H Brothers — Restaurant in Escondido

Food: 3/5 Service and Setting: 3/5 Value: 3/5

Sometimes, a craving is so great that you need to embark on a journey to find that one food or your whole week is just ruined. For me, this was poutine, a Canadian delicacy that is truly rare in San Diego. After much investigation and being disappointed seeing multiple restaurants calling carne asada fries “Mexican poutine”, literally cultural appropriation but I digress, H Brothers’ poutine showed the most promise with its rich brown gravy and cheese curds. The restaurant’s entrance was modern and gave me North Italia vibes but as soon as you walk in, the interior is more eclectic and dare I say, hipster. You order first then seat yourself, your food eventually comes out to your table. The service was quick and friendly.

Original Poutine: 3.5/5 This was the dish that I hoped H Brothers would satisfy my itch and I can say that it did. I ordered mine with extra cheese curds because from the pictures that I saw, I wanted to make sure that I had an ample amount of cheese for my fries. The overall composition of the dish was good. The fries that they used were crispy and thick enough to handle the heavy gravy and cheese. The gravy was rich with a very general sort of brown gravy flavor (think the instant or jarred stuff but in the best possible way) and they did a good job with putting the perfect amount. I will say that it was, to my taste, a bit salty. The cheese curds are definitely more melty than squeaky and were both mild and salty as well. The portion size is generous and can easily be shared as a side or appetizer with 2 or 3 people. While it was tasty, the saltiness and sort of blandness of the entire dish made it not memorable. Not a destination dish but worth getting if you are in the area.

H Brothers Cheesesteak: 1/5 After the success of the poutine, I was in utter shock tasting this cheesesteak. The meat in this cheesesteak is not prepared like a cheesesteak at all. It tasted like deli slices of roast beef that you can purchase in a bundle pack at Costco. It was thick, dry, and tasted sort of old. This was not cooked or even reheated with onions, peppers, or mushrooms, it was just served on the bun. The cheese béchamel was very thick and had a grittiness that I associate with béchamel in general. That grittiness was definitely exacerbated by the meat. It was mildly cheesy and rich, not bad but not really good. The ultimate kicker was that this sandwich was topped with barbecue sauce and fried onions that totally destroyed any level of cohesion. On a better note, I asked the person serving me if I could get more sauce because the sandwich was dry and he brought me a whole soup cup of sauce, but I will be honest and say that there was no redemption. I’m sure that they have better items, but dang, run from this. I left my uneaten half because I knew I would not eat it if I took it home ☠️

Hush Puppies: 4.5/5 After that intense diatribe against the cheesesteak, I would like to announce that the hush puppies here are great! They are dense and have an almost glutinous texture. I want to say that it’s sort of like butter mochi, but leans much more heavily on the cornmeal side. The flavor is very cornmeal forward and has that lovely cornmeal bite. The honey butter they serve with it is killer and really compliments that natural sweetness in the corn without overpowering it with honey. Most hush puppies I have tried were savory and would taste of seafood and onion, so this was a very pleasant change. This was super unique and I definitely...

Before I review this, I'd like it to be know that I know some of the staff, but only through eating here so often. The food is good, I have been reluctant to review because of potential bias. But I feel so strongly about the food, that I keep coming back.

Best burger on grand, and probably Escondido. I come from a family of restaurant owners. Mom and pop, good for your soul kind of food. The burger meat is seasoned before its pattied out and it truly takes this burger from good to extraordinary. I teared up when I took my first bite of the well assembled, juicy burger. The moment i took my first bite the owner came up and i told him this burger took me back 15ish years to my dads place. Cooked to perfection, the western burger has it all. Perfect bun, crisp bacon (extra but worth it) ,crunchy onion straws and the ooey-gooey cheddar is the perfect combo with one of the great selections of beer on tap. The french fries have a slight crunch on the outside and a warm fluffy center to them making it a winning side dish to a homerun of a burger.

But don't get me wrong, the entire menu is a knock out, whether you get the hush puppies or a monte Cristo sandwich. You cant go wrong with the simple but delicious menu. In every bite you can tell how much love and care the staff has put into creating the best possible meal for you. I love this place and will continue to come back for the food and...

Finally got to try this place, and wow! Did the not disappoint! I did take out and was blown away at the quality of every dish, even every sauce! First I'd like to say the tzatziki wrap and tzatziki sauce was fire! Sometimes you get watery tzatziki, this was thick and flavorful! I read on the reviews that this place made a smashing meatloaf, so I had to try it! Boom! It was packed with flavor, juicy, and a big portion! I didn't know what to expect when I ordered the Monte Christo, it looked like a big doughnut,, but that super soft bread made the sandwich amazingly unique and flavorful, definitely a must try! Last but not least was the brisket sandwich! I got to try both BBQ sauces, and couldn't decide which I liked better because they were both outstanding. I put both on my brisket, big fat chunks of meat, so soft my teeth sank into it, not like Mike's BBQ where you take a bite and chunks come out because it isn't soft. Oh and I almost forgot the "damit that's good" beignets ! Dipped in a raspberry and chocolate sauce it was the perfect way to end the night! I usually only give 5 stars for nailed service, but the food was just that good. I can't wait to...