Black Rail Kitchen + Bar

Restaurant · Carlsbad

Black Rail Kitchen + Bar

Restaurant · Carlsbad

1

6981 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92009

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Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null
Black Rail Kitchen + Bar by null

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Californian-global with live jazz, fireplace, and patio  

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6981 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92009 Get directions

blackrailkitchen.com
@blackrailkitchenbar

$$ · Menu

Reserve

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6981 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92009 Get directions

+1 760 931 0020
blackrailkitchen.com
@blackrailkitchenbar

$$ · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Sep 26, 2025

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Stylish Social Club and Restaurant Coming to Carlsbad - Eater San Diego

"With a design inspired by the luxury social clubs of 1940s New York City, Black Rail Kitchen + Bar is bringing a dose of style to the Carlsbad community of La Costa. Replacing Tuscany restaurant in the Plaza Paseo Real complex, its owners are longtime North County residents Grant and Jenny Gottesman. No strangers to the area, the Gottesmans also run Tinleaf Fresh Kitchen and Beach Plum Kitchen, and Grant is a 30-year veteran of the local hospitality industry who spent 18 years as vice president of restaurants for Karl Strauss Brewing Company. Opening in early summer, Black Rail is being designed by North Park-based MY Studio ID’s Melissa Young, whose firm worked with the Gottesmans on Tinleaf and Beach Plum and also designed Waterbar, Stake Chophouse, and the recent Bird Rock Coffee locations. Employing a mix of warm wood, brass, leather, and green velvet upholstery, the 6,000-square-foot space will include two separate dining areas, each with its own bar, as well as outdoor seating. A mural of the restaurant’s namesake, the sparrow-sized black rail bird, will adorn one wall. Offering a modern American menu, Black Rail Kitchen + Bar will serve lunch on weekdays and happy hour and dinner daily; the bar will pour cocktails, beer, and wine." - Candice Woo

https://sandiego.eater.com/2019/4/18/18485654/stylish-social-club-and-restaurant-coming-to-carlsbad
View Postcard for Black Rail Kitchen + Bar

Lana Hadland

Google
My husband and I held our rehearsal dinner at Black Rail this May and it was an amazing experience! We worked with Brittany for at least a year and she was so easy to work with and patient as we took our time to configure our menu, ask a ton of questions, and work to make our special day a reality. We stayed up the street at the Omni La Costa for our wedding weekend, so the location was prime for us. The private space is beautiful and the team made sure every detail was perfect. Our food was amazing and we loved our menu! Everything was seamless, the bar was perfection, and we were able to rent a mic setup from the restaurant as well, which was perfect for speeches. We were so happy with our dinner and would recommend Black Rail to anyone for a private event, rehearsal dinner, or just a regular date night!

AUIE

Google
Our 3rd year in a row celebrating New Year’s Eve dinner at Black Restaurant Kitchen. The food was delicious—the steak was cooked perfectly and served in just the right portion. The pork brine was flavorful and easily one of our favorites of the evening. However, the music stopped around 9 PM and remained off for about 45 minutes. Just as we were reaching the peak of the evening and getting into the mood, the silence felt like a letdown. Last year’s band had everyone dancing—kids, couples, everyone was on their feet, enjoying the music. This year’s band didn’t quite capture that same energy, and the gap in music took away from the festive vibe. While we might return for a jazz brunch (which sounds amazing), we’ll likely try somewhere new for next year’s New Year’s Eve dinner. Overall, a good evening with fantastic food, but a few missed beats in the ambiance.

Ms. Bui-Bernheim

Google
We sat outside so the pictures are a little dark . They have lap blankets , heaters and fires to keep you warm. The drinks were tasty. The chimichurri lentils blew my mind. Steak sandwich was so tender and didn’t fall apart when bitten into . Their desserts were delish. Reservations are suggested as they do fill up

John Mickus

Google
Clearly one of the best restaurants in the area. Awesome menu, food, service & whiskey flights! Take a careful look above the bar... and you'll know why they call it black rail 💪

Fiji Honey

Google
What is not to like about this place? The food and drinks are excellent. The outdoor seating area is elegantly decorated with warm lighting, cushions to rest your back, heaters, and blankets for cold or windy days. How thoughtful is that? The drinks are pricey but are crafted with unique flavors and a twist of finesse. We have enjoyed both the indoor and the outdoor atmosphere, both are great! The light fixtures and branches over the bar is impressive!

Meau Vedrun

Google
Food here seems like a solid combination of tasty and healthy. With the live jazz music this place makes for a great date night spot. Our server was very friendly and made us feel welcomed. If you're interested check the website for details on happy hour 🍻

M Brewer

Google
Exceptional dining experience. Warm and welcoming staff, unique and tasty food, with delicately balanced fresh flavors. Interesting cocktail and wine choices, open relaxed venue with a unique decor (a bit loud on Fri night, don’t try to conduct business😁). Our server Nicole C had impeccable timing and guided our choices with her expertise, curating a wonderful meal from start to finish. Lovely adult dining experience. Would not recommend for children (does not mean you could not bring them, just might be a bit hectic and loud for little ones? … of course we were there on a Friday night). We will definitely be back!

Lauren R.

Google
I came here on my first night in Carlsbad on a Friday night without a reservation. I was lucky enough to get a table right behind the piano. The restaurant was bustling along with live music playing, which was a nice touch while dining. My waiter was very nice and friendly and the staff brought out the food fairly quickly. The empanadas were amazing, and while the meatballs were spicy, they were very flavorful. The little gem salad was pretty good, especially with the shaved anchovies on top. All in all, from the service to the drinks, the live music and the food, it was a perfect dining experience. I would definitely come back and try other items on the menu and hope they don't run out of the créme brûlée on my next visit.
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Rhondie B.

Yelp
One of my new favorite restaurants!! The restaurant is beautiful inside and outside. I love the 2 bar area options, one is by the Piano Player who was really good. The vegetarian options of Flatbread pizza, truffle fries, and Harvest Salad were really good. We were a party of 14 and everyone ordered something different... all delicious reviews for the food and cocktails. Our server Nicole was awesome! She took great care of us so ask for her! I was absolutely stuffed from dinner but couldn't pass up the Brownie desert... oh boy, yummy!
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Debbie S.

Yelp
Long overdue review. The menu has changed since our visit. We came in for Happy Hour before a movie. Decor reminded me of a hotel lobby. Nothing stood out - neither good nor bad service nor food hence the long delay in reviewing. There aren't a lot of gluten free options. But some of the salads look tasty.
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Frank D.

Yelp
Took the family out and WOW what a beautiful place. Great staff and unbelievable food craft drinks to the exceptional service Crab Cakes-delicious Bone Marrow-fantastic Red Snapper -perfection Suggest you check them out
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Gabi A.

Yelp
I am never disappointed by this place. Neither by the food or the staff! I've also gone to a few parties here and let me say, it is a GREAT place to have a party!! Highly recommend for date night, families, girls' night out etc.

Lee D.

Yelp
Another great evening , this time at the patio bar with Michael and Stacey . Same fabulous food, atmosphere.... Now warm enough to open doors and hear jazz music on patio.
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Marissa M.

Yelp
The food, service and ambience were excellent. My fiancé and I came here for happy hour and we shared so many apps: short rib empanadas, meatballs, shrimp, potatoes, brussels sprouts. Sat outside and left just as the band was about to start. Would love to come back again to eat/drink and listen. Came back again the night before my wedding with my mom and MOH and we again ordered the empanadas, Heirloom Tomato + Burrata Salad and the crab cakes and clams/mussels. We shared family style and it was so good! My mom wanted to back again! Can't wait!
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Amy R.

Yelp
Wanted to try something new for dinner and saw Black Rail Kitchen on Yelp. The decor is nice and cozy. Our server was excellent - really hustled getting our drinks and everything out to us quickly. They have happy hour deals which you can order from anywhere (don't have to sit at the bar). Some appetizers for $6. HH drinks were inexpensive as well. We tried the bruschetta, the mini margarita flatbread, the grilled chicken and a salad. Everything was decent. Not great but also not bad. Another table near us ordered the dip sandwich and I wished i ordered that instead. It looked really good. The vibe and service were wonderful so we'll give the food another try again in the future / try different dishes next time.
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Savannah B.

Yelp
Tried to come here 2 Friday evenings and they were closed for a private event, so we are happy we finally came last night and they were open! We initially sat at the first bar when you walk in and ended up moving to the back bar, which felt like a sexier ambiance with the decor and nice breeze with the garage door opening to the back patio. I ordered their Carlsbad Sunset gin cocktail that was a little too sweet for my taste (it might've been the hibiscus), and my partner ordered their "Smoke 'Em If you Got Em" whiskey cocktail that he absolutely loved. We ordered 3 dishes: their Short Rib Brined Barbacoa, the Pork Chops and the Lamb Chops. The short rib dish was absolutely incredible, would order it again and again it was melt in your mouth delicious. The Pork chops, (their most popular dish when asking the bartender and server) and it was good but not thrilled with it, the potato fingerlings were amazing though. The Lamb Chops really stole the show though, they were incredible!! And what really makes the food, the ambiance and everything really great was the service. Everyone was very nice and we could tell a lot of people there are regulars, which shows good soul. Last thing, it was expensive (it is North County SD so take that with a grain of salt), but everything was very quality.
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Christina H.

Yelp
This place is amazing! They have all 3 things going for them: food is excellent, ambiance is excellent, and the staff is fantastic! We had the poached pear salad which we both loved. ( next time I'll get it with less dressing. My husband thought it was perfect) Then my husband got the pork chop which he said was the best he ever had! I had the burger which I liked, but next time I'll get the fries without the mayo aioli on it. Our server, David, was one of the best servers we have ever had! He knew the menu really well and was excellent at making suggestions. All the staff was good and they all help each other. Must come back!
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Dung N.

Yelp
My friend was running really late, so I sat down and enjoyed the live entertainment they had on Sunday. I ordered a flight and basil spritz mocktail while I was waiting. The flight was just 3 glasses- I was hoping for a better presentation. For food, we shared the white Mexican garlic shrimp, which came with some foccacia, but I didn't enjoy either. The chilaquiles and pork belly hash were both better dishes! Since I didn't like my mocktail, I ordered a Chai tea instead. Overall, the food was okay. I did like the vibes, so I think I'll have to try their dinner menu next time!
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Megan S.

Yelp
This review is all about Nicole who was one of the best waitresses we've had in a long time. She was so aware of the menu and provided such genuine recommendations with a passion for her job and food, that we immediately took her recs for ordering and were so happy we did. All 12 of us at dinner truly enjoyed our experience and she was such a highlight of the evening!

Osugradinca S.

Yelp
First timer a month ago and now a regular... food and service were great! Table ordered a variety of house cocktails (Sandpiper, Sparrow & Pelican were Favs) and appetizers (Parmesan truffle fries and brussel sprouts). In addition, you cannot go wrong with pork chop, fusilli, and burger. Has been nice bringing our fur baby along for outdoors dining.
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Stephen T.

Yelp
Friendly inviting atmosphere! The staff are welcoming and ready to answer questions and serve you! Had a couple of appetizers and they were all good! We sat at the bar. Piano player was ok - should have just stuck to playing the piano - singing - a little more practice!
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Rosanna H.

Yelp
I relied on the review of this place and I am pleasantly surprised that it exceeded my expectations. Great ambience and every food that we ordered, from appetizer to the entrees did not disappoint us. Had the Brussels sprouts and charcuterie board for starters and the grilled salmon, fried red snapper, spicy choppino and land sea were perfectly presented and seasoned. The combination of exceptional food and impeccable service created a truly enjoyable dining experience. Bruce, our server,was knowledgeable about the menu, offering insightful recommendations without being pushy. His friendly demeanor and genuine warmth made us feel right at home. He ensured our every need was met, anticipating our wants before we even voiced them. I highly recommend this place and be guaranteed a great experience.
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Faith D.

Yelp
Handsome (and noisy) spot. Live music on a Friday evening. But our 4some was taken to the large dining room beyond the lounge near a big table with VERY noisy children. Cocktails were good. We shared a shrimp appetizer as well as a tomato-basil flatbread. Entrees were lamb meatballs, burger (no fries - fingerling potatoes), and 2 of us ordered the prime rib sandwich with onion rings. We both requested medium rare which was moot as these were slices of meat (well done) and resembled an Italian beef sandwich which neither of us expected. Horseradish sauce and onion rings were good. Michelle our server doubled as bartender. Service was good. We would have preferred sitting in the lounge with the 3-piece cool jazz vs the very loud table with many kids behind us. Wish your hostesses would have asked.
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S P.

Yelp
I just love this place! Their burger, lamb meatballs, garlic butter shrimp, and el Camino cocktail are my go-tos. And their crispy potatoes! Service is always great and I love their live music (and blankets) on their patio.
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Dana H.

Yelp
This is a tough review because some of our food was really good and some was just ok or not that good. We started with the short rib Empanadas. They had no flavor and were very doughy. For my entree I had the Chimichurri Mushroom/ lentil. It was fantastic. Great flavor and nice mix of different mushrooms with some veggies. My husband had the hamburger which he said was good as well. Our friends had salads then the Cubano and the Mushroom Flatbread. The Cubano is very different than a typical one but he liked it. The Mushroom Flatbread was just ok and that was according to our friend and myself since I took a bite. The flavors just didn't go well together. My friend ordered dessert (can't remember the name) but it fell short. Our server was attentive and friendly and we liked the atmosphere but since this place is inconsistent we probably wouldn't go back.
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Kaitlyn H.

Yelp
We had dinner on the patio, where they had heaters and live music, creating a wonderful atmosphere. We started with a flatbread to share, which was phenomenal. For the main course, I ordered the New York steak medium rare, but it initially arrived very well done (not pictured). Our server was extremely apologetic, and they quickly brought out a new steak cooked perfectly to medium rare (pictured). They also graciously took a dessert off our check for the inconvenience. Despite the mishap, the rest of the food was amazing, and the patio vibes were fantastic. Highly recommend!

Mike M.

Yelp
Yeah. It was cool for date night. We took advantage of happy hour and hung around for a couple songs afterward. We'll be back.
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Carlsbad C.

Yelp
The food, servers and ambiance are amazing. The hostesses though - super cold and lack basic customer service skills. They are in a customer service job so when they mess up and give away your table when you called and said you'd be a few minutes late (and they said no prob) they should at the least apologize and have some softness. They just stood there staring awkwardly. Love the restaurant but the hostesses need some training. But this is one of our fave spots and everything else is stellar.
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H S.

Yelp
Got the sandpiper cocktail and the kino garlic shrimp and it was amazing. Cocktail is great if you like sweet drinks like me. Brittany is so great and was amazing to us. Awesome ambience and again her service was the best. Love coming here.
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Eneetra L.

Yelp
Food is good but limited menu. The shrimp is nice and shishito peppers and Brussel sprouts. Wish they had a few more seafood dishes. Bar is great to grab a quick drink. Wish they had Belvedere though. Nice atmosphere. Love music would be nice. But decor is hitting and right down the street in the neighborhood.
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Jimmy S.

Yelp
Great place , nice decor and friendly staff. Was with my niece who was attending the golf tournament at La costa golf resort from North Carolina .

Lauren A.

Yelp
We come to this restaurant every now and then, and always leave with the same opinion. The food is mediocre, never has enough flavor, just ok. We do go back because it's comfortable, nice ambiance and friendly service. This last visit, a couple weeks ago, is why I felt compelled to write this review. I ordered the flatbread, which when described to us, did sound very flavorful. Well, it was the worst I've ever eaten, ever!! The crust was hard, didn't seem cooked, too thick for flatbread. It seemed like a bad, frozen, pizza/flatbread. The tiny bit of sauce on the flatbread had a strange, almost bitter flavor, with some chewy pieces, of what looked like pepperoni, I think it was chorizo, but didn't taste like chorizo. The server mentioned chorizo when describing it, with other flavors that really did sound good, don't know what happened to all those flavors. How difficult is it to make a good flatbread! Our family and friend's food was just ok, as usual. A couple of us had the bartender special drink that night, that was very good, and the girl serving us was very nice. I didn't want to make a fuss, so I didn't complain. But it was supposed to be a special, holiday meal with friends, just wish the food was better.
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David P.

Yelp
This review rating is for one thing only, customer service. Food was good, nothing special. Ambience is very nice. We sat outside and it was very pleasant. Now, the part that gets them a 1 star rating. I ordered a spicy margarita. When it arrived, I took one sip and saw a bug in my drink. I informed the waiter, who promptly removed my drink. I was expecting someone to come by and say something, but no one ever did. The waiter brought me a replacement drink after a 5 to 10 minute wait. The drink had melted and was watered down. Additionally, all the salt around the rim had washed into the drink. I asked for another replacement which arrived a couple minutes later. No one, including the waiter, manager, or anyone said anything to me. No apologies, no gestures of any kind. When we got the bill, we had been charged for all drinks!!! As we were leaving, the manager asked how everything was. When I said no one offered anything, from words to removing the drink, he said that he "meant" to take it off, and said he would make it right. I refused and paid for all drinks. Hopefully, this review will cost them more than a $15 drink!!

Dee ..

Yelp
Not happy with service. Forks & knives put in dish on table for us to give out. Small glasses used for ice tea, never re-filled. No bread offered. Prices too high for what we received in return. Will never go back!
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Lily J.

Yelp
The food is consistently very good. The lamb was excellent but has a spice kick. The pork chop is my friend's favorite. The service is great. The waitress was attentive and filled up my water when needed. Not intrusive. The ambiiance is loud. All the clatter just elevates to a noisy environment. So the management charges 5% surcharge but it doesn't go to employees or health care for the employees, or for the cooks. The charge is there instead of raising prices. We look T the menu for prices. So this surcharge is a higher price without being honest. So they should just raise the prices Is
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E D.

Yelp
The lamb burger was amazing, meatballs very spicy and main portion was a bit small but good, huge portion of salmon. Nice patio and good music. Service was a little chaotic but will definitely return.
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Mateo V.

Yelp
First, the service here was FANTASTIC! From beginning to end. The hostess was welcoming and warm and our server (Brian) was SUPER friendly, attentive, and quick. Service was a 5 star! The food overall was good and 4 stars, which is what's driving the rating. We were here for brunch on a Sunday (with live jazz playing). My son had the basil pizza, other son has a burger, my wife had an open steak sandwich, and I had the crab cake eggs benedict. My son loved the pizza. My other son loved the burger, but the salad was over dressed for him. My wife said the steak sandwich was solid, though the sandwich could have used a bit more sauce or something to moisten up the bread a bit as it was overall a little dry. My crab Benedict was solid as well, although could have Jude's a little more seasoning or kick of something (cajun spice, etc). I also had a cold brew cocktail with bourbon -- that was awesome. We'll be back for sure.
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Vicky K.

Yelp
I've seen this restaurant change hands many many times over the last 20 years. Love what they've done with Black Rail ambiance wise. Our first time in was a party of twelve on a Saturday for dinner. We got a server who might not have been a server because his table side manner was horrendous. When asked to accommodate an allergy his response was "well you're not going to be able to eat like 99% of the menu." This was extremely off putting and the rest of the meal followed suit. Hopefully this was one disgruntled employee but I may wait for this to go out of business to try whatever is next.

Jonathon H.

Yelp
Experience was amazing. Mostly because our waitress named Vanessa was great at her job as she was stunning. Gave all of us great suggestions as far as food and quirky personality made us feel welcomed projecting incredible vibes. Will be coming back asking for Vanessa!
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David C.

Yelp
This is another review of my favorite and most go-to restaurant in Carlsbad. Their method is a science and rarely misses. Tonight's review is for the new menu items, The Rack of Lamb, The Short Rib Empeñadas, Four Cheese Ravioli. The lamb was amazing and highly recommended by the staff. I love that this restaurant group has the staff fully sample the meal and listens to their feedback, for every dish, so the staff is informed and happy to share their thoughts, which is a great thing, and also, for a restaurant there is low turnover, so they must treat them very well, which in turn will double down on their patrons. Back to the food.. Try the lamb, not gamey at all, once you eat with fork and knife grab the bones and eat the meat with your hands. The peas and salad it's partnered with was great and a nice mint yogurt sauce with another element I couldn't pinpoint but added a nice touch. The short rib empeñadas might not be in stock for long cause they are a hot item. The flaky and crisp dough is so texturally nice, and the short rib is great. Pro tip: save the sauce to dip you pork loin sandwich in, the sauce is mild, perfectly smoky, not spicy, someone could drink it straight. Killer chimichurri or some other sauce underneath. The four cheese ravioli I had tried prior to being a standard menu item at one of their amazing wine pairing dinners, which everyone should sign up for. Amazing value. The sauce was so nice and aesthetically pleasing. Ravioli pasta is perfect, and stuffing is nice. Again this place has a method on their food that always pleases and the staff is truly truly hospitable and humble. Keep it up
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Sean M.

Yelp
This restaurant has such amazing ambience- you should sit outside and the food is to die for. You should order some of the vegetarian options.
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Stephanie B.

Yelp
Everything here is top tier. We love the food, the live jazz and the ambiance. Service is wonderful and they gave food options for those with dietary restrictions. We highly recommend!
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Erik S.

Yelp
Pretty good food and drink and nice staff, but pricey, even for happy hour. Black Rail tacks on a 5% surcharge to checks, and still does so after the owner was interviewed in the U-T about how Black Rail lowered prices on some dishes to reflect the year-over-year reduction in the cost of some wholesale foods. These surcharges are a sneaky way of showing off lower menu prices while attempting to pit customers against employees getting fair wages and benefits. When a restaurant has this policy, it's my policy to remove two stars from their review.
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Brian S.

Yelp
We had a large party of 20 for a work dinner. Our server Carlos was pretty solid. He handled the table of 20 smoothly and all most by himself!we ordered appetizers for the table including the Moroccan braised meatballs which were tasting good, roasted beat salad, pear salad and eggplant and the salami flatbread. We also ordered several burgers, whole Branzino.. we sat outside and were provided blankets and heaters which was a nice touch. Overall everything was good and the service was very good. If you are looking for a place to go with a group this is a good choice
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Deb D.

Yelp
My husband and I came here with two other couples. The food was delicious, the service (by Brian) was fabulous, the ambiance was beautiful, and Ron the manager was wonderful!! Highly recommend eating here!
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Linda F.

Yelp
We came for happy hour. I ordered the hummus and wine first off. The my hubs ordered a beer. We were a seated in the back bar alone. No noise and perfect for our date night. The server was amazing but I'm jumping ahead. We ordered the lamb tacos and the specialty flat bread. Everything was cooked to perfection. Our server was perfect just the right amount of attention but giving us our alone time too. As it picked up more people filled the room but the service remained outstanding. This is the second time we've been here and both were excellent!
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Micaela K.

Yelp
My husband and I went for the "early bird" dinner for two and it was so delicious! Service was great, management was friendly and came by to check in but didn't linger awkwardly (have been to some restaurants where it's a little long when you have a mouthful of food, haha). I would highly recommend!
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Casey B.

Yelp
Perfect summer evening dining. At first glance the restaurant looks quaint. But behind the main wall is another bar that leads to a large outdoor dining area. Amazing music from the Whelan band was playing and it was perfect. We sat inside just off the patio in a roomy corner booth. The server, Keith, was attentive and knowledgeable. He was able to guide us in wine and food choices. I got the pork French dip. It was layers of thinly sliced pork with a spicy mustard and havarti. It was juicy, tangy, and creamy. The crispy fingerling potatoes were salty and a nice compliment to the French dip. The dip was also good, I needed more for sure! My wife got the salmon sandwich and it was enormous. An entire salmon filet packed between light, crispy bread. It was expertly cooked and seasoned. She also got the potatoes. A blonde ale for me and a Luke cab for her topped it off. Great place to eat and hang out.
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Dave M.

Yelp
Enjoyed a nice business dinner with some colleagues working on a common project. The wait staff was friendly and attentive and the food was good. We sat just indoors and had the benefit of a gentle breeze and the being inside away from the sun. The restuarant was quiet with not too much noise but this may have been the result of being a Tuesday evening. Overall it was a good choice and teammembers are likely to return.
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Suzanne F.

Yelp
We totally enjoyed ourselves this evening! 7 PM reservations on the patio with live jazz playing. The cocktails and the dinner were both delicious. Cioppino well seasoned, the burger crispy and properly seasoned as well. Very happy after our dinner and well served by Nicole. We look forward to coming again!
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Meena N.

Yelp
We just came for cocktails and a light appetizer and dessert so can't speak to most of the food. Parking: Plenty of parking in the supermarket parking lot. Ambience:beautiful. Velvet lined booths, lovely bar. Sound: the jazz band stopped at 8 but there was another musician. It was pretty loud and couldn't hearselves when they were playing. But when they stopped it was fine. Reservations: we walked in on a Saturday night at 8.30 and didn't need without any reservations and seated immediately. Service: our server was sharday. Attentive without being intrusive. She was very sweet. well executed cocktails. I had the puns and roses and it was wonderful. My husband had the apple blossom and liked it. My friends had the skinny margarita and browned something whiskey and liked it too. We had one appetizer with burrata and bread and it was tasty. We ordered the Malabi and And chocolate lava cake. Yummy. Both very good.

Barbara P.

Yelp
My friend and I went to the Black Rail Restaurant last Thursday evening. We were seated in a booth in the bar area. The service was very good, and our server was helpful as we made our selections. We ordered 3 items to share: a very fresh salad served with an order of flavorful, crisp empanadas. After a few more sips of wine, our server brought a dish with medallions of beef, great mashed potatoes covered in a scrumptious gravy, and finished with perfectly prepared asparagus. We will definitely be back and bring some other friends!
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Jenna H.

Yelp
Tried out this restaurant on a date night and while it had a few highlights it had too many downfalls and we won't be back. Atmosphere The cute booths do have a nice date night semi-private vibe that was nice. There was a live piano player which was nice but was also really loud. Food The only good thing I can say food wise is that they cooked my husband's burger perfectly to medium just as he'd asked for, which is an achievmemt many restaurants can't accomplish. There was a very strong garlic aoli on both the top and bottom buns though and being on both sides was just too strong. I ordered the beef bourguignon and was ultimately disappointed. It lacked flavor and for $29 there really wasn't very much beef and out of the little beef I had there was a huge chunck of fat. So gross! Then the awkward moment of having to try to figure out how to spit out a bite of food in a restaurant full of people. And on top of it all, I felt the portion was too small and left still hungry. I don't eat large portions (size medium 36 yr old woman) and I was still hungry after finishing my plate of food. Service Absolutely awful. Our server was never around. She only came by our table 4 times total, which includes dropping off menus, again to drop off drinks, dropping off our food and when she brought us our bill. My husband waited so long trying to get her attention for a refill on his soda and he ended up just having to go up to the bar and asking the bartender for a refill himself. She never asked how our food was and just stood around awkwardly while we filled out the tip portion of the check. There is also a 5% surcharge on the bill, on top of the expected tip. I personally hate that, just raise your prices a few cents instead.

Greg M.

Yelp
Had a great experience here last night. The food was delicious, as well as the drinks. We had a great server also. Highly recommend this restaurant. From the elegant interior to the service received; 10/10.

Connor T.

Yelp
Place look fancy when we walked in. However, we ordered the pork belly for them to tell us they had ran out of it at 5PM. This was the tip of the iceberg... shortly after waiting 20 minutes for our burgers, the busser had knocked over the features on the table onto the floor. As we continued to eat our meal, our water glasses sat empty for about 10 minutes. The food was meh, I give the bigger about a 5/10, the bun was very heavy and dry. In all, this place has lots of potential with the ambiance of the place. A new chef and maybe some new management would make this place 5 stars.
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Robin W.

Yelp
Aweful service! We were finally greeted by a guy that said he was training someone and that she would be over soon because he wanted her to "do all of the stuff by herself" Started outside but music was too loud. We went inside because we saw some nice booths when we walked in. We were shocked to hear that area was closed....What, it was closer to the kitchen, waitress could have walked over there. Took way too long to be greeted. They weren't even busy! This is a bummer for us as I've wanted to try this place for a long time. They have a breakfast place in the same stretch that is amazing "Plum kitchen" so my expectations were high. Also, the waitress at the breakfast place signed me up for a rewards program and i had a 15$ credit and e-mails to show it. Had to go up to the bar to get check and the waiter scanned my rewards barcode and said; "It says you have zero rewards" didn't even take the initiative to get a manager. Now, about the food. Super expensive and it was not even kind of decent, steak was chewy and the potatoes tasted like french fries with NO salt. Not served with any vegetables, just dried out potatoes that smelled like grease. The only good thing was the busboy but I didn't get his name. He watched the whole ordeal and I'm certain he saw the terrible service unfold. Plus, they put a 5% service fee on the bill. We will not be back...Too many awesome places to eat in Carlsbad. Don't waste your money!
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Shelly F.

Yelp
Pretty good happy hour. Lovely patio and an amazing shrimp appetizer. Came once with a huge meetup group (over 70 people) and they were quite accommodating, doing separate point of sale checks. That's a big plus for large groups!!