1. Al’S Cafe
City: Carlsbad, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (760) 729-5448
Address: 795 Carlsbad Village Drive
Description: Here’s an old-fashioned downtown cafe where you can enjoy breakfast and lunch inside or beneath an umbrella at one of the tables set out on a quiet side street. There are specials served every day. The all-you-can-eat fish and chips (for about $6.00) is a bargain. It’s in the heart of downtown Carlsbad.
2. Bellefleur Winery & Restaurant
City: Carlsbad, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (760) 603-1919
Address: 5610 Paseo Del Norte
Description: This restaurant is a find, and it’s convenient, too, right off I-5 and Palomar Airport Road in Carlsbad. Service is fabulous. Lunch prices are reasonable, but bring your credit card for dinner if you plan to include an appetizer, drinks, dessert, and a cordial or sherry to end your experience. Refuel after shopping at the Carlsbad Company Stores outlets (the restaurant is in the same center) with a barbecued prime rib sandwich with seasoned fries or a Spanish chicken salad with black beans. The wine is excellent and priced reasonably for a glass of the Bellefleur Winery brands (which we highly recommend). Bellefleur Winery is located in Fallbrook and has won numerous awards and recognition. This restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner.
City: Carlsbad, CA
Category: Restaurants
Address: 7100 Four Seasons Point
4. Chin’S Szechwan Restaurant
City: Carlsbad, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (760) 434-7117
Address: 2959 Madison Avenue
Description: While Chin’s has a lot of locations, it’s a San Diego exclusive and some of the best Szechwan we’ve had. The decor is what you’d expect from nearly any Chinese restaurant, but the food is better. Vegetable dishes are hot, crispy, and good. Chin’s has the prerequisite family-style dinners and early-bird specials, too. Service is excellent. It’s open daily for lunch and dinner. You can get takeout if you’re headed to the beach or an outdoor concert. There are 10 Chin’s locations in North and East County.
City: Carlsbad, CA
Category: Restaurants
Address: 3003 Carlsbad Boulevard
City: Carlsbad, CA
Category: Restaurants
Address: 417 Carlsbad Village Drive
7. Greek Corner Cafe
City: Carlsbad, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (760) 434-5557
Address: 1854 Marron Road
Description: If you love Greek food, you’ll be happy here. The meals, such as the gyros plate for two, are bargains; most are priced in the $10 to $19 range. They have low-fat and vegetarian dishes, too. You can dine inside or on the patio. You can’t rush this experience because you’ll want to savor every bite. It is open for lunch and dinner.
8. Karl Strauss Brewery & Grill
City: Carlsbad, CA
Category: Restaurants
Address: 5801 Armada Drive
Description: Hearty portions of meat loaf, pizzas, turkey burgers, and beer-battered fish and chips all go well with this local microbrewery’s beers. The staff and customers are a friendly bunch, and the place has a homey feel that makes you want to settle in for hours. But don’t miss Cask Night (first Friday of each month). Barkeeps hoist the cask onto the bar, patrons step back, the cask is tapped with foamy flourish, and pints are served till it’s empty. Open daily from 7:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m. for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
9. Pizza Port
City: Carlsbad, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (760) 720-7007
Address: 571 Carlsbad Village Drive
Description: Here’s where you’ll find praiseworthy pizza that’s a cut above the most chi-chi pizzas you’ve had. Better yet, they brew on-site and provide just the right microbrewed beer to go with your choice. You can even have your pizza with a whole-grain beer crust. Decor is of the wooden picnic-table variety with big-screen televisions flashing sports, and the music is sometimes loud and the conversation even louder. Pizza specials and microbrew choices vary, and sometimes they sponsor beer-tasting contests in which the public can participate. The Pizza Port pizzerias are open daily for lunch and dinner.
10. Prontos’ Gourmet Market
City: Carlsbad, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (760) 434-2644
Address: 2812 Roosevelt Street
Description: Here’s an eating jewel that’s tucked away in the heart of the village of Carlsbad. Once you stop here, you may not want to tell any friends for fear it will become crowded. Sandwiches are stuffed with meats and vegetables, prices are easy on the wallet, and everything is fresh and tasty. You get choices of breads and side dishes with each sandwich, and there are salads, too. Most folks take out and get back to work, but there’s a shady patio where you can dine outdoors. Prontos’ is open Monday through Friday. Stop and pick up a prepared meal, like the lasagna, or a sandwich for supper on the way home from work.
City: Carlsbad, CA
Category: Restaurants
Address: 2622 El Camino Real
City: Carlsbad, CA
Category: Restaurants
Address: 7100 Four Seasons Point