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- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
1195 reviews for Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens
Review Highlights
"The Mac 'n Beer cheese was exquisite."
(in 43 reviews)
"my favorite is the Stone Smoked Porter."
(in 70 reviews)
"I definitely recommend the duck tacos."
(in 96 reviews)
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1195 reviews in English
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Review from Chris E.
1/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
Stone: Good beers, and well, good beers. I had never been to the brewery and walking into the place I could tell it had class, too bad the food and service didn't.
Stone's beer is well known and very good. Some of my favorites are their IPA, PA, and Sublimely Self-Righteous. Their beer is good, don't get me wrong and I love a good beer, but it's way overrated. There are lots of beers out there better than Stone, but I digress.
The food was mediocre at best, as was the service. We had our waiter change 2 or 3 times and I didn't like that I had to buy pints to try the beers. I wish they provided tasters but since this place has the notoriety it does, they can do as they please.
I'm giving 4 stars soley based on the beer, otherwise I'd give Stone a 3 star rating.
Personally, I'd rather go to Lost Abbey first, get hammered, then make my way to Stone; a sort of brewery pre-party, HAH! I'd like to add that I met a few Chiver's & Chivette's here. So sport your KCCO/BFM gear and you'll have a blast.
Come here for the beers, the scenery, and the fun times. -
Review from Karen M.
San Diego, CA
2/6/2012
Setting: A+. Beautiful building and grounds. Worth seeing.
Food: C-. Yes, the kitchen was undergoing a reno but that doesn't mean you can't put out a limited menu that still contains interesting and tasty food. My salad, burger, and the ceviche were uninspired.
Service: D. Our server didn't keep his eye on the table and we kept having to flag down others. They seem to have a logistics problem in that we were in the outside corner and it seems they had to travel a great distance to a service station (just how long does it take for one to bring pepper to the table?). We had to keep asking for things that should have been offered or there already - salt, pepper, mustard, ketchup. Our menus were never removed from the table, they took our knives away, etc.
Overall a disappointing experience. Glad I went once but I won't likely be back unless I hear they've done a 180 with their menu and service. -
Review from Pey S.
Valley Center, CA
1/30/2012
I've stayed quiet long enough while others ramble on about why this place shouldn't receive five stars. The truth is Stone Brewery is one of the most enchanting places I've ever been to in my life. Let me explain.
The beer is, hands down, some of the best you'll find in the entire country. From their uniquely aromatic and citrusy IPA to their smokey, gravity-defying porter and one-of-a-kind Arrogant Bastard strong ale, their lineup is world class. Every style is amazing in its own right and takes on a flavor profile and perspective you just don't see anywhere out there at other microbreweries.
Secondly, the ambiance is ridiculous. Where else can you visit a beautiful restaurant, insanely accommodating bar with over 100 drink selections with a soothing, zen-like garden in the back equipt with its very own frogs? I mean, come on. You're never going to find a place like this.
Sure, their food is a bit pricey and a few of their offerings are hit or miss but the reality is Stone Brewery is a gem among an otherwise bland arena of beer and ambiance offerings in Escondido.
If you don't want to spend a lot of money, eat before you go and grab a beer while you're charging up your batteries walking around the scenic backyard. If you're into spending a lot of cash, make sure to check with your server to find out what's popular before ordering and take their recommendation.
Lastly, if you gave Stone anything less than 5 stars, please do me a favor and don't go there anymore. I'm tired of waiting an hour and a half to be seated on the weekends and I'd prefer not to hear your grumblings while I'm enjoying my world class beer next to their enchanted, stress-free pond munching on macaroni and cheese made with beer. Thanks in advance! -
Review from David H.
San Diego, CA
2/9/2012
Way overpriced... I've loved stone brews for years... just funny how you can get their drafts/22's cheaper at any bar or any store in the county... You would think getting it straight from the source would be reflected in the price. Food is marginal at best... basically trying to get every penny they can... its unfortunate... I actually used to work for Stone back in the San Marcos days... what the hell happened to their original vision
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Review from Gloria S.
San Francisco, CA
2/9/2012
Great beer. Great food. Mediocre service. In door and out door bar and a beautiful beer garden to enjoy it in. Really enjoy the beer tasting events I've attended here. Really fun if you're pre-gameing for some weekend fun. Just disappointing its the only fun open bar in the area on weekends. Even then closes by midnight. Still one of my favorite breweries and always stop to fill my growler when driving to San Diego, CA for the weekend
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Review from john s.
Vista, CA
Updated - 2/5/2012
As a suggestion, make sure Bistro diners have consumed two pints before ordering. My food reviews become more generous, and I am less critical of price, after two pints. You are welcome Stone Bistro.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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10/8/2011
As much as you might like to hate on number one, these guys come up with some creative stuff. See… Read more »
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Review from Angela T.
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
It seems like this is the only thing to do in this area, 4 of is went here on a recommendation while we were in N. County. The list of beers was long & extensive, I went with the Maui coconut porter, it was tasty, would recommend if you like dark beer. Onto the food, we shared the Mac & Cheese, it was good, but i prefer the dish at Yardhouse. We then split the scallops, way too salty, I was only able to eat half of one, I could tell it was a good scallop and it had a nice demi sauce, but I couldn't get past the salt. I did however enjoy the Citricado salad, added a chicken breast and it was satisfying.
I did like the inside, it had a nice ambiance and if it wasn't raining I would have loved to eat outside, lots of space to sit around the fire pit and lots of greenery. If I came back it would be to sit outside and drink a beer. -
Review from Sarah G.
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Say it with my now: Overrated! That's how I felt when I finally made the pilgrimage to Escondido to enjoy Stone's finest brews.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy Stone's beer and am happy to have it be such an integral party of San Diego. But the food at their lush brewery was just so-so.
The interior of this place is heavenly, but again I just wish the food lived up to the hype of the beer. Is it so hard to find a chef who'd want to work at this bomb ass place? C'mon.
Also I paid $15 for the smallest bowl of mac & cheese I'd ever seen, that wasn't even that great. Grrr I hate overpaying for a meal that's less that extraordinary. -
Review from Wen Y.
Los Angeles, CA
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
What a great place in the middle of a random corporate park to eat after a day at the Wild Animal Park since there's nothing else decent in the area that isn't disgusting chain food. The atmosphere is really great, the garden outside is lovely and the fact that they use local farms and vendors is a big plus. We aren't drinkers but the beers looked interesting.
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Review from Brian B.
Placentia, CA
2/4/2012
I love stone beer and I was very impressed with the ambiance. I assumed they put as much care into their food as they would their beer but I was sorely mistaken.
I ordered the buffalo burger which comes with either mashed potatoe or jalapeno lime chips.(I assumed potato) I asked if it was house made. She said yes so needless to say I was very excited. Turns out it was tortilla chips with a burger and no salsa or anything. I was very confused at this point. Also I asked for jacks cheese or whatever its called on it which was 1.75 extra. It didnt come with it on it so I asked for it. She said they ran out so she brought be a cold white cheese. Also the only thing "warm" was the me at. I looked at it wishing it was an In-n-out burger.
Also My brother got the salmon. I have no complaints about that except the salmon was served on a bead of rice and it had the skin on it. If you're going to do that, then serve the salmon on the side. It's just more logical.
I feel the head chef needs to learn a little more about food and food presentations. -
Review from Christopher B.
Long Beach, CA
1/15/2012 Seated via OpenTable
The Stone building, restaurant, gardens, bars are just downright gorgeous (and I love their use of stone everywhere). There is absolute no denying that! It's a tribute to the success they've had but with that comes the generic corporate feel, which is a bit of a negative as well. Using their success, they've managed to offer less than average food at astronomical prices. I wouldn't even bother with the food... come and enjoy the outdoor patio and the beer and move on to another brewery. Oh, and it's just ridiculous to wait 2 hours for a brew tour so plan on being there for a while if that's what you want to do.
I can't say I'm the biggest fan of Stone beer but I usually find something I could appreciate. I love the Russian Belgo with Anise and I had the Vertical Epic, which was decent. Of course, there are so many to choose from...
There is also a gift store on the way out if you're looking for about anything.
To sum up, if you're going to eat then this place would get about 1 star, without exaggeration. If you're here for brews and hanging out, it's probably 3.5. I just enjoy breweries where I can mingle and see the roots of the brewery. This place has long surpassed both. -
Review from Nancy F.
2/4/2012
Of all the breweries we have been to, this one is by far the classiest. What a beautiful patio! I love how it opens up with the big garden area. As some have said in earlier reviews, you may have to wait for a table for a bit and the food is not over the top. Having said that, it is still worth the trip. Plan a brewery tour ahead of time to make the experience even better. Food is a little over priced. I love the stinky cheese platter with a good IPA. I wish they would, however, give a little bit more crackers with that wonderful cheese. We always have to ask for more.
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Review from Sarah B.
Updated - 1/16/2012
I brought my family on a Saturday for a tour... mistake. The next tour was 3 hours away and they don't hand out tickets more than 2 hours ahead. So we decided to make do and just have lunch in the bistro. An hour wait for a table there too! The place was even more packed than last time. We ended up getting lucky to grab a spot at the outside bar by hovering like vultures over some people who were paying their checks.
There's definitely a "big time company" yet hipster feel here. I don't really care for Stone's style of beer anyway so I won't be back soon.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/31/2011
The tour was interesting, and you can't go wrong with free tastings. I don't really prefer the… Read more »
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Review from Manny C.
Walnut Creek, CA
2/5/2012
I love this place! Best brewery by far! It's so different than other breweries because they have an outdoor area. The best IPA hands down is from stone! Definitely will come back when in area.
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Review from Steve H.
Huntington Beach, CA
I had a really positive first time experience at the Stone Gardens. I was really impressed with the grounds and the facilities, really beautiful. I went for lunch on a weekday. We arrived at 11:10, there was about three tables sat at the time. By the time we left the restaurant almost the entire place was sitting with customers.
I ate the pulled pork sandwich which I found to be really tasty, mildly spicy and pretty satisfying. It was a little small for my appetite so I also finished off a chicken/cheese burrito with bbq sauce. Delicious.
For beers I had the Russian River Blind Pig, The Stone IPA on casque and the Beachwood Thrillseeker.
A solid lunch. I highly recommend this restaurant, I will DEFINITELY be returning at some point. -
Review from Stella O.
Oceanside, CA
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love their beer, absolutely one of the bests beers in california i think, but geez their food is so bad...
I had the tofu stir fry and I tried some of my friend's chicken alfredo. I could've made better versions of these dishes at home to be completely honest. And, the dishes are like 20 bucks each...so not worth it...
Just do the tour or drink the beer, but don't waste your money on the food... -
Review from Linda D.
1/6/2012
Friendly service, great beer list, awesome outdoor patio/lawn, beautiful San Diego weather...Stick a fork in me. You know the rest.
One of my girlfriends insisted that we come to Stone after dinner one night for beers. It was pretty crackin' on a Tuesday night around 8:30, but since we weren't there to eat we didn't have to wait for a table. I started off with the Stone Ruination IPA without knowing its name would describe my state later that night. But that's a story for another day. If you dig hoppy, intense beers, you'll love the Ruination. But there are plenty of others to choose from, I tried to stick with the Stone beers, and they were all delicious.
We sat outside, past all of the tables and in a little are next to the lawn with comfy couches and heaters above for cool nights. Just gorgeous. The perfect setting to sit down with the girlfriends and talk about love, life, the pursuit of happiness, you know, the regular. As the night wore on we took it inside, where the bartenders were happy to serve us right up until closing time.
I can only base my rating off of the beer experience, so my advice would be to definitely check out Stone for a place to hang out after dinner with a date or some friends, or laze around on an afternoon when you have hours to kill while enjoying great beer and lovely scenery. -
Review from Vanessa M.
Chicago, IL
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
My fiancé is a beer snob. No, seriously. He turns his nose up at all the people that drink "crap beer." (This sometimes includes me.) His favorite brewery ever is Stone. So when we were driving to San Diego, we knew a stop here was in the cards.
First thing we tried to do was sign up for a brewery tour. They fill up so fast that you have to stand in line for a tour 2 hours before the actual tour to make sure you are 1 of 25 people to get in. We decided to bypass the tour and drink and eat instead. The seating area, outdoor patio, and "beer garden" are huge. There are so many spots to sit and enjoy your beverages. We made friends with a couple from San Diego who visit breweries on a weekly basis in the garden area while waiting for a table.
Onto the beers: My first one was Celeste de Citracado, which was a collaboration between Stone and two other breweries. A little too hoppy for my taste, but it was seemingly perfect for sitting in the warm sun and it drank well. Ommegang Seduction -- it had cherry and chocolate flavors and was delicious. Mark was satisfied by his uber hoppy Stone beers.
For a late lunch we had: the Wild Boar ribs, Mac N' Beer Cheese, Stinky Cheese Plate, and the Soft Pretzels. The mac n' cheese was really good, but I wanted it to be creamier. The Stinky Cheese plate was perfectly sized, the soft pretzels were good (and the housemade mustard was great), and the wild boar ribs had this really great glaze that was spiced just right.
We ended up being there for a good four hours to drink, eat, socialize and for Mark, buy some t-shirts. It was a perfect afternoon segue into San Diego.Listed in: Just Like California
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Review from Allison P.
Newport Beach, CA
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
The best brewery and bistro EVER!
We just stopped in to use the bathroom and to purchase a sweater.
I really wish we had time to relax drinking beer in the garden. -
Review from Matthew V.
North Hollywood, CA
Updated - 1/18/2012
Love this place! I've been patronizing this place since the year they opened. Lupe and I stumbled across this place by accident when I first started to visit North County San Diego. I spend allot of time in San Marcos so the word was out at the time that Stone created a new brewery and bistro in Escondido. So, we checked out the place and immediately became fans.
When visiting I normally try to taste beers that aren't normally sold elsewhere. For instance Stone creates allot of experimental batches that never get released elsewhere. Over the years I seen beers brewed by Stone aged in barrels used previously for Pinot Noir. I even seen batches brewed with Chipotle. For NYE I believe they create a champagne style beer. They even create unique versions of the Arrogant Bastard that is aged in American Oak.
Guest taps have a nice selection. Taps always rotating. Lots of good beers from local breweries including Port Brewing, Green Flash, Lost Abbey, AleSmith, Lightening, Ballast Point. Lots of other good beers from Russian River and Avery can be found here such as the Maharaja and the Pliny the Elder. This place has serious beer! Also there's a bottle list as well.
Food wise I tried many items on the menu. Food can be hit or miss. Best items I like include:
Mac 'n Beer Cheese is incredible. The cheese and sausages are very tasty. Probably some of the best Mac and Cheese I ever had.
Artisanal Sausage Platter is delicious. Comes with very tasty dijon mustard.
Spicy Almond Crusted Tilapia is some of the best tilapia I ever had. Comes with a side of quinoa tabouleh which is awesome!
Braised Lamb Shank is so good and cooked well. The meat falls right off the bone!
Grilled Salmon is prepared very well and comes with a side of arugula. Highly recommend this if you're into salmon.
Tasty Tofu Stir-Fry is a really good dish. I'm not vegetarian but this is a really good option if you don't want to eat meat.
The Soft & Stinky Cheese Plate is good if you want Hor d'ourves. Cheeses pair well with the beers.
Items I'm not a fan of include:
Housemade Hummus. Not the best hummus. Where's the pita?
Wild Boar Baby Back Ribs. Decent but can't beat Phils BBQ!
Housemade Kimchee. Has nothing on Kimchee you can get in Korean Town.
Tilapia Ceviche. Can't beat Ceviche made by local Mexican markets.
3 BBQ Duck Taco. Sorry but duck doesn't go well with Mexican food.
For dessert I highly recommend ordering the Arrogant Bastard Brownie and order a french press of coffee. Share it! Coffee is sourced from Ryan Brothers. Good coffee!
Over the years Stone has become very popular and the brewery and bistro has become a hot tourist destination. Usually the bistro is packed, reservations are recommended a week in advance, the store has allot of folks in line for growler fills, and the beer bar is usually full. Parking lot gets and now there's valet parking. I don't visit as much because it is very packed. But, I'm still a big fan. I'll still drop by to get growler fills and to pick up kegs. Dinner I'll do on occasion when things are more calm. Overall this place is worth checking out.Listed in: Best Beer Bars, Best Breweries
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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6/12/2011
Love this place. I used to spend every Friday night at this place since it's awesome. They have an… Read more »
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Review from Samar N.
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA
1/21/2012
This review is specific to events I have been to at this brewery. We attended their sour fest last year and their New Years eve party to ring in 2012.
Both events were great. The grounds of the brewery are very pretty and their staff is very good at keeping things running smoothly and efficiently. Sour fest is AMAZING if you like sour beer. I was in heaven. They had plenty of selection, some of the rare stuff got finished pretty quick but lots of different things to try from a lot of different breweries.
the NYE party was a lot of fun! The way they decorated and set up everything was really nice, it was well worth the ticket price (175 or so a person) this included unlimited beer, wine and food. They also gave you 3 rare beers. They made a really cool dance floor inside the brewery where they actually keep the fermenting tanks and the DJ was pretty good. Overall a fun night. I took off 1 star though for 2 reasons. 1. they had no sour beers at the NYE party and 2. they did not have enough mac and cheese making stations so the line at each was like an hour long.
I am not a really big fan of Stone beers because they mostly make IPAs and such ( which isn't really my cup of tea) but I think the brewery itself is a super fun place to visit. -
Review from Sue C.
San Diego, CA
1/31/2012
Was taken to Stone last Saturday for my birthday! loved the entire experience started with the fact that we were late and still got our reserved table. food was good (my friends paid for my beer and lunch so i won't complain about food pricing as the rest are!) beer was awesome, the place is awesome inside and out, will defiitely be going back soon. My ONLY complaint.......and we were all totally shocked to see so many babies/children there! I honestly have not seen that many kids in one restaurant other than Chuckie Cheese! i was completely amazed at why so many parents (and I am a parent)
would take their kids to a brewery! definitely took away from the adult ambiance! like I said, I will return but will try the evening and stay away from family weekends!! -
Review from Amy H.
Berkeley, CA
1/14/2012
TIP #1: Take the brewery tour! Free beer at the end, and an interesting discussion about how beer is made too. Even if the group is full, you can usually beg the guide (and offer money) and get a spot. Just be sure to tip really well afterwards.
TIP #2: 6 packs and large bottles are cheaper here! Stock up!
TIP #3: Ask for the hot sauce if you eat at the restaurant. It's made with their beer and super good!
My first brewery! I had no idea what to expect. Stone set the bar pretty high for any other breweries I visit in the future.
The tour was engaging and not the least bit boring. It was revealing to get a behind-the-scenes look at how beer is brewed. Lasted about an hour. The free beer at the end was a total of four 4 oz tastings. Very good.
We ate at the restaurant afterwards. It was a chilly January evening, but the heat lamp outside kept us warm. I'd love to come back during the day some day to enjoy the garden. There are a ton of choices for food, and besides serving their own beer, they also serve a ton of other brews from elsewhere!
The duck tacos were juicy and flavorful. All of the other dishes my group ordered looked delicious too--check out their extensive menu! Everyone in my group was satisfied. And very buzzed. -
Review from Jade A.
Escondido, CA
1/24/2012
As someone who doesn't really like beer, i gotta give it up to stone. They have sweet beers, sour beers, warm beers, frosty beers, beers I can't even pronounce! To go with it they have a great little appetizer menu, personally the edamame and spicy noodles are my favorite!
The gardens are beautiful, definitely could be a cute, rustic venue for a wedding.
The brewery has been featured on Travel Channel, Food Network and tons of news channels who have all done specials on the owner and his "arrogant bastard" beer. They offer tours and have a neat, yet slightly overpriced, gift shop where you can buy the arrogance. Definitely a great place for date night or just a fun place to check out with friends! -
Review from caroline b.
Burlingame, CA
12/26/2011
This is how the conversation went:
Me: I'd like an order of ribs
Waiter: Sorry, you can't order ribs in this area
Me: Why?
Waiter: Our kitchen can't handle the volume, sorry
(bummed but whatever...then the dude sitting RIGHT next to us has an order of ribs delivered)
Me: Excuse me, but how did he get ribs!?
Waiter: Oh...he ordered at the bar (Dude has very confused look...tells us he ordered from his seat after waiter leaves)
After some really silly back and forth, waiter just tells me he's trying to do his job...what that tells me is this place has lousy management. Really like the atmosphere, but unless you are DYING to go here, avoid at all costs. -
Review from Diane W.
San Marcos, CA
2/2/2012
What a disappointment! I met a friend there. When I arrived, I went to the desk to see if my dining partner was there and they said no, so I waited in the lobby for the person to arrive. About 10 minutes later I received a text saying she was at a table and to ask the hostess as she left her name. When I asked the hostess, her response was I wouldn't know but you can look yourself.
Once I found the table, it took about 10 minutes for someone to come take an order for a drink. Then I tried to order dinner, and they did not have the first two items I tried to order. Of course, at that point it is difficult to find something that sounds good.
I ordered the dinner salad and the tilapia ceviche. The salad was good, but nothing spectacular. I did not find the ceviche to the that great. Way too much lime without any contrasting taste, and the fish was very rubbery, suggesting it was a little old.
I certainly won't be rushing back to pay those prices for average food! -
Review from Cheryl B.
San Francisco, CA
12/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
BEWARE! Person answering phone is not telling folks no walk ins allowed today bc of high post Xmas volume. Would have been good to know before we did the 30 mins drive. Also not serving lunch off main menu outside. Manager felt it was necessary to share they r a $14million dollar restaurant. Why would this make a difference to a disgruntled hungry customer? 1 star for service & the complicated/lame food ordering rules. We r sitting right next to another couple who ordered ribs off the menu at the out door fire pit bar.
Our server said ribs aren't being served where we r sitting. What GIVES!????!! Maybe you need to be wearing a hat to get ribs?? -
Review from Jenifer P.
La Mesa, CA
1/20/2012
This place is awesome! The architecture/furniture is very impressive and is the first thing you will notice when you come in. The restaurant/bar area is very open with high ceilings and natural decor. The gardens are amazing and well kept. It's fun to get a beer a walk through them on a nice day.
The food in the restaurant is good but a bit "foo-foo" and pricey which kept me from giving this place all five stars. The good part is the dessert made from beer and ice cream. Have a camera handy when you drop the ice cream in the beer and watch everyone try to suck it down with their straws, it's fun!
We took a beer tour too which was very informative. I have never done a beer tour before so for a first timer I was impressed. It's amazing to see where all the "magic" happens. It's also free which is nice. Just be sure to get your tickets right when you walk through the door because the tours fill up fast!!!
Overall this was a very fun and relaxing experience for me and my friends. It's a bit of a drive for me and it's an all afternoon thing (expect to spend about three hours here if you eat and take the tour) but worth doing every once in awhile! -
Review from Kyle W.
Updated - 12/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Maybe they've gone down hill since I first started visiting here a few years back, maybe I've come to expect more out of a restaurant since then, maybe they're just hit or miss, maybe all of the above. Either way, Stone just doesn't cut it for me any more.
My girlfriend & I came here last night for dinner and were pretty disappointed with the food and the service. There was about an hour wait for a table but we lucked out and scored a pair of seats at the inside bar. Once seated we ordered a couple beers and were served fairly quickly. As always, their tap list is fantastic. Unless you've never tried Stone's beers before (Which is unlikely if you've come all the way here), I'd actually recommend trying one of their guest brews on tap. They frequently host some great ones you'd be hard pressed to find elsewhere.
As an appetizer, we ordered the Mac & Beer Cheese. The lady is a bit of a Mac & Cheese aficionado and claimed it was one of her favorite she's ever had. I had to agree. I especially loved the locally made sausage that comes in it. Really delicious.
The entrees, unfortunately, are where they really bombed. I got an Asian beef stir fry, that while decent tasting, was a pretty small portion, and the beef was overcooked and dry. I don't remember the exact price, but it was around $20 for a dish you'd pay $8-10 for at your local chinese/thai/asian-fusion joint. My girlfriend's Pork Porterhouse was even worse. It was so overcooked that most of it was downright inedible. Even the parts that weren't completely dried out, hardly had any flavor. Had it been my dish, I would have sent it back, but she always is hesitant to do that, and didn't want to wait for another one.
The bartenders that were waiting on us were pretty hit or miss. Some were helpful, others were less so. One guy took my beer order and never came back. When I ordered the same thing from one of the others, she said they ran out yesterday. Wish the first guy had shared that info rather than just not coming back.
I've always been the one to defend Stone's food/service against the haters, which there are a lot of them, however, I'm starting to see that there are a lot of legitimate complaints as well. Doubt I'll be rushing back anytime soon.
Should you still want to come visit, here's my advice:
1. Come for lunch. It's cheaper, plus their appetizers and pub-ish food are much better than their entrees.
2. Sit outside. It's prettier.
3. As I mentioned before, unless you've never tried Stone's beer before, or they have a special brew on tap (double-dry-hopped, oaked, etc.), go with one of the guest taps.
4. Take the tour. I never have, but I hear it's cool and you get free beer. Always accept free beer when offered.
5. Make a reservation or be prepared to wait.Listed in: Ooops... I'm drunk again.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/10/2009
I have always had fantastic experiences at Stone. From various dinners to their Beer & Sushi pairing… Read more »
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Review from jen l.
San Diego, CA
1/17/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Seems like they've raised their food prices and kept the portions the same. Service has been slow the past two times we've been here and the food was nothing that really stands out.
We used to love coming here but now it seems to have lost some magic. Just not completely worth the drive from San Diego anymore. -
Review from Melissa B.
Chino, CA
1/16/2012
Went here for my sister-in -law birthday and we had a nice time however I will do things differently next time.
1. MAKE a reservation!!! This place is crowded. We ended up eating in the bar patio area which was nice but cold and busy. We did have a great server though, which made it much better.
2. Focus on the beer not the food. $ 8.50 for 3 pretzel and dipping sauce! The food is very pricey and not necessarily worth it.
3. Come before dark and explore the area. They have beautiful gardens and it would be nice to see them in the light. They are also beautiful at night with twinkle lights everywhere and fire pits lit.
Overall it was a great evening and the beers were GREAT and a good price. I just learned some things that I wanted to share with you guys so they do not make the same mistakes. -
Review from Susan H.
Escondido, CA
1/28/2012
We are big fans of Stone. We've been there many, many times. However, our service last night was soooo slow. We were a party of five and I was designated driver. It took so long to get our drinks that there was really only time for one round. They lost out on four people ordering at least two more rounds. The food was delicious, but the portions are half of what they were two years ago and the price hasn't dropped! The appetizers were gone before our drinks arrived. The bartenders need to step it up and get the drinks out faster!
We probably won't go back for a while. -
Review from Howeler G.
San Diego, CA
12/14/2011
A comedy of errors is what Stone "bistro" is.
If you choose to visit this Disneyland theme park of breweries, I have a solid tip: DO NOT ORDER FOOD!
Beers yes, overpriced poorly executed food, no. It's pretty hard to F-up mac and cheese but at $14.50 for a greasy bowl sums up the total disconnect between menu, kitchen staff and plate.
What was even sillier is that they didn't have Arrogant Bastard on tap! How does a brewery run out of a flagship ale? It doesn't - but whoever runs the bar didn't want to hook up another keg -FAIL.
As for the service, when the food runner doesn't know who gets what dish, then complains to the entire table twice "I only have two hands" I didn't know whether to give her a hand, or bitch slap her. Was that a tear you poor thing? - oh the agony of having a paying job flinging plates.
We will never, ever venture into Stone again, even after management was so gracious as to offer us a whole 15% discount on a T-shirt, yeah like really I want to promote this place. -
Review from Taylor S.
San Francisco, CA
1/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
So I'll just get my two minor gripes out of the way now. We waited about 10-15 minutes without service before asking a server (Jaclyn), who apologized profusely and ended up taking care of us for the night. My friend's stir-fry was kinda bland and "ehhh" overall.
The restaurant itself is MASSIVE, with a comfortable outdoor patio area. I had the Wagyuu top sirloin steak with the Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale... holy crap. One of the best meals of my life. Our group split the Arrogant Bastard Brownie Sundae -- killer dessert. The service was great, and our drinks rarely went more than a minute or two without being filled. This would be a GREAT place for a bachelor party, as I've heard there's a large private area.
Cant wait to come back. -
Review from John H.
Carlsbad, CA
1/1/2012
If you Love Beer, and more importantly Hand Crafted Beer, Stone brew is a World Class must see. The food is excellent, the tour fun, the vibe fun and adventure.
Stone loves beer so much they actually promote and serve the competitors, they just truly love great beer.
The best part of the Stone experience for me (at least two or three times a month) is the employees. It's like stepping back in time to when folks loved and lived the brand. These folks love their beer and love where they work. That really translates into a most wonderful experience.
My only complaint is they often run out of the really special stuff, they warn you, they post whats coming up, but if you hesitate even for a second, it's gone. My suggestion, put in a reserve/storage option, so if I cant make it on time, mine will still be there.
My two favorite beers, Old Guardian, and Russian Imperial Stout. -
Review from Dan H.
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wait! What? We just passed the only building on this barren stretch and we still couldn't identify it as one of the top breweries in America? What is this, an homage to prohibition?
Yep, pull into the parking lot of one of the top rated American produced "craft beers", and I felt like I made a circular route back to Irvine. After reading reviews about gardens of floral and fauna I expected a Jurassic Park setting. No such curb appeal here.
Walk towards the corporate looking building and there is a nice greenery canopied walkway. Ah, this is more like it. Enter through the castle gateway type doors into an impressive lobby leading to a very cool looking dining room, which leads to the expansive garden area. Great vibe indeed.
Our reserved private group tour started exactly at the appointed time (call ahead for details). It was led by a knowledgeable and perky young lass that hearkened to my favorite Jungle Cruise guides. That is to say, she stuck to her script complete with pauses for the expected laughs and hoped for comments/questions. But I liked her, as she worked us with great confidence.
After the 30 minute tour we were led to the bar within the gift shop. Drinking and souvenir shopping, sure beats your normal museum/tour gift shopping eh? They bless everyone with 4 4oz pours including the fantastic Smoked Porter. Yum damn Yum. It is all very relaxed with no pleadings to buy stuff or join any beer clubs as in wine country tours.
The garden bar beckoned us for an after round as it was a perfect day to enjoy "Jungle Cruise South." Wheres the gondolas?
We heeded previous advice and Yelp reviews and avoided the oft reported mediocre over priced food, but did order their homemade pretzels. Really? $9 for three leetle guys. Really? Thankfully we skipped a full lunch here. I guess the Disney likeness doesn't end at the Jungle Cruiseness, it also extends to the food prices.
But you know what? Even with the aforementioned bitches this is a visit I would highly recommend. Just eat before. -
Review from Stephen S.
San Francisco, CA
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was at this place for an hour and a half before I even was able to get a beer in hand. First stop on the trip was waiting in line for tickets for the brewery tour. I knew that they don't hand out many tickets so I was worried about getting in but what I didn't realize looking at the line is that right before they hand out tickets, everyone and their mom comes over from the bar and the line grows exponentially. If it had been that large when I started waiting I would have realized it was a hopeless endeavor. Make sure to show up well early if you want to see the tour.
So then I wait for a table, which takes quite some time, and when we finally get seated our waitress takes forever to come see us. Next, she doesn't know much about beer, which is unfortunate for someone working at a brewery so I end up ordering mostly beers I know. I expect much more out of a brewery but I suppose that their beers are aptly named. -
Review from Evan L.
12/26/2011 Seated via OpenTable 2 Check-ins Here
Hello my name is Evan and I'm an alcoholic.
Now that we've covered the basic Yelp formalities I can tell you about the bistro at the Stone Brewery. Yes, there is an extensive (and eclectic) beer selection. Rotating taps that -- with the exception of the Stone offerings -- seem to change regularly. Bottles from all over the world at fair prices (yes, even the $50+ bottles are fairly priced considering their scarcity). But, this being a bistro, proper attention should be paid to the menu.
Most of it is good! I appreciate the dedication to locally-sourced ingredients as well as the incorporation of beer into many of the dishes. The Spud Buds with Smoked Porter BBQ sauce are a must. The ceviche is fine, the beer mac and cheese is a hedonistic treat, the patty melt is the best kind of calorie bomb, and most of the sides are paired well. If there's a complaint to be made about anything on the menu it's in the heaviness of some of the dishes. Granted, whether or not you eat everything that is served to you is entirely up to you, you can easily stop yourself from eating your way into a food coma. I, unfortunately, never remember this helpful tip, so I always leave feeling like I've squeezed two weeks-worth of calories into one meal. Also, I want a better burger option than the too-lean, always dry buffalo burger or a tempeh burger.
My advice? Show up in the middle of the day, take a tour of the brewery, sample a few of the beers afterwards so you can get a little buzz going, THEN hit the bistro. Afterwards you can walk through the gardens and feel like you've attempted to exercise while you sober up.
Better yet, do what I do, make your friend(s) drive so you can get hammered and sleep on the drive home. -
Review from John M.
12/29/2011
Stone... how I miss thee! I really only started to appreciate Stone's beer in the last 2 years I lived in San Diego (7 total). However, I have come to love it. Fortunately, my wife's family still lives there, so I do get to make an "annual pilgrimage" back to the Stone Brewing Company. Aside from delicious beer, the food at the bistro at Stone is fantastic. Almost all is local and organically grown. I have yet to have anything bad there. The gardens are cool to walk around on a sunny day with your favorite glass of Stone beer. I'm two months away and counting down the days to our next trip back to the sunny coast and a visit to Stone. Fortunately, they sell many of their beers here in Cincinnati.
Anyway, if you live anywhere near and haven't gone; what are you waiting for? -
Review from Tiffany S.
Santa Cruz, CA
1/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
we were waiting for our beer tour to start and decided to grab a bite here.
my boyfriend and I shared their prime rib melt ($15) since we didn't want to get too full before the beer tour, and it was super delicious.
A lot of the food listed on the menu seemed to be way over priced, but after eating the prime rib melt, I felt that it was well worth the money. The tender slices of beef were stackeeed, and there was a lot of flavor in every bite.
The decor and layout of the place was really nice. There's a small garden, which you can take a stroll and enjoy yourself before heading to the tour.
