Serpentine Cider & Smokehouse

The Brisket here is bar far the best BBQ I have had in quite some time. Jeremy really knows what he is doing when it comes to his BBQ. The dirty rice, Mac and cheese and bean crack are on point and are perfect side dishes. Everything I have had here is lip-smacking good. Definitely returning and HIGHLY Recommended!!! P.s. the dirty rice has a little spicy zing to it, but I love it.

This place offers a great selection of meads, ciders, beers, and food! They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, and also dog friendly. The atmosphere is very chill and relaxed, and hip at the same time. A great hangout spot to be with friends and family. The servers, Fatima and Sarah are very friendly. They were so easy to talk to and engage in conversation. They made us feel welcomed. I’ll start with the food first because it was the highlight of my visit! The cost to quality ratio is the best in San Diego for me by far. They offer combo deals called “TV Dinners”, which consist of a choice of meat and two sides, all for only $18.50! My wife and I both had a TV Dinner combo. I had the rib tips with slaw and brisket chili. My wife went with brisket with mac & cheese and bean crack. Both meats were very flavorful and cooked to perfection. Very juicy and tender. I haven’t had smoked meat this good since my visit to Texas last year! All of the sides exceeded my expectations, except the slaw which I thought was just basic. We had two flights of ciders and were able to taste 9 different flavors. All of the flavors were very tasty and crafted very well. Even the experimental ciders were surprisingly very good. This place has now become one of my favorite places to eat. My wife and I agreed to visit at least once a month. If you’re looking for amazing bbq and smoked meats and a great variety of drinks, I highly recommend this place.

Came here for the BBQ (not the beer) and ordered a few pounds of fatty brisket. Better than average for San Diego, but still dry in spots and not on par with Texas or Carolina standards. The pork belly was the standout: crispy, juicy, and flavorful. Several sides, like coleslaw and mac & cheese, were sold out, which made it hard to get the full experience. Service was great, and the waitress even sent us home with extra rice on the house. Overall, not blown away but better than average, and I would come back while still searching for San Diego’s best BBQ.

Wow! Love this place! There are ciders for everyone’s tastes. The Barbecue is a lovely complement and the staff couldn’t have been nicer.

The cider here is fantastic. It's not too sweet, and the flavors rotate all the time. The owners are great people who love what they do. The food here is so good,and the cidertenders are fun to be around. There's always something out-of-the-ordinary happening here. From holiday parties to themed events, crafts, trivia, even pet adoptions. Come and support San Diego's best local cidery.

Randomly tried this place for lunch and loved it! We tried 8 kinds of cider and they all tasted delicious. The brisket burrito with chimichurri was excellent, pork rib tips were crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, and my favorite was the Classic (pulled pork with pickles and slaw on brioche). Really solid meal and drinks! The vibe is nice too, ok to bring kids and pets, lots of games to play, TVs to watch, and nice outdoor seating options. Oh, lots of free parking! It's a no-brainer to come back to Serpentine!

Visited with family. The place was so stinky inside. The only place to avoid it was outside. The staff is very lazy and it took 30 min to get them to wipe the table, and despite this the tables and chairs were sticky. The cider itself is below average. Tasted at least 5 and all were yikes. People were also smoking right outside the barrier. Even though there was sign no smoking staff didn’t care. So its definitely not the place to bring kids. Go hangout somewhere else.

I LOVE IT HERE!!! BEST CIDER! BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE! BEST FOOD! They are always having new ciders it’s awesome always checking in to see what’s new. Food is great the cook really takes pride in the kitchen! Brisket! Is so yummy! Events are always happening ! I love it ! This place is for sure a hidden Gem! Check it out ! !!!!!!!!!

Stumbled upon this place and wow. I had the guava cider which was delicious and the brisket tv dinner with beans and dirty rice. Service is bar service or a QR code. it's very casual inside.

A good friend of mine loves their cider and wanted to go after a bike ride. I'm not a cider fan personally, but I do like to eat! I ordered the TV dinner with brisket, macaroni and cheese and slaw. I also ordered their lemonade, which they did not have enough of to pour me a full serving. The bartender gave me a cup with a little bit of it, and it tasted good. I ordered a sweet tea in its place and asked for lemons, but they don't have lemons. The tea came out and it was OK but seemed like it either came from concentrate or was made a couple days ago. I mixed in the bit of lemonade that I had and that was good as an Arnold Palmer. Our food came out almost immediately. My macaroni and cheese and brisket were barely warm. The macaroni and cheese had heavy Velveeta shells and cheese vibes... just OK but nothing special. The brisket had a very good flavor but was very dry. It came with barbecue sauce, but I'm not a fan of barbecue sauce so I ate it like it was. The slaw was excellent. My friend got an order of fries which were delicious, I ate a bunch of them. She also got these jalapeño peppers that were wrapped in bacon and stuffed with cheese and I think pulled pork. She seemed to like them a lot, but she said that she's gotten them before a few times and every time they've been different The bartender that served us was really nice, she was happy to make recommendations. I thought the interior of this business was really nicely put together. Very clean and well organized.

The ciders are all pretty solid and the bartenders are friendly. I walked here 3 miles from my hotel only to find that the kitchen here closes an hour early . It would be really helpful of the business actually communicated this .

Really good barbecue. Had a barbecue brisket sandwich that was really good for San Diego. It's hard to find good barbecue in San Diego had quite a bit of cider on top. I had a lavender one which was refreshing. They also said they had meat, but they only had one tap, and I have enough of that. A lot of people were drinking it. bartender is very friendly. Will be back multiple times.

Good service, great cider & food, and a lovely cozy, low key atmosphere! A real hidden gem in the area, so glad we found it :)

I'll say this....it's some good ___ cider! My fiance and I went there a few days ago and let me tell you, when we left we had the ultimate experience of being happy lol. You can taste the clean ingredients. This week we are going back with some coworkers to really enjoy all the ciders. Totally recommend

I love coming here for their special events. They are very *nerd* welcoming. Their themed nights - including star wars, lord of the rings, and general trivia nights - are an amazing way to meet like minded similarly nerdy people (hey, ain't no shame in my nerd game). Plus the cider-tenders are amazing to talk to, geeky in each of their own rights, and it's just an enjoyable time all around. Oh yeh, and the cider is good - ranging from "weird" to "sweet" to "that's the right spot". Highly recommend.

This is a cool and popular place to hang out I am not the cider biggest fan but tried one of their flights They were mostly good except the apricot which was very bitter Service was fine Tap payment didn't work I wish they had a few beer options

Great beers. Food is enjoyable and fast. Service is amazing. Vibe is wonderfully chill. I'll be back!

I stopped by for a drink with friends. I tried a cider flight and enjoyed it. I didn't eat any food but it looked and smelled good. This spot is cute and a great spot to grab cider with friends. The bartenders were very friendly.

Fatima and Sarah has been amazing came down here for my birthday with friends and wife they have really awesome customer service and I asked Fatima about the ciders and she gave me samples and was really kind every time she brought out the food she said good stuff about the food and recommend a lot of good things to us so if your ever in San Diego stop by cause they have amazing customer service and good vibes ask for Sarah and Fatima

Overall very chill place to sip some cider and have some Smoking J's bbq if you decide (they share the same space). They offer a really good and extensive selection of cider (both seasonal and everyday selections). I love cider so I really enjoyed what we ordered. The staff is kind just chilling behind the bar and won't approach you until you ask them for help. We had a 5 cider flight sampler which was perfect for the 2 of us to share. We had a pumpkin spice flavor that was really good and tested just like thanksgiving, the pineapple, pineapple coconut (was my least favorite), guava, and pineapple hibiscus (this was my favorite).

[Food/Drinks] - Cider Flight: They all tasted good but my favorite one is the strawberry one cause there's a nice sweetness that's not overpowering. - Frozen Cider: My friend got the Juniper as a frozen cider and she highly recommended it. Nice to get on a warm day. - Brisket: Tender, juicy, flavorful. Was tastier than I expected! Great with beer [Service] - Friendly, chill, attentive [Ambiance] - Has indoor and outdoor seating - Spacious and has a air hockey table [Overall] - Friends brought me here cause I liked ciders and we had a nice time! - Would recommend if you like ciders as there's a variety here compared to most breweries. - Also a plus that they have food here!

So many choices of cider! Highly recommend a flight. The staff was so friendly and fun

I am actually embarrassed that I have not written them a review already. I have been coming to Serpentine for nearly 5 years now. Best cider I have ever had. The owner and cider master, Sean, is truly exceptional at the craft. The environment is always relaxing. My husband and I love coming to their monthly movie events and charities. Smokin J's is yummy and people are just cool there. Highly recommend and we are so glad we live close by!

Super chill spot !! Came and got the pork belly and brisket sandwich, Texas Twinkie's, and ohh lawwddyy lawd the Cajun fries . I got to say overall delicious and the damn cider was just the wash down it needs to make you feel like royalty . They got board games , outdoor seating , super relax spot and nice service . Going back for that burrito . Cheers !!

such a fun spot, can't believe we hadn't found it sooner! great cider, yummy food. the brisket chili is to die for! already becoming regulars for this place!

came here to try out their cider, happy with their brisket/beans/colesloaw. like wow. first bite into the brisket was smoky and tender, their beans were sweet and savory, their coleslaw was crisp and fresh. staff was amazing, loved their nordic vibe, wasn't a cider man but starting to love it more. i like the progression of the ciders , started with apple and finished with apple pie, they sound the same but u can taste and smell the cinnamon in the apple pie which i think was a nice and gentle finisher. nice costume too.

I just had the special last night. It was a smoked pork shoulder sandwich: the BBQbano. It was soooo gooood. Paired with my flight of ciders really hit the spot because I was thirsty AND hungry. Get this sandwich before they take it off the menu!

The food was great! The TV dinner concept is genius! The meat was flavorful and the sides were tasty! We'll definitely be back!!

Really cool spot! I'm a cider lover and immediately knew we had to stop by here when we were in town for the weekend. The employees are super nice and helpful; they give great recommendations. The inside is of the shop is gorgeous (the snake art is epic), and we also loved getting to sit at the front window barstools and people-watch on a beautiful day. My husband and I shared two different three-flavor flights--my favorites were the pomegranate mint (to die for) and the pineapple (sweet and tasty) while my husband favored the guava one almost exclusively. The apple one was probably my least favorite since it very much resembled a white wine rather than a cider, as their menu describes. Whether you're a cider fan or not, the variety of flavors here has something for everyone.

Great ciders. Probably the best I have ever had. Parking isn't bad and it's not usually too busy. Service is abysmal. I've been here a few times and the young ladies are more into their phones and conversations at the bar and amongst themselves than anything else. They close at 9pm on Saturdays but come early because they didn't seem as if they wanted to take any orders after 8. They started cleaning up and even cleaning the bathrooms 45 mins before close.....while no one was behind the bar to serve drinks for the 6 people here! Amazing I asked when they close since she hasn't been behind the bar in a half hour and she became argumentative. She said "I was trying to close"! An hour early! Come on

The drinks were AMAZING. Sounds like most (if not all) of their drinks were made from real ingredients (ie, guava cider uses real guava, habanero mango cider used real habanero). And the quality really shined through the drinks! And staff was so cool and friendly! (Shout out to Bree!!). We didn't get a chance to try their food, but I def want to come back for that! Sounded delicious!

Never had made before. Fantastic. Great place. Inside and outside seating. They have some games you can play, or you are welcome to bring your own. Will definitely visit again

Affordable refreshing cider! Guava cider was good and was able to enjoy some Smokin' Js bbq with it. Plenty of seating, spacious, nice place to hang out. Friendly service

I really like the vibes here! It shares a building with Lost Cause and Smokin' J's BBQ (previously Rollin' Roots) and I quite enjoyed it! I got the POG (Passionfruit, Orange, Guava) during the happy hour so it was 40% off for the full pour! The service was excellent and speedy! The guy at the bar was very patient with trying to give me input on what to get. In general, the ciders here are not too much on the sweet side, they are a bit drier, so something to keep in mind! Love that despite it being a small funky spot, the aesthetic is cool, with wall art on the bathroom doors and walls. We also came during the karaoke night (didn't partake though). I'll have to come back for a flight though! (Not included in happy hour specials I believe) Parking wasn't too bad for a Friday night (it wasn't too busy) and there is room for parking alongside the street too. Tables inside and outside, so it shouldn't be too hard to snatch a place to sit. Recommend coming to play board games (bring your own or use one of theirs, they have quite a few available to play!) while sipping on cider :)

What a great place! Everyone was friendly, food was great, and the cider is now my favorite cider! Comfortable and relaxing atmosphere with games to play at the table if wanted. It made for a very special evening for our celebration. Can't wait to go back!

As a local, Serprentine Cider is where me and my partner go where we just want to have a relaxing night. There is indoor and outdoor seating (when we want to bring our pups), the staff are always relaxed and nice, good recommendations, always exploring new flavors while still having the classics, and I love all the creative/fun things they do like trivia night. The ONLY thing is..parking can SUCK! It's a little store and so you have to find side street parking. I wish I could take 0.4 stars off, but Yelp don;t work like that. Not that it's Serpentine Cider;s fault, but that my only caveat. Everything else is so great, I have little room to complain.

Came here for some last minute drinks and remembered this amazing spot! We went on late afternoon on a Saturday and there were a couple of groups but there was plenty of seating inside and outside. Had to get the full pour of the Sour Cherry because I loved that one last time and it was so good!!!! It might be my favorite alcoholic drink of all time and they sell crowlers and cans of them too. My boyfriend got to the Guava and we hadn't tried that one last time but he said he loved this one too! Didn't get them this time but I definitely will next time I stop by!

Nigel FTW! I saw they had cider slushies so I knew I had to try at leat one. They had 2 flavors, Pineapple Toasted Coconut and I believe the other was a Salted Margarita. I was skeptical about the Pineapple because if coconut anything is involved, I usually don't have it. I'm not allergic to it, just haven't ever liked it...just like taro/ube! Ughhh, lol! I asked Nigel if it was possible to taste both before I purchased one. He happily gave me both to try. He said the Pineapple one didn't really taste like coconut, and fellow Yelper Cheryl R. had one earlier so she confirmed it for me. After tasting both, the Pineapple was the winner for me! The other one tasted like an original marg. Pass! The slushy melted quickly due to the hot weather coupled with a lot of body heat in a small space. It was so yummy though, and I must have inhaled it in a matter of seconds! I hope the next time I return, they'll have other fruity flavors. Thank you Nigel, I'm coming back no doubt!! IG: @serpentine_cider

First of all, shoutout to Nigel for being a great bartender! Great recommendations and very knowledgeable about everything offered. This place is definitely hard to find and I think it would help if they got some better signage out front. I would've never known about this place if I didn't have a Yelp Event in the same space. I got a glass of their Sour Cherry. While I did really enjoy it, I wish there was a stronger cherry flavor to it. I did taste test two others as well: the Raspberry BlackBerry was really lacking in flavor, so I wouldn't get that again, and the Guava, which was a really nice, refreshing summer cider. If you enjoy guava, you would love this for sure! They also had two cider slushies, which I thought was very unique: Margarita and Pineapple Coconut. Unfortunately, I don't like either of those flavors much, so I didn't try it. But I would love to come back and try some if they change up the flavors.

Didn't know this place existed and glad that there's another cider place in the 'hood! Nigel helped me and explained the ciders they had! Appreciated the lil rundown he gave us! I had a 3 flight that consisted of their raspberry blackberry, guava, and pineapple coconut slush! All were so flavorful and delicious! Am def wanting to come back and try their other flavors!

so, now the co-located mead place, Lost Cause, is no longer there. The co-located Smokin J's BBQ is merging (?) with Serpentine (so you can order food and cider from the same place/register/pos). As I understand it, there will be beer there in the future (not sure when) I tried a new menu Smokin J's menu item; the burritos (specifically with brisket and "Texas Twinkies" (bacon wrapped stuffed hot peppers) added) and it was amazing. Really, a meal for 2. The fact that the cider is less dry (i.e. more sweet) makes it work better with the bbq. Also, I saw Jackfruit on the menu for the vegetarians I imagine.

This lovely little tasting room shares its space with a couple of other businesses (Lost Cause Meadery and Rollin Roots) so you can sample quite a few things if you're looking to explore. Folks were quite lovely to interact with at all of the spots so show them some love next time you swing by! They do have some non-alcoholic offerings too, just in case you can't drink, so something for everybody. Parking was pretty trivial to find in the expansive lot, as was seating (which was mostly interior, though a few outside seats were available). Our bartender was very knowledgeable and answered our every question about their menu and offerings. We went with a 5-flight offerings of their experimental ciders: Sour Tropics, Juniper Sage, Apple Pie, Pineapple, Blood Orange Hibiscus. They even had a bunch of customized flight holders with marker labels on them (the usefulness of this cannot be overstated). Sure enough the descriptors are remarkably true to what we got. The apple pie was indeed remarkably like drinking liquified apple pie (minus the carbs and texture of course). The juniper was quite the unusual one that I found rather pleasant for sipping, but my brother couldn't stand at all. The sour tropics and pineapple were a bit too sour for my tastes. That said, the blood orange hibiscus was a common favorite. We then proceeded to take home some crowlers filled with their hot chocolate (because really, that sounds amazing and we felt lucky) and the blood orange. All in all, we had a great time and it's a lovely place to chillax and sip some local brews.

The space holding Serpentine Cider also holds a meadery and a little vegan food spot. So, when you come here, expect lots of options and an actively social environment. Which, in my experience, is what I want out of a brewery spot! The options for cider here are VOLUMOUS and the menu board displaying them does a wonderful job of laying out every single one. You can get flights of various sizes, which is awesome, and not something I see many places. The tender was very friendly, funny, quick-witted, and ready to serve. You can get any cider canned up or growled quickly. The cider wasn't my thing once I started tasting it, however, but maybe it's just not for me! I am giving it a 5 star because it's just such a great place to visit, the mead available at the same bar top is incredible, and the food is also incredible. The cider was probably a 6.5/10, but I did only try three! So that's on me.

I love Serpentine Cider, and I love this shared space with Lost Cause Meadery and Rollin Roots. It is a great place to hang out with friends with different options to satisfy everyone. One side of the bar is dedicated for Lost Cause, while the other side around the corner is for Serpentine. Before the bar, there is a window where you can purchase food from Rollin Roots. The last time I went, I came on a Friday evening with a few friends. We were able to find a seat quickly for the four of us. I opted to do a cider flight with 5 different ciders to try. All of the ciders were great, and I will definitely be back.

My wife and I aren't cider drinkers but we thought we give it a try and we loved their Cider selections. We also ordered the Pork Belly, Mac n cheese and Cajun fries. Everything was a 10/10. The workers were amazing in recommendations and we would definitely come back.

been here a few times now and I still love getting the 4 piece flight. it's the perfect amount to pair with dinner from rollin roots and the right amount of variety to try each flavor and remember them. my go to is always the pineapple cider as well as the margarita cider. they're both so flavorful and unique! their apple cider is also solid. Juniper sage and spa water are definitely unique...but can taste a bit too soapy floral for me. I prefer the reliable fruit flavors over the botanical. I love that they have a rotating menu so each time I come in, there's always something new to try! and if you're not feeling cider, then just step to the side to try some mead from lost meadery!

Went for trivia night and had a blast, get there early on trivia night or you won't get a seat. Service was good and I enjoyed myself quite a bit.

Really wide selection of ciders, from sweet to sour, with lots of interesting experimental flavors. I loved the strawberry rhubarb. You'll find something you love. Fun, dedicated bartender.

Wonderful atmosphere to catch up with friends! On a Friday night I met my friends here at 6pm. We hadn't seen me another in a long while due to the pandemic. The ciders did not disappoint and neither did the company! I loved that you could get a flight--it's my favorite thing to do--sample multiple beverages! My absolute favorite of theirs was sour cherry. I actually ended up getting a full pour of this drink it was so amazing. They have a cider for everyone. I sampled lemon, raspberry, ginger, sour cherry and one other--the name eludes me. I think lemon was my least favorite. They also had food here. We got truffle fries, Mac and cheese balls, and fried pickles. All were BOMB! I think this is through another business within the facility, because they had a sign for it as we ordered but I do not recall the name. Either way, this place will NOT disappoint! Oh and they rent out their outdoor patio, too. It was rented when we went for a surprise birthday party.

Nice people and very good cider. Nice to find a place that also serves food. Will return.

This review is of the private event space. I recently held a private event here with about 85 people. I communicated with Sean throughout the planning process. The space is beautiful and many of my guests commented on how much they enjoyed the drinks and the ambiance. We had quite a few teens in attendance and they migrated to the patio with sodas from the bar and also played air hockey. I brought in a few folding tables and chairs for more outdoor seating around the back. Also hired a taco cart and DJ. I would definitely recommend Serpentine for a private event if you're looking for a casual, fun vibe! Thank you to Sean, Jasmine, and Ty for their help and hospitality!!!

Nice surprise that a cider place has a cider slushee! That was very much needed as the day I went the day was warm and the place was packed (adding more heat). The flights are such a good deal that I ended up ordering the 4 drink flight. I got the guava, ginger, blood orange hibiscus and salted margarita slushee. I was hoping for the ciders to be on the sweet side, but only the salted margarita slushee was. The other 3 were more on the tarty beer tasting side. But I LOVED the salted margarita slushee! Perfect drink for a hot day. Parking can be a pain as the place is in a commercial building area, but worth a try. I do plan to come back to try the pineapple coconut slushee, juniper sage and apple pie ciders.

Had zero expectations arriving, just curiosity! Took a seat not knowing what they carried and Nigel promptly introduced me to their offerings, he even poured a few tastings for me to decide what to order. Really love this place! From the chill ambiance, indoor air hockey table, outdoor patio, string lights, excellent service and tasty drinks, this is definitely a hidden gem! Please go and support this establishment!!!

Great place to try some really unique ciders. Came at the end of June and the inside seating still wasn't available but there was plenty of space outside in their back patio. On top of options to order by the glass, they also let you do flights of 3, 4 or 5. My friend and I decided to get flights of 5 for $13 each. We ended up getting a 3rd flight of 5 so we ended up trying almost all of their ciders. Most of the ciders were not shy on their flavors. However, if the cider said it had two flavors, like ginger peach, it would usually just taste like one or the other. The ginger one ended up tasting like just ginger to me, which is great since I love ginger but I would've liked the peach flavor to be stronger. The mango habanero only tasted like habanero and burned way after I finished drinking it so be prepared! My favorites were the sour cherry, ginger peach, passion fruit and rugby blood orange. The overall space is really nice and it was never too crowded while we were there. Would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to try some yummy ciders.

***BAD SERVICE AND ARGUMENTATIVE STAFF!!! DO NOT COME HERE FOR MORE THAN ONE OR TWO DRINKS!!!! OH WAIT THAT IS ALL YOU WILL GET IN 2 HOURS...**** Come for good drinks but DO NOT expect good service. The bartender was more concerned about closing starting at 7:45 then serving more drinks (they close at 9:00 pm). When asked if the guy at the bar was a customer she said he was a friend and when I said maybe you should pay attention to customers she started to argue that he is a customer too when she was asked when they close. I am active duty and was with active duty friends and would not come back here legitimately the worst service I've seen in any establishment around the world. There were 4 people in the bar and only the regular got any service not the table of 3 who had a tab open and wanted to spend more money and get more drinks (P.S. we each had 2). It took 30 minutes to get the bartenders attention to buy a drink and lost interest so waited 10 more minutes to close my tab when the bar was "open" unless you wanted to buy more drinks and you were the bartenders friend I mean customer (her words). The vibe was what you made of it all the tables were stick and not clean... weird for a venue with a max capacity of 49...

Great place to chill with friends and drink delicious, unique ciders! I really enjoy the sampler because that's how I discovered that I really like guava cider! I also really enjoyed the pomegranate mint, which tasted like a mojito. The ciders are refreshing and crisp. It also comes in a cool snake holder. It can be hard to find seating though because this place can be very crowded. There is also Lost Cause Meadery and Good Seed Food Company at this place, but I didn't try them yet. The cider is in the back of the store, so don't stand in other lines that you don't need to!

This is a shared space with Good Seed Food Company and Lost Cause Meadery. If you're into alcohol this is another option to try a flight of cider. There were two long lines when we came and we didn't quite understand what the process was or what the lines were for. It's a bit confusing. So if you look up there are signs that say order food here, order cider here. That type of deal. Once you got that down then you can sit inside or head outside for some covered seating. They have some games like giant jenga whilst you taste their brews. Mel M Yelp 19:76