Encontro North Park

Bar & grill · San Diego

Encontro North Park

Bar & grill · San Diego

1

3001 University Ave #3001, San Diego, CA 92104

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Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null
Encontro North Park by null

Highlights

Flame-grilled meats & hearty salads in industrial-chic setting  

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3001 University Ave #3001, San Diego, CA 92104 Get directions

encontronorthpark.com
@encontronorthpark

$20–30 · Menu

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3001 University Ave #3001, San Diego, CA 92104 Get directions

+1 619 291 1220
encontronorthpark.com
@encontronorthpark
𝕏
@encontronp

$20–30 · Menu

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Sep 29, 2025

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San Diego Restaurants That Are Open on Monday Nights | Eater San Diego

"If you’re near North Park, know that Encontro is open every day of the week for lunch and dinner. The specialities are grilled items like burgers and sausages complemented by 24 craft beers on tap. Even on a Monday, parking in the area can be tight. To help with that, validation is free at Ace Parking when you eat at the restaurant." - darlene-horn

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/san-diego-restaurants-open-on-monday-night-reservation
View Postcard for Encontro North Park

Cristina Serrentino

Google
This is my favorite restaurant to go to when I visit San Diego with my little compadre, Pepe. I’m sure he feels like VIP when there as he gets his own menu and loves the Chicken Bow Wow Bowl. I really enjoy the Farmers Salad with Chicken and a glass of wine. Great wine and beer lists, comfortable environment where I don’t have to feel bad about being a dog-mom. Also love the open air atmosphere and design. Chef, you’re doing a fantastic job with breakfast, brunch and lunch so way to go! Will have to stop by for dinner sometime. Can’t recommend enough 🐾

Sydney Larsen

Google
I’ve dined at this restaurant multiple times & every time is wonderful! Last night we tried the bread that they highly recommended & I’ve seriously never had something so good. We also got the Cardiff crack burger & the boar burger with a side of sweet tots! Everything was excellent. Service was excellent, hard to come by in San Diego!

Nikhil Reddy

Google
This place is one of the attractions in north park area, if you are in town, definitely go to this spot. They have a great selection of beers and the food menu is very good. We ordered fish and chips, chicken sliders and truffle tots, all freshly made and served hot. The staff is very friendly and courteous. There is good seating options, bar, indoor and outdoor.

Erica Costello

Google
We had never actually eaten at Encontro before, but it always seemed like a really popular spot and we checked out their brunch the other day. We were honestly super impressed. The staff was lovely, we really enjoyed the outdoor seating, and the menu was impressive. They use a lot of fresh ingredients and also utilize Cardiff Crack (if you know, you know) so we had to get a bit of variety. We ended up getting their fresh, house made bread (a must!) the BLT benedict (perfectly cooked) the Mary's 1/2 Fried Chicken and Waffles which is now my husband's favorite across San Diego, and the Cardiff Crack Hash which was an explosion of flavor. We will definitely be back, and we need to try out their happy hour too! Definitely recommend.

John Forrest

Google
Had brunch at Encontro with a friend today. We arrived around 11:30 am on a Saturday and were surprised that it wasn't busier. Our server Anna was very pleasant and accommodating. It was our first time trying the restaurant so we wanted to try a few things. My friend ordered the smoked salmon Benedict and I ordered the breakfast burrito as well as a Cardiff "Crack" sandwich with a couple of modifications after asking Anna if the kitchen could cook the meat medium rare. Everything came exactly as ordered and the food was very good. The portions were generous and the price was reasonable. We will definitely return to try other menu items in the future. I would certainly recommend giving them a try!

Ana Martinez

Google
Some of the food we ordered was very good (lamb burger, truffle tots). We asked if feta could be added to the burger and were told no, it's a "feta sauce." But I ordered the farm salad, which had feta cheese in it. Why not add feta cheese (not sauce) to the burger, if you have it in the kitchen? The salad was okay (nothing special) and way overpriced for about 5 pieces of (not large) shrimp, added to the price, of course. The final bill, however ... This surcharge that is added even after sales tax, is not okay. I think there's a law now that specifies that any such service/surcharge fee is to be mentioned and included in the menu within the items chosen. This trend of being given the bill on a tablet without a paper ticket to review before paying is fishy to me. Because then you choose a tip on top of that entire amount, so you're basically tipping on top of the total, the tax, and the surcharge. Of course, I could have asked for a paper bill before paying (I'm glad I asked for a paper receipt after I paid and tipped). It was my mistake not to ask beforehand, but I was trusting and didn't think of it at the time. It will be my habit going forward wherever I eat out, however. I won't return to Encontro, though.

Lauren Cassis

Google
The food and service here is amazing. Our waitress was extremely helpful and friendly as we were visiting. She also allowed us to taste a few beers prior to ordering, which saved us from regretting the choice and sending the drinks back. You can bring your dog here too which was a big pro for us. The salads are incredible. My only complaint is the beer menu. They could use a few additions or alternatives, like lighter beers and/or hard seltzers or mixed drinks.

Amy Wood

Google
I absolutely LOVE Encontro. I’ve tried almost everything on their menu and have never been disappointed. Awesome salads, fresh vegetables and seafood and the Cardiff Crack….oh my! Brunch is great too!! If you’re craving a hearty and delicious breakfast burrito on the go, you can’t go wrong here. Fun atmosphere, great service. Always a must when I’m in SD!
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Sheila R.

Yelp
Huge shoutout to the Chef for recreating the most amazing piri piri dish! The chicken was tender, juicy, and packed with bold, smoky flavor that paired beautifully with the grilled lemon. The creamy mashed potatoes and fresh broccolini made it the perfect balance of comfort and freshness. This wasn't just dinner, it was an experience. The Chef is seriously talented and creative--he turned a special menu item into something unforgettable. Can't wait to see what else he comes up with! I love the ambience and the service!
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Donna J.

Yelp
Every item that we've had so far has been delicious and very fresh. You can tell a lot of time, thought, knowledge and care go into the menu. Presentation of the dishes is top-notch and the staff is attentive and very down to earth. ENCONTRO North Park has quickly become one of our go-to restaurants. P.S. The desserts are to die for. Try the Churro Ice Cream Sandwich and The Butter Cake!
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Kelci S.

Yelp
We were looking for a dog friendly restaurant in North Park, and stumbled upon Encontro. The restaurant has a cool set up right on the side walk, and has an open air concept. My husband typically gets a "beer-mosa" for brunch, which is basically beer with maybe less than an ounce of orange juice. We were a little surprised that our waitress had to inquire with her manager about a splash of orange juice, which we were charged for. She even mentioned a work around of using some OJ from my mimosa if it wasn't made, so he could add it to his drink. It's all good, but it was kind of a weird experience. The avocado toast was pretty good - Really enjoyed it with the corn & pickled peppers. My husband enjoyed the tri-tip burrito, and said it was flavorful. Not sure if we would return, but the food was decent!
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Tracy M.

Yelp
The food is fun here. We shared that lamb burger and fries and had specialty teas. I had the peach and we had sublime hot tea. Very very fun upbeat place to be. They have a lot of people working here so you get everything you want. I'll be honest is cool and breezy.
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Bridget B.

Yelp
We enjoyed our afternoon mimosas at Encontro during pride weekend! I've lived close to this spot for years and have never tried this place - although it is always busy no matter the day. Would definitely recommend the mimosas, there are a ton of flavor options and they are really good! Good service, good drinks, and good vibes!
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Grecia M.

Yelp
Went last Thursday around 7, was sat down really quickly and our waitress was really sweet and attentive. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with the side salad & the mac & cheese. It was really yummy and the pulled pork was nice and tender. The coleslaw wasn't too overbearing, overall a balanced sandwich. I had a glass of their red Paoloni, would definitely go again. There's an ACE parking lot across the street. Ambiance was lively, but not over stimulating.
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Kyra M.

Yelp
Great spot! Limited private table seating inside but lots of seat yourself at the bar and along the window. Seems like a great spot during the summer they can open up h to e large patio seating and open the windows. The food was beyond amazing everything tasted so good. We started with the garlic Parmesan wings. Normally those are dry rubbed but they made an amazing sauce cream sauce and they were great and cooked very well and crispy but also super juicy. The truffle mac and cheese with the asparagus I thought sounded kind of weird but it was amazing together and the cheese was so rich and creamy! The patty melt was perfectly cooked medium. Portions were very large. Our server was very nice and friendly and the food was very fast we got our food in less than 10 minutes.
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Shirley F.

Yelp
Fun food for inside outside dining. A lot of choices service is quick . Ambience is bar lounge. Try it ! 5 stars.
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Laila A.

Yelp
Absolutely loved my experience here. The staff were extremely friendly and attentive. Everything was so delicious. If you're going to just get just one appetizer and you have to pick, please please make it be the grilled lettuce. This was one of the best ones I've ever had. The sauce is phenomenal. We also got crispy poke tuna tacos, which were also really yummy. Beef Burgers were really delicious. We also started off with some pull apart fluffy bread that came with a melt in your mouth sauce. I will definitely be returning to try the Lamb Burger.
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Laura M.

Yelp
Love this spot! Definitely will be a regular. The servers were attentive. Even on a semi busy work week when people were on lunch. It's a nice little casual place to have a quick snack/tapas for lunch or for anything! The only downside is parking. But it is right on the corner of Central North Park! Their food was so delicious. The portions were good for Happy Hour. PSA: Happy Hour tacos come in 2! I learned that the fat way... Lol. I always ask for sauce on the side for all my wings if they can make it naked. My little cheat code The fresh bread was the same recipe as Pat&Oscar's! The poke tacos were fresh and the sauce was the right amount to the serving portion. Definitely will need to try other things on the menu!
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Stella Z.

Yelp
Their eggs Benedict was so good. They also have really great mimosas. Is a a very good brunch spot. Definitely does get busy on the weekends so the service was a little slow. Parking here is also limited definitely recommend ubering. Overall though a great place to grab brunch with your friends.
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Shannon Y.

Yelp
Located on a busy corner in North Park area of San Diego, the ambiance was dark with that CA modern industrial look. It wasn't too busy when we arrived 1 hour before closing. I tried the Patty Melt, which was tasty because of a perfectly medium temp beef patty on grilled sourdough, giving the sandwich a crunchy outside but tender inside. We also shared the truffle fries which was the highlight of the meal, those were so good, loaded with grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
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Vivian V.

Yelp
Came here post wedding dress shopping with a girlfriend just down the block. I've heard great things here and we got some waters and waited for happy hour to kick off. We shared an arugula salad with grapefruit and avocado this was so delicious I dream about this salad. We got some other happy hour apps to go with this and a bottle of sparkling water. Really enjoyed everything here. I live in north county now but I would come back here if I lived closer for that arugula salad weekly.
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Sydney L.

Yelp
Every time I come here it's a great experience. The food, ambience, & service is all wonderful. Would highly recommend starting off with the bread. We got the Cardiff crack burger & boar burger with a side of sweet tots. Will be back soon!
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Diana L.

Yelp
This place has great service and is perfect for delicious appetizers with drinks or a hearty meal with friends or family in North Park. The owner is super friendly and the staff is quick to take orders and bring out food. I highly recommend! It is even great for an office outting, they were super accommodating for our holiday dinner out as a team!
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Abigail M.

Yelp
Encontro is located in central North Park making it a great place to meet with friends & enjoy the atmosphere. The vibe is pretty casual but the food was exceptional! The churro French toast was my favorite. The menu seemed like a fusion of new American, Latin & Hawaiian so it definitely has option for everyone, even dogs! (Dog menu offered) I would definitely recommend this place if you are considering to try it!
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Amanda T.

Yelp
Our server Sam was so attentive and fun :) best happy hour visit! Must get the ahi poke Tostitos!
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Liz L.

Yelp
My arugula salad for lunch was delicious. All of the ingredients were top notch. The arugula, corn and grapefruit were all fresh. The shrimp was nicely marinated and grilled. I asked for the dressing on the side because I always feel like salads are often overdressed and I didn't want to take the risk. I didn't love the ice tea that I ordered. I expected black tea but it was probably herbal. The atmosphere is just okay. I wouldn't recommend it to someone who needs a comfortable chair.
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Khamphone K.

Yelp
Located on the corner of 30th and University Ave. Nice, open, airy restaurant. Staff was welcoming. Kid friendly! Dog friendly! My daughter had the Mary's friend chicken sliders, they were so cute and tasty. 10 out of 10, cooked to perfection and seasoned well. The Elote fries were a hit at the table, everything worked well together and was quite delicious. They don't serve liquor here, just beers/IPA/soju/wine etc. We tried a few drinks, they were good.
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Vanessa B.

Yelp
We tried this place for a first time on a Friday night. The wait time was very quick which we liked. The service was decent and the atmosphere was nice, but our biggest problem was the quality of the food. For the price, we expected the sauces to be flavorful, but they were not. Both of our dishes were bland and when we asked for seasoning, they said they could not bring any out. Also, they did not have any red chili flakes for the pizza which was weird. We will not be coming here again.
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Anne H.

Yelp
It's been a really long time since we've been here (close to when they opened), so thought we'd give it a try again. First why we haven't been here in a while, the service was a little slow and the food was ok. The difference this time was the food has really improved. The service is still slow and it wasn't at all busy, but everyone was extremely nice. It's a great place if you are looking to chat and hang out and you aren't rushing somewhere. One more thing that could have improved was the tap water. I didn't know we actually had to ask for ice. I know it's tap. Aside from those 2 things, we came for happy hour and I must say that I was impressed with the variety. We probably ordered too much, but we were able to take it home and share with the kids. Here's what we had: Cuban sandwich (good and full size), the flavors were good, the yellow mustard was pretty strong though. Poke had good flavor and was just enough to get a good taste. Parmesan chicken slider, nice flavor in a small package. Tacos, they were good. Nothing out of this world, but the pickled onions was a nice add. Lastly and this is what we will come back for every time, which was also not on the HH menu, but worth it was the sweet tots. You could taste sweet potatoes in every bite. Where has this been all my life. We're talking about ordering ahead and just picking it up at the side window as we walk the neighborhood. Try it!
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Phuong H.

Yelp
The perfect weekend brunch spot. I loved that you can order off their breakfast AND lunch menu, perfect to tackle everyone's cravings. I ordered: SALAD WITH AHI TUNA: This was bomb. I'm not one to really get a salad when out but this salad was super filling. It had tons of fresh ingredients and the amount of tuna was good! BOTTOMLESS MIMOSA: So worth it. I tried the guava and watermelon. You can change the flavor each time but guava was hands down the best. SERVICE: The waitress' were super sweet and accommodating. Will forsure come back!
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Michelle F.

Yelp
It was my first time at Encontro in North Park, and I'm already looking forward to my next visit. The menu has so many great options, and the drinks hit the spot. Plus, parking was surprisingly easy--a rare win in North Park. Definitely a place I'd recommend if you're in the area!
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Kyle D.

Yelp
Some of the best food in San Diego!! The staff were phenomenal!! The rotating selection of beer is awesome as well. If you haven't been here...go try it...especially the Chicken Fried Trout
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Nathalie H.

Yelp
Definitely worth a stop! Not only is the food delicious care is clearly put in to all aspects. The presentation is lovely. We sat outside and it got a little chilly but the heaters were turned on and everyone was happy. I enjoyed the Cardiff crack steak & eggs- there were friend calamari with the potatoes- a wonderful touch. And hubby had fish and chips. Came with plenty of dip options so you can enjoy to your liking: ketchup, vinegar, lemon and of course slaw

Yolie R.

Yelp
Delicious food. And amazing service from SAM! Thank you!! Made my bday special :). She was helpful & very kind.
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Hannah N.

Yelp
I really enjoyed my lamb burger and the portobello fries were amazing. Never had anything like those portobello fries before. However the service ruined the whole experience for me; especially because of the high price point. I would expect decent service but it was sub par. They gave us dishes that were wet, we waited a long time for our food to come out, they completely forgot about one of the sides we ordered, the wait staff was impatient, upon leaving we asked for two to go boxes of which they only wanted to give one and we had to ask for another box a second time and even then we weren't given a bag. Overall I felt like we were treated poorly despite the fat bill.
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Charles B.

Yelp
Great service, went in the middle of the week for breakfast. Pull bread appetizer was a nice starter with truffle butter. The truffle Mac and cheese was the best I have ever had in my life. The potatoes in the breakfast had a nice unique crunch, combined with the Cardiff steakThe owner came out and greeted us and made the date feel special. Highly recommended if you are looking for great food in the North Park area!
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Carina C.

Yelp
This place was cute . We sat outside in the patio area . It was a little chilly but the heaters made it comfortable . Service was good and food was ok . I'm not a fan of fish and chips but I shared it with my mother . The batter was too thick and the fish was really fishy . We also ordered Brussels sprouts and they were very salty and the server was kind enough to send them back . We also ordered chicken and waffles and that was very good . This cocktail the Prickly Pear margarita was really good.
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McKell J.

Yelp
Came in for Saturday brunch and really loved the atmosphere. The service was great! Everyone was super kind and on top of things. I ordered the smoked salmon eggs benedict, which had solid flavor, but it came on a biscuit that was...a lot. Thick, heavy, and kind of stole the show in a way I wish it hadn't. I'd give it a 3/5, just a little too biscuit-forward for my taste. Now let's talk about the drinks. As someone who lives for espresso martinis and anything mocha-adjacent, I was SO excited to see a chocolate espresso martini on the menu. I was emotionally invested and convinced it would be life-changing. The moment it hit the table, I knew we were in trouble. It was missing that dreamy espresso martini froth and had the telltale see-through brown color that screams, "this is a syrup situation." And sadly, it tasted like the chocolate-flavored cough medicine of my nightmares. I love the idea, but please--next time, give that beauty a real espresso shot. She deserves better. That said, I'd come back to explore more of the menu! I'm hopeful other dishes (and drinks) might be a better fit for my taste.
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Shigufa S.

Yelp
the wings were delectable! I love the outdoor seating while you people watch everyone walking down university ave. I also had the Cardiff crack steak but it was a bit dry and flavorless and uneventful. my friend unfortunately was put off by the taste of her sandwich (can't remember what it was). great place to wait at/have some drinks/snacks if you're attending a show at the observatory later on in the evening, would I come back just for the food, probably not
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Rheagan K.

Yelp
Encontro is a great brunch spot in north park. Their service is always really great. There can be a wait sometimes depending on what time you arrive and if it's the weekend. Their food is good, but not my favorite in the area. They do have a good happy hour.
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Pauline S.

Yelp
My husband and I were looking for lunch places in North Park and Encontro kept popping up. We've been missing out this whole time! Service/Ambiance: We were seated right away on a Saturday early afternoon. We opted for indoor seating this time but there were many seats available outside. It's a pub-looking kind of restaurant with benches and high tables. Outdoor seating is dog friendly and they even have a dog menu! The place looks like it could accommodate a larger party. We had excellent service from Catherine and Jason (who we later found out is the chef and owner of the place!). They were so accommodating, friendly, and made our first time dining here an excellent one. Food: They serve brunch and lunch/dinner menus and we opted for lunch. -Jidori Wings ($16): We ordered half garlic parm and half sriracha. They accidentally served us barbecue at first, which they let us keep. The barbecue flavor actually ended up pretty tasty too! You have to option for the wings to be dry or saucy and we chose saucy for all of them. So good! -Patty Melt ($18): ordered with sourdough bread. My husband really enjoyed this dish. It's usually served with house made chips but upgrades to truffle fries. -Lobster Roll ($28): served with house made chips which were fresh and crunchy. For this price, you actually get TWO lobster rolls. The bread was nice and buttery and there was a generous amount of lobster in each of them. I was pleasantly surprised with this dish and I'd definitely order this again. Overall: Excellent service from Jason and Catherine. Great casual food for great pricing. Will definitely come back!
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Janai W.

Yelp
Don't let the 4 stars fool you, this place is definitely worth a visit! The only reason it didn't receive 5 is because it was a while before we were sat and then before we were met by a waitress. A group of 4 of us stopped in on a Saturday morning, after the bfast rush so there were tables available without a reservation. We ended up seating ourselves and eventually were met by a waitress. She immediately brought us waters and took our drink orders. Once she got the drinks going, time from service to delivery greatly improved. Being the chilaquiles connoisseur that I am I went that route, while my friends ended up with the BLT Benedict, Cardiff hash, and shared the truffle tots because they sounded too good to resist. Can happily report everything orders tasted great. We opted for a bottle of Prosecco, but the cocktail list is worth giving a look. If you're in the north park area and in need of a bite or thirst quencher, check it out.
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Julie G.

Yelp
If only the food was as good as the pictures depicted on line . The chilaquiles were cold, flavorless and a bit soggy . The fried potatoes were hot and a tad undercooked. Oh no flavor !! Wish we had the chance to taste the buttermilk fried sandwich is what we ordered , but instead got a grilled chicken sandwich . It was good but not what we wanted . The chips were also unseasoned. Ordered a 16oz beer and received it in a 12 oz cup . That was very weird ... Since when do restaurants not serve ice water ? Is that due to cutbacks?? In addition to the flavorless food , the service was atrocious. Had to ask for napkins, salt , etc and the waitress had a stank face the entire time . Mind you we were literally the only patrons she was assisting, so it's not like she was busy ...
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Amy W.

Yelp
Awesome service. Incredibly delicious options. Hard to choose between breakfast lunch and dinner so I say visit often and try everything! I'm in town periodically and Encontro is always my go to. Was just there yesterday enjoying the Baja Jalapeño Cesear salad with shrimp and it was amazing. Paired it with a delicious Shirley temple and finished it off with the most amazing warm butter cake. Sooo good. Jason, the head chef, is very attentive to his patrons and extremely talented. Super chill vibes, this place is great!
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Allie D.

Yelp
Encontro is great for a casual bite to eat in North Park after shopping in the area. I have been able to try lots of things off the menu. My favorites so far have been the Cardiff crack and the truffle mac and cheese. The corn dogs were also a surprising favorite Their salads are always fresh and satisfying, and they have a great selection of appetizers if you're looking for smaller plates. I'm excited to come back and try their drink deals, which look equally enticing.
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Marcia R.

Yelp
We all meet for lunch last month before our daughter bridal appointment a few doors down. Service was great quick with drink Coffee is was great cold weather and teas was good we asked waters all a round . I warm Brussels salad it was warm and great for the weather, biscuits and gravy with chorizo was good and want come again for the same dish again and again!!! We enjoy come out to bring family here! Food came in decent time and we all were happy campers here. Our server was great too she had everything covered On her end. We were sitting a only a few couple but by the time it was busy. Nice to see more people out on a Saturday morning
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Johnnie F.

Yelp
We went here for a girls night for small bites and drinks and it was great! The staff were super helpful and nice and there was comfortable seating for all 7 of us on a Friday night (although the reservation helped with that!) Must order: the fresh bread!
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Gabriela Q.

Yelp
Service was a bit slow when we went and place wasn't very busy so that was a bit disappointing. The tacos were good but did think they were a bit small for the price. Wings were also small and taste was nothing unique. Our favorite dish was probably the Calamari, highly recommend getting that as a starter. I Liked that they have a dog menu. My pup enjoyed his hot dog. Overall, would probably come back just because I would like to try their butter cake which seems pretty popular in other reviews but aside from that, we didn't feel like it was a unique experience. Decent food and okay service.
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Audra D.

Yelp
A friend recommended this place, so we came by to give it try. Fresh ingredients and the combinations of flavor in the food were mouthwatering. We had the Arugula salad and the BLT sandwich with tots! I love the openesss of the restaurant and you can watch the action of North Park while you eat. Good selection of beer too! I would definitely come back and eat here again!
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Garen V.

Yelp
I just want preface this by saying how much this review is about to juxtapose the last one I made about the Henry. After getting our sweet chili wings, which were bloody and slightly rubbery, our waiter disappeared. After 25 minutes since eating our appetizer, we finally got the attention we were looking for, but things quickly took a turn when our waiter misunderstood what both my friend and I ordered (the Cardiff Crack burger) for the Cardiff Crack meal. Long story short, after being proactive and realizing that this misunderstanding might've occurred (which it did), waiter #2 came up to us and started patronizing us off rip. As someone who used to be in the hospitality industry, and my best friend who has been for years, we did not take it. They tried redeeming themselves by offering us free desert (which we declined). We're not the type of people to take advantage of this kind of situation. The Cardiff crack was mid. Cooked the patty well done (told it would be medium/medium well), no toast on the slightly stale bun and fries were meh. The only reason why I gave this place 2 stars is because of the chips on the side (cuz I didn't want to upgrade to fries for $4), tasted warm and in-house which I respect. I understand if an establishment may be understaffed, but the customer should never be disrespected especially if they're respectful. Encontro, please do better. I've had friends that have came here as well with similar experiences, and I feel this should be brought to light.
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Romina T.

Yelp
Stumbled upon this cool gastropub when exploring North Park today. I went with a friend and we had the Truffle Mac and Cheese and added the Carlsbad Crack ( tri tip) on top. It was a generous portion and more than enough to share. We also order the Brussels sprouts with bacon which was delicious and a nice complement. For desert we had the butter cake with ice cream. It was plated with raspberry and passion fruit puree and tossed coconut. We loved it and it was delicious! Next time though I will order it plain with the just the ice cream. The servers were friendly and attentive. I didn't have to ask for anything. We had a great experience here.
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Maayan Y.

Yelp
3 stars because the food was good! With caveats. 1 star off for comfort - the tables and seating outside are very old and makes it less enjoyable to dine in. 1 star off for taste of food - Brussels had too much vinegar, jalapeno caesar barely had jalapeños, the Cardiff sando felt like large bites of dry bread at times etc - being picky because overall the food tasted good, just not the best American we've had here in San Diego. People were very nice and service was great! The best thing going for Encontro is the location right in heart of North Park with outdoor seating.
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Kelsey N.

Yelp
This was a good spot for lunch! Sad they didn't have the brunch during the week (only on the weekends) but they still had really yummy lunch options but overall I thought for what they offered is was overpriced. I ordered got the farm salad which did not come with protein so I added some and a water and my lunch cost almost $30. It was a delicious and big salad I'll say but I'm not sure I would pay that much for it again. If I were to come back I would stick with the sandwiches for lunch. My sister ordered the chicken sandwich which was cheaper and also a lot more food. They also serve the Cardiff crack here which should be given a try!
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Karen M.

Yelp
This was our second visit to this place, and once again, we were pleased with our choices. I particularly enjoyed the Cardiff tri-tip option--it adds a nice local touch to the menu, and the burger was exquisite! One thing that bothered me was the need to pay extra for fries instead of chips. While the fries were indeed really good, shouldn't a burger come with fries? The restaurant offers plenty of wine and beer selections, and the service was nice and attentive. However, despite sitting indoors, it was surprisingly cold, even with our jackets on! Overall, while I wouldn't give it a 5-star rating, I still recommend this place
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Mel C.

Yelp
My biggest gripe on this north park staple... still not many gluten free items on the menu & staff are only slightly aware of allergens in dishes. That being said, I have been here twice and both times, the staff were friendly & helpful (happy to double check with the kitchen) & I never got sick. The salads & patatas bravas are what to come back for. We ordered the warm salad with squash, Brussels sprouts, goat cheese, etc. They do have a GF sandwich bun, so I may come back for a GF sandwich! Oh, and the ambiance is great!
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Ashley S.

Yelp
Pretty good! The poke nachos were delish. The bread was kind of underwhelming in size for being $11 but I got excited about it being the Pat and Oscar's recipe - still delicious.
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Nicole J.

Yelp
Ambiance: low key, but upscale, warm, modern. Friendly. Vibe is very down to earth. Service: no complaints :) very attentive, even up at the bar. Ava was awesome with her suggestions! Drinks: wine/beer/sangria only. Expansive, local selection. Food: tastes like homemade, no frills. Had the steak on the arugula salad, the dressing was very refreshing. Exactly what I needed on a weeknight. If you're going for something more protein-forward, I might recommend the main Cardiff Crack over a salad with added protein (smaller portion of protein). I ordered an extra side of steak after devouring my delicious salad, which I've pictured. The chef (who also happens to be the owner), Jason, kindly even offered Chimichurri on the side, but the meat was so simply and perfectly seasoned that I didn't need it. Will have to try it next time (: Did not have room for dessert, so will have to make another visit. Highly recommend this humble North Park gem!!