Hate that my first review is a bad one, but I feel compelled to write this. Once you read the root of my complaint, I think you will see why. My family went there last week while we were vacationing in La Jolla. First off-- an absolutely beautiful part of San Diego County. We went to the Karl Strauss Brewing company hoping for some decent food, and for me-- perhaps a nice craft brew. Our waitress, Dalia, took our drink orders promptly. I was ready to order a beer, and she actually steered me toward trying two small sample beers (basically served in a shot glass). The rest of my family got their sodas and I waited patiently for my "samples". It took our waitress a good 20-30 mins to bring my samples out. During this time my family had beverages to enjoy with our appetizers, while I had nothing-- not even a water. What made matters worse is she seemed to be more attentive to those parties that were, ironically, done drinking and ready to check out. My meal came (served by a separate person-- they also brought the appetizer out) and they quickly left-- without asking if I needed a beer. Our waitress resurfaced (another 15 mins later) as I was finishing the last bite of my burger and finally asked if I would like to order a beer; It was really almost comical, especially considering the place was not "packed" by any means. On a lighter note, the food wasn't half bad. What drives me to write this bad review is the fact that this is a BREWING Company and it was virtually impossible to get a beer. When we first came in I was ready to actually order a beer, and she steered me toward samples instead. Maybe her intent was to have me find one that fit my pallet. Unfortunately, she never followed through and left me wondering what a beer at this establishment actually tastes like. Kind of ironic to go to essentially what is a brewery and to walk away without being able to get a beer. Having been a bartender in the past, I always make sure to tip generously. This is one of the few times where I actually felt guilty tipping because perhaps our waitress wouldn't get the hint that she failed to deliver on what I would think would be something her employer values (selling the customer a beer at a brewery). Sad to say my first experience with a Strauss brand beer may have to be from a specialty beverage center way over here on the East Coast. Would have been nice to say I enjoyed one at one of the company sponsored restaurants in La Jolla.....
(2)
Billy B.
While the food is exactly same as every KS which is fine, just really not very exciting. So expected the standard food, we were clearly just a table# to the waiter. Pros: Consistent to all KS, location location. Vibrant downtown La Jolla atmosphere, and of course the beer. Cons: Our waiter Alex came and went with little to no interaction. My daughters friend even told him it was my daughters Birthday, his response was Happy Birthday, then her friend asked if they did anything for Birthdays, he responded with "Maybe". Maybe= no, nothing. He dropped the check and moved on to the next table. Really couldn't be more impersonal, I can order food from a machine. My gouda burger was really bland and Alex was not to be found so I just kept it. Should have stuck with my standard boneless wings, those are always awesome. In the future I'll stick with the restaurant in Carlsbad, I've always had excellent bubbly service there.
(2)
Joy M.
After gorgeous sunset in La jolla cove we deserved a scrumptious dinner! First time to eat here. I've been to the other location in Southcoast plaza in OC. I liked the food & service . The Servers are very attentive and friendly , We only waited 15 mins but usually they have a long wait. Btw, Great selection of beers. Tried lots of beer samples. I liked the red trolley and summer light. Food was bomb! Wedge salad flat iron steak, Ahi poke app was my all time fave. Piggy MacNcheese are kids fave. Wait you gotta Try the beeramisu dessert nom nom nom it melts in your mouth! Yummy! I highly recommend this restaurant . Happy tummy
(5)
Rachel S.
Loved this stop on our trip to San Diego! Whenever we visit a bar or brewery we try to sit at the bar instead of a table. We've found that you always get more insight, great service and you have the opportunity to meet new people. All of those were the case when we went to Karl Strauss! We found a great spot at the bar and immediately had fantastic service from our bartender. He didn't rush us into picking a drink and actually brought over a few samples of their beers before we decided. I loved the Tower 10 and Brandon got the Trolley Red. As we sipped our beers and browsed the menu we started chatting with a great couple next to us and they even shared their hummus (which was great). We ended up ordering pretzels to start and spent a good amount of time chatting with the couple next to us and peeking at the NHL playoff game going on. Once again our great bartender did not rush us but kept checking in and periodically brought us different samples of new beers. Eventually we ordered, I got the special Pork Belly Bahn Mi and Brandon grabbed some Mac and Cheese. While we waited we grabbed another beer and kept the conversation flowing. Our food was awesome, mine was just what I wanted and Brandon's was so filling that I was able to steal a few bites from him as well! At the end of the meal we were given a couple more samples of beer (including a great bourbon barrel one) and a couple bumper stickers. We made sure to let the manager know about their awesome staff, but if you get a chance to go make sure you sit at the bar! You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Thy T.
After hanging at the beach, we walked around and dropped by for happy hour. They have a good amount of beers and appetizers for happy hour. The beers were arranged from dark to light which was visually appealing because I knew where to look for my type of beer. I love wheat beers which the special of the day was their local brewed wheat beer. The waitress let me sample two wheat beers and I was thankful for that because I ended up ordering what she recommended. I thought my wheat beer tasted amazing. In addition, we ordered sweet potato fries. They were addicting and tasted great especially with the sauce that came with it. The restaurant was pretty cool looking. You could see their brewery machines behind the glass window. If only I live in the area, I would try out more of their other beers. Nice place so come check it out!
(4)
Meredith B.
What a great place. We came in hot and starving with grumpy kids after hours at the beach when I had some friends and their kids in town. Grown-ups needed beer, kids needed food. Stat. The beer was great--something for all kinds of different preferences. My burger (Big Beer Burger) was so freaking delicious. But everyone seemed to love what they ordered just as much. Service was great until the waitress disappeared at the end and we had to look around to get the check. I'd definitely go here again with small or large group!
(5)
Ohhee J.
IPA's are my favorite. IPA's with a hint of grapefruit? I will literally go goo-goo-gah-gah. The big barrel double IPA is just that. I highly recommend. This particular location is the restaurant but they still have all the beers on draft. The beers are extremely reasonably priced. There were a lot of families with little kids here. Love the open warehouse feel of this place. I haven't tried any of the food so I can't say much to that. This location has a lot of nearby shops and restaurants/bars/dessert for you to look through after your little buzz from the delicious drinks.
(5)
Maritess C.
Went here for lunch on Easter Sunday at around 11:30 for lunch. We met my brother for lunch. We got seated right away since there was no crowd yet. I ordered the fish and chips. It came with a cole slaw. The fish and chips were delicious. I loved how crunchy it was on the outside and how moist the fish was inside. I dunked my fish in the tartar sauce. The fries were small and thin. Excellent fries. They were cooked well. I had an iced tea to drink. I wanted to try a beer. I went with the windansea wheat beer. I tasted the hint of banana with the wheat flavor. I could not even finish it cause I had lots to drink and food in my stomach. For dessert, we went with a berry cobbler. I don't remember the name of the dessert but it was good. It consisted of apples, blueberries and vanilla ice cream with the crumbs on top. The waiter gave us a small sample of another beer to accompany our dessert. It tasted more like a great white wine which was excellent in flavor. I don't even remember the name of the sample drink. Lol. The service by our waiter was excellent. He even gave me another iced tea without me asking. Awesome! He also kept checking up on us to make sure we were good. He gave us a dessert menu at the end. I really enjoyed dining here because food and service was excellent. It is also located near the beach. I highly recommend this place. Only con to coming here was parking. We were just lucky to find a parking spot.
(5)
Allecia B.
Great food and fast and friendly servers. Amazing beer. Really enjoyed the Brussel sprouts appetizer. Had the fish and chips and they were perfect.
(5)
L T.
This review is based solely on the food and service. I did not try any of their beer as I was the drive of 2 under 21 year olds. Their food was good, but not great. We got the Top Sirloin and their Piggy Bank Mac on Tap. We ordered a medium steak, which actually came out more on the rare side and had to get it refired. It was an average steak, nothing to really rave about. Their potatoes were not creamy or light. They tasted more like butter than they did potatoes. The only good thing that we liked about the dish was the gravy. We also ordered the Piggy Bank because we heard they were famous for their Mac on Taps. It turned out to be pretty mediocre. We weren't blown away by it, but it didn't taste bad. Again, it was mediocre. A cool thing they do is offer free beer tastes with each meal. That was nice, but again we didn't drink.
(3)
Bonnie Z.
My friends and I popped into Karl Strauss for dinner after a day at the beach. Originally we went around the corner to Whisknladle first, but they couldn't accommodate us for dinner, just happy hour. Karl Strauss could squeeze us in for dinner, but not for another hour or so. Perfect timing for us! We got to try out both restaurants. Some service perks of Karl Strauss: + Quick to accommodate a large party with no hassles at all + Knowledgeable staff regarding beers. Our waitress listened to each of our "taste preferences" and recommended beers for all of us. Eat these: + Black Garlic Fondue: cambozola cheese, black garlic olives, roasted peppers, caramelized onions, Red Trolley Ale cream sauce, grilled bread...we dipped everything into here! Bread, flatbread, leftover bruschetta crackers... + Spicy Hummus and Flatbread: cilantro, jalapeno, kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, red onions, almonds. Loved the spicy kick of jalapenos with the citrusy tang of the olives. + Golden beet bruschetta: loved the beets on top, however we expected bread instead of thin crackers + Smoked gouda and sausage pizza: very rich with the gouda, and there was plenty of sausage. Drink these: + Variety of beers and many seasonal ones. I loved one that tasted chocolately and coffee-like, while also sticking to my standard lighter beer that is similar to a Hefe. Just tell waitress/waiter what your taste preferences are. Things to note: - Like many restaurants in the area, this place will get crowded in the evenings, especially during the holidays and weekends. However, if you have time to kill, I suggest putting your name down and then wandering around the little streets of La Jolla Cove and coming back for food. I really enjoyed my meal here and will suggest this place for other people to visit when they're in SD. I will definitely come back when I'm in the area.
(5)
Karla T.
I have been to their restaurant at City Walk in Los Angeles and this time I was disappointed. My server was friendly and did a good job tending to us. The food however was not the best this time around. I ordered the chile lime fries that ended up being sweet potato fries that tasted nothing like the description. I also ordered the farm burger and it was more bread then burger. The apple cider was delicious, but I did have issues after they charged my account with a discrepancy in price. All in all I would go for drinks but probably not the food at this location.
(3)
Meri D.
Yesterday I dropped by Karl Strauss for some beer with some friends. It was my second time coming to the La Jolla location, I usually go to the north county locations. Other Karl Strauss locations I've been to include Sorrento Valley, 4S Ranch, Carlsbad, Costa Mesa, and Universal City. Parking in the La Jolla can be tough as it is right by the restaurants and shops are right by La Jolla Cove, however I got lucky and got a parking spot pretty quick. I enjoy Karl Strauss for their awesome beer, and usually I'll do happy hour because the food is just as good as the beer. Yesterday I did a flight of tasters which were 4 for $6. I'm a big fan of the Wreck Alley Imperial Stout which I've had before. My other faves that I chose to get with my flight were the Windansea Wheat Hefeweizen, Amber, and I got to try their seasonal Peanut Butter Porter which was pretty good (I still like Belching Beaver's Peanut Butter Stout a little more though). The service was whatever.. I think the server was disappointed we didn't order food, but we sat at the bar for beer what can she expect. It took time for her to come back around when we wanted more beer, so deduct a star for poor quality in customer service as she lacked in having a positive demeanor or enthusiasm by being very short and almost fake in a way. Overall, Karl Strauss is still a cool place for food and drinks!
(3)
Bruce A.
I only eat two burgers a month so how happy was I with a well done burger that was ordered medium rare ?? Nice looking place needs some classic beer food- sausages etc menu lacks focus service ?? Not so hot! Should be better
(2)
Fatemeh B.
Probably one of the best places for hanging out with friends and family, having couple of draft bears and enjoy having delicious dishes and salads in La Jolla. I wish they were open till 12:00 am.
(5)
David L.
The customer service here is of the highest class. The servers are attentive and nice and the manager guy is super friendly and wants to make your experience the best. Me and a friend came for happy hour and could not be more happy. We came on a slightly chilly day but still wanted to sit outside and was glad that they had their outdoor heaters on. The food prices are on point when it's happy hour. We had the boneless buffalo strip things and it was delicious with a hefty portion and the sweet potato fries were large and tasty too. We also got a flight of beers and could not be happier. Can't say enough good things about this place. Check them out.
(5)
Leah F.
Went her on our family vacation and Ordered this delicious sandwich and wow the chef who came up with this is genius the flavored of buttermilk fried chicken & apples go great together. The service was friendly informative and fast they offer a great selection of sampling of beers which is fun the atmosphere casual and kinda modern meets chic child friendly as well they do have a kids pizza even no it's not on the menu for those picky little eaters :) The cheesecake was good although I kinda regret not ordering the cobbler that looked so good I will be back again for sure.
(4)
George M.
The service was so bad it bordered on comical. Good location, the food that we ate was ok, beer selection is a little heavy on the hoppy category but good, not super clean but not disgusting but with trash on the floor leading to the kitchen/bathrooms, men's restroom trash was full. Utensils, glasses etc. were clean. Our waiter was really impressed with himself as he took our order and didn't feel the need to write anything down. I'm ok with this if you can actually perform but usually this never works out. I knew it wasn't going to end well when he took our order for a wedge salad, rib eye steak and flat iron steak then immediately asked if we wanted to order a salad with our meal!!! Either stoned or just ignorant.. The wedge salad and beer came out ok and then it was downhill from there. The helper brought out my rib eye and set it in the middle of the table and asked if we needed anything else, maybe a plate to help share the rib eye? Really? No, where is my wife's flat iron steak? I'm sorry, there must be another ticket because your waiter only put in a rib eye. So as my rib eye got cold waiting to see our waiter he tells us the other meal is done and will be right out. 5 minutes later our liar waiter still doesn't have our other meal. After he lies to us the second time telling us the steak is on it's way I leave $20 to cover the salad and 2 beers that we didn't finish and walk out. It should be illegal for waiters to not write the order down. I don't get it? Am I supposed to be impressed with your memory skills? Are you too lazy to write it down? Every time we run into one these "memory experts" the order comes out wrong or something is missing. I think the waiters that can actually take orders from memory and get it right are working at much nicer places than this and providing a great experience.
(2)
Janice T.
What can I say! This place and more importantly the servers are amazing. Food and beer are awesome! Oops, I was here last month and had such a good time, I just now realized I didn't complete my review. I'm definitely coming back here next time I am in La Jolla!
(5)
Deb M.
Omygoodness! Delicious! Delicious! Delicious! The mac n cheese is to die for and the steak and frites! Soooo good. We were in town from PHX, and had a great time. We were at the La Jolla Cove Beach and oit hungry. As we were walking around, we stumbled upon this place and boy am I glad we did. Our waiter was friendly and nice. The food was out of this world. We will be returning!
(5)
Nina P.
Great service! My group was sat immediately and our server was very attentive. He even brought out beer samples to compliment each appetizer that we ordered. I got a pint of the Windansea Wheat and the pretzels. I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to pretzels, and these were only ok. The cheese dip was bland and didn't hit the spot. But, I'd be happy to come back and try something off the main menu because I liked my pint, the big brewery space and service.
(3)
Thu L.
I love this place they very nice ! The food and drink all my family so happy Came here last Friday they buzzy but everyone was so helpful and friendly I give them 5 stars because they deserved it . I love la Jolla also the weather beauty full as you dream of Will be back again
(5)
Lynn M.
I met with some out-of-town relatives here, and im glad they chose this place. Honestly, I didnt have high expectations, for a brewery, usually not as much focus on the food. But damn, I was wrong. I got a greek salad, it was the best ive ever had. Our appetizers were great, one was some sort of ahi dish, the other was a beet bruschetta. Id get them again. And lastly, we ordered dessert, which I cant remember what it was, but I remember it was fantastic! We also found one of our forks to be dirty, which really grosses me out, the waiter was very kind about it, and ended up giving us the dessert on the house. Definitely will come back to try more...or get that salad again.
(5)
Miranda S.
Perhaps I had too high of expectations. What I wanted was a gastro-pub/public house but did not get anything like that. Ordered the pretzel and the sauces that came with it were underwhelming. The charcuterie platter was nice. Not outstanding though. Food maybe a 2-star. The 4-star rating is focused on the staff. Our waiter (who was also the barkeep) was very attentive, gave details and suggestions on the drinks, provided a complimentary sample. He did a great job and if I am trying to expand my beer horizons, I would go back for the education. I'm not a beer-enthusiast but he definitely helped me get closer.
(4)
Joleen Q.
I love that this is one of the few places without a wait in downtown La Jolla! There were delicious mac & cheese varieties here but I ended up getting a salad. The service was very friendly and I wish I wasn't so stuffed so I can get dessert and beer here! My friends split a small salad and a burger here and they were very satisfied. It reminds me of a BJ's but it's a little bit nicer.
(4)
Tina P.
Two words: Pork Chops! Yes, they are a must. This place is my once a month go-to! Always great Karl Strauss beer selections or if you're aren't in the mood for beer (can't say that ever applies to me) they have a full bar. My favorite item is something they've had on the menu since they first opened the restaurant section of Karl Strauss and it's their vegetarian black bean soup. It's hearty and has wonderful flavors especially the swirl of sour cream and salsa on top. Another great appetizer are the wings- best part is they're boneless and still full of flavor. They'll help you pair which beer goes with what you're ordering and even bring you samples to pair with your food. I love that touch! We always get great service sitting at the bar, but there's also inside and outside seating (with heaters).
(5)
Yuwei C.
I went to Karl Strauss with a few friends last Saturday night for beers and appetizers. We got a table right away and were brought our waters and drink orders quickly despite it being a weekend. Their beers are pretty good, though no match for some of the tasty selections available from the many San Diego area breweries. My tuna tataki was sooooo good, and I sampled my friend's calamari, which was perfectly crispy. Our waiter was friendly and he brought complementary little samplers of beer that paired with our food. Overall, a good experience.
(4)
Alex S.
This review is specially for the food, as their beers are quite good. Had the Mac and cheese ($15) and it was pretty terrible. It lacked creaminess, tasted like it was made the past week, and had very little flavor. On its own merits, the dish didn't stand up to reasonable scrutiny. When coupled with its $15 price tag, the dish looks even more absurd and like some kind of practical joke played on customers by the staff.
(1)
Joe G.
After a bit over a month of back and forth with the manager and the customer service rep. They figured out that the problem lies in a programming error on their system. They explained that they are having their software team correct the problem and the manager was kind enough to offer a credit for my next meal. I have increased my original rating because they have promised to fix the problem. I will increase the rating again next time I go if I see that the problem was truly addressed.
(3)
Sandy Y.
Although I'm generally not a huge fan of chains, this restaurant has a really cool layout and I'd heard good things. Plus, I was with out-of-town friends so I figured, it would be a good lowkey spot to check out. We came a bit later on a Monday night, around 830pm. The restaurant is actually much smaller than I expected but it has really great lighting and is split between the barside on the left and a smaller dining room on the right. Most of the tables in the dining room are booths so looks like some nice comfy seating. We sat in the bar area which has high tops and nice cushioned bar stools but there are no backs, which for poor posture people (90% of Americans), not the best. We were really looking for just a couple of items to share so we decided to go with the duck fried dough bits and the piggy bank Mac 'N Cheese. Who can turn down Mac 'N Cheese on a menu that says it could change your life?! The duck fried dough bits were REALLY interesting and surprising to me. They were so light and fluffy yet so doughy-- melt-in-your-mouth doughy deliciousness! I actually didn't care for the parmesan cheese topping which my friend thought was an atrocity, but it's just too salty for me. I'm not a huge pig fan but our waitress whole-heartedly recommended the Piggy Bank and it a good call. Of course, having not compared to the others, it was a good representative of a very light yet hardy Mac N' Cheese that's not too heavy or overpowering. It's definitely been perfected. It's not overly creamy or heavy so again, this is all personal preference for styles of Mac N' Cheese you like. I wouldn't say this is my favorite style as I like a creamier, cheesier style that's more like the homemade style per se, but this was definitely a good Mac N' Cheese and one you wouldn't go wrong with choosing. Beers were about 10-15 on the menu. Unfortunately they were out of the Ocktoberfest which was hugely disappointing for my visitors from Seattle. However, service was great and waitress was very attentive and even brought us a sample tasting to pair with our food. Kudos for some really nice food for a brewing company!
(4)
Gina L.
I went here with my boyfriend while we were visiting SD and we absolutely loved our experience here. We decided to have the pretzels, hummus, and a flight of beer. You would think that wouldn't be enough for two, but we actually had to bring some of it home with us! Although the hummus was amazing, I'd have to say our favorite was the pretzels with their amazing cheese/beer dip. We'll definitely be back when visiting SD again!
(5)
C. R.
Food was excellent. The Manager Ryan was especially attentive and so was the waiter whose name was O'Ryan. An overall great experience that made our family want to consider KS again soon.
(5)
Andrew C.
Went here a couple times over our vacation and I just loved it so much I got 4 growlers! Everyone here is super nice and very helpful! The general manager was there and he was amazing! Thanks Ryan and Clinton you guys made my vacation amazing!
(5)
Daniel O.
I love this beer! The Red Trolley & Amber are my absolute favorites. They also have some of the best boneless buffalo wings I have ever had. I enjoyed every minute of my visit! The staff was very friendly as well. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Joe D.
This was our first time at Karl Strauss and it did not disappoint. Staff was all friendly, food was great (try the Brussels sprouts w/bacon!) and the beer was terrific. Alex, our server, brought along a couple free samples to compliment our food along the way and was super friendly and attentive. Can't wait to return!
(5)
Scott H.
Had dinner at Karl Strauss on Wednesday. This is meatloaf night, and I don't know if that's why it was crowded, but it was at least 3/4 full. Started with a pintail pale ale, which is a solid beer, but I could have used more hops. It's definitely lighter. Next time I'll have an IPA... We each started with the mixed green salad, which comes with blue cheese, slivered apples, almonds and tomatoes. This was a good salad, larger than I was expecting, and it's a good flavorful mix of field greens. I had the ribeye steak frites. It's a thin ribeye, but 12 ounces, cooked to a perfect medium rare. They'll give you the house steak sauce on the side, but you don't need it. The steak is topped with a large pat of herbed butter. Excellent butter, lots of flavor and it goes well on the steak. The frites are parmesan truffle. I could have used some more cheese, but I pretty much can always use more cheese. They are thin and crispy, and not oily at all. Very good fries. My companion had the meatloaf, which at $12.95 is a great value. I had a couple of bites, it's moist and flavorful and prepared with classic veggies and a good thick gravy. Karl Strauss has some great food to go with the beers. Would definitely eat here again.
(4)
Mahyar G.
we have visited different Karl Strauss at different locations. i am happy to say this one is the best of all. The management Ryan and his crew and the server are very friendly and professional and really created a night of fun and joy for our family. I have to congratulate Karl Strauss Brewing Company for having such a great manager and crew of employees. Thanks Michael g
(5)
Jennifer N.
Food: Happy Hour is Mon-Fri from 3-6PM. $4 Beers, $5 Apps - Boneless Wings: served over a bed of cabbage and garnished with cilantro. Served with a side of carrots and celery. Blue cheese dipping sauce. This was okay. 3/5 - Spicy Hummus: garnished with almond slices and cilantro. Served with a side of olives, red peppers, and red onions. Enjoyed with flatbread. This was pretty good. 4/5 - Chili Lime Fries: Sweet potato fries with chili powder and lime zest. Served with ranch. This was so addicting! I definitely recommend this appetizer! 5/5 - Karl Strauss Amber: lager, 4.5%, 18 IBU 4/5 - Windansea Wheat: Bavarian Hefeweizen, 5%, 20 IBU 4/5 Service: fast and professional. 4/5 Final thoughts: I would definitely come back here to try other beers and for some more chili lime fries!
(4)
Erik M.
Great service, great food. The mac n cheese is as ridiculously good as people say. They also kept giving me samples of beers that went with my food. I absolutely loved it!! Also whatever is on the Tank Tap, go for it, its probably really good!
(5)
Jaymie T.
Best beer and food that I have had for a while!! I was able to make a same day reservation and our service was impeccable.
(5)
Darryl J.
We need 1/2 stars.. I debated between 3 and 4. We'll say 3.4. The atmosphere was very nice. The staff were very helpful and pleasant. Service might have been stretched? There were waits to get more drinks and get the bills. Beers were great. Beer and food were both decent value. Not extraordinary, but fair. I had the brick chicken. The "spicy" and "chipotle" were hidden-to-non-existent. The dish was still good but the flow just didn't make sense compared to how it sounded on the menu description. Washroom maintenance was poor. I thought I stepped into an unattended highway gas stop. That was really offensive and not reflective of the rest of the environment. Disappointing.
(3)
Carri B.
First time here, wait staff was incredibly nice and personable. The beer was wonderful, food left a little to be desired. We had to add some salt to it to give it flavor. Nice atmosphere. Can't say I'd go back, anytime soon for food, but would definitely go back for beer. For dessert, do the Imperial Stout with ice cream for a float.
(3)
Moneek M.
Excellent service, beer, and food! This was our favorite meal on our trip to San Diego. The poke was top-notch (be sure to add the avocado), as was the beet bruschetta. We also got the weekly special, the chacuterie plate, since we got a flight of their dark beers. Of course, sitting on the patio while enjoying an afternoon sun break certainly didn't hurt though! The menu of burgers, sandwiches and other items looked tempting as well, so should we return to La Jolla, I'd make a beeline for our new favorite restaurant!
(5)
Diana I.
When in San Diego, you've got to try out the breweries, and I'm definitely glad that I picked this place as my first try. My friend and I wanted to check out the brewery garden in the Mira Mesa/Sorrento Valley area last night, but it was closed, so we ended up driving a little bit further to this location. Since the location is next to La Jolla Cove and the other boutiques and bars, you might have some trouble looking for street parking. The inside is very spatial and well-decorated. Our server was very knowledgeable about the different beers that they have. You can get free samples of whatever you'd like to try before deciding what you want to order! Everything that I sampled was so good, that it was hard for me to decide what I wanted with my dinner. My friend and I got samples of the Oktoberfest, Red Trolley Ale, and Wreck Alley Imperial Stout. I ended up with the Red Trolley Ale, since that was what the server recommended for me to have with the big beer burger that I ordered. She even went above and beyond and gave us a sample of the Karl Strauss Amber to try with the burger! Don't even think about putting ketchup on that burger! Go for the IPA steak sauce. It'll have the burger tasting so much better than it already did. The fries are just as great. They're fresh and have the right crispiness to them. Without a doubt, would come back to try more beers. Menu is pricey, so I probably won't be a frequent patron. Karl Strauss is definitely a must-try brewery when you're in San Diego!
(5)
Steven W.
This is a great place, my wife and I have been here probably 20-30 times. The bartenders are awesome and always attentive. The good thing about this place is that it is a brewery but also has a full bar. Their beers are really good. I usually just drink the summer brew if I am drinking beer but my wife changes what she drinks often and likes pretty much all the beers they have to offer. The menu is very good. The happy hour is great, you get a choice of about 5-7 different plates at $5 each. It is very common for me to order two plates of wings. The atmosphere is great. This is a bar I go to myself but its also a great place to go with friends and I have taken my family here on a number of occasions too.
(4)
Lindsay P.
The food and beer are what keep me coming back. Ate & drank beer here the last two weekends and have zero complaints! Customer service was an issue on both visits to the restaurant. The hostess (a blonde girl) did not seem like she knew what she was doing. She told us it would be a 35 minute wait which was understandable on a Saturday night. So my friends & I decided to walk around and with in 5 mins we get a call saying our table is ready which was great but again the hostess seemed to have no idea what was going on. We were seated and our waitress gave us mediocre service at best. Slow at getting our beers and taking our food orders. She did try to redeem herself and offered us a free sample of her favorite beer, as she could probably tell we were all frustrated. Karl Strauss is one my favorite places to grab a drink and even dinner but I think I will try a new location.
(4)
Lindsey B.
After I wrote my review I was contacted by the manager. He was was very considerate and attentive to my bad experience, looking to make it right. I will be giving them another chance because of his customer service efforts.
(4)
Cheryl W.
Here's what it comes down to: beer good, food bad, service okay. My bf and I came here for dinner after going kayaking in La Jolla. He ordered a beer flight with four different beers. They just opened a cask and brought a free sample of that to compare with the tap version. I'm not a beer drinker, but he said he likes their beers. That's what they're known for, so I should hope they were good. The food on the other hand was not good. We started with the calamari appetizer, which was meh. I had "The Norm" Mac on Tap that supposedly could change my life. Not only was my life not changed, it was the worst mac and cheese I've ever had. The whole thing was dry and bland! He ordered a burger, nothing special. Lastly, we shared the west coast split. It was pretty good, but not worth the trip. It was nice that they brought two more samples of the Wreck Alley Imperial Stout to go with the dessert though. I would recommend going for beers, but eat somewhere else before or after.
(3)
Tyler S.
My gf and I are on vacation in la jolla and are from temecula. The temecula location is so much better. Took us 15 mins just to get a waiter and another 15 just to order our food. I could understand if it was busy but it is a Sunday night. Food was good but service was horrible. Also my gf had a bug in her water which pissed me off I almost walked out. Now we can't even get the check. I will NEVER be back to this location again temecula location is great!! The blonde hostess has been giving us dirty looks all night. Don't give us dirty looks when your service is shit.
(1)
Elaine J.
This my 2nd time visiting this restaurant and it was as good as the first time. My husband and I shared the hummus and ahi tuna! So yummy! Our server was fantastic! I couldn't make a decision on a beer so she kept brining me samples. Overall a great experience for two out of town people from Colorado.
(5)
Brittany C.
Right in the heart of La Jolla! Food is good but the beer is great, and I loved all the beers samples throughout dinner :) We started with the pretzels and calamari - both were pretty tasty. I ordered a chicken sandwich, which was decent but nothing to rave about. My husband order the mac and cheese and it was delicious. Service was decent but overall, Karl Strauss is a cool place for food and drinks.
(4)
Tye S.
Visited on Friday 6/19. Busy dinner hour and the two of us were seated outside. Menu has good selection of favorites. Nothing bad here, however food was just average, especially for the prices. Service was average as well as we had 3 different staff members which visited the table infrequently. There are quite a few other choices in the area that you may want to consider.
(3)
Carmen V.
Upgrading to 4 stars thanks to the excellent approach by the management following up with the customer's needs and open to suggestions. I will go back during my Christmas holidays as for sure Karl Strauss breweries are in my list of favorite places to recommend in SD, hopefully the pizzas get up to the great standard set by the excellent beers!
(4)
Allie S.
Karl Strauss is a great San Diego brewery. Friendly staff and good beers. This location is smaller than their Sorrento location. I'm not sure if they have food on a regular basis there. We went for a catered party, so there was some buffet style appetizers that were good to have since I had a few beers. No complaints. Good place!
(4)
Riana L.
Great spot to grab a beer (or a few) with friends. The flight option is definitely something to try - why wouldn't you wanna taste multiple beers?! Service was decent...there was a slight hiccup with the order however was corrected on the bill willingly! So in that sense, good customer service! Also, beer was on point! (5 stars on that) Suggest trying the brussel sprouts!
(3)
Marc T.
Great flights of beers - locally brewed - good food and a great rest stop- great outdoor spot- not a true sports bar- no MLB package - get a growler of Wreck Alley- coffee/ cocoa nibs -
(4)
Bill B.
We are here today for lunch and loved it! Our waiter suggested the right beers and our food was great! We split a burger and had the Mac and cheese. The burger was beyond our expectations and the Mac was superb! We will be coming back!
(5)
Natalie F.
Best customer service. Great beer. Authentic food. Glad we stopped by here for dinner.
(5)
Jamie D.
Great food great beer. Mediocre service by our server today. We usually frequent K.S. in Temecula and they are amazing. They bring samples of beer that pair with and compliment your food selections. Our server hardly came by and didn't even make sure we had plates or silverware. I had to go ask for some after appetizers had been served. The manager was amazing and kind. We will likely come back and hope for a different server.
(4)
Jessica B.
Oh. My. Goodness. This is the best happy hour I have ever been to. EVER! The beer-EXCELLENT. The sweet potato fries were the best I've ever had, and that is saying a lot because I loooove sweet potato fries. And the hummus: good jesus it was amazing. Don't underestimate the food here people! Also, our waiter Alex, first of all-cute! Second of all, he greeted us on the street with free beer samples. What a hidden gem here-others definitely have not given this place enough credit. So impressed! And I wish we had these in Texas!
(5)
Renee M.
Karl Strauss never lets me down! I've been here many times but just went again recently, it's always the best! Friendly servers, great food, and TVs for Sunday football, if you like that ;) I sat in the bar and our server was friendly and chatted with us about movies, love that! It wasn't very crowded, and this spot is smaller than the one in Carlsbad but I love the location it's in. Only bummer thing is that parking is sometimes a pain in the ass. As long as you find something, don't let the walk bother you! Your peanut butter porter should be a regular beer ;) My BF and I would be customers for life if that happened! (JK we already are)
(5)
Kim B.
This place was really great! A local California brewing company... with a great atmosphere. I love going to local establishments such as this. And while it is a chain, it is a local chain.. so I am okay with that. I tried the beer sampler of the Windansea wheat, the Tank Tap, the Endless Summer Light, and the Karl Strauss Amber. All were unique... my favorite was the Windansea and I was disgusted by the Tank Tap (it was the one in the making right then... that is onsite. It was a rice beer). After I finished them my server came over with two more to sample! It was such a great gesture- I really enjoyed the service, friendliness. It seemed as if all the girls wanted to be the diners friends. My mom got a Harvest Salad with Chicken, and I got the mac and cheese. The mac and cheese was unbelievable.. certainly homemade and super creamy. My mom said her salad was tasty, fresh, and flavorful.
(4)
Michael S.
Had a great time at the Karl Straus pub in La Jolla. Stopped in for a look and ended up with a flight and wings. Everything was excellent. I would recommend this brewery to anyone who loves craft beer. Great selection and knowledgeable staff.
(5)
Lindsay W.
My family of three ate here on a recent vacation on the recommendation of the bartender at our hotel - we were looking for something easy and casual. Karl Strauss was the perfect recommendation. The atmosphere was lively and fun, but not over the top. The service was great - friendly, attentive and knowledgable. Great kids menu with options! We sampled several beers and they were all great - it is very fun how they bring samples to try with your food. My husband had the lettuce wraps and clean his plate. I had the Zoe's Salami Salad and it was fantastic - flavorful and filling. We would certainly go back for another yummy, casual dinner.
(4)
Gino F.
Right in the middle of downtown La Jolla this place blends in with the rest of the nice little restaurants in the area. The happy hour deals are really good. The chili lime fries have some really good flavor and a nice zing and the hummus is perfect with all the little toppings. All the beers on tap were really nice and smooth. I recommend you getting the sampler flight during happy hour just $4 dollars so you can get some variety. The food comes in big portions and the flavor on my burger was outstanding, the best part was I ordered my burger medium rare, and the burger came out perfect with a nice pink insidd with tons of juice. Some places make it more medium but this Karl Strauss got it right. Our server was always asking us how we were doing and if he could do anything. Really attentive and seemed like he cared. Overall good exeperiance. The only downside for not getting the full 5 stars is parking. They validate your parking for their underground parking garage once you are done with your meal. But what they didn't tell us was that you only have 10 minutes or so after paying to get to your car. But we stayed a but longer to use the restroom and walked a little but slower since we had eatin so much.when we got to leaving the parking garage our validation was no longer valid so we had to pay. Overall though good restaurant and come during the happy hour!
(4)
Jenna B.
OH. MY. GOD. This was the BEST happy hour of the whole trip. We weren't planning on stopping until we tried the free beer taste outside. Then...we tried the best IPA of MY LIFE. I don't even like IPA and I made us stop after trying that. We got the La Jolla IPA, sweet potato fries, and hummus. Seriously the best food/drinks I've had. Best happy hour. Best waiter (Alex). LOVED IT. Go. I mean seriously, GO. Great atmosphere, great beer, great food, great staff. Great everything.
(5)
Michael T.
Nice looking restaurant. A bit pricy but the food was good. The service was not so good. Or order was taken promptly and was checked on several times until a big wedding party came in. They had a blocked off set of tables and seemed to take away the service from most of the other patrons in the restaurant. AT one time, I counted 9 people taking care of this party including our waitress, who completely forgot about us. We actually had to ASK for our check because they were so busy with the "party". I am sure that at "other times" this is a great restaurant with great service, but this was OUR weekend to enjoy from the Hot Phoenix area and expected MORE from the restaurant. When you pay $50 for 2 burgers and a couple of beers, it should be something great....nope....we were not the focus of the restaurant waitress OR being a patron. Food good - service BAD!
(3)
Priscilla R.
Great food. I had the muncho macho burger. It was so good haven't had a burger that good in a while. I had great customer service by everyone. The food was brought out quickly. The beer was really good. Overall I was very happy with everyone and everything. Even the management team came by and made sure everything was fine, and was very friendly. Our server Clint was amazing. Ask for him!!
(5)
Ryan H.
Went to Karl Strauss to celebrate graduating with Masters. The atmosphere and location was very nice since it was in Downtown La Jolla. One bad thing was trying to locate free parking. I believe during rush hour you'll spend a few minutes driving around unless you want to pay for parking. We were sat fast and the service was great. Our server timed asking us for our drinks, appetizers, etc. The beer selection of course was great. Had the windnsea. Our server also gave us free samples of beer which was awesome and surprising. Our appetizers came out in a timely manner and was very fresh and good. I ordered the farmhouse burger. The fried egg caught my eye. The server always ask if medium is ok. The food came out and tasted great. The fries where crispy and crunchy. Desert was awesome. We had a deep fried cheese cake and a brownie with ice cream. The pictures will help. Everything is beer inspired.
(5)
Jackie B.
We had such a good time at Karl Strauss. Awesome, friendly service in the bar area and great fun watching a game with the crowd. Though we didn't intentionally go for the happy hour, we sure will GO BACK because of it. Beers are great, food is above average, and service was good.
(4)
Kunal S.
Fantastic Beer. Been here at least 12+ times when i lived in San Diego you can never go wrong with a Red Trolley and Chill Lime Fries
(5)
Joshua A.
First things first: Karl Strauss as a company is amazing. The quality and combination of food, drink, and atmosphere is essentially unparalleled among southern California Breweries. They have a wide selection of quality craft beers they share tastings of with every meal, that pair incredibly well with the dishes. Every location I've been to has shared in this experience, which signals to me not only great management etiquette, but also a wonderful shared culture for customers. I've been in the San Diego area for a few years now, and the La Jolla location has always been my favorite spot to visit. Its central location in downtown La Jolla makes it a great anytime meal or drinks experience: stopping in for a quick bite after the beach or hanging out and enjoying the special "tank tap" brew for the evening. Did I mention this location is one of the only Karl Strauss' that serves wood-fire pizza? All-in-all, Karl Strauss is one of the best priced restaurants in southern California, in my opinion (and they are quickly expanding). I've never left unsatisfied, and I continue to frequent their locations for birthdays, taking out visitors, or just to have dinner. I would highly recommend anyone else to do the same. This company is going places.
(5)
Christina H.
Mac and cheese was super good here and the portions are huge. The Beer burger was juicy and tasty.
(4)
Jordan L.
Karl Strauss is one of my favorite places to visit in San Diego. It's one of the best breweries... if not THE best brewery - the beer is excellent! I love Wreck Alley! Plus they bring you FREE samples 1-2 times during your meal! The food is also great. It's not just tacked on. They are really serious about having tasty foods. They have really tasty boneless buffalo wings on their appetizer/happy hour menu, plus the burgers are nice! Their burgers range from about $10-15 and come with fries. If the underground parking garage nearby is open, Karl Strauss validates, so no payment! Check to be sure that's still happening though, as you might be reading this several years down the road.
(5)
Joy M.
came here for some after-dinner drinks with my bro and his friends to celebrate his birthday. my favorite beer is Red Trolley and since this place was literally right next door to where we had dinner and drinks to start the night (Whisknladle), we thought it'd be fun to stop in and keep the laughs going over craft beers. i was disappointed that this location didn't have nearly as much to offer as the Sorrento Valley Karl Strauss. sure there was a fair amount of bar and table/booth seating, a handful of flatscreen TVs showing SportsCenter highlights, and a fairly decent selection of beers to enjoy. unfortunately they were all out of their seasonal (vanilla bean something or other) Wreck Alley Imperial Stout, and this location didn't have that certain WOW factor that other gastropub/breweries have. no huge koi pond or dining area like their Sorrento Valley location. and this is La Jolla... cmon now. -civilities.
(3)
Kermit K.
Great food, good Beer
(4)
Jason K.
Our waitress, Sarah , was so helpful and very knowledgeable about the food and the beer that enhances the flavors. The atmosphere was very nice because of all the staff. We live in Escondido but if we are in this area again, you beat your butt we will swing by.
(5)
Wulfstan C.
This is a nice brewpub in downtown LaJolla. Decor is modernist/industrial brewpub style, lots of glass and metal, nice. It could seem a bit cold if elsewhere but since this is LaJolla, it doesn't normally get cold. Beer is good overall - I find Karl Struass beers generally solid but a bit pedestrian,ranging from mediocre and one-dimensional to a few that are quite good. Food was good, but again not great. It has some uniqueness in concept but generally seemed a bit characterless. Nothing, though was bad by any means and it's worth a visit.
(3)
Jessica S.
While I regularly frequent the Sorrento Valley location, this was my first time at Karl Strauss in La Jolla. It's a decent-sized restaurant with a small outdoor patio area. We came here on a Sunday afternoon, so it wasn't very crowded. I started off with a pint of the Tower 20 Double IPA, one of my favorites from Karl. Lots of hops and bitterness counterbalanced with sweet citrus and grapefruit flavors. I highly, highly recommend this beer. I got the Flan-Diddly Anders as well, a Flanders-styled Red Ale. It's alright: sour, a bit tart with cherry flavors, a slight acidic vinegar taste, with vanilla and oak undertones. Not one of my favorites, but a decent beer overall. We decided to split a bunch of appetizers since we were all getting kind of hungry. We ordered the Crispy Calamari, Nacho Stack with Guacamole, and Asada Fries. The Crispy Calamari was delicious, very lightly fried with just enough batter to have that crispy texture. The calamari had just the right amount of crunch and wasn't overcooked or rubbery. Flavors were good and the chili aioli dipping sauce really accentuated the calamari. Spicy, salty, crunchy, and slightly sour from a squeeze of fresh lemon, the Crispy Calamari is a good appetizer to start with. Decent portion size as well and plenty to go around. Paired perfectly with the Tower 20 Double IPA. The Nacho Stack with Guacamole was disappointing, though. Portion size is huge. It really is a gigantic nacho stack, with lots of black beans, pepper jack and cheddar cheese, salsa, sour cream, and guacamole all thrown on top of tortilla strips. The toppings were great but the chips were stale, super soggy, and too long, making them inconvenient for dipping. The extra long tortilla strips made it hard to get a decent scoop of toppings. There's a reason why triangle-shaped tortilla chips are standard for nachos! That said, the flavors were good and the salsa added a slight spice and tartness that balanced out the black beans and cheese. The Asada Fries are not your typical asada fries either: plancha-seared steak, house-made jalapeno cheese whiz, gorgonzola, avocado-chimichurri, and pickled onions served on top of french fries. The fries were perfect, crispy on the outside but soft on the inside, not too crunchy but not soggy either. The steak was cooked nicely with good flavors. However, although I am normally a huge fan of gorgonzola cheese, I wasn't a fan of the amount of gorgonzola on the asada fries at Karl Srauss. It was just too much. Too overpowering. You could only taste the gorgonzola, which masked the steak, the fries, and the avocado-chimichurri. The dish also would've been better had the pickled onions not been pickled. They weren't bad, they just didn't add to the dish and actually conflicted with the gorgonzola cheese. If they had used fresh red onions thinly diced, it would've been much better. The Asada Fries were just too one-dimensional in taste. Out of the three appetizers, my least favorite was the Asada Fries. I realize that Karl Strauss is trying to add their spin on a popular San Diego taco shop dish, they just didn't do a good job at it. However, the Crispy Calamari was great and the Nacho Stack wasn't bad. The ingredients used at Karl Strauss are all very fresh and the portion sizes were huge, making them great for sharing. Although I wasn't terribly impressed with the food at this location, the beers were still delicious and that's what we came for. Service was wonderful. Our server checked on us often and brought us lots of small samples of beer to try. Our appetizers were served hot and came out quickly. Overall, Karl Strauss La Jolla is a nice place to go if you're in the area and want some good beers. I would eat elsewhere, though.
(3)
Roya M.
Food was tasty and presentation was great for every dish. Our server was very friendly. The restaurant was pretty empty but the service was slow that's why I'm only giving it 4 stars. Would go there again.
(4)
Adam L.
DEFINITELY try their stout! It may be strong but it's quite tasty! Also, the "cebiche" (soaked in beer) was impressively delicious & light!
(4)
Carin C.
Best meal and experience ever! Most AMAZING Black Garlic Fondue and the beer pairing with it was EXCELLENT. Then their signature Beer Burger...to die for. And save room for dessert because this month was their PB&J Peanut Butter Porter something of goodness. The food God's eat here its so freaking good. A must go.
(5)
Winnie W.
I got the beer burger, which was good/alright. I wish the waitress told us the burger comes with fries, so I could have known to substitute for a salad. The red trolley ale was amazing, even though I don't even like beer. They had great music, jack johnson and other artists. The servers were all friendly as well. The menu should have had beer prices as well as beer flight prices. We made a reservation and got seated immediately. It wasn't too crowded on a Saturday night though.
(4)
Drea H.
We've been to several Karl Strauss locations before, and have always been pleased with their food & service. This one, however, was a huge disappointment. This restaurant is located in downtown San Diego in La Jolla on the corner of a small, but busy street. Parking can be hard to find, but there's a parking structure you can park inside of across the street - make sure you get a parking validation before leaving the restaurant!! Parking is free for the first 2 hrs with validation. My best friend, fiance, and I came here for a late lunch. We asked our waitress, H, for a specialty beverage menu (aside from beer). She told us they didn't have a specialty menu because their 'specialty' is beer...in a demeaning tone :/ Anyways, our waitress was always short with us and snappy. She was attentive but never friendly. Our food was good as always (fish & chips, cotija turkey burger, piggybank mac n cheese, and a banana split kinda dessert), but we were pretty upset with their service. P.S. They may claim to be pet-friendly, but they really aren't. They have an enclosed patio - you can sit inside the patio, but your dogs will have to stay on the outside of the patio. This really doesn't make for a very comfortable dining experience with your babies.
(2)
Sherry L.
Really great dining experience. The brewery/restaurant is casual but doesn't skimp on quality and service. As you would imagine, there are number of beers on tap and you can also get them as flights. Our waitress was very knowledgeable, though a little pushy. We got the poutine to start... which was absolutely AMAZING. The gravy was full of umami flavor and perfectly savory. The pork belly had the perfect proportion of fat to lean and added great flavor and texture to the fries. Every bite was heaven. The pork chops is a great deal. You get two pieces of beer brined pork chops with mashed potatoes, their famous "firecracker" sauce, and veggies. One of my pork chops was cooked perfectly and tasted great. But the other one wasn't brined properly and was overcooked. We also got the roast beef sandwich, which was delicious. No complaints there. Despite the pork chop snafu, I was pretty impressed that the waitress brought over samplers of different beers to pair with each of our dishes. In terms of food ingenuity, Karl Strauss tends to be a bit Asian fusion-y, which is played out but still a solid bet in terms of flavor. If you're in La Jolla and can't get into the other exclusive restaurants, Karl Strauss is a great last minute find.
(4)
Stacy C.
Had an early dinner here on a Saturday night. So much to select from on the menu that we had to order a small feast for two. Chicken tortilla soup: The bowl was large enough for two to share. Nothing spectacular, but I did like how its' consistency was not as thick as other restaurants. Farmhouse burger: Amazing! Very tender and tasty, especially if you're a fan of meat. And who doesn't like an egg on their burger? Grilled fish tacos: Not the greatest, but refreshing and fulfilling. And my personal fave... Mac and Cheese! Apparently they are known for this, and with good reason. We went with the Tree Hugger and we were not disappointed. It wasn't overpowered with cheese and the bread crumbs added some texture. Service was mediocre but not terrible considering it was a busy night.
(4)
Jeanene E.
The atmosphere is great!! Especially if you have kids!! The food my kids enjoy a lot, and that makes me happy!! We enjoy the food and the beer! Always our go to place if we just want to eat and enjoy a night out together!!
(4)
Josh N.
HOLY SHIT! Is La Jolla gorgeous or what? I absolutely love this place. This is the best happy hour in town and the spot in La Jolla. Everyone here is so happy and cool, a dude even gave me a number to hit him up for a double date with myself and my chick, seriously can't wait to go back. If you're reading this YOU MUST MUST MUST TRY THE MOSAIC SESSION ALE, WINDANSEA WHEAT, BIG BARREL, ENDLESS SUMMER AND PINTAIL PALE ALE. Get all those on flight for just 4 bucks during happy hour? Sign me the fuck up!
(5)
Dennis H.
If you want to have a good time and have great service, search no more Karl Straus is the place. A group of five we had a pleasant evening, no withstanding the samples brews. I had the Cajun pasta, excellent. Not too spicy or overpowering. Good atmosphere. Great service and priced right.
(4)
Trevor B.
Karly Karl Strauss. I'm going to start this review off with the first thought I had while leaving this place. "WTF... Why don't I come here more often?" La Jolla is no stranger to delicious food, and there's a reason why Karl Strauss has pushed through and remained strong on its cool and trendy Wall Street corner; it's no bullshit food. If you're like me, then you're greatest fear when leaving a restaurant is thinking, "I'm hittin Oscar's for some fish tacos" because you need a cheap easy way to fill the empty void in your stomach. This was not one of those places. Let's start with the Crunchy BBQ Chicken Salad. Creamy, tangy, brilliantly flavored with the freshest and crispest of vegetables. I imagine that if I were stranded in a scorching desert, all I would want would be a bottle of water and this salad. The nachos were above average but not greatest. But I will say I am a hardcore nacho fan and it is very hard to please me. I just cannot stand when the toppings are not equally distributed. I live for that well-balanced nacho bite spreading like storm across my palette. The last item of food we ordered were the Bits n Pieces: little bite sized pieces of their pizza crust done in duck fat. Wow. Richest thing I've ever eaten, but worth the couple bites. Served with a truffle mayo type of sauce... Off the f***ing charts. Along with a couple of pints of beer, and the server consistently dropping off samples of different beers to our table for free, I'd say this was one solid outing.
(5)
Kristin N.
Great beers - I tried their summer ale, red and amber - delicious burger and good appetizer selection. We also ordered a pizza and I have to admit that was a bit underwhelming but the quality of the rest of the food we tried and the service made up for it.
(5)
Melanie M.
Ordered the ribeye steak which was Delish!!! There light Pilsner beer (can't remember the name) was so yummy.
(5)
Paulina T.
Great beer and atmosphere! The food is good too, nothing special though. I got a burger and my bread was stale.
(3)
Ross M.
Karl Strauss is a southern cal staple for craft beer. Sure it doesn't garner the press and acclaim of Stone, but oh man are their beers good they also have styles across the board. I'm a huge hop head. But sometimes you need a heavy stout, a pilsner for a session or want to try something you've never encountered before. I've been going to the La Jolla location for years, it never disappoints. The food is excellent. The boneless buffalo wings are a fav, the hardest choice is one order or two. There is always a cool pairing suggestion that includes a limited release beer and a new item on the menu. Beyond just the beer and food quality, the wait staff has always been fantastic. More often than not as you dig into your main course they are bringing by a taster from one of the taps to round out your experience. That's the way a brewery should play the game.
(5)
Sheri M.
Great food and the manager, Ferris was amazing! He was extremely welcoming and went out of his way to make sure our dinner was perfect. The Chili Lime fries are a must! Highly recommend!
(5)
E S.
Visited for the second time while in La Jolla visiting family. Terrific beer (we've tasted many of them), nice decor, good service and really terrific food. This time out had, among other things - duck fat bites, mac & cheese w/bacon ham and andouille, fish tacos, steak, shrimp po boy, a burger and a chicken sandwich. All were given big thumbs up. The "bites" were terrific as were the awesome chips with old bay seasoning. Highly recommend!
(5)
Lyndsi W.
I really enjoy Karl Strauss no matter which one I go to. They have great beer and great food! Their Happy Hour menu is amazing! 4$ beer and 4$ flights and great food specials. Outside of their Happy Hour Menu I really love their Asada Fries. Yes they are kinda pricey but they add all kinds of interesting things like chimichurri sauce and pickled onions to make these Asada Fries a bit different than your typical Asada Fries. The service here for typical SD is actually pretty good. I don't remember many times I've been frustrated with them and this being my first time to this La Jolla location makes me really feel that is the standard at all! If you find yourself near one of these locations and it's happy hour time stop in! You won't regret it! The beer cheese sauce for the pretzel is great! Chili Lime fries are also a good little munchies to go along with your beer!
(4)
Kitty W.
To this for the first time, looking at pictures thought is very good, the results on the wrong food, the husband feel good just left, but I ordered chicken pasta yuck, no taste, sour, the husband some signs steak, not bad. Anyway I won't come again the second time.
(2)
Justin P.
Wow! What a great experience. Ferris is MARVELOUS! We went there on a Friday night and the place was packed. The servers treated us like we were the only ones there. Upon mentioning my birthday. We were comped for the beers we had already ordered, given a souvenir pint glass AND a delicious dessert. I will come back to this place every time I am in the area. I recommend it to anybody looking for a great brewery/restaurant experience. Go there NOW!
(5)
Nayoun K.
So far, best American food I'd reach for here in SD. I'm a mac and cheese junkie, so their piggy bank with bacon and pancetta was for me, while my boyfriend went with the original big beer burger, which was medium-rare done right. I tried the tank tap, a raspberry tarte that was delish, not too strong but a good dinner drink! Boyfriend had the big barrel double IPA and wreck ally (coffee flavored stout). Highlight was our server Alex, super helpful and friendly, steered us in the right direction with the bits n pieces starter, and gave us sips of red trolley for dinner accompanyment! (free booze, always a plus) Not five since it didn't knock my socks off, but I'd consider coming back.
(4)
Paige K.
Absolutely great service. The menu was so dynamic it took forever to decide. Their big beer burger was amazing and has a special IPA BBQ sauce. Best I've ever had. Our waiter was extremely helpful and came out three separate time with pairings of brews that went with our appetizers and entrees. Definitely a top 3 on all of the breweries I have visited ever.
(5)
James S.
Ate here twice and both times everything was perfect. Service was outstanding. A manager even came by to check on us. Happy hour is a bargain for both beer and appetizers. Love the sessions mosaic ale and buffalo wings. Samples of beers are complimentary as well. This place is an example of how to run a restaurant.
(5)
Joe I.
I had received a ho-hum review about the beer here and I have to say it was wrong. The off the rails red and the unicorn tears were awesome brews. Sat at the bar and the bartender was the friendliest dude ever. Let me sample some more of the beers, and even brought a sample over to try with my food as it paired well. I had the tofu green curry and it was so so so good. I would come here again no problem - highly recommend.
(5)
Kimmy Y.
Met up with some friends here for some lunch since the Karl Strauss in Sorrento Valley was closed. They seated us right away (we had 8 people in our party). OBVIOUSLY we had to get some drinks and i LOVED our waitress. Extremely patient with all of us, especially with the drink orders. Filled us in on the 24th anniversary deal where we could get a free glass and every additional beer after was $4. I have to say I wasn't extremely impressed with the food. I shared a mac on tap (that was really good) but bleu cheese Saturday burger special wasn't as appealing to me. I ended up getting 2 glasses of the 24th anniversary beer. It wasn't really beer but more of a juice. haha. It was carbonated and not as thick as beer would be. It kind of reminded me of Lindeman's but more bitter. Either way, they split our checks the way we asked them to. Our waitress was very attentive and kept checking on us. I definitely appreciated the waitress' enthusiasm.
(4)
Michelle S.
Swung through here after spending the morning wandering the shores of La Jolla. We wanted somewhere we could sit down and watch football for a bit. We snagged two seats at the bar, ordered some pretzels and a beer flight. The pretzels were good, the mango mustard was awesome. I didn't think I was going to like it but it surprised me. The cheese that came with the pretzels was gross. I don't know what it was about it that made it so unappetizing but neither of us liked it. I can't remember the beers we tasted except for the Owl one that is a current seasonal beer and that one was great. The bartender was great. Super attentive, gave us a good chance to sample some of the beers that we didn't have in our flight. Really friendly but not annoying and pushy.
(3)
Noemi F.
Few are the times when I'm greeted and treated with such thoughtfulness and respect. Our waitress (wish I remembered her name) was attentive and extremely nice to my bf and I. We ordered a flight, some pizza, buffalo wings and ended our lunch with a pint; which she generously split into two different glasses. She also brought us tastings throughout our meal. I'm not sure if that's their protocol or she was just being nice, either way the service is incredible. This is definitely one of the better breweries I've visited. Also, I never knew Karl Strauss had such awesome beer. They've gained a fan for life!
(5)
Caroline N.
Love this place. Our first time here was for my friends birthday and our server Matt was very helpful and attentive. He brought us many taste testers based off what we liked and had great vibes all around. Would definitely come back just based off the service alone. Thanks Matt and Karl Strauss !
(5)
Sally M.
My husband and I usually have lunch or happy hour at Karl Strauss with our pup on the outdoor patio. We've been here a number of times and the staff is friendly and accommodating for our dog. They will usually bring him out water and ice. **Update: they no longer allow dogs on the patio :( The food here is very good. I usually get The Piggy Bank (mac & cheese with bacon, ham and linguica). It's a large portion and I always have leftovers. I recently had the short rib torta and that was really good. The smoked gouda and carmelized onions make this so yummy. My husband recently had the chipotle pastrami and he enjoyed that as well. The burgers here are pretty good as well. They obviously have a large beer selection and will bring out free samples for you to taste while dining there too. They also have wine and a full bar (the one in Sorrento only has beer and wine). The happy hour specials are pretty good; a handful of appetizers (i.e. spinach dip, hummus, wings, calamari) are $5 and they have beer, wine, and wells for $4. If I drank beer, I'd probably give Karl Strauss 5 stars. They do have validated parking at Hotel Parisi if you can't find street parking.
(4)
Gerardo G.
I do not remember the last time I received such good customer service. The staff was absolutely amazing and the food wasn't all that bad either. We left with satisfied appetites and a smile on our faces. I'd recommend them to everyone.
(5)
Jonelle O.
We took my mom and step-dad here last weekend for an early dinner and were very impressed. We each ordered a beer (excluding my step-dad who was the designated driver) and the spinach dip and nachos to start. Our beers came out first, mine being the 22oz. Wreck Alley Imperial Stout. It is my new favorite beer! I could taste the coffee and chocolate in it, oh so wonderful. But B I G. I was already anticipating a very buzzed Jonelle walking out of the restaurant after dinner. Then the waitress brought our appetizers... and more beer! She brought each of us samples of beer that paired well with the appetizers we'd ordered, so since we'd ordered two appetizer plates we got two samples of beer each. And since my step-dad wasn't drinking, my mom and I drank his samples. Oh my. I wasn't fond of the nachos, but everyone else was going on and on about how good they were. Whatever. More spinach dip for me, which I thought was amazing. I kept shoveling that and beer into my face until our main course came. And guess what came with them? That's right -- more beer! Each of us got another sample of beer that paired well with what we'd ordered. Between the never-ending beer samples and my huge beer, I was feeling pretty good by the time the main course arrived. And pretty damn full. I had two bites of my macaroni and cheese and called it quits, boxing it up to take home and returning to my giant beer. We all really enjoyed our meals (fish and chips, chicken sandwich, and poutine for the rest of them) and really enjoyed the samples of beer and the friendly service. But yeah, I was fairly buzzed. On our way home from La Jolla to El Cajon I made my step-dad stop at Hotel Circle so I could sneak into an employee only area of a hotel to go pee. I couldn't hold it, man! 15 minutes is sooooo long when you've had that much beer! Anyway, I can't wait to come back and drink more beer. Beer.
(4)
Brian M.
The food is delicious. The beer is fine. There are other craft breweries in San Diego that are much better. I think the food is a little over priced for what you get, but it is La Jolla.
(4)
Orel D.
CHUCK the bartender made our experience awesome! Great knowledge and suggestion of food & drink pairing. Excellent food, good prices and good service! Def coming back for happy hour! ;D
(5)
Cody T.
Another great trip to Karl Strauss. Kayla is a great server and the food was excellent as always. Off the rails is on tank tap!!
(5)
Jory C.
I love everything about this place. Brandon ( i think, bad memory!), one of the bartenders, is awesome. Growlers here are pretty affordable, and on Fridays you get a few bucks off refills. I haven't had the food, but nearby tables had delicious looking plates. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. Everything here is right on.
(5)
Kiki H.
Same great food and service but definitely not as good of a location as the one by Qualcomm!!
(3)
Christie D.
This place made our whole trip. We started out at Barfly up the street but were forced to leave after being ignored for nearly 15 minutes. We even were headed directly to a burger shop caddy corner to Karl and they also let us down. I guess you can say third times a charm. Our waitress was so sweet and inviting at Karl. She really made us feel welcome. We had an amazing pretzel with beer cheese and our main courses were to die for. The chili lime sweet potato fries were my favorite. We even topped it off with a brownie and ice cream for dessert. Definitely recommend Karl for anybody in the La Jolla area! :) we can't wait to return!!
(5)
Sophie L.
LOVE This place and will be coming back a lot! Great, super sweet service. The beer is FANTASTIC, but what really surprised me was how delicious the food is! To be honest, the calamari wasn't that spectacular... but then our Poutine with Pork Belly came to the table.... oh em gee. SO. GOOD. It just melttsss in your mouth. After the first bite we were silent for a few moments... contemplating the meaning of greatness........ and how so much of it could be in one dish........
(4)
Frank O.
I was really disappointed with the service (Kayla) this evening. The food was OK. We had the meatloaf, bits and pieces, and mushrooms, peppers, and olives. The beer was OK, but after I said I was going to bring some leftovers back to the hotel, Kayla remarked it was not enough to bring back. (It was enough to bring back.) When trying to get the bill, I waited too long and finally inquired with the next restaurant employee that walked past. F
(2)
Lauren B.
The beer here speaks for itself, we know its freaking awesome. The food on the other hand was also amazing! I' d been to the location in Costa Mesa for Happy Hour and tried the hummus and wings-- which were both great and an awesome value. Last night in La Jolla we tried the pork chops and the buffalo chicken mac and cheese. Both were very good, I'd highly recommend but cant wait to try the blue cheese steak next time! Also, our waiter was on point with the recommendations, free beer samples and good service. Not sure of his name but he was a good looking guy with a half sleeve on one arm. The only thing I wasn't thriled with were the duck fat bites.... to me they just tasted like mediocre butter soaked breadsicks... but other than that, I loved it!
(4)
Amanda L.
REVIEW FOR SORRENTO VALLEY LOCATION: Came to an event here hosted mainly in the beer garden area and it was awesome! I was not expecting much as I drove along the freeway past Budweiser and other beer distributors. When I arrive to Karl Strauss I was totally impressed with the appearance and outdoor beer garden area. The event was great with lights and heat lamps outside to keep everyone comfortable. The beer was dee-lish, and they offered free beer tickets for the event. Overall, great experience!
(4)
Myana T.
You'd have to be drunk to enjoy the food here. Overly greasy and sauced...and I ordered the tuna tartar. I told the waitress it was too heavily sauced and she didn't offer any suggestions and just took the plate and walked away. I Still got charged for it.
(1)
Tony C.
This is a great place to go if you want to grab a cheap bite during Happy Hour and also if you want to take your date out somewhere decent without a huge bill. They have basic brewery food and it's actually pretty good! I've had their large pretzel and their dipping sauces are great that come with that. I've also had the carne asada fries which are a little pricey but good. They have interesting toppings that not all asada fries have which I enjoy. Chili Lime fries on the HH menu are a cheaper option for fries and are really good. Their Piri Piri wings could be spicier but, then again I'm pretty much immune to spice these days. This is a good spot to stop after a long day on the beach in La Jolla or even a long day of shopping. Totally worth the money for the HH menu and it's a great ambiance to enjoy some time with friends or a loved one! Their beers are really world class and some of the best in San Diego. I enjoy their Red Trolley Ale, the Windansea Wheat and I typically don't like wheat and I also enjoy any of their limited edition or special taps. This isn't my fav brewery but, I'm never sad when it's here were headed. I always know I'll get some decent snacks and also some great beer!
(3)
Aileen Y.
We decided to check out Karl Strauss The Brewing company restaurant as our last stop before we left San Diego to head home. My review is limited to the beer flight and experience since we didn't order any food to go with our beer. When we walked into the restaurant, we were greeted by the manager. We took a few minutes to look over the menu before deciding to stay and were seated immediately but didn't feel pressured. It wasn't busy at all for a Sunday afternoon so we sat at one of the tables in the bar area. I've tried a few Karl Strauss beer before already favor the Red Trolley because it is an amber beer that closely resembles New Castle only slightly sweeter. So when we decided to order the beer flight, we selected beers that we were not familiar with. Our waitress was helpful with recommending the beers we should try so our selection ranged from blonde to dark coffee flavored beer (does not appeal to my taste). Overall, it was a good tasting session that we had at our own pace. We were even given glasses of water, to help clear our palette, which were refilled at least once before we finished our beers. From the looks of it, it's like a really chill hangout place near the La Jolla Cove area. So I do recommend checking out the beer flight for a laid back afternoon at the bar just as we did.
(5)
Kimberly K.
The overall experience was pretty good! The waiter was nice, knowledgeable and accommodating. We did get charged for a beer that was for another table and we did have to wait for a bit for our food but the food was delicious and the waiter was more than willing to correct our bill and apologize. All the food was cooked perfectly and the portions generous. We are from out of state and loved the atmosphere and even a small stack of coasters to take home with us to add to our bar. Would dine here again and try something new. Husband loved the Red Trolley beer and tried a few others that he liked as well. The parmesean truffle fries were awesome. Not too bad on price for the experience & what you receive.
(5)
Odie O.
Very noisy location. Had a bit of trouble getting staff's attention, maybe not enough staff. Seating for our reservation was three tables with one side but up against the wall making it impossible for people to get out so we had to separate them into 3 tables resulting in a rather unpleasant experience overall.
(3)
Joe C.
We came to this place kind of empty in a good location in downtown La Jolla it was into the day we went we end up liking our food but one of the people at our table didn't like the server so he didn't order anything at all he wouldn't even look at the server but the food our salads ended up being really good and this place was a lot better when they had the paintings on the wall from Ken joudrey that painter //anyway there's a lot of unique restaurants in La Jolla if you need something more mainstream this would be it otherwise check out some of the unique restaurants in La Jolla
(4)
Mindy F.
Excellent happy hour, cool vibe, good food (boneless buffalo chicken appy is the best I've ever tried), perfect service twice now (Megan was outstanding), location is great......oh and the beer. The beer is cold, interesting favors, and very tasty. One of the best happy hours in So Cal.
(5)
Jarod B.
We came here for a quick bite to eat and a fast little sit down restaurant. We ordered the Cheddar Burger and The Norm (Mac & Cheese) along with Crispy Calamari for the appetizer. I was defiantly impressed. I wasn't expecting much from this Craft Brewery in the food expertise. It was simply delicious. And I would say it was, if not I dare say it, better or to par with they're Brews! Our server, Emily, was ecstatically wonderfully!!! She provided the best service we have had in a very long time. Thank you Emily! I will definitely be coming back to Karl Strauss La Jolla again and again. Hopefully you will get to try the Unicorn Tears beer! It was a little but to hoppy for me being a Pale Ale but it was still delightful.
(5)
John W.
We came in on New Year's Day and were seated with 8 adults and three children almost immediately. The food here is amazing - they absolutely delivered on their menu. The beer is good - I have had better, but with the food combination it's very hard to beat. I would absolutely come here again.
(4)
W b K.
Great selection of beers brewed in house - Pintail was my favorite. The staff are very friendly and often bring small free samples of beer to compliment dishes you order. We had hummus and calamari appetizers - were both awesome. I also tried the pork belly sandwich which was delicious.
(5)
Laura W.
My husband and I were originally headed to the Burger Lounge but saw this brewing company across the street. The beer selection was great and we tried a lot of samples. The server was very knowledgable and gave a lot of great recommendations. I ordered the bbq chicken salad that was made with a Karl Strauss brew and was delicious. My husband ordered a burger with grass fed beef and the fries were amazing. Our server was very attentive and we even had other servers checking in on us. We would recommend this restaurant to anyone in the La Jolla area and will visit again the next time we travel to California.
(4)
Sharon V.
Apparently, i've felt the need to hit up all the Karl Strauss locations in San Diego. = ) I can't believe I haven't reviewed this spot yet as I've been to this location numerous times in the past. My most recent visit was with my sister this past weekend who was in town for the La Jolla Half Marathon. We both came in craving a salmon salad but based our our waiters recommendation, ended up going with the Seared Ahi salad instead. I've had the salmon salad before but the Ahi salad was a great selection. I'm glad we strayed. It had lots of ahi on it, in fact, my sister and I both had left overs after we were done. I loved the vinaigrette and the firecracker sauce that they put on top of the ahi. Everything was perfectly balanced and not to mention, delicious! Our waiter was super awesome and made our visit fun. Very attentive and on it with drinks and closing us out. A much better experience than the one we had a few weeks earlier at the other location ( yelp.com/biz/karl-straus… ).
(4)
Fortunato G.
I ordered the big beer burger and it was amazing. The location is beautiful and the beers are also a must. I'll definitely going back again.
(5)
Nelissa T.
One of the best malted beers I've ever had! Great personalized service, excellent food with a great variety of dishes (most of them cooked with beer too!). They recognized my presence as soon as I entered, even though they where pretty busy. One of the managers hosted us, introduced himself, and took us to our table. The waitress made us feel very welcome. She was very attentive and caring, without being over bearing. An overall great experience!
(5)
Kyle T.
The General Manager, Ryan, reached out to me super fast! I'm impressed. He agreed to refund my card for the steak disaster. As I told Ryan, I have probably visited his restaurant 12 to 20 times in the past. This was really my only disappointment. The food is regularly very good, and for the neighborhood it's a deal. If you're visiting the restaurant, order the Steak and post your review! It will give them an opportunity to redeem themselves!!
(3)
Andrea W.
Still good for drinking, but since management, recipes and maybe chef changed, we don't go there any more on a regular basis. Were disappointed again after giving it another try. The pulled pork was soooo bad, every food truck has better meat in it. Shame on you! Couldn't even eat half of that crap and had to spit out some bites. I ordered garlic fries and got regular fries, no flavor. Side-salad was still good, but the dessert options didn't blow me away. So we left hungry and I cooked some pasta at home. We won't be back. Was not in the mood to give more than 1 star, but try to be fair. What happened to the great place from 2 years ago?
(3)
Dino G.
I went here for dinner with my sister and dad the past weekend and had a great experience. First off we showed up around 6pm on a Saturday night and found a table in the bar area available. This was a great spot to enjoy dinner and a few craft brew while having a view of a few tvs that had some NBA playoff games on. Next came excellent waiting service. We were treated to complimentary beer tasters all night, never had to wait or waive down a waiter for service for extra anything, he had his eye on our table, and received our food in a timely fashion. This place had a great ambiance with a nice patio area I would like to try in the future and great food. It is a bit expensive but that is to be expected.
(5)
Gina S.
Great first visit! Yes it was my first time dining in one. Food ..perfect and the beer samples are a great way to drink free beer without buying.. JK! It allows you to really choose one you'll love, great idea! All around a great day date with my hubby, we shall return!
(5)
Chelsey W.
I love this location! They have great service and everyone who works there treats you with respect! I go here a lot after work with my partner to enjoy their happy hour. Their happy hour is one of the better one's in La Jolla in that it is affordable and there are great food items on their happy hour menu.
(5)
Addison H.
This place was awesome. The food was great and so was the beer. We had the mac and cheese, pretzels, and the salmon. Everything was delicious. A little pricey, but everything in La Jolla is and our lunch was worth it. I had the Red Trolley and Imperial Stout beers, which were excellent. The Imperial stout is one of the best I had. I would definitely recommend if you are in the area and want some good beer and something a better than dive bar food.
(5)
Rich C.
It's seems like micro brew pubs are a dime a dozen these days but Karl Strauss seems to rise above the rest. Went here for happy hour and had the Asada Fries which were awesome. Beer selection was vast and plenty, but what really stood out for me was how friendly and attentive the staff was. Good food and friendly service, I'll be back!
(4)
Nicole S.
Came in on Friday for our weekly "staying local" date night. The hostesses were lovely. Great personalities and forthcoming with realistic table wait times. Always appreciated. No one likes to be told 15 minutes and then have to wait 35. We sat on the heated patio which was just fine, even for a person like me who is a complete SISSY when it comes to cold weather. Taylor was our server and she is an absolute doll. Great service! I couldn't decide on which Steak to get. She recommended the Flat Iron and boy am I happy I took her advice, it was absolutely delicious and cooked beautifully . Taylor and that delicious steak are the reasons why I will come back here. We ordered the Buffalo chicken mac and cheese as an appetizer and I really wasn't too impressed at all. The mac and cheese needs to actually have some cheese in it. It was just like glorified Alfredo sauce with elbow macaroni and grilled chicken tossed in buffalo sauce. My Boyfriend and I got one seriously delicious bite out of the whole plate we were served. It was an "A-HA" moment of "oh, so that's what they were going for". THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS REVIEW THAT THE MANAGERS NEED TO FIX IMMEDIATELY: You're a brewing company. It is absolutely inexcusable that I was served a warm beer. This wasn't a "oh, the beer was sitting at the servers well for a while" this was a matter of the beer is not being chilled correctly. A system error. Your whole shtick is beer. You WILL lose customers. You should have more pride in your product. My boyfriend and I would have stayed longer and had (at least) 3 more beers and dessert (yeah, we like to party..lol) had we been served COLD beer as should be delivered from a brewing company. We had the Unicorn tears which was delicious (another awesome Taylor recommendation) but it would have been MUCH better had it not been warm. Taylor you scored your work these 3 stars. You rock. Whomever handles the maintenance of this place needs to step their game up. I would like to come back but not if the beer is going to be warm.
(3)
Sea H.
My wife and my 3 year old daughter stopped in because it looked like a great atmosphere. Since I have seen many incarnations of this restaurant around California I figured the beer would be decent and the menu looked good. Our host was very welcoming and gave us a good overview of some of the beers. He even suggested asking our waitress for samples. So I asked our not so friendly waitress Taylor for two samples. Needless to say the idea of fetching samples was not met with any warmth. After I tasted two beers and liked neither she came back and gruffly asked me if I was going to order a beer. I told her not one of those beers and ordered a pint of another. When I finally received that beer. I thought it tasted god awful. I took two sips and left it. Taylor never asked me if I liked the beer or not. Nor did she offer to remove it from my bill. Overall Our food was okay, the beer was terrible and the service from this particular waitress left a lot to be desired. I will not be going back.
(1)
Parker T.
Made a take out order and when I got there it wasn't ready. Took them 25 minutes longer to get the food than they told me it would. Then when the food came the order was incorrect. I was really mad cuz I wanted to try the pork chops but didn't want to wait another 15-20 minutes. The manager gave me a gift card but being an out-of-towner it didn't do me much good. The food was ok, but I wish I could've tried what I ordered. **The manager contacted me and this establishment went out of their way to make their mistake right. We all make mistakes and it says a lot about the organization that tries to right their wrongs. I won't be able to take them up on the offer to have a free meal because I'm from out of town, but they just got a higher review out of it. I hope to make it back some day to try my pork chops!**. (My original review was 2 stars)
(4)
Samuel C.
Came here with a group of guys for lunch after a morning of snorkeling and kayaking on La Jolla Beach. Pretty cool place! It was moderately busy, and the service was a slow (there were eight of us), but on to the food... I had the standard mac 'n' cheese plate, which was quite good though perhaps not $12 good unless there was something awesome about the ingredients I didn't know about. Still, I'd be interested in trying out the other varieties of mac 'n' cheese they have. I'm a sucker for that dish. Real cheese and good pasta are hard to beat, and you won't leave hungry. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to sample the beers...next time perhaps.
(3)
Rich S.
Karl Strauss is one of my favorite local hangout spots in La Jolla Cove. The food is fantastic, beer delicious, and service excellent. Also, a great ambiance with outdoor and plenty of indoor seating. An outstanding happy hour menu which is available during weekdays from 3:00 to 6:00. Make sure to try the boneless buffalo wings and spinach artichoke dip!
(4)
Christopher C.
I came here with a group of friends to celebrate a birthday. Unfortunately we came during crazy graduation weekend so even though we made reservations all the tables were full. We had a pretty big group like 13 people so yeah understandable. Though we only had to wait about 15-20 minutes to get our table, so it was fine. Our server was really helpful and friendly with us. Took our orders swiftly and did a good job taking care of us throughout dinner. I just got some samples of the beer. I tried the Boardwalk IPA and Wreck Alley Stout. The IPA wasn't very strong. It wasn't bad but just didn't have the hops that you get when you drink an IPA. The stout was pretty good. Had a nice chocolate/coffee taste to it (from what I can remember but I could be mixing it up with another beer lols) I ordered the Smoked Gouda burger. Did like the fig chutney on it but wish there was some more. They unfortunately didn't cook it medium rare, it was closer to medium well but still okay. Definitely not the best burger ever or anything but I did like the flavors. Don't feel like it was worth what I paid though. Probably would only come here to eat and drink if it was for another friend's birthday. Not a place I would go out of my way for.
(3)
Sophia Y.
I'm not a huge fan of alcohol, especially beer, but there's something about alcohol IN food that I can't get enough of! I got the big beer burger since it seemed like it was their specialty. Beer infused into every aspect of the burger! It was definitely big but I didn't taste how the beer affected it. It tasted like a normal burger to me. Not much to say about it except I thought it was going to be a little more special. I like how we got to sit outside on a perfect SD day despite how packed it was at 2pm oa weekday afternoon. It was nice sitting on a patio with the warm sun and a man made pond/garden area next to us. Overall, I think it was alright. Love the scenery and decor but the food was just okay. The waitress was a little slow and kept forgetting our stuff but it might have been because they were busy. I'd probably be back only if someone else wanted to come.
(3)
B. D.
Above-average brewpub. In fact, I'd say this KS location is arguably among the top brewpub locations in San Diego. One of the better KS locations in San Diego. Located on the corner of a block in downtown La Jolla - nice patio seating on the corner. Great service. Casual, sit-in dining. Tasty sandwiches and other options. Most entree options are between $8-$20. KS always has a great beer lineup - all the KS flagship brews, but most locations have a beer brewed (and available only) at that brewpub location. On my last visit (midMarch 2014), we had a one-off west coast pale brewed onsite, known as Unicorn Tears - DELICIOUS. They do tasters and flights. Growlers are filled here. In fact, KS offers an $8 growler+fill deal at some point through the year. Thursday nites are cask-nights... Parking may be a challenge during prime time - no private lot. Only street parking available or private pay lots around downtown La Jolla. It can get busy in the evenings - not sure about reservations. Cheers! enjoy!
(4)
T. T.
I visited Karl Strauss on the 4th of July. At first I wasn't sure this was a very good idea since most chain restaurants don't always have their best staff on for holiday weekends but we thought we would give it a shot. We were sooooo glad we did! From start to finish, service was spot on. The host/hostess were super friendly and inviting. Made us feel like they wanted us there right off the bat. Our server came over right away and greeted us and had great beer recommendations. Beer and food, amazing! The carne asada fries are so ridiculously amazing as well as the calamari. Can never go wrong with the Pintail Pale, my favorite. Even though the restaurant was super busy, the staff really seemed to be able to keep calm and stay focused under pressure. We never had to wait for anything and the beer tasters our server brought were a nice compliment to our food. One of the managers even stopped by at one point and asked us how we were enjoying everything. I really felt like he cared and took ownership over the restaurant. As an ex restaurant manager, I super appreciated that. We took his card on the way out, turns out he was the GM. It isn't that often you see GM's making table touches! We will be back many many times in the future! Please don't ever take the Pintail off the menu!!
(5)
JC C.
Nice restaurant located in a very busy, tourist driven area of La Jolla. The atmosphere and food were good. For appetizers, we ordered the ahi tuna and calamari. Both were presented well and tasted good, although the ahi tuna portions were very small for the price. For entrees, the Cioppino contained shrimp, scallops, and mussels. The broth tasted good, but keep in mind some of more traditional Cioppino ingredients such as crab legs were not included in this dish. The flatiron steak, pork chop, and burger were cooked well with good sized portions. The server was very knowledgeable of the many beer options and took time to explain everything to us. This is a chain restaurant with a very chain restaurant feel. You will get a good meal and consistent experience, but if you are looking for a unique mom and pop feel, this is not the place. I would equate the experience similar to what you would find at a typical Yardhouse restaurant.
(4)
Eva L.
Me and my best friend had late dinner at this location today 5/14/14 . We had a great experience. Our server was very cheerful and I wish I remembered her name to give her a credit here for a wonderful service. My friend had BBQ ranch salad which was huge and she said it was tasty. I had Brick Chicken with mango salsa, rice and black beans.My chicken was nicely done and the rice was fluffy and well seasoned. We also had a cauliflower appetizer -yumm! We finished with cheesecake rolls- perfect little dessert for two. Beer wise I had Tears of Unicorn-zesty and refreshing. Our waitress also brought us samples of other beers to try. I will definitely come back soon!
(5)
Ali E.
We met up with a friend from college and his lady here, on a Saturday at 8 and found the place surprisingly not nuts - nice to be able to hear each other, but surprising it wasn't more full. I had a pretty middle-of-the-road experience. The pretzel app was ok but not amazing. The smoked gouda burger could have been smokier, but c'est la vie. I like em bloody, and they did a decent job staying on my side of medium. The service was great - very prompt and friendly - and the prices were fine. I definitely want to give the happy hour a shot, but all in all it seems like a nice place to take your parents.
(3)
Helen S.
Our family enjoyed our Mother's Day luncheon at Karl Strauss Brewing Company in La Jolla (Wall St location). We had an amazing time! The staff members were very friendly and our waiter (Matthew) was top notch....very welcoming, professional and knowledgeable about food and drink items. The appetizers, especially the ahi poke, was simply "ono" (meaning delicious in Hawaii). My husband had the Drunken Cioppino and I had the Thai Shrimp Curry.....again amazing! Mahalo!!
(4)
Ryan R.
Excellent customer service, delicious food and beer! It's located at the corner of the street and they have nice outdoor seating. Lots of beers to choose from and they'll bring you a sample beforehand as well.
(5)
Jenn T.
Karl Strauss beer has been one of my favorite microbrews down in SD. I love that they have so many different beers on tap at the restaurant and sell them locally at markets and costco. I especially like this location in La Jolla because of the quaint little area. The menu, for a brewery, is also one of my favorites. I really enjoy pretty much everything they offer. I recently got the portabello mushroom burger, which was really good. I also tried the stout on tap, which was so yummy!! I definitely hit this place up when I visit sd! Check it out!
We tried 13 breweries this weekend and Karl Strauss was definitely in our top two. We sampled four beers: a blonde, the Windansea Wheat, the Red Trolley Ale, and the Wreck Alley imperial stout. Every one of them was so good, we would have shared a pint of each if we had the time. The service was really great, she even gave us a quick tour of their small in-house brewery that included a sample of the Mosaic Session Ale, which was an IPA. Now I loathe IPA style beers, but even this Karl Strauss recipe was interesting. It reminded me a bit of a grapefruit concoction, which I did not loathe after all. I usually steer clear of chain-like restaurants, but I'm very happy that we stopped in and gave it a try. I'll make it a point to keep an eye out for more of their yummy beers!
(5)
Britt U.
Checked this place out on my way home from San Diego and I was happy I did. The staff was very knowledgeable and attentive and they gave us samples of beer they thought would pair well with our food selections. Would definitely go back!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Brittany G.
Best Happy Hour in San Diego!!!! The food exceeded my expectations in every way, and I have very high standards. All the food on HH menu is only 5 dollars, and their beer is of course Delicious, especially their new brew Tank Tap which has a Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor, Redonkulous!!! Their Spicy Hummus is the best thing you will probably ever eat, I've had it 3 different times, and it's consistently AMAZEBALLS!!!! This last time my husband and I came here we got the Cauliflower Romesco which is this baked seasoned cauliflower with parmesan cheese, and seriously, it taste similar to chicken (which is some crazy voodoo idk how they do it, but I'm in love) the only thing is the sauce I wasn't crazy about, my husband liked it l, but I thought it was a little "olive oily" tasting. But the "Piéce de Résistance" was the Buffalo Chicken!! We decided to get it grilled instead of breaded because they batter it TO ORDER (I mean, who does that?? You know it's amazing if they do it to order) and I am never eating breaded buffalo chicken again, I'm sold!!! Everything was cooked Perfectly, and came out super quick! On top of all that, are server was Fantastic!!!! She kept bringing us free samples of beer to pair with our food, and she was a great conversationalist, but not too chatty. Ask for Kayla when you come here, she'll make the experience all the more memorable for you. Happy Hour is from 3-6pm Monday thru Friday
(5)Andrew J.
Hate that my first review is a bad one, but I feel compelled to write this. Once you read the root of my complaint, I think you will see why. My family went there last week while we were vacationing in La Jolla. First off-- an absolutely beautiful part of San Diego County. We went to the Karl Strauss Brewing company hoping for some decent food, and for me-- perhaps a nice craft brew. Our waitress, Dalia, took our drink orders promptly. I was ready to order a beer, and she actually steered me toward trying two small sample beers (basically served in a shot glass). The rest of my family got their sodas and I waited patiently for my "samples". It took our waitress a good 20-30 mins to bring my samples out. During this time my family had beverages to enjoy with our appetizers, while I had nothing-- not even a water. What made matters worse is she seemed to be more attentive to those parties that were, ironically, done drinking and ready to check out. My meal came (served by a separate person-- they also brought the appetizer out) and they quickly left-- without asking if I needed a beer. Our waitress resurfaced (another 15 mins later) as I was finishing the last bite of my burger and finally asked if I would like to order a beer; It was really almost comical, especially considering the place was not "packed" by any means. On a lighter note, the food wasn't half bad. What drives me to write this bad review is the fact that this is a BREWING Company and it was virtually impossible to get a beer. When we first came in I was ready to actually order a beer, and she steered me toward samples instead. Maybe her intent was to have me find one that fit my pallet. Unfortunately, she never followed through and left me wondering what a beer at this establishment actually tastes like. Kind of ironic to go to essentially what is a brewery and to walk away without being able to get a beer. Having been a bartender in the past, I always make sure to tip generously. This is one of the few times where I actually felt guilty tipping because perhaps our waitress wouldn't get the hint that she failed to deliver on what I would think would be something her employer values (selling the customer a beer at a brewery). Sad to say my first experience with a Strauss brand beer may have to be from a specialty beverage center way over here on the East Coast. Would have been nice to say I enjoyed one at one of the company sponsored restaurants in La Jolla.....
(2)Billy B.
While the food is exactly same as every KS which is fine, just really not very exciting. So expected the standard food, we were clearly just a table# to the waiter. Pros: Consistent to all KS, location location. Vibrant downtown La Jolla atmosphere, and of course the beer. Cons: Our waiter Alex came and went with little to no interaction. My daughters friend even told him it was my daughters Birthday, his response was Happy Birthday, then her friend asked if they did anything for Birthdays, he responded with "Maybe". Maybe= no, nothing. He dropped the check and moved on to the next table. Really couldn't be more impersonal, I can order food from a machine. My gouda burger was really bland and Alex was not to be found so I just kept it. Should have stuck with my standard boneless wings, those are always awesome. In the future I'll stick with the restaurant in Carlsbad, I've always had excellent bubbly service there.
(2)Joy M.
After gorgeous sunset in La jolla cove we deserved a scrumptious dinner! First time to eat here. I've been to the other location in Southcoast plaza in OC. I liked the food & service . The Servers are very attentive and friendly , We only waited 15 mins but usually they have a long wait. Btw, Great selection of beers. Tried lots of beer samples. I liked the red trolley and summer light. Food was bomb! Wedge salad flat iron steak, Ahi poke app was my all time fave. Piggy MacNcheese are kids fave. Wait you gotta Try the beeramisu dessert nom nom nom it melts in your mouth! Yummy! I highly recommend this restaurant . Happy tummy
(5)Rachel S.
Loved this stop on our trip to San Diego! Whenever we visit a bar or brewery we try to sit at the bar instead of a table. We've found that you always get more insight, great service and you have the opportunity to meet new people. All of those were the case when we went to Karl Strauss! We found a great spot at the bar and immediately had fantastic service from our bartender. He didn't rush us into picking a drink and actually brought over a few samples of their beers before we decided. I loved the Tower 10 and Brandon got the Trolley Red. As we sipped our beers and browsed the menu we started chatting with a great couple next to us and they even shared their hummus (which was great). We ended up ordering pretzels to start and spent a good amount of time chatting with the couple next to us and peeking at the NHL playoff game going on. Once again our great bartender did not rush us but kept checking in and periodically brought us different samples of new beers. Eventually we ordered, I got the special Pork Belly Bahn Mi and Brandon grabbed some Mac and Cheese. While we waited we grabbed another beer and kept the conversation flowing. Our food was awesome, mine was just what I wanted and Brandon's was so filling that I was able to steal a few bites from him as well! At the end of the meal we were given a couple more samples of beer (including a great bourbon barrel one) and a couple bumper stickers. We made sure to let the manager know about their awesome staff, but if you get a chance to go make sure you sit at the bar! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Thy T.
After hanging at the beach, we walked around and dropped by for happy hour. They have a good amount of beers and appetizers for happy hour. The beers were arranged from dark to light which was visually appealing because I knew where to look for my type of beer. I love wheat beers which the special of the day was their local brewed wheat beer. The waitress let me sample two wheat beers and I was thankful for that because I ended up ordering what she recommended. I thought my wheat beer tasted amazing. In addition, we ordered sweet potato fries. They were addicting and tasted great especially with the sauce that came with it. The restaurant was pretty cool looking. You could see their brewery machines behind the glass window. If only I live in the area, I would try out more of their other beers. Nice place so come check it out!
(4)Meredith B.
What a great place. We came in hot and starving with grumpy kids after hours at the beach when I had some friends and their kids in town. Grown-ups needed beer, kids needed food. Stat. The beer was great--something for all kinds of different preferences. My burger (Big Beer Burger) was so freaking delicious. But everyone seemed to love what they ordered just as much. Service was great until the waitress disappeared at the end and we had to look around to get the check. I'd definitely go here again with small or large group!
(5)Ohhee J.
IPA's are my favorite. IPA's with a hint of grapefruit? I will literally go goo-goo-gah-gah. The big barrel double IPA is just that. I highly recommend. This particular location is the restaurant but they still have all the beers on draft. The beers are extremely reasonably priced. There were a lot of families with little kids here. Love the open warehouse feel of this place. I haven't tried any of the food so I can't say much to that. This location has a lot of nearby shops and restaurants/bars/dessert for you to look through after your little buzz from the delicious drinks.
(5)Maritess C.
Went here for lunch on Easter Sunday at around 11:30 for lunch. We met my brother for lunch. We got seated right away since there was no crowd yet. I ordered the fish and chips. It came with a cole slaw. The fish and chips were delicious. I loved how crunchy it was on the outside and how moist the fish was inside. I dunked my fish in the tartar sauce. The fries were small and thin. Excellent fries. They were cooked well. I had an iced tea to drink. I wanted to try a beer. I went with the windansea wheat beer. I tasted the hint of banana with the wheat flavor. I could not even finish it cause I had lots to drink and food in my stomach. For dessert, we went with a berry cobbler. I don't remember the name of the dessert but it was good. It consisted of apples, blueberries and vanilla ice cream with the crumbs on top. The waiter gave us a small sample of another beer to accompany our dessert. It tasted more like a great white wine which was excellent in flavor. I don't even remember the name of the sample drink. Lol. The service by our waiter was excellent. He even gave me another iced tea without me asking. Awesome! He also kept checking up on us to make sure we were good. He gave us a dessert menu at the end. I really enjoyed dining here because food and service was excellent. It is also located near the beach. I highly recommend this place. Only con to coming here was parking. We were just lucky to find a parking spot.
(5)Allecia B.
Great food and fast and friendly servers. Amazing beer. Really enjoyed the Brussel sprouts appetizer. Had the fish and chips and they were perfect.
(5)L T.
This review is based solely on the food and service. I did not try any of their beer as I was the drive of 2 under 21 year olds. Their food was good, but not great. We got the Top Sirloin and their Piggy Bank Mac on Tap. We ordered a medium steak, which actually came out more on the rare side and had to get it refired. It was an average steak, nothing to really rave about. Their potatoes were not creamy or light. They tasted more like butter than they did potatoes. The only good thing that we liked about the dish was the gravy. We also ordered the Piggy Bank because we heard they were famous for their Mac on Taps. It turned out to be pretty mediocre. We weren't blown away by it, but it didn't taste bad. Again, it was mediocre. A cool thing they do is offer free beer tastes with each meal. That was nice, but again we didn't drink.
(3)Bonnie Z.
My friends and I popped into Karl Strauss for dinner after a day at the beach. Originally we went around the corner to Whisknladle first, but they couldn't accommodate us for dinner, just happy hour. Karl Strauss could squeeze us in for dinner, but not for another hour or so. Perfect timing for us! We got to try out both restaurants. Some service perks of Karl Strauss: + Quick to accommodate a large party with no hassles at all + Knowledgeable staff regarding beers. Our waitress listened to each of our "taste preferences" and recommended beers for all of us. Eat these: + Black Garlic Fondue: cambozola cheese, black garlic olives, roasted peppers, caramelized onions, Red Trolley Ale cream sauce, grilled bread...we dipped everything into here! Bread, flatbread, leftover bruschetta crackers... + Spicy Hummus and Flatbread: cilantro, jalapeno, kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, red onions, almonds. Loved the spicy kick of jalapenos with the citrusy tang of the olives. + Golden beet bruschetta: loved the beets on top, however we expected bread instead of thin crackers + Smoked gouda and sausage pizza: very rich with the gouda, and there was plenty of sausage. Drink these: + Variety of beers and many seasonal ones. I loved one that tasted chocolately and coffee-like, while also sticking to my standard lighter beer that is similar to a Hefe. Just tell waitress/waiter what your taste preferences are. Things to note: - Like many restaurants in the area, this place will get crowded in the evenings, especially during the holidays and weekends. However, if you have time to kill, I suggest putting your name down and then wandering around the little streets of La Jolla Cove and coming back for food. I really enjoyed my meal here and will suggest this place for other people to visit when they're in SD. I will definitely come back when I'm in the area.
(5)Karla T.
I have been to their restaurant at City Walk in Los Angeles and this time I was disappointed. My server was friendly and did a good job tending to us. The food however was not the best this time around. I ordered the chile lime fries that ended up being sweet potato fries that tasted nothing like the description. I also ordered the farm burger and it was more bread then burger. The apple cider was delicious, but I did have issues after they charged my account with a discrepancy in price. All in all I would go for drinks but probably not the food at this location.
(3)Meri D.
Yesterday I dropped by Karl Strauss for some beer with some friends. It was my second time coming to the La Jolla location, I usually go to the north county locations. Other Karl Strauss locations I've been to include Sorrento Valley, 4S Ranch, Carlsbad, Costa Mesa, and Universal City. Parking in the La Jolla can be tough as it is right by the restaurants and shops are right by La Jolla Cove, however I got lucky and got a parking spot pretty quick. I enjoy Karl Strauss for their awesome beer, and usually I'll do happy hour because the food is just as good as the beer. Yesterday I did a flight of tasters which were 4 for $6. I'm a big fan of the Wreck Alley Imperial Stout which I've had before. My other faves that I chose to get with my flight were the Windansea Wheat Hefeweizen, Amber, and I got to try their seasonal Peanut Butter Porter which was pretty good (I still like Belching Beaver's Peanut Butter Stout a little more though). The service was whatever.. I think the server was disappointed we didn't order food, but we sat at the bar for beer what can she expect. It took time for her to come back around when we wanted more beer, so deduct a star for poor quality in customer service as she lacked in having a positive demeanor or enthusiasm by being very short and almost fake in a way. Overall, Karl Strauss is still a cool place for food and drinks!
(3)Bruce A.
I only eat two burgers a month so how happy was I with a well done burger that was ordered medium rare ?? Nice looking place needs some classic beer food- sausages etc menu lacks focus service ?? Not so hot! Should be better
(2)Fatemeh B.
Probably one of the best places for hanging out with friends and family, having couple of draft bears and enjoy having delicious dishes and salads in La Jolla. I wish they were open till 12:00 am.
(5)David L.
The customer service here is of the highest class. The servers are attentive and nice and the manager guy is super friendly and wants to make your experience the best. Me and a friend came for happy hour and could not be more happy. We came on a slightly chilly day but still wanted to sit outside and was glad that they had their outdoor heaters on. The food prices are on point when it's happy hour. We had the boneless buffalo strip things and it was delicious with a hefty portion and the sweet potato fries were large and tasty too. We also got a flight of beers and could not be happier. Can't say enough good things about this place. Check them out.
(5)Leah F.
Went her on our family vacation and Ordered this delicious sandwich and wow the chef who came up with this is genius the flavored of buttermilk fried chicken & apples go great together. The service was friendly informative and fast they offer a great selection of sampling of beers which is fun the atmosphere casual and kinda modern meets chic child friendly as well they do have a kids pizza even no it's not on the menu for those picky little eaters :) The cheesecake was good although I kinda regret not ordering the cobbler that looked so good I will be back again for sure.
(4)George M.
The service was so bad it bordered on comical. Good location, the food that we ate was ok, beer selection is a little heavy on the hoppy category but good, not super clean but not disgusting but with trash on the floor leading to the kitchen/bathrooms, men's restroom trash was full. Utensils, glasses etc. were clean. Our waiter was really impressed with himself as he took our order and didn't feel the need to write anything down. I'm ok with this if you can actually perform but usually this never works out. I knew it wasn't going to end well when he took our order for a wedge salad, rib eye steak and flat iron steak then immediately asked if we wanted to order a salad with our meal!!! Either stoned or just ignorant.. The wedge salad and beer came out ok and then it was downhill from there. The helper brought out my rib eye and set it in the middle of the table and asked if we needed anything else, maybe a plate to help share the rib eye? Really? No, where is my wife's flat iron steak? I'm sorry, there must be another ticket because your waiter only put in a rib eye. So as my rib eye got cold waiting to see our waiter he tells us the other meal is done and will be right out. 5 minutes later our liar waiter still doesn't have our other meal. After he lies to us the second time telling us the steak is on it's way I leave $20 to cover the salad and 2 beers that we didn't finish and walk out. It should be illegal for waiters to not write the order down. I don't get it? Am I supposed to be impressed with your memory skills? Are you too lazy to write it down? Every time we run into one these "memory experts" the order comes out wrong or something is missing. I think the waiters that can actually take orders from memory and get it right are working at much nicer places than this and providing a great experience.
(2)Janice T.
What can I say! This place and more importantly the servers are amazing. Food and beer are awesome! Oops, I was here last month and had such a good time, I just now realized I didn't complete my review. I'm definitely coming back here next time I am in La Jolla!
(5)Deb M.
Omygoodness! Delicious! Delicious! Delicious! The mac n cheese is to die for and the steak and frites! Soooo good. We were in town from PHX, and had a great time. We were at the La Jolla Cove Beach and oit hungry. As we were walking around, we stumbled upon this place and boy am I glad we did. Our waiter was friendly and nice. The food was out of this world. We will be returning!
(5)Nina P.
Great service! My group was sat immediately and our server was very attentive. He even brought out beer samples to compliment each appetizer that we ordered. I got a pint of the Windansea Wheat and the pretzels. I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to pretzels, and these were only ok. The cheese dip was bland and didn't hit the spot. But, I'd be happy to come back and try something off the main menu because I liked my pint, the big brewery space and service.
(3)Thu L.
I love this place they very nice ! The food and drink all my family so happy Came here last Friday they buzzy but everyone was so helpful and friendly I give them 5 stars because they deserved it . I love la Jolla also the weather beauty full as you dream of Will be back again
(5)Lynn M.
I met with some out-of-town relatives here, and im glad they chose this place. Honestly, I didnt have high expectations, for a brewery, usually not as much focus on the food. But damn, I was wrong. I got a greek salad, it was the best ive ever had. Our appetizers were great, one was some sort of ahi dish, the other was a beet bruschetta. Id get them again. And lastly, we ordered dessert, which I cant remember what it was, but I remember it was fantastic! We also found one of our forks to be dirty, which really grosses me out, the waiter was very kind about it, and ended up giving us the dessert on the house. Definitely will come back to try more...or get that salad again.
(5)Miranda S.
Perhaps I had too high of expectations. What I wanted was a gastro-pub/public house but did not get anything like that. Ordered the pretzel and the sauces that came with it were underwhelming. The charcuterie platter was nice. Not outstanding though. Food maybe a 2-star. The 4-star rating is focused on the staff. Our waiter (who was also the barkeep) was very attentive, gave details and suggestions on the drinks, provided a complimentary sample. He did a great job and if I am trying to expand my beer horizons, I would go back for the education. I'm not a beer-enthusiast but he definitely helped me get closer.
(4)Joleen Q.
I love that this is one of the few places without a wait in downtown La Jolla! There were delicious mac & cheese varieties here but I ended up getting a salad. The service was very friendly and I wish I wasn't so stuffed so I can get dessert and beer here! My friends split a small salad and a burger here and they were very satisfied. It reminds me of a BJ's but it's a little bit nicer.
(4)Tina P.
Two words: Pork Chops! Yes, they are a must. This place is my once a month go-to! Always great Karl Strauss beer selections or if you're aren't in the mood for beer (can't say that ever applies to me) they have a full bar. My favorite item is something they've had on the menu since they first opened the restaurant section of Karl Strauss and it's their vegetarian black bean soup. It's hearty and has wonderful flavors especially the swirl of sour cream and salsa on top. Another great appetizer are the wings- best part is they're boneless and still full of flavor. They'll help you pair which beer goes with what you're ordering and even bring you samples to pair with your food. I love that touch! We always get great service sitting at the bar, but there's also inside and outside seating (with heaters).
(5)Yuwei C.
I went to Karl Strauss with a few friends last Saturday night for beers and appetizers. We got a table right away and were brought our waters and drink orders quickly despite it being a weekend. Their beers are pretty good, though no match for some of the tasty selections available from the many San Diego area breweries. My tuna tataki was sooooo good, and I sampled my friend's calamari, which was perfectly crispy. Our waiter was friendly and he brought complementary little samplers of beer that paired with our food. Overall, a good experience.
(4)Alex S.
This review is specially for the food, as their beers are quite good. Had the Mac and cheese ($15) and it was pretty terrible. It lacked creaminess, tasted like it was made the past week, and had very little flavor. On its own merits, the dish didn't stand up to reasonable scrutiny. When coupled with its $15 price tag, the dish looks even more absurd and like some kind of practical joke played on customers by the staff.
(1)Joe G.
After a bit over a month of back and forth with the manager and the customer service rep. They figured out that the problem lies in a programming error on their system. They explained that they are having their software team correct the problem and the manager was kind enough to offer a credit for my next meal. I have increased my original rating because they have promised to fix the problem. I will increase the rating again next time I go if I see that the problem was truly addressed.
(3)Sandy Y.
Although I'm generally not a huge fan of chains, this restaurant has a really cool layout and I'd heard good things. Plus, I was with out-of-town friends so I figured, it would be a good lowkey spot to check out. We came a bit later on a Monday night, around 830pm. The restaurant is actually much smaller than I expected but it has really great lighting and is split between the barside on the left and a smaller dining room on the right. Most of the tables in the dining room are booths so looks like some nice comfy seating. We sat in the bar area which has high tops and nice cushioned bar stools but there are no backs, which for poor posture people (90% of Americans), not the best. We were really looking for just a couple of items to share so we decided to go with the duck fried dough bits and the piggy bank Mac 'N Cheese. Who can turn down Mac 'N Cheese on a menu that says it could change your life?! The duck fried dough bits were REALLY interesting and surprising to me. They were so light and fluffy yet so doughy-- melt-in-your-mouth doughy deliciousness! I actually didn't care for the parmesan cheese topping which my friend thought was an atrocity, but it's just too salty for me. I'm not a huge pig fan but our waitress whole-heartedly recommended the Piggy Bank and it a good call. Of course, having not compared to the others, it was a good representative of a very light yet hardy Mac N' Cheese that's not too heavy or overpowering. It's definitely been perfected. It's not overly creamy or heavy so again, this is all personal preference for styles of Mac N' Cheese you like. I wouldn't say this is my favorite style as I like a creamier, cheesier style that's more like the homemade style per se, but this was definitely a good Mac N' Cheese and one you wouldn't go wrong with choosing. Beers were about 10-15 on the menu. Unfortunately they were out of the Ocktoberfest which was hugely disappointing for my visitors from Seattle. However, service was great and waitress was very attentive and even brought us a sample tasting to pair with our food. Kudos for some really nice food for a brewing company!
(4)Gina L.
I went here with my boyfriend while we were visiting SD and we absolutely loved our experience here. We decided to have the pretzels, hummus, and a flight of beer. You would think that wouldn't be enough for two, but we actually had to bring some of it home with us! Although the hummus was amazing, I'd have to say our favorite was the pretzels with their amazing cheese/beer dip. We'll definitely be back when visiting SD again!
(5)C. R.
Food was excellent. The Manager Ryan was especially attentive and so was the waiter whose name was O'Ryan. An overall great experience that made our family want to consider KS again soon.
(5)Andrew C.
Went here a couple times over our vacation and I just loved it so much I got 4 growlers! Everyone here is super nice and very helpful! The general manager was there and he was amazing! Thanks Ryan and Clinton you guys made my vacation amazing!
(5)Daniel O.
I love this beer! The Red Trolley & Amber are my absolute favorites. They also have some of the best boneless buffalo wings I have ever had. I enjoyed every minute of my visit! The staff was very friendly as well. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Joe D.
This was our first time at Karl Strauss and it did not disappoint. Staff was all friendly, food was great (try the Brussels sprouts w/bacon!) and the beer was terrific. Alex, our server, brought along a couple free samples to compliment our food along the way and was super friendly and attentive. Can't wait to return!
(5)Scott H.
Had dinner at Karl Strauss on Wednesday. This is meatloaf night, and I don't know if that's why it was crowded, but it was at least 3/4 full. Started with a pintail pale ale, which is a solid beer, but I could have used more hops. It's definitely lighter. Next time I'll have an IPA... We each started with the mixed green salad, which comes with blue cheese, slivered apples, almonds and tomatoes. This was a good salad, larger than I was expecting, and it's a good flavorful mix of field greens. I had the ribeye steak frites. It's a thin ribeye, but 12 ounces, cooked to a perfect medium rare. They'll give you the house steak sauce on the side, but you don't need it. The steak is topped with a large pat of herbed butter. Excellent butter, lots of flavor and it goes well on the steak. The frites are parmesan truffle. I could have used some more cheese, but I pretty much can always use more cheese. They are thin and crispy, and not oily at all. Very good fries. My companion had the meatloaf, which at $12.95 is a great value. I had a couple of bites, it's moist and flavorful and prepared with classic veggies and a good thick gravy. Karl Strauss has some great food to go with the beers. Would definitely eat here again.
(4)Mahyar G.
we have visited different Karl Strauss at different locations. i am happy to say this one is the best of all. The management Ryan and his crew and the server are very friendly and professional and really created a night of fun and joy for our family. I have to congratulate Karl Strauss Brewing Company for having such a great manager and crew of employees. Thanks Michael g
(5)Jennifer N.
Food: Happy Hour is Mon-Fri from 3-6PM. $4 Beers, $5 Apps - Boneless Wings: served over a bed of cabbage and garnished with cilantro. Served with a side of carrots and celery. Blue cheese dipping sauce. This was okay. 3/5 - Spicy Hummus: garnished with almond slices and cilantro. Served with a side of olives, red peppers, and red onions. Enjoyed with flatbread. This was pretty good. 4/5 - Chili Lime Fries: Sweet potato fries with chili powder and lime zest. Served with ranch. This was so addicting! I definitely recommend this appetizer! 5/5 - Karl Strauss Amber: lager, 4.5%, 18 IBU 4/5 - Windansea Wheat: Bavarian Hefeweizen, 5%, 20 IBU 4/5 Service: fast and professional. 4/5 Final thoughts: I would definitely come back here to try other beers and for some more chili lime fries!
(4)Erik M.
Great service, great food. The mac n cheese is as ridiculously good as people say. They also kept giving me samples of beers that went with my food. I absolutely loved it!! Also whatever is on the Tank Tap, go for it, its probably really good!
(5)Jaymie T.
Best beer and food that I have had for a while!! I was able to make a same day reservation and our service was impeccable.
(5)Darryl J.
We need 1/2 stars.. I debated between 3 and 4. We'll say 3.4. The atmosphere was very nice. The staff were very helpful and pleasant. Service might have been stretched? There were waits to get more drinks and get the bills. Beers were great. Beer and food were both decent value. Not extraordinary, but fair. I had the brick chicken. The "spicy" and "chipotle" were hidden-to-non-existent. The dish was still good but the flow just didn't make sense compared to how it sounded on the menu description. Washroom maintenance was poor. I thought I stepped into an unattended highway gas stop. That was really offensive and not reflective of the rest of the environment. Disappointing.
(3)Carri B.
First time here, wait staff was incredibly nice and personable. The beer was wonderful, food left a little to be desired. We had to add some salt to it to give it flavor. Nice atmosphere. Can't say I'd go back, anytime soon for food, but would definitely go back for beer. For dessert, do the Imperial Stout with ice cream for a float.
(3)Moneek M.
Excellent service, beer, and food! This was our favorite meal on our trip to San Diego. The poke was top-notch (be sure to add the avocado), as was the beet bruschetta. We also got the weekly special, the chacuterie plate, since we got a flight of their dark beers. Of course, sitting on the patio while enjoying an afternoon sun break certainly didn't hurt though! The menu of burgers, sandwiches and other items looked tempting as well, so should we return to La Jolla, I'd make a beeline for our new favorite restaurant!
(5)Diana I.
When in San Diego, you've got to try out the breweries, and I'm definitely glad that I picked this place as my first try. My friend and I wanted to check out the brewery garden in the Mira Mesa/Sorrento Valley area last night, but it was closed, so we ended up driving a little bit further to this location. Since the location is next to La Jolla Cove and the other boutiques and bars, you might have some trouble looking for street parking. The inside is very spatial and well-decorated. Our server was very knowledgeable about the different beers that they have. You can get free samples of whatever you'd like to try before deciding what you want to order! Everything that I sampled was so good, that it was hard for me to decide what I wanted with my dinner. My friend and I got samples of the Oktoberfest, Red Trolley Ale, and Wreck Alley Imperial Stout. I ended up with the Red Trolley Ale, since that was what the server recommended for me to have with the big beer burger that I ordered. She even went above and beyond and gave us a sample of the Karl Strauss Amber to try with the burger! Don't even think about putting ketchup on that burger! Go for the IPA steak sauce. It'll have the burger tasting so much better than it already did. The fries are just as great. They're fresh and have the right crispiness to them. Without a doubt, would come back to try more beers. Menu is pricey, so I probably won't be a frequent patron. Karl Strauss is definitely a must-try brewery when you're in San Diego!
(5)Steven W.
This is a great place, my wife and I have been here probably 20-30 times. The bartenders are awesome and always attentive. The good thing about this place is that it is a brewery but also has a full bar. Their beers are really good. I usually just drink the summer brew if I am drinking beer but my wife changes what she drinks often and likes pretty much all the beers they have to offer. The menu is very good. The happy hour is great, you get a choice of about 5-7 different plates at $5 each. It is very common for me to order two plates of wings. The atmosphere is great. This is a bar I go to myself but its also a great place to go with friends and I have taken my family here on a number of occasions too.
(4)Lindsay P.
The food and beer are what keep me coming back. Ate & drank beer here the last two weekends and have zero complaints! Customer service was an issue on both visits to the restaurant. The hostess (a blonde girl) did not seem like she knew what she was doing. She told us it would be a 35 minute wait which was understandable on a Saturday night. So my friends & I decided to walk around and with in 5 mins we get a call saying our table is ready which was great but again the hostess seemed to have no idea what was going on. We were seated and our waitress gave us mediocre service at best. Slow at getting our beers and taking our food orders. She did try to redeem herself and offered us a free sample of her favorite beer, as she could probably tell we were all frustrated. Karl Strauss is one my favorite places to grab a drink and even dinner but I think I will try a new location.
(4)Lindsey B.
After I wrote my review I was contacted by the manager. He was was very considerate and attentive to my bad experience, looking to make it right. I will be giving them another chance because of his customer service efforts.
(4)Cheryl W.
Here's what it comes down to: beer good, food bad, service okay. My bf and I came here for dinner after going kayaking in La Jolla. He ordered a beer flight with four different beers. They just opened a cask and brought a free sample of that to compare with the tap version. I'm not a beer drinker, but he said he likes their beers. That's what they're known for, so I should hope they were good. The food on the other hand was not good. We started with the calamari appetizer, which was meh. I had "The Norm" Mac on Tap that supposedly could change my life. Not only was my life not changed, it was the worst mac and cheese I've ever had. The whole thing was dry and bland! He ordered a burger, nothing special. Lastly, we shared the west coast split. It was pretty good, but not worth the trip. It was nice that they brought two more samples of the Wreck Alley Imperial Stout to go with the dessert though. I would recommend going for beers, but eat somewhere else before or after.
(3)Tyler S.
My gf and I are on vacation in la jolla and are from temecula. The temecula location is so much better. Took us 15 mins just to get a waiter and another 15 just to order our food. I could understand if it was busy but it is a Sunday night. Food was good but service was horrible. Also my gf had a bug in her water which pissed me off I almost walked out. Now we can't even get the check. I will NEVER be back to this location again temecula location is great!! The blonde hostess has been giving us dirty looks all night. Don't give us dirty looks when your service is shit.
(1)Elaine J.
This my 2nd time visiting this restaurant and it was as good as the first time. My husband and I shared the hummus and ahi tuna! So yummy! Our server was fantastic! I couldn't make a decision on a beer so she kept brining me samples. Overall a great experience for two out of town people from Colorado.
(5)Brittany C.
Right in the heart of La Jolla! Food is good but the beer is great, and I loved all the beers samples throughout dinner :) We started with the pretzels and calamari - both were pretty tasty. I ordered a chicken sandwich, which was decent but nothing to rave about. My husband order the mac and cheese and it was delicious. Service was decent but overall, Karl Strauss is a cool place for food and drinks.
(4)Tye S.
Visited on Friday 6/19. Busy dinner hour and the two of us were seated outside. Menu has good selection of favorites. Nothing bad here, however food was just average, especially for the prices. Service was average as well as we had 3 different staff members which visited the table infrequently. There are quite a few other choices in the area that you may want to consider.
(3)Carmen V.
Upgrading to 4 stars thanks to the excellent approach by the management following up with the customer's needs and open to suggestions. I will go back during my Christmas holidays as for sure Karl Strauss breweries are in my list of favorite places to recommend in SD, hopefully the pizzas get up to the great standard set by the excellent beers!
(4)Allie S.
Karl Strauss is a great San Diego brewery. Friendly staff and good beers. This location is smaller than their Sorrento location. I'm not sure if they have food on a regular basis there. We went for a catered party, so there was some buffet style appetizers that were good to have since I had a few beers. No complaints. Good place!
(4)Riana L.
Great spot to grab a beer (or a few) with friends. The flight option is definitely something to try - why wouldn't you wanna taste multiple beers?! Service was decent...there was a slight hiccup with the order however was corrected on the bill willingly! So in that sense, good customer service! Also, beer was on point! (5 stars on that) Suggest trying the brussel sprouts!
(3)Marc T.
Great flights of beers - locally brewed - good food and a great rest stop- great outdoor spot- not a true sports bar- no MLB package - get a growler of Wreck Alley- coffee/ cocoa nibs -
(4)Bill B.
We are here today for lunch and loved it! Our waiter suggested the right beers and our food was great! We split a burger and had the Mac and cheese. The burger was beyond our expectations and the Mac was superb! We will be coming back!
(5)Natalie F.
Best customer service. Great beer. Authentic food. Glad we stopped by here for dinner.
(5)Jamie D.
Great food great beer. Mediocre service by our server today. We usually frequent K.S. in Temecula and they are amazing. They bring samples of beer that pair with and compliment your food selections. Our server hardly came by and didn't even make sure we had plates or silverware. I had to go ask for some after appetizers had been served. The manager was amazing and kind. We will likely come back and hope for a different server.
(4)Jessica B.
Oh. My. Goodness. This is the best happy hour I have ever been to. EVER! The beer-EXCELLENT. The sweet potato fries were the best I've ever had, and that is saying a lot because I loooove sweet potato fries. And the hummus: good jesus it was amazing. Don't underestimate the food here people! Also, our waiter Alex, first of all-cute! Second of all, he greeted us on the street with free beer samples. What a hidden gem here-others definitely have not given this place enough credit. So impressed! And I wish we had these in Texas!
(5)Renee M.
Karl Strauss never lets me down! I've been here many times but just went again recently, it's always the best! Friendly servers, great food, and TVs for Sunday football, if you like that ;) I sat in the bar and our server was friendly and chatted with us about movies, love that! It wasn't very crowded, and this spot is smaller than the one in Carlsbad but I love the location it's in. Only bummer thing is that parking is sometimes a pain in the ass. As long as you find something, don't let the walk bother you! Your peanut butter porter should be a regular beer ;) My BF and I would be customers for life if that happened! (JK we already are)
(5)Kim B.
This place was really great! A local California brewing company... with a great atmosphere. I love going to local establishments such as this. And while it is a chain, it is a local chain.. so I am okay with that. I tried the beer sampler of the Windansea wheat, the Tank Tap, the Endless Summer Light, and the Karl Strauss Amber. All were unique... my favorite was the Windansea and I was disgusted by the Tank Tap (it was the one in the making right then... that is onsite. It was a rice beer). After I finished them my server came over with two more to sample! It was such a great gesture- I really enjoyed the service, friendliness. It seemed as if all the girls wanted to be the diners friends. My mom got a Harvest Salad with Chicken, and I got the mac and cheese. The mac and cheese was unbelievable.. certainly homemade and super creamy. My mom said her salad was tasty, fresh, and flavorful.
(4)Michael S.
Had a great time at the Karl Straus pub in La Jolla. Stopped in for a look and ended up with a flight and wings. Everything was excellent. I would recommend this brewery to anyone who loves craft beer. Great selection and knowledgeable staff.
(5)Lindsay W.
My family of three ate here on a recent vacation on the recommendation of the bartender at our hotel - we were looking for something easy and casual. Karl Strauss was the perfect recommendation. The atmosphere was lively and fun, but not over the top. The service was great - friendly, attentive and knowledgable. Great kids menu with options! We sampled several beers and they were all great - it is very fun how they bring samples to try with your food. My husband had the lettuce wraps and clean his plate. I had the Zoe's Salami Salad and it was fantastic - flavorful and filling. We would certainly go back for another yummy, casual dinner.
(4)Gino F.
Right in the middle of downtown La Jolla this place blends in with the rest of the nice little restaurants in the area. The happy hour deals are really good. The chili lime fries have some really good flavor and a nice zing and the hummus is perfect with all the little toppings. All the beers on tap were really nice and smooth. I recommend you getting the sampler flight during happy hour just $4 dollars so you can get some variety. The food comes in big portions and the flavor on my burger was outstanding, the best part was I ordered my burger medium rare, and the burger came out perfect with a nice pink insidd with tons of juice. Some places make it more medium but this Karl Strauss got it right. Our server was always asking us how we were doing and if he could do anything. Really attentive and seemed like he cared. Overall good exeperiance. The only downside for not getting the full 5 stars is parking. They validate your parking for their underground parking garage once you are done with your meal. But what they didn't tell us was that you only have 10 minutes or so after paying to get to your car. But we stayed a but longer to use the restroom and walked a little but slower since we had eatin so much.when we got to leaving the parking garage our validation was no longer valid so we had to pay. Overall though good restaurant and come during the happy hour!
(4)Jenna B.
OH. MY. GOD. This was the BEST happy hour of the whole trip. We weren't planning on stopping until we tried the free beer taste outside. Then...we tried the best IPA of MY LIFE. I don't even like IPA and I made us stop after trying that. We got the La Jolla IPA, sweet potato fries, and hummus. Seriously the best food/drinks I've had. Best happy hour. Best waiter (Alex). LOVED IT. Go. I mean seriously, GO. Great atmosphere, great beer, great food, great staff. Great everything.
(5)Michael T.
Nice looking restaurant. A bit pricy but the food was good. The service was not so good. Or order was taken promptly and was checked on several times until a big wedding party came in. They had a blocked off set of tables and seemed to take away the service from most of the other patrons in the restaurant. AT one time, I counted 9 people taking care of this party including our waitress, who completely forgot about us. We actually had to ASK for our check because they were so busy with the "party". I am sure that at "other times" this is a great restaurant with great service, but this was OUR weekend to enjoy from the Hot Phoenix area and expected MORE from the restaurant. When you pay $50 for 2 burgers and a couple of beers, it should be something great....nope....we were not the focus of the restaurant waitress OR being a patron. Food good - service BAD!
(3)Priscilla R.
Great food. I had the muncho macho burger. It was so good haven't had a burger that good in a while. I had great customer service by everyone. The food was brought out quickly. The beer was really good. Overall I was very happy with everyone and everything. Even the management team came by and made sure everything was fine, and was very friendly. Our server Clint was amazing. Ask for him!!
(5)Ryan H.
Went to Karl Strauss to celebrate graduating with Masters. The atmosphere and location was very nice since it was in Downtown La Jolla. One bad thing was trying to locate free parking. I believe during rush hour you'll spend a few minutes driving around unless you want to pay for parking. We were sat fast and the service was great. Our server timed asking us for our drinks, appetizers, etc. The beer selection of course was great. Had the windnsea. Our server also gave us free samples of beer which was awesome and surprising. Our appetizers came out in a timely manner and was very fresh and good. I ordered the farmhouse burger. The fried egg caught my eye. The server always ask if medium is ok. The food came out and tasted great. The fries where crispy and crunchy. Desert was awesome. We had a deep fried cheese cake and a brownie with ice cream. The pictures will help. Everything is beer inspired.
(5)Jackie B.
We had such a good time at Karl Strauss. Awesome, friendly service in the bar area and great fun watching a game with the crowd. Though we didn't intentionally go for the happy hour, we sure will GO BACK because of it. Beers are great, food is above average, and service was good.
(4)Kunal S.
Fantastic Beer. Been here at least 12+ times when i lived in San Diego you can never go wrong with a Red Trolley and Chill Lime Fries
(5)Joshua A.
First things first: Karl Strauss as a company is amazing. The quality and combination of food, drink, and atmosphere is essentially unparalleled among southern California Breweries. They have a wide selection of quality craft beers they share tastings of with every meal, that pair incredibly well with the dishes. Every location I've been to has shared in this experience, which signals to me not only great management etiquette, but also a wonderful shared culture for customers. I've been in the San Diego area for a few years now, and the La Jolla location has always been my favorite spot to visit. Its central location in downtown La Jolla makes it a great anytime meal or drinks experience: stopping in for a quick bite after the beach or hanging out and enjoying the special "tank tap" brew for the evening. Did I mention this location is one of the only Karl Strauss' that serves wood-fire pizza? All-in-all, Karl Strauss is one of the best priced restaurants in southern California, in my opinion (and they are quickly expanding). I've never left unsatisfied, and I continue to frequent their locations for birthdays, taking out visitors, or just to have dinner. I would highly recommend anyone else to do the same. This company is going places.
(5)Christina H.
Mac and cheese was super good here and the portions are huge. The Beer burger was juicy and tasty.
(4)Jordan L.
Karl Strauss is one of my favorite places to visit in San Diego. It's one of the best breweries... if not THE best brewery - the beer is excellent! I love Wreck Alley! Plus they bring you FREE samples 1-2 times during your meal! The food is also great. It's not just tacked on. They are really serious about having tasty foods. They have really tasty boneless buffalo wings on their appetizer/happy hour menu, plus the burgers are nice! Their burgers range from about $10-15 and come with fries. If the underground parking garage nearby is open, Karl Strauss validates, so no payment! Check to be sure that's still happening though, as you might be reading this several years down the road.
(5)Joy M.
came here for some after-dinner drinks with my bro and his friends to celebrate his birthday. my favorite beer is Red Trolley and since this place was literally right next door to where we had dinner and drinks to start the night (Whisknladle), we thought it'd be fun to stop in and keep the laughs going over craft beers. i was disappointed that this location didn't have nearly as much to offer as the Sorrento Valley Karl Strauss. sure there was a fair amount of bar and table/booth seating, a handful of flatscreen TVs showing SportsCenter highlights, and a fairly decent selection of beers to enjoy. unfortunately they were all out of their seasonal (vanilla bean something or other) Wreck Alley Imperial Stout, and this location didn't have that certain WOW factor that other gastropub/breweries have. no huge koi pond or dining area like their Sorrento Valley location. and this is La Jolla... cmon now. -civilities.
(3)Kermit K.
Great food, good Beer
(4)Jason K.
Our waitress, Sarah , was so helpful and very knowledgeable about the food and the beer that enhances the flavors. The atmosphere was very nice because of all the staff. We live in Escondido but if we are in this area again, you beat your butt we will swing by.
(5)Wulfstan C.
This is a nice brewpub in downtown LaJolla. Decor is modernist/industrial brewpub style, lots of glass and metal, nice. It could seem a bit cold if elsewhere but since this is LaJolla, it doesn't normally get cold. Beer is good overall - I find Karl Struass beers generally solid but a bit pedestrian,ranging from mediocre and one-dimensional to a few that are quite good. Food was good, but again not great. It has some uniqueness in concept but generally seemed a bit characterless. Nothing, though was bad by any means and it's worth a visit.
(3)Jessica S.
While I regularly frequent the Sorrento Valley location, this was my first time at Karl Strauss in La Jolla. It's a decent-sized restaurant with a small outdoor patio area. We came here on a Sunday afternoon, so it wasn't very crowded. I started off with a pint of the Tower 20 Double IPA, one of my favorites from Karl. Lots of hops and bitterness counterbalanced with sweet citrus and grapefruit flavors. I highly, highly recommend this beer. I got the Flan-Diddly Anders as well, a Flanders-styled Red Ale. It's alright: sour, a bit tart with cherry flavors, a slight acidic vinegar taste, with vanilla and oak undertones. Not one of my favorites, but a decent beer overall. We decided to split a bunch of appetizers since we were all getting kind of hungry. We ordered the Crispy Calamari, Nacho Stack with Guacamole, and Asada Fries. The Crispy Calamari was delicious, very lightly fried with just enough batter to have that crispy texture. The calamari had just the right amount of crunch and wasn't overcooked or rubbery. Flavors were good and the chili aioli dipping sauce really accentuated the calamari. Spicy, salty, crunchy, and slightly sour from a squeeze of fresh lemon, the Crispy Calamari is a good appetizer to start with. Decent portion size as well and plenty to go around. Paired perfectly with the Tower 20 Double IPA. The Nacho Stack with Guacamole was disappointing, though. Portion size is huge. It really is a gigantic nacho stack, with lots of black beans, pepper jack and cheddar cheese, salsa, sour cream, and guacamole all thrown on top of tortilla strips. The toppings were great but the chips were stale, super soggy, and too long, making them inconvenient for dipping. The extra long tortilla strips made it hard to get a decent scoop of toppings. There's a reason why triangle-shaped tortilla chips are standard for nachos! That said, the flavors were good and the salsa added a slight spice and tartness that balanced out the black beans and cheese. The Asada Fries are not your typical asada fries either: plancha-seared steak, house-made jalapeno cheese whiz, gorgonzola, avocado-chimichurri, and pickled onions served on top of french fries. The fries were perfect, crispy on the outside but soft on the inside, not too crunchy but not soggy either. The steak was cooked nicely with good flavors. However, although I am normally a huge fan of gorgonzola cheese, I wasn't a fan of the amount of gorgonzola on the asada fries at Karl Srauss. It was just too much. Too overpowering. You could only taste the gorgonzola, which masked the steak, the fries, and the avocado-chimichurri. The dish also would've been better had the pickled onions not been pickled. They weren't bad, they just didn't add to the dish and actually conflicted with the gorgonzola cheese. If they had used fresh red onions thinly diced, it would've been much better. The Asada Fries were just too one-dimensional in taste. Out of the three appetizers, my least favorite was the Asada Fries. I realize that Karl Strauss is trying to add their spin on a popular San Diego taco shop dish, they just didn't do a good job at it. However, the Crispy Calamari was great and the Nacho Stack wasn't bad. The ingredients used at Karl Strauss are all very fresh and the portion sizes were huge, making them great for sharing. Although I wasn't terribly impressed with the food at this location, the beers were still delicious and that's what we came for. Service was wonderful. Our server checked on us often and brought us lots of small samples of beer to try. Our appetizers were served hot and came out quickly. Overall, Karl Strauss La Jolla is a nice place to go if you're in the area and want some good beers. I would eat elsewhere, though.
(3)Roya M.
Food was tasty and presentation was great for every dish. Our server was very friendly. The restaurant was pretty empty but the service was slow that's why I'm only giving it 4 stars. Would go there again.
(4)Adam L.
DEFINITELY try their stout! It may be strong but it's quite tasty! Also, the "cebiche" (soaked in beer) was impressively delicious & light!
(4)Carin C.
Best meal and experience ever! Most AMAZING Black Garlic Fondue and the beer pairing with it was EXCELLENT. Then their signature Beer Burger...to die for. And save room for dessert because this month was their PB&J Peanut Butter Porter something of goodness. The food God's eat here its so freaking good. A must go.
(5)Winnie W.
I got the beer burger, which was good/alright. I wish the waitress told us the burger comes with fries, so I could have known to substitute for a salad. The red trolley ale was amazing, even though I don't even like beer. They had great music, jack johnson and other artists. The servers were all friendly as well. The menu should have had beer prices as well as beer flight prices. We made a reservation and got seated immediately. It wasn't too crowded on a Saturday night though.
(4)Drea H.
We've been to several Karl Strauss locations before, and have always been pleased with their food & service. This one, however, was a huge disappointment. This restaurant is located in downtown San Diego in La Jolla on the corner of a small, but busy street. Parking can be hard to find, but there's a parking structure you can park inside of across the street - make sure you get a parking validation before leaving the restaurant!! Parking is free for the first 2 hrs with validation. My best friend, fiance, and I came here for a late lunch. We asked our waitress, H, for a specialty beverage menu (aside from beer). She told us they didn't have a specialty menu because their 'specialty' is beer...in a demeaning tone :/ Anyways, our waitress was always short with us and snappy. She was attentive but never friendly. Our food was good as always (fish & chips, cotija turkey burger, piggybank mac n cheese, and a banana split kinda dessert), but we were pretty upset with their service. P.S. They may claim to be pet-friendly, but they really aren't. They have an enclosed patio - you can sit inside the patio, but your dogs will have to stay on the outside of the patio. This really doesn't make for a very comfortable dining experience with your babies.
(2)Sherry L.
Really great dining experience. The brewery/restaurant is casual but doesn't skimp on quality and service. As you would imagine, there are number of beers on tap and you can also get them as flights. Our waitress was very knowledgeable, though a little pushy. We got the poutine to start... which was absolutely AMAZING. The gravy was full of umami flavor and perfectly savory. The pork belly had the perfect proportion of fat to lean and added great flavor and texture to the fries. Every bite was heaven. The pork chops is a great deal. You get two pieces of beer brined pork chops with mashed potatoes, their famous "firecracker" sauce, and veggies. One of my pork chops was cooked perfectly and tasted great. But the other one wasn't brined properly and was overcooked. We also got the roast beef sandwich, which was delicious. No complaints there. Despite the pork chop snafu, I was pretty impressed that the waitress brought over samplers of different beers to pair with each of our dishes. In terms of food ingenuity, Karl Strauss tends to be a bit Asian fusion-y, which is played out but still a solid bet in terms of flavor. If you're in La Jolla and can't get into the other exclusive restaurants, Karl Strauss is a great last minute find.
(4)Stacy C.
Had an early dinner here on a Saturday night. So much to select from on the menu that we had to order a small feast for two. Chicken tortilla soup: The bowl was large enough for two to share. Nothing spectacular, but I did like how its' consistency was not as thick as other restaurants. Farmhouse burger: Amazing! Very tender and tasty, especially if you're a fan of meat. And who doesn't like an egg on their burger? Grilled fish tacos: Not the greatest, but refreshing and fulfilling. And my personal fave... Mac and Cheese! Apparently they are known for this, and with good reason. We went with the Tree Hugger and we were not disappointed. It wasn't overpowered with cheese and the bread crumbs added some texture. Service was mediocre but not terrible considering it was a busy night.
(4)Jeanene E.
The atmosphere is great!! Especially if you have kids!! The food my kids enjoy a lot, and that makes me happy!! We enjoy the food and the beer! Always our go to place if we just want to eat and enjoy a night out together!!
(4)Josh N.
HOLY SHIT! Is La Jolla gorgeous or what? I absolutely love this place. This is the best happy hour in town and the spot in La Jolla. Everyone here is so happy and cool, a dude even gave me a number to hit him up for a double date with myself and my chick, seriously can't wait to go back. If you're reading this YOU MUST MUST MUST TRY THE MOSAIC SESSION ALE, WINDANSEA WHEAT, BIG BARREL, ENDLESS SUMMER AND PINTAIL PALE ALE. Get all those on flight for just 4 bucks during happy hour? Sign me the fuck up!
(5)Dennis H.
If you want to have a good time and have great service, search no more Karl Straus is the place. A group of five we had a pleasant evening, no withstanding the samples brews. I had the Cajun pasta, excellent. Not too spicy or overpowering. Good atmosphere. Great service and priced right.
(4)Trevor B.
Karly Karl Strauss. I'm going to start this review off with the first thought I had while leaving this place. "WTF... Why don't I come here more often?" La Jolla is no stranger to delicious food, and there's a reason why Karl Strauss has pushed through and remained strong on its cool and trendy Wall Street corner; it's no bullshit food. If you're like me, then you're greatest fear when leaving a restaurant is thinking, "I'm hittin Oscar's for some fish tacos" because you need a cheap easy way to fill the empty void in your stomach. This was not one of those places. Let's start with the Crunchy BBQ Chicken Salad. Creamy, tangy, brilliantly flavored with the freshest and crispest of vegetables. I imagine that if I were stranded in a scorching desert, all I would want would be a bottle of water and this salad. The nachos were above average but not greatest. But I will say I am a hardcore nacho fan and it is very hard to please me. I just cannot stand when the toppings are not equally distributed. I live for that well-balanced nacho bite spreading like storm across my palette. The last item of food we ordered were the Bits n Pieces: little bite sized pieces of their pizza crust done in duck fat. Wow. Richest thing I've ever eaten, but worth the couple bites. Served with a truffle mayo type of sauce... Off the f***ing charts. Along with a couple of pints of beer, and the server consistently dropping off samples of different beers to our table for free, I'd say this was one solid outing.
(5)Kristin N.
Great beers - I tried their summer ale, red and amber - delicious burger and good appetizer selection. We also ordered a pizza and I have to admit that was a bit underwhelming but the quality of the rest of the food we tried and the service made up for it.
(5)Melanie M.
Ordered the ribeye steak which was Delish!!! There light Pilsner beer (can't remember the name) was so yummy.
(5)Paulina T.
Great beer and atmosphere! The food is good too, nothing special though. I got a burger and my bread was stale.
(3)Ross M.
Karl Strauss is a southern cal staple for craft beer. Sure it doesn't garner the press and acclaim of Stone, but oh man are their beers good they also have styles across the board. I'm a huge hop head. But sometimes you need a heavy stout, a pilsner for a session or want to try something you've never encountered before. I've been going to the La Jolla location for years, it never disappoints. The food is excellent. The boneless buffalo wings are a fav, the hardest choice is one order or two. There is always a cool pairing suggestion that includes a limited release beer and a new item on the menu. Beyond just the beer and food quality, the wait staff has always been fantastic. More often than not as you dig into your main course they are bringing by a taster from one of the taps to round out your experience. That's the way a brewery should play the game.
(5)Sheri M.
Great food and the manager, Ferris was amazing! He was extremely welcoming and went out of his way to make sure our dinner was perfect. The Chili Lime fries are a must! Highly recommend!
(5)E S.
Visited for the second time while in La Jolla visiting family. Terrific beer (we've tasted many of them), nice decor, good service and really terrific food. This time out had, among other things - duck fat bites, mac & cheese w/bacon ham and andouille, fish tacos, steak, shrimp po boy, a burger and a chicken sandwich. All were given big thumbs up. The "bites" were terrific as were the awesome chips with old bay seasoning. Highly recommend!
(5)Lyndsi W.
I really enjoy Karl Strauss no matter which one I go to. They have great beer and great food! Their Happy Hour menu is amazing! 4$ beer and 4$ flights and great food specials. Outside of their Happy Hour Menu I really love their Asada Fries. Yes they are kinda pricey but they add all kinds of interesting things like chimichurri sauce and pickled onions to make these Asada Fries a bit different than your typical Asada Fries. The service here for typical SD is actually pretty good. I don't remember many times I've been frustrated with them and this being my first time to this La Jolla location makes me really feel that is the standard at all! If you find yourself near one of these locations and it's happy hour time stop in! You won't regret it! The beer cheese sauce for the pretzel is great! Chili Lime fries are also a good little munchies to go along with your beer!
(4)Kitty W.
To this for the first time, looking at pictures thought is very good, the results on the wrong food, the husband feel good just left, but I ordered chicken pasta yuck, no taste, sour, the husband some signs steak, not bad. Anyway I won't come again the second time.
(2)Justin P.
Wow! What a great experience. Ferris is MARVELOUS! We went there on a Friday night and the place was packed. The servers treated us like we were the only ones there. Upon mentioning my birthday. We were comped for the beers we had already ordered, given a souvenir pint glass AND a delicious dessert. I will come back to this place every time I am in the area. I recommend it to anybody looking for a great brewery/restaurant experience. Go there NOW!
(5)Nayoun K.
So far, best American food I'd reach for here in SD. I'm a mac and cheese junkie, so their piggy bank with bacon and pancetta was for me, while my boyfriend went with the original big beer burger, which was medium-rare done right. I tried the tank tap, a raspberry tarte that was delish, not too strong but a good dinner drink! Boyfriend had the big barrel double IPA and wreck ally (coffee flavored stout). Highlight was our server Alex, super helpful and friendly, steered us in the right direction with the bits n pieces starter, and gave us sips of red trolley for dinner accompanyment! (free booze, always a plus) Not five since it didn't knock my socks off, but I'd consider coming back.
(4)Paige K.
Absolutely great service. The menu was so dynamic it took forever to decide. Their big beer burger was amazing and has a special IPA BBQ sauce. Best I've ever had. Our waiter was extremely helpful and came out three separate time with pairings of brews that went with our appetizers and entrees. Definitely a top 3 on all of the breweries I have visited ever.
(5)James S.
Ate here twice and both times everything was perfect. Service was outstanding. A manager even came by to check on us. Happy hour is a bargain for both beer and appetizers. Love the sessions mosaic ale and buffalo wings. Samples of beers are complimentary as well. This place is an example of how to run a restaurant.
(5)Joe I.
I had received a ho-hum review about the beer here and I have to say it was wrong. The off the rails red and the unicorn tears were awesome brews. Sat at the bar and the bartender was the friendliest dude ever. Let me sample some more of the beers, and even brought a sample over to try with my food as it paired well. I had the tofu green curry and it was so so so good. I would come here again no problem - highly recommend.
(5)Kimmy Y.
Met up with some friends here for some lunch since the Karl Strauss in Sorrento Valley was closed. They seated us right away (we had 8 people in our party). OBVIOUSLY we had to get some drinks and i LOVED our waitress. Extremely patient with all of us, especially with the drink orders. Filled us in on the 24th anniversary deal where we could get a free glass and every additional beer after was $4. I have to say I wasn't extremely impressed with the food. I shared a mac on tap (that was really good) but bleu cheese Saturday burger special wasn't as appealing to me. I ended up getting 2 glasses of the 24th anniversary beer. It wasn't really beer but more of a juice. haha. It was carbonated and not as thick as beer would be. It kind of reminded me of Lindeman's but more bitter. Either way, they split our checks the way we asked them to. Our waitress was very attentive and kept checking on us. I definitely appreciated the waitress' enthusiasm.
(4)Michelle S.
Swung through here after spending the morning wandering the shores of La Jolla. We wanted somewhere we could sit down and watch football for a bit. We snagged two seats at the bar, ordered some pretzels and a beer flight. The pretzels were good, the mango mustard was awesome. I didn't think I was going to like it but it surprised me. The cheese that came with the pretzels was gross. I don't know what it was about it that made it so unappetizing but neither of us liked it. I can't remember the beers we tasted except for the Owl one that is a current seasonal beer and that one was great. The bartender was great. Super attentive, gave us a good chance to sample some of the beers that we didn't have in our flight. Really friendly but not annoying and pushy.
(3)Noemi F.
Few are the times when I'm greeted and treated with such thoughtfulness and respect. Our waitress (wish I remembered her name) was attentive and extremely nice to my bf and I. We ordered a flight, some pizza, buffalo wings and ended our lunch with a pint; which she generously split into two different glasses. She also brought us tastings throughout our meal. I'm not sure if that's their protocol or she was just being nice, either way the service is incredible. This is definitely one of the better breweries I've visited. Also, I never knew Karl Strauss had such awesome beer. They've gained a fan for life!
(5)Caroline N.
Love this place. Our first time here was for my friends birthday and our server Matt was very helpful and attentive. He brought us many taste testers based off what we liked and had great vibes all around. Would definitely come back just based off the service alone. Thanks Matt and Karl Strauss !
(5)Sally M.
My husband and I usually have lunch or happy hour at Karl Strauss with our pup on the outdoor patio. We've been here a number of times and the staff is friendly and accommodating for our dog. They will usually bring him out water and ice. **Update: they no longer allow dogs on the patio :( The food here is very good. I usually get The Piggy Bank (mac & cheese with bacon, ham and linguica). It's a large portion and I always have leftovers. I recently had the short rib torta and that was really good. The smoked gouda and carmelized onions make this so yummy. My husband recently had the chipotle pastrami and he enjoyed that as well. The burgers here are pretty good as well. They obviously have a large beer selection and will bring out free samples for you to taste while dining there too. They also have wine and a full bar (the one in Sorrento only has beer and wine). The happy hour specials are pretty good; a handful of appetizers (i.e. spinach dip, hummus, wings, calamari) are $5 and they have beer, wine, and wells for $4. If I drank beer, I'd probably give Karl Strauss 5 stars. They do have validated parking at Hotel Parisi if you can't find street parking.
(4)Gerardo G.
I do not remember the last time I received such good customer service. The staff was absolutely amazing and the food wasn't all that bad either. We left with satisfied appetites and a smile on our faces. I'd recommend them to everyone.
(5)Jonelle O.
We took my mom and step-dad here last weekend for an early dinner and were very impressed. We each ordered a beer (excluding my step-dad who was the designated driver) and the spinach dip and nachos to start. Our beers came out first, mine being the 22oz. Wreck Alley Imperial Stout. It is my new favorite beer! I could taste the coffee and chocolate in it, oh so wonderful. But B I G. I was already anticipating a very buzzed Jonelle walking out of the restaurant after dinner. Then the waitress brought our appetizers... and more beer! She brought each of us samples of beer that paired well with the appetizers we'd ordered, so since we'd ordered two appetizer plates we got two samples of beer each. And since my step-dad wasn't drinking, my mom and I drank his samples. Oh my. I wasn't fond of the nachos, but everyone else was going on and on about how good they were. Whatever. More spinach dip for me, which I thought was amazing. I kept shoveling that and beer into my face until our main course came. And guess what came with them? That's right -- more beer! Each of us got another sample of beer that paired well with what we'd ordered. Between the never-ending beer samples and my huge beer, I was feeling pretty good by the time the main course arrived. And pretty damn full. I had two bites of my macaroni and cheese and called it quits, boxing it up to take home and returning to my giant beer. We all really enjoyed our meals (fish and chips, chicken sandwich, and poutine for the rest of them) and really enjoyed the samples of beer and the friendly service. But yeah, I was fairly buzzed. On our way home from La Jolla to El Cajon I made my step-dad stop at Hotel Circle so I could sneak into an employee only area of a hotel to go pee. I couldn't hold it, man! 15 minutes is sooooo long when you've had that much beer! Anyway, I can't wait to come back and drink more beer. Beer.
(4)Brian M.
The food is delicious. The beer is fine. There are other craft breweries in San Diego that are much better. I think the food is a little over priced for what you get, but it is La Jolla.
(4)Orel D.
CHUCK the bartender made our experience awesome! Great knowledge and suggestion of food & drink pairing. Excellent food, good prices and good service! Def coming back for happy hour! ;D
(5)Cody T.
Another great trip to Karl Strauss. Kayla is a great server and the food was excellent as always. Off the rails is on tank tap!!
(5)Jory C.
I love everything about this place. Brandon ( i think, bad memory!), one of the bartenders, is awesome. Growlers here are pretty affordable, and on Fridays you get a few bucks off refills. I haven't had the food, but nearby tables had delicious looking plates. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. Everything here is right on.
(5)Kiki H.
Same great food and service but definitely not as good of a location as the one by Qualcomm!!
(3)Christie D.
This place made our whole trip. We started out at Barfly up the street but were forced to leave after being ignored for nearly 15 minutes. We even were headed directly to a burger shop caddy corner to Karl and they also let us down. I guess you can say third times a charm. Our waitress was so sweet and inviting at Karl. She really made us feel welcome. We had an amazing pretzel with beer cheese and our main courses were to die for. The chili lime sweet potato fries were my favorite. We even topped it off with a brownie and ice cream for dessert. Definitely recommend Karl for anybody in the La Jolla area! :) we can't wait to return!!
(5)Sophie L.
LOVE This place and will be coming back a lot! Great, super sweet service. The beer is FANTASTIC, but what really surprised me was how delicious the food is! To be honest, the calamari wasn't that spectacular... but then our Poutine with Pork Belly came to the table.... oh em gee. SO. GOOD. It just melttsss in your mouth. After the first bite we were silent for a few moments... contemplating the meaning of greatness........ and how so much of it could be in one dish........
(4)Frank O.
I was really disappointed with the service (Kayla) this evening. The food was OK. We had the meatloaf, bits and pieces, and mushrooms, peppers, and olives. The beer was OK, but after I said I was going to bring some leftovers back to the hotel, Kayla remarked it was not enough to bring back. (It was enough to bring back.) When trying to get the bill, I waited too long and finally inquired with the next restaurant employee that walked past. F
(2)Lauren B.
The beer here speaks for itself, we know its freaking awesome. The food on the other hand was also amazing! I' d been to the location in Costa Mesa for Happy Hour and tried the hummus and wings-- which were both great and an awesome value. Last night in La Jolla we tried the pork chops and the buffalo chicken mac and cheese. Both were very good, I'd highly recommend but cant wait to try the blue cheese steak next time! Also, our waiter was on point with the recommendations, free beer samples and good service. Not sure of his name but he was a good looking guy with a half sleeve on one arm. The only thing I wasn't thriled with were the duck fat bites.... to me they just tasted like mediocre butter soaked breadsicks... but other than that, I loved it!
(4)Amanda L.
REVIEW FOR SORRENTO VALLEY LOCATION: Came to an event here hosted mainly in the beer garden area and it was awesome! I was not expecting much as I drove along the freeway past Budweiser and other beer distributors. When I arrive to Karl Strauss I was totally impressed with the appearance and outdoor beer garden area. The event was great with lights and heat lamps outside to keep everyone comfortable. The beer was dee-lish, and they offered free beer tickets for the event. Overall, great experience!
(4)Myana T.
You'd have to be drunk to enjoy the food here. Overly greasy and sauced...and I ordered the tuna tartar. I told the waitress it was too heavily sauced and she didn't offer any suggestions and just took the plate and walked away. I Still got charged for it.
(1)Tony C.
This is a great place to go if you want to grab a cheap bite during Happy Hour and also if you want to take your date out somewhere decent without a huge bill. They have basic brewery food and it's actually pretty good! I've had their large pretzel and their dipping sauces are great that come with that. I've also had the carne asada fries which are a little pricey but good. They have interesting toppings that not all asada fries have which I enjoy. Chili Lime fries on the HH menu are a cheaper option for fries and are really good. Their Piri Piri wings could be spicier but, then again I'm pretty much immune to spice these days. This is a good spot to stop after a long day on the beach in La Jolla or even a long day of shopping. Totally worth the money for the HH menu and it's a great ambiance to enjoy some time with friends or a loved one! Their beers are really world class and some of the best in San Diego. I enjoy their Red Trolley Ale, the Windansea Wheat and I typically don't like wheat and I also enjoy any of their limited edition or special taps. This isn't my fav brewery but, I'm never sad when it's here were headed. I always know I'll get some decent snacks and also some great beer!
(3)Aileen Y.
We decided to check out Karl Strauss The Brewing company restaurant as our last stop before we left San Diego to head home. My review is limited to the beer flight and experience since we didn't order any food to go with our beer. When we walked into the restaurant, we were greeted by the manager. We took a few minutes to look over the menu before deciding to stay and were seated immediately but didn't feel pressured. It wasn't busy at all for a Sunday afternoon so we sat at one of the tables in the bar area. I've tried a few Karl Strauss beer before already favor the Red Trolley because it is an amber beer that closely resembles New Castle only slightly sweeter. So when we decided to order the beer flight, we selected beers that we were not familiar with. Our waitress was helpful with recommending the beers we should try so our selection ranged from blonde to dark coffee flavored beer (does not appeal to my taste). Overall, it was a good tasting session that we had at our own pace. We were even given glasses of water, to help clear our palette, which were refilled at least once before we finished our beers. From the looks of it, it's like a really chill hangout place near the La Jolla Cove area. So I do recommend checking out the beer flight for a laid back afternoon at the bar just as we did.
(5)Kimberly K.
The overall experience was pretty good! The waiter was nice, knowledgeable and accommodating. We did get charged for a beer that was for another table and we did have to wait for a bit for our food but the food was delicious and the waiter was more than willing to correct our bill and apologize. All the food was cooked perfectly and the portions generous. We are from out of state and loved the atmosphere and even a small stack of coasters to take home with us to add to our bar. Would dine here again and try something new. Husband loved the Red Trolley beer and tried a few others that he liked as well. The parmesean truffle fries were awesome. Not too bad on price for the experience & what you receive.
(5)Odie O.
Very noisy location. Had a bit of trouble getting staff's attention, maybe not enough staff. Seating for our reservation was three tables with one side but up against the wall making it impossible for people to get out so we had to separate them into 3 tables resulting in a rather unpleasant experience overall.
(3)Joe C.
We came to this place kind of empty in a good location in downtown La Jolla it was into the day we went we end up liking our food but one of the people at our table didn't like the server so he didn't order anything at all he wouldn't even look at the server but the food our salads ended up being really good and this place was a lot better when they had the paintings on the wall from Ken joudrey that painter //anyway there's a lot of unique restaurants in La Jolla if you need something more mainstream this would be it otherwise check out some of the unique restaurants in La Jolla
(4)Mindy F.
Excellent happy hour, cool vibe, good food (boneless buffalo chicken appy is the best I've ever tried), perfect service twice now (Megan was outstanding), location is great......oh and the beer. The beer is cold, interesting favors, and very tasty. One of the best happy hours in So Cal.
(5)Jarod B.
We came here for a quick bite to eat and a fast little sit down restaurant. We ordered the Cheddar Burger and The Norm (Mac & Cheese) along with Crispy Calamari for the appetizer. I was defiantly impressed. I wasn't expecting much from this Craft Brewery in the food expertise. It was simply delicious. And I would say it was, if not I dare say it, better or to par with they're Brews! Our server, Emily, was ecstatically wonderfully!!! She provided the best service we have had in a very long time. Thank you Emily! I will definitely be coming back to Karl Strauss La Jolla again and again. Hopefully you will get to try the Unicorn Tears beer! It was a little but to hoppy for me being a Pale Ale but it was still delightful.
(5)John W.
We came in on New Year's Day and were seated with 8 adults and three children almost immediately. The food here is amazing - they absolutely delivered on their menu. The beer is good - I have had better, but with the food combination it's very hard to beat. I would absolutely come here again.
(4)W b K.
Great selection of beers brewed in house - Pintail was my favorite. The staff are very friendly and often bring small free samples of beer to compliment dishes you order. We had hummus and calamari appetizers - were both awesome. I also tried the pork belly sandwich which was delicious.
(5)Laura W.
My husband and I were originally headed to the Burger Lounge but saw this brewing company across the street. The beer selection was great and we tried a lot of samples. The server was very knowledgable and gave a lot of great recommendations. I ordered the bbq chicken salad that was made with a Karl Strauss brew and was delicious. My husband ordered a burger with grass fed beef and the fries were amazing. Our server was very attentive and we even had other servers checking in on us. We would recommend this restaurant to anyone in the La Jolla area and will visit again the next time we travel to California.
(4)Sharon V.
Apparently, i've felt the need to hit up all the Karl Strauss locations in San Diego. = ) I can't believe I haven't reviewed this spot yet as I've been to this location numerous times in the past. My most recent visit was with my sister this past weekend who was in town for the La Jolla Half Marathon. We both came in craving a salmon salad but based our our waiters recommendation, ended up going with the Seared Ahi salad instead. I've had the salmon salad before but the Ahi salad was a great selection. I'm glad we strayed. It had lots of ahi on it, in fact, my sister and I both had left overs after we were done. I loved the vinaigrette and the firecracker sauce that they put on top of the ahi. Everything was perfectly balanced and not to mention, delicious! Our waiter was super awesome and made our visit fun. Very attentive and on it with drinks and closing us out. A much better experience than the one we had a few weeks earlier at the other location ( yelp.com/biz/karl-straus… ).
(4)Fortunato G.
I ordered the big beer burger and it was amazing. The location is beautiful and the beers are also a must. I'll definitely going back again.
(5)Nelissa T.
One of the best malted beers I've ever had! Great personalized service, excellent food with a great variety of dishes (most of them cooked with beer too!). They recognized my presence as soon as I entered, even though they where pretty busy. One of the managers hosted us, introduced himself, and took us to our table. The waitress made us feel very welcome. She was very attentive and caring, without being over bearing. An overall great experience!
(5)Kyle T.
The General Manager, Ryan, reached out to me super fast! I'm impressed. He agreed to refund my card for the steak disaster. As I told Ryan, I have probably visited his restaurant 12 to 20 times in the past. This was really my only disappointment. The food is regularly very good, and for the neighborhood it's a deal. If you're visiting the restaurant, order the Steak and post your review! It will give them an opportunity to redeem themselves!!
(3)Andrea W.
Still good for drinking, but since management, recipes and maybe chef changed, we don't go there any more on a regular basis. Were disappointed again after giving it another try. The pulled pork was soooo bad, every food truck has better meat in it. Shame on you! Couldn't even eat half of that crap and had to spit out some bites. I ordered garlic fries and got regular fries, no flavor. Side-salad was still good, but the dessert options didn't blow me away. So we left hungry and I cooked some pasta at home. We won't be back. Was not in the mood to give more than 1 star, but try to be fair. What happened to the great place from 2 years ago?
(3)Dino G.
I went here for dinner with my sister and dad the past weekend and had a great experience. First off we showed up around 6pm on a Saturday night and found a table in the bar area available. This was a great spot to enjoy dinner and a few craft brew while having a view of a few tvs that had some NBA playoff games on. Next came excellent waiting service. We were treated to complimentary beer tasters all night, never had to wait or waive down a waiter for service for extra anything, he had his eye on our table, and received our food in a timely fashion. This place had a great ambiance with a nice patio area I would like to try in the future and great food. It is a bit expensive but that is to be expected.
(5)Gina S.
Great first visit! Yes it was my first time dining in one. Food ..perfect and the beer samples are a great way to drink free beer without buying.. JK! It allows you to really choose one you'll love, great idea! All around a great day date with my hubby, we shall return!
(5)Chelsey W.
I love this location! They have great service and everyone who works there treats you with respect! I go here a lot after work with my partner to enjoy their happy hour. Their happy hour is one of the better one's in La Jolla in that it is affordable and there are great food items on their happy hour menu.
(5)Addison H.
This place was awesome. The food was great and so was the beer. We had the mac and cheese, pretzels, and the salmon. Everything was delicious. A little pricey, but everything in La Jolla is and our lunch was worth it. I had the Red Trolley and Imperial Stout beers, which were excellent. The Imperial stout is one of the best I had. I would definitely recommend if you are in the area and want some good beer and something a better than dive bar food.
(5)Rich C.
It's seems like micro brew pubs are a dime a dozen these days but Karl Strauss seems to rise above the rest. Went here for happy hour and had the Asada Fries which were awesome. Beer selection was vast and plenty, but what really stood out for me was how friendly and attentive the staff was. Good food and friendly service, I'll be back!
(4)Nicole S.
Came in on Friday for our weekly "staying local" date night. The hostesses were lovely. Great personalities and forthcoming with realistic table wait times. Always appreciated. No one likes to be told 15 minutes and then have to wait 35. We sat on the heated patio which was just fine, even for a person like me who is a complete SISSY when it comes to cold weather. Taylor was our server and she is an absolute doll. Great service! I couldn't decide on which Steak to get. She recommended the Flat Iron and boy am I happy I took her advice, it was absolutely delicious and cooked beautifully . Taylor and that delicious steak are the reasons why I will come back here. We ordered the Buffalo chicken mac and cheese as an appetizer and I really wasn't too impressed at all. The mac and cheese needs to actually have some cheese in it. It was just like glorified Alfredo sauce with elbow macaroni and grilled chicken tossed in buffalo sauce. My Boyfriend and I got one seriously delicious bite out of the whole plate we were served. It was an "A-HA" moment of "oh, so that's what they were going for". THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS REVIEW THAT THE MANAGERS NEED TO FIX IMMEDIATELY: You're a brewing company. It is absolutely inexcusable that I was served a warm beer. This wasn't a "oh, the beer was sitting at the servers well for a while" this was a matter of the beer is not being chilled correctly. A system error. Your whole shtick is beer. You WILL lose customers. You should have more pride in your product. My boyfriend and I would have stayed longer and had (at least) 3 more beers and dessert (yeah, we like to party..lol) had we been served COLD beer as should be delivered from a brewing company. We had the Unicorn tears which was delicious (another awesome Taylor recommendation) but it would have been MUCH better had it not been warm. Taylor you scored your work these 3 stars. You rock. Whomever handles the maintenance of this place needs to step their game up. I would like to come back but not if the beer is going to be warm.
(3)Sea H.
My wife and my 3 year old daughter stopped in because it looked like a great atmosphere. Since I have seen many incarnations of this restaurant around California I figured the beer would be decent and the menu looked good. Our host was very welcoming and gave us a good overview of some of the beers. He even suggested asking our waitress for samples. So I asked our not so friendly waitress Taylor for two samples. Needless to say the idea of fetching samples was not met with any warmth. After I tasted two beers and liked neither she came back and gruffly asked me if I was going to order a beer. I told her not one of those beers and ordered a pint of another. When I finally received that beer. I thought it tasted god awful. I took two sips and left it. Taylor never asked me if I liked the beer or not. Nor did she offer to remove it from my bill. Overall Our food was okay, the beer was terrible and the service from this particular waitress left a lot to be desired. I will not be going back.
(1)Parker T.
Made a take out order and when I got there it wasn't ready. Took them 25 minutes longer to get the food than they told me it would. Then when the food came the order was incorrect. I was really mad cuz I wanted to try the pork chops but didn't want to wait another 15-20 minutes. The manager gave me a gift card but being an out-of-towner it didn't do me much good. The food was ok, but I wish I could've tried what I ordered. **The manager contacted me and this establishment went out of their way to make their mistake right. We all make mistakes and it says a lot about the organization that tries to right their wrongs. I won't be able to take them up on the offer to have a free meal because I'm from out of town, but they just got a higher review out of it. I hope to make it back some day to try my pork chops!**. (My original review was 2 stars)
(4)Samuel C.
Came here with a group of guys for lunch after a morning of snorkeling and kayaking on La Jolla Beach. Pretty cool place! It was moderately busy, and the service was a slow (there were eight of us), but on to the food... I had the standard mac 'n' cheese plate, which was quite good though perhaps not $12 good unless there was something awesome about the ingredients I didn't know about. Still, I'd be interested in trying out the other varieties of mac 'n' cheese they have. I'm a sucker for that dish. Real cheese and good pasta are hard to beat, and you won't leave hungry. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to sample the beers...next time perhaps.
(3)Rich S.
Karl Strauss is one of my favorite local hangout spots in La Jolla Cove. The food is fantastic, beer delicious, and service excellent. Also, a great ambiance with outdoor and plenty of indoor seating. An outstanding happy hour menu which is available during weekdays from 3:00 to 6:00. Make sure to try the boneless buffalo wings and spinach artichoke dip!
(4)Christopher C.
I came here with a group of friends to celebrate a birthday. Unfortunately we came during crazy graduation weekend so even though we made reservations all the tables were full. We had a pretty big group like 13 people so yeah understandable. Though we only had to wait about 15-20 minutes to get our table, so it was fine. Our server was really helpful and friendly with us. Took our orders swiftly and did a good job taking care of us throughout dinner. I just got some samples of the beer. I tried the Boardwalk IPA and Wreck Alley Stout. The IPA wasn't very strong. It wasn't bad but just didn't have the hops that you get when you drink an IPA. The stout was pretty good. Had a nice chocolate/coffee taste to it (from what I can remember but I could be mixing it up with another beer lols) I ordered the Smoked Gouda burger. Did like the fig chutney on it but wish there was some more. They unfortunately didn't cook it medium rare, it was closer to medium well but still okay. Definitely not the best burger ever or anything but I did like the flavors. Don't feel like it was worth what I paid though. Probably would only come here to eat and drink if it was for another friend's birthday. Not a place I would go out of my way for.
(3)Sophia Y.
I'm not a huge fan of alcohol, especially beer, but there's something about alcohol IN food that I can't get enough of! I got the big beer burger since it seemed like it was their specialty. Beer infused into every aspect of the burger! It was definitely big but I didn't taste how the beer affected it. It tasted like a normal burger to me. Not much to say about it except I thought it was going to be a little more special. I like how we got to sit outside on a perfect SD day despite how packed it was at 2pm oa weekday afternoon. It was nice sitting on a patio with the warm sun and a man made pond/garden area next to us. Overall, I think it was alright. Love the scenery and decor but the food was just okay. The waitress was a little slow and kept forgetting our stuff but it might have been because they were busy. I'd probably be back only if someone else wanted to come.
(3)B. D.
Above-average brewpub. In fact, I'd say this KS location is arguably among the top brewpub locations in San Diego. One of the better KS locations in San Diego. Located on the corner of a block in downtown La Jolla - nice patio seating on the corner. Great service. Casual, sit-in dining. Tasty sandwiches and other options. Most entree options are between $8-$20. KS always has a great beer lineup - all the KS flagship brews, but most locations have a beer brewed (and available only) at that brewpub location. On my last visit (midMarch 2014), we had a one-off west coast pale brewed onsite, known as Unicorn Tears - DELICIOUS. They do tasters and flights. Growlers are filled here. In fact, KS offers an $8 growler+fill deal at some point through the year. Thursday nites are cask-nights... Parking may be a challenge during prime time - no private lot. Only street parking available or private pay lots around downtown La Jolla. It can get busy in the evenings - not sure about reservations. Cheers! enjoy!
(4)T. T.
I visited Karl Strauss on the 4th of July. At first I wasn't sure this was a very good idea since most chain restaurants don't always have their best staff on for holiday weekends but we thought we would give it a shot. We were sooooo glad we did! From start to finish, service was spot on. The host/hostess were super friendly and inviting. Made us feel like they wanted us there right off the bat. Our server came over right away and greeted us and had great beer recommendations. Beer and food, amazing! The carne asada fries are so ridiculously amazing as well as the calamari. Can never go wrong with the Pintail Pale, my favorite. Even though the restaurant was super busy, the staff really seemed to be able to keep calm and stay focused under pressure. We never had to wait for anything and the beer tasters our server brought were a nice compliment to our food. One of the managers even stopped by at one point and asked us how we were enjoying everything. I really felt like he cared and took ownership over the restaurant. As an ex restaurant manager, I super appreciated that. We took his card on the way out, turns out he was the GM. It isn't that often you see GM's making table touches! We will be back many many times in the future! Please don't ever take the Pintail off the menu!!
(5)JC C.
Nice restaurant located in a very busy, tourist driven area of La Jolla. The atmosphere and food were good. For appetizers, we ordered the ahi tuna and calamari. Both were presented well and tasted good, although the ahi tuna portions were very small for the price. For entrees, the Cioppino contained shrimp, scallops, and mussels. The broth tasted good, but keep in mind some of more traditional Cioppino ingredients such as crab legs were not included in this dish. The flatiron steak, pork chop, and burger were cooked well with good sized portions. The server was very knowledgeable of the many beer options and took time to explain everything to us. This is a chain restaurant with a very chain restaurant feel. You will get a good meal and consistent experience, but if you are looking for a unique mom and pop feel, this is not the place. I would equate the experience similar to what you would find at a typical Yardhouse restaurant.
(4)Eva L.
Me and my best friend had late dinner at this location today 5/14/14 . We had a great experience. Our server was very cheerful and I wish I remembered her name to give her a credit here for a wonderful service. My friend had BBQ ranch salad which was huge and she said it was tasty. I had Brick Chicken with mango salsa, rice and black beans.My chicken was nicely done and the rice was fluffy and well seasoned. We also had a cauliflower appetizer -yumm! We finished with cheesecake rolls- perfect little dessert for two. Beer wise I had Tears of Unicorn-zesty and refreshing. Our waitress also brought us samples of other beers to try. I will definitely come back soon!
(5)Ali E.
We met up with a friend from college and his lady here, on a Saturday at 8 and found the place surprisingly not nuts - nice to be able to hear each other, but surprising it wasn't more full. I had a pretty middle-of-the-road experience. The pretzel app was ok but not amazing. The smoked gouda burger could have been smokier, but c'est la vie. I like em bloody, and they did a decent job staying on my side of medium. The service was great - very prompt and friendly - and the prices were fine. I definitely want to give the happy hour a shot, but all in all it seems like a nice place to take your parents.
(3)Helen S.
Our family enjoyed our Mother's Day luncheon at Karl Strauss Brewing Company in La Jolla (Wall St location). We had an amazing time! The staff members were very friendly and our waiter (Matthew) was top notch....very welcoming, professional and knowledgeable about food and drink items. The appetizers, especially the ahi poke, was simply "ono" (meaning delicious in Hawaii). My husband had the Drunken Cioppino and I had the Thai Shrimp Curry.....again amazing! Mahalo!!
(4)Ryan R.
Excellent customer service, delicious food and beer! It's located at the corner of the street and they have nice outdoor seating. Lots of beers to choose from and they'll bring you a sample beforehand as well.
(5)Jenn T.
Karl Strauss beer has been one of my favorite microbrews down in SD. I love that they have so many different beers on tap at the restaurant and sell them locally at markets and costco. I especially like this location in La Jolla because of the quaint little area. The menu, for a brewery, is also one of my favorites. I really enjoy pretty much everything they offer. I recently got the portabello mushroom burger, which was really good. I also tried the stout on tap, which was so yummy!! I definitely hit this place up when I visit sd! Check it out!
(4)Jason F.
I stopped by here this past Thursday afternoon with my fiancé and her parents for lunch. Since it was nice outside we opted for the patio seating and I didn't really notice anything inside except for the chalkboard list of beers. I decided to start off my meal with the may sampler flight of beers. There was a wheat one that tasted of bananas, the red trolley ale, a hoppy rye IPA and finally a imperial stout. All were good representations of their styles and I enjoyed them. For my lunch entree I decided on the piggy bank which was a Mac and cheese with andouille sausage, beer brined bacon and Black Forest ham. The Mac and cheese was creamy, gooey and delicious while the bacon, andouille and ham were all good as well. My favorite part was getting the andouille covered in cheese which tasted heavenly. It was easily some of the best Mac and cheese that I have ever had. While we were eating the server came over and gave me two more samples of beer which was nice. My fiancé also cut a piece of fish out of her fish tacos for me to try. It was flaky, moist and had some good flavoring on it. The bottom line for me is that I would definitely head back here again in the future. All of the beer that I tried was pretty good and everyone at my table loved their food as well.
(5)Julie U.
We tried 13 breweries this weekend and Karl Strauss was definitely in our top two. We sampled four beers: a blonde, the Windansea Wheat, the Red Trolley Ale, and the Wreck Alley imperial stout. Every one of them was so good, we would have shared a pint of each if we had the time. The service was really great, she even gave us a quick tour of their small in-house brewery that included a sample of the Mosaic Session Ale, which was an IPA. Now I loathe IPA style beers, but even this Karl Strauss recipe was interesting. It reminded me a bit of a grapefruit concoction, which I did not loathe after all. I usually steer clear of chain-like restaurants, but I'm very happy that we stopped in and gave it a try. I'll make it a point to keep an eye out for more of their yummy beers!
(5)Britt U.
Checked this place out on my way home from San Diego and I was happy I did. The staff was very knowledgeable and attentive and they gave us samples of beer they thought would pair well with our food selections. Would definitely go back!
(5)