The Wise Ox Butcher & Deli — Local services in Carlsbad

Absolutely unacceptable. I ordered burgers here last Friday for myself, my wife and my two toddlers and found a large metal bolt cooked inside my wife’s burger patty between the meat and the cheese. My wife bit into it before realizing what it was — thankfully she didn’t break a tooth or choke, but it easily could have caused a serious medical emergency or worse!

This isn’t just “bad service” or “a mistake.” This is a major health and safety violation. It shows a complete lack of care in the kitchen and raises serious questions about how food is being handled here.

When I showed the GM the burger he was shocked and apologetic. He comped our meal and asked us if we wanted something more and we declined. We weren’t looking for freebies or handouts — we were looking for a safe meal. Instead, we got a dangerous object hidden in our food. The GM claimed that the bolt came from a pickle slicer and that someone put pickles on the burger which didn’t make sense because my wife ordered a burger with no pickles so that story didn’t add up. Given that the bolt was in between the meat and cheese it’s hard to see how this was a mistake and it’s fair to question if a disgruntled employee did this out of malice.

I asked the GM to please have the owner give me a call to discuss this incident - as I think I deserve that much. That was Friday and 3 days later ownership has not reached out so here I am. If ownership doesn’t take something this serious as a wake-up call, they shouldn’t be serving the public.

Eat here at...

WOOOOW!!!...just...WOW. Corey is super chill and easy to chat with and very knowledgeable.

Okay..the Dry Burger. Its stupid, so damn good its just dumb. I had to pause my movie and just focus on all the flavors running around! Its so different and built so honest and correct that you will never enjoy a cheap burger again. It sits light afterwards and has zero guilt effect, even with fries! No gross rich food feeling. I have to wonder what a dark portabello mushroom glaze would be like, and a toasted bun...That would be a fun test.

The fries took me back to childhood Sunday breakfasts with hashbrowns and sausage anx paired beautifully with the burger. They add a distinct seperation of flavor that assists very nicely! I now understand how a nice red wine would go with this meal.

The sauce, I didnt know I had one in the bag until halfway thru...lol. The sauce is at first a bit underwhelming and almost doesnt seem to fit. However, after a few test fries it made more sense, but really made sense when dabbled on the burger! A hint of vinegar and light bbq and an overall tasty sauce done just right.

The Breakfast sandwich....that was a nice suprise! Much larger than expected and also delightfully light...but kept me happily fed for quite a few hours.

I highly recommend anything The Wise Ox makes or offers. They seem to really know their game and are spot on with handmade food. Thank you to everyone at the Beacon location...your hard work...

Tucked away in a quiet corner of The Beacon La Costa plaza, The Wise Ox is both a high-quality butcher shop and a casual spot for dining. They offer a range of premium raw and marinated beef, chicken, and pork products, including impressive dry-aged steaks stored in their refrigerator. While the prices are on the higher side, the quality of their offerings justifies the cost.

For dining, they feature a small menu of prepared items. I tried the Dry Aged Burger, which came with a well-baked bun, a flavorful dry-aged beef patty, and crispy bacon. While the patty had a rich and satisfying beef taste, the bacon was overcooked and detracted slightly from the overall experience. As a side, I ordered the Beef Fat French Fries, which stood out with a subtle, savory flavor from the beef fat—definitely a step above regular fries.

The interior of the shop is small, with no indoor seating, but their outdoor patio provides a pleasant dining space, complete with wooden tables, umbrellas, and a laid-back vibe. The wall decor includes fun and informative stickers showing different cuts of beef and their names, adding to the charm of this unique spot. Whether you're picking up high-quality meats or grabbing a bite, The Wise Ox offers a great experience for...