  • Chase C.

    Great environment with wise servers for pairing options, combined with old school Star Trek playing on a TV and Beastie Boys blasting in the background. Good times I'll be back.

    (4)

  • Betty H.

    Such a cute place in downtown Escondido! I guess this place just opened so we came right in time! Pros: - good local beers - great food to compliment the beer - fries apple sausage was full of flavor. Liked how they served the gravy on the fries. - good place with watch basketball, football and baseball since they have a couple of TVs. - they have an outdoor patio! Not sure if it is dog friendly but hoping that it is so I can come back with Cory! -I liked how it was set up. They had barrels as tables which made the place look more modern. Cons: - parking can get difficult. - can get crowded - server was good but she kind of forgot about us a couple of times. It was okay since her co worker checked on us. Overall: 4 stars. Very cute place to hang out after work or even for a date night. Escondido definitely needed a beer place (currently lots of wine places)

    (4)

  • Ricky H.

    First time coming in. Workers were awesome and friendly. They have a selection of beers all around San Diego county. But what cemented the 5 star rating was there BLT. But instead of bacon, it's "brewed pork belly". The pork was super tender and you can dip the sandwich into a porter style Jue sause. So freaking bomb!!!!!

    (5)

  • Elizabeth S.

    This place is amazing!! The staff is wonderful, beer is great, & food is amazing! They were so nice about letting us reserve the back area for my boyfriend's birthday and Millard took care of us all night!!! He is such an awesome person and he was so attentive and even knew everyones' names by the end of the night!! There were about 25 of us too! I highly recommend the steak & fries! Really delicious.

    (5)

  • Rebecca K.

    Hey Escondido, this place makes you way cool(er). Plan 9 is, simply put, damn good. We took our newborn baby (we took a baby to a bar!) as well as our teenage son for dinner on the recommendation of a friend. This ale house is very family friendly. The service was friendly and inviting. Though they could have gone totally hipster aloof, they certainly didn't. The staff was laughing, playful and attentive. The ambiance is simple, entertaining and open. The beer menu is extensive and affordable. And the food? Rustic and scrumptious! Large portions of beautiful, exciting, fulfilling platters of deliciousness. We were all more than satisfied. They truly nailed the food at Plan 9. No only are we coming back, but we will bring our friends and their friends, too. What a great place to eat, drink and be merry.

    (5)

  • Holly B.

    The menu is not very diverse and doesn't really fit well with a brewery. I split the meatloaf patty melt with my mom and it was one of the worst things we'd ever tasted. It was like barfed up meat on bread. The beer, to be fair, was good. However, when you have places like Stone Brewery not too far away, which has great beer and food, I'd much rather spend my money and time there.

    (1)

  • Savannah F.

    Great food, my favorite is the "leather face's favorite". Just awesome. Great beer selection. Friendly staff, my food came out quick. The place has a laidback vibe. Ill be back, sometime soon.

    (5)

  • Tom S.

    Absolutely fantastic. Food is interesting and delicious, beers are great, and the ambiance fun and chill. Will visit twice on a week trip to San Diego.

    (5)

  • C.J. R.

    The first time we came here, one of the owners came to the table to chat with us. It was pretty funny, I've never had a restaurateur with a new place come to the table to tell us that it's not about us. He said basically that they created this place to be THEIR place, serving the food and beer that THEY like, so please don't ask for substitutions on the menu or anything, this is the way it is and we're so happy you have good taste and decided to join us. Wow! Okay. Lucky for him, the food and beers here are so freakin' delicious that we didn't need anything to change. I came from San Francisco to escondido and have found the restaurant experience here laughable. And awkward (please why god does every server tell me his/her name?). I'll be honest with you, I get depressed in this town. I miss gorgeous wood fired pizzas, delicate, innovative salads, and intriguing culinary concepts. When I heard my welcome speech at Plan 9, I was like "really?" What that guy lacks in *actual* humble sophistication as a restauranteur, he makes up for in his choice of partner (the other guy is very mellow and authentic) and in his choice of chef. The duck wings are EPIC, the meat and cheese plate is a GO-TO, the soups are unwaveringly perfectly balanced and nuanced, and the flavor/texture combinations are inventive and fun with a really solidly rooted foundation of obvious chops. The dood knows what he's doing in there. I come here when I need emotional help these days. I'm sitting here now ogling the gorgeous Nina who is bringing me epic beer after epic beer, I just had some perfect corn soup, the meat and cheese plate (natch), and I don't wanna leave so I just ordered a skirt steak. Thank DOG for Plan 9. **UPDATE** I got my skirt steak (naturally, I didn't get to ask for it medium rare; it COMES that way because that's the way good steaks come- and it's not my place it's theirs). GAWD IT'S AMAZING. I would seriously abide by a dress code and cover my tattoos to eat here, which fortunately I don't have to do because these people are like us.

    (5)

  • Evan A.

    Awesome food! Great service! Food came out fast and wait staff very nice. BEER is amazing many choices. Will come again! Must come and check out!

    (5)

  • Leighanna R.

    I'm pregnant so I can't say much for the beer - although my husband enjoys. I will, however, say that there is a steak on the menu that is absolutely without a doubt amazing. I forget what it's called but it has some sort of coffee rub on it. It's to die for. I need it again. Now.

    (4)

  • robert j.

    Awesome beer food and service. Had some awesome steak. Desert added the perfect end to an enjoyable evening. Beers where plentifull and great.

    (5)

  • Mypie F.

    We have been to Plan 9 Alehouse a few times. We love the BLT with pork belly and their nachos. The atmosphere has a great vibe and we like to sit at the bar. The service can be hit or miss, some of the bartenders are attentive and listen while others are proving they should be doing something else for a living. If the bartenders service were more consistently good then this place would get 5 stars. The only other small negative that seems to happen to us every time we go in is they are out of the first beer we order from their draft menu.

    (4)

  • Nick P.

    Came here for the first time yesterday. I arrived right when it opened so there was no one else in the establishment. The waiter/bartender was very friendly and personable. I ordered the BLT, and it was great!!!! I paired it with the stone smoked porter with vanilla bean, cinnamon and milk sugar that was on cask. Great food and great beer. The guy made sure I loved the food and was happy. Definitely a must try if you are in Escondido.

    (4)

  • Josh R.

    Great fresh healthy food, really impressed with the menu and the fresh natural ingredients that went into them. Highly recommend if you are into a Paleo/natural food/gluten free diet. My only complaint is the portions are on the small side

    (4)

  • Debby D.

    My husband and I went last night (Saturday) at about 5:30. There were a few others in there but it wasn't busy (yet). It definitely started to fill up as we say there. Unlike others, we had very good customer service. It didn't seem like we had a specific server; three different people came over to check on us. We sat inside because the outdoor seats were all taken. The garage door was pulled open so it let in a nice breeze. The indoor/outdoor feel is something I really enjoyed on a Later afternoon in June. We each had a beer (large selection) and shared the spicy sweet potato wedges. They were a perfect healthy snack! Downtown Escondido needs more places like Plan 9 Alehouse and Kettle (a couple doors down). If they had it, I would come!

    (4)

  • B. B.

    Oh man, does this place have TERRIBLE customer service! My friends and I were there for about an hour on a Friday around 6pm. We ordered a flight of beer (great selection, and all delicious) and sweet potato wedges (which were incredible). We were not once asked if we wanted water, we were not asked if we wanted to order anything else, we were brought our drinks, brought our food, and brought the check. And after giving Plan 9 our card it took ten minutes to get it back, my friend ended up going to the bar and asking where it was. My friends and I are bummed because the selection, food, and location are great but we will never return. To me customer service is more important than these things. There are plenty of businesses that get it. Plan 9 does not. ***

    (2)

  • Jen K.

    The first time I went, dude walked away while I was ordering, when I was *literally* mid-sentence, as in "OK, I'll have a....." to greet someone he knew, start a conversation with him, and completely ignore me. I waited a few minutes to see if he'd remember I was there, to give him a chance to say "sorry, be right back" or to even glance back in my direction ONCE, but no dice. I walked out. A few weeks ago, I felt like a pre-yoga beer, so I figured I'd give these guys another chance to impress me (as in, not piss me off this time). Beer selection is decent, and the room is nice, the food looks good (gotta follow up on that). The staff is still not terribly attentive, bordering on disinterested. Prolly wouldn't be inclined to add this place to my regular rotation, but I'm a North Parkian who is used to these kinds of places actually having competition and working a little for my affection. If I lived up here I might be a bit more excited. Overall, not a terrible experience like my first time there, but I'm not especially impressed, either.

    (2)

  • Animal L.

    Why oh why can't they expand their menu a bit? We have gone 4 times now, always with the hope of a revised menu. No such luck. Duck wings? Ugh. Yes, good Beer selection. Not good enough to keep us coming back waiting for a better menu though. Service so-so...still seems frenetic despite no longer being brand new. Loud environment. Hard to have a conversation. Salad-ordinary. Corn chowder-okay. Brussel sprouts- blech. Sausage and fries-mediocre. Overall food impression: Bland and Boring. Bottom line: ok for quick beer but don't waste your time if you want good food to go with it.

    (3)

  • Lynda B.

    Heard Plan 9 was amazing and it was. AMAZINGLY BAD. Simple bistro food took well over an hour. Not everything came out together. BLT was disgustingly fatty. Took over 20 minutes just to get a beer. Many people running around but seemed very disorganized. I will recommend to friends. I will recommend that they DO NOT eat here.

    (1)

  • Wendy A.

    We tried there duck wings, it was not bad at all, there house beer was good, always down for a good cold hefeweizen, great place to hang out.

    (4)

  • Randy C.

    Now that I have found this place, I am sad I left Escondido, as I would be back each week if I still lived there. We had a group meeting here and they reserved a table for ten. Great beers. The campfire was the best. They had a good vegetarian selection on the menu and vegan was not a problem. We really liked the bisque with bread and the meatless sandwich (hold the goat cheese). Fries were expertly done. It is obvious this a place that cares to be excellent. Plenty of public parking in the back. It can get noisy inside. By 7:00pm Thursday the place was packed with no sitting room, a good sign.

    (4)

  • Tom C.

    First time here for lunch. Great kick back atmosphere. Plenty of seating. Having lunch special, BLT, salad, sweet potato wedges with the Tony Gwynn #19 Pale Ale. Great service.

    (4)

  • Valerie R.

    I liked this place because it had a huge selection and variety of beers. However, they only get 4 stars because out of all of the different beers only one was actually brewed by plan 9. The service was good, there was one guy who was always stopping by our table to make sure we had everything we needed, and always keeping the beer coming. My favorite was the port brewing Mongo IPA, it was a lighter IPA with a crisp finish, still a decent 8.5% abv. And not to mention this place is located on grand ave...check it out!

    (4)

  • Jason A.

    My wife and I noticed Plan 9 late last year when passing by the old Theatrx, and had high hopes for a contemporary brewpub to come and take Escondido by storm. It seems they have done just that. They have a simple layout, great staff, and very capable hands in Chad Brewer and Aaron/Monica Calles. We went in and found a table right away, and were not sure whether to go up or wait for service, but seeing as there was a short line at the bar I chose the former. The place was pretty much at capacity with Escondido's finest beer lovers. They have all craft beers on tap, most of which are local to San Diego. I'm so glad they are selling ChuckAlek beers because they are a fantastic brewery but are located all the way in Ramona. They didn't have any of their own beers on tap yet, but I'm sure they will soon. Having tasted some of their first experimental batch at the Grape Day park festival, I am confident they will have some great beers on the way. Not less important was the food, and with it they completely blew me away. The pork belly was seared perfectly and was a beautifully succulent cut. The spicy duck wings were dangerously delicious, but could have used a little more crisp. (I love crispy wings) Their staff were all extremely friendly and helpful and smiley. I can't help but feel excited for this place and am proud of my fellow Escondidians @ Plan 9. No reason not to give them anything but 5 stars from me. Congrats on a great opening night!

    (5)

  • Breanna B.

    Absolutely love this place! So many good beers on tap and everyone that I have encountered that works here is fantastic

    (5)

  • Erin C.

    I have been coming to Plan 9 Alehouse since it first opened. It has absolutely grown to be one of my favorite restaurants, as well as just an all-around great place to hang out on a Friday night. They always have my favorite beer on tap, Liefman's Cuvée Brut, so that's a huge plus! Also, I have yet to try anything on the menu that I did not care for. Plan 9 Frites--amazing! Shrimp and Grits--incredible! The Sausage Plate-- bomb! The staff are always so great, even on the more busy nights. Definitely worth checking out! We need more places like this on Grand Ave. :)

    (5)

  • Natalie S.

    Amazing pork belly sandwich!! Our waiter/beer officionado gave us some great suggestions on beer flights and was extremely friendly!! We will be back

    (5)

  • W P.

    Great beer selections from local & craft breweries... cool and comfortable vibe. Fun & funky decor. Got the BLT, but the pork belly was a bit under cooked for my taste. Sweet potato wedges were very good with the spicy sriracha sauce. The owner is a nice guy and fun to talk with. We'll go back for the beer and laid back atmosphere.

    (3)

  • Taylor A.

    Plan 9 is starting to become one of my go to spots in Escondido. The space is cool and hipsterish but includes a diverse group of people that come here to enjoy great food, and numerous different craft beers (26 on tap). It's a large space with numerous tables, a large bar, and some outside seating so bring your pooch along with you! With it still being summer and very enjoyable to sit outside, I'd say I come here a few times a month to sit outside with my dog, enjoy a beer, people watch, and grab a bite to eat. I haven't ventured out too much on the menu BUT only because I'm stuck on "Leather Face's Favorite" which is steak in a coffee rub served with garlic fries, grilled green onion, and chimichurri sauce on the side. I've had that dish the last 4 times I've been here and every time it's great. They also have keep the glass night every couple of Wednesdays of the month where they feature a brewery, if you order a beer from that brewery they give you your beer in a souvenir glass to keep! It really is a cool addition to grand avenue which has been lacking over the past couple of years. Every time you come you can expect new beers, which can be enjoyed in a regular pour, or you can order tasters of a few different ones which I like. If you haven't made it here yet you need to come!

    (5)

  • Eric S.

    This is one of the few gems places in Escondido. The only other is petersons donuts and they don't have beer, so depending on your appetite, this is the place to be. I mean, donuts are god's butthole dipped in maple, but delicious IPAs only come around on March 28th. Witches are always welcome and the owner will almost always know your name. The tender of the bar only has one good eye, but her never spills. He makes up for it with his agility. +1 speed +1 defense (your squirrel is evolving into a warturtle!). All in all and in the ends come here on any night when BJs is closed.

    (5)

  • Doug D.

    Been back several times and have encountered the e's again. ..great food and great selection of yummy beers...cheers!

    (4)

  • Lael G.

    We love Chad. Great guy, great place for date nights. Totally not a sleazy dive bar. It's almost as if all the patrons respect one another to not get drunk and cause a scene. Love this place!!

    (5)

  • April R.

    I usually like to give a new place a few months before I try it. That way then can work out their problems and I can give a more accurate review. I figured it had been long enough so I decided to pay Plan 9 a visit. The space is interesting, very large with indoor and outdoor seating. The walls are mostly empty. Not sure if they have plans to put something on them or not but I hope they do. Some places look cool with the empty walls but the way this place is it kind of feels like somethings missing. The service was ok, didn't offer any information and was kind of slow. I was really disappointed with the fact that they only had 2 of their own beers on tap. The beer selection overall was good but considering that everyone now has a good beer selection its not that big of a deal.

    (3)

  • Rachel M.

    I want to really like this place SO BAD. the beer list is amazing, i really like the atmosphere (even if its crazy loud) and the staff is pretty good at helping you pick out a good beer if you, like my mom, have no idea what to order. BUT their menu still needs work. My first visit i had the skirt steak. It was wildly overseasoned and a bit over cooked as well I was not a huge fan. My second visit I got the sausage plate which was much better, with the exception of the potatoes. I think they were going for "fluffy on the inside crispy on the outside" but what they got was "an unappealing variety of textures including leathery, crunchy, and still totally raw" 4 stars because I think they have the potential to fix their menu and be a total knockout .

    (4)

  • Averey S.

    Cool atmosphere. We went on a Thursday night. Would be really fun to experience on the weekend! Oh and of course they have great beer :)

    (4)

  • texas a.

    Pros: Nice open space. Doors open to street and the outside tables are a good place to spend some time drinking a great beer. Nice selection of beers and cider. I really like the long clean wall running down the left side of the space.They have resisted the urge to muck the walls up with bad art or any other BS. This is a nice clean establishment and I hope they keep it that way. The TV running sci-fi crappy movies is the best. The steak I had was one of the BEST steaks I've ever had - I was blown away at how great it was prepared and tasted. The staff and owners are friendly. Cons: Cavernous Concrete Cave - Its noisy if there are more than 5 people in this place and if its packed, forget about having a conversation. For the buzzed 20sumthn crowd who don't mind yelling at each other its all good but for everyone else its a bit of a headache. Believe it or not acoustics can drive people out the door and it would be worth it to hit up an expert on how to resolve the problem. Service is spotty. Some of the staff tends to look strait ahead and not at the customers when they are rushing around to get beers. I can be waiving my arms but the girl serving the tables will not see me because she has tunnel vision. Look up and look around when waiting tables!!! If you are too busy to help, let the customers know you see them and will be right with them. Easy. I hope this place continues to do well - its great!

    (4)

  • Connie G.

    Really like this place. We so needed a hang-out that is more HIP! The food was great also. I had the Shrimp and Grits - DELISH! And the BEER oh my - Great Selection - See you there ;)

    (4)

  • Scott P.

    I liked this place so I decided to go back to the grand opening last week. Service was great, beer list was updated and the staff was really friendly and attentive. Now if I can only remember to go when I'm hungry as I really want to try the food very soon. For a great local place that's family friendly, give the group at Plan 9 a try.

    (4)

  • Wendy H.

    Today was my first stop in here to get into the AC from hot escondido. Nice atmosphere and the girl that worked there was super sweet. She let us have a sample first since you could tell we were overwhelmed by the choices, and I had the Dogfish which was worth the 6 dollars for an afternoon break from the heat. Menu looked good and since I had already had lunch I will have to return to try it! Keep up the goodwork Plan 9 and I dont know if I can say this but I would like this place to put out an old crotchety bar in the area out of biz!!

    (4)

  • Keith R.

    My sister found this new restaurant using Taphunter and we decided to give it a try instead of going to the usual places. We were there for the food and beer, and I wasn't disappointed by the beer selection. Lots of local beers on tap plus two of their own. I ordered the Turd Ferguson, which is a really strange name for a beer, but it was good. Their service was excellent. Every employee in the place helps sever you and they were all very friendly. Even though the food selection isn't huge, they have just enough variety for everyone to find something they like. I got the meatloaf, and had them substitute the rye bread, which I don't like, with their bacon bread, and it was excellent and very filling. My only complaint, which other people have already pointed out, is how loud it is even with a few people. Lots of echo off the wall. We were shouting at each other just to be heard. Would I go back? Yes.

    (4)

  • Adam S.

    I just have to say the menu is small, but what they have amazing. Try the duck wings, very spicy the way I like them. My wife had the steak and fries and loved it. If your in the area check it out and I promise you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • V A N E S S A R.

    Plan 9 Alehouse has EXCEEDED my expectations EVERY time! My 1st Experience at Plan 9: We informed our server it was our first time at their establishment, he brought a complimentary small flight of beers, to try their most popular beers. WHAT A GREAT WAY TO GREET A FIRST TIME CUSTOMER! Our food was delicious; I got the wedges and apple salad. The food did not take long at all to come out, and our server was very attentive in seeing if we needed anything. That was MUCH appreciated. The next couple of times: I received the same sincere, friendly service and great quality of food. The continued satisfaction with Plan 9, made them a front runner when it came time to pick locations for wine & beer tasting for my birthday. Birthday at Plan 9: When I walked in with my birthday group (About 20 of us), we were directed to a small reserved area in the back of the brewery. The servers and food were fantastic! (I have to admit the duck wings were quite a bit hot) I would suggest maybe offering different levels of spiciness, since wings are always a favorite. The best part of my birthday celebration at Plan 9 was the special Happy Birthday toast with the entire restaurant. VERY THOUGHTFUL and exactly what a birthday celebration should be, something special. I TRULY APPRECIATE the above and beyond service I have received upon every visit. THANK YOU again Plan 9 Alehouse!!!!! Very excited you guys a part of the Escondido restaurant/brewery community!

    (5)

  • B. E.

    Alright, I have given this place so many chances. I've been here about 8 times hoping it would get better, but it doesn't First of all, Plan 9 only hires their friends from church, and it really shows. They have no experience whatsoever being servers. It was particularly cool how one of the waitresses told us that she hardly ever drinks beer, then proceeded to give us her personal recommendations. My last two times here were especially bad. My girlfriend and I walked in on a packed friday night a few weeks ago. We sat directly in the middle of the restaurant at a barrel, and no one greeted us for over 15 FULL MINUTES. We walked outside, and saw (who I'm assuming was) the owner/brewer boasting about how great his beer was to a table that was finished eating on the patio. NOT ONCE did he try to keep us from leaving, or grab someone to help us, or even acknowledge that we existed. He definitely cares more about his beer than helping customers. Great management, guys. Even with all that, I gave the place one last chance right after New Years Eve. I'm assuming their lack of experience must have caught up with them, since it was completely dead on a saturday at 9pm. Our original waitress decided to leave without telling us, so we ended up having to flag another waitress down. That's when it hit me... This place really sucks. Here's why: The space is so boring, its too bright, it's really sterile looking, they have NO decor or vibe... They still haven't done anything to the huge white wall that's illuminated with track lighting for some reason. There is NO acoustical treatment in the room whatsoever, and you can barely hear yourself think because every sound is bouncing off the walls. Their beer isn't good. The food is downright terrible, and THEY HAVE A KIDS SECTION? What get's me the most is their attitude about it all. The whole "we do things for US" mentality. Like they're doing me some sort of favor. ...and now I see them post rants on twitter, about how they don't want your business if you GET TIPSY? No wonder after why I finish one beer they immediately hand me my check... All the while I see the brunette bartender has no problem drinking while on the job. I won't be back. I've given them way too many chances.

    (1)

  • David K.

    An unexpected stop on our way to Stone, we wound up staying here instead and had no regrets about it whatsoever. The staff works hard to try to get to all the tables but it's not a place for people in a hurry. The menu is small and I actually didn't find anything I wanted. I usually go for the burger when that happens but -- to their credit - they didn't have that old fallback, so I went for the skirt steak. I usually hate skirt steaks, they remind me of little league team parties at SIzzler. But this one was a nice, thick cut, with relatively little fat and phenomenal flavor The garlic fries were spot on too. Wifey had the chimichurri shrimp and grits which I enjoyed after sharing mine with her. Prices are very reasonable and the beer selection leaves little to be desired. Kid and pet friendly (the play area could stand some cleaning and new toys, folks), outdoor seating, and a great food value, Plan 9 is infinitely better than the movie that shares its name. Love to see these Kickstarter ventures take off, a welcome addition to North County!

    (5)

  • Erin P.

    Unf*ckingbelievable. I always have such high hopes for new places and I'm usually so disappointed. Not this time. This place is awesome. Incredible beer selection, which should be expected of an "ale house." What blew me away was the food. I had the Sausage Plate, which doesn't sound like anything spectacular, but... OMFG. So good. Unbelievably good. Apple and gouda sausage with homemade red coleslaw and caramelized onions, with fingerling potatoes in a bleu cheese sauce. Oh my god. My dining companion had the Steak and Fries: skirt steak cooked to order (super rare, because that's the way to go) and the steak is crusted with coffee and lavender. FOODGASM. Best food I've had in a very long time, and it's well worth the (inexpensive) price. I feel like I'm shooting myself in the foot for saying this, but-- this is a 5-star restaurant that charges 2-star prices. Every bite of their food was a dream come true. On the bottom on the menu, there's a "Compliments to the Chef" option-- a $10 charge to buy a round of beer for the kitchen staff. After one bite of my meal, I immediately told my server to add this onto my bill. It's THAT GOOD. If you go to Plan 9, please go for this option. The food is so inexpensive-- and SO GOOD-- that you'll want to kick back an extra $10 as a high-five to the kitchen staff. I wish there had also been an option to do this for the servers. Janelle and Dan were our servers and they were fantastic. They kept checking in and were quick to bring us anything we desired. Super friendly, knowledgeable about everything on the menus and overall magnificent. I love this place.

    (5)

  • Justin T.

    OK yes I've been holding up on writing a review for this little place... Why? Because I want to keep it a secret!! Lol seriously! Interesting good food, with lots of beer selections :) Their duck hot wings are worth trying, along with their burgers. Both menu options were pleasant, and I would order them again. The place is a relatively small little box of a place but still can house a decent amount of people, and often does.. The place gets pretty packed. If your into places with a large beer selection and good food, you've found your place. Located in the heart of Escondido off Grand St. I recommend you try it! Happy eating!!

    (5)

  • Jenny R.

    Came in here on a seemingly busy Friday night around 8 pm - which is not that happening because its Escondido, folks. It took a little too long for someone to acknowledge us. When I was finally asked by our waiter (I think?) what I wanted, I said I would like to "try" their hard root beer. Immediately he goes into this pretentious diatribe about how they don't open bottles for tasters and how it effects the flavor of the beer. I just wanted to try it as in buy it. I didn't ask for a taster but I suppose I can see how you might be confused. Why are you making it so difficult for me to give you my money? Anyways, it was an off putting encounter. The food: We ordered their pomme frites aka poutine without curds and stuffed jalepeños. Both perfectly delicious and no complaints. Same with our drinks. Prices were reasonable. But I must also add that I was quite perplexed by the existence of a children's play area. (???) What? Is that even legal? On a Friday night at a bar, I did not expect to see two little ones wandering around. Love kids but, again, off putting. Nevertheless, I'm glad this place exists. I just hope the staff takes a moment to do their due diligence and take a hard look at their customer service. I see potential in your future and respect that it all began with a Kickstarter. Escondido needed something like this. 3/5

    (3)

  • Elle N.

    Ahh, the number 9 - it has many meanings...nine lives for cats, nine months for babies in the womb and in numerology the number 9 serves as a sign of leadership, wisdom and initiation. I don't follow numerology...(although I had my numbers read to me during a trip to Mardi Gras almost 19 years ago). For you math whizzes who are not so interested in restaurant reviews or for those of you who did not pay attention to Mathematics (simply because you preferred English and the Arts in general) you can chew on this material for a bit: sites.google.com/site/nu… . For the rest of you, you may wish to bypass this part and read on... We made a trip to Plan 9 Alehouse while visiting downtown Escondido. It was a Saturday afternoon, after lunch and before dinner. It was busy but not crowded. We prefer to eat around this timeframe to avoid the primetime craziness at bars and restaurants. It was a humid day so we opted to order the house made Plan 9 Root Beer. This may have been the best homemade root beer I've ever had! It was refeshing on a hot afternoon! I am a meat lover, in addition to a coffee and lavender aficionado. When I saw the skirt steak was rubbed in both coffee and edible lavender, I thought I was dreaming and had to order it! The rub provided the steak with an aromatic flavor and a pleasant crunch. It was served with charred green onions, chimichurri sauce and garlic fries. After this experience, it will be hard for me to order anything else, as this was that good and an excellent value for a steak dinner priced at $15. We sat at the bar where the service was excellent, well timed, in addition to being non-invasive. I noticed all staff were working diligently and they keep the place super clean and organized. I love that this business was started as a Kickstarter project, which should provide inspiration for others to follow. We learned on our visit that Plan 9, is actually based on one of the worst films of all time...Seinfeld even had an episode in which they viewed the film. It has that type of cult following! It's a black and white film and is about extraterrestrials...so I'm pretty sure I would be a fan. I'm fascinated with the idea of other life forms in addition to trying new restaurants. Plan 9 will definitely not be our Plan B. We plan to return shortly for a real craft beer! #CoffeeLavendarSteak #Plan9NotPlanB #RootbeerLove

    (5)

  • Vin T.

    If Plans 1 through 8 don't come to fruition, look no further than Plan 9. Usually, when you get down to Plan 9 - you find yourself at Ronald's or the Colonels'. But THIS Plan 9 actually works in your favor. This place exists because 177 backers pledged $42,581 on Kickstarter to make it happen. That comes out to $240 per contributor. Way to put your money where your mouth is - Escondido! Stand up to Ronald and Colonel S. - bump them down to Plan 10 and beyond! They found an old building that dates back to the early 1900's on Grand Ave- downtown. The 42K was required for the buildout to bring the facility up to code. Not to mention the light fixtures, custom bar, tables and seating, brew house, kitchen equipment, glassware, plates, etc. They used all of it and more to get this place off the ground. Speaking of brew house, they'll be producing about 200 barrels this year of their own beers. They're also pouring other local brewery favorites, with a surprise or two thrown in for good measure. The food options are uniquely paired with the various choices on the beverage menu. You can find flavorful, fresh, and healthy items - of which many ingredients are sourced locally. Or you can just go with standard brewpub comfort food. Either way the meals are well prepared, generously portioned, and priced fairly. Of course we had to ask them about the odd name for this business... It's named after a 1959 low budget sci-fi movie, "Plan 9 from Outer Space". This movie was originally titled "Grave Robbers from Outer Space" and has been routinely described as one of the worst movies of all time. Thankfully, you'll have the opposite experience visiting this brewpub. #KickedUpANotch #FearTheColonel #BestLaidPlans #WorstMovies

    (4)

  • Meri D.

    Craft beer with superior food what more can you ask for!? ;) I first came to Plan 9 a year ago a bunch of times last year, not sure what took me so long to come back since last summer. After coming by last night, the menu has definitely gotten better and the beer selection has expanded from the opening. This time around I came it was a wonderful dining experience as usual because the workers at Plan 9 are genuine and great.. always checking up and helpful as well down to earth, and in addition the ambiance is fun! It is very open and airy with the front being open to the outdoors and the interior having an industrial modern look with TV's for sports fans and for those who are thirsty with children there's a small kids play area in the back which is very unique, creative, and cool. I finally tried the food here and it was delish! My favorite item was basic which was the *POTATO CHEDDAR SOUP* which is served with crostini. The soup tasted smooth and creamy as I was seeking comfort food. I then also tried the *BRUSSELS FROM MUSCLES* which is roasted brussels sprouts with house cured bacon. The brussels and bacon were a savory pairing as the brussels tasted crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside. They also are generous with the amount of bacon bits in the app. Last, but not least I tried the *PLAN 9 FRITES* which is garlic fries, ballast point black marlin porter gravy, mozzarella, and charred green onion and with bacon added for $4 more. The fries were amazing and caught my eye and made me fall more in love as it had my favie porter which was in the gravy!! BEER: I've tried a variety here however last night I tried: 21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon, Pizza Port Ponto Session IPA, Saint Archer Brewing Co. Red Ale, Mission Brewery Root Beer, and last but not least Stone Brewing Co. RuinTen Triple IPA. My favorite beer is a tie between **Hell or High Watermelon** (refreshing for summer) and **RuinTen Triple IPA** (hoppy IPA)!! :)

    (4)

  • Andrew F.

    It's great having another small business open on Grand Ave. Plan 9 is a cool establishment, but I feel like they space isn't a great fit for them. I admit it is a very narrow building, but I think they could have stacked some of there space and made it feel wider. Also, I like that Plan 9 is a throwback to an old Sci-Fi movie, They have a few posters, but they also have a lot of very eclectic items like a Misfits logo and Fight Club art. It looks like how a "cool" high schooler would have decorated his room like in the 1990's. Seriously, pick something and stick with it. I get that they are a brewery, but they really need to step up their food game. They have added a lot of menu items since they opened and now it is time to add some quality items. I've gone through almost everything on the menu, and the only thing worth getting is the Bacon Jam Grilled Cheese Sandwich. I went with a group of 8 people last week, and almost everyone got something different. And all of them were interested in my sandwich because it was actually appetizing. One item I have yet to try are their nachos, which I have heard good things about. The catch is they only serve them on Fridays. I have to say, I rounded up to get to 3 stars. I like that they are new business owners and they are in my hometown. It is a good place to come and get a few drinks, but you probably want to grab dinner somewhere else. Keep improving and we will keep coming.

    (3)

  • Samuel D.

    If you're into craft beers this place holds quite a few taps with excellent choices also good bottle selections Atmosphere: You get that garage feel brewery with a sort of laid back lounge feel. They have TV's as well. Food: So far everything that i've tried was really good. The sausage plate is usually the go to plate and goes well with beer and a side of fries. Service: good service. no complaints If you have kids this place does have a little "small" kids play area. Escondido doesn't have much and this would be the place to go to.

    (4)

  • Jenny R.

    3.5 stars. Been here a couple times and I haven't had a bad experience. The beer is a bit overpriced but they have a good selection. I absolutely love that they have pint nights or what they call them "keep the glass" nights, seriously this alone makes me love them! I had food for the first time last night, I split The Beer Belly with my friend and it was alright (I think I determined pork belly is not for me) the portions are huge so very very glad we split. The garlic fries were great and the homemade sauces are awesome. I work close by so I'm excited to come back and try something new!

    (3)

  • Nichole C.

    Our server was really good. Attentive and as quick as the kitchen allowed. Fun atmosphere. Great music selection. The Key Limey was perfect: tart, sweet, topped with toasted coconut and whipped cream. Nom. The No-Meat-Wich was very interesting; it wasn't amazing but I always give props to restaurants who are willing to craft vegetarian dishes that aren't just salads.

    (5)

  • Chris P.

    Came in for lunch since we were in the area and have heard such great things from family and friends. Certainly didn't disappoint, and we're looking forward to our return! Ordered items included Porky's Revenge sandwich, the Cubano sandwich, and a fully loaded plate of the Plan 9 frites. We would order any of these three again, and our favorite was the frites. The cheese, gravy, house bacon, and sausages made a heavenly plate that was impossible to polish off in one sitting. Made for great leftovers though!! The food did take a while to come out, but based on the quality, we didn't have any issues with that. Nice to see a place taking pride in the homemade/craft element. Portions are large. Great beer selection both on draft and in bottle. Based on the signage it looks like they host some pretty cool beer-centric events (keep the glass nights, special craft taps, etc). The service was good, and the atmosphere was casual and comfortable. Great place for meal, a few beers, catching a game, or meeting up with friends.

    (4)

  • Elena K.

    Ok 2 things: 1. Bacon Jam. Eat it! 2. Alcoholic Root-beer. Drink it! You can thank me later.

    (4)

  • Amy S.

    Well, of course we keep coming back because it is in walking distance of our place. And they have poutine, which can have sausage or bacon added to it! Score, in so many ways. The reason for the downgrade in stars: On both occasions when we've been there at dinner time, some of the waiters are weird about the beers. I understand that if you order a full beer, and you don't like it, there are no refunds or exchanges. That's fine. You should have gotten a taster. Shame on you. However, if you are so distracted that you miss-heard what was ordered, refuse to believe the customer and then just stand there holding the wrong beer.. that's a different story. It shouldn't be a standoff. I am not going to drink that beer you miss-poured. You should just take the beer back and get what was actually ordered, without making the customer feel uncomfortable. Be sure the waiter clearly understands what you ordered, before he rushes away from the table. Be annoyingly clear if you want to avoid this!

    (3)

  • Justin G.

    Per my original review, I waited more than six months to return here and I must say, it has been nothing but great since. I love the service and the beer selection. Glad I gave it another chance. It has become one of my favorite places to grab a beer and hang out.

    (5)

  • Jenn S.

    I like this place. It plays classic cheesy movies has a great beer selection and I love their hard root beer. It's dangerous it taste just like root beer!

    (5)

  • Paul D.

    Okay let me start by saying this place has potential and maybe it's a great place any other time. But serious.....how are you not staffed for lunch? We sat waiting over 20 minutes just for our water and beer. Over 40 for our good. I'm a very forgiving person but they only had a bartender and one guy working the tables. Second, the food was very disappointing. The BLT was inedible. The pork belly was so fat and cold none of us could stomach it. The shrimp and grits was okay. Nothing seemed fresh. Honestly the only thing of come back for is the beer and maybe the fries.

    (2)

  • Lisa T.

    Came here because I thought it was a brewery, but they only have one of their own brews and the rest are local beers. The two beers I liked were the bruery tradewinds tripel and plan 9 rasiondido. Bartender was cool and very skilled in sliding the drinks down the bar. Very precise. Saw another bartender try it, but the glass fell off the bar and almost broke. For a snack, I got the siracha duck wings with bleu cheese. It wasn't very good and tasted worst with the bleu cheese. Just stick to beer here.

    (3)

  • Rob D.

    This is a fairly new place here in Escondido- and it's really about time! Not a huge place, but roomy and comfortable; they sport a fairly large and well-thought beer list (as well as wine) and a menu that immediately piqued my interest. They have a really nice children's play area in the back with a chalkboard wall (enormous bonus for us, and perfect for family-friendly Esco), and the staff are friendly and helpful. I had the pork belly BLT which was yummy, and the Sriracha Duck wings which were awesome (I'm gonna try that one at home with chicken wings fo' sho!). My wife had the shrimp and grits which we both thought was pretty good; although the grits themselves could have used a little more seasoning, the shrimp were large and cooked just right. This is really the kind of restaurant that downtown Escondido needed, and I'm glad it's here. BTW, we got none of the bad attitudes that I've seen posted by a few people here on Yelp; we walked in one Sunday afternoon to check the place out (and we didn't have time to stay that day) and everybody was so nice/helpful and the menu looked so good that we made plans to come back the next week to eat.

    (4)

  • J. Michael L.

    A friend was having his birthday and his aniversary here. The food was great, the beers were exceptional. I have to say all in all, if I lived a lot closer I would be visiting often.

    (4)

  • Jeremy G.

    Awesome atmosphere - great prices - awesome crowd - great selection - parking is less than desired.

    (4)

  • Danielle B.

    One of the gems of downtown escondido. The menu doesn't change often and the only specials are usually with the soup but overall the food is amazing. I've had the shrimp n grits which was to die for, light with flavorful purée of red peppers which I normally dislike but with this combination of flavors completely made me forget that. The meatloaf sandwich is a divine creation of pub food inspiration with grilled onions and accompanied by crispy string fries with fresh tomato ketchup. They have a great selection of beers with rotations from many local breweries. Great place to watch the game.

    (4)

  • Emily C.

    Great little spot in downtown Esco. Lots of good brews and a great owner. The staff is friendly and totally willing to chat about beer all night long. It's nice to have a place like Plan 9 in town!

    (5)

  • Benjamin B.

    This place is rad!!!!!! The owners are super cool and laid back and super knowledgeable a bout beer. There food is eclectic and is 5 starr gourmet. It is a for shoure trifecta GOOD beer #1GOODfood#2 and grate service!!!!!

    (5)

  • Lucia D.

    Went to this alehouse for the first time tonight with a girl friend of mine. Loved the atmosphere and the location was bright and open. Very easy to find. They have a very nice draft and bottle list. Their menu is a little light still but the food on the menu is really good. Had the house salad and the Brussel sprouts. Both were very well done and so tasty. They do all their bacon/pork belly in house and it was heavenly. The salad was light and filling with the added tarragon chicken. I would return here again and again. Definitely a cool hang out place for those looking for good food and nice craft beers. Well done!

    (5)

  • Autumn B.

    Awesome customer service. Awesome beer. Awesome vibes. I'm definitely coming back with friends!

    (5)

  • Jack C.

    Great selection of craft beers!! Fun place for the whole family or just the adults!!

    (4)

  • Barbara R.

    Not even meh..... lackluster slow service, ho hum food. Wait staff got snippy about replacing one of the glasses of wine we ordered, had to ask another person to get the correct wine. save your money..if you are 25, and this is all that you know, maybe it will work for you. I am used to better. Not giving this a second chance. Slow service in a nearly empty restaurant? No thanks.

    (1)

  • Adam G.

    Great American new type food. Great beer. The service was adequate. They were playing an old episode of the Munsters on one of the TVs in the bar, thought that was weird. The craft beer can get a little pricey if it's not happy hour.

    (4)

  • Frederick H.

    Sat out front with my dog and had a couple of beers and a BLT. The beers were dark and sweet - the second one, recommended by the owner, was "...like s'mores in a glass." Great beer selection. The BLT was pork belly, not bacon - it was more like fatty pulled pork, but it was good - with bacon bread and good lettuce and tomatoes. Had fun talking to the other people out on the front porch; great to find a beer place that's dog-friendly!

    (4)

  • P L.

    My wife and I went here not long after they opened. It has a great atmosphere starting with the roll-up door that opens the venue to the whole street. Great place to hang on during the Farmer' Market or Crusin' Grande. Beer was great and so were the food pairings. Going back again soon.

    (5)

  • Sue F.

    Really enjoyed the Brewery and the food, thought the kids area was a fantastic idea, our year old grandson had grilled cheese then played while we ate....the staff was very friendly and efficient...we don't have anything negative to say!

    (5)

  • Tim B.

    Got the skirt steak. Holy cow! Probably the best steak I've ever had! Super flavor. Tender. Just awesome. Great casual fun atmosphere. Excellent friendly service. The owner Chad makes it like home! I would drive an hour to eat here.

    (5)

  • TyJules M.

    Just had the lunch special. Very good. Service is great. Food came right away and of course the beer is amazing.

    (5)

  • Jennifer G.

    We love this place!! Always good food! They don't have a huge menu, but what they do have they do fabulously! We go here often and have never had a bad experience. Always great service. Very knowledgeable about beers and what pairs well with their food options. The kids love to come hang out in the kid area. They also have a private room in the back for large parties or meetings. Great atmosphere and tons of fun!! I highly recommend this place!

    (5)

  • Leecee V.

    First time we went the food was great, the beer selection decent, and the service was ok but a little off that we didn't much pay attention to at the time. Second, and last time we will go, the service was horrible. Took almost 40 minutes to get mine and my son's entrees on a not too crowded weekend night with plenty of wait staff but my wife did not get hers. The larger of my fingerling potatoes were undercooked upon arrival as well. However, while witnessing my wife's challenges in just getting her order, I remained silent and grateful to eat what food I did have. After inquiring with the wait staff several times as to the status of her order, they sent over the head hostess or maybe even the owner who copped an attitude of, "I'm sorry its late but you'll just have to wait before you are graced with our outstanding food and service", didn't offer to comp the meal or even buy my wife a drink. When you're in a service industry, you need to understand what good service is as well as taking care of your customers or you won't be in business long.

    (1)

  • David S.

    First time here. Long cavernous space. Kind of a sterile in my opinion. Acoustics we're horrible. Maybe 10 people in the restaurant. About half the people were children. This is fine with me though, im a parent of two little ones. Our server was very nice, although she didn't seem very comfortable with things on the menu. I think she was new. They had no house beers. Nada. Food was good. I ordered the Steak which was supposed to be Medium Rare but came out medium well. It was still good though. The Sausage plate was really good. Draft selection was awesome. Love that many of the smaller local breweries are represented. Overall, pretty good experience. We weren't blown away, but I'm sure we will be back.

    (3)

  • Ali A.

    The only thing holding me back from giving 5 stars is that I've only been once and haven't experienced the full menu yet. LOVE this place. Awesome selection and variety of good beer, and that's coming from a self proclaimed beer snob. :) Food is very innovative and diverse, with everything from a "no meat" sandwich to shrimp and grits to a delicious sounding, fruit-laden salad. I tried the sweet potato wedges, a delicious appetizer that is closer to a well prepared vegetable than greasy sweet potato fries (huge plus), the shrimp and cheese grits which was fantastic, and their coffee rubbed steak, also amazing. The ambiance is fun and hip, the sound level or too bad from where we sat on the patio. Only thing I didn't love was the self seating aspect, which meant awkwardly hovering by a table while the previous patrons packed up to leave. Honestly a fantastic new find, I can't wait to go back!

    (4)

  • Paul G.

    What a great new addition to Downtown Escondido. They have a great selection of local and international beers with superb food choices to complement them well. I even just go in for lunch just for the food. Very friendly and welcoming service and a place for kids? what? awesome. Very clean and a great atmosphere.

    (5)

  • A T.

    Very unique beer selection. As a San Diego craft beer aficionado, I want a good selection. This takes it to a different galaxy. A very eclectic, mostly high ABV mix. Been here two times, mostly for a drink while we checked out other Escondido businesses. Both times the service was average at best, even when there weren't many people in the place. By average, I mean it was a mix of great, friendly service BUT very, very slow. I am adverse to mayonaise and mustard, so finding something to eat here proved to be a task. However, the kitchen was very accommodating to my changes/requests. I had a meat-less sandwich and fries. Very good lunch. If you find yourself near downtown Escondido, give it a shot. Both times I've been here was middle of the day and it was slow - lots of empty tables to cop a squat. One recommendation to add a touch of class - real tap handles!!! Love the Plan 9 movie posters and script as wallpaper in the men's bathroom.

    (4)

  • Suzy G.

    Had the lunch special with the pork belly BLT and corn soup. The ambiance was nice - but I was expecting a little more on the portion side.

    (3)

  • Amanda V.

    I don't have any complaints about this place. I've only gone during happy hour which i think is at 3-6 $3 beers at 3, $4 beers at 4, and so on. The only thing we've ordered are the sweet potato wedges, I think it was $6. I like the sauces it comes with. The beer selection isn't bad, I wish they had more house beers. I guess they're rare to come from this place. Anyways, it's something to check out. Go when the farmers market is up.

    (4)

  • Felipe R.

    Went for "Keep the Glass" night when they had Port Brewing beers there. It was a fun night, the beer's were great and the food is exceptional. If you enjoy craft beer and great food at a nice little place then you should definitely check it out.

    (5)

  • Christine M.

    Beer list is eh, food was eh. Employees very nice and the atmosphere is north park-esque, but way better off driving down south to actual north park for a better experience.

    (1)

  • Alison M.

    I love this place for both food and drink, GREAT beer selection, but Roberto is what keeps me coming back here. Dude is just too cool for school.

    (5)

  • Joshua S.

    The staff is great, the food is great (especially the BLT) and the beer list is rich. I was impressed to say the least. Has a great vibe... it's a gem for sure

    (5)

  • Stephanie L.

    New to the area, stopped in to check it out. Place looked clean and the staff were slow but nice. Ordered the duck wings and could only stomach 1 bite . The meet loaf is some kind of mushy meat with now flavor and weird texture. My shrimp was good but again the cheese grits were completely bland. I guess we should of gotten a beer. Sorry, maybe adding some more mainstream items to the menu would attract more folks.

    (2)

  • Eric v.

    After having been a few more times sporadically since they've opened I have seen much improvement. The menu is pretty adequate with reasonable pricing and the service has gotten much better. That darn beer list gets better but at what seems to be a snails pace. How about some Sculpin? At the very least!

    (4)

  • Jeff B.

    Let me just say, I'm not sure if I caught this place on an off night but I definitely would not recommend. The yelp reviews looked very promising but I did not get the same experience. We were there for an hour and a half for bar food, beers, and sodas. The food took forever and still came out cold. With prices on the higher end, I expected a lot more. The sausage plate was $13 and came out with 1 sausage and two mini sausages along with cold potatoes. Not very promising as I was questioning if the sausages were cooked as they were room temperature. Ordered the sweet potato wedges and he only brought three. I told him just to cancel the order as we didn't have 10 minutes for the remaining amount but they brought the remaining order anyway. Still cold and did not taste good at all. Beers were fine but we saw ours sit in the counter for 10 minutes before serving. Maybe they were short handed but not a fan all the way around. I don't plan on recommending this place to anybody looking for a place to eat in Escondido. We spent over a hundred dollars on cold bar food and warm beers with no refills on any other drinks.

    (1)

  • Dwight A.

    One of my favorite places to drink good craft beer. The beer choices are fantastic and food is very good. The bar employees are very friendly and great at their job. It's located in very nice part of downtown Escondido. This place is great for groups and its a very social environment. So if you haven't been here yet, I recommend that you give this place a try.

    (5)

  • Aaron I.

    Well thought out and wide selection of beers, from favorites to new types to try for the first time. The staff is on the ball and very personable. you can tell that the Plan 9 team doesn't just want an Alehouse they want to create an experience we people(and their families) can come and be a part of a community.

    (4)

  • Patricia H.

    Went here with a friend, and it was AMAZING! Some of the best food I have ever had and excellent selection of beer. Will be back for sure!

    (5)

  • Rosco S.

    Aaaaaaamazing!!!! Service was great! House salad was the best ever! Our server/bartender had excellent beer recommendations.

    (5)

  • Freedom M.

    Great food and beers. The sausage plate is great with the sting beer selection. Although I'm not a vegetarian went with the no meat wich and it was very satisfying. Like the white rascal and mantjaran beers. Got a play area for the kids in the back and an additional lounge area.

    (4)

  • Heather H.

    Plan 9 is a welcome addition to Grand Avenue. Not only do they have an amazing selection of craft beers, their food is excellent. Plus they have a great kids play area that keeps our 1 year old entertained for a bit so we can relax and enjoy ourselves. Okay, let's start with the beer. They get new kegs on Tuesdays and Fridays, so those are great days to stop by to try the newest additions to their 25 taps which generally include offerings from AleSmith, Lost Abbey, and Stone. Check out Facebook for updates on their beers. We participated in The Wedge this month so we got to try Aaron's brown ale - he's one of the founders who will be brewing beer for their taps as they get established. The ale was smooth and tasty, and went great with the house made goat cheese made by Dave, their chef. I'm excited to try more of Aaron's beers! Apparently he has a pumpkin IPA brewing as I type . . . Now the food. Try the BLT. I don't even like traditional BLTs, but this is so not traditional. The pork melts in your mouth. The bleu cheese perfectly accents the meat, and the portions are so big I need to take 1/2 home. Sometimes I order a salad, other times the yummy fries, and periodically the fruit to go with it (yes, this is my favorite menu item!!). The sweet potato fries rock. Big chucks of sweet potatoes, just the way they should be. And the garlic aioli dipping sauce is perfect. I know some reviewers have commented on the service not being up to par. We've had great luck when we've been there (Brittany rocks!!) but also realize they just opened 5 weeks ago. It takes time to get quality employees who are vested in the business. Plus there are always kinks for first time restaurant/bar owners. We are confident they will figure things out, but are still super excited with what they have to offer now.

    (5)

  • rudee D.

    Just had the skirt steak with chimichuri and sriacha duck wings. Both are fantastic, the wings are spicy and skirt steak is well seasoned and cooked just right. Excellent selection of craft beers and serve $2 tasters which are just right for those who are picky drinkers. Can't beat that they play old movies too!

    (5)

  • Shanon F.

    This place is soooo cool. Great spot for Friday evening Cruisin Grand!

    (5)

  • Heather S.

    My husband and I have been here twice. Last time, we split a meatloaf sandwich...which turned out not to actually be meatloaf but some sort of pulled pork. The fries were pretty good. Beer selection is ok, but if you're not cool and you don't like IPAs and you prefer, say, Belgian style beers, the selection is pretty limited. Couple choices for stouts/porters which is what I prefer. We just were disappointed in the food, it could have been much better.

    (2)

  • Julie S.

    You cannot beat the ambiance and food here! I am NOT a beer drinker but love food! We had brussel sprouts and the $7.00 lunch special with very unique sandwiches and excellent garlic fries. Everything has a very unique twist on it. This is great for a Sunday lunch, after work watering hole, or a weekend fun with friends. The staff is very attentive and pleasant. We will be back! this place should not be missed when you are in Escondido!

    (5)

  • R B.

    Tonight (Wednesday) I decided to give this place another chance, it's a great location, good atmosphere but the service was terrible last time . And it's still terrible, the employees are so busy having conversations that they couldn't even acknowledge that I took a seat at the bar. After a few minutes I was asked if I wanted a menu (um duh). After 10 minutes she never came back, I walked out. It wasn't that busy. She probably didn't even know why I left. A bunch of the other reviews tell the story. I don't need to try this place again. There are a lot of good places on the same block.

    (1)

  • Gabe J.

    Went for the second time. My husband & I attended the formal grand opening & it was packed, service had been slow at that time but that was expected. I was craving their delicious pork sandwich with that sweet sauce on the side. The sandwich did not disappoint again, I had to ask the server for the sauce she didn't seem to know about it. They skimped on the fries this time but wouldn't have noticed except that my husband kept eating them. He enjoyed a couple of different beers. Service was OK too.

    (3)

  • Tobias S.

    Had an amazing dinner..., the BLT was bomb! Had a Hopslam which I haven't seen on tap, it was great. Kid friendly.... The kids meals were great!!! And they had an area that kept the kids entertained! I highly recommend Plan 9 Alehouse!

    (5)

  • Mark N.

    I liked the food. The beer selection is very good. I have to agree with others that posted negative about the service. I want this place to really kick arse cause downtown Esco needs it. I've sat outside twice and each time had to beg to get the server to pickup my credit card so i could pay.

    (3)

  • Josh S.

    Food is AMAZING!!! My favorite is the bourbon-sriracha duck wings oh...my... gosh... I'm a wings guy tried wings at all different places this is simply the best I've ever had anywhere! For beer on tap it is hands-down the finest place. You're kept current on what is on tap with TapHunter app, and serve only the finest. The atmosphere is friendly and personable, servers do their best to know who you are and what you like as a regular. If you're looking for a great place to hang out for lunch or dinner or in between Plan 9 is the place to do it!!!!

    (5)

  • Kerry C.

    We love this place. As a young grandmother we love to go out to dinner and have a beer with our son and his wife. With 2 young kids this usually means we have to eat quick, drink that beer quick and run before they get to squirming. because they have set up a wonderful little play spot for kids we can hang for awhile and chat because the kids arn't bored. This alone is enough for us to frequent Plan 9 but a great selection of beers , ciders AND good food means we have a regular place to go. We have always had good luck with the servers and have never had any problems. We really enjoy that they went to the extra effort to make this a family friendly establishment . So far I have nothing negative to say about them. Maybe some new menu items every once in a while would be nice so I would have some different things to try but there is enough for now to keep me interested.

    (5)

  • Robert J.

    I've been waiting for this place for so long! There's a great community involvement with the place, which got started with the Kickstarter campaign. Many months later, it's finally open for business! A friend and I came by the soft opening last night. They were super busy and it was a little chaotic, but I do have a few recommendations :) The food menu was a little scarce. Get some more entrees on there! We both had the meatloaf sandwich, which was delicious, but the waitress was a bit confused about what we wanted on it and as sides. It was loud in there and I know it's her 1st or 2nd day, so I don't blame her. She also brought out a different beer than what I asked for, and our sweet potato wedges never came. We were introduced to one waitress but ended up ordering with another and being served by a third, so it was pretty confusing. All in all, it was good food and we like the minimalist decor. We'll be back many more time, so expect this review to change :)

    (4)

  • Jill C.

    Just in time to celebrate beer for Octoberfest, Plan 9 makes it's debut! While still in its infancy, the beer selection is broad with many local choices on tap. They will be doing a slow roll out on food choices but so far the sweet potato fries are my favorite. Downtown Escondido really needed a brew pub like this! I think as they mature this will become a really great addition to the local brew scene. I am happy to roll with the bumps as they get this hip urban beer location up to full speed! Give this place try when you are visiting the area and you want a great local beer experience.

    (4)

  • Rayne H.

    So glad this place popped up in my hometown. We lived in Berkeley for 2 years and places like this were everywhere! I always kept saying how I wish we had places like this in Esco. Was so happy to discover it when we moved back home. The people are awesome and you can tell they want you to have a good time. Will come back again and again and again.

    (5)

  • David P.

    Just had a haircut down the street at Andy's and had some time to kill. Walked up Grand Avenue and found this place...and what a find. Had the spicy Duck Wings with a fantastic craft IPA (or two) while watching an old monster movie. Brought back memories of Saturday afternoon "Creature Double Feature" I've always been a Sci-Fi fan. What's nice too is you have your choice of low table, high table, bar or alfresco. Something for everybody. I'll definitely be going back

    (4)

  • Michael P.

    Food was disgusting. We ordered patatoe wedges because how can you mess that up? Well no where on the menu did it say they were made from sweet patatoes. I hate sweet potatoes. I took one bite and that was it. The waiter didn't even offer to take those off the bill. If you are making wedges out of sweet potatoes then you should advertise them that way. Ordered a couple other things and let's just say we didn't finish that either. If your hungry then go somewhere else.

    (1)

  • J R.

    I thought the vibe was excellent here! There are always lots of people which I think is great. The food that I have tried has been excellent I just wish there was a bigger menu and nicer dining room seating. Other than that, this place is great!

    (4)

  • Vickey M.

    I am sooooo happy you removed Jeff K's obnoxious review. My husband and I have been regulars since it opened and love all the owners. This guy came in to have a double bastard ale......well guess who is the real bastard now? He should have stopped after the first beer. What a Jerk. Chad has always been very friendly as well as his entire staff (by the way.....JEFF, they several employee's that are of hispanic descent that work there and are awesome people. They also love their jobs). My husband and I have been living here for 13 years and have been hoping for a business like this to open up. To Chad and all the staff from Plan 9......we hope you are around for a very long time and we love ya all. Yo Jeff.....find another place that is willing to pay for your "cover band". We love Plan 9 just the way it is!!!!!!!

    (5)

  • Life I.

    We give this a 3 because of the solid beer selection. The issue is the food. The menu is of the inaccessible variety with overly complicated options. If you want some simple bar food, eat at O'Sullivans and cross the street for a beer at Plan 9.

    (3)

  • Nancy B.

    The pork belly BLT was fantastic- not your average BLT. The meatloaf patty melt was just as good. Both sandwiches were on killer artisan breads. You know the kind that's so good you don't need meat & cheese with it... The salad we also had was a spring mix with blue cheese crumbles, green apples, mandarin oranges, pepitas, & strawberries. The dressing was an ale vinegrette.

    (5)

  • Todd M.

    we are at the soft opening. An Ale House to be reckoned with. Great tap list, good food. Welcome to Escondido.

    (5)

  • Jeremy F.

    First timers, last Saturday night. Went in full of high hopes. Really good first impression with some room for improvement. Go in with expectations that this place is beer first, they do have good food, don't get me wrong but there is much more depth and variety of beer than food. This is what I wanted so it suited me perfectly. Our server, Bree was fantastic. She was very comfortable and had great understanding of the beers, what they are about, where they are from and how they were made. This was much more than expected - great job Bree! After serving a tasting of the Leifmans Cuve Brut and Almanac Burbon Sour Porter to my wife (who likes sours) and a Shamelessly Self Righteous Stone for me, we were both well on our way. We were then joined by some friends and we asked for a table and were taken care of immediately. On the downside, I have to say the high top tables with the wide barrels don't work. They are not very comfortable...no room for the legs. The food was very good. Around the table we had two leather faces (flat iron steak with dry rub) which was awesome, a chipotle shrimp and grit stuffed poblano (also scored big), and the sweet potato wedges were amazing. On the "needs work" side, the roasted corn and pasilla was too bland and although I commend the effort and courage to go outside the mainstream, the duck wings need to be refined to make them a winner. I prefer a crispier skin and I just couldn't get past that they were too fatty, although I did enjoy the buffalo sauce and blue cheese. All around, this place works. The beers are great, the food is just right with potential for really good and the price is right. Escondido needed a place like this, and now it has one!

    (4)

  • Michael P.

    Good food. Great local craft beer selection. Local ownership. Friendly and hospitable staff. Founded through crowd-funding. Hip vibe. Open, clean, minimalist interior. Play area for children. Home-made root beer with strong anise note. Cult classic movies playing silently on one big screen. News & sports on another big screen. Outdoor street-side seating. Small lounge area in back. This is one of the coolest places to hang out in Escondido.

    (5)

  • Rachel W.

    Well, I really wanted to like this place. Beer was good and menu looked delicious. But service sucked so bad. I met up with two friends and sat at the bar. It took a ridiculous amount of time to be able to order a beer but I wasn't that fussed because there was a decent amount of people there. I was finally able to order two tasters. I finished those quickly and it then took about 15 min for me to be able to order more. I ordered two more and sat patiently for 30 minutes while the female bartender poured beers and chatted up every male in the place. At the 30 minute mark I decided to try to get her attention. After 10 minutes of that I finally got a "yeah, what can I help you with." My family is in the restaurant business and I would never dream of being rude to an employee of a restaurant, but I just couldn't believe the attitude! I held my tongue and did not remind her that she had forgotten my beers but just simply placed another order. When the time came for the check, every single one was wrong and it wasn't even like our items had been switched. It was a hot mess. To be honest, she ruined the experience for me and if I walked by and she was bartending, I would just keep walking.

    (3)

  • Nolan T.

    They're making it really, really hard. So I've been to this place 10 or so times since it's opened. I was excited at first, then less so seemingly each time. Then this whole Twitter business happened. A few days back a friend of mine tells me to read Plan 9's Twitter page, and I see this: "FYI: If your plan is to come to Plan 9 Alehouse to get wasted, drunk, sauced, tipsy, etc., then don't come." Good thing I took a screenshot of it, because it was gone in a matter of minutes. TIPSY. IF YOU PLAN TO COME TO AN ESTABLISHMENT THAT PRIMARILY SERVES BEER AND GET TIPSY THEN WE DON'T WANT YOU HERE. Wow. I mean, what do you say to that? Nobody likes it when people are fall-down drunk, but tipsy? How close to tipsy was the co-owner girl who was drinking behind the bar on a dead saturday night? Should she have kicked herself out? Why are you trying to shame your customers into spending LESS money at your establishment? Their entitlement is sort of nauseating. The craft beer bubble will burst sooner or later, and no one is going to be lining up to buy Plan 9 beer. The "we serve the food we like because we like it and we don't care about you" schtick is old, and would almost certainly work better if the "food we like" was actually any good. Or maybe I've just had the wrong food (BLT and meatloaf sandwich are both decidedly sub par) at the wrong time. I don't know. But honestly, I've had it with this place. From their attitude to the inexperienced staff to the price of tasters (3 for an ounce or so, 6 for a full pint....wait, huh?) to my server INSISTING on telling me what beer to get and then admitting that she doesn't know much about beer. I'm honestly tired of it.

    (1)

  • Drew L.

    Plan 9 has fantastic food, a very cool atmosphere and a consistently amazing breadth of craft beer on tap. Their Turd Ferguson is my personal favorite of their beers and the Sriracha Bourbon Duck wings are something I've started to craving on a weekly basis. Stop in here, the place has character, adventurous and unbelievably tasty food (which they can make gluten free by the way) and a great selection of beers.

    (5)

  • Taylor B.

    Had there wings which were good, sauce is on the thick side but nice flavor and cooked perfectly..... Jerk of a waiter tho, ignored us theee entire time. Idk his name but he is a big guy... After we got beers I told him I'm still looking at the food....guy never came back and had to get a girl to help us...when we also wanted another beer my friend tried waiving down ours but he walked straight past us like we didn't exist multiple times. I assume the baretender saw cause he stepped in and got our order, and when he came back with our beers he then jokingly said "this is how you get your customers beer" to the guy that had our table..guy did nothing, no sorry....Just chatted with his friends that came in. Overall, Good beer prices with an awesome selection! And pretty good bar menue. But I will ask for another server next time I'm in. I would love to minus more stars due to that waiter Buuuut this place is cool, especially for Escondido. Just hope that guy changes his attitude.

    (4)

  • Angel G.

    Sick menu. Great beer

    (5)

  • Peris S.

    Came here on a Saturday night and was super impressed by the quick service and low key atmosphere. We love that we could bring the kids and enjoy a casual dinner. The food was great. Husband got the skirt steak and loved it! The soup was amazing as well. As for the variety of the menu...not much variety but it's okay it's a start-up and I am sure over time the menu will grow. We will for sure be back.

    (4)

  • David B.

    Just got done experiencing Plan 9 Alehouse for the first time, and in summary, well... big disappointment. Summary: Beer Selection: Excellent Atmosphere: Excellent Good for Kids: If the service speeds up Service: Poor Food Quality: Poor Speed: Poor Details: We were ecstatic about a quality alehouse with great beer coming to downtown Esco - we are 1.5 years new to the area and have been sampling the fare/restaurants around here for a while. We always bring in a big party (this time it was 9 with kids). So Plan 9 has been on our must-go list since they moved in, especially since we are avid beer pub fans. It took about 45 minutes for anyone to acknowledge us after we were seated (on an off-hour, Sat, at 2:00), and about an hour before we got our first round of beers. UNACCEPTABLE! Imagine! Going to to a pub and not getting a beer for one hour! Craziness! This fact alone might keep us from coming back to this place. We ordered and got our food 30 mins. later, and 4 of the orders were wrong. My wife hates bleu cheese, but ate her BLT anyway because after an hour and a half we were absolutely starving, and couldn't stand to send it back. The couple we were with asked for added bell pepper on theirs, but it was missing. The pork belly in the BLTs was all fat, literally (yes, literally) no meat. The arugula was so bitter I had to take it out. The kids chicken tenders, which the adults resorted to eating, tasted like sponge. I respectfully mentioned these items to our server, and no attempt was made to reconcile our displeasure (I would have settled for a free round of beer). The ONLY reason this place is not getting one star is because I am hoping, PRAYING, that they up their game and become an integral part of our downtown scene.

    (2)

  • Ryan S.

    Great atmosphere, amazing service, excellent beer, and the best sandwich I have ever eaten.

    (5)

  • Evan H.

    Great beer selection. The food itself is okay, except for the fact that it took over an hour to get to the table. Seven tables were served before us. But that is not why this place gets one star. Plan 9 Alehouse gets one star because even after the major delay in food service we were charged a mandatory 20% percent gratuity charge that was not listed on the menu. Summary: Great food, Great beer, slow serivice, mandatory gratuity.

    (1)

  • Alvaro V.

    This spot is just what escondido needed. The staff is great at making you feel welcomed plus you come here long enough and they start to know your name. The beer selection is great. I like the fact that it changes often so any time you come in there will be something different. If you don't know what to get just ask Chad and he will hook you up. The food is also delicious like the duck wings. If your looking for a chill place to grab a beer and actually have a conversation without having to scream over loud annoying music this is the place to go.

    (5)

  • Adam H.

    I LOVE this local hang! I typically go there more than once a week. The best, and most widely-varied craft beer selection I've ever seen. Very interesting and unique food. Everything is delicious, I always meet interesting, new people. If you haven't been here yet, you need to go. More than once a week. ;-)

    (5)

  • Katy S.

    Love love love this place. As a mom who doesn't want to be confined to home, this place has it all: great food, great beer and a kids play area. A parent must own it because they thought of it all! Thank you!

    (5)

  • Sascha F.

    Great place for lunch! I stopped by for a taste of a nice Brew and a bite. The lunch special is a great value. Had 1/2 meat loaf sandwich and corn bisque. Very nice. Maybe the bisque could have used a little more seasoning, bit would order again. Nina took great care of me providing friendly and speedy service. Beer selection is diverse and high quality. Come check it out.

    (4)

  • Greg G.

    Always outstanding most of the servers are very good.

    (4)

  • Michael T.

    I had such high hopes for this place... The beer was good but that was about it really. The food was beyond subpar, we actually didn't finish most of it and we were very tempted to send it back. The decor of this place could use some help, its all giant white walls which just gives you that sterile feeling.

    (2)

  • Christina K.

    This is a great place to stop for lunch or dinner. I tried the pork belly BLT and it melted in my mouth. There is a corner for kids in the back with books, toys and a chalk board so you can bring them along. They serve grilled cheese and chicken strips (my kids favorites) on the kid's menu. The beer selection is great and I would definitely recommend this restaurant/bar!!

    (5)

  • Margie M.

    Hands down my favorite place to go in Escondido! I am not a beer drinker at all - my hubby is - but the food is so delicious, the atmosphere so cool, and the vibe of the staff is so wonderful that I just want to go here all the time. They tend to play Monty Python's Holy Grail and Young Frankenstein on one of their TV's which makes them aces in my book! My friends thought I was crazy to pick this place for my recent birthday celebration because they know I do not like beer. But after the night was over, they understood why! Thank you Plan 9 for being so accommodating to the million plus people who showed up without rsvp'ing to me till that day. Anthony, Chad, Aaron, and Monica were so gracious, kept the pace of service great, and the chef did not disappoint at all. Everything was wonderful! My fave foods are the steak, the shrimp & grits, and salads. I have yet to eat something I did not like. And they have some good ciders and decent wines for those who don't drink beer. Thank you Plan 9 for having a fun, friendly, and phenomenal place to go to in this town! Love, love, love it!

    (5)

  • Tony J.

    Been here a few times and always good! Great food and beer selection. Friendly staff!

    (5)

  • Anna S.

    The food is awesome. The menu also lists suggested pairings with their amazing beer. If they have anything Plan 9 on tap, get in there fast because it goes fast! They have an excellent selection of craft beers, their house root beer is off the hook, and they have some wine too. I'm a huge fan of the ciders they have too! Check it out folks! It's a great place!!

    (5)

  • Brad B.

    I am super happy to have a place like this in Esco. Just went the "soft opening". I have to say they did a great job! The place was packed. My wife and I managed to score a table. We were served food and two rounds of beer and we were home in a reasonable amount of time. It is a school/work night after all. We shared and sandwich and sweet potato wedges. Both were good. Great beer selection. I had the house IPA and was happy with it. Thanks for taking a chance in Escondido!!!

    (5)

  • Dustin H.

    Great to see these guys open. Excellent tap list, tasty menu, friendly staff. Not just local beers but house brewed beers too. Love it. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • M M.

    Wow! What a great pleasure it was grabbing a bite here after another failed attempt to eat at Bellamy's! The staff at Plan 9 Alehouse was courteous and thoughtful and helpful. The menu was tantalizing and the food was amazing. My colleague and I both had the BLT, which is actually a lean pork belly sandwich oozing with deliciousness. The fries were yummy too. I had dessert first. A sumptuous lemon brownie that mad me want to have another but I knew the sandwich was coming. I tasted the coffee/milk stout, which was tasty but I was in the mood for a chocolate stout which they did not have so I settled for a delicious rootbeer that reminded me of the rootbeer my grandmother used to make when we'd visit her in Louisiana during the summer. I was so impressed with the service at Plan 9 Alehouse that even now I am trying to figure out when I can go back. Do yourself a favor and stop in and enjoy the food and the service and the friendly crowd that was there. You will not regret it! Bravo Plan 9 Alehouse! You truly get it.

    (5)

  • Jess R.

    Love this new ale house in Escondido! The three of us had a wonderful meal of 1/2 chicken, meatloaf sandwich, and sausage plate. I'm not sure where these reviews are coming from with the bad service because ours was top notch. We sat by the small kids play area and brought my 13 month old to play while we ate...what a great idea! Our server was super attentive and one of the owners stopped by to say hello a couple of times and check on us. Good food, good prices, and great service!!

    (5)

  • Jennifer M.

    Escondido is lucky to have Plan 9 open their doors with a great atmosphere and extensive beer selection. They have some vegetarian options for food and everything we ordered was delicious. So excited to finally have a great brewery with tasty food in our neighborhood!

    (5)

  • Nam D.

    One of the best restaurants I've had the privilege to eat at. The ambience is simple but superb, very relaxing atmosphere with quite possibly the friendliest staff. That's just the icing on the cake though...the food...it's amazing. All I have to say is try the "dark wing duck" buffalo wings, I don't remember what they are called but they are out of this world, I'm not joking you owe it to urself to stop by and have a good time.

    (5)

  • Anita H.

    So not impressed. Went there with some co-workers one night not long after it opened. The acoustics were awful, but the food (the BLT) wasn't bad and the beer we chose was good. The server was kind of annoying, he acted like it was an inconvenience to wait on us and was somewhat condescending when we asked any questions about the beers. But the owner helped us when he ignored us so it was okay that night. Unfortunately I decided to take my husband there and it was horrible. There were very few people in the restaurant and 3 servers behind the bar chatting. We made eye contact and chose a table. Then we sat for at least 15 minutes. Another couple walked in and sat down. The blond server behind the bar came out, took them menus, and apologized to them for the wait! Then she glanced our direction and yelled over "has anyone helped you guys yet?" We said no and she went to get us menus. She proceeded to help the other people first (who walked in long after us) with drinks and food, then came to us. It was clear she really wanted to hurry up and get back behind the bar and continue socializing with the rest of the staff. It was a very cold and unfriendly experience. Needless to say we will not be back. Funny enough, when I mentioned the experience to my coworkers later they all cited similar experiences and said they would not be back. Hopefully they have lots of customers from neighboring cities because they are not scoring many points with anyone I know locally...

    (1)

  • Barbara B.

    Great Experience! We decided to have lunch at a specific restaurant in Escondido and just happened to park in front of this business. It looked inviting and the menu interesting. We dined here and had a great time. The food was unique and tasty. The beer selection was ample. The service was wonderful and the staff was attentive. We will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Liam F.

    Sriracha wings and the sausage plate were excellent. The IPA mustard delivered and was a perfect compliment to both the pork and chicken sausage. Our waitress was extremely attentive and always gave good recommendations on beer. Speaking of the beer, the selection was excellent. Perhaps not the variety if some ale houses, but the selection was size able nonetheless. Had the la capellana Brett saison ( which was excellent) and the Götterdämmerung IPA from stone. Both were wonderful beers to cap off the excellent food and atmosphere. Added bonus: Monty Python on the tv.

    (5)

  • Natalie S.

    Who knew you could find a great ale house right in downtown Escondido. We tried several different beer samples and the shrimp and grits. The entree was a delightful spin off the traditional southern fare and many of the tasters were delish. Will definitely go back for more.

    (4)

  • Mark L.

    Great pub food. BLT really good. Great pale ale. Fun place with wacky movies on screen. Tonight was Monty Python. The menu has something for everyone, from diet conscious to children. We plan to come often.

    (5)

  • emily l.

    We took our kids with us and all had a great time. The play area gave Mommy and Daddy a chance to talk for a minute and the kids loved it. (I wish they would get rid of the stuffed animals though and maybe provide some hand sanitizer lol) the food was outstanding, especially the lemon brownie. And obviously the beer was delicious, including the root beer they make there. We will surely be returning.

    (5)

  • John L.

    Get the meatloaf sandwich and the Bear Arms Brown from Offbeat, ya dummy!

    (5)

  • Judith Z.

    They only apparently have one house brew - with 'lots of watermelon' - yuck. Otherwise other brews and a bottle list. I simply didn't see anything on the menu I wanted to eat. We're going back to Prohibition. Plan 9 had a small patio that's about the only positive I found.

    (1)

  • Jessica B.

    I dont even know what the food taste like. When my husband gott there we sat down someone brought us menus told us we had ten minutes to order cause the kitchen was closing then no one came to get our order. Definetly horrible customer service!! Not even worth trying again.

    (1)

  • Eric C.

    Great food , great beer. Place was great until our table was accused of something we didn't do. Awkward. I'll give it another shot.

    (2)

  • Jay E.

    First time visit yesterday. Highly impressed. Stellar beer list, they seemed to pick my favorite beers from many smaller local breweries and there were definitely enough rare kegs to please my inner beer geek child. Likewise, there are bold choices on the menu. Loved the skirt steak. Using duck wings is probably not the crowd pleasing choice, I can see why maybe the reviews are a bit polarized. Put me in the five star camp, please. The service was just right for me, I don't want an empty beverage glass nor do I need hovering. I'm fond of the interior, great lighting. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • Jason Y.

    Good beer selection. Food was good. Soooooo loud it was like being at a concert and there was only 20 people inside. I will go back.

    (4)

  • Richard R.

    We've been to Plan 9 a couple times now. I'll admit I'm inclined to favor a place steeped in such nerdy culture. The beer menu is very broad and even has several variants my extremely narrow taste pallet appreciates! It's San Diego, so there's lot's of IPA, but there's a wide variety of other brews for those of us who are not IPA fans. (I enjoy Moose Drool, Lost Abbey Judgement Day, and Alesmith Wee Heavy.) They only offer appetizers, but they are really great appetizers! The spicy duck wings lived up to their name and were delicious. We also had the meat and cheese plate, sweet potato wedges, and the "house" salad. Sweet potato is not my favorite, and I still enjoyed them. Saturday night was very busy so sometimes you may wait a bit.

    (4)

  • Tad M.

    Great beer selection. Can't say the same for food. Be great to have more beer incorporated dishes. i.e. beer mac-n-cheese, beer bread, beer whatever (get creative). Also, more veggie options would make me stay for dinner. At least a veggie burger. Take note from Churchill"s & Encintias Ale House. Great beer & great food = I will not journey out of Esco.

    (3)

  • Raven R.

    I love this place! I used to love beer and now don't like most of it after having a baby. My husband has become a bit of a beer snob and there is one particular brewery he goes to that I just can't get a taste for. I've now had a few beers at Plan 9 that were suggested by the server and have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. I've also had the duck wings, sausage plate, lavender and coffee crusted skirt steak, and their chips and have to say that even without the beer, love the food. It's kid friendly, which is a huge plus and everyone is very nice.

    (5)

  • Alexandra L.

    The beer selection is awesome- if you are just going for a drink, consider this a 5 star review. They have a wonderful, and unique selection and offered me beers based on my likes, that really matched up perfectly. The food is VERY overpriced for what you get. The quality is good, but some of the starters like the duck wings, were about double what they should have been for the size. Also, I got it after the half-dozen times they said it, that they are "anti-corporation". Seriously, I get it. You're super cool anti-establishment guys that think you're "anti-corporation", while really fitting exactly into the perfect hipster box. Black and white TV playing a vintage King Kong movie, pallet walls- you're about 3 years too late for that to be original. If you're so "anti-corporation", don't charge so much, take cash only, and stop telling me how cool and unique you are.

    (3)

  • P J.

    Stop by mid week for lunch. Had a BLT and skirt steak. Both were outstanding. Frankly, had it not been for the reviews on Yelp, I probably would have passed this place by. Very happy I stopped. Friendly staff I am good sandwiches. Very much worth a look. I wish them well.

    (4)

  • Rose A.

    Had lunch there this afternoon and loved every minute of it! We went for the beer but we were pleasantly surprised that the food was equally delicious. I had the shrimp and grits and my husband had the skirt steak crusted in coffee and lavender. Both were fabulous. My sister ordered the vegetarian sandwich and said it was the best one she had ever had. If you're a craft beer lover than this is the place for you because their line up of beers was awesome. Very friendly and fun atmosphere. We'll definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Shannon C.

    Love that we have our own little Micro Brewery is Escondido now. The couple that opened this place are so excited and sweet, that I want this little pearl to do well. I love the beer option, I know I will be shot for typing this, but I hope the IPA fad fades away some day and opens the door to Ales once again. The menu is minimal and the food is ehh, thus the reason for lacking a fifth star. I don't want to go on as I know the emphasis is obviously beer, but who doesn't want to grub when they eat right. Portions are teeny gourmet style bites except for larger plates, like the flap steak (which is the best thing on the menu) and A LOT of pork if its your fancy. Anyway, if you can get away with a pint on your lunch break, they offer some different things on their lunch menu daily (or weekly). I think the only thing that could be a bit better here, because everything else is pretty awesome thus far, is the waitstaff to be a little more attentive and welcoming (they hardly notice you when you walk in), for the menu to change with the beers, its so limited, I don't think it would be that difficult and would make food pairing a lot more fun. Would also love to see some sort of groovy mural on the big canvas of a wall they have inside. Stop in though, plenty of TV's for you sport fans or old B movies as the whole establishment is designed around Plan 9 from Outter Space. Just try it out. Support the Calles family, support local businesses and support beer! Ha! It is definitely another Gem on Grand!

    (4)

  • Jonny B.

    Five stars? Not yet, but may make that. I went to the brewhouse, expecting, as you might guess, their own brew. Well, no such luck. Even with a soft opening, I was looking forward to sampling their own wares. Come on! So if you are planning on sampling a new selection of beer, better call ahead. Food was very good, and service was attentive and unobtrusive. Quite nice. Good location, nice space. Not quite there yet.

    (3)

  • Sean H.

    Went in last Saturday about 4:30. Service was good & guy behind the bar was friendly & gave me a couple samples of beer. I really liked the place & we stayed for a few hours. Only thing was when we paid our bill the server forgot to include my credit card that I had started the tab with. I guess I'm used to bars that give your card back right after you open the tab....not when you pay. Considering that I paid in cash & walked out without my credit card. A couple days later I noted my cc was missing. Immediately I called my bank and cancelled that card. After thinking about it I realized they had kept my card. Considering this I had to spend 2 hours on the phone updating all the accounts that used that card to auto pay my bills with. When Plan 9 opened on Tuesday I walked in and sure enough they had my card. I explained the work their sever caused me by not returning my card. Being in customer service / sales I expected them to at least offer me a free beer or something for my 2 hours of work & aggravation........but nothing but "sorry". Well "sorry" back. If you think taking a clients credit / debit card and causing them 2 hours of work & stress isn't worth more than a sorry then we won't be back to your bar. Piss poor customer service IMO. Everyone makes mistakes, it's how you take care of making it right is what separates a great business from a middle of the road business. Damn shame because I did like it there. Not saying its bad, just keep an eye on your credit cards...

    (3)

  • Kris R.

    Escondido really needed this place. Went last night for the first time. Visit a lot of breweries, restaurants in San Diego. Food choices are unique, we tried the BLT - a little disappointed, very boring taste. The cheese platter was delicious, the beer selection was good. Very commercial feel - high ceilings, cool décor, VERY hard to carry on a conversation due to the acoustics and loud music. The reason the rating is less than stellar is because our service was absolutely terrible. We had to get up and request someone take our order, every single time we needed something. Our waitress came to our table once during the entire visit (about 3 hours). Not sure if we'll try it again but hopefully, the poor service is not something that will continue.

    (3)

  • Karen Marie W.

    Super rough 1st visit to Plan9. Have since been back... 2 words... Poutine Fries!

    (5)

  • Dawn T.

    Went to Plan 9 tonight for dinner and drinks. There were 8 of us. While I like the concept, it took forever for a waiter to come over to us, forever to get the food (which was just average (meatloaf and pork belly sandwiches) and forever to get a waiter back so we could pay. They need to add more to/ change the menu to include more pub/ beer hall fare, and hire more staff, or organize them a bit better. We'll give it another try in a month or so after they've worked out their kinks.

    (2)

  • Anne G.

    This place is great. The servers and owners are down to earth and will chat with you, the beer list will satisfy any beer nerd and the food is excellent. There is even a kids area available making it a family friendly environment. Ill definitely become a regular here

    (5)

  • Clover W.

    waited for a long time for this to open. what a disappointment. walked up to the counter and ordered two beers. while waiting for it to be poured, I grabbed the food... menu. while *still* waiting for it to be poured, a ...waitress? stood next to me and said...wasn't there a food menu here? I said Yes. I have it - i'm taking it outside so we can decide what to order - she TOOK IT and gave it to some other people. HELLO? So finally the Fart Knocker or whatever the beer was called was ready and I took it outside . We sat down at one of the picnic tables and after 10 minutes and no visit from lame waitress I asked if I could have one of the food... menus from the 2 couples sitting at the next picnic table. They're having Coke and Water, they have food menus and have been visited by lame waitress 3 times. After 20 minutes i turned around to see if there was a waitress i could flag down and the table popped up and we almost flipped over....and even that didn't get the attention of the lame ass waitress. So we finished our beer and left to go across the street to the ALWAYS AWESOME R O'SULLIVANS - GO TO O'SULLIVANS you will not be disappointed. This must be a place for the Millenniums. We will not be back. Awful, awful service.

    (1)

  • Jennifer A.

    Been twice now, once for the ultra soft opening and just this past Sunday. First visit was crazy. You can tell there was a great need for something like this in Escondido. We have a quaint downtown we just need to fill it will fun, cool spots like this. The beer selection is great. Seems to be something for everyone, plus a couple of wines for those non beer folks. My most recent visit was just the experience I was looking for. A relaxing chill afternoon with friends. They have a great open front with tables on the sidewalk. Our server Chris was attentive and helpful with our selections. Food menu is limited currently but with a promise of expansion. I had the duck wings, which I loved. I think my mouth is still burning. Friends around me had the meat and cheese plate, house salad, BLT and shrimp and grits. All were impressed. The BLT especially looked fantastic with pork belly, blue cheese on bacon bread. I see many a great time had inside these four walls. Looking forward to their continues success!!!

    (5)

  • Christopher M.

    Went here for the soft opening last night. What a clusterf*ck! We went in there around 6:15 and the place was packed. There were about 5 people in line to get drinks and luckily for us, my wife was able to grab a table from some guest that were just leaving. We sat down and it took a waitress 15 minutes to even acknowledge us. My wife and I love to go to new breweries and get tasters to try out different beers. We ordered 4 tasters a piece (which is their limit apparently) and a BLT and an order of sweet potato fries. We waited another 25 minutes for our drinks to get to our table followed soon by our food order. The waitress seemed like she didn't know what was going on which is understandable because they're brand new but 20 minutes for 8 tasters? Ridiculous!! Not to mention we had been approached by 4 different waiters/waitresses asking us if the order they were carrying was for us...which 3 different times this happened. The beer list was pretty good, although i wish there were more IPA's on the list...just a personal preference. Tried Plan 9's Mandatory IPA and their Witbier...both were okay. The IPA didn't really stand out as anything special but maybe that's just because i'm a hop head. The BLT was delicious or so says my wife and the sweet potato wedges were huge, I expected average size wedges and they looked like wedges on steroids!! It was then i realized i don't like sweet potato wedges, just fries. Too much sweet potato IMO. On the way out to pay the tab i asked for the check as they brought our appetizers so that we didn't have to wait forever to get out (At this point there was a line wrapped to the back of the ale house for people waiting to get a beer) We finished our food and still waited another 20 minutes as more confusion was set out through the staff and apparently the credit card machine was down so the waitress said she would try it again. My wife tracked the waitress down after another 15 minutes while we sat and wait and the waitress was just walking around with my card in her hand as she said there was a line to use the CC machine, which to me made no sense why she wasn't waiting in that line so we could leave and open up a waiting table. My wife ended up just paying in cash and we left there annoyed. All in all this place really has potential but last night was a horrible disaster, hopefully they work out all the kinks so that a customer can order some tasters and a light dinner without having to wait so long and being asked by every employee they have as to what we ordered. For now, i'll drive the extra 15 minutes and stick to Churchill's. Better beer list and a more expansive food menu for about the same price.

    (2)

  • Shannon L.

    The plan was Plan 9 Ale House. Chad and his staff rule!. Don't forget to order the shrimp! Planning to come back soon!

    (5)

  • John C.

    Went to their soft opening -- they should have been much better prepared. Service was lousy, credit card machine went down...and if they pint they served is an honest 16 ounces, then I'm Sir Arthur Guinness. I'll try them again in a few months, because I really like the idea of a non-Stone brewery in Escondido.

    (2)

  • steve s.

    a great ( much needed ) spot for Escondido .... they hit all the right notes for beer ... the food is simple but done very well .... the service is perfect always a smiling face ... we have gone 3-4 times now and enjoy sharing this gem with friends for a relaxed fun evening . it's what an ale / public house is supposed to be ! keep up the good works. loving it in north county !

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Accepts Bitcoin : No
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street, Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Dogs Allowed : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Plan 9 Alehouse

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