Culinary Dropout

Honestly, I didn’t expect much walking in, the branding and menu felt a little scattered, but the food was phenomenal. The short rib was insanely tender and cooked perfectly. Caesar salad had a bold, savory-sour punch. Deviled eggs were creamy with a nice crunch (though I’d prefer a little less filling). You can tell the chef really understands flavor balance. You can tell the chef really gets flavor. Only wish they had a solid gluten-free dessert option to round things out. I’ll definitely be back to try the burger and more.

We were excited to try the new Culinary Dropout in Carmel Valley as soon as it opened, and overall, it was a nice experience. The vibe is fun and relaxed, perfect for a casual dinner out. The menu offers a great variety — somewhere between classic brewery-style food and modern American dining. Everything we tried was really good, from the appetizers to the main dishes, and you can tell they put thought into the flavors. The only miss for us was the ribs — they were okay, but not quite as tender or flavorful as we hoped. The only downside was the wait. We came on a Saturday during peak dinner hours and waited almost an hour for a table, which was a bit tiring. The pricing also feels a little high for what you get, but that may just be the “Carmel Valley factor,” as the whole area tends to be on the pricey side. That said, the staff was attentive, the ambiance was lively yet comfortable, and it’s a great spot for a night out with friends or family.

We had a great time visiting for their soft opening! The staff were super attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience feel very relaxed and welcoming with their “just be yourself” vibe. The ambience of the restaurant is amazing — cozy yet lively, the kind of place where you immediately feel at home. We started with the popcorn shrimp and rainbow sushi rolls. Both were excellent — the sushi was incredibly fresh, and the popcorn shrimp was crunchy and perfectly seasoned. For our mains, we had the steak frites and the pork ribs. The steak was tender and buttery (perfect if you love rich flavors), and the ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender, full of flavor. We paired our meal with a few cocktails: the Endless Summer Margarita, the Abandoned Cadillac, and their signature Old Fashioned. All the drinks were refreshing and just what we needed for a relaxing afternoon. To end the meal, we shared the Mississippi Pie — so chocolaty with a hint of coffee flavor, and absolutely delicious. The overall experience was top-notch from start to finish. I can’t wait to come back when they officially open!

Such a wonderful dining experience! The atmosphere was beautiful, clean, and welcoming. The staff was so friendly and fun. Our server, Joseph P. absolutely KILLED it!! We had such a fun time & he offered amazing recommendations. Everything came out fast and delicious. Definitely returning! :)

Really delicious food 🤤 and amazing choices of cocktail and non-alcoholic beverages. The spicy Avocado roll is a must try, its perfect blend of spice with flavor or avocado. The feta dip was phenomenal, the toast was perfectly crisp and the feta dip had just the right amount of sweet, tangy and creamy flavor. I'll definitely be coming back!

I really wanted to like this place but i was disappointed with their food. The pretzels came out cold. They looked like they’ve been sitting there for a while or over-cooked. The banana French toast has good flavors but too much sauce on top. I initially ordered fried chicken with buttermilk biscuit from brunch menu. It was very salty. The fried chicken filet was crunchy and got good flavor. I think the saltiness was from the eggs. Either way, it’s got too much gravy and the biscuits were very soggy. I told the waitress about it and she was willing to switch it to a different dish for me. I ordered Smokehouse hash. was too full by the time the food came out. I did try it. Again, it’s very salty and heavy with the sauce. The space is big and the decor is modern. It’s a great location for a group gathering. I wouldn’t go for the food again but I think it would be a good place to get some drinks.

We had an incredible lunch at CD Del Mar. It held up well in comparison to Scottsdale Quarter & Old Town Scottsdale locations. We started off with a phenomenal spicy tuna appetizer + popcorn shrimp, highly recommend. Followed up with entrees of Steak Frites, Short Rib, Salmon, and Fried Chicken. All GREAT options depending on the mood you're in. Highly recommend this spot. Thanks to Ryker & Dan for a great first experience here!

Wow! What a great new restaurant. Service - impeccable. Food - delicious. Atmosphere - inviting + the live music was awesome. We had Pretzel Bites, Charcuterie Board, Sushi, Rib Cap and Short Rib meals and everything was sooo good. We also split a mid pie and the lemon strawberry torte. Both were very good. That torte was our favorite with the almond and mint accents really make it pop with flavor. We will be back for sure to try more from the menu and enjoy the good vibes.

Mo made our evening go from good to great. Her attentiveness and knowledge was incredible and for a large table of first timers- we were blown away. We can't wait to come back again!!! THANKS AGAIN, MO! WE LOVE YOU!

Absolutely amazing service the second we walked in the host were so kind and friendly. We grabbed seats at the bar and the bartenders were very helpful especially Michelle and Maddy they were awesome, they made our drinks swiftly and they were delicious. The manager Chris he was our favorite he was so warm and welcoming and was checking on us to make sure we were enjoying everything. The food was incredible didn't take long at all. The ambiance of the restaurant was fun and chill they play good music and have a nice outside bar. Overall was an amazing we will be making this our regular spot!

Culinary Dropout was fantastic. Perfect for the whole family. We showed up mid day without reservations and it was no problem. First impression was great. Hostess was chill and welcoming. Our server was Mo and she was so rad. Super welcoming and knowledgeable. She was on top of drinks and all the things. She even brought extra ice for the iced tea, which was so clutch. I loved that. She made sure the tea was full at all times. We started with the pretzel bites and California roll. Pretzel bites were awesome and served with a little candle to keep it melty. California roll was fine. The table got the fish and chips, the house salad with salmon, chicken katsu and popcorn shrimp. Everything slapped. The katsu was perfect, light and moist. The popcorn shrimp came with zucchini that was fantastic.

Culinary Dropout.... I don't think so! Let's start with location. Surrounded by some of our favorites in the One Paseo area so definitely has location in their favor. Out door patio Full bar . Location as discussed, heavy hitters all through that area.. Dog friendly patio was a plus! Shout out to Chris the manager, came and checked on us upon arrival, pleasant conversation to boot. Waitress was friendly, spoke well and described their menu and even had some recommendations. I had the Steak Frites... now I'm not mad at the meal, but let's actually give some fries. Flavor was great, portion as I mentioned was not quite to my approval. Then there was the "medium rare" (it wasn't ) Not burnt or anything, just not enough pink for me. And if we're talking price point... I would have been better off ordering the Korean New York.. better cut and only a couple bucks more. We will visit again, probably do a date night and leave the bitch at home.. lol ( female dog) . BTW.. Peroni on tap.

Ambiance..very dark place inside with black lights and dark walls Seevice..guy was in a cowboy hat..didn't seem happy to be working there Food..we went for sat and had brunch and lunch menu..loved the food. Got the watermelon bubbly ans ham and cheese grilled cheese with potatoes. Good portions

Super cute although the artwork looks like AI which makes me sad. When we were there on a Sunday afternoon there was live music outside which was nice. The menu is huge. The waitstaff is interesting, not sure they're adequately trained. We were sat immediately without a reservation in a comfy booth. Our waitress was really sweet but not a good listener. We ordered the pretzels with the cheese fondue and they were amazing. Ended up being the star of the show. I ordered the prime rib sandwich. When I saw it on the menu my mind went to a pile of soft pink meat. What I got was tough grey meat on a dry bun. Similar to a Denny's type French dip. Not worth the steep price. I also ordered a side salad that I hated. It was limp and covered in a salad dressing I would never recommend. Not sure I would give this place a second try. It's in a location rife with great places.

I really wanted to like this place but i was disappointed with their food. The pretzels came out cold. They looked like they've been sitting there for a while or over-cooked. The banana French toast has good flavors but too much sauce on top. I initially ordered fried chicken with buttermilk biscuit from brunch menu. It was very salty. The fried chicken filet was crunchy and got good flavor. I think the saltiness was from the eggs. Either way, it's got too much gravy and the biscuits were very soggy. I told the waitress about it and she was willing to switch it to a different dish for me. I ordered Smokehouse hash. was too full by the time the food came out. I did try it. Again, it's very salty and heavy with the sauce. The space is big and the decor is modern. It's a great location for a group gathering. I wouldn't go for the food again but I think it would be a good place to get some drinks.

We visited Culinary Dropout in San Diego on Father's Day with high hopes, and while there were definitely some standout moments, a few missteps kept it from being a 5-star experience. Let's start with the food--easily the highlight of our visit. The Whipped Feta and Tahini Dip was hands-down our favorite--creamy, flavorful, and served with perfectly toasted bread. We also tried the 36-Hour Pork Ribs (fall-off-the-bone tender), the Mongolian Beef Short Rib (great flavor, slightly on the sweeter side), and the Korean-Style Ribeye Cap (well-seasoned and juicy). The Crispy Chicken Katsu Sandwich was decent, but got a bit lost among the other bold dishes. As for the Soft Pretzels with Provolone Fondue--delicious, but the portion of pretzels was massive--easily enough for a group of 6+, which felt a bit excessive for a table of 4.My husband enjoyed the Signature Old Fashioned, which was smooth and well-crafted. The ambience was lively and modern, but it was oddly difficult to tell who worked there since there were no uniforms--just something that added a bit of confusion in an already busy setting. Now for the downside: we had a reservation for 5:45 PM, and when we politely checked in at 5:41, the hostess curtly told us to " wait FOUR MINUTES, until our EXACT reservation time" - even though we could see several open tables and booths. We completely understand if the section wasn't ready or there's a system in place, but the tone felt unnecessarily sharp and left a sour first impression before we even sat down. Overall, Culinary Dropout has great food and a cool vibe, but service and hospitality matter just as much. We'd return for the food--but hope for a warmer welcome next time.

We came for Happy Hour (M-F, 3-6 pm) and were not disappointed. Although its bar only for the HH specials, the bartenders were friendly and gave great recommendations for drinks. The bar was sizable and wrapped around the outside patio so we had no problem finding seats. A good variety in drink choices and the bar food was plenty & generous. We stuffed ourselves trying the all the "snacks" and forgot to leave room for dinner or even dessert! I heard they serve a delicious mean brunch, so that will be my next foodie adventure.

Finally making its way to Del Mar, my fiancé and I made our way to Culinary Dropout since we wanted somewhere casual to go for a last minute reservation. It was clear there's still some quirks that need to be worked out when it came to being seated but overall not a big deal. We were still sat fairly fast and the staff was warm and welcoming. Vibes were great - live music, waiters dressed to their own style. It was laid back and calm, but still fun! Having never been there before, we asked our waiter for recommendations and he definitely delivered. When he mentioned he was a sucker for Asian inspired food (as am I) it only felt right to order his favorites. We ended up with the following for two people: - Soft Pretzels & Provolone Fondue - Crispy Chicken Katsu Sandwich - Mongolian Short Rib Now I may be biased because I LOVE provolone cheese, but the fondue was delicious. My only gripe would be that the tea light candle they used to keep the cheese warm and melted went out within minutes of being served so the cheese started to harden quickly. And I did see someone mention the large portion size of the pretzels which I didn't necessarily mind, but can confirm is true! We had plenty of pretzel leftovers to take home with us. Both my fiancé and I couldn't decide if we liked the chicken katsu sandwich or the Mongolian short rib more. On the sandwich front, the bread was beautifully toasted, but just in the way that gives the sandwich structure and not in the way that cuts up the roof of your mouth when biting into it. Also, my fiancé who isn't a sauce person AT ALL, couldn't stop raving about the miso aioli and how delicious it was. On the short rib front, the meat was incredibly tender and well seasoned. Veggies were cooked thoroughly but still had the good crunch in them. The dish felt balanced and tasted just as good reheated the day after as leftovers. Given this spot is down the street from us, I can see it becoming a staple for us to grab drinks and good food. Based on the experience we had, I wouldn't have had any idea the restaurant was a chain. Definitely recommend this spot and will be returning to try some other items on the menu!

Nice venue, open seating. Our server was great. Service does not wear uniforms, caught us off guard in the beginning but I assume it's part of the "dropout" vibe. Server gave us a few recommendations, the whipped feta and tahini dip was the best dish we had that night. The bread it came with was a perfect pair to the dip. Light and creamy. The rest of the food was okay. The fried chicken tasted bland to me, the potatoes were tasty. The Caesar salad was smothered with cheese and had cheese croutons, which was too much for my liking. Looks like a great place to hang out with friends and socialize. TY Culinary Dropout!

Awesome new restaurant that just opened up in Del Mar Highlands! I have already been twice! If you are planning on coming for dinner or the weekend, make sure to make a resy! Seating inside & out, pretty spacious. This restaurant has a slew of items from sushi, salads, sandwiches, pastas, steak, salmon & more. Something for everyone! Friendly & attentive service! Soft Pretzels & Provolone Fondue: A must order! I have ordered these twice. Dense, soft, slightly salty. Flavorful fondue. House Potato Chips: One of the best chips I have had! Thin & crispy. The onion dip is to die for. If you order the pretzels, make sure to dip it in this onion dip. Crispy Chicken Katsu: Best bang for your buck! My friend & I split this during my first visit & good thing we did because it was huge. The katsu could have fit in 2 sandwiches! Crispy outside, juicy inside. Served with tasty salad. Chicken Cacio E Pepe: Delicious sauce. Pasta Bolognese: A bit bland. Order something else. Roasted Salmon: Lightly flavored. Good cocktails.

My husband and I came here Sunday to celebrate his first Father's Day. We made dinner reservations for 4:30 (life with a baby) and the food was delicious. I would definitely recommend making reservations bc there were a lot of people waiting to be seated, but we were seated pretty quickly. We ordered the pretzels and fondue an appetizer. It was good. I got the Cobb salad for me entree and it was fantastic. I asked for a hard boiled egg instead of a deviled egg. My husband got a burger and added an egg. He loved it! We will definitely eat here again. They were really cool with making alterations, which I loved. For 4:30 on a Sunday, the food came out a little slower than expected. I think that is because they forgot our appetizer. They ended up bringing it at the end of the meal after we reminded them. So I would not recommend this place if you are in a hurry, but if you want delicious food and you have a little time to wait, I would highly recommend it! The decor is pretty cute as well! I think this restaurant could be both casual and upscale so it would be perfect for a casual family dinner or a date night or a life celebration--like a birthday dinner!

I went here recently with a small group of friends, as I had been to their Arizona location some years ago. The restaurant has plenty of parking and it's a pretty spacious venue. We ordered several items and the crispy rice was our favorite. We also tried the nachos which were ok, but i probably wouldn't order again. All the ingredients were there, but it just seemed like something was missing in the flavor. One thing I feel i should mention is that some of the items don't list all of the ingredients in the menu so be careful. The turkey pastrami came with horseradish and the person who ordered it could not have it. They did remake it without and were very nice about it, but it did make me wonder what other ingredients aren't listed on their items. The service was good and very friendly. Id like to eventually go back and try the brunch which is only on the weekends.

This was my first time trying this spot since it opened and it was a great experience. There were lots of people, but we were seated fairly quickly. The staff were all very pleasant and welcoming. The restaurant itself is super cute inside, lots of seating both indoor and outdoor, and there was a live singer yesterday, which was a great touch! they also were very considerate of my allergies. The food was also pretty good! There is plenty of free parking available in the lot. Definitely worth a shot if you're in the area. Food/drink review: Crispy Brussel sprouts: (4/5) These were very tasty! They had a good balance of flavors and were perfectly crisp! Pretzels with fondue: (4/5) This is a great starter for the table. The pretzels were a little cold, but soft. Pretty tasty! Mongolian beef: (5/5) Super tender, great flavor, and a good portion size! Cacio e Pepe: (5/5) Super delicious! It was very creamy and flavorful. Definitely would order again. Bolognese: (3.5/5) It was OK. I was starving so I ate it, but it was too watery in my opinion. Wouldn't order again. Roasted salmon: (5/5) I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious this was. The salmon was cooked to perfection and the dish had a great blend of flavors.

Reservations were smooth though maybe didn't need them. The place is open and I love how it connects to the outside making the place feel bright. The decor is unique and fun and odd all at the same time. The staff is superb but it's also hard to spot who is working which I get is the vibe. Started with drinks and the whipped feta which was delicious then ordered the fried chicken and biscuits. Turkey pastrami with fries and shared a salad. Everything was great. Surprisingly my favorite was the whipped feta tahini and my turkey pastrami. I honestly was not a fan of the fried chicken. It was a little thick on the breading and felt slightly burnt. But maybe that's just me

Went here for lunch with a friend and was blown away. We sat at the bar with Carley (sp?) and she was amazing! Gave us solid recommendations and she didn't disappoint, we got the crispy rice spicy tuna, shrimp salad, and I got the turkey pastrami sandwich on a pretzel bun (remembering it is making me drool)! The open air environment has a very chill vibe and you don't feel enclosed at any point! Great experience and we will be back!!!

Such a great experience the service was spectacular! Mo was amazing at her job. The food was delicious. The ambience was very nice as well. The bathrooms were gorgeous (who says that about a bathroom) Highly recommend. We got the shrimp tempura crunch roll it was really good! The crunch was on the inside never had it that way before. We also got the chopped chicken salad and Crispy Chicken Katsu. Both tasted great. Excited to come back and try different meals!

Wow! Delicious food and amazing service! Great place for a lunch. Menu wasn't overwhelming, which is great! They specialized in a few dishes and all of the ones we had tasted amazing. I think it's a place you need to come back to try everything at least once. First off, service was really nice, seated quickly, friendly when taking our orders and checking in. Very pleasant. We had 2 apps and 2 main courses for me and my bestie. Did we finish it? No, but that was on purpose, to take home for later. Did we get a dessert? Yes, yes we did...mud pie. Totally worth it, we were celebrating. Everything was great, totally recommend...Except for snooty ladies that sat next to us complaining that we got too much food...keep your eyes on your own table! I really should have chewed louder. -_-

Took myself for happy hour. Nice bar area, good quality food, ok portion sizes for the happy hour dishes. Will need to go try some more dishes

Although it is the only California location of this chain restaurant from Fox Restaurant Concepts, the ownership group has multiple other venues in the SD area (e.g. Blanco Cocina + Cantina, Flower Child, The Henry). Culinary Dropout opened less than two weeks ago at the ground level of the Del Mar Highlands Town Center replacing a clothing store. The space was quite large including a covered front patio and some decor in homage to skateboards and sneakers. I visited at an off-peak time on a weeknight, but one may want to make an OpenTable reservation for larger parties at busier hours. I sat at a two-top table along a back wall of the dining area. There was a bit of confusion as to who was going to be my server. One lady introduced herself, however another man came by to take my order. The staff didn't seem to be wearing attire that made them stand out as employees. I couldn't distinguish between a waiter and a busboy. Anyway, on to the food menu which had offerings spread across two pages. Starters, sushi, salads, sandwiches, and entrees were the categories. The Crispy Brussels Sprouts and the Mongolian Short Rib were my choices. For both dishes, I felt too much sauce was used. The brussels sprouts were dressed with gochujang, mint, and cilantro. The serving size was solid, but the char and glaze were overwhelming. I took the unfinished portion home for leftovers, yet I wasn't able to consume it all. For the short rib, several pieces of beef were served with charred scallion, bok choy, soft egg, crispy onion, yuzu sticky rice, and Thai chili. While presented nicely, the bottom of the serving vessel had a pool of sauce. More rice and meat were needed to counter this. There was a promotion in which you scanned a QR code to join a mailing list that will result in a $10 discount at your next visit if you spend more than $20. That won't be an issue as I hope to return with some friends to try some other items. Hopefully, the service and the food execution will be better because my first impression was nowhere near the five star ratings that have been posted to date.

I was famished and needy a semi quiet spot to eat lunch and take a Zoom call. Both hostesses were smiley and friendly. I was sat at a back booth upon arrival. My server Sammy was delightful. I left him know I was minutes from jumping into a meet and he recommended the Turkey Pastrami on a Pretzel bun. That is something I would not typically order, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. He returned immediately with my iced water with lemon, and less than 7 minutes and my food was delivered too. Sammy was attentive during my call, he refilled my water without disturbing me. Lots of great menu options sure to please the whole family. Very great upbeat vibes! I spoke to the manager on the way out to let him know Sammy was stellar! Can't wait to be back when in the area. Such a fun name too!

Nice atmosphere, but food is just ok. The Mongolian Short Rib has tender cubes of meat, but it was drowning in a sauce that was too sweet. I couldn't finish eating the sticky rice because it was just soaking in the sweet tangy sauce. The fried chicken was tender inside, but the outside had an overcooked dark crust. The pretzels were just ok.

This place was crowded. We arrived a bit early for our reservation and the hostess was able to still get us seated. The pork Nachos were sooo good. I also loved the setting and how large the restaurant was. Overall great experience and will be back.

Very nice pickup experience, super easy. Called on the phone and the food was ready. Brussel Sprouts with gochujang, mint, cilantro: nice kick, super tasty, large portion. Saving half for tomorrow. Pretzel Bread with "Provolone fondue": this was disappointing to me though not to the person who ordered it. Bread was boring, cheese too. This is a popular app at a place with drinks these days but I wasn't crazy about their version. Strawberry & spinach salad with added salmon: huge piece of deliciously grilled salmon came on the side of this very hearty salad (it has nuts and farro cheese in addition to the spinach). Saving half for tomorrow. I treated myself to a side of fries for Mother's Day LOL. I liked them, my teen thought they were just ok. He loved his MAC burger - he said it was really substantial unlike a lot of places and he couldn't even finish it even though he has a healthy appetite. Overall, good experience doing takeout. To me, it is kind of dark inside but it may be a hangout that other people in the neighborhood would like. I like that the restaurant still has a wall open to the outside and the bar has a set of stools that are outdoor and covered. May come back with a girlfriend on a rainy day to drink!

Located in Del Mar and NOT in San Diego as the Yelp page address is wrong. Culinary Dropout is the latest restaurant to open in the Del Mar highlands shopping town center, where there's plenty of free parking in the lot. Indoor and outdoor seating at this casual restaurant that offers most food favorites along with drinks. Must check with the schedule for a local live band that performs weekly. Staff were all nice and helpful. The menu offers lots for those who like bar/pub foods, but salads and entrees also offered. As much as I like pub food, I wanted something a tad healthier and the Asian crunch salad and the Roasted Salmon is what we chose and shared. The salmon was on a bed of pearl like couscous and corn and was delicious. The asian crunch salad was light but included cashews, avocado and a medley of veggies, it paired perfectly with the salmon. The restaurant was filled with diners in the bar lounge area as well at the dining areas. It would be cool to to check out and see the band play; lively music, great food and drinks makes for a winning recipe for fantastic vibes, even if you're a culinary school dropout ;) Recommend

We came here yesterday for an early lunch. Was very eager to try this place when we saw it was coming our way. SERVICE - Everyone was so friendly! The staff was definitely on their A game. Everyone we interacted with was very kind. DRINK Summer Tan Sangria - This was refreshing and a nice drink to start the day with. FOOD Soft Pretzels w Fondue Cheese - This was the star of our meal. The pretzels were nice and soft. The cheese paired perfectly with each bite. Caesar Salad w Chicken - I really wanted to love this as I am on a huge Caesar kick. Currently on a mission to find the best Caesar. This was a little too lemony for my liking. It took away from the dressing and I mainly just tasted lemon. Fried Chicken & Biscuits - This was too salty. The chicken itself was solid but the gravy made the dish unappetizing. Hopefully it was just an off day for it. Overall, we would still come back to try other dishes. They just opened so I am sure they are working out some kinks. Location is great. Staff were awesome.

The newly opened Culinary Dropout in Del Mar Highlands, offers a fun casual dining atmosphere. With ample seating in the main dining area, the outdoor and bar area seem to have to most activity with almost every seat filled. For starters our party went with the Soft Pretzels and provolone fondue. The pretzel was soft and baked fresh and paired well with the cheese. The House Potato Chips were great as they were freshly fried. I would recommend these both as they were a great way to start the meal. We also ordered the BBQ Pork Belly Nachos but I was not a big fan as there was a sweetness to it that just didn't sit well with me and I felt there was alot going on with all the toppings. I would pass on the Nachos. In keeping with the sharable theme, the party ordered from the sushi menu of the Rainbow Roll and California Roll. Surprisingly very good for not being a sushi restaurant. Presentation was great and cut with precision. The table did order one entree of the Fried Chicken consisting of a breast, thigh, and drumstick, smashed potato, coleslaw and freshly made biscuit. The chicken was tasty with a bit of saltiness as I suspect they brine their chicken. The batter was good but not super crispy. Smashed potatoes were fresh but were just ok. Biscuit was good but not memorable. For the cocktails they have a pretty good selection and the servers can help recommend their popular drinks. I was able to order their daiquiri and it was good and simple. For my second drink I went with the Evil Jungle Princess consisting of arum blend, spiced orgeat, pineapple, guava, lime, pineapple rum float. Great presentation and good drink. The smell of cinnamon hits you each time you take a sip. I would order this drink again as it was citrusy and refreshing. Service was great with many attentive staff on hand to make sure guests are taken care of. Plenty of parking throughout as well as an entrance in the back if you park in the garage. Overall good first experience as the menu had a wide variety and there was something for everyone.

Off to a great start! Opening week was VERY well-staffed, and service was excellent. Kona Joe had our table and really made us smile. The space is open and spacious, with a nice view into the busy kitchen and a sizeable front patio. It's in the old Tilly's space, next to Philz and Mendocino. Plenty of parking in the lot or parking structure. The cocktail list is creative, with most drinks featuring a fresh puree or flavors, well poured and attractive. We really enjoyed touring the drinks. They are full-strength, and tend a little to the sweet side. Sangria is a light variant, more light and fizzy than red or heavy. Beer list also legit and locally sourced. The pretzel-ball fondue came hot, and with an obscene number of pretzel balls.. plenty to share for four people. The cheese dip is good, if a little salty. The chips and dip were also good, but a little oily for cold chips. Dip was excellent, and crossing over with the Pretzel balls and fondue is the way to go. If I'm honest, "Salty" is a bit of a menu theme, with the consensus that most things were rather salt-forward. Could do with less, perhaps. Desert mud pie was excellent, and the espresso dessert cocktail surprisingly good. I would get that again. The fried chicken looked great! Can't wait to try that one. The steak and fries was okay, salty, and not generous with either. If you want something dinner-size, go chicken. Many more things to try on this menu -- will be back. Probably more than once.

This restaurant I've been to in Arizona, so I was happy to see it was coming to San Diego! It was busy and newly opened with lots of staff around to help. The food was really fresh and tasty. We ordered the Asian crunch salad and they split it, so it's only a 1/2 order in the picture. I'm a huge fan of fresh herbs, so the mint in the salad was delicious. The vegan spicy curry has a little kick and it's got a good variety of veggies. It doesn't look that big but it's filling. We sat outside and there was live music. It's a nice addition to the neighborhood.

Cute spot in the middle of the bustling One Paseo area of Del Mar where plazas full of food and shopping are. Be ready to fight for parking on the weekends. We had a reservation for an earlier dinner. If you come later I definitely recommend a reservation because they get packed. Staff was super friendly and attentive. The sangria was so good but its like juice so it's dangerous. The nachos were fully loaded and delicious. It's a huge plate so sharing between 3-4 people is good. The wagu pigs in a blanket were piping hot and really yummy. Also good to share for 3-4 people. The fried chicken was great where the skin was crispy but not super hard where it'll hurt your mouth. The salad has a lot of great stuff on it and is a good size. The chicken cacio e pepe was fine. The shredded chicken in it was a slightly strange texture, so I wouldn't miss it if it weren't there. The sauce itself was good though. Overall it's a great casual spot to have some good food. Oh! They also have live music on the weekends. The artist was great and wasn't overpowering that it was hard to talk.

The steak frites was the most perfect balance between wanting a fancy steak dinner and a casual bite. The steak was cooked perfectly and the sauce paired with it really stole the show! Highly recommend the steak frites and definitely get the garlic fries!! My boyfriend and I sat at the bar as it is open seating and we loved being able to watch the sun set between the buildings outside the patio area. The pretzels were also super good, but definitely only get them if you're with a group so you don't fill up quite as much on bread before your meal comes out since there were a lot of bites!

We came on a Wednesday night. It was cold and dreary evening, but as soon as we walked in the front door of this restaurant, the fun atmosphere hit us. It was so lively on a Wednesday night at 6 o'clock. The place was packed. We asked for a booth seat with our reservation but sadly we sat next to the bar (we did ask to move to other booths we saw was told someone else had reserved those tables). Next time we will ask for a booth seating not near the bar. Besides that, the rest of the night was fun. We loved the music. Our waitress was amazing and the food was good. We will definitely come back. And we especially want to try the happy hour next time.

I've been to Culinary Dropout in Tucson and Scottsdale and so keeping the amazing food in mind I had to try it out here as well. Here are my two cents Ambiance and decor is fun as expected. Service was amazing and quick. However the happy hour menu was not good with all food items with pork. Wings which are usually the staple for happy hour was missing. Since we don't eat port the only thing options we had were Brussels sprouts or chips. I think they should fix that menu. Otherwise on the regular menu options are decent and food was delicious as always but sushi was bad. I think they should take it off the menu.. hence the 4 stars. Would I come again probably if going for typical American food with a price tag otherwise the chances are less.

My first time here. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and has a nice outdoor patio. The food was actually good both the price and the taste were reasonable. However, I was a bit disappointed. I felt like I was being ignored. A staff member came to check on me once, but only asked if the food was okay nothing more. I actually wanted to order another drink, but no one followed up after that. It wasn't even that busy at the moment.

Tried Culinary Dropout for their opening night in San Diego and ordered the 36-hour ribs, so glad I did! Definitely some of the best barbecue ribs I've had ever. Coleslaw could have been a little better but everything else was delicious. Can't wait to come back and try more things here. But definitely going to have the ribs again next time I'm in the mood!

It was our first time dining in. I really enjoyed my watermelon spritzer - super refreshing, and would be the perfect drink on a hot summer day. It seemed the kitchen was a bit heavy handed on the salt, however. We ordered the whipped feta and tahini dip, spicy tuna crispy rice (huge fan), and the steak frites. The steak and the tahini dip were too salty for our tastes, but we had a nice time here nonetheless. Thank you Spencer for the recommendations!

Came here on a Tuesday night with some girl friends. We ordered the pretzels and fondue and the charcuterie board, which were both delicious. I ordered the braised short ribs, which was okay a tad salty. Service was A+. Location is perfect . Decor is amazing with all the live plants. I think this place is still gathering their stride but have faith they will be even better in a few months.

Let's start off with the service and vibes were amazing!! Such an enjoyable atmosphere to dine at! The food did not live up to the price unfortunately. Brussel sprouts were a little over cooked with too much sauce and made the overall taste a little bitter. Wagyu pigs in a blanket were good but the pastry wasn't as flaky and it honestly didn't taste very special. The creme fraiche was good but a think an aioli would've been better. Korean Style Ribeye Cap was good perfectly, super tender, but portion was small for the price and the toppings or the sides for it were very minimal. The mongolian short rib was also perfectly cooked and with a sweet delicious sauce. But too much sauce and not enough sticky rice to soak it up. The amount of rice was truly so little! My rice was drenched in sauce and I couldn't taste the yuzu.

This is the new Culinary Dropout in the Highlands Mall in Carmel Valley. Open less than one month. The decor was nice with a bar upfront and a nice outdoor section that was shaded and separated from the sidewalk. The bar also has the indoor-outdoor seats that seem to be popping up everywhere lately. Plenty of TVs playing sports channels. We took two seats at the bar during happy hour. Prices for happy hour were about three fourths the regular menu prices, for selected dishes. Had a coupon for free pretzels and provolone fondue. There are eight 'snacks' on the HH menu but the portions are pretty large and two snacks is easily enough for one person. All of the dishes here were excellent. In addition to the pretzels we had potato chips and dip. Also had the BBQ pork belly nachos and the house salad. The nachos is a very big plate and we couldn't finish it. JP took very good care of us. His service was very professional and friendly. As were the other bartenders who served us. Highly recommended!

Made it in to check out the new culinary dropout location by my house. It took over the old Tilly's which my kids were really sad to see go. The space is enormous with an indoor and outdoor bar space. The lighting hanging from the ceilings was stunning. Everything about the space was really welcoming and fun! surprisingly it was still a nice volume, even with all the people. I imagine they did something to dampen the noise, which is amazing. My sister and I came in and each had a drink. The server was very friendly and helpful and was able to answer questions about the drinks on the menu. The soup of the day was sausage and kale, which is my favorite so I definitely ordered that. We also ordered the Brussels and The whipped feta tahini dip with berries. The server returned and informed us that they had switched over the soup to beef barley. He asked if I'd like to try it and he would comp it so naturally, I agreed to take a free bowl of soup. The soup was delicious but now I have to go back to get that sausage and kale Everything we had was super delicious. The Brussels had a nice spicy sauce on it, and the whipped feta was so refreshing. I imagine I'll be spending quite a bit more time here since it's walking distance from my home and the food and drinks are delicious.

Service here was very attentive and they were very helpful in accommodating any specific requests we had. The nachos were a nice blend of sweet and spicy and they let me sub a Caesar salad with my burger instead of their house salad.

Great food and service in a nice shopping area. Highly recommend. Unique atmosphere and clean.

This is a very cool spot. The location, design, killer bar and patio, a typical Fox do up. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The menu is pretty solid, and prices are more reasonable than I anticipated. My wife enjoyed a cheeseburger that she gave two thumbs up, and I really enjoyed their turkey pastrami sandwich, surprisingly good. Where they lost me, though was a really terrible Old Fashioned. First off, who is still using ice cubes when selling old fashioneds starting at $17? No ice block? Second, I asked for Elijah Craig bourbon which was a step over the house bourbon, the drink had so much syrup it was basically murdered. Another note for the bar, the draft list is very weak, very corporate. It reads like a local airport tap list, lacking originality. Beers that were interesting 5+ years ago, and in the beer capital of the US, they could do better. I would've given 5-stars had it not been for the really sub-par drink, and TBH, I don't know that I'd be back as I definitely judge a place by its ability to craft a cocktail.

Second visit to this location. Debi, the GM, invited us back. It was a great way to kick-off my wife's birthday weekend. Everything was amazing. Started off with cocktails. Summer Tan Sangria was good and refreshing. Bartender was nice enough to make a martini for me that was not on the menu. He made it to perfection. Our server recommended the Whipped Feta & Tahini Dip to start. The bread that it came with and the dip itself was delicious. The server also recommended the Mongolian Short Rib. It was excellent. I had the Korean Style Ribeye Cap. It was cooked perfectly. The GM came by to check on us multiple times and mentioned that the executive chef was personally checking on our food being prepared. We finished off with their monkey bread for dessert. I have a sweet tooth so it was a good way to end dinner. Well done Debi and staff. Wes, thanks for introducing yourself to us. We look forward to coming back.

Good, service and ambiance were all amazing. This place is a true gem- outstanding in its field. There are a lot of choices when it comes to restaurants in SD and this should move to the top of your list. Our server, Anna, was so kind and attentive. She was warm and welcoming, very genuinely so. We also met Chris who answered all our questions, gave background to the restaurant and made us feel so welcome. Thank you for such a great experience! We will be back.

I've been seeing ads all over my Instagram about this new spot so when I stumbled upon it, I decided to give it a try. Culinary Dropout is a huge restaurant in the Del Mar Highland neighborhood, with trendy decor and an elevated bar food menu. I got the bbq nachos to split with my table and they were really good! I would definitely recommend if you like sweet and savory, the bbq sauce added a unique sweet and smokey flavor that you don't find in classic nachos. We also tried the popcorn shrimp which came with fried zucchini as well and it was super flavorful and paired really well with the aioli. The service was great as well, our server was frequently coming to check on us and she was on top of drink refills. All in all it was a great time and they seemed to be running very efficiently despite being a new restaurant.

Excellent food. Good service once you're sat. Front of house staff could use some training. We had several dishes and none disappointed. We also had the surprise beer and shot which was fun, but I would rather stick with one of the known choices. Ambiance is very trendy and laid back at the same time. Very nice to have another choice in Del Mar.

Great service. The food was really delicious. The cocktails were also good. Great ambiance. Would recommend 5/5.