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Pat and Oscars - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Pizza Pizza [Edit]
3881 Valley Centre Dr(between Carmel Creek Rd & Carmel View Rd)
San Diego, CA 92130
Neighborhood: Carmel Valley
(858) 720-3525
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
23 reviews for Pat and Oscars
23 reviews in English
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Review from susan o.
Encinitas, CA
9/21/2011
sad to see this location close. there is really not much to choose from in that neighborhood. cannot believbe that the neighborhood could not support that location
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Review from Grace L.
San Diego, CA
7/10/2011 2 photos
I just ordered a Gluten-Free Pepperoni Pizza from here and took it to-go. I was told that they only make it in one size - medium.
When I picked it up, I was pretty surprised to see how small it was. For $13.49 plus tax, you're not getting much. I measured it and attached photos so that any Yelpers who are considering buying the pizza can see exactly what they're getting. It's basically a thin crust 9" pizza with moderate toppings and very little sauce. Overall the crust was pretty bland and a little too hard. I would probably not order this again. -
Review from Brett B.
San Diego, CA
7/31/2011
So maybe it's my changing tastes, but I would have given this a 3-4 stars several years ago. The menu items don't really taste that great to me. I like salads a lot, but I'm not typically disappointed with the taste. Other items in the sandwich and pizza section are too greasy. The pizza dough is too bread-like.
On the plus side, Pat and Oscars is a convenient place to go in a group or family, especially with kids. Portions are mostly generous. I'll go again, just not as often as in the past. -
Review from Monique T.
San Diego, CA
2/3/2011
Did someone step on my bread-sticks?! Why were they so flat?...
Did the same person also take my bread-sticks out of the oven before the timer went off?! The bag smelled soooo good! Garlic deliciousness! Alas the first bite of my flat,warm, garlicky bread stick! Is this thing cooked?! A bit chewy, nearly got lock jaw trying to masticate the darn thing! This is usually not the case. bread stick fail!
My family orders pretty regularly from this location (far better than Carlsbad) and dining is typically pleasant when we do dine in. We always get the family deal especially since we get great coupons (we're in a recession) and we're always feeding between 5-7 people at any given time.
This is my fix all take out place.
Casual dining
great for families
small beer (cheap) wine selection
they cater
reasonably priced
phone orders/ online ordering/ even walk -in but don't expect speedy service (hit or miss)
Nice staff (usually)
3.5 stars came to mind but, flat bread sticks from a place known for their breadsticks?.. So. 3 it is! -
Review from Kenny O.
1/13/2011
Lots of food for reasonable prices.
I'm not so much a fan of anything here besides the breadsticks -- buttery, garlicy, and baked just right so the outside is crisp and the inside is almost melt-in-your-mouth soft. At less than $6 a bag (for 12-14 breadsticks or so), you can't go wrong.
I usually just come in for that really--used to come here to try their pastas, BBQ, pizzas, and soups, but got tired of being unimpressed, so I stick to their strength.
Also, if you're ever waiting in line, you can score a couple free breadsticks while you wait. -
Review from Cheryl L.
12/12/2010
Okay, so clearly this isn't Ruth's Chris, so educate yourself before you come here. The food is extremely fairly priced, and this is just a good old casual dining restaurant.
I typically order food for take-out, and I've always had great customer service. The restaurant is always clean and bright. I always feel welcome from the moment I walk in. The food is decent for what you pay for it. I have been coming here for years and keep on coming back. -
Review from ame n.
San Diego, CA
8/27/2011
We just drove by yesterday and found out this location is CLOSED DOWN.
The website still lists it as being there although the online ordering is disabled. -
Review from Charlie Y.
San Diego, CA
7/22/2008
More like Wack and Awfuller
Why the hell would you go here? It looks like a gas station or something, and the food is served in stereotypical American fashion: pile a truckload of cafeteria junk as high as you can onto a paper plate and pig out. If you like this place just move to Reno where you can get addicted to meth and eat the $2.99 buffet every day. This place sucks -
Review from Melissa F.
San Diego, CA
1/12/2011 1 photo
It's amazing to think this place all started with giving bread sticks away in the parking lot. This place offers a great blend of pizza, Greek, ribs, chicken and bread sticks. It's difficult to decide on one thing so be prepared to take a doggie bag home for yourself. I would have to give it a 3 because the best thing they have is bread sticks.
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Review from John B.
San Diego, CA
3/28/2009
I don't get all the poor reviews on this place. Come on people...this ain't The Four Seasons we're reviewing here. It's a fast food joint.
This Pat & Oscars has ample free parking and a large patio area that they rent out for a modest price for private parties. Think kids' parties.
They offer wine & beer. a decent enough selection of both, particularly when you consider the fact that this is a fast food restaurant.
The staff here is particularly accommodating and courteous.
They offer free eats for kids on Saturdays. Definitely a plus.
One final great thing about this place. They've added some healthy (wholewheat) choices to their menu. -
Review from Jon T.
Fremont, CA
2/27/2008
First time I heard of pat and oscars was tonight went there with a group of about 20, tried the pasta, breadsticks, and salad. I must say for 7 dollars that is a good deal, and the food was pretty good as well, breadsticks
9/10
pasta 8/10
salad 8/10
for the price I would definitely say it's worth it, I wish we had one closer to UCSD, service was good as well, very fast and they were pretty friendly considering what a large group we had. -
Review from Svetlana V.
San Diego, CA
4/25/2010 1 photo
It was decent. Pasta was like in any good restaurant. Salad was okay too.
However, pizookie was amazing! And it is only $4. -
Review from Abby K.
San Diego, CA
6/14/2010
I love P&O's, but this specific P&O's- eh, the service is always so slow.
It's the closest P&O's to my office, and if we don't order ahead online to go, we'll spend our entire lunch break waiting for our food, then we'll get two bites, then have to pack it up and bring it back to the office, where we have to get back to work, and the delicious smell of breadsticks mocks us all.
If tell them you are on your lunch break and only have X number of minutes, it like they work even slower. And they are so stingy with the breadsticks. I thought they were supposed to offer you one when you ordered.
The plus is that they always have coupons and they have the family rewards cards.
In summary- This P&O's is only for take away. -
Review from Steve R.
3/1/2007
This location continues to be mediocre depending on what time you visit.
Management that doesn't seem to care about the restaurant along with an overall rotation of managers in and out. Food of mediocre quality except the breadsticks which were quite good. Service can be fast (5-10 minutes, to downright slow 20-25 minutes) whether the restaurant is empty or full. Staff would rather hang on the phone than take orders - even looking directly at you while continuing to jabber away and not acknowledge your presence.
Parking is cramped and the lot shares space with a Starbucks. -
Review from Danielle J.
Seattle, WA
2/2/2009
Pat and Oscar's is no Oggi's- but we all know I am partial to Oggi's because of their phenomenal selection and quality of toppings and creative pizza combinations. Nonetheless, this P&O's in particular is great because the staff is very helpful and friendly. The managers are always present and making sure that things are moving along nicely and hot, fresh breadsticks are being given out by the handfuls!!!
We ordered for the Super Bowl and everything was great, and prepared to be ready at exactly 2:30pm (which was when I asked for it to be ready). The San Diego pizza and BBQ chicken rock... and it just doesn't get any better than their breadsticks dipped in the house mustard sauce.
Take a rain check on the potato wedges and hot wings... or just make sure to indulge those cravings at Oggi's, because P&O's wings are dry and the wedges are just lacking in seasoning and the texture is a bit tough for my liking. -
Review from Diane L.
San Francisco, CA
3/25/2008
Pat and Oscars is definitely cheap eats, but their food is just average. I like their Greek salad, but their pizzas are not very good, the pastas are mediocre, and their chicken dishes are just OK. I do like their breadsticks though. Because this location was just a couple blocks down from my house, I used to pop in here to buy a bag of breadsticks to have with my dinner. Sometimes, if I was lucky enough, the cashier would just hand them to me, free of charge! I love all things free! They make so many breadsticks everyday, they usually pass them out to patrons waiting in line...so one free bag should do no harm!
I was also sort of freaked out by how young some of the employees who worked here were. They looked like they were in middle school, but I could have been wrong. -
Review from TJ X.
San Diego, CA
4/9/2011
My first 2 experiences with this Pat and Oscars were 4 stars! BUT, my most recent experience was so terrible, I have vowed to NEVER return.
We ordered the chicken meal with half/half lemon and BBQ. Chicken was dry. The lemon one tasted like it had been drowned in radioactive lemon juice and left strange yellow orange residue everywhere it went. Think the Joker's origin story from the Batman comics. The BBQ one was so good the last time I came, but this time - DRY! Not only dry, but it was PINK. PINK CHICKEN. Bizarre.
When we asked for more bread sticks and salad, the person serving us (just happened to be the asst. manager), said the salad did not come with refills. We were 100% fine with that, so we just asked for more bread. A server brings out 5 measly bread sticks. Come on P&O, I know you get a lot of starving college students. Feed us a little better, will ya? These bread sticks CANNOT cost you so much that you have to be skimpy with them!
Later, when we are almost done with our meal, the asst. manager waltzes back out and plops some salad on our table - saying it's on him ... this time. That's a nice gesture and all, but we were fine without it, and by this time we were already almost full. We still had half our chicken left and we left the salad untouched. This goes along with all the other reviews' complaints of irregular service.
We took the salad back to them and said that we never touch it, but we did want more bread sticks. They brought us the bread sticks - and it was a decent # this time, but we both felt so sick afterwards. The only thing we ate all day was Pat and Oscars, so I came to the conclusion that Pat and Oscars poisoned us!
BOO on you Pat and Oscars! -
Review from Zinzan R.
Boise, ID
4/29/2008
Pat and Oscar's is the worst casual-restaurant chain I've ever been to. Every single time I've gone to Pat and Oscar's is because it has all kinds of food. That it does, and all of it is garbage.
The garlic bread they serve sticks to the roof of my mouth like watery Mochi. Their chicken wings appear to come from old chickens and are wriggly. Their pizza dough is shockingly dry, and the pizzas are often under baked which makes them unpalatable. Their salad contains limp days-old lettuce nuked just for you. The service is bizarrely irregular: your server will forget all about you and then make 10 trips to bring what could be brought together in one go. Their food and service are zombie caliber.
Despite these shortcomings, Fat (yes Fat) and Oscar's restaurants do quite well. That dismays me the gourmand. Please don't eat at Pat and Oscar's. -
Review from Jason W.
San Diego, CA
1/27/2011
Every once in a while you have either a really good experience or a really bad experience and feel compelled to write about it. Unfortunately this was the latter, if I could have given zero stars I would have! To make it short, avoid this place like the plague during peak dinner meal hours (~5:30-7:30pm) or at any other times you think it might be really crowded. For more details read on...
Pat and Oscars is predictable chain restaurant food - most of the food is prepackaged and I personally feel like many items are way too salty. Nonetheless, the food has it's fans and to each their own. So what can go wrong if you just can't stand not having your P&O fix? Well, during peak hours the place simply gets overwhelmed - which exposes a few fatal flaws in the restaurant's operating model. And c'mon, this is supposed to be a fast casual chain restaurant - they are supposed to be good at serving the masses! On my particular visit the place had descended into chaos, customers were waiting 45+ minutes to get their food. Most resorted to inquiring at the counter or with servers to try to get their food - only slowing down the process even more. A couple of annoyances that really stick out to me:
1.) Why the heck does it take people soooooo long to order? After standing in line for 15 minutes you would think people could figure out what to order. This may be more a problem with the P&O menu not being concise and laid out well, not having simple well defined choices, and having too many options to choose from.
2.) Do high school kids who are just walking through the motions really need to bring my food to me? Seriously, a lot of time can be saved here if you just call people's numbers and have them come up to the counter to retrieve their food - I really don't think customers will mind. It sure beats having your food sit around and getting cold while the high school kids ignore it.
Yes indeed you can learn a lot while observing how wrong things can go while waiting for your food for so long. -
Review from Matt G.
San Diego, CA
3/16/2010
Bad fast food. It is like going to Chuck E. Cheese but without the games. Actually, the bread sticks are pretty good, but you can't make a meal out of bread sticks... right?
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Review from M M.
San Diego, CA
3/14/2010
Maybe it's because I'm not a huge fan of breadsticks, but I just don't get the appeal of this place. The chicken/ribs are just okay and the pizza is worse than the cheapest frozen brand. The Greek salad is pretty good, but not good enough for me to give an extra star. But perhaps the most annoying thing of all is how stingy they are with those "world-famous" breadsticks...let the kids have some extras without having to pay!
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Review from Faye W.
Del Mar, CA
9/30/2010
I eat here a few times each week. Very casual. Management is terrific - friendly, caring, and attentive. They aim to please. I observe them dealing with many customers while I'm there. They get to know their customers. The staff they hire are friendly and helpful, as well. I usually order the Chicken Dinner for two, sometimes Ribs and Chicken with Greek Salad. I usually order the chicken well done. Salad is always fresh. Chicken is tasty. Fresh brewed iced tea. Service is great! Love the breadsticks!
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Review from Gena L.
San Diego, CA
12/2/2009
Went here for lunch, the service was terrible. When we walked in more than half of the restaurant was waiting for their food, that should have been the first sign. After we ordered we had to move dirty dishes off a table to sit down, all the tables were full of dishes. About a half hour after we ordered my Veggie pocket sandwich came out, my husband was still waiting on his pasta carbanara. We waited and waited, my husband never got his lunch. I went to counter and after a while his meal still didn't come out. Eventually my husband went back to the counter to get a refund, he was too mad to eat. We even ordered a dozen bread sticks to go, we cancelled them too. This was our third and last trip there. Every time we have been to this location something has gone wrong, mostly with waiting for one piece of our meal or all of it! We haven't been to any other locations since this is near our work. Since this location is in an industrial area you would think that P&O would understand that people only get an hour or less for lunch.
