Knotty Barrel Rancho Penasquitos

Great family place! We eat here a few times a month. Although they removed my favorite dish (steak salad) from the menu, there are plenty of other dishes that are just as good. Their menu changes seasonally, and the staff is always friendly.

We have tried two locations the one in downtown and PQ — both times the food was disappointing. Downtown we had the Mac and cheese with protein, but later my brother felt nauseous as the Mac and cheese didn’t taste very well cooked or the sauce had a weird taste. The next time I tried the smashburger and the bun is very thick with the same patty you’d find similar to McDonald’s, bun looked like it came straight from the store bought hamburger buns. I only wish they would put some more thought and quality into their foods, otherwise the atmosphere is open and friendly but food quality 👎🏼

Lovely place for happy hour. They have rotating HH menus based on the weekday you visit. The bartenders are some of the nicest people in the service industry. Don't sleep on the tater tots!

Great atmosphere service and food. The fried pickles, tomato soup, ahi sandwich and grilled cheese were outstanding. Recommend the upgrade to truffle Parmesan fries too! Only minor criticism is to put a little more cheese on the grilled cheese.

I'd been here before, my expectations were low, but they've improved greatly. It's now a premium quality restaurant with a lounge atmosphere, complete with the loud TVs and presentation of the check on a plain clipboard. Everything screams sports bar, yet i got a steak dish with a spectacular flavor profile worthy of top restaurants. The cook tender toward rare, they got a second chance at it because of the rest of the flavors. Beer selections were decent, with ample coverage of flavors. Wine selection was very meager, the barrel in the name doesn't refer to wine, no miracles here. It was also refreshing that the help didn't cart around the garbage cart to pick up the spent dishes, kudos for keeping the unsightly refuse out of my face while I'm enjoying my meal.

Had a business lunch meeting with a friend and he said let’s meet up and get some fish. We both ordered the same fish and chips. Crispy outside and soft and flaky inside. You won’t go hungry here it’s allot of food for lunch!

Great chicken sandwich and tuna melt. You have options of what kinda fries you want. 4 types to choose from

This is one of those neighborhood "feel good" type of places where you'll be greeted , served with smiles and solid service. Nate (the GM) is great, always willing to accommodate if needed. The bartenders are delightful. Beers on tap is full represented, diverse selection with a good choice of wines as well. Food menu will meet most standards. If you're in the area, worth checking out.

Awesome time!!! I was there for the Russian River tap takeover - had my very first Pliny the Younger IPA. The Spam and eggs was really good - but the service from Kyler and the rest of the team was fabulous. It was busy, but no one at our firepit wanted for anything. The whole staff worked hard to make it a very successful event.

Good neighborhood bar with his friendly service but the drinks and food are ok. I've been here multiple times because it's close to my friend's house and it's convenient. It's been hit or miss but this last visit really wasn't great. Came in with a group. My spicy Bloody Mary was pretty bland and watered down. The chilaquiles I ordered tasted like someone poured too much salt on it in certain areas. I scraped the cheese off most of it in case the salt was mixed in there and that helped. For the price, the portion was a little on the small side. My friend liked her espresso cocktail though.

Finished a Dr appt and we found this bar for an early dinner. Nice and fun outside atmosphere. Service by our waitress was good. We ordered Brussels with apples as an appetizer. Carne and frites for hubby. I had fish and chips. The sprouts were Amazing! My meal was very lightly breaded , not heavy, and homemade tartar sauce was yummy! We had Old fashion and cucumber margarita. The old fashion was good, per my husband. But, my margarita was so tart I couldn't even sip it. Way too much sour and no taste of cucumber- just a slice on the rim. Returned it for wine with no issues. Too bad because I was looking forward to that marg. Overall nice place for happy hour with good deals. Will come Back with friends.

Came back for some chill vibes and food! The outside backyard part is a nice place to relax when it's not too cold out, especially near the fire! We got the brats and pretzel which was enough food for 3 people! The bartender was super friendly and was giving dog treats. Very dog friendly!

I went here for trivia night with the girls. When I got there around 630 the wait was over an hour, but one of the girls couldn't make it, which took our reservation down by one person and we were seated almost immediately. It was cold, but there were heaters and fireplaces nearby which was a nice reprieve from the cold. The food was pretty okay (i got the totchos), it lacked flavor as the nacho cheese was very bland and made the tots soggy quickly- honestly I'd prefer just regular tater tots at this point. The drinks were good! My friend got a burger, which she said was delicious. The service was kind of hard to come by, the waitress had to be flagged down and only took the order of the person that flagged her (we had to grab her when she turned to leave to get everyone else's orders). I'd go again for trivia night, but I'll be ordering something different.

We still love knotty barrel for family outings! The food is great, the service is super friendly and accommodating, and it's family friendly. I also love coming here to watch the bills game!! They accommodate me by seeing my bills gear on and turning the game on for me on one of their tvs. Definitely recommend knotty barrel for food, atmosphere, and fun!

Half price wine bottles might make Thursday the best night here. Had a nice red blend for just $18...a bottle, not a glass! Heated side patio was spacious and comfortable. Calabrese flatbread was good, but honestly too spicy. Specify half chilis, if you can. Dry rub chicken wings had an almost Old Bay flavor and were cooked perfectly. Excellent service.

Blackened Ahi Tuna salad was delicious and beautifully plated. We sit on the patio with our two dogs. Great service! Love the vibe.

I love having Knotty Barrel in the neighborhood. It's a great casual place with a comfortable vibe. Good food, great beer list and honestly the best part is the people. The hardworking staff are always so friendly and accommodating. The owners come out and will greet patrons and check on them. They remember the regulars. It's a nice neighborly touch.

This is the best neighborhood spot in Rancho Peñasquitos. It seats a lot of people, it's casual and comfortable. The kind of place you go for a quick meal or excellent place to linger, watch a game and enjoy a cold beer. Service is excellent. The staff always friendly and accommodating. Food is good and beer variety is very good.

Mac n cheese was so good and so was the cocktail of the month! Wine is generous. The staff was very helpful and good.

We met here with family to celebrate our parents' 64th wedding anniversary although they have both passed. There were seven of us missing four family members. My sister made the reservation so, when we arrived we were quickly directed to our table. The interior was very clean and had a combination sports bar, rustic, and industrial vibe with the exposed ducting overhead. The interior is nicely laid out and there is a patio for outdoor dining. Our waitress was very friendly and hardworking. She explained that one of the fryers was down so that limited our ability to order some of the menu items. I was looking forward to fish & chips. Instead I opted for the Turkey & Brie on sourdough bread with tater tots. It was delicious! The majority of the family ordered burgers or sandwiches. The food came out quickly. Everybody enjoyed the food but a little disappointed about the fryer being out of commission. We would like to return and try out the menu items we were unable to order this visit.

Great service and delicious food, especially the pretzels and wings! We had a retirement get together, it was a perfect experience!

I loved this place! Great doggy place. Their patio was great for my babies! I got the sausage trio. They were fine. I mean, nothing phenomenal about sausages. I said the same thing about the brat in Germany, so there's ny thought on sausages. Lol. They had 2 dollars off their 3-6pm happy hour menu. Also, 7$ red and white wine. Still, the place was comparable to other restaurants price wise. The service was fast and pleasant. The host was great at greeting. This is a very chill vibe and comfortable. I'd definitely come again!

Good Lord---The Hanger Steak at this place is an experience that should be had by all. Words won't do it justice...it's definitely an experience. The vibe here is very relaxing yet lively. I will definitely be making this a usual.

We love Knotty Barrel! The outdoor patio is very kid-friendly, the food is delicious, and the service is quick and welcoming. Always a chill vibe here, we take all our visiting friends and relatives here for a relaxed catch up over good food and drinks.

I met a couple of girlfriends after work for cocktails and dinner. I ventured up north to meet them at Knotty Barrel. I was surprised to see that it is part of a strip mall with a Vons. While I waited for them, I ordered the French 75. It was great. Nate really knows how to mix a drink. Once they arrived, we were seated in Chelsey's section. She was nice and friendly. She left us alone so we could catch up. We were seated in the bar area in a booth. There was an odd step so watch out how much you drink or you will end up eating $h1t trying to get out of the booth. We started off with the roasted brussels sprouts and loaded tots totchos. Both were really good. Great for sharing with others. The tater tots with beer cheese and bacon were chefs kiss. My friends ordered the ahi poke stack. I didn't try it as I am not adventurous when it comes to raw fish. For my dinner, I ordered the Carnitas Mac and Cheese. I was caught off guard by the level of spice. The jalapeño and green chile flavor was strong. It you only like a little bit of spice, don't get this. It did have good flavor. There wasn't very much carnitas so I was a bit disappointed. Due to all of the cheese, it did not hold well the following day. In retrospect, I probably should have got one more appetizer and called it a day. I will stick with appetizers on my next visit.

Really wanted to like the food here since this a neighbourhood favorite. The ambiance, service and the neighbourly vibe is on point but the food left us hoping for better. Buffalo wings - 3/5. Good size, flats were well cooked but drumettes seemed overcooked. Standard bar fare quality. Grilled cheese with tomato soup 3/5 decent grilled cheese. Nothing to write home about. Soup was good too. Knotty burger 3/5. This was a little disappointing. Was overcooked and dry when I asked for a medium cook. Really expect more from a $16 burger.

My husband and I tried to come here on a weekend and they were packed. Tried again on a Tuesday happy hour, with a group of 7, and was able to get a table inside. Service was friendly and efficient. Food was delicious and came out in a reasonable amount of time. It's no doubt that this is a popular locals spot. Great for groups to gather.

I was in the neighborhood with my friend Christina , we were hungry and decided to look on Yelp for some snacks . We had a lovely experience here Sunday . Our server was excellent. Very attentive. Our food was delicious!! I'm a big fan of the carnitas tacos . Wow chefs kiss. I also enjoyed the ahi tuna stack with wonton chips . I had a very tasty mai tat to go with it . I will definitely eat here again while in the area .

Ventured to this place on our trek to San Diego. The area was nice and I loved the patio seating area. We tried out their drink of the month (Irish Pot of Gold) - strong drink and decorative with the edible gold glitter. We also enjoyed the Pink lady and the Mai tai. Strong drinks and worth the money! We tried the Totchos which was topped with so many good toppings (we added in shredded beef, bacon and avocado). We also tried the Bavarian pretzel with the side of house cheese and mustard. Great appetizers to make our meal. The service was quick and our waitress was attentive. Overall great experience!

Updated to add the comment was "And NOW they want to move the umbrella". Doesn't seem like much but we heard it. Sorry, didn't see the private message.

Always a good time here. The food is always filling and they do not have a large menu. They instead choose to specialize a handful of items. Their brunch is a hit in my family. Very family and pet friendly. You can have your well behaved dog out on the patio. Great place to eat outside during the warmer months. We have never had an issue with an extended wait, yet, the tables are almost always filled. Some establishments service will go down when they are not busy, not here. The bathrooms are clean. Lots of screens to watch the big game. They also, have a full bar for your cocktail wants and needs. $19 bottomless mimosas!

We had our holiday party here but my staff goes here weekly! Hence the reason why we had our party here! Parking is of plenty, so no worries there. There is outside and inside seating and bar side available. They have a happy hour menu. TV screens to watch your favorite game. Food: Wings, loaded totchos, bavarian pretzel, ahi poke, roasted brussels sprouts, knotty house salad, rosemary tots, fries Drinks: everyone had different kinds of beers and cocktails, but I had the blackberry smash (so yummy) Food was soo yummy and it came so quickly so sorry I didn't get a chance to take pictures of it. We were all constantly ordering (when the tab is on your company....you just keep eating!). Great location in the PQ plaza....I will be back with my co-workers since it seems they dine here on an almost weekly basis, especially during football season.

This is the second time I've been here but the first time I've done a review. Being here twice with my wife we have tried a number of drinks and I can confidently say that they are well worth the money. The definitely don't cost more than your usual bar but I feel you will get a strong cocktail with whatever you order. Today we had the Mai tai, the drink of the month: The Irish gold, and the pink lady. All were delicious and strong! We also had some totchos with the bacon, beef and avocado, and also the pretzel. Food came out fast and was pretty good too! We sat outside because it was nice weather, there's a cool outside area for dogs as well! Nice chill place to grab a drink with friends!

Great environment, especially if you want to enjoy outside with your pup! The food was pretty good! The potatoes were the best part for sure, perfectly crispy! The Benedict was good, nothing extraordinary but satisfying. The service varied from server to server, ours in particular wasn't the friendliest or easiest to order with because we felt so rushed. Other servers came over and we're super friendly.

I've been here a few times now and I've loved it every visit. I love their cocktails and I'm normally a beer type of girl. Service is fast and the servers are always nice. Their fish n chips are probably some of the best I've had! I love that they're kid friendly & my kids loved their food as well. Highly recommend if you want a cold beer and some good food.

We came here for Christmas Eve with a humongous party. It turned out great, our server Michael was so helpful and accommodating. We loved the food, great pretzels, tasty poke stack, perfectly fried pickles, I loved the ahi tuna salad as well. All around such a great spot to take a large group. The patio was decorated so cute for xmas. We love the Knotty Barrel and we will certainly be back again!

This has become a new go-to hang out spot. Love their selection of cocktails, and the outside fire pits are such a vibe. Great place to chill and enjoy good food.

The atmosphere and service was fantastic. Definitely a place that you can go and enjoy by yourself, with a date or your partner and/or your kids. The menu is simple and as expected.... Prices are high for the quality of food. Didn't drink while there, so not sure how the drinks are. Absolutely worth going at least once. Great for a date night.

We were looking for a halfway point between our home and our friends in East County so based on the reviews we selected this place. We were greeted right away and sat in a booth. The first thing I noticed was the plexiglass dividers between the booths were dirty with fingerprints and honestly made me want to move to a table because it wasn't great to look at. Our server was incredible. She was very accommodating, friendly and took great care of us. This is the reason the 3 stars because of the service. Excellent beer list and even had non-alcoholic beer which was appreciated. Our only complaint was the food. The smashburger came out looking like a burger from a school cafeteria. No flavor and dry. I asked for a burger like the one my wife got (house burger?) because it looked better. When mine came out I asked the manager who brought it and was very nice and accommodating, if there was any sauce on it. There is nothing. Had to add mustard, mayonnaise and ketchup. The burger was split in three places and also over cooked. Our grilled burgers at home are way more flavorful. In fact that was the one complaint by all was the food lacked flavor. Including the poke stack and fish and chips. The seasonal flatbread with chorizo was tasty and should have probably had just the wings. Again, disappointed because this location is perfect to meet up, but probably won't be back due to the food.

Ok update... the owner saw my previous review invited me back to try the knotty burger again... and I'll say it was fantastic... Knotty barrel has some great happy hour specials as well... check their website... when we went it was $5 pints all night...

Food was great. Food was served in a timely manner. They had excellent customer service. We were seated outside, which was perfect for our kids!

Love this place! Been a few times and have not been disappointed. The atmosphere is great and a fun vibe. We went on a Tuesday night and had all night happy hour which is great! Cheaper drinks. We split the mac n cheese and the turkey and brie sandwich and they both were great. Can't wait to go back and try more.

Great vibe , thank you! Came here with a friend a couple of weeks ago, only ordered Moscow mules- they were great!

Knotty has quickly risen to the top of our go-to brunches. Between the good food, bottomless mimosas, great staff and plethora of TVs.. why wouldn't it? Brunch specials are Sat/Sun 10a-2p, 930am now that football is back on. I can't speak for any other days of the week or meals but brunch is a win and I wouldn't expect anything else from dinner. Plus they frequently deal with us staying far past brunch hours and more into a lunner haha. Our crew are all big fans of the breakfast burrito, I've also tried and love the grilled cheese and tomato soup plus mozz sticks are always a win, but really I'm not sure you can lose with any of the food choices. Plenty of seating inside and out with TVs in both areas, though Sundays do get busy now that football is back so get there early to ensure you get the best view of the TV with the game you're really wanting to watch. Thanks for the continuous hospitality KBPQ.

My son and I were visiting from Phoenix, and we saw the reviews on this place. They were right! The food was wonderful and the service was spot on. I enjoyed a local beer. I had the Bison meatballs...yummo! And my son had the Mac and cheese...magic. We ended the meal with the brownie alamode. Definitely give this place a visit. The menu offered many delights.

Finally a great place to review!! Service was amazing! Melanie was very kind and cheerful....we never had to wait for anything, she was always on top of it. Julian the manager came around to check on us as well. Very friendly. Everyone working here looks like they actually enjoy their job. So refreshing! Food was also great! We had the Brussel sprouts appetizer and the different burgers. We will definitely be back!

I've been to the downtown location more times than I can remember. Partly because I've been so many times and partly because they all involved drinking beer. Until recently, I had no idea that the PQ location even existed but I'm glad to have found out. The place is huge. It used to be Cafe 56 but is now home to taps, pints, burgers and any number of things covered in cheese. I went for happy hour ($2 off beers and $2 off apps) and partook of the: Bavarian pretzel, mozzarella sticks and tot-chos (nacho tater tots). Firstly, it was more food than I had any right ordering. Second, I didn't care then and I don't care now. It was delicious. Portions were huge (good for sharing), drink options were plentiful and service couldn't have been friendlier.

Update 5/7/2023: At the recommendation of James who responded to my initial review, we decided to check out Knotty Barrel's brunch today. The wait at the hostess had me concerned at first, but we were seated within a few minutes of arriving. We sat inside at a booth this time and the service was as good as when we sat at the bar. We started off with some of their amazing lemon pepper wings. I had chilaquiles and my girlfriend had the breakfast sandwich. Everything we had was phenomenal, but the one thing I'll say is to come hungry! The portions here are very gratuitous and filling. Can't wait to come back! Big fan of this place! My girlfriend and I just moved to Sabre Springs which isn't too far away from Penasquitos and while she was running errands in this shopping center she saw this place the other day. We were in need of a date night, so yesterday afternoon we cruised up here to the Knotty Barrel to check it out. My first observation is that it's a pretty big place with tons of parking around it as it's settled in the middle of a large shopping center. It has ample seating both outside as well as inside and the bar can be accessed by patrons seated outside or inside which is a feature I really like. We sat at the bar and were waited on by Kim. Kim was tending to a pretty busy bar, but was checking on us regularly. We each had a couple old fashioneds and a beer to drink and just enjoyed our time there. For food we ordered the lemon pepper wings because it's my favorite flavor of dry rub wing. Although I felt they could have used a little more seasoning, the texture and crispiness of the skin was amazing. For food I had the turkey and brie sandwich and although I'm not sure what kind of sandwich she had, we both enjoyed our meals. The atmosphere here was fun and welcoming and from what I can tell, they have a lot of locals and regulars. Although we don't live in PQ, I hope that we can make this one of our regular places moving forward since it's not a far drive or Uber ride from home.

I hosted a gathering nearby work, and I wanted something close enough yet different. This has been great on both occasions. The service was fantastic! The outdoor setup was great both times - allowing for a casual yet close discussion with everyone. The menu and food setup was also easy and tasty. All around, great experience. I intend to use again in the future. Thank you for accommodating us. :)

My family and I have been coming here, religiously, for years! We always have a wonderful experience with everyone we encounter and the foods always great! I usually get their grilled cheese with tomato basil soup or the fish and chips; but today I had the November Special - Meatball sub with a side garden salad with their vinaigrette!!! It was soooo yummy! I literally ate everything on my plate!

Delicious food and drink specials! Fun atmosphere and great service! Indoor and outdoor cozy seating. Definitely visit!

The service was amazing, food was great, and the restaurant is pretty clean! I would like to go back again and order some more. Overall 8/10!

This is one of my go to spots for takeout or to grab a drink after work. Their poke appetizer and ahi tuna salad are delicious! I usually go for a Pinot to drink but grabbed one of their cocktails during this trip which was a little too sweet for me.

YUMMERS! Me and my friends went here for prom and the food was really good. As you can see, the salted caramel brownie was really good because my friends were fighting over it. The service was good and they checked up often. The place was more country and casual.

Great place for family friendly food and drinks. Even a big dog friendly patio too! Staff is attentive and friendly, plus the food is really good. Items on the menu change up to reflect seasonal changes and sometimes they just do something new.

Great Service, Good Food & Loved the Ambiance! Fun time around the firepit with friends and family! Will definitely go back for brunch or too catch some games. Alot of TV's and good drinks as well and ample parking!!

Waitress was kind and attentive, doggy's all chilling in peace lol, was a nice vibe, loved dipping the crisp grilled cheese sandwich in the tomato soup, the cheese toppings was a nice touch although soup seemed a bit pasty for me, the flight is Russian STS, Russian IPA, Knotty IPA and then 40 Juicy IPA, I usually do lighter to more fruity or heavier, the first 3 had a surprisingly good compatibility, I know I would absolutely love the 40 Juicy if I had it in a stand alone glass but it's if your doing the flight mix and start of with the 3 I did maybe finish off with something a tiny bit lighter then 40 Juicy, bicycling here always has a crazy incline, lets hope I can make it next time lol.