At Culinary Dropout, it’s all about raising a glass to good friends and even better vibes. A spot where flavor and music fuel the soul, kick off happy hour with ice-cold beer and our famous soft pretzels and provolone fondue. Staying for dinner? Dig into our handcrafted cocktails and 36-hour slow-braised pork ribs. Did we mention you won’t want to leave when the band starts? Come hang out and stay a while. We’re always serving damn good food for damn good people.
Cool, British-style gastropub chain with quirky decor, serving inventive cocktails & comfort food.
Hours
| Saturday | 10 AM–12 AM |
| Sunday | 10 AM–10 PM |
| Monday | 11 AM–11 PM |
| Tuesday | 11 AM–11 PM |
| Wednesday | 11 AM–11 PM |
| Thursday | 11 AM–11 PM |
| Friday | 11 AM–12 AM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 12875 El Camino Real, San Diego, CA 92130
Phone: (858) 437-6191
Website: https://www.culinarydropout.com/locations/culinary-dropout-del-mar-ca/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.com
Related Web Results
Del Mar, CA | Culinary Dropout
Culinary Dropout Del Mar. Del Mar. 12875 El Camino Real San Diego, CA 92130 · (858) 437-6191. Restaurant Hours: Mon – Thu 11AM – 11PM. Fri 11AM – 12AM. Sat 10AM …
Locations + Menus | Culinary Dropout
California. Del Mar · 12875 El Camino Real, San Diego, CA 92130 · (858) 437-6191. Catering & Group Dining Available. Menus Order Catering Order Online …
Culinary Dropout: Homepage
Culinary Dropout is an American Bistro that celebrates refined rebellion. Born from a passion for great food, expertly crafted cocktails, and a deep love of …
Reviews
KakuBites
Culinary Dropout in Del Mar is a cavernous American gastropub with plenty of seating, a great outdoor patio, and lots of free parking. Attentive, well-trained service.
The basket of soft pretzels coated with a light sea salt was a nice bite when dipped in the warm and creamy provolone fondue.
The kid’s mac and cheese was accompanied by crisp french fries. The cheese sauce was smooth with a light flavor. We enjoyed it with added pepper which added a dimension to the flavor profile.
The Mongolian short rib was promising with crisp onions, soft boiled egg, bok choi, charred scallions, and red chili pepper. However, it was a bit salty and the yuzu rice seemed to be slightly overdone.
We enjoyed the 9 oz pour of the Unshackled red blend ($22.50 per glass).
Special thanks to our server, Ryleigh, for sharing her food recommendations and for the professional service!
Overall, a relaxing gastropub with great service. Perfect place for a happy hour or a casual group outing.
… moreThe basket of soft pretzels coated with a light sea salt was a nice bite when dipped in the warm and creamy provolone fondue.
The kid’s mac and cheese was accompanied by crisp french fries. The cheese sauce was smooth with a light flavor. We enjoyed it with added pepper which added a dimension to the flavor profile.
The Mongolian short rib was promising with crisp onions, soft boiled egg, bok choi, charred scallions, and red chili pepper. However, it was a bit salty and the yuzu rice seemed to be slightly overdone.
We enjoyed the 9 oz pour of the Unshackled red blend ($22.50 per glass).
Special thanks to our server, Ryleigh, for sharing her food recommendations and for the professional service!
Overall, a relaxing gastropub with great service. Perfect place for a happy hour or a casual group outing.
Momo Zhang
The ambiance of this restaurant is exceptionally well-designed, making it perfect for gatherings and dates. It is both elegant and trendy, blending classic elements with an eclectic style that feels sophisticated yet relaxed. I ordered the “36 Hour Ribs,” which came with three pork ribs, fries, and a salad. The ribs were incredibly tender, perfectly seasoned, and absolutely delicious. The fries and salad were also very good. However, my friend’s orders—the “Two Eggs” and “Crispy Brussels Sprouts”—were not as enjoyable; they were excessively salty, making us crave water. For drinks, we tried the “Sangria,” which was both visually appealing and tasty. The service here is also very friendly, making it definitely worth a visit!
… moreShiv
Really delicious food and amazing choices of cocktail and non-alcoholic beverages.
The spicy Avocado roll is a must try, its perfect blend of spice with flavor or avocado.
The feta dip was phenomenal, the toast was perfectly crisp and the feta dip had just the right amount of sweet, tangy and creamy flavor.
I’ll definitely be coming back!
Not to mention variety of choices for drinks!!!
… moreThe spicy Avocado roll is a must try, its perfect blend of spice with flavor or avocado.
The feta dip was phenomenal, the toast was perfectly crisp and the feta dip had just the right amount of sweet, tangy and creamy flavor.
I’ll definitely be coming back!
Not to mention variety of choices for drinks!!!
Freddie Bustria
Food was pretty good at Culinary Dropout during our 1st visit to this restaurant. My son’s Spicy Rigatoni was not spicy and the sauce tasted more like parmesan cheese sauce with a overly tangy taste that we both did not like. My fried chicken dinner tasted very good. Our server was outstanding despite being very busy and he made up for meal with his outstanding service and being attentive to keeping our mocktails flowing and excellent appetizer suggestions such as the Pretzel Fondue~delicious!
Overall food needs a “little” work. We will be giving Culinary Dropout a visit again soon. Forgot to mention they have an outstanding sports bar area with several large screens to enjoy all things sports. We watched the 49er’s get crushed
… moreOverall food needs a “little” work. We will be giving Culinary Dropout a visit again soon. Forgot to mention they have an outstanding sports bar area with several large screens to enjoy all things sports. We watched the 49er’s get crushed
Brandon Nolte
Honestly, I didn’t expect much walking in, the branding and menu felt a little scattered, but the food was phenomenal.
The short rib was insanely tender and cooked perfectly. Caesar salad had a bold, savory-sour punch. Deviled eggs were creamy with a nice crunch (though I’d prefer a little less filling). You can tell the chef really understands flavor balance. You can tell the chef really gets flavor.
Only wish they had a solid gluten-free dessert option to round things out. I’ll definitely be back to try the burger and more.
… moreThe short rib was insanely tender and cooked perfectly. Caesar salad had a bold, savory-sour punch. Deviled eggs were creamy with a nice crunch (though I’d prefer a little less filling). You can tell the chef really understands flavor balance. You can tell the chef really gets flavor.
Only wish they had a solid gluten-free dessert option to round things out. I’ll definitely be back to try the burger and more.
Natalia Strukova
We were excited to try the new Culinary Dropout in Carmel Valley as soon as it opened, and overall, it was a nice experience. The vibe is fun and relaxed, perfect for a casual dinner out.
The menu offers a great variety — somewhere between classic brewery-style food and modern American dining. Everything we tried was really good, from the appetizers to the main dishes, and you can tell they put thought into the flavors. The only miss for us was the ribs — they were okay, but not quite as tender or flavorful as we hoped.
The only downside was the wait. We came on a Saturday during peak dinner hours and waited almost an hour for a table, which was a bit tiring. The pricing also feels a little high for what you get, but that may just be the “Carmel Valley factor,” as the whole area tends to be on the pricey side.
That said, the staff was attentive, the ambiance was lively yet comfortable, and it’s a great spot for a night out with friends or family.
… moreThe menu offers a great variety — somewhere between classic brewery-style food and modern American dining. Everything we tried was really good, from the appetizers to the main dishes, and you can tell they put thought into the flavors. The only miss for us was the ribs — they were okay, but not quite as tender or flavorful as we hoped.
The only downside was the wait. We came on a Saturday during peak dinner hours and waited almost an hour for a table, which was a bit tiring. The pricing also feels a little high for what you get, but that may just be the “Carmel Valley factor,” as the whole area tends to be on the pricey side.
That said, the staff was attentive, the ambiance was lively yet comfortable, and it’s a great spot for a night out with friends or family.
Catherine Hoang
We had a great time visiting for their soft opening! The staff were super attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience feel very relaxed and welcoming with their “just be yourself” vibe. The ambience of the restaurant is amazing — cozy yet lively, the kind of place where you immediately feel at home.
We started with the popcorn shrimp and rainbow sushi rolls. Both were excellent — the sushi was incredibly fresh, and the popcorn shrimp was crunchy and perfectly seasoned. For our mains, we had the steak frites and the pork ribs. The steak was tender and buttery (perfect if you love rich flavors), and the ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender, full of flavor.
We paired our meal with a few cocktails: the Endless Summer Margarita, the Abandoned Cadillac, and their signature Old Fashioned. All the drinks were refreshing and just what we needed for a relaxing afternoon.
To end the meal, we shared the Mississippi Pie — so chocolaty with a hint of coffee flavor, and absolutely delicious.
The overall experience was top-notch from start to finish. I can’t wait to come back when they officially open!
… moreWe started with the popcorn shrimp and rainbow sushi rolls. Both were excellent — the sushi was incredibly fresh, and the popcorn shrimp was crunchy and perfectly seasoned. For our mains, we had the steak frites and the pork ribs. The steak was tender and buttery (perfect if you love rich flavors), and the ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender, full of flavor.
We paired our meal with a few cocktails: the Endless Summer Margarita, the Abandoned Cadillac, and their signature Old Fashioned. All the drinks were refreshing and just what we needed for a relaxing afternoon.
To end the meal, we shared the Mississippi Pie — so chocolaty with a hint of coffee flavor, and absolutely delicious.
The overall experience was top-notch from start to finish. I can’t wait to come back when they officially open!
Freshta Ehsan
Such a wonderful dining experience! The atmosphere was beautiful, clean, and welcoming. The staff was so friendly and fun. Our server, Joseph P. absolutely KILLED it!! We had such a fun time & he offered amazing recommendations. Everything came out fast and delicious. Definitely returning! 🙂
… moreRana Kay
I love everything about Culinary Dropout! The vibe, the food, and the service from the moment you step up to the hostess stand are always consistently top-notch. And such a diverse menu! I love the sushi and salads, and they have some delicious non-alcoholic drinks for when I am being good. It’s such an awesome addition to Del Mar Highlands. I recently had a very minor issue with a delivery order, and they went above and beyond to make it up to me. Very much appreciated.
… moreChase Viken
We had an incredible lunch at CD Del Mar. It held up well in comparison to Scottsdale Quarter & Old Town Scottsdale locations. We started off with a phenomenal spicy tuna appetizer + popcorn shrimp, highly recommend. Followed up with entrees of Steak Frites, Short Rib, Salmon, and Fried Chicken. All GREAT options depending on the mood you’re in. Highly recommend this spot. Thanks to Ryker & Dan for a great first experience here!
… more