The Craftsman Tavern

The Craftsman is a "Dave & Tammy Tour Podcast" favorite! Our go-to choice begins with the truffle black popcorn, followed by their Craftsman Burger. They have a wide selection of wines and a good selection of craft beers. On Thursdays, expect a crowd, and that means LOUD! So, if you're looking for a romantic little spot for quiet conversation, this is NOT the place. But if you're out with pals and want to celebrate, you're on! Oh, and about those burgers, if you like them medium, order rare, as they tend to overcook most of their meat. The staff is friendly, management is attentive, and parking, plentiful. We love it! And if you visit and enjoy, but live closer to the water in Encinitas, consider Blue Ribbon, their sister restaurant. The food is equally good (if not better), the space is MUCH smaller, parking's a PITA, but the people are super nice.

This place is really what you think when of you hear "New American Tavern". We enjoyed it so much that I started this review before dessert came and am now finishing it afterward! We had a short wait on a Friday night and it was so worth it. Super friendly staff and foods with great flavors! We started with the brussell sprouts which were incredible and we finished with the Brownie! Every in between was good also! Highly recommend and we'll definitely be back!

I had the Tijuana Caesar salad and added chicken. The salad was delicious. They did't drown the salad in dressing, there was just enough for a great tart lime flavor. The chicken was a little dry, but chicken breast almost always is. The staff was attentive and the atmosphere nice.