4. Restaurants

Zymology 21

750 5th Ave, San Diego, CA, 92101
  • (619) 546-9321
  • Store is closed

Zymology 21 Menu

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  • Shalu R.

    The service here is on point. The bartender went out of his way to cater to the bachelorette in our party along with a personalized serenade. The science lab was a fun concept and their brunch was delicious.

    (5)

  • Peter S.

    This restaurant is extremely good. Clean, cool concept, great service, great food.

    (5)

  • Debbie L.

    Fun concept, average execution, nice-themed decor, AWESOMEEE service. it's definitely fun and worth a visit, and I might come back once in a while for the novelty of it. The shrubs flavors (mostly fruity) weren't anything special, but they are served in test tubes with dry ice, so the aesthetics are pretty great! If you'd like to try the different shrub flavors (they make them in-house), I recommend a flight - you choose a liquor to pair with all of the shrub flavors. Vodka's a good choice if you want to taste the shrub flavors more. They also JUST came out with all the fun fall drinks - the pumpkin pie specialty cocktail was definitely a good mix. Food-wise: the taro chips with cilantro-ish dip was spot-on with flavor! I recommend this. Salmon BLT was average. The decor was well-themed and I feel like it would be the perfect place to host a haunted mad scientist lab, especially on Halloween. It was fun having the food and drinks served in beakers, test tubs, petri dishes, and the like because it was weird - it almost felt like I was about to poison myself haha. Especially with the flights that come in test tubes, you feel like you're playing around in the lab, which adds to the fun of it. Jason, and the rest of the crew were enthusiastic and welcoming and made our experience personal by chatting with us casually, explaining everything, and making recommendations. In the spirit of chemistry, I think it would be more fun if guests could have the options to make their own drinks, so guests could pick ingredients from a list alongside Zymology's pre-designed drinks, although the caution with that is people could pick really horrible-tasting concoctions, but that could end up being fun if the guest and bartender work together to come up with something good maybe! The customization trend is big right now.

    (4)

  • Kate C.

    Nice concept but that's all ! You should improve your dinner menu and your service. Cocktails wasn't good at all with too much ice...yeah, I know ice is cheap compare to alcohol...Doesn't desserve the good rating on yelp, very disappointed !

    (1)

  • Chrys R.

    It was awesome me n my girl just went today I had the eggs Benedict with shrimp and lobster sauce n my date had the French toast that was in crusted with corn flakes with like a coffee maple syrup BOMB, we each had a Moscow mule n with one u get feeling good, the staff was really cool n did I mention food is awesome check them out, I'm going back for sure

    (4)

  • Matt S.

    I went here on Saturday with my wife - my overall impression: meh. I probably wouldn't be back.. On the flip side, my wife thought it wasn't bad. The drinks: cool concept. I'm a science major so I appreciate the chemistry theme. However, it's not my kind of place. I'm more of a Neighborhood kind of person. The food: we just tried the chicken lollipops. Lay off the teriyaki sauce. They tasted like after having a bath in teriyaki sauce they went to go sit in the hot tub full of teriyaki sauce with the net result of being: NaCl + NaCl = 2 much NaCl The service: We thought it was kind of weird that we constantly had two different servers. One of which wasn't able to tell us the five different type of scrub flavors that were available. The other sever, well, we were put off that when we asked to order the chicken lollipops her reply was, "Oh, great! Do you want the taro chips as well. They're really good!" Um no, we would not like something that we didn't ask you to order. Anyway, I probably won't be back to this place anytime soon. This place could be neat if you were to hold a bridal shower/baby shower/bachelorette type thing. Sometimes you just need to stick with what you know (we walked over to La Puerta afterwards and enjoyed 1/2 off apps/all drinks for happy hour - and what a happy hour it was).

    (2)

  • Hubert F.

    I highly recommend the mimosas, be prepared to video tape it!! Everything is absolutely delish & an experience you won't see anywhere else.

    (5)

  • Chris N.

    Awesome food, even better drinks! Jason rocks too. This place has got the most unique and interesting plus creative ways to serve drinks, it's truly amazing.

    (5)

  • Nika V.

    Great ambiance , super creative and amazingly tasty food and drinks and friendly fun staff ! This is my new favorite place ! There is nothing like this in Los Angeles, definitely going back on my next visit to San Diego and binging all my friends with me ! Love , Love , Love !!!

    (5)

  • Christine N.

    Family of 5, ages between 48 and 2. What a fun place and wonderful atmosphere! Food is fantastic with great flavor combinations. The kids especially enjoyed the chicken popsicle. Jason went above and beyond to make our dining an experience to remember! Can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Eric P.

    Who would have thought that there would be a chemistry lab right in the middle of the bustling streets of Gaslamp? As I walked into this chemically decorated lounge of SD, I am quite impressed with the lounge's theme. In addition to the bar tables and chairs, most of the glasswares used by Zymology 21 were actually beakers and test tubes, just like those being checked off the list in a typical school's chemistry lab. Here, bartenders are very happy to serve their alcoholic concoctions onto these glasswares, as if the drinks were successful products of an experiment. This time, my bartender certainly does not disappoint me with the wonderful chemical drink she created. Hence, if I were to return to SD, I will probably return to Zymology 21 for some more of the soothing depressants, but with the goggle. =)

    (4)

  • Tina K.

    Cool concept. I really nerded out looking at the molecular structures on the walls as well as the physics/chemistry equations. Drinks were pretty good. My old fashion was sort of weak. I did not get the punch of that nice whiskey flavor. The server said that it my be the egg whites but I've had mine with egg whites at a different location and was still able to get that punch. However, that isn't to say that the drink itself wasn't good. It was nice; just not what I was expecting. My best friend and I both got the cured salmon BLT...it was okay... It is a nice place to hang out and experience, but aside from the great concept, I wasn't as pleased. Definitely check it out if you haven't done so though.

    (3)

  • Audrey C.

    Took over the former space of Cafe 21, and opened by the same owners. The layout is basically the same as Cafe 21 except for its science theme! Was def a hit for my scientist bf. haha. Even the booth chairs has hexagonal shapes on them. I was excited to try their chicken & waffles and they did not disappoint. The syrup they had for the dish was amazing and not overly sweet or overpowering either. We also got the open faced steak sammy. That was really good too. Our drinks were delicious. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the drinks here..or even the food. And the staff is super friendly. Would def come here again to try more drinks!

    (4)

  • Stephanie P.

    Service was bad, though the server was nice. Never got water (despite being promised it), and our drinks sat at the bar for a good five minutes before anyone shuttled them over to us. Which, given that dry ice was added to give it a smoking effect, and most of it had evaporated off by the time it got to us...not so great. And speaking of not so great: the shrubs. I make shrubs, I know what they are, I was *excited* to see them on a menu, it's why I picked this place. Guess what? These are not shrubs. This was a syrupy mess that didn't taste like anything but SWEET. Out of five flavors, the only one that didn't taste like SWEET was the cantaloupe-cucumber, which had a musky melon flavor. Everything else you couldn't tell if it was plum, strawberry, apple-blueberry, or grape, because all you tasted was...SWEET. I guess if you like a total lack of subtlety and nuance in your drinks, then this is the place for you. I also suspect that this is deliberate, and I was just a sucker for thinking I'd find anything but booze and sugar. In which case -- I wish they hadn't called their mixes "shrubs", and just called them "mixes" (or "mixez", because the place seems to love its "z"). Anyway, we went off to the US Grant and had much better drinks and music. YMMV. Two stars for the decor. The chemistry vibe was cute. Just wish the drinks had lived up to the visual appeal of the place. I noticed a similar problem with the sister restaurant, Cafe 21. But that is another review.

    (2)

  • Annalisa Y.

    I love this place! The staff is always so welcoming and the atmosphere is unique. I tried the lobster corn dogs and they are so good! I've been to their sister restaurant cafe 21 multiple times but it's fun to have the smaller version with a different menu and fun theme. Great place to try new drinks! JB is great at making them on the spot if you let him know what tastes preferences you like. Enjoy :)

    (5)

  • Jane L.

    Very cool mixology of drinks. Staff was a bit unfriendly. Food is good but not grreat. Tables and floor have a layer of adhesive on the surface. Meh.

    (3)

  • Jerome J.

    Once upon a time I visited this location and it was once called Cafe 21; a place know to make their own sangria. Currently, owned by the same owners they changed the vibe and the name of the facility to Zymology 21. As a recent graduate in science, I could not help but 'nerd' out due to the atmosphere. Beakers, flasks, and amateur mixing of alcohol I enjoyed every moment. A section of the wall had chalk written formulas that encompass topics from physics, chemistry and even mathematics. Owners and waiters were very nice as they welcomed and served us well. They still continue to produce great sangria and I was impressed by the many flavors they had to offer. It might be my own bias, but any place that make me feel like a slightly impaired scientist is a place for me and many others.

    (5)

  • Caitlin H.

    I cannot say enough good things about this place!!!! I come downtown very often and often find all bars to kind of be the same.... But not this one! First off, SO MUCH WORK goes into each drink they make, which makes it taste that much better. The flights are so fun and playful and the shrubs they use are unique and delicious. You can tell the bartenders really know what they're doing- they are so creative and fun! Our bartender was Kelsey. She is the absolute best! I told her the flavor profile of what I tend to like and she made me one of the best drinks I've ever had. She was helpful, friendly, and very entertaining! We will definitely be back to see her!

    (5)

  • Jay O.

    What a great concept for bar/lounge. Stumbled upon this place as me and my friends were walking up and down the street. I love how the drinks are in beakers! We actually came around HH so the drinks were around $5. Off of HH the drink prices are not that bad. The bartenders really try to make exotic drinks and work really hard to push for fun and tasty drinks. I would def recommend this place!

    (4)

  • Megan C.

    Service is super slow on a Tuesday night and it's not crowded! The waiter was confusing and a bit irritating! WTF! The idea seemed really cool, but in practice it failed miserably.

    (1)

  • Vina T.

    A very fun, casual, nerdy little hangout that delivered on all fronts. My friends and I came here solely for drinks and the opportunity to drink out of beakers and test tubes. We each got a drink of our own and shared a shrub flight, and everything was just simply delicious! The shrubs were tasty (test tube #1 was my favorite) and fruity. My sangria popsicle + the california beer it was in was amaazing. It honestly got yummier the more I ate/drank (and not because the amount of alcohol intake, I promise). I think it might've had to do with the sangria flavors from the popsicle melting into the beer. Anywho, I initially thought $9 was pretty steep for a popsicle + beer, but after having it, I'd do it again. The other drinks my friends ordered were all very good as well - they tasted fresh, light, and all the flavors were really very enjoyable. We paid about $20 each including tip, and walked out of there slightly buzzed. I'd say that sounds about average for drinks in the gaslamp. Anyhow, I'm looking forward to coming back here and trying out some of their other drinks as well! Also, for those more photo inclined, they offer photo props ;) including a lab coat, lab goggles, and a stethoscope. Plenty of photo ops here and fun things to post for all of you instagrammers out there.

    (4)

  • Jessica L.

    Came her for brunch on a Sunday, not impressed. The service was really really slow... The food wasn't as described. The waiter, Jason, was fun as usual (remembered him from when it was Cafe 21). Wish they focused on the food and service more than the gimmicks.... Also the mimosas were too vinegary and kind of gross. I get that they're trying to do something different, but it shouldn't be at the expense of taste.

    (3)

  • P D.

    Oh lord.. we got the frog legs appetizer. Horrible is the word! Drenched in oil, zero seasoning (no salt either) it was kind of gross... Also got the sparkling wine Popsicle. I did not like it. The only saving grace was the flight of rum tasting that some friends ordered. That was pretty neat,

    (2)

  • Donna T.

    If you are hungry, do not come here for your meal. My husband decided we should have our Friday dinner here because the place looked "interesting". My poor kids and I followed him in. We should have been warned by the fact there were not many customers. But we were quickly seated by the friendly hostess. Everything went downhill after it took forever for the waiter to come back to take our order. We ordered their "famous" chicken and waffles, hanger steak sandwich, smoked salmon club, beignets, and taro chips with cerviche. My husband also ordered a cocktail. The drink menu on the back is much bigger than the food menu. The cocktail was brought over rather quickly but we waited, and waited, and waited for our food. It was already past 8:30pm. We were starving. The waiter finally came back and said food will be out soon. We waited some more, still nothing. Another employee came by to ask how we were doing, we said plainly, "where is our food?" Our waiter came back and said their kitchen staff is having problems with "timing". By this time it was past 9pm. The manager came by to apologize and gave us a discount card, stating that we will get 50% off the food bill. That was a nice gesture, but where is the food? I think we finally got our food at 9:10pm. My hanger steak sandwich was overcooked. The bread at the bottom was tough. I can barely cut it with a knife and fork. My kids' chicken and waffles were ok. The chicken was good, but the waffles were burned. My husband ate his smoked salmon club. The taro chips with cerviche was good. My kids liked the beignets with powdered sugar. Overall, the food was decent but not worth all that waiting. One other note, the chicken and waffles were supposed to come with habanero agave necter. And I see other Yelp pictures showing it in two test tubes. Ours came in a beaker with Jalepano pieces, not Habanero. We had to ask for the bill after we finished. Our waiter disappeared. Then we had to ask for the bill to be adjusted because the manager promised we would get 50% off the food bill. After the adjustment, we couldn't figure how only $19 was taken off the food bill. But we were so fed up with the whole place, we just wanted outta there. Not to mention we parked at garage, every minute that we waited for our food cost us more in parking fee. In conclusion, I would never come back to this place. I already wasted too much time there. Get your act together or you will lose all your customers.

    (1)

  • Nick R.

    Such a fun atmosphere! Signature cocktails are top notch, good beer/food selection, Fun place for locals, or if you're just visiting the Gaslamp Quarter. 5/5

    (5)

  • Virginia S.

    This place is amazing! In true Cafe 21 fashion - Chef Leyla is picking the farmers markets clean and coming up with beautifully presented fresh and organic concoctions I've never even heard of - but they are always delicious! I love the theme of this place, the house-infused flights are served in test tubes and beakers - some even over dry smoldering ice. They also have syphon coffee which, if you haven't had it, is worth the 5 minutes it takes to brew it. Better than Blue Bottle in SF. I can't wait to see what they come coming up with and I'll keep coming in. Love love love this place! Chef Leyla is an artist and a genius.

    (5)

  • Deborah H.

    We came in after being ignored by the bartender at the Melting Pot and I am he did. Josh was our server and was awesome. He explained the menu, told us all about the drinks and shrubs. After the meal we asked for a to go cup for our tea, since Zymology was out of to-go cups he ran to the sister restaurant Cafe21 and got us one. Service above and beyond service. If you want a fun new twist on drinks and food definitely a place you want to go. The Chicken and Waffles a must, I added the habanero Agave syrup to soda water for a tasty treat.

    (5)

  • Sue L.

    First time in the Gaslamp District and we were flagged down by the owners son Elmar while walking by Zymology 21. He tempted us with promises of the best chicken and waffles and lobster corn dogs we'd ever have...all we needed to do was walk in and pick a seat! How could we resist? Elmar showed us to our table and offered us some ice cold water while we looked over the menu. Next we were greeted by Jason who took so much time with us recommending drinks and going over the menu. His passion for the restaurant (and life itself!!!) was infectious! Although we were in this bustling city we truly had a small town, personal dining experience! Loved these 2 guys!!!! Ok, so now the food and drinks....Elmar's favorite is the chicken and waffles so that's what I had. It was delicious!!!!!!! The chicken was so moist and the waffle was the best I've ever had. Jason said we couldn't go wrong with the Cubano Pork sandwich so we ordered that too. The presentation was gorgeous and it didn't disappoint on flavor! It was great. My favorite part had to be the cocktails. I had a blueberry basil mimosa and a pineapple vanilla mimosa. They were awesome!!! Nothing like I've ever tasted! Jason explained that the flavor came from shrubs. Unbelievable!!! It will be hard to go back to traditional champagne and orange juice! Those were so delicious I just had to try the other flavored so we ordered a mimosa flight to share. This is something to be seen! Unbelievable show that comes with the mimosa flight! A MUST have!!!! Thanks for a fabulous great meal in the Gaslamp! Can't wait to come back!!!

    (5)

  • Ceo C.

    Wow!!!! That's what downtown needed it. Their service and the new set up is great!! Excellent menu and a lot to see. Highly recommended!!

    (5)

  • Kendall S.

    Great spot! Went there for the first time last night. Only tried two of the specialty cocktails, but they were delicious. The atmosphere of the place was different than a lot of the other places in the area. It was casual and not crazy loud... a great change from the some of the bars in the area. Great spot for a date cause it wasn't too loud. Definitely will be back to try some of the other drinks and for the great atmosphere.

    (5)

  • may c.

    We came on a sleepy Sunday morning for brunch at 9am, and stayed for hours for the great food and fun! It was so cool to check out the way science and food are blended in this place - we enjoyed watching the coffee brew, and we ordered a mimosa flight with a nice-sized beaker of champagne, and 5 test tubes with delicious syrups to mix in... The presentation with dry ice was fun. Jason even got a beaker of sparkling water so our 7-year-old daughter could also taste the syrups and mix her own drink - that was a big hit! Food-wise, hubby ordered the Seared Beef Hash, I ordered the Cured Salmon Sandwich, and our little one ordered Chicken and Waffles. Both the Hash and the Sandwich were amazing and so good, the Chicken was super tasty too, but the only thing was that the waffle was a little too dense for our taste. The best part was all the entertainment and attentive serviced by Jason and his team... We wanted to return to this place every day, but just got too busy with other commitments to make it back - will definitely return another time we are in San Diego! Originally, we were trying to have brunch at the Richard Parker pancake house but the line was SOOO long we just trusted yelp and found this really cool place instead!

    (5)

  • Carrie B.

    It's a cool concept and the decor is unique and fun. However, I was rather disappointed with the salad I ordered. It was with roasted pears, butter lettuce, walnuts, goat cheese, and a maple dressing. Despite all of those elements, I thought it was bland and didn't feel that it was worth the $12. Also, some of the lettuce looked wilted and I tore off those parts. I suggest using a different lettuce and add a protein of some kind. Oooh, how about maple-glazed chicken? Ugh, I'm still hungry! They're still working out the "kinks" with their menu, but I probably won't be returning for lunch. Their drinks do sound yummy so I might go for a happy hour at some point.

    (3)

  • Kish H.

    Tried this place for the first time on a Sunday and I really enjoyed it! The flight sampler was so cool and so yummy. I had the chicken and waffle and omg it was soooo delicious! The chicken was juicy and the pesto inside added a kick of flavor. I also love the fact that the waffle has herbs in it because it really adds another dimension of flavor. I would definitely come here again!

    (5)

  • Sandra H.

    Great place to get a geeky drink!i recommend the sample drinks with bourbon. Coolest bar! Check it out even for at least a drink! Staff is really nice! Ask to take a pic with the lab coat;)

    (4)

  • Phillip C.

    Food and drinks were awesome. Our only complaint was with josh, our ONE server who was working on a Friday night. He had the worst attitude I've ever come across in the service industry. Its understandable to be slightly annoyed having to work on a Friday night but come on, this is your job. My party of 5 spent more than half the time with nothing on our table and to top it all off our server slapped a 20% gratuity. ON A PARTY OF FIVE. Definitely won't be returning anytime soon.

    (1)

  • Jay P.

    The food was prepared in a style that you don't normally see, but it doesn't blow you away. The food tasted as good as any other downtown brunch restaurant so it's hard to say that it stands out. The use of beakers and chemistry instruments doesn't make it novel. However, the concept was well put and the servers were fantastic. I didn't realize there were no TV's inside which for a guy, hurts you when you're trying to enjoy a meal and watch a game. This in no way reflects the rating of the place, but I feel that it make it a much more enjoyable place for crowds to gather on a Sunday :)

    (3)

  • Patrick Q.

    Wow this place is fun! The food is creative. The drinks are complex and delicious. The staff was friendly to the point I went back for brunch! Check it out before the secret gets out.

    (5)

  • Richard B.

    Amazing waffles and chicken, great cocktails with a new twist, great service!! So glad I found this place

    (5)

  • Michelle T.

    Was so excited for this spot since my hubby and I are big Cafe 21 fans. Super unique and fun. If you want to try something different in Downtown, this is your spot! Jason is one of the coolest hosts I've ever encountered, super entertaining! Food and drinks were great. Boozey Popsicles + mimosa flights ftw. Heather at the bar rocks too!

    (5)

  • Sixela R.

    The bitters were gross! I gave them a high rank though because I hated my drink, tried to force myself to drink it and it was a no go. The waitress saw and asked me for another order Bc she didn't charge me for the one I clearly hadn't drank.... that made it all better :) great customer service for sure!!

    (4)

  • Vasily K.

    Excellent take on the 'cocktails from beakers' theme; the drinks are incredibly good in their own right and would work very well at any high-class cocktail bar without the glasswear gimmicks...that being said the science theme is done well and is just plain fun. The ceviche was also tasty and plentiful.

    (5)

  • Matthew S.

    I really had a lot of fun and everyone loved their ceviche and they had a really cool drink that smoked

    (5)

  • Justin F.

    I went there on a Sunday and they were out of a couple things on the menu. I know this happens, but kind of a bummer. The cocktail menu was confusing. The bartender did a good job of explaining it. My date and I ordered two drinks and we both felt they were average. Overall ok, but nothing special.

    (3)

  • Micah D.

    Overpriced for what you get. Gross bathrooms. Food was way over seasoned. I tried to order a gin gimlet and the bar tender brought me gin with onions in it. Gross place with idiots for bar tenders.

    (1)

  • Steven F.

    The service was kind of lacking and the drinks are overrated. Cool for a one time thing but I probably wouldn't go back.

    (3)

  • Brion K.

    Amazing place. They change the menu up frequently so try as much as you can. Do yourself a favor and get a couple drinks here too. Flights are in test tubes and fog out like a science experiment. At the end of your meal get the coffee. It's better than a French press. My favorite thing here is the Gin Mule!

    (5)

  • D E.

    Had the chicken & waffles last night for fourth meal. Delicious! The Gostosa cocktail was equally awesome. Today, I'll sample their Bloody Mary.

    (4)

  • Jerrick B.

    Very cool spot! Service was awesome and real friendly. Clean and visually appealing. I ended up getting the seafood sandwich and shared it with a friend and tasted alright but it felt more as an appetizer then a meal. Drinks were awesome got the scrub flight for myself lol. Place id come to again just because I want to try the chicken and waffles and go for the flight again.

    (4)

  • Kevin T.

    Went here for the first time tonight for happy hour but I didn't order from the happy hour menu the happy hour came from the energy of Jason the bartender at the time. He was pretty much all by himself but he was rocking it at the bar making drinks. I don't know what he made for my first drink but it was fantastic. The chicken and waffles were great. But I definitely enjoyed my time there even though the night crowd had not come in yet. But when other staff came in it was great ended up making up songs involving shrubs haha. I definitely enjoyed my time and I will definitely come back.

    (5)

  • Barbara L.

    I wish I was as awesome as this place. Not being an Elite, I brought my Birthday Boyfriend here for his event and had to look on with sad puppy dog eyes when I picked him up later. The place looked cool. So cool, in fact, that when I organized a steampunk promenade (read: dressed in Victorian clothes and carrying gadgets during a pub crawl) recently, I made Zymology 21 our last stop. I had to experience it for myself. All our friends enjoyed it: cocktails, food and especially the dry ice that was brought to our table :) One of the staff was so excited to see us, he retrieved his wings from Halloween to show us. We got there in time for the late night happy hour (starts at 11pm). The chicken skewers were super tasty and gave us the protein boost we needed. The taro chips came with a nacho cheese dip on the side that was unexpected and delish. I ordered a hot chai tea and we were treated to a show. It was the best "waiting for the water to boil" moment! Go there and order a tea. You'll see what I mean. Members in our party want to come back for brunch and peruse the menu more. Seeing that the owners come from Cafe 21, they know good food!

    (5)

  • Natalie J.

    What a unique and entertaining spot! Never, in all of the bars that I've frequented have I been spoiled with such a cool experience. "Science" experiments at our table.. This is what you call food and entertainment. The drinks and food were excellent. Our servers Jason and Heather were so accommodating and warm. They went above and beyond to ensure that we were satisfied. This is the type of place that you're willing to go out of your way just because you're so appreciated. Come check it out and see for yourself!! Thank you zymology!

    (5)

  • Adam S.

    The drinks were great, not what you get every day. The only thing better was the service and showmanship of the servers, they really know how to put on a great event. Went there for a friend's Birthday and they kept us entertained with drinks, a few rounds of free shots, and some free mussel appetizers to share. All in all a great place to hang out with friends.

    (4)

  • Brittany A.

    I have been feeling sick for a couple of days so my boyfriend thought it would be good to get me out of the house for a bit. We ended up at Zymology because their concept looked interesting. We went in and sat down and was shortly after greeted by a nice waitress named Aubrey who broke down the menu for us. We said we needed a moment so she left us to look over the menu. A while later, another waiter named JB (who did not introduce himself by name, had to find this out later) came by and my boyfriend started talking to him enthusiastically. He's Polish and tends to talk with exuberance, especially when excited and because the first waiter was so nice and friendly, he thought this other waiter would be the same. Apparently not. As I was just about to open my mouth to order he said, "I'll give you a minute." and walked away. We thought that was weird and let it roll off. Aubrey was walking by and we called her over. She was super nice, took our order and apologized for the wait. Less than a minute later, the hospitality manager walks over to us to ask us about our night. We greeted him, said we were great and he left. I then see JB and Adam talking. Within the minute, the security guard is asking us to leave, which we did as soon as we were asked. Now, me posting this is only show how ridiculous the situation was. We weren't drunk, we weren't acting up and were polite to everyone. We were not given an explanation, but my only idea is that because my boyfriend seemed excited, they took that as wasted. Very judgmental.

    (1)

  • Lex J.

    I had often passed Zymology 21, (I now refer to it as Z21) and thought that it looked like a good place to go for drinks and perhaps small bites, but never actually entered. Today, I was glad I did. Hungry and off from work just in time for happy hour, I popped in and took a look around. The interior immediately made me feel at home; the slightly urban/modern/warehouse feel mixed with earthy tones appealed to my inner interior designer. I had planned on going next door for happy hour and sort of entered by accident but decided to stay. The bartender was friendly and attentive, and made me feel at home. The service also helped add to my positive initial impression of the place, and in a good way of course. I was hungry and craving comfort food so the bartender was honest in describing portion size and taste of the various appetizers. I tried the Turkey Slider, Ahi Slider and the Ceviche Tostada. All three were absolutely flawless. The Kentucky Mule added to the already great experience. I'll definitely be returning

    (5)

  • Holly T.

    Amazing! Service excellent, food was absolutely delicious (French toast is standout) and cool decor. It was pretty empty (though our brunch was earlier than most), but don't be deceived because this was an amazing breakfast spot! I thoroughly recommend it!

    (5)

  • Keith W.

    Looking for some breakfast an employee from the Hotel we were staying at suggested we go to Cafe21 after his description of a Short Rib Omelet got my palette in gear. We were referred to this sibling restaurant after the wait at Cafe21 was about 25 mins. Just a block down from there from Cafe21. Once there we were welcomed by an enthusiastic waiter. He never furnished he name but his unique personalty was entertaining with a quick wit. I enjoyed The Green Eggs and Lamb Chops with Chimichurri sauce. Great presentation and the flavors complemented each other. The Bloody Mary was do it yourself kinda thing and the coffee offering was unique. My date tasted my dish and wish she would have ordered mine. The only issue was the service was a bit slow but the food was worth the wait. I will definitely go back there again just because the food and the elements/flavors that surrounded the meals were spot on! I would highly recommend checking this place out for a unique culinary experience with some science thrown in to make for memorable dinning experience.

    (4)

  • Jerra P.

    Drinks are really great. Food was mediocre. However, the service was outstanding! Hilarious, saucy and loud. I loved this place and will definitely be back!

    (3)

  • Eric R.

    I'd give it a 5, but the customer service needs a little work. I know they are busy, but the bar tender at the time tends to ignore single customers. Don't get me wrong; the cistern we service is great, but it takes a while till someone takes care of you.

    (3)

  • Craig S.

    Jason the bartender is amazing. Knew so much about everything we asked! Totally ask for him when you come in!

    (5)

  • Jessica L.

    This place is very fun! They really listen to what you what and so energetic!! I love this place and would come back again anytime!

    (5)

  • Shanah C.

    OK, so the "concept" is science so everything is served in beakers and looks very scientific! Fun presentation of food! I had the veggie scramble with potatoes and it was delicious!! My friend had the chicken and waffles (sound yummy right?) Not so much. The bloody mary came out with dry ice so it made quite an impression and you got to "assemble" it yourself which was fun. Good people watching on the patio. Waitress was very nice, but not overly attentive. Bathroom a little gross (I don't want to see in the kitchen for any reason... you know what they say, "Ignorance is bliss")

    (4)

  • Jason M.

    Great place for dinner and drinks. The decor is fun for science geeks like myself. Drinks are served in beakers. I had the open faced cubano. Not what you might expect but very good. Perfectly sized portion, so I didn't feel overly full afterwards. I asked for a mocktail and the bartender asked what kinds of flavors I typically like--what I was served was outstanding. The chicken lollipops are also great--a little spicy but well balanced flavors. Definitely worth checking out.

    (4)

  • James H.

    Not enough good things to say about this place. Bartender was so friendly soon as walked in got a delicious shot in a beeker. The 5$ mules of different types of alcohol I mean yep mind blowin

    (5)

  • Gwynn B.

    Creative and amazing drinks and really Awesome nice staff. We had a great time :-) and they set stuff on fire and also played with dry ice!

    (5)

  • Julie H.

    Service was terrible. Took over 20 minutes for us to receive our drinks and over 45 minutes to get our food. Drinks were not very good. The mojito didn't even taste as though it had any alcohol in it. We left hungry on top of it. For the wait time and price of everything - totally not worth the trip. So disappointing since the restaurant has a great concept and the wait staff was super friendly.

    (2)

  • Trina B.

    Went there on a Sunday for brunch with a group of 9 because there was an hour wait where we had originally planned to eat. To our surprise, we actually had a really good time! The staff was extremely friendly (and funny too!) and our server Elizabeth was just AWESOME! The food was a bit over-priced, but I praise their novelty. The whole restaurant theme was my favorite: "science lab"... drinking out of beakers, flasks, and test tubes, drinks served as a "science experiment", the music was on point (although I don't think they have much control over it). Overall, great experience. I'd come back for the experience and maybe the drinks, but not the food. Definitely worth trying at least once in your life.

    (4)

  • Kathleen P.

    Super fun place for drinks. The bartenders are really cool and personable, the drinks come in beakers or flasks, and the food is farm to table superb since it's an offshoot of Cafe 21. It's like Cafe 21's cocktail lounge. The place is lab themed, so there are lab benches and stools, and the bartender puts some dry ice in warm soapy water so you can play with the reaction. While the food is good, the portions are kind of small, so if you are looking to eat, I'd stick with Cafe 21. The drinks, though, are really fun - champagne with multiple fruit flavors you can add in, champagne with a sangria popsicle, a bunch of delicious craft cocktails. This is definitely a cute, fun place to go with a group of friends for some drinks.

    (5)

  • Jessica L.

    This place is one of a kind! They are very consistent with the lab theme, from the drinks and the beakers they are served in to the names and signs of drinks. Very cool place to check out. The drinks are made there so they are very unique and pretty organic. They're ingredients are fresh and they prepare everything in front of you, really cool to watch.

    (4)

  • Sari S.

    I'm not exactly sure how we stumbled upon Zymology 21, but we are sure glad we did! Jason and Jessica were amazing! We chatted with Jason for awhile and he suggested we come back for Happy Hour.....which we did! The food and drinks were amazing. I am not a person who has a very expandable palate, but WOW.....the food was seriously amazing. If we didn't have theater tickets I think we would have stayed there for hours. We had so much fun with Jason. Without a doubt on our next trip to San Diego, we will be back! Thanks guys!

    (5)

  • Elizabeth F.

    The servers were nice. Drinks were different yet really great. But the food took about 45 mins to come out and each plate came out one at a time even though five of the 7 of us ordered the same thing.

    (2)

  • yolanda w.

    This place was on the top of my list of things to try in San Diego. The customer service was horrible. Ordered the flight shrub with dry ice & sliders. Once our test tubes were ready the waiter came and brought them to our table. He then stated we are all out of dry ice so you're going to get a better presentation today it will be on fire. Needless to say the presentation was horrible. After the presentation he stated he could have did the dry ice but we would have waited an additional 20 minutes. We were not even given the opportunity to let him know that we did not mind waiting. So when he came to ask us how were our drinks he asked me was everything okay. I said well we really came here for the presentation we thought we were going to get a really good performance. Our waiter then stated well I tried to improvise, if you like I can go get some dry ice and some water so you can see some smoke. I couldn't believe the way he was talking. The table next to us received their dry ice. After 40 mins. We cancelled the sliders that were ordered that same time as our drinks. While leaving a family outside received their test tubes with their dry ice presentation. The drinks were great but due to the customer service & nasty attitude we received I cannot come here again. Can't rate the sliders that never came either. -Dissatisfied Customer

    (1)

  • J D.

    Jason, out waiter, is an entertainer. I feel he's been doing this for a long time, I just don't know how he manages to be friendly and fun. Thank you for the mimosa and amazing pear salad!

    (5)

  • Hilary B.

    Omg! Love love love this place. First of all Jason was awesome. Made great suggestions on food and drinks and was so incredibly nice. The drinks were amazing. I wanted to try so much more than we did, but the shrubs with selected cocktails were so good. Definitely will be back for the boozy popsicles and the flights. The food was absolutely fantastic. We had the lamb and chicken lollipops, the salmon blt sandwich, the taquitos, and the pear winter salad with pork. Everything was so delicious and they even brought us another chicken lollipop plate because the chef thought the original order was overcooked. Absolutely cannot wait to go back!!!

    (5)

  • Sarah O.

    I only gave it three stars because our server was awesome. Food was greasy, drinks were ok, ambience was a bit off. I hope I can give this place a second try...but not anytime soon.

    (3)

  • Matt G.

    This new fun cafe is really cool with great service and exceptional food and drinks. The theme is weird science and they serve the drinks in chemistry beakers with dry ice. You have to try the bloody Mary's and the shrimp/lobster Benedict. Yummy.

    (5)

  • Kimberly M.

    My BFF and I def. frequent this place very often. Although at times I am always too excited and forget to check in ;). This place is awesome!!! We happen to wander one night in DT and stumble upon their soft opening & was greeted by an extremely kind and fun server!!!!! We had a few drinks and their special coffee! It sure gave us the extra energy boost we needed to dance the night away...... If you ever happen to be in DT you gotta check this amazing gem......

    (5)

  • Regina G.

    I was completely drawn in by the beakers and the Popsiclez, was not disappointed! Who knew that frozen sangria would be complimented by beer? Certainly not me, but my curiosity got the better of me and I'm glad it did... AMAZING!!! The pairing between a tropical sangria (complete with shredded mangos, YUM!) and a cream ale was perfect! I can't say enough about the staff at Zymology who were both attentive and entertaining, witty conversation in the gas lamp, who knew? I will definitely be returning here as soon as possible to sample EVERYTHING on their highly creative and deeply intriguing menu, my hope is only that I can do so before the line wraps around the block to get in.

    (5)

  • Gladys M.

    It was a nerdy atmosphere! Loved the margaritas they were delicious. I love their happy hour specials too. I'm definitely coming back.

    (5)

  • Aaron O.

    Can I just say this place has awesome service! Great conversation and recommendations from the servers! There was a wide variety of food and drinks! I tried the margarita flight; it was pretty good!

    (5)

  • Pretesh M.

    I'd love to give this place a better review because I like the concept, but execution was definitely off during our visit. We rolled in during a Friday Happy Hour, relatively quiet, only a couple at the bar, and 2 tables filled. Asked about Happy Hour specials and was show a 1 page menu along with the regular menu. It was confusing to understand how the mix and matches work between the "scrub", the liquors, and the mixed drinks. I ordered a mule, which was average at best. My wife ordered a 'shrub' cocktail which turned out quite well. Around us we saw liquid fire turning into dry ice as a cool piece of showmanship ordered by another table. This is why I've gone with two stars... 1) disengaged bartender, busy cleaning than helping the customer 2) mules were not very good 3) TURNS OUT MORE WAS ON HAPPY HOUR - we got the bill and my wife's drink was $7 vs $10 on the menu. I ordered a $5 mule as $10 seemed steep - If i knew those drinks were on sale, I would have ordered one! As another reviewer wrote, so much potential, but poorly executed by fixable operations and service.

    (2)

  • Ashley K.

    i stopped by here with a few friends while visiting SD. love the environment. we came for drinks. its a nice sized bar that I think might get overlooked because it doesn't look "poppin" inside. BUT it is a good place to chat and to get a few drinks with some friends. everything is mostly served in beakers which I think is really cool. they use a fancy science-y magnetic mixer to make an old fashioned. the bar tender was really nice. and answered our millions of questions. they have a nice menu of specialty drink. I ordered the resurrection and was able to witness my absinthe infused strawberries be lit on fire! will definitely visit again when im in the city.

    (4)

  • Sharif S.

    if ya ever took chem lab, that alone warrants checking out this place for its design and beakers/testtube served drinks prices are fine people that work there seem great and care enough to ensure you have a good time. goood spot to chill

    (5)

  • Jaclyn D.

    This place has such a cool concept! I really love the scientific / nerdy vibe here. All the drinking glasses are beakers and such. It's very crafty and different and I like places like that. It wasn't very busy for a Saturday afternoon however they had only been open for a week. My friend and I sat at the bar. The bartender was really kind and helpful. We ordered the 5 Margarita flights. I LOVES THE TEST TUBES!! Such a genius idea. The 5 flavours were Watermelon, peach, apple/blueberry, strawberry, and cantaloupe/cucumber. Our favorite was definitely the apple/blueberry but all of them were really delicious. Our least favorite was the strawberry which is pretty surprising considering I'm a strawberry crazy person. Two situations that determined my 3 star rating is, the bathroom had no paper towels and no toilet paper. I immediately told the manager that I was in need of toilet paper so I could use the restroom and instead of getting on it immediately (considering there was only 1/4 of the place filled with people) the manager playfully yelled to one of the employees "you're fired!" .. I waited for a little bit to see if the bathroom would be replenished but instead I had to grab napkins from the bar. That was pretty disappointing. The beakers are super thin glass so they break very easily. 2 glasses were broken during our visit; one from the bartender and one by us. Nonetheless, the vibe was awesome and the concept is really cool.

    (3)

  • Kris J.

    A cool funky place with a great vibe. Had the popsicleZ. A sangria Popsicle in champagne, my husband had the same Popsicle in beer. Very cool and refreshing

    (5)

  • Nancy B.

    The drinks were unique and the food good (although portions small) but when we got our credit card bill they had added another additional $5 to our total. They must have added $5 more to the tip.

    (1)

  • Dan F.

    Ah...so close. I wanted to love this place. But they just missed the mark. Missed it on decor (they need to take the whole chemistry theme to the next level). Missed it on staff (not very professional). Missed it on cleanliness (kinda smells in there). Missed it on food (typical bar food). Missed it on service (we were strangely ignored, then doted on, then ignored again).

    (3)

  • Meghan R.

    Came here alone on a work trip, and the bartenders were incredibly nice to me. Bartender's handshake was super good and tart. The food (an amazing cubano) came out a little late and they comped both my drink and my meal and told me to come back again some other time. I will.

    (5)

  • Mark B.

    Had a chance to drop in to Zymology on Labor Day weekend, late Sunday night. Jason helped us and made some suggestions for food, although we were there just to get a cool beverage. The drinks were different and delicious. The Shrubs are what I had heard about from friends, and they had some unique flavors like cantaloupe and cucumber. What in the world? Yes, but Great! You could taste the flavors independently of each other and they can put some foam on top that has a clean lemon zest flavor. We tried a flight of shrubs, which were several test tubes with different flavors. Some were a little too sweet for my taste, but overall very tasty. Part way through our evening I thought back to Jason's suggestion. I ordered the open faced egg salad sandwich, served on some hearty bread. Great taste. Nice place.

    (4)

  • Jazzy S.

    The drinks had to many weird flavour combinations. After I got two that tasted like I bought them from Rubek's juice I decided to stick with beer. The drinks are decently priced, and come in cool novelty cups, they are just trying to hard with the odd flavour combos' people who are drinking don't want beets and ginger slices in their cocktails lol

    (3)

  • Megan C.

    My husband and I were walking thru downtown searching for a spot to do some ComicCon people watching when we stumbled upon Zymology. The space is modern yet inviting and the menu looked interesting. We each ordered a Popsicle (bartenders choice) and a mushroom empanada to share. Neither of us tend to order sweet drinks or even drinks with hard alcohol but we thought we would be adventurous. I am so glad we did. Each Popsicle was different, not overly sweet, and absolutely delicious! Mine was a berry Popsicle submerged in a brown ale. The flavors combined reminded me of dark chocolate and raspberries. My husband's was a pineapple pop in a sparkling wine and while that would sound sickly sweet to me, it was actually refreshing and and had a natural sweetness that was not overpowering. When the empanada arrived we were just as impressed- the crust was crunchy, almost pretzel like, and the mushrooms were cooked to perfection. The owner was in and explained that they use all organic, locally grown ingredients, which makes me excited to go back and try more of the menu! All in all, from the service to the food presentation to the flavors of the food and drinks, we were more than satisfied and will be back soon!

    (5)

  • patricia o.

    Run, don't walk, to Zymology 21. My family and I were waiting to be seated at Cafe 21, when a delightful gentleman approached us and invited us to try Zymology 21. Turns out, the gentleman is the owner of both restaurants. We decided to take him up on his offer. The room is beautiful, the drinks and food divine, and the service and atmosphere fantastic. Alex, the owner was fabulous and Dana was divine. Please everybody give this lovely restaurant a try. You won't leave disappointed.

    (5)

  • y s.

    Yuk.... you need to keep experimenting bc the drinks are terrible. Everything was extremely sweet... not in a good way

    (1)

  • Douglas M.

    I went here this past Saturday around 3 for brunch with my girlfriend and dog. When we arrived I asked if they are still serving brunch. The manager/server told me that they weren't, it ended at 3, but if I wait just a second she could ask the chef if he could make a few more brunch dishes! The chef obliged and we sat on that patio. We had high expectations as this is the same owner as cafe 21 and their food and service is excellent. We had a hash with shrimp and lobster sauce. It was amazing. The shrimp were good size and the lobster sauce had a perfect balance of sweet and tangy. We also had the chicken and waffles. It was phenomenal. The chicken was moist and cooked perfectly. The crunchy coating and honey drizzled over the top set the entire dish off. We will go back again specifically for this dish. Our meals were accompanied by a flight of all their shrub mimosas. They are served in a beaker to go with their mad scientist/creation theme. This place was great. It was clean and the service was great. They accommodated out dog nicely too. I just wish there were more shrimp in the hash we shared! There were 4. So, now you have two amazing breakfast choices. Cage 21 and zymology!

    (5)

  • Jaime C.

    Loved it. The salmon BLT was delicious and so was the Gostosa cocktail. The bartender, Louis, was great. Hip and fun, would definitely recommend.

    (5)

  • Jennifer H.

    GNO! My girls and I went here for the first time to see what the hype was all about. Definitely a cute place! It's used to be the old Cafe 21 and they created something more unique. This place is different and very creative. I really like the idea that they have created! They use beakers, test tubes and other chemistry equip as their product to serve. We had order the Tequila Flight ($21) and the Mimosa Flight ($15). Although you don't get so much out of it, I really liked the mimosa flight, definitely recommend to at least try it once! It was a great experience and the workers are very helpful and chill.

    (5)

  • Jackie K.

    This place has a unique concept. Stumbled upon here late Thursday night and it was not packed at all. My girlfriends and I tried the Shrub Flight for $21 (vodka based), but you have the option of vodka, whiskey, or rum. I think the flight is enough for 2-3 people. My favorite flavor was the strawberry. It was super yummy. The other flavors were interesting. The people were nice and the decor is super cool. Definitely a place to check out, but not a place to venture to all the time.

    (4)

  • Lin L.

    Cafe 21 was packed so we decided to walk a block down and discovered this little gem. The food was better then expected. The menu was unique and our food was delicious. I would also like to credit the service. The staff was impeccable, real genuine and accommodating. Thoroughly enjoyed this place

    (5)

  • Marie M.

    Jason was our host and bartender and he made the experience so much more enjoyable and memorable! He hooked it up with mojito shots and even a birthday discount which was super sweet of him to do. The flights are definitely worth trying & sharing with a small group and highly recommend getting a cocktail based on the flavor you end up liking the most!

    (5)

  • Cryetti C.

    Had an AMAZING time here! I was with a bachelorette party and we had late happy hour. We ordered a bunch of drinks and food, but the lobster corn dog, ahi sliders and flights were the ones that stood out. Those, and the vibe of the place and our servers were the reasons we had such a great dinner. Our server (?) was Jason and he was a blast and a sweetheart. He serenaded our bride-to-be with "going to the chapel" and honestly, was just icing on the cake for such a fun night out. I can't wait to be back.

    (4)

  • James L.

    Best place for brunch and drinks downtown, hidden gem. Not to many people even know what they're walking past!! Love it!!

    (5)

  • Denise P.

    My best friend and I popped in for some day time drinks and was not disappointed in the least! It was a slow day but that didn't keep the staff from being nothing but on point with our drinks and hospitality. You pick your choice of liquor with their flavorful syrups in test tubes on dried ice. A heavy pour for sure! We had the lobster corn dogs which were delicious. I will be back again for sure to get my hands of their cotton candy cosmo!

    (4)

  • Erick G.

    Very different experience but great. Service was too notch. They gave my son a free cotton candy because they didn't like they shape. Great!

    (5)

  • Amanda G.

    Can't comment on the food as I haven't tried it yet, but as far as cocktails go - this place is awesome. Maybe more than anything I was just swept up in the concept and presentation (the tequila test tube sampler tasted all the same to me to be honest). It's so cool! Everything is based around this scientific / chem theme. It's different. It's fun. The staff is great.

    (4)

  • Victoria L.

    We got the flight with tequlia! Service was great - they put on a great show every time they create a drink just for you yelpers and snapchatters.

    (4)

  • Yumi K.

    Came here on a Saturday night excited to see some chemistry themed drinks and boy did I leave happy! We had the shrubs flight which consisted of any spirit (we chose to go with vodka) and flavored seasonal shrubs. The flight comes with 5 different shots inside test tubes which are inside a beaker. (The mixology of this is what you mostly pay for) our shrub flavors consisted of pineapple vanilla, habanero, blueberry, lime, and strawberry? I don't really remember but their shots were fairly big and tasty! We also had the avocado "sandwich" which wasn't really a sandwich but more of a long slice of bread topped with avocado, feta cheese onions and a poached egg. Sized perfectly for two and makes for great tapas.

    (5)

  • Alicia K.

    I came back to zymbology on a Tuesday. All the other bars were filling up but it was quiet here. Maybe it's to sciencey for the mass crowds. Or maybe the concept of being served a flight in test tubes over dry ice and mixing to your own taste in a beaker is too complicated for some..I got great grades in chemistry so this was a cinch for me! Some of the shrubs are a bit too healthy tasting for me, but now that I've had a flight I know to stick with the apple honey or the strawberry balsamic! My favorites!!! Like my friend's apple honey mojito! There was also some fancy table side strawberries being lit on fire at some point. How tasty! I think the equinox fizz from my last visit is my favorite pre-designed drink. I'll have to come back and retry it...just to confirm my assumption :) Our server was awesome, he made jokes, he was prompt and helpful with the menu, and he was quick to notice it was my birthday! He brought over a round of shots on the house! Awesome! Thanks zymbology! Keep up the great work!

    (4)

  • Emily H.

    I went here with my boyfriend for his birthday brunch this past weekend, and we were very impressed! They not only had an amazing atmosphere, food and drinks, but they also had amazing service! The bartenders were also very entertaining and extremely knowledgable on how to make a delicious drink. We will be back!

    (5)

  • Rudy R.

    Great place to visit for both drink and food. Josh is very knowledgeable and has great recommendations.

    (5)

  • Cole K.

    This place was amazing!! The drinks were creative and delicious, the food was explosive and thrilling, and lastly the service was stellar! We had the oyster shooter and the blood orange shrub!! So good. Our food did take longer then expected but they gave us a discount so we were so happy!! And the GM was so fun! You must try the hot sauce.

    (5)

  • Mete E.

    Decent sliders, nothing special mixed drinks. You can order a test tube flight and it is interesting to get your drink served in smoking test tubes, but overall, nothing special.

    (2)

  • Thuong T.

    The idea of a chemistry lab for alcoholic beverages and dining is a very appealing theme, especially when it comes to posting pictures of your drinks on Instagram. SETTING: Very spacious and open bar. There are regular long tables, high tables, booths with really comfortable couches and bar seating. Chemistry writing and hexagonal shaped mirrors align the walls. Our waitress was very friendly with a cool personality. EXPERIENCE: We came here with a group of 3. Decided to stop by after visiting other bars/restaurants to end the night. We ordered the shrub flight. Shrub Flight $21 This is basically 5 different cocktail mixes with your choice of spirit served in test tubes. We decided to go with Vodka. The test tube flavors: 1. Grapefruit, Ginger & Carrot - This flavor was ok. Fruity but very sour. 2. Pear, Grape & Cinnamon - This flavor was disgusting. It tasted like straight up cinnamon. There was so much cinnamon that I can feel the grainy texture between my teeth. 3. Strawberry Balsamic - This flavor was light and average. 4. Apple, Cranberry & Honey - This was our favorite flavor and the only flavor we really liked. It was nice and fruity and sweet. Not overpowering. 5. Pomegranate, Dill & Beet - This was another absolutely disgusting flavor, it was so strong and bitter that I coughed it out as soon as i drank it. Overall, clean and nice place, nice employees, and great concept but they need to re-taste their own drinks because I've never tasted such unbearable cocktails that we had to spit out. So drinks here will probably be a hit or a miss.

    (3)

  • Kimberly E.

    A lil drinkable ethanol ain't ever hurt no body.... ;) okay, just kidding, that was terrible. ANYWAYS... Zymology!! I'd like to cut straight to the point: Drinks: $21 Flights - so this place is notorious for their mock-chemistry themed drinks so my cousin and I decided to try out the rum flight with all the possible favors (I believe it's out of 5). I don't remember all their names but for sure, my cousin and I favored the Kiwi drink mixed in with the rum. In my opinion, that's really effing expensive for a flight but you know what, just like Benihana's or any other place with performance, you are paying for the presentation. Would I go back to become a regular for their flights? Probably not, but the experience was good enough. Food: Turkey Sliders - INHALED IT. so damn good. I really wish these were actual burgers instead of just sliders cause man, they were so yummy. Avocado Sandwich - Super false advertising, lol. The avocado sandwich is actually just a long toast! Nonetheless, I'm an avocado girl and I can appreciate the avocado "sandwich". Pros: - great place to experience! - super informative staff! - cool drink options! - shout out to the Happy Hour menu!! Cons: - pricey - a bit small for huge groups Tips: * Take advantage of their happy hour or non peak hours because when you're going to a place like this (that requires time for your presentation/drink) it should only be obvious you're gonna have to wait. I went during their happy hour and there was literally only two other groups there, which meant I had the servers attention plus got the full experience.

    (4)

  • Melinda L.

    Went here for brunch this morning after deciding to forego brunch at Cafe 21 because the wait was too long and we were starving. We weren't disappointed! There was a little delay in getting served because one guy went home sick (I'd rather wait a little while than have a sick guy serving me food) and the other guys were working their a$$es off trying to accommodate everyone, and even offered us a discount and comped the mimosas because we had to wait a little while which was very nice considering I didn't feel too set back by the wait. They have a unique atmosphere and it entertaining to watch them make and serve the drinks. The food was amazing too!! Definitely would come back!

    (5)

  • Marisa G.

    Came here after wandering around comic con on Sunday afternoon. We expected it to be crowded but there was hardly anyone there! Since I am a scientist I all for science themed bars (though I have to admit its kinda weird drinking out of a beaker). We got here just in time for happy hour. The happy hour deals were pretty good, including the food. We got the lobster corn dogs, ceviche, and caprese salad w/ mozzarella. The food was delicious!!! my only complaint was service was very slow. We didnt get our food for over an hour when the restaurant was relatively empty. :( but when the food actually arrived it more than made up for it!

    (4)

  • Cameron O.

    I was so excited to try this place after reading all the yelp reviews and seeing the amazing pictures. I was genuinely shocked with how much of a contrast it was to the pictures and their website. When we arrived on a Friday evening it was dead... The lights were insanely bright, and the whole place was kind of dirty. Our server was nice, but slow. The food was meh... The cheese on the grilled cheese wasn't melted, and the chicken and waffles looked NOTHING like the pictures I saw on yelp. Everyone at our table was really underwhelmed. I got the impression that there was no manager actually on duty as the staff seemed to be goofing around a lot. I'm all for having fun in a work environment... but if the patrons aren't getting their drinks, or getting their orders in it's a problem. Too many great options in down town San Diego to take the gamble on this place again.

    (2)

  • Katrina V.

    This place is really a one time only thing. I really came here just for the science. I came here on a Friday night with some of my nerdy friends (we're all science majors) and we thought it was the perfect place for us. They serve beer in beakers and shots in huge test tubes with dry ice (to give the cool effect). I had some friends try the food which was fairly good, but very expensive. This place is definitely a conversation starter if you know a thing or two about science. Also just to chit chat with your friends. Don't get me wrong, if you're a freak about science, go ahead and nerd out, but if you are coming for quality drinking, I would try somewhere else.

    (3)

  • Peijean T.

    Incredibly friendly and wonderful service with a can't-miss menu. My brunch companion and I had drinks and entrees this Sunday and I would definitely add this to my list of go to brunch places. Zymology already earns an A-plus for its clever craft cocktails and uniquely fun science-themed decor. So I'm ecstatic that the breakfast menu offers an absolute overachievement in culinary creativity. There's a half dozen types of eggs benedict for purists, including a "shrimp and lobster sauce" and "cured salmon tartar" bennies, and some really clever menu items. Despite not feeling like something carb loaded, I couldn't resist ordering the French toast because it was corn flake crusted challah bread. The French toast was a real treat. Two large slices that were delightfully crunchy with corn flakes that adhered well without being hard or sticky. This dish easily could have been a sloppy mess but it was executed perfectly. The joint wasn't too busy so I got to ask our server questions about how it was prepared -- he then asked the chef -- and I found out that they use Ralphs' brand cornflakes because Kellogg's doesn't work well in recipes. What puts the French toast over the top was the little beakers on the side: housemade vanilla frozen yogurt (made old school style with rock salt, not in a machine and surprisingly not with liquid nitrogen); the espresso anglaise, and the fresh chunky raspberry sauce. And it was only $10 on the menu! My companion ordered a pomegranate and pulled pork (cubano?) open face sandwich. The pictures on Yelp make it look small but it was pretty hearty and came with a lot of yam chips. They piled the meat on top. Despite specializing in "shrub" drinks and super strong "methylated spirit" cocktails (wow, that "pumpkin pie" one looks amazing!) I was surprised they have a pretty great draft list. My companion had Cali Creamin from Mother Earth in Vista and I ordered a sangria popsicle with my choice of beer or bubbles -- I opted for the pumpkin cider(!) from Ace Brewery in Santee, which I didn't even know existed. Service was really slow, including putting in a drink order and waiting for food, but they were so nice and friendly that it only bothered me a little :) TIP: They have happy hour from 3-7pm daily, even weekends, and from 11pm to close Sun through Thursday. You can get some amazing $5 cocktails (mules and shrub mimosas) then as well as an incredible $15 deal for an openface sandwich (normally $9 alone) plus a cocktail (normally $12 alone). METHYLATED SPIRITZ: To give you an idea of how much CRAFT they put into their craft cocktails. Check this out: "Pumpkin pi" Chai tea bourbon, chai tea liqueur, piloncillo, vanilla bitters, egg white and delicada squash apple foam, pumpkin seeds

    (5)

  • Tina R.

    Meh, slow service as it was toward closing time. Decent cocktails. Interesting format. I could be a little extra harsh because I come from the land of craft cocktail magic. I would go again.

    (3)

  • Carolyn R.

    Spent my 21st birthday in the gas lamp district and I want to thank Sabien (I'm not sure how to spell his name) for the EXCELLENT service. He came to us at the end of the night (1:45 am) when our server was nowhere to be seen and helped us out. He told me happy birthday and was very friendly to the group I was with. He got us birthday shots and went above and beyond for us. They were out of the beaker drinks and only had IPAs and a few other drinks. I had the boozy popiscle and it was delicious! All in all it was a great experience.

    (5)

  • Emily C.

    Although within the loud and crazy district of Gaslamp, Zymology was nice and quiet in comparison. It was nice coming here with a group because you can actually hear each other when talking. The theme is very science-y. Drinks served in beakers and various unique presentations depending on the drink. The drinks aren't very strong, but they taste good. The service is also slow (probably because they mostly stay at the bar). You are really paying for the novelty of the drinks. I ordered a bloody mary, as recommended by my friend. It has one of the cooler presentations where you mix everything in yourself and has its own chemistry set. It has a fun presentation. I normally don't like Bloody Marys but this one was pretty good.

    (4)

  • Jeb H.

    I came here for the Yelp Elite party in October, and I knew that I would return soon! "Why is that?" you may ask. Simply put, this place is awesome! Not only does it have a really cool decor, but the food and drinks are fantastic and the mad-scientist theme really sets it apart from the rest of the downtown bar scene. This was our last stop on the Steampunk Absinthe Promenade that Lady Barbara and Gentleman Jeb hosted a few days ago, and it far exceeded our expectations! For starters, we had called ahead, and they set aside a long table for us so we could all enjoy the place family style. One manager was so excited to see us come in that he rushed to get the awesome wings he designed and made by himself. He put them on and showed us the simple yet effective design that lets him extend them with a simple pull of one rope on each side! Then the employees brought out large beakers full of dry ice and a soapy water mixture that created foaming bubbles that broke into smoke! We had so much fun it was like we were kids all over again! Then we settled down and had some really delicious drinks and food. We tried the shrub combo with vodka that had five test tubes full of different mixtures that were created in house. Then Lady Barbara ordered the tea, mostly for the show that comprises it's creation. There are three extremely cool warmers and an elaborate set-up that lets the water defy gravity to mix with the loose tea and then drain back down into the original container ready to drink! After tasting the Eastern Prospector, I had to order one for myself because it was so delicious! I also got the chicken skewers (forgot the actual name of the dish) that were the most flavorful ones I've ever tasted! Everyone in our group agreed that we simply had to come back to Zymology 21 for more food and drinks very soon! Thanks to all the employees for making our visit so special!

    (5)

  • Lisa D.

    This place is awesome! Came here on Sunday night and it was not busy at all. I had the chickens and waffles and it came with a side of salad, pickled veggies and an egg. I loved the flavor of the chicken, it was distinct and tasty. The waffles and the syrup were good as well. We got the shrub with vodka in test tubes and shared between 3 people. It didn't get us tipsy or anything but the experience was awesome. They lit up the test tubes in front of you and our waiter spilled the fire on the ground and table. It was scary and funny at the same time but he played it off very well and made us laugh. Overall, I enjoyed my experience here and the food was pretty good. I would probably come back again with friends! I love the interior and the science decorations! So cute.

    (5)

  • Justin G.

    This was an overall terrible experience. Our service was unbelievably bad. There were only about 8 tables seated, so the place wasn't too crowded and looked pretty cool and trendy from the outside. We waited a long time for anyone to take our order, then even longer for anything to arrive. The food was cold by the time it arrived and the beers were warm. The whisky sour was watered down. We had to get up to find silverware as our server was unresponsive. Multiple other tables walked out complaining. We asked for a manager and was told "no one is in charge right now" the best we can say about this place was that the beef sliders would have been good if warm and the test tube drink sliders had great visual presentation. Unfortunately. Appearance and presentation are not enough. Service and quality are far more important.

    (1)

  • Lori K.

    Such a cool place!!! It is science lab themed where all the cups are beakers and they brew coffee and tea in Bunsen burners, and their "shrub" drinks are in test tubes. I previously ate dinner so I ordered dessert-- the beignets! It was under "small plates" but oh man... This is not a small dessert! There was 12+ pieces with powered sugar and blueberries. I couldn't even finish half sharing with my friend. My friend ordered the chicken and waffles and it was good as well. Minus 1 star cause the chicken could've been better and it was really dark that I struggled to read the menu. For drinks, we ordered the flight of flavored test tubes or "shrubs". We chose a tequila based (you could also choose vodka or rum) and you get 5 flavors mixed with the tequila. Flavors were stone ridge (?) habanero, strawberry, ginger lime, pineapple vanilla, and blueberry basil. My favorite was the ginger like and my least favorite was the habanero. Watch the video for the cool presentation! Overall I had a cool first time here and I would come back. Also, shout out to our server!! I didn't catch her name but she had an accent and was really great.

    (4)

  • Deanne L.

    Got treated for my birthday here and I absolutely loved my first experience! Came to this downtown restaurant/bar on a Saturday night and the walk here was a busy one indeed, with drunk club goers everywhere. Despite the hustle and bustle of the night life outside, Zymology 21 was pretty laid back with good music, exactly how I wanted it to be. Everything in this place is CHEMISTRY and science related, with beakers and test tubes all around. The theme is very consistent, from the decor down to the drinks and food. Tried their Mimosas with flavored shrubs, which is presented and brought to you with dry ice. Super cool haha. As for dinner, we tried their KOBE SLIDERS and CHICKEN & WAFFLES. Amazing!! Best chicken & waffles I've tried in San diego. Served with a beaker of syrup. A little pricey but the experience is worth a try! Our server was hilarious, helpful, and quite the DIVA. Loved it... wish I got his name. Overall, great theme and food when you got the funds. Drinks are yummy but it's NOT the place to get hammered if that's what you're into when you're downtown.

    (5)

  • Caroline V.

    *Review #71/365 for 2015 It was New Year's Eve and we decided to head out to Gaslamp to ring in the New Year. Hotels were a bit steep to stay in the area itself, so we decided to stay a few miles away which turned out fine. It was a pretty chilly NYE, yet driving down the Gaslamp streets was nuts! We saw people bundled up just as they should be in the 40 degree FREEZING California weather. We also saw the brave women who strutted their heels and short skirts down the streets without a sweater. I like to think that I don't require attention to have a good time, so bundled up and a coat worked for me! Anyway, Zymology 101 was the spot we chose to sit and ring in the New Year. It seemed pretty neat inside and it wasn't overly crowded. We sat in the back where we ordered some snacks and drinks. The chemistry theme was quite entertaining. We were served our drinks in beakers, pancake syrup in test tubes and the waffles were shaped of the pentagon shapes in chemistry that connects the protons, neutrons or whatever they're called. (I knew I should have paid attention in chemistry class in high school!) Food/drinks: Drinks: we picked the mixes that included sprits and shrub? Cocktail. I forget what we had, but what I ordered I didn't care for. My friend ordered something with strawberry and balsamic and that one I liked. (3 stars for the taste, 5 stars for the presentation =3.75 stars. ) Chicken and waffles: The chicken was crispy and moist. The waffle was fun to eat. Shaped like a chemistry pentagon proton neutron shaped thing. It came with a syrup that had a spicy flavor to it. I liked it. (4 stars) Sliders: typical sliders you'll find. Nothing great nothing horrible. (3 stars) The service was great. Our server was so friendly and even took a picture with us. He had the New Year's spirit which we enjoyed. I would like to pass by this place again in a more warm weathered situation.

    (4)

  • Jack M.

    Open faced sandwiches for brunch? I am in! Opening at 9 am one can get a head start of all the Sunday morning brunch crowds a get their fill and libations on here. I did, and what I enjoyed was the smoked Salmon Club opened face sandwich, and a new item to the menu, their scrumptious Cubano Pork opened face sandwich. The Salmon Club was a thing of beauty with its vibrant smoked salmon beautifully decorated with micro green and tender beets ( yelp.com/biz_photos/zymo… ). The salmon was highly rich in flavor with mild smokiness, but most importantly it was like butter and melted in the mouth. The salmon combined with the crunchy and slightly acidic beets, served on the creamy nutty avocados, crispy chewy bacon, then finally on an excellent chewy and crusty bread made for a great textural experience, not to mention a great combination of flavors ( yelp.com/biz_photos/zymo… ). The Cuban Pork was not to be left behind because this open face had the same tricks as the one above, but with a more savory punch this time. It too came handsomely presented with it tender savory pulled pork, sweet mustard, sour cleverly sliced pickles, and yes crispy bacon and partially melted nutty cheese ( yelp.com/biz_photos/zymo… ). The pulled pork was no doubt the star of this open face. It was very tender and full of great flavor, well seasoned, and juicy throughout ( yelp.com/biz_photos/zymo… ). Once again, the bread really helped this item along and I recommend they keep using it. By the way, these open face sandwiches only cost $6, yes I said $6 each. The great food, prices, and all together with the great service provided by Heather and Jason, I am not only fan, but it is as good as it gets! I say bring it! And they do!

    (5)

  • Ashley S.

    Oh my goodness... So much I wish I would have gotten to try! My husband and I stumbled across this awesome place in the Gaslamp District kind of by chance and kind of by the spectacularly dressed man waving us in for a good time. We walked in to what looks like a little bit of a mad scientists lab. And that is kind of what it was! But for your tastebuds!! Wow. We only got to try a few things. We had just ate and we looking for a few adult beverage. We tried some great beers and the 2 fabulous bartender let us try drink after drink of their specialty cocktails. And let me tell you... If you are looking for something completely different. You have come to the right place. You will never find a place like this again in your life. The staff was so friendly and so knowledgeable. The drinks were one of a kind. We saw some places of food come out that looked epic and tasty. We want to come back and try more for sure. Thank you for the great experience.

    (5)

  • Joy B.

    No, I don't want no scrubs. But I do want a good shrub. It's too bad that Matt S. the science major who gave this place a 2 star review doesn't know the difference between a scrub and a shrub and how the former is a reference to medical garb and the latter is the appropriate term for the cocktail technique offered here. Criticizing subject matter you are clearly ignorant to holds an atomic weight of 1.00794 u. Which mister science major can hopefully explain to you, is the weight of hydrogen, AKA the lightest element on the periodic table. BOOM. Don't mean to call people out, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Anyway, I digress. This place is the bees knees. First off, this is a small business that is trying to offer something unique, cool, and distinct to a neighborhood that offers a vast SEA of SAMENESS. Pub here, pub there, half off happy hour over there, crappy cheap booze right yonder. So, appreciate that, for one. The enthusiasm from their staff is palpable- especially Zane who was working hard behind the bar. If you can't love a place with so much passion behind their craft, you might as well get reincarnated as a sheep so you can live an uninteresting life in a land of vanilla and beige. Secondly, they've only been open for about 2 months. If you've been in the SD area or area from there, you'll notice that they are in the former Cafe 21 place, since Cafe 21 has moved to it's larger location just down the street. There's always room for growing pains and learning curves when introducing a new concept, so give them some goddamn grace. Thirdly, if you notice the "21" at the end of the bars name "Zymology 21," one can deduce that this concept is backed by the same wonderful group that brought you Cafe 21, who, might I add, are knocking it out of the park with people lining up out the door due to their local approach to food and booze and consistently friendly, on-point service, while the majority of its neighbors are literally begging for customers. I had the Cantelope Cucumber Shrub with Fords Gin. It was not overly sweet at all. It was subtle and utterly perfect. Different and distinct. I enjoyed every last sip. My fiance had one of their specialty cocktails; I can't recall the name but he also enjoyed. I love the attention to detail they put into everything from the decor to the menus, to the glassware which all worked to tie the theme together. The great thing they were able to accomplish is to deliver quality craft cocktails with clout, demonstrating they are far from being a gimmick. So, thank you, Zymology for bringing something worth visiting in San Diego. See you again soon! Cheers!

    (4)

  • Brandon F.

    I love the laboratory theme! This is definitely a cool spot to grab drinks with friends and their happy hour is everyday 3-7 and 11 to close. The staff is really friendly and I had a great overall first experience. While I came for happy hour, I wanted to try their shrub flights and unfortunately those are not on the happy hour menu. We did the tequila/margarita base, and my favorite flavor was the blood orange (test tube #1). While I shared this with my girlfriend, if I had one to myself I would have been on a pretty good level. They are surprisingly strong lol. For snacking: we ordered the taro chips, chicken lollipops, and lobster corn dogs. I loved the taro chips and chicken lollipops, but the lobster corn dog was just okay. Next time I come it'll be primarily for drinks, but their selection of fun comfort food is amazing but not quite dinner worthy. Not in a bad way though, just because the food is like appetizer ish and not geared for a large appetite

    (5)

  • Todd M.

    Just stopped in town for a business trip and wanted a local bite to eat. We were directed towards cafe 21. Because the line was so long there we were recommended Zymology 21, which had no wait. I couldn't have ben more pleased. I had their beet cured salmon bowl, which was excellent. I tried their Mimosa flight, which included the champagne that you poured into the individual shrub flavors (see picture). The flavors were Stone Fruit Habanero, Cherry Cardamom, Ginger Lime, Pineapple Vanilla, and Blueberry Basil. They were all very good though I had to wait to let the bubbles subside in the Stone Fruit Habanero. As the bubbles popped, thy would send Habanero smell up into your nose, which was a little overwhelming. Great place to stop and a have a bite to eat and enjoy a drinkable concoction.

    (5)

  • Marlon T.

    In my former life I did chemistry for Chevron but I was not drinking any of my experiments. I'm pretty sure if you've done a lot of drinking in your life, this isn't the first place that uses chemistry glassware to serve drinks. I agree through, every time you do see a bar using test tubes and beakers does seem novel/cool. I didn't expect this, especially in a touristy location of downtown San Diego, but Zymology takes the whole chemistry theme to another level with lots of different decorations and interesting presentation of drinks. We ordered a shooter which they had lit on fire and had dry ice to create a misty effect to make your drinking experience better. Did it really? Who knows but it's was just out of the ordinary. Despite all these cool chemistry-themed things, I am knocking off one star because we ordered food while the restaurant was not busy at all and it took about 45 minutes just to come out with some sliders and taro chips. I mean, if the kitchen wasn't ready or very backed up, it's courteous to let customer know that the food is going to take a while or to frequently check in and say "sorry, it's almost out." Solid 3 star A-OK! I'd keep this on a list of bar hopping locations in downtown SD.

    (3)

  • Reagan D.

    Errmagerd Jason is spectacular. Tell him what you like and he can create an amazing drink. We didn't eat here so this review reflects solely on the drinks and service.

    (5)

  • Betty T.

    I love this place! It's a really cool restaurant in gaslamp district with really good food. My boyfriend and I were bar hopping in dtsd and I spot this place. I recognized the name because my friend posted a picture of this place on her Instagram before. Thought it was cool so I persuaded my boyfriend to go in with me. Plus, we already had a few drinks so we had some major drunchies going on. We ordered the flights with the bourbon as base. I was only able to take a sip of each flavor, but all their flavors are amazing! My boyfriend got really drunk after drinking the rest for me. We decided to get the chicken and waffles. It took a while, or maybe it felt so long because we were intoxicated and hungry. The chicken and waffle finally came out, but the waffle didn't look like the egg shaped waffle puffs that some people posted on yelp- it looked like a regular waffle. The syrup was unique and complemented the chicken and waffle. The waffle wasn't sweet at all. We looked at the menu some more, and decided the lobster corn dog sounds good. We ordered that, and it definitely did not disappoint. It's not like your regular corn dog where there's a lot of batter surrounding the meat. Oh no, this appetizer was filled with lobster. It reminds me of the Japanese snack, takoyaki. Overall, my boyfriend and I had a great experience. I will be coming back again but next time sober to try the amazing foods again!

    (5)

  • David O.

    Just found this place on my Bite San Diego tour and so glad I did. Cool environment with a chemistry decore. The food they let us sample was my favorite of the tour and the drinks are delicious and cleverly presented. Jason was our server and stole the show. He was so funny and brought so much energy to the experience. The owners really hit the jack pot with this guy. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Saunak S.

    We didn't get a chance to try all the drinks, which seemed very original in presentation and probably tasted great. We did get the coffee which they heat in a test tube with a fancy bunsen burner that was pretty cool. The whole idea of this place is that all the drinks are a chemistry experiment, so we did miss out on the real purpose of the restaurant. The food was decent again nothing special but you'll think it's good. Even though the place is supposed a chemistry lab, I wasn't really impressed with the seating.

    (3)

  • Trish S.

    This place is like Science meets Farm To Table: Among the beakers and test tubes you have a warm feeling of sustainability and a rustic infusion. The concept translates-like their entire organic menu served in an often molecular gastronomy presentation. Or the men of science depicted in the wall art, along with a sneaky Bill Murray among them. They managed to take two fun vibes and monster mash them into a garden gnome Frankenstein effect. All the goodness from the earth, but with the magic of a lab. The lobster corn dogs are NOT messing around. Eat them obediently and wash it down with one of their signature cocktails. They must have bathtubs full of gin in the back cause the pour it freely here and top it with lemon infused foam topped with blueberries. I also had a boozy Popsicle made of sangria in a Beaker with bubbly-delish! Snag the open faced sandwiches-from figs to steak, they have it down pat. They serve brunch and dinner, and late night cocktails: The mimosa and Bloody Mary flights look amazing! An welcome addition to the Cafe 21 family and the Gaslamp Quarter.

    (5)

  • Lucy L.

    In SD for the weekend. Went to Cafe 21 for brunch but wait was over 30 min. Alex the owner suggested we check out his other restaurant down the street. Said no waiting, same chef, cool concept. We were starving do we figured why not! He was nice enough to even walk us over to Zymology 21. Cute place. We were greeted by Jason who turned out to be thee most amazing host!!! Such a funny guy and so welcoming! Jason introduced us to siphon coffee (a must try)! The mimosa flights were amazing! And what a presentation! Test tubes and beakers, dry ice wow!!! We had the chicken and waffles along with the Shrimp Hash! Sooooo good!!! I highly recommend this place!! Jason really brings this place to life. We watched him host a large group for bridal shower, we were so impressed at how well he multi tasked and maintain such a great attitude and fun humor!!! We will definitely be back next time were in town!!!

    (5)

  • Pedro S.

    So, went here again as to show someone new in town the cool stuff they do here. I was just worried about the service lol. This time, the service was actually very good and I have to commend Josh for busting his ass and he seems to care a lot about this business. So if you are the owner reading this, might want to hire more people like Josh as he brought a great experience and will probably go back if he's still serving there

    (4)

  • Savannah C.

    Definitely a different bar.. They focus on organic alcohol. Which we, of course knew nothing about. Staff were extremely helpful and knowledgeable. They took the time to explain everything to us. A few drinks we had: Rufuge (Orange) Beer Whiskey Sour (liquids were bonded with an egg white, crazy but tasted amazing.) Mimosas (Strawberry and Apple-cranberry-honey)

    (4)

  • Kristen L.

    Excellent Whiskey Sour, and it was fascinating to watch the bartender make it! The restaurant bar area was extremely cool with test tubes, beakers, and scientific machines being utilized both as props and to make your drinks. I enjoyed picking out the special flavor that I wanted to have in my cocktail...it was a cool concept. The specialty drinks were also full of very unusual, unique flavors. Although I went earlier on a weekend night (around 5pm), I think this place could be very fun to be at later at night. One thing that would complete the test tube / mad scientist vibe would be if the bartenders wore lab coats :)

    (4)

  • Max M.

    Something different! Such a cool little place in Gaslamp. It doesn't get super full because it's still pretty new. You'll see people come in and walk out because they get weirded out by the theme. They serve the drinks in measuring beakers and test tubes. The beer with sangria Popsicle was ok. Wasn't a big fan of the sangria. The vodka flights was cool to try out. They come in different flavors too. Fun place if you're looking for something different. It gets cold in there so bring a scarf or jacket or whatever. The staff is super friendly and the bartender explained the drinks on the menu.

    (5)

  • Tajuana C.

    I'm definitely going back for more drinks! I had this cotton candy martini that was served smoking and they weren't stingy with the amount of liquor either. Don't you hate when you pay for a drink that is pretty much like drinking water but you just paid 10 bucks for it. This place will make you want what they have so bad. After we order the cotton candy martini someone ordered this drink with flames and smoke it was so dope. I would have given them four stars because of their food menu. Their food wasn't great but it looks like they pride themselves on their scientific drinks and seem to have forgotten about the fact that even though we're getting drunk were still going to realize the food it bad. The beaker Mac n cheese was literally velveta shells n cheese with bacon. overally just go for drinks and you can always get a bite to eat somewhere else, it's downtown. They deserved the five because of the drinks alone.

    (5)

  • Lee L.

    This is definitely a fun place to go! Their brunch is great but their drinks are better. I would say this is definitely a place one can day drink and people watch. You should know this place is "chemistry" or gastromolecular themed. Drinks come in beakers or test tubes, food is deconstructed - a great place to come if you like to be served creatively or you played with your food as a youngster. We got the chorizos bennie and the avocado toast. Both were yummy but the drinks are much better. They make a strong drink here and you can have a boozy popsicle for dessert!

    (4)

  • Josh P.

    Such a great place. Located in the Gaslamp District, Zymology brings a unique experience to ordering mixed drinks. Everything is served in laboratory glassware and has a cool science flare. The waitstaff is very friendly and energetic. Our host was amazing and did a wonderful job at being welcoming and getting us started off with a fabulous flight a mixers. The menu isn't huge, but has a good variety of options. I had the Cuban pork sandwich and it was amazing! I highly recommend sitting outside and enjoying the beautiful weather and do some people watching! Will definitely be coming back.

    (5)

  • Evan L.

    I love the concept behind this whole bar idea. Why not mix science with Alcohol. I game her for a Yelp elite event a couple weeks back and when I found myself on Fifth Ave. I just had to come back in. I brought one of my good friends and his parents and they really loved it. They were raving about how they would much rather come here every time rather than wait in line at prohibition. We all shared a vodka flight with the 5 flavoring that they use and we loved it. 3 of us for cocktails and 1 person got the popsicle but thought it was a bit too messy. One of the Cocktails was actually horrible and none of us could even drink it. When we approached our server and mentioned that we couldn't even drink it and that it was horrible, he simple said okay and proceeded to wipe down our table. I thought they should have at least said sorry and possible offered us a new drink. I also think that they should condense their menu a little too. It was somewhat overwhelming at first. I do like this place and will be back next time on of fifth av.

    (4)

  • Renee J.

    This is my new favourite place to eat when I'm in San Diego. I wish I could give six stars. Their take on chicken waffles is fantastic. They make their waffles with rosemary and other herbs and crispy around the outside. Their chicken seems like it's breaded with pesto and is amazing. Their bloody mary's are also the best I've ever had and some with a crazy amount of condiments like bacon, house pickled onions, salsa, cilantro, cucumber, limes, jalapeños, pickled peppers etc. I love Cafe 21 too but I come here because it's always way less packed and everything is fantastic and I like their food better.

    (5)

  • Lysabeth L.

    I had my first experience with drinks made with shrubs here at Zymology and love it! The flavors were unique. The vinegary, fruity flavors were an experience. Not to mention the presentation withvtrat tubes, beakers, and dry ice. It was definitely an experience for the eyes and taste buds! For the food, we tried the open faced sandwiches which were more like flatbread. For me, it was more like an appetizer than a meal. I was a bit disappointed with the food because the drinks were awesome. I have to say, I was still hungry after my open-faced sandwich. One of our friends had the fried chicken and waffles which was more hearty. I had to steal a bite! The honey syrup that accompanied this dish was so yum! This will be my go to dish next time we visit Zymology. The staff were super nice and helpful with explaining the menu. We had a great time sitting on the patio and interacting with the staff. They even asked us for our feedback on changes for their new menu, it was fun!

    (4)

  • Ashley V.

    So this was the only place that was offering food after 11 that had four stars. It was not our first choice but we were really hungry so just settled. It was not overly crowded and the customer service from the bar and all other employees was excellent. I was very pleasantly surprised. I ordered the grilled cheese with today's soup (which just so happened to be tomato soup) perfect! The soup had a different taste but it was flavorful especially when I dipped the grilled cheese (not your average grilled cheese). My BF ordered chicken and waffles which was completely different from Roscoe's and more on the savory end of the spectrum. Needles to say it was a great experience!

    (4)

  • Sarah F.

    Hello, are you tired of the same old menu every where you go? Short Rib Chicken Steak Pasta Over and over again? Say hello Zymology 21! Hello Zymology 21, Your farm to table approach to food and beverages makes you beautiful inside and out, I love your kiwi kale shrubs and your house beet cured salmon! You make your own cocktail mixers, your menu is inspired and unique and farm to fork. You have this great shrub sampler (definitely recommend it if for the theater alone!), awesome salads, vegetarian options, lobster corndogs, and a pickle board!!! Have I told you lately that I love pickled things! and I love you Zymology 21!

    (5)

  • Charles C.

    My wife and I tried this place after seeing that the same owners are the owners of Cafe 21. I guess Cafe 21 had this space before moving. I can see why because it's kind of an old and rundown space. Just very sparse and not that interesting. It felt like a cafeteria. My wife had a mojito which was good but it was a bit too sweet. Our bartender, Nikki was very nice and conversational about the history and theory of the bar. I had an Ommegang Belgium Amber which was served in a beaker-type glass which was an interesting touch. All-in-all it was a new experience but nothing that would pull us back.

    (3)

  • Tiffany C.

    This is an interesting gem in a sea of bars that are "been there done that." For the nerd in all of us, stopped in on my birthday for a few flights of shrubs...all were very tasty and served in test tubes with little beakers. Loved the decor (look for Bill Murray), and try something a bit out of the ordinary.

    (5)

  • Argenis H.

    Definitely a cool place, has the "wow factor" if you're trying to impress some friends. Ordered the flight and was impressed with the presentation. When it came down to the taste of he drinks I was less than impressed. The drinks just weren't doing it for me. The customer service was great and the servers were definitely a great addition to the ambiance.

    (3)

  • Leslie V.

    My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this place on a Friday night as we were walking down the Gas Lamp and this place really caught our attention. Very different and fun looking compared to the other bars. The place just looks COOOL once you enter with its decor and all the relations to chemistry and science. We sat at the bar and watched the bartenders make and mix drinks. Very friendly and they helped us decide what to try out, in which we decided to try one of the Rum Flights? Honestly, I forgot which type of flight. The whole set up of this drink had me soo amazed! Drinking from glass beakers and tubes, what more can you ask for? The drink itself was very different. Some of the flavors were definitely good, and the others were ODD. But it was worth trying something new. We also sampled this caramel beer, which we unfortunately at this point couldn't drink any, but are definitely going to try some other day,

    (5)

  • April R.

    What a great concept! The science theme is so perfect. All the glassware and decor is all sciencey but in a totally fun way. The food menu looked good but we were just here to drink. The drink selection is really good no matter what you like to drink. The beer list was decent size with very interesting beers on tap. I found a few things that I have never had before and that is pretty rare. The mixed drinks are awesome. If you are a lover of fun cocktails this is your spot. They have very cleaver and interesting mixed drinks with interesting and house-made ingredients. The service was also really good, friendly and informative. I hope Zymology sticks around because I would love for this to be my go to place downtown.

    (5)

  • Hannah L.

    Alcho-chem 101? Tequila flight in glass test tubes? WHY NOT??!?!?! This has been one of the most unique experiences I've had. Seriously feels like your in a science lab tasting out different "food experiments". This restaurant definitely has great potential! The owner actually came by our table and chatted with us to. Whenever I'm in the area, I will DEF. be back. Food is A+. Service, A+, Drinks A+, ambience=unique so A+!! An overall great & enjoyable restaurant in the heart of San Diego's gaslamp district!

    (5)

  • Candace R.

    Saturday night date night! The decor was great, awesome chemistry decorating concept. Looked clean and there was friendly staff. Food and drinks were gross. I would never go back.

    (1)

  • Taylor H.

    I came here for brunch with a friend over the weekend after hearing about this place on yelp and from friends. They have a lot of drink and food options here, but we ordered the cotton candy cosmo and the boozy popsicle to start. The cotton candy cosmo was delicious, but super strong. It was a 13 second pour of vodka and you could definitely taste the alcohol, but the cotton candy on top of the drink made it fun and allowed a cute photo op. The boozy Popsicle was also delicious. It was a habanero mango flavored Popsicle that came in a beaker of champagne. They change the Popsicle flavors from week to week but I would definitely order to try something unique and refreshing. We also ordered the chicken and waffles and the cubano sandwich. Both had a lot of flavor and were perfect to balance out the alcohol. The portions are a decent size, but my roommate took half of her sandwich to go. Also, our server, Jason, was absolutely amazing and so attentive to our table. He was hilarious and I will definitely be back just for him! But the good food and drinks are a plus.

    (5)

  • Andrew W.

    Jason was amazing!!! We got in relatively quickly but the wait for service was rather long because this poor, epically dressed gentleman was serving nearly the entire restaurant on his own. With a top hat, pink cubic zirconia earrings and a pinstriped shirt I was certain he would be a hoot. He was prompt, and very kind to buy us a flight of mimosas because of the delay. If you swing by, you must try this flight of mimosas. They come in 5 different flavors of syrup and you'll pour the champagne into each! I had the pulled Bork open face sandwich - It was spicy and delicious. My girlfriend had the French toast, which was delightfully unique. It came topped with cornflakes and a side of delicious chocolate ice cream which you could eat separate or pour onto the French toast. If you order coffee they have it poured into a beaker-like container which sits over a Brunson burner. Even the cups are little measure dispensers. Overall, great experience here and would come back anytime I'm in the area. (Yelptastic Hint: if you swing by cafe 21 and it's too busy, this is their sister restaurant and they'll give you a half off your meal card to come here)

    (5)

  • Holly C.

    Ugh. Horrible cocktails. Yes, they were served in fun beakers but they were nasty. The service system was weird, too. You have to order at a cashier and get a number, kind of like a fast food restaurant. For cocktails, food, whatever. This place was dead on a Saturday night while all the other places nearby were packed. They need to figure something out and quick. Good service but the ingredients or something needs to be improved substantially.

    (2)

  • Steven C.

    Food is OK, our server was good but for the rest of the service.... it sucks! I literally witnessed employees make fun of yelp reviews! As for food I'll start with the terrible... dont get the lobster corn dogs... shits gross! Chicken and waffles is why they get a single star, but the syrup is lacking. The "flight" is built for one, and only ONE. it was sub-par by every stretch of the imagination. OHHHH real cool with the smoke, but can you produce a good buzz? All in all i will tell friends and family to disregard this place as nothing but faddish. DONT DO IT!!!

    (2)

  • Robin D.

    Really bad service, the meal came cold even if the restaurant was empty! The waitress wasn't smiling at all. I order the egg and lamb and there is nothing to eat ! And at the end they make us pay 20% tips. I really don't recommend this place.

    (1)

  • Jeff W.

    Cubano was tremendous, saw some awesome cocktails being served, but stuck to draft IPAs, which were good but kinda weird to drink from a science lab glass beaker-like thing. Will probably make a return visit next time I'm here...

    (4)

  • Candace B.

    I recently went here with a friend, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised that I liked the food. I ordered the cured salmon club, and the "Ressurectionist" was my drink of choice. I will definitely come here again. Thanks Zymology

    (5)

  • Margaret D.

    This is a small bar set up to look sort of like a hip mad scientist's lab. Their specialty is shrubs, a vinegar and fruit or veggie based syrup, and sugar. You pick your shrub (I had strawberry balsamic vinegar, husband had carrot-orange-something else) and your mix in (prosecco or rum or something else). There's a large shared table in the middle or tables on the sides to choose from. Music is loud enough so you don't have to worry about un-shouted conversation. There was plenty of seating when we were there, not crowded. Nobody was out front, so my husband got menus from near the entrance, and we sat down. Nobody came over to take our order, and my husband went to use the restroom. Since we'd just eaten I just wanted a drink, and I'd read about shrubs a while ago and have been too chicken and lazy to make my own, so I really wanted to try one.. About 5 minutes after my husband had gotten up, I decided if nobody came over to our table by the time he returned we would head on out. Then a friendly server came over just as I spotted my husband. The drinks came in beakers. One had an open top and one had the more closed off top. I think we were supposed to get straws, because they were a bit difficult to drink, or maybe we were supposed to ask for them. The shrubs were $10 each. My husband's was very very sour. He thought it was too sour, and he is the opposite of a sweet drink person. My drink was very very syrupy sweet. We ended up mixing our drinks to get a good balance.

    (3)

  • Kelly C.

    Came for breakfast on a Saturday morning around 10 am and had no problem getting a table. We tried the chicken & waffles (delicious, although nothing to write home about), the salmon hay stack (amazing!!), and the blueberry popover (this is served with ice cream and was very decadent). To drink we started with the mimosa tasting flight which I highly recommend! We were having such a good time that we added the massive cotton candy Cosmo to the order. This might be a drink that is more fun to take pictures with than actually consume, but it was by no means "bad". We had so much fun that we returned for Happy Hour in the afternoon! Surprisingly, the appetizers were just ok compared to the breakfast menu. We order the beaker Mac & cheese (was average) and the turkey & steak sliders (not bad! I preferred the steak one). The Moscow mules were too sour and strong for my taste. Go for breakfast or dinner and I think you'll have a great time! Skip happy hour.

    (4)

  • L'Oreal C.

    Came here after eating dinner at Cafe 21. I'm assuming they're the same owners. But Zymology 21 wasn't nearly as busy as Cafe 21. I love the idea of a science-y bar since I love science. And bars. Anyways, my friends and I ordered the vodka flight with shrubs or something. But the test tube shots were not that good. The first one I tasted was strawberry with another fruit and I didn't taste that much alcohol. The next one I had was a carrot one and it was too strong. My friend ordered the 'Boozey Popsicle'. It was basically a spicy guava Popsicle into a Cali Creamin ale. Looked good. The overall concept of this place is interesting, but I think they need to incorporate more science-like theatrics when pouring/serving drinks instead of just the dry ice and just having the beakers and test tubes as cups/shot glasses. I think the place just needs a little bit more work. Also, the drinks need a bit more work too. I don't know. It could just be that day I went, and I'll probably update my review the next time I go. If I go.

    (3)

  • Criselle O.

    This place is pretty cool. Came here with my cousins and we all liked the concept. I was a bit skeptical when I first heard about this place but I actually liked it. We did the $21 combo with the rum and it was pretty good. I believe my favorite combo was the strawberry balsamic! I really love how they serve everything in beakers and tubes. So neat. I'll definitely come back to try more. :)

    (4)

  • Shana M.

    So delicious! Amazing food! Fantastic service! Chicken and waffles are yummy, fresh and full of flavor. So happy we found this place. I will be back next time I'm in San Diego.

    (5)

  • P P.

    3 stars for an absolutely brilliant concept, but minus 2 stars for absolutely horrible customer service. This place has a lot of potential, but it needs 2 things: (1) A better marketing team; and (2) Polite and courteous staff who actually appreciate your business and know what they're talking about. Considering their facility was near empty on both occasions (Wed and Thurs night), I can't imagine how bad their service would be if they were packed. Tip to Staff: Take some lessons from Sycamore Den and El Dorado.

    (3)

  • Jonard T.

    Dear Zymology 21, Thank you for opening this establishment and bringing out the nerd in me. The first time I sat down across the table with all of those science equations, I was reminded of the blurry college days I actually had to use those equations. I shivered! But then I had a Bourbon Flight. I was thinking of selecting the Sparking Flight, but our server said that it wasn't worth the price. At first, I thought the Flightz were expensive. I decided to split the drinks with a friend, and we hoped for the best. When our drinks arrived, my first thought was that the test tubes were a lot bigger in person than in picture. And that's always a good thing ;) I would definitely recommend splitting a Flight with someone. Since we were splitting the Flight, our server gave us two small beakers to drink from. The test tubes were labeled so that we knew which shrub flavor we were drinking. And one by one, we emptied the test tubes. I think that it's important to drink some water in between Flights to cleanse your palette. My favorite shrub flavors were Grapefruit/Orange/Carrot, Apple/Blueberry/Honey, and Pomegranate Beet. The first was fruity, second had a strong honey taste, and the third was strangely good with the strong beet taste. Maybe I should try eating beets. I didn't like the Strawberry Balsamic flavor so much because there was a little too much Balsamic--it was as if I was drinking a salad dressing. I also didn't like the Plum/Grape, but honestly, I can't tell you why. I just remember not liking it. I've also had a Whiskey Sour with Apple/Blueberry/Honey. The Whiskey Sour is good on its own, though you can really smell the egg yolk in it. Most others that I've had weren't as pungent. The Apple/Blueberry/Honey shrub really didn't add anything special to the drink. I couldn't taste it. And the shrub is an additional $2! My friend and I confusingly and wrongly thought that the cocktail was $8, not $10. There weren't prices next to the Shrub Flavors, so we thought you HAD to order the cocktail with a shrub. That part of the menu was a little confusing and should be revised. -Jonard

    (4)

  • Maricela H.

    So we all know I'm a little bit of a nerd. Yes it's no surprise that this place grabbed my attention. Drinks in beakers and flasks, fizzing concoctions, with a cool chemistry feel and even cooler people that work there. I've been a few times with a man friend who I thought would enjoy it. It was a hit for both of us. I was there early so I sat at the bar, Jessica was tending the bar and was super attentive. It was a Monday night so no crowd at all. I had samples of some tasty craft beers and a few signature Jessica drinks, she has talent. I ordered the open faced salmon BLT, so happy I did! At first I was a little unsure but it was so full of flavor. Best choice of the night, well besides meeting my man friend there. The cubano was tasty as well but mine was definitely better! Thank you zymology for making us nerds a happy bunch :-)

    (5)

  • Jackie A.

    You wanna go somewhere different? Go here. They serve their drinks in beakers and test tubes. Get the flight because you get to see them pour fire and dry ice together . Super awesome . Wanna eat something ? Get the ceviche and the chicken and waffles. You won't be disappointed. Promise on everything I love ! Ugggh such an awesome bar! Highly recommend it. Yes!!!! The boss here is dope as hell too!!

    (5)

  • Austin D.

    When you use the words "fermented" and "kimchi" on the menu, you'll get my attention. But you'll have to do much more than what I experienced to keep it. Great concept, but poor execution. Note that I only came in for the food. The GOOD: - They have a geeky science theme; drinks served in beakers, sauces in petri dishes, little contraptions on the tables. - Beer selection was decent (20 on tap); served in a 400 ml (about 13 ounces). Not sure if that was intentional, but if you're looking for a pint, you'll be disappointed. - Servers were nice (although the bouncer-ish looking bro-ham who called me "Boss" when I walked in put me on edge). The BAD: - They need to do a lot more "research" with the food. - Food took too long to come out (esp. for an empty restaurant) - Food was cold and BLAND. I had lobster corn dogs (shrimp/lobster sausage in lollipop form) and taro chips. Dogs had a scant smear of horseradish so I asked for some more. Taro chips were meh; I would be shocked if they were made in-house. - My friend had the "kimchi salad" which, after tasting, I could not find anything that reminded me of the stinky, spicy fermented cabbage dish. - The housemade "shrub" (the "fermented" part) my friend had were just "meh" according to him. I suppose this place could tread water as a bar if the drinks are stiff enough (so no one will notice the food). It fits right into the 5th Avenue Gaslamp scene (which is not really a compliment). If you're up for the food like I was, then you're much better off going to Cafe 21 across the street (owned by the same folks).

    (2)

  • Ashley V.

    Hands down one of the yummiest coolest spots in San Diego. Have been twice already & each time my experience was better & better. Came for brunch on a Sunday. Only a few people inside dining, so no wait which was perfect. Sat at the bar & was waited by Heather who was such a treat! She was sooo attentive & just exuded fun vibes. Had such a blast with her. We ordered a Bloody Mary and a mimosa flight & they were both sooo yummy & so fun to drink. The Food was to DIE for! I had the chilaquiles which were perfectly made with pork avocado crema just perfect & my boyfriend had the chicken & waffles which were presented so beautifully and tasted just as good as they looked. Brought my girl friend for her birthday lunch and we shared the Taro chips. Which are now my favorite thing and I crave them every single day along with a meat board which was the perfect amount of food for the two of us. Heather again was our waiter and just as before she was amazing, and serve us some special spicy birthday tequila shots that were out of this world good. Can't wait to come back maybe this time for dinner!

    (5)

  • Scott T.

    I love this place! Very creative on both the drinks and the food. Certainly a stand out place! Order the infused sample of drinks and be impressed with the fire and dry ice show at your table. Very impressive!

    (5)

  • Soraya F.

    I was really impressed by their decoration! It has a chemistry theme going on. They had all sorts of flasks and beakers as well as test tubes for the drinks! Their service was great in the beginning, the sever explained to us how the drink menu worked, but then he totally forgot about us and we had to wait 25 min. to get our food and drinks. I'm not sure how that happened considering we were one of a grand total of three groups there? I was not impressed by their food. Their portions were snack-size and bland, but their drinks were pretty good! We had a flight with all the different flavored shrubs and vodka!This wouldn't be my first choice to go to in DT, but i wouldn't mind coming back :)

    (3)

  • Kristen A.

    You know that kid in high school that gets voted most likely to succeed and then you find him 20 years later working as the host or busboy at a nearby restaurant? That's Zymology. Had so much potential, and failed to live up to it all. The idea of having a sciency-cocktail place sounds amazing - the glassware being served in beakers, and equations you recognize from high school physics on the wall add to the interest. The Cubano sandwich is very good, and comes with house-made taro chips and a spicy mustard. The lamb lollipops were also tasty. The spicy guava boozy popsicle comes in a beaker full of beer and it was a fun way to have an adult beverage. Portions might be too small for the price. Zymology seems to have an identity crisis at night - playing loud music while a few patrons eat dinner. Is it trying to be a lounge? A restaurant? Will women want to come to a place like this? We're big fans of Cafe 21, and hope this place makes it.

    (3)

  • Chris M.

    I came in for lunch and loved the concept. It's cool and fresh. The food... MmmMmMmmMMmMmmMMMm The food is great. The various benedicts, the specialty plates, how do you choose? You don't! You just choose one and work down the list. That's what we're doing. Everything tasted great. The drinks were not only pleasing on the tongue, but for the eyes as well. You can help but be impressed by the presentation of things. Whatever mad scientist cane up with this place, let them be. You have to check this place out

    (5)

  • Estefany B.

    This is a nerds paradise! I came here with my yelp gang for an event, and I was hooked.... I had to try it again! When I came the second time the service was just as spectacular as it was the first time here, the drinks were outstanding! If you come here you must try the Shrub Flaborz Flights. You basically get 5 or 6 different test tubes all containing different flavors (strawberry, peach, cucumber, apple.....you get the point) mixed with your alcohol of choice! I chose vodka and did not regret it. Service was also phenomenal, the bartenders make a real effort to make a personal connection with the guests sitting at the bar. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who is in the mood to try something slightly different in downtown. Come on get yo' geek on! :)

    (5)

  • Ngoc L.

    Remember how science teachers would warn the students not to eat or drink in science lab....Well, you can toss that rule out the window once you step inside the chemistry laboratory theme at zymology21. Now you can sit back and enjoy sipping drinks from test tubes and beakers. The best part is it's only alcohol so your tongue will not turn green however you may slightly feel these effects after a few test tubes: feeling more happy and warmer, tend to get louder, slurring words, stumbling, spilling drinks and forgot where you place the parking validation ticket. Don't panic, just pass your car keys to a buddy who does not show any symptoms. Happy hours are from 3-7pm and 11pm to close. Chicken lollipops and taro chips are both $4. Scrub mimosa or specialty mules are $5 and $1 off beers. Street parking can be tough to find in downtown. Park at Horton Plaza Mall. Validate parking up to 3 hrs for free and it's only a block walking distance. Food: Try the vodka flights-5 different infused test tubes. Open faced salmon sandwich and taro chips are my favorite. Wanna try something different then this might be the spot for you

    (4)

  • Shirley G.

    What a cute & very science-y bar concept to get some drinks! Not only is everything Instagram worthy but of course the beakers/test tubes/etc. gives you the experience of being in a chem lab but with drinks. The waitress was very helpful on letting me know what she recommends and answering my questions. My bf got a beer while I decided to try the flight of rum with the vinegar shrubs. Let me tell yah the whole lighting of the beaker filled with liquid nitrogen? I don't know what it was gave it a cool show. After taking a few pictures of course it was time to try these test tubes of alcohol out. Wow some of these vinegar shrubs are very overwhelming to my taste buds. My favorite & the only one I really liked was the kale & apple flavored one. Some were too much for my liking. But thus, was a good experience to try it out. My bf said his stomach felt kind of weird after drinking some of it. For $21 it was a bit pricey for a flight of 5 test tubes of rum & vinegar shrubs but I came here for the experience and that is what I got.

    (4)

  • Aaron S.

    I remember passing by this place a few times when I was in Gaslamp. I never really thought about coming here until I heard that they served drinks in scientific glassware. I became intrigued and decided to go here with a few friends. We ended up getting a Shrubz Flight of Vodka and our own drink. I opted for the Calibo Shrubz Flight of Vodka: I didn't really try it b/c my first sip was too sweet. It comes in 5 different fruity flavors in their own test tubes. Our server said that the "shrub" is the old way of fermenting fruits. So it's basically alcohol with fruit concentrate. You can choose which type of liquor you want for your flight. Calibo: bourbon garnished with fennel. It was like I was drinking fennel. It wasn't great. Overall, this place was just alright. It is very gimmicky. I wasn't really amazed by their drinks. This place seems like a good place to grab some small bites and drinks to chill, It's not a place where I would go to turn-up since really casual. It's more of a restaurant than a bar. The food looked pretty good, but pricey. The service was really slow. It took us a long time for someone to get our orders. The servers were very friendly and helpful, but it took a while to get what we wanted. I would probably come back once or twice to try their food, but I wouldn't come here regularly. I thought this place would be cool, but it was just average.

    (2)

  • August M.

    Super friendly staff. Fun atmosphere. Tried the chicken & waffles. Not gonna lie, the waffle did not look delicious. It looked like it was burnt. It looked like it would taste too crunchy. On the contrary, the waffles had a fantastic balance. A little crunchy on the outside, but still soft on the inside. I could also taste the cheddar- which I was not counting on. You can totally tell that the chicken had been soaked in buttermilk before being breaded and fried. It was amazingly moist and flavorful. The Agave nectar syrup was sweet, but not too sweet, and the spicy kick was lovely. I hate spicy stuff, but this was just enough for me to handle. Future hubs tried the open face cubano sandwich. The braised pork was cooked to perfection. Although the sandwich looked fancy, the taste was just simple and delicious. The taro chips were a nice touch on the side. $25.00 bill.

    (4)

  • Olivia L.

    The hipster community is growing and expanding into cute little themes such as this. Walking it, it takes you back to high school chem labs, with high top tables, steel stools, and beakers, test tubes and microscopes a like. Not all of the drinks are served in fancy beaker glasses, but those that are adds some chemistry to the atmosphere. During happy hour, their cocktails are 5$ and served in 200mL beakers. Mules are served in normal steel or tin? cups. They also have a taster set of 5 that are served in test tubes placed in a beaker filled with dry ice, that adds an eerie white smoke pillowing out of the beaker. Cocktails/mules are pretty good, pretty refreshing. Food wise, we ordered the taro chips and the chicken lollipops. Taro chips were pretty thin, not oily, and goes by quick! During happy hour, a set of 4 pieces are 4$, 8$ normally. The chicken lollipops were just okay. Served with a really thick sweet and tangy sauce, they didn't have much flavour otherwise. Overall, cool concept, but was never crowded. We were there until 8pm on a friday night, and by the time we left, there was only 1 other couple in the place. Hopefully they get some more business, but it was pretty empty the entire time. Service was great however, everyone there was super nice and friendly and engaging. No TVs tho so don't come here trying to watch a sports game.

    (4)

  • Philip G.

    If a mad scientist and a chef adopted a refugee baby, it would grow up and open this restaurant. The food is very good. The drinks are spectacular. The service is personable and fun. Most of the dishes and drinks feature some type of fermentation and chemical fusion. Although this sounds odd, it comes together very well. It was early Sunday AM. We were greeted by a friendly host and had the entire space to ourselves (although it filled up as the day went on). Because we were there for Sunday Funday brunch we hung out for about 2 hours sampling as much as we could. After we were seated, the manager brought out a beaker with dry ice, water and moisturizing soap. Once the items were mixed, we had a table-top chemical bubble factory / smoke machine. The chemistry lesson continued in that some of the beverages involve hands on mixing. For example, the mimosa flight is served so that the champagne and juices are separate. The bloody mary had a test tube of ghost pepper / beet flavor enhancer. The beakers and other equipment make it like an edible science lab and the experience is a lot of fun. The food is excellent and some of the offerings are familiar to even those from Alabama. Although we don't have any, its great for kids as there are a lot of interesting things happening and the staff is a lot of fun. Its also great for parents who want to avoid the Chuckie Cheese type borefest. Whether you are into science or not, overall this place is a good time.

    (5)

  • Irene C.

    This place is amazing if you want a chill staff and chemistry themed drinks! Service: First of all, Heather and Jason were AMAZING! I love Jason so much! I wish he could be my best friend because his service was just that amazing. He kept checking up on my table to see if everything was going well. He even let us play with dry ice and bubbles! :D Drinks: A tad expensive, but I mean it was pretty worth it considering they specialize in the drinks they make. They aren't your typical bar you find in downtown, but they're strict on the type of drinks they make and you probably won't be able to find their flavors anywhere else! Overall, I would recommend this place if you want a nice friendly place to chill at with your friends! :))

    (5)

  • Maylynne R.

    Aweeesssommme place! I thought it was kinda small at first glance, but it was very accommodating. I didn't get the regular dining experience because I came here for a private Yelp Elite event, but nonetheless, I got to taste the food and drinks, and they get an A+ (like that pun huh? since it's a chemistry themed place.). Loved the glassware, very intriguing. Loved the food. And love that its a lot more casual than it looks in terms of ordering your food and the pricing of the menu. The people I encountered who worked there were all SOOOO friendly and very polite. And after this event, I said to my sister (who was with me), "I'm totally gonna come back here..." and that's the best thing I could ever say about a place!

    (5)

  • Allison J.

    This place is awesome! I almost forgot I was wearing tight uncomfortable heels! The atmosphere is laid back. The service was excellent. The people working there really enjoy what they do and they are hilarious and so much fun! They even gave us free shots of a special concoction. I definitely enjoyed the drinks more than the food. But the food was fair. Had their brunch and nothing was standout. But despite the food not being super memorable, I would definitely have brunch here again because Sunday boozing in such a fun environment is good for the soul :)

    (4)

  • Kris C.

    I cannot say enough amazing things about this place! The place is on the smaller size with a very unique theme. The theme is all based around chemistry of some sort and very tastefully decorated. When we walked in we were immediately greeted. The seating is choose your own/somewhat communal style. We ordered coffee (which is brewed via the syphon process and is truly amazing), the Vodka sampler, Chicken and Waffles and the Pork Hash. The Waffle portion was a savory Chinese Waffle (simply wonderful). The Chicken was fried to perfection, not too greasy and not to much breading, just enough to give it a good crunch. The chicken meat remained moist and flavorful. This dish also came with a honey lime and habanero sauce to dip all of this beautifulness in. The habanero was very slight, giving the perfect amount of tingle on the back of the tongue. The Pork Hash was wonderful. The pork had been braised and braised very well as it retained all of its moisture. The flavors were wonderful and absolutely something that I would order again. Both of these dishes are items that I would crave; as I write this my mouth is watering. I cannot wait to bring my friends and come back. Excellent service, food and ambiance. I simply could not have had a better experience. Nicely done Zymology!!

    (5)

  • Linda P.

    We first came here when we were on the Downtown San Diego Food Tasting & Walking Tour operated by Bite San Diego. We were greeted by a very enthusiastic young man, who did a great job of serving us. Drinks are served in beekers. We were served the open-faced Cubano which was delicious. Four of use thought the Shrub Flight sounded interesting & unique. There were 5 flavors that we chose to have mixed with vodka, they were served in on dry ice & when the server light them fire shot up & smoke covered the table. Fun!! Great place to go for delicious food & drinks. We will definitely go back, there are so many more things to try!

    (5)

  • Rebekah G.

    This place is absolutely adorable and Nikiki makes it feel like home. This is my second visit and I'm in love not only with the Devine selection of homemade alcohol/ drinks. This is my favorite spot in all of San Diego. Nikki is the best ask for her if it's your first time, she is the best!! A++++++

    (5)

  • Katie B.

    This place is very cool. Definitely worth a visit to prove itself! Ask for josh he's awesome!! Whoever said he was rude was probably at some other restaurant because the josh here was very patient, funny, and down to earth! Get the cocktails they are already combined with the flavors to get the best combination of flavor!!! Good is great too! got the hanger steak, Cubano, and chicken w. Waffles, all superb!

    (5)

  • Zachary S.

    This place was quiet the adventure for my tastebuds. I ordered the mimosa flight and a chicken and waffles which I shared with my girlfriend during happy hour. Mimosa flight: Served on a metal tray, it comes with a beaker of champagne and 5 differently flavored test tubes. You can reference the menu for the actual flavors, but it was fun to mix them and the flavors were outstanding. One note though, not quite enough champagne. Chicken and waffles: Amazing jalapeño syrup for the waffles, waffles themselves were soft which I really enjoyed, the chicken was perfectly fried- juicy and not dry. The side salad was delicious as well, and paired with some pickled vegetables. Staff: The waiter was witty and very accommodating, I really enjoyed talking with him and he even shared a story of how earlier that morning he had a pipe full of cold water sprayed on him while fixing something in the restaurant. Ultimately, I will be coming back here, especially for happy hour.

    (5)

  • Helena Q.

    I'm feeling "experimental" at Zymology 21. Oh this isn't my Facebook account? Oops. But that doesn't take away from the fact that I did indeed feel experimental at Zymology. Normally I don't order mixed drinks (more of a gin and tonic kinda gal), but when at a bar with beakers and test tubes, it's time to be pardon the pun, experimental. I got their pumpkin pi cocktail. It had all kinds of fall spice pumpkin-y goodness, though a little too sweet in my opinion. It was a fun drink, even had a lychee "eyeball" to top it off. Apparently their mixed drinks menu is seasonal to match with Starbucks :O My friend and I both also ordered their salmon blt and taro chips (whose sauce came in a petri dish, how cute). Both were great decisions, if I do say so myself. Let me break down the layers of the salmon blt for you (from top to bottom): tomato micro greens house cured salmon (and lots of it) avocado and crispy bacon pieces garlic aioli sauce footlong piece of sourdough bread ALL OF THAT for $6!! Is that not a steal or what?! But also if that's not enough for your visualizing of the blt, here you go ( yelp.com/biz_photos/zymo… ). Also just a piece of advice, I'd suggest you not to be dainty and just use your hands on the sandwich. Yes, the sourdough was delicious, but it was uber hard to cut with the knife. Thanks for a fun dinner, Zymology. I'll be back when I'm feeling experimental again.

    (4)

  • Jennifer B.

    So glad we came here! KELSEY ROCKS! The food was great especially the B.L.A.T.E Salad! THE MULE drinks were interesting and had a good kick at the end. Don't pass up this unique experience. The staff is great too.

    (4)

  • Shawn S.

    This place is amazing! The atmosphere, the people, the drinks, so awesome! Jason and Benjamin will keep you entertained the whole time. Definitely check this place out, best Bloody Mary in town!

    (5)

  • Leo P.

    Not sure if it was because of the holiday weekend or what, but came from cafe 21 after waiting half hour for a table and still having about 10 parties ahead of us. The hostess informed us of Zymology, which is just a block away and since we were starving, we decided to check it out. When we got to Z, there were only 2 other parties seated, so the place was pretty empty. We sat down and the waiter took about 5-8 minutes to come over. At that time, we placed our orders and noticed all water glasses were beakers. Pretty cool, but not that useful, as one of my friends had water spill on himself as he tried to drink from it (although it did make us laugh). After about 10 mins, the waiter comes back to make sure he got out our orders right (why 10 minutes later?) And since he didn't write it down the first time, he had the orders wrong and we had to correct him. Anyway, we ordered 3 coffees since he was back at our table. Oh yeah, by the way, coffee is $8.... better be the best cup of coffee I've ever had. About 20 minutes later, our waiter brings two glasses and one "device" with coffee... The device was enough to fill two of the cups about half way. What about the 3rd? Oh... He forgot. Wait, does that mean another 20 minute wait? Oh geez... After about 10 more minutes (40 minutes after sitting down), the food comes out (I believe it was the manager bringing it out?) We told him to just bring the check, as our friends had to go to the airport and they were already late. We also complained about how long we had been waiting and how they never brought out the coffee we ordered. He apologized for the delay and dropped off the food. Big plates, tiny portion (3 of us got the $16 steak and eggs). If you've ever been to Cafe21, you know their portions are rather large. This is the opposite. Whatever though, I was starving. I try to cut in to my steak and.... well... I couldn't, because the whole steak was moving. It was one giant piece of fat. The steak couldn't have been more than maybe 6 ounces, and it was just fat. Same thing with a 2nd order... all fat. And the 3rd plate... raw! As in, extremely rare (she had ordered medium rare). At this point, we were all pretty fed up with the experience. We called the manager again and he came over and said he would give us a 21% discount for the wait and forgotten coffee. At that point, we said we were not paying for the steaks, as they were inedible. He sort of looked at the plates and said, "ok, don't worry about anything, you don't have to pay" and just walked away. So that's what we did. No apologies from him, no excuses for the wait... I've never had a worse dining experience. I know this is a 'newer' restaurant, but they have a LOT of kinks to work out and I'm extremely disappointed that Cafe21's brand is associated with this, as I've always had extremely delicious food and amazing service there. Too bad

    (1)

  • Davis W.

    It doesn't get any better than this. If you only visit one bar in san diego it should be here. Now a days it's all about quantity when u go out but not here. It's all about the quality. Travis is the man. He made us the best drinks I have ever had. I cannot explain how good this place is. Get here early and have him make you something custom. It's drinks and a show. You can tell when people are passionate about what they do and they are here. Don't miss out on this experience.

    (5)

  • Elica Y.

    Came here on a whim when I visited the Gaslight District with my boyfriend. This was one of the very few cocktail bars open at 5PM on a Tuesday. Best part is, we came in during happy hour. The concept itself is cool - very science like. You drink your waters in a glass that looks like something you would find in a lab. All of their cocktails are innovative and they tie some kind of science to it. As for their happy hour menu, it is small. You have your choice of sandwiches on a plate and very few drinks. I ordered their English mule (made with gin) and it was very strong but tasty. All of their mules are made with a double shot and it was only $5. Honestly, a steal. I can imagine this place being packed on a weekend. When I came in, the place was basically empty (there was only one other party there). But the bartender/server (she was playing the role of both) was super friendly and gave us tips on where to go in San Diego and what kinds of drinks she likes here at Zymology. As for service, I give this place a 5/5. Kudos to the bartender, she was amazing! But, I really did not like the music they played here. Really loud EDM music blasting. I don't know why all lounges/bars are trying to get into the EDM craze that everyone is in, but I am just not a fan....

    (3)

  • Mark B.

    Note: They open at 3PM, not 3AM like it says above... I've been stalking this place for about a month now simply because Yelp shows them opening at 3AM...but I called them and it wasn't true. They open at 3PM. Bummer.

    (5)

  • Lisa H.

    Beakers, test tubes, Bunsen Burners, dry ice... Are we in a laboratory? No! It's Zymology 21! I came here with my fellow Yelp Elites for a super fun event, and we were all blown away! I personally did not have anything off of the food menu, but heard great things. The drinks are so fun! There is a large list of craft cocktails, and the shrubs drinks were awesome. We were able to mix them ourselves, which I think classifies me as a full on scientist now. We were given a shot of liquor in a test tube, and the shrub in another. Very unique. I also saw coffee being brewed viz Bunsen Burner, which had everyone crowding around! The dry ice in some of the drinks was a super neat effect, something you cannot find in any other bar. The best part was the service! Every server and bartender I encountered seemed super excited about the bar and the product, willing to explain the process of making the shrubs, what was in all of the drinks, and just participating in some fun conversation with all of the guests in the bar. Shout out to Zane, who was running the show. You rock, girl!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm looking forward to returning and getting the full Zymology experience soon!

    (4)

  • Anthony H.

    First time in SD and the concept of this bar is amazing. Got my gf geeking out over drinks being served in beakers and test tubes. Drinks are strong, reasinable, and delicious. Super friendly environment. All of the staff made us feel welcomed especially when they introduced themselves. Travis and kelsey were really chill. Next Time I'm in SD I'll be sure to stop by!

    (5)

  • Jamie L.

    First time coming here this place is amazing!!!! We got the flight with tequila it compliments every flavor!!!! Our waitress was Jessica she is awesome and energetic !! Great service!! Science x art

    (5)

  • Joyce S.

    Mixed feelings that were saved by really top notch service. If it hadn't been for the great service this would have been a one or two star experience. First, we were a large party and since there was already another huge party we were seated in an awkward combo of booths + tables so that you could only really see/talk to people in your section. Not the restaurant's fault two large parties booked the same night but made for awkward seating. Second, because we were in the back we were largely ignored by our waitress. Luckily we expressed our concerns to one of the other waiters and explained we were there for a special event and he was awesome. Said he would take over the table, took our orders, checked in often and when they realized they were out of desserts he got the bride a free shot. Third, the drinks are hit or miss and the food was nearly all miss. My gin shrub was supposed to come with the peach/plum shrub and came with grapefruit. The overall taste was completely forgettable and once the ice started melting it was just like slightly sweetened water. Very little gin in this drink. On the other hand the Bloody Mary was awesome. The presentation is super neat with little mini carrots, on the side, a "shot" of beet juice, your bloody mary and a cube of CHEESE. I ate the carrots, nibbled on cheese and had a delicious bloody mary perfectly complemented by the beet juice. Amazing and really unique. The fried chicken and waffles was served with Hong Kong style waffles (dimpled instead of the grid). Waffle was dry, chicken was dry, with the syrup it was barely passable. Lamb lollipops were completely overcooked, bland, and tough. Cuban sandwich was delicious, a small-ish portion but super tasty and perfectly crisped/melted/everything. We wanted to order dessert (a Snickers based thing) but they were out of Snickers and thus out of the only dessert in the entire menu. Poor planning/they should probably have more than one dessert? Lastly, the bill was split incorrectly between the sections of our table making for some confused math until we realized the error. Waiter apologized and for the mishaps, gave us 20% off coupons to Cafe 21 (same owner) and then gave the bride and groom free drinks. Overall, I would wait a while so that they can get into their groove before going again. Like their playful approach to food and cocktails but the kitchen definitely needs some improvement. On the other hand, they really killed it with the service, could have been a really unhappy group of people but in the end we all left with mostly positive feelings about Zymology.

    (4)

  • Zuzana V.

    Great cocktail spot and solid food options. On a recent visit had the mule which was perfect for a hot SD summer afternoon. Also ordered the cuban sandwich, which is an open faced version of the traditional cuban sandwich. Bartenders are very friendly and knowledgeable. Service is great. Can't wait to go back and try the brunch menu!

    (4)

  • Corinthian T.

    For your first time U gotta get a flight. Won't get U messed up but the presentation and taste is great. They were short staff when my girl and I got there so it was understood that we wouldn't be tended to much. But even when staff increased weeee still weren't taken care of properly. The drinks, atmosphere, and idea was dope but service was worse than I expected.

    (3)

  • Kelly V.

    If you want an adventure in your mouth, stop by for a drink or six. The menu makes the term "craft cocktails" look like a deflated whoopie cushion. The cocktails are expertly crafted (with science, I presume) and the cocktail flights should really just be booze and sugar water but are instead a rich, delicious combination of magic and wizardry. The ambiance is very much a "Come in! Hang out! You had plans at 3:00 p.m.? Not anymore!" There are communal tables up front if you want to make a new friend or more private booths in back. The ladies who took care of us yesterday were a riot. Regretfully, I didn't get their names but they were a significant part of our most enjoyable afternoon. As we left them with several "eye garnishes," I think they'll remember us. ;)

    (5)

  • Violette S.

    Awesome place! Interesting menu, fab happy hour, delicious drinks and super cool interior design.

    (5)

  • Marianna T.

    LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!! I am a huge closeted nerd, and this place played right into my geekiness!! Kudos to the owners on going 100% with their Chemistry concept: formulas written on the walls, S[He] and He written on the bathrooms in periodic table form, drinks served in beakers and test tubes, lab stools for seats, and the use of the hexagon for tables and decoration on the ceiling! WAY TO GO!!! The drinks were delicious and very creatively presented! My friends and I got the Shrubz Rum flight and the Shrubz Champagne flight, and when they arrived they were served in individual test tubes sitting in a beaker with dry ice. Every one of the drinks were different despite some of them having the same syrup. Don't leave Zymology 21 without having tried their Champagne flight!!!

    (5)

  • Ceara Q.

    This place was so fun and interactive. Great drinks and amazing food. Very eclectic. We had most of the items on the happy hour menu and were not disappointed.

    (5)

  • Whitney S.

    I came here after being recommended by the hostess at a sister restaurant, Cafe 21. I assumed the food would be just as good, but I was wrong. I'll try and write this without being too negative, but why can't food just be food? Why do they feel the need to add this science "show" by serving food in beakers and test tubes? Our server acted like she didn't know anything about the restaurant. I asked what the soup of the day was, her response was "I think it's tomato soup" (it either is, or it isnt) and when my friend asked how many beignets come in the order, the answer was, "about 10?" She also didn't listen when my fiancé asked for scrambled eggs instead of over easy and the order came out wrong. Lastly, there was only one other table of customers in the entire restaurant, and our service was incredibly slow. My friend's $8 tea came out with the food, and my fiancés coffee came only seconds before our entrees. After dropping the bill, our server took far too long to return, once again considering that we were one of two tables in the restaurant. I was frankly embarassed at bringing my out of town guests here and would never return. Servers need to be trained in customer service, and the executive chef should rethink the menu. Even though my grilled cheese sandwich was tasty, I found it slightly gross that it was described as "fermented bread."

    (1)

  • Jorgeanne C.

    Cute and well-themed. Sister/brother (whichever) company to Cafe 21 you guys did it again! The oh so cute company is well themed and quite clever. At Zymology you get the feel that you are at lab drinking from beakers, mixing glasses, and the like. They also add mist to seem as if the drinks are brewing. Good place to go with friends and to enjoy drinks. I definitely did. I had the champagne popsicle and it was delicious. Not strong but a cute girly drink. We also had the margarita flight and boy were those strong. A good strong. Visited during the busy labor day weekend (the first week they opened) so service was quite slow and it seemed only one guy (veteran cafe 21 employee) knew what the deal was but he sure did deliver. Great service from him and makes you want to visit again. Sadly did not get to try their food but will be making a separate trip for that as their menu boasted some very interesting items. Place definitely has potential to keep busy during the weekend.

    (4)

  • Sean B.

    Gotta try the beef hash! Great staff and some fun drinks. Can't wait to keep coming here!

    (5)

  • Shelby S.

    Very cool idea. The decor is artful and creative and l I like the whole chemistry vibe. It feels a bit, though, like they're trying way too hard to be different. The food was... alright. My chicken and waffles were mediocre. My girlfriend had the "hay hash" and it was terrible. Absolutely terrible. The eggs were cold. The entire dish was cold but the eggs were especially. Apparently they were supposed to be cold because they're "slow cooked". So not a fault overall but they should put something about it on the menu. We asked if she could have her food heated up and they obliged. When the server returned the food, however, it hadn't really been heated at all. Weird. I'll still give three stars though because our waiter was a really nice guy and he compensated by not charging us for her meal and giving me a free mimosa. I may give the place another try but not right away.

    (3)

  • Jane R.

    This place is a lot of fun. Take any science-loving friends you have.

    (4)

  • Ashley T.

    As soon as we walk in AWESOME greeting by Jason and Heather, they were kind enough to start us off with free shots, they know how to show off the presentation of the drinks were amazing, the chicken liver was amazin! Go to happy hour ! Never been served so well and had so much fun, can't wait to come back

    (5)

  • Herb A.

    This place is a joke. The concept of this bar is pretty creative. Scientific-themed bar that uses beakers and other science related paraphernalia that's supposed to appease the public... My gripe is that I had a horrible experience with one of the bartenders. If you're going to pull off this theme, the bartenders (the face of this establishment) should be an authority. Meaning the bartender should be knowledgeable on how to make drinks. This bartender clearly did not. I ordered an old fashioned and hands down had to be the worst beverage I ever had. I'm no expert by any means, but if you're out of a key ingredient (bitters), one would think the bartender would inform the customer (myself) that they're out of it and offer a replacement or something. She improvised and made a beverage that clearly was nothing like an old fashioned that I regularly drink (the drink was too sweet), she did nothing to help remedy the situation when I told her that it was too sweet. I was pretty agitated at this point but did not want to complain because I did not want to come off as an a-hole. But her overall attitude and demeanor really got under my skin. I don't make it a point to write negative reviews often but when I do, it's primarily because there's something that happened (service wise) that I find completely unacceptable. I've even waited a week because I really attempted to not publish this review, but the fact that she made the drink incorrectly and did a horrible job not identifying a service recovery situation...is ridiculous. If you're interested in sweet drinks made with a science twist, this place might be for you. If you're interested in going to a bar where you can trust that they can make EVERY drink correctly. I strongly suggest that you go somewhere else.

    (1)

  • Caoimhe C.

    5* all round experience! Cool decor, comfortable and clean surroundings. Dog were welcome on the patio Great food - chicken and waffles and meat and pickle platters were delicious!! Incredible drinks all served in a novel way - some in dry ice - loved it! Staff - highlight for me. Heather really looked after us. Welcomes, drinks, humour, dinks, dogs, binks, food, brinks. She was awesome - we hugged her.... Sorry Heather! But it says a lot

    (5)

  • Chuck N.

    A 'Scientific" bar right in the heart of gaslamp? Awesome. They have a science / mad chemistry theme and everything comes in science beakers, mixing glasses, etc. And the drinks are unique ones you can't find elsewhere. Service is great too, the host partied with us all night. The bartenders are really friendly as well. A must go to fun bar!

    (5)

  • Catherine C.

    I love the concept, but the atmosphere needs a little work. It feels a little too raw in there for me to really get a comfortable feel, and the drinks are interesting, but not something I think I'd want to drink on a regular basis. I had fun trying their flight of drinks-- you could sample all their vinegar flavors with your choice of alcohol. I chose to mix everything with bourbon. It's as fun thing to share with a friend-- you each can have about a shot sized taster of 6 flavors, served to you in test tubes, and beakers for your glasses. They pour frozen diesel over the test tubes to chill the drinks, and the effect is much like what you would see if it had come out with some dry ice in the glass. I had come here just after dinner, so unfortunately I didn't try out the food, but my friend and I had a good time here, and it was really quiet on a rainy, weekday evening. Service was very friendly, prices were fair, parking is typical downtown parking.

    (3)

  • Benjamin T.

    My girlfriend and I read about this place and really wanted to give it a try. We went around 12:30p so we missed the morning rush and sat right down at the bar. Heather was our bartender and was a lot of fun and really down to earth. She was easy to talk to and we got good information from her about the place, the food and the drinks. I got the bloody mary and chicken and waffles. Both were delicious and had a cool spin on them. Take a look at the pictures. The presentation definitely makes for a fun experience. If your looking for something different, but still taste amazing, check em out. The whole staff was engagaing. Didn't get the bar-backs name but he was cool too.

    (5)

  • Vanna S.

    I stumbled across this restaurant on Instagram after I clicked a photo of their drinks that had caught my eye. With it being in San Diego, I had to give it a try! My friends and I went on a Friday night for dinner, and surprisingly it wasn't busy. Our server, Jason, had a fun personality that made our experience even more enjoyable. I had the *Lobster Corn Dogs ($11) and shared the *Shrub-Arita Flight ($21) with a friend. I'd say the Lobster Corn Dogs were good, but nothing amazing. The portion was a bit disappointing. They were more like corn balls, and came with two that could be consumed each with one bite. My friends had other dishes, like the Chicken and Waffles and Salmon BLT, which they loved. The Shrub-Arita Flight was fun to try! There were 5 different flavors and served in test tubes that we poured into beaker shot glasses to drink. Zymology 21 is a place I would go back to for the drinks and the atmosphere. With the chemistry concept they have going on, it's a restaurant like none I've seen. It's worth a trip!

    (4)

  • Danielle T.

    One of my friends from out of town suggested this place and I was kicking myself for not knowing about it. The theme of Zymology is fun and ingenious. I love that they serve their drinks in test tubes and beakers. They're mixed drinks are creative and fun. Next time I go I definitely want to try their alcoholic Popsicles.

    (5)

  • Adam S.

    Zymology 21 serves up some of the best drinks for your money in Gaslamp. The staff here are very friendly and the bartenders make some awesome cocktails and in my experience, they have always been made strong! I feel like it's just standard practice here to make everything superb! Big kudos for the science pitch. If you enjoy watching the art of mixology, then Zymology 21 is the place to go because they make their drinks in a "laboratory" setting, using beakers and vials. It's all very nerdy... in an awesome way! The prices are a bit high but like I said before, you are getting your best bang for your buck in Gaslamp here.. Overall, Zymology 21 is one of my favorite bars in San Diego, top to bottom, from drinks to food to service to cleanliness. It's all very impressive. Great for groups and no cover charge! Definitely need to check this place out if you are downtown!

    (4)

  • Jennifer Q.

    The server was extremely knowledgable and super friendly. We bought more drinks because of him, so I give him props for all those up sales :) But the drinks can sell themselves too, they are delicious. I love the science-y feel of the theme and the flavors are unique and tastey. I had a great time here with friends and I will be back!

    (5)

  • Darlene B.

    So this is the old Cafe 21 location, and YES - they are related restaurants. Our waiter, Zane, explained that this location was all about the customer experience. How you order food at the register, sit down, and when you're done, you're free to leave. It kind of has the Fast Food experience, with the nightlife ambiance. Walking around downtown, on a Sunday afternoon around 4PM craving brunch. I've seen this place on Yelp a few times, so we stumbled on in. We asked if they were still serving food, they had to double check with the kitchen, and were happy to do it. Great menu, has the Cafe 21 vibes, but personalized it with some Zymology. I ordered the Steak & Eggs. I usually take my eggs scrambled, but I was so hungry I took it however they had it. It came with a side of corn bread topped with salsa -- my goodness, everything went well together. There was a sunny side up egg on top of the steak, and I'm not a runny egg person, but this combo complimented each other. This place has a science vibe, so the complimentary water is poured into beakers, so creative! Overall - great customer service, awesome food, kind of pricey...can't wait to come back and try the drinks. They deliver in a dry ice-like presentation -- I'll find out soon. :)

    (4)

  • Alyssa L.

    Wasn't too impressed. It's a good idea but they seem to have fallen short. The bartender didn't know what she was doing, acted as if she'd never bartended before. We ordered the cheese plate and was told it had Gouda (which was the selling point) and it did not in fact have any Gouda. Though I will say the Popsicles were delicious.

    (2)

  • Carmen V.

    This place is fantastic in all senses. Superb location in Gaslamp, the best design you can get, you will find hexagons everywhere here, even at the bathrooms! (take a look at that mirror and then you can take that selfie!). Everything is decorated like a chemistry lab, very fun and smart design, I completely fell in love. The lab is open, they announce in their poster at the entrance, and seriously these mixologists are crafting unexpected and miraculous concoctions. Every single detail here is very well thought. I am not sure about the formulas written on the walls though:) not sure of invented of my chemistry knowledge belongs to high school days. You will have fun for sure trying to decipher those and also trying to figure out who ares those scientific looking dudes graffitied all around Zymology. Very attentive servers and fun atmosphere. Will go back soon to try the food.

    (5)

  • Julia S.

    I love this place. So much character. Calm music. Delicious salads and sandwiches. Good coffee. Good people. Fine Tea selection. So many good vibes here. I usually meet with friends for a warm drink.

    (4)

  • Christina A.

    I've been here twice now, and really love the cool concept of the mad scientist mixology laboratory. The drinks are all served in beakers, and the bar is decorated like a chemistry lab! Trying the flights are a definite must! I prefer the gin flight over the vodka flight. The fire show is very cool, just make sure you have a server who is able to perform it!! Only certain people can while others can't, and in my opinion it is no fun without it! I love what they do with the dry ice. It is very entertaining. Really cool bar to take guests too! Side note: absolutely hated the beet flavored flight - steer clear of that flavor! Everything else was great!

    (4)

  • Matthew B.

    JB nocked it out of the park with his superb service. Walking us through the menu, keeping the over intoxicated guys out and checking in on my wife and I. He had great conversation, he drinks were great. The vibe of this place is pretty chill. I'd come back, thanks JB.

    (5)

  • Nia R.

    Came to Zymology because we had breakfast at Cafe 21 and heard Zymology had the same owners. This place is so cute with the chemistry theme. It's also a cool concept for drinks. They ferment fruits and veggies and incorporate them into alcoholic drinks. The drinks are served in test tubes and beakers. They also light the drinks on fire for a cool effect. The bartender was so friendly and nice. When he found out it was one of our birthdays he brought out complimentary shots. They were also testing new flavors so they asked us to be the guinea pigs. The best drink on the menu is by far the strawberry flavored one. I recommend this place for a few pre-drinks before you head on to the next place. It's definitely fun with a cool concept. The taro chips are also great!

    (4)

  • Jackie K.

    Cool place to hang out and bring out your chemistry skills haha. The theme is pretty cool and the people are nice. I tried the flight, where you pick 1 spirit and it comes with 5 test tubes with different flavors ($21). I got the Bourbon whiskey and it was tasty, it was also enough to share with friends. If you get the flight make sure to use the rubber stopper to mix/shake the test tube before drinking..I made the mistake or drinking it thinking it was already mixed.

    (3)

  • Elle N.

    Been here twice. Once during halloween weekend where I first met Jason, he was finishing up his costume, and hes really awesome. Makes you feel right at home. Ordered the flight w/gin that I shared with my cousin. Some of the shrubs were a little lighter than others so you could really taste the gin. So we asked for more shrub and they happily got us more. Also ordered another drink that was good but forgot the name of it The next time I came here was a couple weeks ago with some out of town guests. They really loved the atmosphere and enjoyed drinking out of beakers. Plus Jason was a great host. I promised Jason I'd come for brunch soon, can't wait to actually try food here instead of a liquid diet hahaha.

    (5)

  • David P.

    Came in for a couple of drinks during comic con and I could not have asked for a better experience. The drinks were amazing, their manifesto tasted like an IPA in cocktail form. Fantastic friendly service as well! A great place for interesting drinks and good craft beer.

    (5)

  • Avery B.

    I was attracted to the chemistry theme of this place. Very clever! Our waiter was extremely friendly and talkative. If you order their special coffee, he shows you how it's brewed. Very interesting! Some of the appetizer portions are really small, especially for their price. However, you get a good deal getting the open-faced Salmon BLT. Cheap, generously sized, and delicious! I liked four of the five margarita flavors we tried in our flight. Cocktail wasn't bad either. I loved the BLT, but overall, I'd come back here with my friends more for the environment than for the actual food and drink itself. It's a cool experience.

    (4)

  • Carlos R.

    Happy hour from 3-8. The drinks are outstanding. Beautiful flavors mixed together. It is definitely a tourist must have and a definite for locals to stop by and enjoy. The staff is very helpful and polite. It's as if bill nye the science guy opened up his own bar.

    (5)

  • Dimitri T.

    Food - amazing ! Fun flavor combos. Savory delights. Everything made in house. Service - off the hook entertaining. Jason is a master of his craft. Drinks - the science and chemistry theme is so fun. Prepare for drinks and glassware that are completely different and innovative. Mixology is done at the table or at the bar depending on your sense of adventure. The bubble party - It's a secret - ask Jason for details!

    (5)

  • Stephanie D.

    What a great experience! We came in as a group on Friday evening and our host Jason was the best! He was thorough on explaining menu/drinks, had great recommendations for each of us, and went out of his way to make my birthday really special with bubbles, cake and even taking photos of our group :) I recommend the kobe sliders, booze popsicles and ask for Jason! We'll be back here again for sure and are looking forward Cafe 21 (sister bakery) too!

    (5)

  • Jamaal A.

    Genius. They're serious about their craft. And if you're a fan of Cafe 21 then you're in good shape. (SAME OWNERS). This ain't your average brunch!

    (5)

  • Dung N.

    This bar is from the same owners of Café 21, bringing you "farm-to-bar" cocktails. They have boozy popsicles and drink flights served in test tubes, flasks, and beakers. How cool is that?! They also serve brunch all day and dinner too. Everything here is science-themed! From the employee t-shirts to the bathroom signs! I love their attention to details! You will see hexagon light fixtures, plates and mirrors, portraits of famous scientists (a reference to Bill Murray lol), and the periodic table. I was here for an event and they set up tables with a fruit mixed shrub in test tubes to mix with your choice of alcohol: vodka, gin, tequila, rum, or bourbon. I enjoyed sampling a few of the fruit shrubs such as the strawberry/lime, grapefruit/blood orange, and the apple/blueberry. They have many different fermenting fruits along the right side of the wall, which is what they used as our mixers- I was told it takes 3 days to make those things. Over at the main bar, they were making the Equinox Fizz in beakers. It was pretty strong and the fizz was dying since I was too busy taking pictures... I felt like I was in a laboratory because there was always something scientific going on. They showed us how to make tea on Bunsen burners and if you prefer coffee, they will make it for you the same way. I even got to try a few food items. The lobster corn dog, seared beef loin, and beet cured salmon club were all yummy. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to open wide or use utensils lol. Before the night ended we were feasting our eyes on the dry ice entertainment! Bubbles were formed and popped like I was watching magic show. It was awesome!

    (4)

  • Trang N.

    5 stars for chemistry/laboratory theme place, customer service, and drinks. I also met the boss and he's a really kind man who puts customers first. The drinks that I got -- margarita tequila flight was just the perfect mix. This place was also really crowded on a Saturday night but thank goodness we arrived early!! Our server was so kind and took the time to explain the menu and drinks. There was even a guy server who dressed all nerdy! Overall I had an amazing experience and would highly recommend it to you. Haven't tried the food yet so I can't write a review about that but for sure next time!

    (5)

  • Nick H.

    LOVE IT HERE!!! My friend came into town to visit. And it was my little sisters birthday. So we decided to try something new. PERFECT PLACE! Customer service was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't emphasize how great it was. To top it off the food was amazing! I recommend the fried chicken and waffles!

    (5)

  • Brandon T.

    Can here a few times, and its a great experience. This last time we went for breakfast and had a great time. They have an interesting way to make coffee through a heated syphon. The waiter Jason was also very nice at explaining stuff and giving good recommendations. Breakfast was interesting, but good. The chicken and waffles looked really good. Im not the biggest fan of their fermentation drinks, but they have other mixed drinks. I highly recommend you stop in here and try one of their dry iced beverages, very sciency and fun.

    (4)

  • Michael L.

    Awesome place with great food, drinks and staff. Had the best time here with my cousin for his 21st birthday. Highly recommended to all of my friends and can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Sophia Y.

    I'm no science nerd, but I'm always down for a good theme, and I'm loving this one! The BF on the other hand was totally nerding out, solving equations on the wall and making jokes about some kind of bonds when we pushed two tables together (yes, even the tables match the theme). Our bartender was super nice and patiently accommodated us as we switched tables literally 4 times as our group kept growing. We ended up taking up a good chunk of the place so good thing we got there early. I loved that they drinks are served in beakers and test tubes. I got the margarita flight which is 5 different margaritas in 5 different test tubes that came to us in a beaker with dry ice. Their drinks are "farm to bar" and are made with shrubs, which I thought it was pretty cool that they would take the time to do that. Overall, while we were initially just going to start our night there, we ended up spending most of the night there, and we had a great time. Bartenders are awesome and accommodating and this is just a really cool place to hang out.

    (5)

  • Jason J.

    Josh is straight up the worst server in the world. Whenever I tried to order a drink he would make eye contact with me, shake his head, visibly Sigh and then proceed to take 10 minutes to come to my table. He also charged freaking 20% gratuity for his shitty ass service even though we only had a small party... Not to mention it took him on average like another 20 minutes to bring us drinks. Not worth the money or the time

    (1)

  • Gary M.

    Wow, wow, wow! Came in for breakfast and blown away. Salmon Hash with the house (special) habanero salsa. Jason is the foodie bomb!! Ask for him... (he's in Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Also had a taste of the avocado sandwich, super duper! The brunch menu is creative and fresh, different for sure. Definitely a Gaslamp hit!!!

    (5)

  • Miriam M.

    I don't think I ever loved chemistry this much (or I should say at all) until coming to Zymology. I mean drinking with test tubes, and beakers, and dry ice, and fire? Such a fun a idea. Came randomly for birthday brunch since I am new to the area and didn't know where to go. The place was pretty empty for a Saturday morning brunch. Staff: Friendly and accommodating. Bartender Jason is so nice and energetic and is very knowledgable and passionate about mixology. He is kinda all up in your grill if you sit at the bar but he promises to be entertaining. My friend and I enjoyed him but if you're that shy kid, maybe sit at a table. When he found out it was my birthday he was extra nice and the other bartender made us a little bit of cotton candy for free. Drinks: I am usually pretty boring with drinks, go for the cheap and chill stuff. Well drinks and glasses of red. But here I wanted to try everything. They had a $5 Moscow Mule special that morning that my friend got and I went for the mimosa flight. It's pretty fun concept because you get a full beaker of spanish cava and all 5 shrub/syrup flavors to mix and try as you like. The table next to us got some cotton candy cocktail that comes with a huge wand of cotton candy that is spun right there at the bar. Food: My chicken and waffles was good but not mind blowing. As much as I like gourmet and new twits on classic combos like this (cheddar waffle with fried chicken) it comes with jalapeno infused agave and all I wanted was some good old fashioned maple syrup and ketchup lol. They didn't have any syrup which I found odd for a brunch place but they were really apologetic and offered me honey. My friends avocado toast with creamy feta spread and poached egg was really delicious though. Next time I want to check out the night vibe here but this is a fun place with a new spin on how you drink to take your friends.

    (4)

  • Daniel C.

    I want to like this place a lot more than I did. I love the concept and the presentation was on point, but I was left wanting more from the actual drinks and food. We had the Shrub flight because the flavours sounded appealing, but they all tasted very similar. We ordered rum but got tequila, which we didn't realize until the third one since we started with habanero which was overpowering. We also had the chicken and waffles which were decent.

    (3)

  • Danielle D.

    Had an absolute blast here. I came for brunch with some friends and was really Impressed with the decor and atmosphere! So fun and original. The blood Mary's we ordered came on a tray with about ten topping choices, complete with hot sauce in a test tube! I love theme bars and was quite pleased with the beaker glasses and overall display. We ordered fancy coffee and had fun watching the lights heat up the water at the coffee display up front. We ordered the pulled pork hash and it was delicious! I highly recommend this place and can't wait to come back next time am in San Diego.

    (5)

  • Ashley M.

    I'm definitely a nerd deep down so this place speaks to me!! Decor/location: Zymology is located in Gaslamp, somewhat near the urban outfitters (across the street and down half a block). It's pretty easy to spot. The decor is on point!! Like I said, I'm a nerd, so all of these "sciency" things definitely catch my attention. The aesthetics of the whole bar is perfect, every little detail has some sort of chemical meaning to it (which I is super exciting to me). They're definitely known for their drinks to come out in test tubes and beakers, which they do! And it's really neat. Service: We went on a random Tuesday, in the middle of the day so it was pretty calm. There were able 2-3 other parties so things were slow. Which was good because there was only one person working. He was both our server and our bartender and was very friendly and speedy and helpful with everything. Drinks: We only got the Shrub Flight ($21). You get to choose a spirit (vodka, rum, or tequila- we got tequila) and then it comes in 5 different flavors: -Stone Fruit Habanero: Try this one last!! Or towards the end. The habanero flavor is very powerful and can easily taunt your next drink (and not exactly in a good way). This is probably the one I dislike the most. The spice was just too much and it was a weird and unpleasant drink. -Strawberry: This wasn't too bad. However, my impression of it was literally tainted by the habanero from the previous drink so it could have been better for me. It's not extremely sweet the strawberry flavor is there, but very faintly. -Ginger Lime: Surprisingly my favorite! This was hands downs my favorite of the five. Very refreshing and the ginger and like flavors were great complements with the tequila. I would definitely order this one again. -Pineapple Vanilla: Meh...this was okay. Not badddd, not goodddd...just meh. You can kind of taste the pineapple but the tequila is pretty strong for these flavors to cover. -Blueberry Basil: I also liked this one a lot. The blueberry basil flavor was very apparent. It was like a sweet vinaigrette-flavored drink which was interestingly good. Very flavorful drink, especially compared to the previous drink. If you're in the area and are curious, I would say try it! If not, I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to come here, but I definitely do want to come back and give their drinks another shot! (shot...haha get it?! ;) I'm lame okay sorry...)

    (3)

  • Diana B.

    Come for the aesthetics because they put a lot of work into the decor, but the test tube sampler was subpar in my opinion. Decor: Everything inside was science-related in some way (bring out your inner nerd!!) there's a long stretch of chalkboard with science formulas and the booth is made of hexagons (benzene rings!) Even most of the drinks come in beakers ... Throwback to the good ol chemistry lab days. Service: I think it was difficult for the bartender because it literally looked like he was working all by himself. We came in around 1pm on a Tuesday (not your typical peak hour) It did take awhile for him to come and greet us, for our drinks to come out, and I had to walk up to the bar to hand him my card because I didn't think he was coming back anytime soon. Drink: We ordered the test tube flight with tequila $21. You choose your base of alcohol (rum, tequila, or vodka) and they mix it with the five flavors they have. It comes out with one large beaker and five large test tubes inside. The bartender lights his cup and pours the liquid nitrogen in. It was really cool to watch. The drinks weren't my cup of tea. It starts with the habanero (labeled 1-5) and I honestly think that should've been last. Because they give you smaller beakers with ice to pour your drinks into, I think the habanero tainted all the other flavors that came after it. Also, it was difficult to taste all the other flavors because all we could taste was tequila. The one I liked the most was Ginger Lime, the rest weren't that tasty. If I do come again, I would probably try the vodka flight because I don't think the flavor would be as overpowering as the tequila.

    (3)

  • Gretzen L.

    A sister company of Cafe 21. Definitely has a different feel. It was like walking into a science lab. They have cocktail flights served in test tubes. The presentation is super cool. It is all put into 1 beaker w/ dry ice - ooooooh aaaaahhh!. I had a few bites of their food that ny friend ordered, which was tasty. Too bad I wasn't hungry when we came here, but I would definitely come back for the food. They have HH daily and its from 3-6 I believe.

    (4)

  • Derek M.

    Heard good things about this place from my other friends so my girlfriend and I decided to try it out. I really like how they serve their beer/alcohol/wine in test tubes and beakers. It is definitely not your average bar and restaurant as it brings a more "sciencey" vibe with all the cool materials. We went during happy hour which was from 3pm-6pm. The prices for the food and alcohol were reasonable. The bartenders that helped us were helpful and energetic and on top of that the music that was playing was good for my taste. I'll be back here again to try the rest of their drinks and beers.

    (5)

  • Shawnta W.

    I loved the chemistry-lab-vibe they had going on (former chemistry tutor) complete with beakers, test tubes, and balanced chemical equations on the walls! It may have been too much for me, we ordered the flights with vodka - the strawberry-something one was SO good!! The others blackberry-basil, pineapple-vanilla bean, not so much, I don't care too much for too many flavors or odd combos, give me 2-fruit something with vodka and call it a day. We also ordered Lobster corn dogs (something like that), the lobster mix inside was okay; B. The service was EXCELLENT however (why I gave 4 stars), Benjamin and Anna took good care of us! Presentation was good; complete with 'ooohhhs' and 'aaahhhs'!! Its worth checking out, but I can't say I would run back there. I think this is a good spot to bring a group, it was fun!

    (4)

  • Glen H.

    If you want something fancy that you've never tasted before Zymology is a good place. I give it 3 stars because besides the drinks, it really didn't impress me.

    (3)

  • MarVy S.

    ~Late Post~ My friend and I went to the Gaslamp Quarter for our New Years Eve celebration. Everywhere was packed and we wanted a not so over crowded place. Luckily we found Zymology, it wasn't very busy and there were open tables. When it got close to midnight Jason gave us champagne, bead necklaces, and noise makers. Happy New Year! ::Drinks:: Under the Shrub Simple Syrups, we got the Strawberry Balsamic Margarita (Tequila Cabeza) and the Apple Cranberry Honey Vodka Collins (Duck and Weave). We both liked our drinks. Next time I want to try the Margarita Flight. ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) ::Food:: We got the Chicken and Waffles. It came with chicken breast and herb cheddar waffles. The Habanero agave nectar syrup was delicious. Next we got the Kobe Silders. It was served on a narrow long white plate. The sliders had Wagyu beef, Red onion jam, blue cheese, argula, and brioche bun. We enjoyed this dish too! ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) ::Customer Service:: Jason was very friendly, funny, and helpful!! He kept us entertained and happily answered any questions we had. Jessica was also nice, she made us feel right at home. She helped us with choosing our drinks and food. ::M's Notes:: ~Inside and outside seating ~Street Parking ~Garage Parking

    (4)

  • Glynnes P.

    Let my ComicCon week begin, with SCIENCE!! Elmar totally drew me in (one of the coolest 11yr olds I've met!), and the super tasty craft cocktails got me to stay. This might be my spot for the week!

    (5)

  • Cynthia M.

    Josh was absolutely incredible! This was a lovely introduction to San Diego bar life (outside of comic con rush) for this LA native! Josh described everything that he was making for us and is just a fantastic mixologist overall!

    (5)

  • Isabella B.

    ABSTRACT: I took my sister and cousin on a Sunday evening to Zymology 21 to try their shrub cocktail flights. My shrub flight consisted of five shrubs mixed with rum. Upon trying all flavors it was determined that the much of the flavor of the cocktail was due to the shrub and the enjoyment of any of the shrub flavors was due to the consumer's flavor preferences. INTRODUCTION: Zymology 21 is a bar located along San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter on 5th, formerly the site of Cafe 21 (which has moved to the former spot of Croce's). Focusing on the science of food and drink, it focuses on the farm-to-table aspect of their bar bites and uses techniques found in molecular gastronomy to create and highlight their drinks. Zymology's signature cocktail line is their shrub-based cocktails. Shrubs refer to a base of sweetened vinegar-based syrup. On 3/15/2015 I conducted a study that explored five different shrubs using the same base liquor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two shrub flights were purchased. One set was vodka (my cousin and sister) and one set was rum (for myself). The base rum used for all five shrubs was El Dorado. Rum and vodka was used because the spirit properties are the most neutral, leaving the flavor of the cocktail based on the shrub. Five shrub flavors were created for the purposes of creating the shrub cocktails. Shrubs were introduced by order of intensity, with the last shrub cocktail containing the most "intense" flavors. Shrubs were introduced as a set of five test tubes contained in a 400ml beaker containing dry ice to cool the drinks. I: Grapefruit Carrot II: Pear Blackberry III: Strawberry Balsamic IV: Apple Cranberry Honey V: Grilled Pineapple Coconut H2O A 100ml glass was provided for easier consumption of the shrub cocktail. Additionally beignets were purchased for consumption to keep party in a slightly satiated state. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: - Upon receipt of the cocktail the server lit the water that would activate the dry ice. This had a simultaneous effect of cooling the shrubs. - A fly was noted on the tube containing the Grapefruit Carrot. Upon inquiry server promptly replaced the tube with a clean serving. On tube #1, the rum brought out the grapefruit. On tube #2, the rum reduced the blackberry tart and made the pear flavor bitter. On tube #3, the rum reduced the tart of the balsamic vinegar while enhancing the strawberry flavor. It tasted like you were really drinking spiked balsamic vinegar. For tube #4, the rum emphasized the cranberry's bitterness while bringing out honeyed apple. Finally, for tube #5, it was observed that with the addition of coconut and rum it was similar to drinking Malibu and end result was a drink similar to a pina colada. Beignets were small and pillowy, lighter than other fried doughs found in other restaurants and street fairs. CONCLUSION: With rum being a neutral cocktail my predilection for a particular cocktail was based on my preferences of the shrub ingredients. My favorite shrubs were tube #3 and tube #5, followed by tube #2 and my least favorites being #1 and #4. I am fond of well-mixed pina coladas, blackberries, strawberries and balsamic vinegars while not being so fond of pears, cranberries and especially grapefruit. Therefore it was not surprising that my shrub preferences ended up in that particular order. Subsequent visits will have me trying out their non shrub-based cocktails from their collection, especially their boozy popsicles. Given a chance to drink another shrub-based cocktail I'll most likely take a single serving of #5.

    (4)

  • M D.

    Where do I start!? I try a lot of places and feel like a seasoned critic. I appreciate unique pairings and like to have an experience on top of just eating out. Zymology is like a science lab of food, and they have mastered the farm to table while also providing a great dining experience. If you're familiar with Cafe 21, you'll know that this is one of their sister restaurants, and has a similar feel about them, but are very different. Every dish I tried tasted far better than I ever expected and I did have high expectations. The chicken and waffles were out of this world. I already can't wait to go back and bring friends to try them again. The green eggs and lamb were incredible and not too filling, as the lamp chops were a few bites each (the perfect portion size). I love how it's all about quality and not quantity. The servings are generous but not overwhelming, which is a nice change for breakfast. Their flights are phenomenal and quite a show as they light up a liquor and pour it over dry ice. Expect the flight to be served in test tubes, in keeping with their theme. I could go on and on, but I'll let the pictures do the talking. I love a lot of places, but for me, this place is #1! I will be going back there very regularly. I was also lucky enough to meet their manager Jason, and they are very lucky to have him! He made us feel so welcome and taken care of.

    (5)

  • April D.

    We decided on a Happy Hour drink before heading to see Steve Byrne at the American Comedy Co. and the boyfriend had been eyeing this place for a while. Stepping inside looks like a Science Camp for adults. We walked in to sees bartender serve up a test tube flight using flaming liquid to set off the dry ice harboring the flight. We sat at the bar and ordered a Gin Collins with the Strawberry Balsamic Shrub and a Caribbean Mule with a Grilled Coconut Water Shrub. Both concoctions were smooth and flavorful. The Shrubs really made the drinks easy to drink and brought a bit of that acidity from the fermentation process. Our bartender was really nice and felt bad that we were waiting a little bit at the bar until she got a chance to start our drinks. It was well worth the wait! We will definitely come back to try some of the food and perhaps one of their theatrical flights!

    (5)

  • Stephanie K.

    Wanted to try some place out of the ordinary for my vacation brunch ... This place was perfect! High energy and entertaining creative bartender that made me a drink that was specific to my preferences .. Food was good but I personally think that the service and energy from the staff is what made my experience stand out ! Definitely come in and see jason(bartender) ... It will brighten your day !

    (5)

  • Kristine P.

    Came here on a Monday night to finally try this place out. Perfect night where there is only a few others and so you can choose wherever you want to sit. I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant and bar, which has a blackboard full of equations and formulas and Labradors equipment as decoration. All the drinks are served in beakers or test tubes which is quite unique and gives off a fun experience. Our server was extremely friendly and helpful when looking at the drink menu. We ordered the flight of test tube "shrubs" (5 flavors mixed with your choice of rum/tequila/vodka) with rum which had really interesting flavors, and a whiskey Collins. This weeks flavors were: stone ridge habanero (spicy after taste), strawberry, ginger lime, pineapple vanilla (so smooth!), and blueberry basil. They change the flavors up every week! Though the flight was pretty expensive $21 (~10 shots to share), the experience and atmosphere was awesome. I loved all my lab classes as an undergrad, so this spin with alcohol made it all worth it.

    (5)

  • Courtney O.

    The concept of this restaurant is incredibly creative and fun! It was so entertaining to receive our drinks in test tubes and science beakers. My friend and I ordered mimosa flights so that we could try all five shrubs. The shrubs are almost like flavor syrups to add to your drink base. For us, our drink base was champagne. We were a little disappointed in the size of the champagne given to us. We were given a small beaker to share between the two of us and it barely allowed us to try half of the flavored shrubs. When we ordered a second beaker of champagne, it was only half full. Overall, the food and the drinks were great but service was very slow. I'm not sure if the restaurant is still figuring things out but it took forever for us to see a waiter. A lot of beakers were also dropped during the two hours we spent there. I think that once more time passes, this will turn into an awesome restaurant just like its sister restaurant, Cafe 21. But for now, it needs a little improvement in service and speed.

    (3)

  • Julie K.

    Stopped by here on a Friday night and was surprised at how empty this place was! (Maybe it's the bright, harsh lighting when people just wanna be creepin' in the dark..) As someone who works in science, this place was super fun with the laboratory theme. Beakers, test tubes, hot plates... Now we just need the bartenders to dress in lab coats! My coworkers and I split a flight of their different shrub concoctions. The bartender was explaining how they had different shrubs, soaked in vinegar to make the shots (or something like that..) whatever it was, we were stoked! Each shot was a double, came in a test tube, sat in a beaker and a bartender came over to light something on fire and pour dry ice over it. Fancy special effects aside, the shots were pretty damn good! My favorites were the strawberry balsamic and the kiwi kale. Munchies wise: Sliders: had goat cheese, avocado, yum!! Could probably eat a dozen of these. Beignets: kind of sad. Lacked the crispy, soft flakiness you expect from a fancy French-ass pastry. Pass! Taro chips: super tasty! Wish there was something else to dip them in besides chipotle aoli... Like a bruschetta/guac/salsa or something?? Still delicious tho. Overall I had a great time here and want to come back to try more of their concoctions. The coffee looks fancy and the food itself looks promising. Will be back from brunch!

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :8:00 am - 12:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Brunch
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Trendy
    Noise Level : Average
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : Yes
    Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
    Coat Check : No
    Smoking : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Zymology 21

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