Biergarden Encinitas — Restaurant in Encinitas

So I’ve been to Bier Garden before, pre-covid and it wasn’t bad! It also wasn’t great. It’s gastropub food, maybe slightly elevated bar food at best.

I sat outside for lunch during my visit. Their outside seating is either hugging the restaurant off the side planters or off the sidewalk on their wood patio. The gap between the two options was the sidewalk. If you’re feeling claustrophobic or want more room, then go for the wood patio or eat inside. I felt a little cramped while pedestrians walked by my table lol

The drink selection is really great, so let’s get that out of the way first. If you come thirsty and want something, they most likely have it. They have beer (duh), and liquor with a selection of drinks to choose from.

I had the mango margarita and the chicken sandwich. Let’s dive into it:

The mango margarita was okay at best, the flavors were bold due to the tajin rim but I honestly wasn’t sure if there was tequila in the drink. This was the only drink I had. I definitely wouldn’t recommend this to pick from and I should have gotten a beer.

The chicken sandwich was super good however! The sandwich was a little on the oilier side but I happen to like that style, and the bread was good quality as well. The flavors of the chicken were also very good, so kudos to the chef. I highly recommend that as an order. It came with a side of waffle fries and ketchup. The fries were double friend and crispy—the way all fries should be.

My S.O. ordered a salad with chicken on it. Her biggest takeaway was that it tasted more like a kit salad than anything. I agree with her on that point, it did taste like a kit from Vons or something like that. Sure, I know it’s a salad, but for the price point it should have been better.

She also ordered a margarita and felt that there was no alcohol in it as well. I tasted it to confirm, and I can confirm.

The wait staff was very friendly and engaging. I know they had a ton of tables and our waiter did a great job managing all of them.

The biggest knock on this restaurant was the price. After splitting the bull for all our food, which lets be real, wasn’t that much, we each paid $40 and some change. That is a ton of money for two people eating lunch. I’ve eaten at very good restaurants for only $10 more to be honest.

I say skip the food, just order drinks next time and brave the line at the taco shop...

My brother and I were super excited to eat here having passed by it walking a few times. The hostess was super helpful and seated us quickly. I had my service dog with me and she assumed I wanted to sit outside (which I’m not crazy about since assistance animals have public access rights within the restaurant but I blame management for not educating staff on this so I didn’t push back.) The set up was nice..the paloma tasted like a $5 rail drink at a college bar. They supposedly age their own tequila but let me tell you it tasted like hornitos mixed with old limes and a splash of cheap grapefruit soda. That was my first red flag. The food made up for the drinks. Then the bill comes…my goodness they add a random 3.95% surcharge on the total for the bill. Didn’t explain why at all. It wasn’t a tax and it wasn’t a fee. I asked the waitress she mentions “management doesn’t have the money to reprint menus with the new inflation prices so we add on surcharges to every clients bills.” I was appalled. I asked how that was the clients problems and she proceeded to compare dining out to gas price regulations. I stopped her very weak whataboutism argument quickly. She told me other restaurants in Encinitas did the same thing. I’ve now been to a couple and asked about it and no one knew what I was talking about. It’s a shame some restaurants think they are above everyone else and feel entitled to nickel and dime innocent patrons for their financial shortcomings.

Update: I saw the owners reply and I wanted to clarify there’s no such thing as “in-house tequila” You cannot make tequila in the US and call it tequila legally. What makes it tequila is that the process takes place in Jalisco, Mexico. I was told the tequila was aged there in a barrel, which is totally different and still doesn’t explain why the drink was clear. Unless it’s cristalino which is run through a charcoal filter. Anyways, watch out for gimmicks like this when dining out especially when a surcharge of 3.95% is added on each and every bill regardless of...

I love craft beer and we have so many local craft breweries, it's really a Mecca. I think these #'s hurt the potential of these great craft beer bars. It's hard to keep stock of everyone's good stuff. I think Bier manages to stock a pretty decent one from each of the major locals.

I use WF's parking which never seems to be an issue, but it is strange because you feel like your drinking near a grocery store, but I guess because it's not a bar persay they are going for that different vibe especially with the gastro offerings like waffle fries (oh yeah). The 2nd most appealing thing is beer and waffle fries. The ahi tar tar reminds me of a California esque poke salad because they use wakame seaweed and the avo is the flair. Surprisingly not bad with the waffle fries.

The lighting is very cool. Handmade using wire and sawed off beer bottles.

Burger's are 1/3 lb which is nice, well made it will not fall apart on you like some. Bacon, bleu cheese and a cheddar mix work well with a more than substantial bun. Tastes 80/20 to me. I could do without the carmelized onions as I prefer onion rings.

It's more restaurant than pub and you get a craft drinkers vibe. No drunk foodies which is my usual MO. I limit my intake here because it's not a bar in that sense, despite the full bar. Bouncer was nice. Staff was good, got my order right when I asked for no slaw on my taco's (I just wanted the aioli). Next time I plan to get the braised shortrib sauce on my taco's.

I'll be coming back here regularly for sure.

Jessica the monday bartender...