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Argyle Steakhouse
Categories: Restaurants Steakhouses Restaurants American (New) Nightlife Bars Lounges Steakhouses, American (New), Lounges [Edit]
7447 Batiquitos Dr(between Anatra Ct & Gabbiano Ln)
Carlsbad, CA 92011
Neighborhood: Carlsbad
(760) 603-6908
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11 am - 9:30 pm
Sat-Sun 7 am - 9:30 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
48 reviews for Argyle Steakhouse
Review Highlights
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"...lunch on a patio overlooking a golf course, and dessert." In 7 reviews -
"Excellent service when you enter this place." In 6 reviews -
"...and Forest Mushrooms, and the Argyle Signature Potato Tots." In 3 reviews
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48 reviews in English
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Review from Sandy D.
Huntington Beach, CA
3/21/2012
We stayed at the Hyatt Aviara, so decided to go here for dinner. A shuttle at the hotel takes you down the road to the steakhouse. It was my birthday weekend so we decided to have a really, really nice dinner.
1. Food was amazing and the wine was also great. My friends ordered the Wagyu (filet mignon and new york sirloin cuts), I ordered filet mignon and Elmer ordered the rib eye cut. Everyone loved their steak but I think the NEW YORK SIRLOIN Wagyu is my top pick. You pick a sauce to go with your steak, Cognac & Green Peppercorn was delicious. I also tried the chimichurri, it was ok.
2. Overall, pricey, great for a special occasion, great service, food is outstanding. -
Review from Heather R.
La Jolla, CA
3/25/2012
My husband surprised me with a date at Argyle recently. He had purchased a Living Social deal because money is tight but we still like to enjoy a nice date every once in a while.
i was expecting a shitty experience because of the 'deal' he purchased. It seems that we've had really bad luck with those in the past. But not this time! OH MY GOSH. Great - no - Ahhhhmazing service and attention from our server (Kathleen?) even though we showed up waiving our white Living Social deal.
The food was really great too, which was a nice perk because honestly, I never expect much from restaurants that are located in hotels.
For starters we had the Ahi Poke which was really good. We both enjoyed the flat iron steak for our main entrees. By the time dessert came we were both too full to really savor it...but we did our best.
I ordered the pineapple upside down cake which was great, sweet, gooey...mmmm good. I can't remember what dessert my husband ordered because I didn't look up until my cake was all gone and I had licked the plate. Really. it was that good.
The bill would have been $145 (before tip) for our meal had we not had our Living Social deal. Of course we tipped on the 'what it would have been' price in order to keep all the good karma floating our way. -
Review from Alex K.
Pasadena, CA
2/18/2012
Let me start with the big disappointment: The Australian Wagyu. They sell it for $16 an ounce, which means an 8 OZ steak (about the size of a filet mignon) comes to $128. For that price you expect something special, and Waguy can be pretty special: It's to steak what fois gras is to duck liver pate. Great Wagyu is so marbled that the meat looks pale when compared to ordinary steak. And, the waitress let us know that the Australian Wagyu on the menu was their top steak, rated "10--the same as Japanese Kobe beef."
I got a pretty good steak, but nothing special. No marbling to speak of; definitely needed a steak knife to cut it. I didn't try their American Wagyu but this was supposed to be their top of the line so I doubt it would be any better.
My son did have their Dry-aged Ribeye and that was excellent. At $56 that's fair deal for an excellent piece of meat.
The side-dishes were pretty good but had to be ordered separately at $7-9 each. The 1/2 Maine Lobster-tail $18 was on the small side and not very tasty.
The celery soup ($19) was excellent. The deserts $10 each were creative, if not particularly tasty.
I'd rate this restaurant higher, but for the disappointment about the Wagyu. If you go there, get something else--like the Dry Aged Ribeye and you'll rate it 3 or 4 stars. -
Review from Lo C.
Escondido, CA
4/20/2012
Dined here with a groupon for a 4 course dinner. The wagyu beef presented was probably the worst piece of beef I have ever received in a fine dining establishment EVER. Everything else was just okay. The service was outstanding, but to be expected in fine dining. I made sure to dress to their dress code stated on line, but it was really for nothing because there were people dressed in jeans (and not the high-end kind) and kids with swimsuits under their clothes. You could tell this is really a hotel restaurant, though not directly on property. Even though we paid a discounted price for our meal, it was still no where near worth it. If you want a great Steakhouse dinner, skip this place and go to West. If you don't want to pay the fine dining prices at West, eat in the bar during happy hour for a trimmed down version of their awesomeness.
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Review from Mark K.
Santa Monica, CA
4/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great wagyu beef and the sides rocked
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Review from Philip C.
Carlsbad, San Diego, CA
2/18/2012
We were in town for a belated Valentines weekend and decided to try Argyle since it was right near our hotel. Little did we know it would feel like we were IN the hotel. At first arrival we were pretty underwhelmed by the "hotel lobby diner" feel. We had a reservation so they sat us immediately at two-top by the window. The first thing I noticed was that the tables were linen-free. I don't think this is a prerequisite for a nice expensive dinner, but this place just had that kind of feel if nothing else. Our server was timely and knowledgeable.
When it came time to order my girlfriend opted for the special of the night which was billed as "surf and turf" with a 6 oz. petite filet and crab cake ($43). She would typically order the full filet, but the crab cake sounded like a nice option. As the free crust she chose the bleu cheese. I opted for the bone-in rib eye ($46) with the truffle butter accompaniment. Sides were asparagus with parmesan ($7) and whipped potatoes ($7).
The food came out in a timely manner and the special was a joke. The filet looked as expected, but the "surf" part of the meal was a miniature disk tipped up on the filet leaving the plate looking empty. As she cut into her medium-rare filet there was a crispy charred crust which was unexpected. The inside of the filet was acceptable and had a nice flavor. The crab cake was very fishy tasting due to the high crab-to-breading ratio which would usually be a welcome ratio, but this one just tasted fishy and as if it were frozen at one point. I'm sure we could find a nicer, heartier crab cake in Costco freezer.
My rib eye was supposed to be medium rare as well with a warm red center and it was pink in the center at best. Stringy with lots of silver skin and just a pain to navigate. The hockey puck of truffle butter was literally larger than Adriane's crab cake. It was tasty, but not required.
The sides were the best part of the meal. The whipped potatoes were velvety and creamy and the asparagus was cooked perfect with a healthy helping of parmesan. Excellent.
We typically don't complain, but since the manager came around to check on our table we couldn't help but sharing our dissatisfaction. He offered to bring another crab cake or two, but that would hardly help. After our plates were cleared the server offered two complimentary desserts, but we were just ready to leave at this point so we thankfully declined. The manager did the right thing and removed Adriane's meal so we snuck out for just a tick over $100, but would have HAPPILY spent $200 and made the drive to Donnavan's. After a nice rib eye you wouldn't expect Baskin Robins, but it just seemed right for the tone of the night.
PC -
Review from Mindy H.
Oakland, CA
1/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've been dying to go on a cute dinner date with the bf for the longest time. When I saw the livingsocial prix fixe deal and how close this place was to his home, I did a quick yelp search and snapped it up in a jiffy!
Soon after, I began to get buyers remorse..."oh no...what if San Diegans have different tastes than my precious SF Bay Area cuisine? What if the bf wont like it?? What if we cant use it before it expires in April?!?!?!!??!"
Nontheless, I told myself it would be a fun experience. And indeed it was! We had an 8 oclock reservation for dinner and we were seated promptly.
The crowd is pretty much the golfing (older) crowd...some in velour sweats and burberry hair bands, some in slacks and dress shirts, and some ...brought their kids who keep waving his toy sword at our table...-_-. Anyway, our waiter Blaine, was super! He was very attentive and wasnt too intruding and wasnt too distant.
We had poppers to start accompanied with a roasted bell peppers dip. These poppers are delicious! Are poppers a thing? How have i never had them before? yum yum yum! Warm and buttery...they just melt in your mouth!
Then. we both had the cauliflower Parmesan soup, which was okay. nothing amazing but not awful. Kind of like potato leek soup...without the leeks.
Next, we had a bacon spinach salad which was really good! They do their bacon a bit differently...much thicker than typical bacon which was a welcomed change. It was with a really light dressing and was not super overpowering. The spinach was super tender...although I've never seen such big leaves of spinach..
Then it was time for our entrees. Entrees came w/asparagus and potato tots...both were AH-MAZING. What IS in those tots?! Cheese? Butter? Magic? This is a DEFINITE must have. The asparagus were very tender, crisp and sweet. I would prefer it if they did not serve it with cheese on top, though.
The bf went with the ahi tuna with wasabi and soy sauce and I had the flat iron steak with wine sauce. The ahi tuna was great, really good flavor and exactly what was expected. I asked for my steak medium and it was a bit pinker than expected, but still a very juicy steak. I didn't really use the sauce since the flavor of the steak was tasty already.
Finally, the dessert (yippie!). the bf had the "four by four" which is "Oven Baked Double Fudge Cookie with Crème Chantilly, Tahitian Vanilla Gelato". :-OMG. SO GOOD. perfect amt of sweetness, super gooey and ...just heavenly. I had the sweet potato pound cake with cream cheese frosting. It was good ..but definitely not much compared to the four by four. I would recommend the pound cake to someone who prefers something with a more natural sweetness rather than sugar rush-kind of dessert.
Mindy Says: Highly recommend coming here. Food is great with a great variety of wines and desserts, and the service is impeccable! I would suggest getting an earlier reservation...by the time we were done with our meal, it was already pretty late. -
Review from Laura D.
Updated - 10/10/2011 9 photos
My friends Lee and Benji were coming down from LA, and Benji wanted a country club atmosphere, so I made a res at the Argyle for Sunday brunch. This isn't an eat-till-you-pass-out type of brunch. You sit and order a dish and they bring it. Not a particularly inspired menu.
What is great about the Argyle is that it sits on the golf course and the views of the greens and lagoon are beautiful and relaxing, the people are relaxed and you don't have to dress up.
The bread they brought out was quite fabulous, warm, crusty, tasted like it had just been made. What came out after was not so fabulous.
Well, let me start with what WAS fabulous. The three of us ordered and then we decided to get their special 7 grain french toast to put in the middle of the table to share ($14), with carmelized apples and vermont maple syrup. Now that dish was GREAT. The french toast actually tasted more like pancakes. It was cooked well, very soft, nice texture, and the carmelized apples (though a little sweet for my taste) were delicious. You didn't even really need the syrup but of course I poured it on anyway. It was a really nice addition to the sort of blah rest of the meal.
Benji and I both had the California omelette ($15) with cheese, bacon, spinach. The omelette comes in its own little black iron skillet, which is a nice touch, surrounded by sauteed red potatoes. The trouble is, the whole thing tasted like it had been pre-cooked and heated up in the microwave. The omelette and potatoes were dry and didn't have much taste, and the insides were pitifully lacking -- hardly any cheese or spinach. The potatoes had no taste. Even the side of fruit we ordered tasted like it had been sitting in the fridge overnight.
Lee had the seafood salad ($17) which also was really blah. Just some romaine lettuce, a few shrimp, a little crab and a touch of sundried tomatoes and parmesan. All these dishes were sort of tasteless.
I can't say I would come back to the Argyle except for the beautiful view. If you're in Carlsbad, go to Vigilucci's Steakhouse for a beautiful view and good food.
PS, in reading reviews of this place, I wonder if maybe the only time the food is good is at night? Different chef?Listed in: My Carlsbad 'Hood…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/2/2011
I am always looking for new places in my new hood in Carlsbad, so when Sharon V. suggested the… Read more »
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Review from Jaime B.
9/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Being a tourist, I walked into the Argyle for dinner with no expectations whatsoever and was pretty blown away.
The dining room is more of an elegantly modern steakhouse with lovely views. The meal started with two huge, piping out and fluffy popovers which were delicious. Even my carb-conscious hubby gobbled these up, declaring them "safe" because they were "mostly air and egg."
We shared the steamed clams with chorizo, corn, fennel, and chanterelle Mushrooms in a lovely broth. The clams and corn had a lovely sweetness to it, which was balanced out by the smoky fattiness of the chorizo. It was served with a little stack of six "crispy potatoes" that were more like soft fries, so this dish was like a take on moules frites.
Like any proper steakhouse, there's a selection of sides which includes various manner of potato, but we were most taken with the grilled corn and summer vegetables, which was wonderfully sweet and had a decent amount of heat on it from the chipotle creme fraiche.
Ah, but then we get to the star of the show! I got the $32 California wagyu flat iron topped with a bone marrow crust and it was the most delicious and decadent piece of steak I have ever tasted. Flavorful, richly fatty with a light char, it even outshone the $150 wagyu steak from CUT in Beverly Hills. Even if you are squeamish about bone marrow (which ends up looking like little roast potatoes on top) get this as the crust because:
1) It adds a remarkable rich flavor to the meat
2) To add any sauces to cover up the natural beefiness would just be a crime.
Seriously, get this steak.Listed in: Weekend at the Races
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Review from Melissa L.
Cardiff by the Sea, CA
2/12/2012
Four star rating solely on food and service! After reading other reviews, Argyle's lackluster ambience seems apparent to all. It's like breakfast dining at the small cafes at a Marriott or Sheraton. Really loved our waitress - she was young and fun - which helped keep the mood light since we were dining with our three and a half year old. Wagyu beef was fantastic. Especially loved that it was prepared simply, as Wagyu beef should be, and sauces were served on the side. Popovers for bread service was unique. Presentation points for all the cast iron dinnerware. Oh, the bacon in their spinach salad is award winning. It reads "braised" on the menu but it's almost as if they put it through a popcorn process - puffed, crisp on the outside - there's definitely no shortage of fat but the consistency was such a perfect pair with spinach and pears.
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Review from Lucy Y.
Los Angeles, CA
Located in the Park Hyatt Aviara, Argyle Steakhouse was the setting for a lovely lunch today with Laura D and Sharon V!
The weather couldn't have been more gorgeous - sunny, warm and breezy - perfect for chatting on the patio, overlooking the water and the golf course. Gracious server Gerry made sure that the sun wasn't directly shining on us, as he adjusted the couple of big umbrellas to cover us. Nice!
A bread basket of soft warm ciabatta rolls and crunchy oniony grissini, accompanied by ramekins of soft plain and herb butters were on the table when Laura and I arrived to meet Sharon, and soon to follow were drinks and food:
Calamari ($9) - tender calamari rings and pieces, and vinegary pickled jalapeno slices, all lightly battered and fried. Served with a lime wedge and spicy mayo.
Argyle Burger ($15) - a juicy and perfectly rare burger patty on a buttered and toasted, almost Hawaiian-bread-soft-and-sweet bun with cheddar cheese, red onion, tomato, leaf lettuce, pickle slices and a pickled pepper. A non-mayo based cilantro-lime slaw came on the side (choice of fries, onion rings, fruit or slaw).
Dessert sampler - 3 perfectly small little treats: a peach lattice-topped bar, a ganache-topped chocolate mousse cake topped with a fresh cherry, and a raspberry and whipped cream topped lemon tartlet. Yum!
The ambience is upscale, but these lunch menu prices were definitely not. Lunch for each of us - including tax and tip, an iced coffee, an iced tea and a soda, was all of $25 per person.
For gracious service, a yummy lunch on a patio overlooking a golf course, and dessert? I think it's quite the deal!
I know I'll be back to visit my Carlsbad girlfriends - so I foresee lunches here again in the near future!Listed in: San Diego area faves!
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Review from Lindsey B.
Moncks Corner, SC
2/14/2012
Nice atmosphere, fancy place in my opinion. Very nice waitress/waitor. Food was extremely good! I would recommend and I would return to this resturant again! Good for valentine's day or anniversary.
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Review from Kc S.
Carlsbad, CA
12/27/2011
Came here for lunch with friends and we sat in the large room away from the main dining room, and it was really lovely. The service was great and the salad I had was really good. The staff here is so friendly and the atmosphere is so relaxing I really enjoyed it.
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Review from Judy Y.
San Diego, CA
4/4/2012
Came here for dinner. It's kind of hard to find at night but it looks like it's located within a hotel/resort. I could imagine that the place had a nice view of the huge Batiquitos Lagoon but at night, there's not much to see. We shared the Warm Organic Bloomdale Spinach Salad to start and they were nice to split it for us. It was delicious with huge pieces of braised bacon. The bacon in itself was amazing but really made the salad too oily and rich. The steaks come with your choice of sauces or crust. I wasn't a fan of the Truffle Butter Crust that I selected for my steak since I hardly could taste the Truffles and it just made my steak more oily. We ordered the Flat Iron American Wagyu and the Brandt Farm Hanger Steak. The steaks were fine but what I liked most was the small sides that come with them....a grilled half tomato and a grilled garlic pulp which were so unique and delicious. We had also ordered the Lobster Mac & Cheese which had quite a bit of Lobster meat in there and was quite good.
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Review from Cynthia B.
Tustin, CA
7/11/2011
This place was a disappointment. Went on a Friday night for dinner and the place was dead, which should have been a sign. The decor was lacking and it didn't have the nice "steakhouse feel."
The service was fine, and when choosing my steak the waiter made extra sure to explain that medium rare would be pink throughout and slightly warm in the center. Well, my bone-in ribeye came out completely cooked through. Twice. I had to send it back the first time and after the second time, everyone was practically done eating so I just didn't eat it. (Also, one of the other guests at my table ordered a filet medium rare and it came back charred. They got it right the second time though).
They were nice enough about it and gave us free desserts, but still. If there's one thing I hate in life, it's an overcooked steak.
If you want a good steak dinner, don't bother. -
Review from Sharon V.
Disappointing meal - not a good way to start out the new year with the Argyle.
We went here for a New Years Day brunch and I was so excited to have the crab eggs benedict that I had just a few short weeks before. I had been craving these and this was the first opportunity that we had to fulfill my craving.
The usual peeps were there however we received a new waitress who i've seen before but not had. We had our choice of seating so we sat next to the window with great views of the golf course. It was a pleasant, chill kind of morning.
My husband ordered the American breakfast which isn't on the menu but if you're a regular, they'll make it for you since it's simple. It's 2 eggs (any style - he chose scrambled), breakfast potatoes, choice of protein and toast. He enjoyed it as he usually does but they never brought out his toast. My husband also asked for coffee once his breakfast was delivered but never got it. His cup remained empty the entire time.
I ordered the crab eggs benedict and couldn't wait to devour them. I was hungry so I knew this time, I was going to finish them both this time around. When they arrived, they looked kind of sloppy - not how I remembered them the last time. I could tell immediately that they were a bit overcooked. The egg whites might as well've been hard boiled and the ends of the eggs looked a little scraggly. Once I cut into it, my favorite part of eggs benedict (the runny egg yolks) barely ran. They were not soft boiled and it confirmed...they were overcooked! I could barely eat the egg whites, the texture was just not pleasant.
Even though I was hungry, I only ate one of the two eggs benedict. For $19, I left a good portion still sitting on the plate. What a disappointment. I'm not one to send things back but I was soooooo tempted! Now that I think of it, I should have but I really never had an opportunity to as we were never checked on throughout our meal.
So for our New Years day brunch, I am dinging them 2 starts. 1 for the overcooked eggs benedict and one for the lack of attention we were given. I usually love this place but you spend nearly $20 for a plate for brunch, you better walk away feeling fulfilled. Sadly, I was not.Listed in: Good Eats in Carlsbad
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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12/6/2010
We went in over the weekend for brunch with some friends from out of town and had another a great… Read more »
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Review from stoli L.
Vista, CA
1/5/2012
The food was excellent but the ambiance and atmosphere of the restaurant is extremely stale. Apparantly it has a gorgeous view of the golf course, but if you're eating there at night, you would never know. It's like eating in a hotel lobby. The waiter pretty much ignored us in favor of a larger party, which I think, judging by his attitude, had a lot to do with the fact that he knew we were there on a Living Social deal, even though we ordered extra stuff and tipped 20% on the full value. Not worth a return visit. Plenty of places have excellent food and are a lot more inviting!
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Review from Tiffany H.
San Diego, CA
6/27/2011
I've only ever been to Argyle's for brunch, but let me just say the brunch is awesome here. This is the place my husband compares other breakfast meals too. Whenever he has an eggs benedict dish, he always compares it to the ones served here. I'm not a benedict person myself but everything I've tried here has been delicious. I especially like the shaved ribeye steak sandwich. The meat is so tender and juicy, practically melts in my mouth. I'm also very pleased with the coffee here. A good or bad cup of coffee can make or break a place for me.
Although the food here is nice, the ambiance and service is even more so. The staff here have always been polite, thorough and fast. The inside is quiet with a modern decor feel while the outside patio looks over the lush golf course. I recommend coming here on a beautiful day to enjoy a great meal in a nice, relaxing setting. -
Review from Walter M.
1/28/2012
When I think of Argyle, I think of preppy British kids. When I think steakhouse I think Texas coybow. The name to me is just a name because neither connotation works at Argyle Steakhouse. It's a nice steakhouse with more upper end ambiance, décor, service, and menu. This is the kicker. Although you can get more expensive and larger, longer dry aged steaks Argyle offers American and Australian Wagyu beef. Most people know the name Kobe beef, which is a type of wagyu or Japanese ultra marbleized beef. Japanese wagyu is extremely expensive, American and Australian is less so, but easier to find. Both are upgrades from Prime because the breed itself is better. In many steakhouses, all steaks are dry aged, but the first time I came I ordered the 18oz Ribeye not realizing they offered a 12oz Dry Aged Ribeye for about $10.00. If you've never had dry aged it is better than wet aged and unless specifically noted as dry the aging is wet. Something cool is they note which farm they all come from. My next time here I decided to try the uber amazing American Wagyu NY 10oz. if they had a 12oz Japaense wagyu ribeye I would try it, but somewhere over $130 I'm guessing even the rich and steak snobs might cringe. Much pinker in color due to the higher fat contact is still has marbling, I asked for black and blue, no crust, I didn't want to ruin the sheer beauty of the purity. It closely rivals mangalista, iberico hams, but with a more buttery fat versus the velvety kind in those hams. The oysters and mussels are local and fresh, simple yet complex in flavor. I didn't go with the mangalista ham here because when I usually eat it I'm sampling a half dozen cured meats and wetting my appetite with only mangalista might be too much. I like very much the separation of sides into veggies, potatos, mushrooms and grains. It balances out nicely. Many classic sauces, though I wished they took some liberties here, the crusts should not be used on certain cuts (any of the wagyu), I generally prefer either options on just filet due to size. Bearnaise, fois grais, chimichurri, oh my. Bone marrow works well, but I'd be interested to know if the actual marrow is from the cows that gave us the steaks. I'm skeptical of $2 of truffle butter seeing as much of the truffle oil found is synthetic. Just a gossamer thin slice of truffle melded with oil or butter I would think would be much more expensive.
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Review from Ann G.
Hull, MA
3/23/2011
This restaurunt is absolutly fabulous! The atmosphere was very romantic, a little dark with a candle lit on the table. The waitress was great, very informative regarding all the dinners and wine selections to go with the meal, she advised us on an appitizer, charcuterie, that was delicious, and outside of my comfortbox i loved it.
Dinner was fabulous, i had the filet mignion which you could cut witha butter knife, cooked to perfection, my partner had rib eye in bone, it was cooked medium well with the truffle crust and it was delicious. We shared the saiteaed mushrooms, and i had twice baked potatoe that was delicious, she also had the tater tots which were unusual tasting, melt in your mouth, nothing like tater tots ive ever eaten,.
The chef came out after our diner, and we. Told him how happy we were withnour dinner. He was very nice and glad we enjoyed ourselves.
Our dinners were definately well worth the money! -
Review from D C.
Carlsbad, CA
1/25/2011
Excellent Service! Our waitress was very knowledgeable, helpful and sincerely nice.
I had the Grilled Scallops with Pink Grapefruit and Caramelized Endives to start. It was definitely an excellent starter. The scallops were cooked just right.
My main course was the Local Ling Cod with chimmichurri sauce,
served with Spigarello and Forest Mushrooms, and the Argyle Signature Potato Tots. The Fish was good, had a nice flavor to it, but the mushrooms were great and the potato tots melted in my mouth.
Then I ended by splitting two desserts. One was the Pineapple Bread & Butter Pudding with Maple Pecans, Whipped Cream, Coconut Sorbet. The other dessert was the Banana and Nutella S'more with Passion Fruit Marshmallows, and Rum Raisin Gelato. WOW. They were both sooo good.
The atmosphere was comfortable, quiet, a little dark and romantic. I would definitely recommend it for a quiet date night. -
Review from Chris T.
Vista, CA
10/25/2010 4 Check-ins Here
Very expensive first off. With that said, you get what you pay for.
If you want a good Filet, get the $68 8oz Filet instead of the cheaper one. You won't regret it.
They had wines by the glass but you need to spend at least $18 a glass to get one that doesn't bite.
The entire meal, presentation, etc. is awesome and you don't have to dress-up as-if you are going to the Marine Room! -
Review from Kathalyn N.
San Diego, CA
8/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
Oh man, I really enjoy coming here. The bartenders are just delightful, and even though it's in a fancy pants hotel, it's still a super fun, laid back place.
Argyle is always the first and last place we end up at when my bf goes golfing. The drinks here are deliciously strong (and a WAY better value than what you can get on the golf course--AND they have 'to go' cups for cocktails!), and the food is great, albeit on the pricey side, but what do you expect? It's a 5 Star Hotel.
The Crab and White Cheddar melt (lunch menu) is pretty good. Lots of big crab pieces, nicely grilled sourdough, and the tarragon really makes this sandwich unique. It comes with a Tomato Basil soup that is really 'punch you in the face' tomatoey and no where near creamy, but that's not a bad thing. Sometimes I want to be punched in the face by a tomato :)
While the dinner entrees are awesome, the selection is much smaller than what you would expect from a place like this. No pasta dishes. No lobster.
The Bone in Rib Eye ($46) is really good, and at 18 oz, it's great to split! Our steak was cooked and seasoned to perfection, and it came with a head of roasted garlic, which was a nice touch. My boyfriend thought it was corn (how he came to that conclusion is beyond me), and was really REALLY surprised when he got a mouth full of garlic. No kisses for him.
The Crab and Asparagus stuffed portobella ($9) was very hearty. Sweet crab, earthy mushroom, happy diners.
We also ordered an heirloom tomato salad with avocado and cucumber. While this salad was good, it was on the small side, and under seasoned. Nothing that a bit of salt can't take care of, but it was still less than I expected for the price.
Overall, Argyle has a special place in my heart. The menu may not be everything it could be, but the food is solid, the service is excellent, the drinks are good, and I love love love the bartenders. -
Review from Kevin A.
Tempe, AZ
11/1/2011
Argyle did not live up to past experiences. I have went every 2 months for the last few years. I went during lunch and the service was poor at best. I had to physically get up and ask the waiter for another round of drinks and had to physically get up and ask for our check. The waiter did not come around but one time during out meal to ask how it was and felt a heavy pour of wine would make up for the obvious lack of of service. On our way out, we let the hostess know we were disappointed and wanted them to know it. We were not looking for compensation however, she did not even offer to get the manager and asked nothing about who the waitress was or anything about the experience. i called the manager and did not even get a courtesy call back after I explained how often we go to the establishment. Overall, we were very disappointed and will take our business elsewhere.
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Review from Robert K.
Sacramento, CA
We had a family dinner here on the eve of Thanksgiving, and it was fantastic!
Our meal began with house-made rolls and tomato-spread. The rolls are are like a popover and they are totally awesome!
For dinner our table had a selection of steaks with various sauces. The chimichurri was delicious, as was the lobster mac n' cheese! The steaks are solid, whether you go for a standard steak or upgrade to the Kobe or Wagyu.
You do not want to pass on dessert. We shared several and all were fantastic! See my photos for our delicious meal -
Review from Mario S.
Carlsbad, CA
10/30/2007
It was my work's anniversary lunch. You go with co-workers and the CEO who you never talk too and you try to make small talk for an hour and a half. But you do get out of work for an hour and it's a free lunch at the Four Seasons. That explains why I'm eating lunch there in the first place.
I went for lunch so I can't tell you how dinner is. The lunch menu is basically fancy regular food (burgers, chicken sandwich's, Cesar salads, etc.) I got a White Cheddar Crab Melt. Like a patty melt but with fresh snow crab instead. It was good even though it was a little over the top. It's a patty melt after all. The sandwich itself was not very large. It was a bit greasy but a clean and good greasy. I don't really know if that makes sense.
My sandwich also came with a bit of tomato soup that was very good. The service was good. Kissing your arse as much as possible up scale Four Seasons service. I tried a bit of a sirloin burger ($17!!!) which was ok, but the chicken sandwich is tasty. The outdoor patio faces the Batiqitous Lagoon and it was a partly cloudy quiet day. It was peaceful. The awkward silences helped.
Final judgment: It's ok. You can find good regular food for cheaper. If I your uber-rich you'll probably want something even nicer. Because you can't eat a burger. Also no valet service for lunch. How insulting! -
Review from Lincoln N.
Scripps Ranch, San Diego, CA
4/27/2011
Last week the Argyle Steakhouse hit a brick wall to provide an interesting meal. The assistance for help was inadequate. Two times we ended up served the wrong plate eating here! When our dinner eventually came out, my partners stuffed potato showed up 10 minutes after her steak. The steak was respectable at best. All the side dishes were predominantly salted and demanded several glasses of soda to rinse my mouth with. I also had a lobster tail that did not taste like lobster, or anything near it . Only dine here if you like paying for mediocre food and consuming large amounts of sodium.
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Review from Trudy B.
Vacaville, CA
1/19/2011
Excellent service, food and drinks.
Beautiful place. My steak was the best I have ever had. Home made tater tots were good too. Warm popovers. My margarita was delicious. It included orange juice.
Definitely worth the money. Would definitely impress a date.
And the cheesecake was to die for. -
Review from Ellen J.
5/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
It is getting harder for me to give 5 stars out to any restaurant these days. I am getting more and more picky with every review I write. Having said that, the Argyle Steakhouse was truly a great dining experience all the way around.
Atmosphere: It is located in a beautiful setting at the Aviara Golf Course. The view of the course and the inlet were lovely even in the quasi-foggy weather. We had a lovely table by the window and looked out at the most amazing flora. Romantic . . . it could be. It had much less of a steakhouse feel than I expected, which is a good thing. With the light from the huge windows, it didn't have that stuffy old feeling that comes with the typical "steakhouse" ambiance.
Service: Our server Alex was totally on his game. He had the spiel down pat. He had a wonderful personality and was very helpful in making suggestions and steering us in the right direction. More on Alex later.
Food and Drink: They have an extensive wine list. Hubby ordered the Duckhorn Decoy by the glass which was full-bodied and had hints of berry notes. I ordered one of my favorite martinis (Grey Goose, Midori and Pineapple). I don't think they ever made that concoction before, but the bartender took great care to make it just perfectly.
The pop-overs (rolls) were to die for. OMG! I could have just eaten these all night. They are huge, warm, buttery. They were served with a tomato pepper coulis, but they needed nothing. It just melted in my mouth. They could have filled the pop-over with whipped or Bavarian creme and it would have also made for an incredible dessert!
Hubby had the local Carlsbad oysters, a half-dozen, which came with two each of the following: Blonde, Luna, Del Sol, and three different sauces. Hubby enjoyed them immensely. I had the special of the day salad which was a beautiful fresh combination of butter head lettuce, ricotta cheese, blueberries, bacon and EVOO and Balsamic. The flavors just melded together -- a little sweet, a little savory. Delicious!
For entrees, Hubby ordered the American Wagyu New York Sirloin. I was tempted to order the salmon, but Alex said the steaks are what they are known for and steered me away from the fish. I asked if I could order only 4 oz. as any more was too much and he recommended the Australian Wagyu Eye of Rib cut which you can order by the ounce. A great call on his part. Both entrees arrived on cast iron plates and were outstanding in flavor, temperature and texture. All the various types of beef come with one sauce or crust. Alex recommended the sauce -- the cognac and green peppercorn for my hubby, and for me, the Argyle sauce, a blend of sweet and spicy flavors, which tasted good, but my eye of rib with its lovely marbling didn't really need the sauce at all. For sides, we ordered the Sugar Snap Peas, Water Chestnuts, Shitake Mushroom, Thai Basil with Yuzu and Miso, which were amazingly fresh and flavorful, and the Signature Potato Tots, basically mashed potatoes and Parmesan cheese mixed and then deep-fried to a lightly crisp texture on the outside and creamy on the inside. We couldn't have picked better side dishes. Each side is easily enough for two people.
For dessert, Hubby chose the Amarone Cherry Clafoutis with a side of almond crisp cookie and pistachio gelato. As a cherry aficionado, he savored every bite! For me, I continued on with what was left of my pop over. Seriously . . . Our server asked if there was anything else he could get for us, an after-dinner drink, cappuccino . . . and I said, a couple of those pop-overs to go . . . He said, I can arrange for that. I was so full that I could barely get up and was ready to head back to our room that I complete forgot about my request, but Alex didn't . . . he raced out after us with a bag full of pop overs to take with us. Wow! That is 5-star service!!!
All in all, this was a truly divinely delivered, decidedly delicious, and beautifully executed dining experience. And for those who complain about price . . . it's worth every penny! -
Review from Mateo M.
2/22/2010
Ummm, Wagyu beef!
I've never been for lunch, nor am I a regular for dinner - The Argyle is quite expensive, but alas, like many of the expensive things in life, it is worth it.
The times I've been I've been treated well. I felt as if I had my own personal waiter and that was nice. The service is very good - on par with Donovan's, but not the same. Donovan's has a host of staff members that specialize in different areas. At The Argyle you have a single waiter/waitress as is typical in most restaurants.
The food is good. Very good. The appetizers are amazing. The soup (mushroom something or other) was to die for, and I'm not a fan of mushrooms. The steak.... well, the steak is fantastic. You can order pre-cut or order by the ounce. The Australian Wagyu beef is the most pricy at $11-12/ounce, you do the math
I've only been on special occasions, but if I want the absolute best steak available in San Diego, I go to The Argyle. -
Review from Gabby G.
San Marcos, CA
8/12/2011
I've enjoyed good food here. Excellent service. It's also a nice place to just go to the bar, too.
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Review from Mary C.
Carlsbad, CA
12/18/2008
We took a group here for breakfast. Had planned to eat at Belle Fleur, but the time they had available didn't work, so we drove here and hoped for the best. We got really lucky, as they had a private dining room with a round table that would accommodate 11 of us comfortably. Hostess was very pleasant to all of us, from those who looked like they should be there, and those of us who looked like we should be ordering off the dollar menu at McDonalds.
The service and the food were excellent. The breakfast menu doesn't have any surprises, but we pretty much ordered just about everything on it, and everyone was pleased. My husband loved his eggs benedict, and everyone who had the huevos rancheros said they were the best they've had. There's a beautiful patio with a great view of the lagoon, but between the wind and the size of our group, we were much better off inside.
Prices were a bit on the high side, but I felt like we got a great value--excellent service, great food, a beautiful room. The next sunny and warm Sunday morning, I'm heading back there for breakfast! -
Review from Maria C.
4.5...
Came here for the New Years Eve prix fix dinner ($95pp). It was an amazing experience as Argyle has been on my BM list for awhile. The dining area is smaller than I expected with one large party room with a long table. The furniture can be described as "old money". Does that make sense???
Tasted the following during the PFD:
-Complimentary bread/pastry: Different and interesting. Looked like a big mushroom! It was warm and flaky.
-Amuse Bouche of Scallop Carpaccio: Silky and smooth...
-Foie Gras Torchon: Creamy and nice flavor!
-Butternut Squash Soup: I enjoyed the wagyu beef that was mixed with the warm soup. Wish it had been a bit warmer, however.
-Lobster Timbale: Moist, delicate and warm. Great champagne flavor.
-Dungeness Crab: Loved the avo mousse and tangerine salad that accompanied the crab.
-Vintage Farms Natural Prime Filet with lemon butter sauce: The sauce is what saved the filet. Without the sauce, it would have been really bland.
-Vintage Farms Prime Natural New York with lemon butter sauce: Tough for my palate, but again, the sauce made the steak.
-Sides of Turnips, Baby Carrots and Brussels sprouts, Lobster Tots, and Sautéed Mushrooms: The sides were a great accompaniment to the steaks.
-Desserts of apple and cranberry pie, chocolate and baileys cremeux, yogurt parfait with tropical fruit chutney, and pistachio and chocolate profiterole: The fav surprisingly was the pistachio ice cream. It is house-made and the star of the evening.
We brought our own reserve bottle of Pinot Noir from Domaine Caneros in Napa for a $25 cork fee.
I have to admit, this is one of the best PFDs I've had. Everything was delish! Service was great, although had to make certain requests (soup spoon, a couple of water refills and a steak knife). Employees were super friendly and helpful in making the dinner selections.
I'd def make a return trip back! -
Review from Israel P.
San Diego, CA
6/6/2011
Excellent service and food. Beautiful environment. Prompt and friendly staff. I would come back again and again. The Argyle is my favorite restaurant for special occasions.
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Review from Tommy C.
San Marcos, CA
12/19/2010
What a fantastic build up to a great let down...
The short:
Delicious sides that almost make up for an overcooked $88 steak
Full Review:
For starters, we ordered the oysters which were amazing (but expensive @ $15 for 1/2 dozen). The sauces that came with them were remarkable, but unnecessary. The bread that they serve is 'poofy' without an inside, but delicious. Everything was going great, the service was fantastic, the wine delicious...and then came the steaks...
My wife ordered the bone in ribeye ($48) with the marrow crust, MEDIUM RARE. The steak came out and looked delicious. Then she cut into and it was medium to medium well...and that was in the center of the steak!
Chalk it up to bad luck? Nope...I ordered the $11/oz eye of rib...8 oz...Yes that is an $88 steak folks, which I'm sure you would agree it should be spectacular. I'm sure it would have been if it too was not medium to medium well. When I order a steak, especially an $88 steak, the least you could do is cook it to the proper temperature!!!
The saving grace of this meal was certainly the accompaniments. We ordered the seafood paella; full of squid & shrimp, deliciously creamy, and the saffron certainly stood out (a rarity with most paella nowadays). The potato tots were much more than you would think, almost like airline potatoes with creamy potato filling (delicious!)...and best of all was the seared foie gras...creamy, buttery, fatty, seared to perfection...why couldn't this have been my steak!
Perhaps a one off, but I certainly cannot justify going back to this place. You are much better off at any of the big chains (ruths chris, mortins, etc)...I'm still searching for a good steak north of Del Mar... -
Review from Ron C.
Oceanside, CA
5/27/2011
Excellent, well-prepared steak. Great atmosphere & service. Great wine selection.
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Review from Ryan C.
Valencia, CA
4/6/2011
The lady and I were in Carlsbad for the weekend at LaCosta resort. I did a yelp search and found this gem of a place. It was just a few minute drive from the LaCosta resort. The inside is very nice and a little on the dark side (too dark for my iPhone 3GS to nab a picture of my steak). I had a steak and picked my side of onions and sautéed peppers, which was excellent! The lady had salmon and loved it. We picked a side to share of the lobster mac'n cheese as....again, excellent. I would recommend Argyle Steakhouse to anyone and will gladly visit anytime I am back in Carlsbad. My only compliant, I was too full to have desert.
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Review from Garry G.
Encinitas, CA
1/23/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Perfect night! Every course was inspiring and beaming with amazing flavors. It's the best steak house within 15 miles of Encinitas! Will be back here multiple times for sure!
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Review from Chris M.
San Diego, CA
3/6/2011
Good to have a steakhouse in SD with quality American Wagyu option to go along with post golf scotch and cigars. Susy, the bartender/waitress could not have been more friendly and knowledgeable. Tremendous service by her.
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Review from Lisa W.
Irvine, CA
10/15/2011
My husband and I ate here last night, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. I chose the bone-in rib-eye (CA ranch) with the blue cheese sauce (on the side), while my husband had the waygu flat iron steak with truffle butter. We ordered the brussel sprouts and the lobster mac & cheese. Everything was excellent and the service was wonderful. We will definitely return.
