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Categories: Restaurants, Pubs
Neighborhood: North ParkTue-Wed. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Sun. 3:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
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Ritual just made me very, very sad to not live in San Diego. Hand drawn beer taps, are you serious? The mussels satisfied my mollusk craving, but left a little to be desired. The broth was weak but the mussels were fresh. The onion rings and fries really hit the spot though.
The atmosphere is almost like a German gasthaus what with the dark wood and animal heads mounted on the wall. Like a gasthaus too, it's so cozy you might want to curl up with your beer and stay there all night.
What you see outside is on that corner is that - Ritual is small and cozy with an appeal of old world traditions where dark, thick and solid woods and shades prevail over new world shine, modern metals and colors.
If you have a party of friends, going to Ritual won't accommodate your needs easily. Small groups of four (4) are better served at this restaurant. I'm sure more can be accommodated, but you should work with that staff - in all fairness. The staff was very accommodating and attentive making note that it really doesn't matter where you sit. They'll find you and they were certain of it. We sat outside since it was available versus waiting for a table inside. At this time of the year, sitting outside in the mild Fall chill on the patio can be challenging for some, but it's easy to see that it can be a nice summertime venue with a view of the street corner of Polk and 30th.
Of the beer and dinner menu, I had the Fullers London Porter with the Fish and Chips for dinner. The fish being a lightly battered catfish (which I think is mostly looked aside because of its infamous reputation for being a bottom dweller) but it is tasty with house cut/shoestring-like fries. Having a porter with fish and chips is very old world with a new world twist of catfish instead of cod, haddock, or flounder.
The onion rings as a side for us to share weren't overbearing since the onions weren't drowned in batter. While gumbo is an American invention, Ritual's gumbo (Chicken, shrimp, andouille sausage and wild rice) for the galpal was far better than I expected but a smaller portion than I had anticipated.
If I lived closer, I'd make it a ritual to visit this tavern more often.
After driving up and down 30th, around Lincoln and Ohio I finally found parking only a block away.
A couple friends were there already and got a table for 4, and there would be more of us as the night progressed. We put in our name down for a table and waited, one of the guys gave us the drink menu and we made our way to the bar.
Holy Schmoly 2 minutes until Happy Hour was over, only the draught beers were on the happy hour drink menu, excluding a select few. $3.50 is not bad.
However, I ordered an Ace Apple Honey Cider which was $4.25, and that was not bad either.
After a couple sips of our beers we asked the hostess if we could sit out in the patio, which was totally fine. We thought the other peeps who were also joining us would want to sit outside with us, but they decided to stay inside since it was chilly outside.
After a day of dim sum and a family party I wasn't too hungry. Onion rings were ordered to share, ale battered and served with their house remoulade...zomg delicious. Gumbo and Fish N Chaps were ordered as well. The bread that came with the gumbo was good and so were the shoe string fries(chaps) in the fish n chaps. The fish was catfish and was soft and cooked very well.
Anyways, the waiter brought out a bunch of condiments, binegAR. marinara sauce which was pretty gewd with the onion rings as well.
The service was superb and so was dinner. Despite being secluded from the rest of the diners they did not fail to deliver and we had a view of the kitchen. The seating inside is very intimate and fancy, but a casual fancy.
Would return...most definitely.
Great place.
It's small and dark, like any appropriate tavern, where the shadows make your date look better than you remember. /boner
We're there for dinner and as we wait for an inside table, the hostess informs us that we can sit anywhere for food service. Sweet. Let's take over that patio. The outside patio tables are small, just big enough to hold your plate of food and your beer, and large enough to take care of business. /thatswhatshesaid
I'm wearing a tightfitting dress and as a general girl rule, you should NOT pigout if you're planning to sport a sexy dress. But HOTDAMN, my gumbo plate was ridiculously delicious. I ate more than I should've and I had to suck my gut in for the rest of the night. /fail ;(
I'm definately a fan of the Ritual, but next time I'll be wearing my baggy pigout pants. /rawr
Beer on tap, yay.
I live walking distance, and saw some good reviews from some folks I met on here recently, so I decided to give it a try.
I've never had Shepard's pie before. It was fairly good, really really piping hot. If the weather here were ever cool enough, it would hit the spot real nice in a sort of, uh, New York blizzard kind of way.
Meat was plentiful and tender. Not that much the fan of the texture on the green beans in it though.
My only gripe with this place is that it was expensive, or at least moreso than I expected from a glance. Maybe I'm just complaining.
I'd definitely try again for the fish and chips that people were talking about though :D
Cool little pub/restaurant the we found via Yelpin'. Great beers on tap and the pints were only $3.50 all night until closing (on Sundays). I got an Alpine Nelson Rye-PA. Tasty. And an Alesmith Lil' Devil, which is a Belgian style ale. The price was certainly right for such quality brews.
The dining room at The Ritual Tavern is small but cozy. The hostess was friendly and got us going right away with our drink order. For dinner, I ordered the gumbo and Girlfriend went with the burger. Both were served promptly and came with an array of homemade condiments. The catsup, hot sauce and mustard were all exceptionally tasty.
Both entrees were delicious. Girlfriend's burger was juicy and served on an artisan roll. My gumbo was quite good and came with some toasted sourdough.
We both had room for dessert and I opted for the Stone Smoke Porter Shake. Now, I just had a Stone Smoked Porter Float at the Stone Brewery. This shake was even better. Smooth and creamy with chocolate shavings on top. Girlfriend got the peach bread pudding. She said it was yummy.
The only problem we had was finding a place to park. I can imagine it must be a real hassle on a busy night, but I'm not complaining. All in all, I'd say we had an exceedingly fine meal at The Ritual Tavern. Good food, pleasant atmosphere and excellent micro-brews on tap. That's all I need for a good time--as long as Girlfriend likes it, too, and she did!
Found this place earlier this year and my boyfriend and I come back at least once a month or so due to the fact that it's one of the few places that he can eat AND drink beer (he has various food allergies most notably a gluten intolerance). It's refreshing to have a place like this, where good local food is more important that a trendy atmosphere. We almost always bring friends from out of town here, and they always love it too.
My boyfriend always gets the Greens beer, charcuterie appetizer, and regular shepard's pie (all gluten free and all delicious!) I vary it up depending on what the specials are and what I feel like - I've tried almost everything on the menu - the gumbo & shepard's pie are regular favorites, and I've have the duck confit, oysters and sweet potato fries when they have them. YUM :) Oh, and their creme brulee is the best that I've ever had anywhere and try to fit it in when I'm feeling very hungry :)
(P.S. Just to prepare you - the decor is very old fashioned pub type, with taxidermy & old photos on the wall and such. I know this isn't everyone's thing, which is why I thought I'd note it. However, I love that type of stuff - very cozy - so I obviously don't mind it :))
Not a whole lot of choices for a vegetarian. The shepard's pie sounded promising as it always does, and it didn't fail to disappoint as it always does.
I do appreciate the commitment to local and sustainably grown foods from Ritual though.
The fried vegetable appateaser with housemade ketchup was pretty freaking good. My wife really enjoyed it so I'll probably give it a second chance.
The first time my fiance looked up Ritual Tavern and suggested that we go there, I refused. I was looking for somewhere to sit down and eat a meal, not fight rowdy co-ed types one too many beers over politeness and respect for personal space. I also didn't want to be standing around camping out for a seat just so I could be comfortable. However, after reading somewhere that I ought to try their burger, I thought- well, why not. I can deal with a "tavern" for one night.
And a "tavern" this place is NOT. What a misnomer! I thought this was a pleasant surprise, but I can tell that some people were disappointed about the lack of tavern-ness. We were escorted inside to a dining area separate from the bar, where there were tables with tablecloths (albeit vinyl) and cloth napkins. And the printed paper menus that are so in vogue now plus blurbs on the back of the menu about the local farms that they get their products from. (Think The Linkery or Stone's)
I ordered the burger, since that I was there to check out. It was DE-LI-CIOUS! There was something so nice and homey about it- maybe the roll it was served on or the flavor of the beef, which was entirely the star of my burger- fresh and not overly spiced or oversalted.
Unfortunately, I have to say that I've been on a bad burger run lately. The last time I was at Rocky's I had a renegade hair. And then this time around I found a piece of paper (wtf?!?!) in my burger next to the lettuce. Of course, when I pointed it out, they were extremely apologetic and offered me another burger, which I refused. (I was already more than halfway through this huge burger- no way I could have eaten another!!) My burger was comped, and I'm still giving this place 4 stars, if that's any message to ya'll about how much I liked this place!
Oh, and I loved their homemade condiments. Yumyumyum!
Well I will definitely be back soon!
So i've been here about 3 times and every time its been great. This time i'll start with pros.
1. The food is delicious, organic and most is grown locally. The homemade ketchup is sooo good. Desserts are ever changing, but they have had some good ones. You can just tell that the food is fresh.
2. Beer-great selection and often have new or local beers on tap.
3. Everyone is really nice and laid back. Its a very quaint place, a good place to go with your spouse or with a small group of friends who just want some good conversation over food and beer.
Heres the things I personally don't like.
1. I feel like the past 3 times Ive gone, the same food is being served. Now the food is good, but theres not quite enough selection yet to eat there over and over again.
2. The area around the tavern is dark and kinda scarry. Go with friends just in case. Its just bad lighting around it really.
3. Most the servers are great and I love the lad back atmosphere, but sometimes its been a little too laid back when they have forgotton about something or missed something. This has happened every time ive gone.
4. seating is scarce. Dont expect to bring your wedding party or family of 6 here to eat and be seated easily. Usually the tables barely accommodate 3-4 at the most. Space is tight.
NOW: dont let the negative reviews scare you. Its worth trying and maybe even going back more. Its a quiet little place with fresh tasty food. My goal is to take everyone I know there at least once.
I am surprised that The Ritual is not more crowded, we've had really good food each time we've been there.
They have a great beer selection and prices for drinks were not bad at all.
My wife loves the Portobello mushroom burger & I am fond of the beef burger they serve. Deep fried veggies are a must! Especially with one of the many micro brews they offer.
The staff has always been friendly and attentive during our visits.
Parking can be an issue on the weekends. The patio furniture is a bit dated, and it can be a little cramped eating inside.
I love this place for the bar and patio areas. Megan is an awesome bartender, and remembers me, my friends, and what we like to drink. As far as food goes, the specials are where it's at. The regular menu items are good, but the specials really stand out.
I also like that I can eat either healthy or grease soaked pub food, depending on my mood. For the healthy fare, the mixed green salad is very good. Lightly dressed, and featuring plenty of local fruits and veggies. Favorite soup is the roasted red pepper & tomato. It's totally the opposite of what I expected/have had before. This soup has a strong red pepper flavor, with just a hint of tomato. Yum! Salad & soup, with a happy hour Belgian beer at the bar for dinner makes me very happy.
Desserts are *very* good. Strawberry shortbread is rich and delicious. It should probably be shared, but I've been known to eat a whole one myself. Smoked Porter shake is super tasty, as are the creme brules.
In short, this is a great place to grab a beer or some tasty grub, and I love that so much of the food and drinks are locally sourced.
I have been to Ritual Tavern more than a dozen times this past year. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and always willing to share recommendations on new beers. Speaking of the beers they are brill!There is an ever changing array to choose from and if they are running flights it is a wonderful way to try some strange. As to the food I have never been disappointed in what ever I picked. It is always fresh, full of flavor with obviously made with care . The pulled pork special is tender and well spiced. Oysters (Thurs) are fresh and succulent with wonderful dipping sauces. Gumbo, burgers, Jidori chicken are all excellent. Ritual is my favorite way to spend an evening in North Park.
Mike, Stacey and Nick are what make this place! PERIOD!!! Well, everyone there is phenomenal but the lengths that those three went to to make our night special will never, ever be forgotten! They set up the back room for ten people for a very private/intimate party we were having and I can't imagine it being any better!
Their food is always phenomenal, their beer list is top notch and the overall atmosphere is A+++++!
Ritual will always have a special place in my heart!
Yummy! Yummy! Yummy! We have been eating here since they opened and I love it! Atmosphere is… Read more »
Wonderful little neighborhood restaurant/bar in North Park. Great happy hour prices on outstanding brews! Attentive wait staff in a small intimate setting. Nice outside seating area for both dinner or just cocktails. Parking in this area can be a bit of a pain.
Ritual Tavern. Not sure about the tavernocity, but the ritual part they have. After being here once, I would be happy to make it a starter in the rotation.
Firstly, you know a place has my love when they acknowledge the vegan diet as part of regular society. We do not always need to be in the back of the culinary bus, and while we do like our secret society establishments, it is always nice to have a place where you can bridge the gap between yourself and your SAD (standard american diet) cohorts.
Then, when the place actually serves up quality food that is not just iceberg lettuce with a side of contempt, I start to ode rhapsodic.
I had the portobello sandwich, and the thing was massive (as in, I-can-eat-like-Joey-Chestnut-and-I-still-could-not -finish). A load of thick sliced, balsamic marinated mushrooms, caramelized onions and greens on hearty bread. It was very tasty, and I always appreciate when mushrooms -esp. portobellos- are truly cooked. My one complaint would be that the oil was a bit much, as I do not care for oil-dressed things.
Okay, second complaint, I got sauteed veg as a substitute for the house frites instead of steamed as I asked, so again, there was unwanted oil, but at least they were sauteed properly and not soggy with oil and brutal overcooking.
Alternatively, I am witness that fat fans can get a good fish n chips plate -with a LOT of chips.
Plus, house made condiments and Stone Brewing Co. beers? Two more stars just for that!
-And, my fellow vegetarians, I enquired, and they can do the house signature Smoked Porter shake with dairy free ice cream. If I can hold myself to only eating half of my plate, you know where my calorie allotment will be next time.
Because, there WILL be a next time. It is my new Ritual, after all...
OK, so I had a really bad experience at The Ritual. I realize that it might not be the norm, but it was what it was. Our waiter was very strange (he never made eye contact) and refused to take our food order with our drink order. We came for the mussels, which they were out of. They were also out of the second appetizer we asked for. It was early on a Saturday night, which seemed early to run out of stuff. We ordered the cheese board, which came with the rind ends of the cheeses (not the kind that supposed to come that way). My friend ordered a side of mashed potatoes which were totally flavorless. I described them as powdered cardboard with milk; they didn't even salt them. Overall, our service was really odd and the food was mediocre and overpriced. I doubt I'll give it another chance.
Beer beer beer beer beer. I don't know what I can say about this place that hasn't already been said. Clearly everyone likes the beer. It is a pretty extensive beer menu. I'm kind of picky about my beer because most beers dry out my mouth and want to make me vomit, but I gotta say they have some pretty tasty blonde belgian beers. Yum!
I don't know if it's because of the strong Belgian beer working its magic, but I think the food is pretty tasty. I'm pretty enamored with their burgers and I love love love how their ingredients are either made in house or are local and fresh. It's nice to know that my little cow burger didn't have to travel too far in order to make its way to my greedy mouth. (Please do not be offended vegetarians, specifically my husband). I'm so into the ketchup and I think their hot sauce is pretty good too.
Big thumbs up over here. Oh, and I like the bar area. Wood paneling if I'm not mistaken? Or maybe that's the Belgian beer talking again.
Very very over-rated.
In particular...
1) The food lacks any real flavor... the $11 burger is "whatever," fries are served room temperature, portabello mushroom sandwich equally lackluster. I did like the homemade ketchup though.
2) Definitely over-priced
3) I don't see how this place calls itself a "tavern." A tavern to me should have a casual pub-like atmosphere where prim, proper table manners and keeping voices to a minimum is not a must. Having a list of $11-$17 bottled beers does not automatically make you a tavern. I've never heard of a tavern that sells oysters! While admittedly the outdoor area and immediate seating at the bar is more casual, the dining area in the back is anything but.
This was a great place. Went there on a Saturday Night and had no problem with seating, but they were not empty, so that was good- and it was just 2 of us. The waiter was very prompt and knowledgeable of the menu and had good recommendations. This good service continued throughout our evening until we left.
The food was very good. The only caveat I had was on the portion size of my meal (I had the duck pot pie) but I cannot hold it against them as I was warned actually 3 times that it was small and probably not an entree. Yet, I found the size (while being warned) almost an insult to anyone. 1/4 inch to a 12 inch thick with the dough topping, I do not believe something like this should be on any menu. I cannot knock them for taste of anything on their menu, though.
It's a good place to go with one other person for a nice evening; romantic, quiet, good wine/beer list.
Porter shake: Stone Smoked Porter and vanilla ice cream all shaken up. It's delicious; in fact, I want to try it with a chocolate stout. I think I might enjoy that even more, forget the balance, I like the sweetness - next time.
Anyways, beyond the porter shake which comes highly recommended, this place is great. I'm sad it's taken me so long to come here. You have to love a place that has a drink menu twice the size of the food menu. The entree selections are short but quality.
Things to know:
-They make everything in-house including the condiments: ketchup, hot sauce, etc - they are so delicious too
-Draught beers are $3.50 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm
-Cozy atmosphere
-Onion rings and porter shake
-Friendly staff
-Cute patio to enjoy during spring/summer
-Live music
-Beer and wine only
I will be back for sure.
The Ritual is one of those places that stays under the radar. Driving past it on 30th St., you'd never really know what kind of restaurant exists inside. If your fancy is tickled, however, you would be delighted to find a casual environment, friendly service and amazing food.
The Ritual specializes in food only made from fresh, organic and non-commodity ingredients. Of the food I've eaten there, the best has been the hamburger: it simply tastes amazing, like a steak or a succulent cut of meat and not regular ground beef. It's served simply with tomato, lettuce and onions. They also provide homemade ketchup and mustard that goes great with, well, everything. The beer selection is great too and while it's not as extensive as what a place like Toronado has, they have a good range of beers from local and other small breweries.
If you want a cozy environment and great food in a unique eatery, I highly recommend The Ritual.
The Ritual has a concise, well put together menu. I went with Lety yesterday and we both got the burger. Both burgers were ordered cooked slightly differently which they managed flawlessly. The fries were amazing and give you an excuse to dip in to the spicy ketchup. They have a home made mustard that even I was impressed by, I'm not much of a mustard man. The pickles are made on site with their own recipe, delicious. The food has unique flavors and a character that comes not just from the people in the kitchen knowing what they are doing but loving what they are doing. That's what distinguishes this burger from the homogenous masses of generic meat sandwiches flying around all over SD.
They have a great selection of beers on tap and are happy to let you try as many as you like before you find the one you want to drink. The staff are polite and friendly, not in a kiss ass way, which I appreciate fully. The decor is great, the bar is small and cosy. I was sitting next to a couple that ordered the oysters and swordfish and another guy that ordered the gumbo. Everything looked and smelled delicious. I would've reached over to dip a scrap of bun in the gumbo but alas my plate was clean as a whistle.
Thanks Ritual, you'll see me again.
You'll be heading north on 30th, just past University, in that awkward transition from business to residential - that in this case includes adult video shops and laundromats - wondering out loud if you should just keep driving to Jayne's Gastropub. (Jayne's is fantastic, but we'll talk about that a little later.)
No, just pull over and park. Once inside The Ritual Tavern you will feel as though you've escaped North Park for a pub on some Emerald Isle.
The Ritual Tavern joins the growing movement of restaurants that strive to connect those who grow food with those who prepare and serve it, and their patrons. They largely succeed. The menu is spare but offers interesting choices to both vegetarians and omnivores. It is perhaps one step up from traditional pub fare in terms of preparation, presentation and taste - and done without without a lot of unnecessary fuss.
We tried the pork roast and the burger - both expertly prepared. Accents such as homemade ketchup, a spicy sauce and a nice selection of beer point to an attention to detail that is much very appreciated.
The scene on a Sunday night: locals at the bar (which looked like fun), and a few groups that seemed to appreciate the carefully prepared food. Aye, I'll be back!
Went here after over a year and wondered why I do not come here more often...
Ambiance was very happy and celebratory ....service was very attentive and patient with us even though we got a little rowdy after a few drinks, food was extremely fresh and of high quality. Love that it's organic food.
Highly recommended and BUY A BOTTLE OF HOMEMADE KETCHUP!!!! Best ketchup I've ever tasted!
If you like quality, organic food from local growers and friendly service, this is the place for… Read more »
If you think I am going to rate this place on food, you're mistaken. Sadly, most of my reviews involve the booze because I am a functioning alcoholic, apparently. Perhaps someday I'll try it, but for now, its the happy hour I like.
Three main things I like:
1. They have a small outside seating area that is dog friendly so bring your only true friend who doesn't judge you for drinking too much.
2. They supply dominoes and cards along with a couple other fun, but modest side entertainment. Wasn't expecting that!
3. They have good happy hour prices on some tasty beers. My three friends and I were pleasantly surprised with our bill at the end of happy hour (7:30). I don't recall when it begins...4 maybe?
I am sure my attention whore of a dog will make many new friends at this new drinking spot. I will, eventually, try the food so a follow up is bound to pop up somewhere.
I go here for the beer now...the Alesmith Lil Devil is one of my favorite brews around.
But I heard a disheartening thing the other day. My favorite chef is no longer working there. I have to reduce their review for a couple of reasons: a) Lety was one of the people who truly cared at this place. She cared about what went out to the dining room and cared about how it looked and tasted. I am concerned that without her there, the quality of the food coming out of the kitchen is going to be a shadow of its former self. b) The last time I was there, the service was kind of slow. I don't know if this means disorganization or worse, but I know a few people kind of walked out on the place after waiting a few minutes too much on a Saturday night. c) The desserts (which I am a big fan of) is pretty spotty. There are times when the desserts are on par with some of the better desserts in town, and others where it would have a hard time competing with Denny's or IHOP.
Again, I love the bar area and the attention to detail that they put into the beer selection. Not many restaurants (beer pubs, yes) actually have cask beer on a regular basis. The Ritual does.
The kitchen is where I am most concerned about. If they get a new chef who can match or top what Lety was doing in that kitchen then this place is on par with some of the better places in North Park. If not, I don't see how this place can compete on a street with Urban Solace and The Linkery as neighbors.
Good luck Lety, where ever you are now.
Awesome. Just awesome!
This is the type of business that good San Diegans need to support. They…
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Went here with my best girl on a date last Saturday night, and boy was that a good idea.
The specials sounded good, but the beer sounded better. The lady had Stone's smoked porter and I had 30th street ale (i think). Good stuff.
She got a portabello sandwich with fries, I got the burger, medium, with Cajun salt on my spuds.
Fantastic eats. The condiments - O! The condiments! - amazing, as other yelpers have described. In addition, I think this was the first time I have actually wanted to eat the lettuce and tomato on the burger (awesomely fresh produce).
I killed the burger in short order. It was so juicy my hands were soaking wet before I had eaten half of it. The date was kinda meh about her food, but the beer was just so good.
We each had a second, I switched to Trois Pistoles (excellent) and she got a La Fin du Monde.
All in all, recommended.
Amazing! Completely amazing!
I found this place on Yelp and it got great reviews and had a great menu so I decided to take my girlfriend out to dinner and give it a try. Before we got to Ritual we stopped off at another place (name not mentioned) and had a few beers (we are big fans of Belgium beers so the totals can run a little high). Out total at the the other place was almost as much as our total at Ritual and we had an appetizer, two entree's, and a couple of beers. Very well prized I thought.
Now as far as the food I was blown away. I expected it to be good but man it was REALLY good. We started off with the Cheese plate (which was phenomenal and went great with the beer!) and then dinner I had the All Natural Burger and my girlfriend had the Vegan Portobello Sandwich. Both were amazing.
I think we both loved the ketchup just as much as anything else. I love the fact that they make all of their own condiments. They are sooooo good! We couldn't stop talking about it. Even better they actually sell it too! Sweet!
When we left we were so full we walked around the block a couple times before we took off! We are definitely coming back and have told numerous people about it.
This is a tough one. I want to like this place. I really do. The problem is that I always end up feeling kind of uncomfortable and ripped off every time we go. For starters, the outside is really not very inviting. Had we not heard good things through the grapevine, we probably never would have gone in the 1st place. What could they do to fix it? I don't know.... Maybe a different paint color? Some more landscaping perhaps? Secondly, the deer head staring at you when you walk in the door is really not very appetizing. In fact, it's quite depressing. Other than that, I like the decor, but there is something odd about the quality of light in there. Maybe it's the green curtains?
I think my main problem with the food is that it's either vegan or meat. There's no in between. When they first opened, they had a veggie burger that was pretty good, and you could get a slice of cheddar cheese on that, but only if you specifically asked for it. Now it's either a vegan portabello sandwich (boring) or a vegan pot pie (okay, but kind of bland). My significant other says that the hamburgers are really good though. We got the cheese plate once, but like most cheese plates we get, it seemed like a teeny-tiny amount of cheese for what you pay. If I recall correctly, the accompaniments were odd too, like dried blueberries or something (not grapes or anything else refreshing to cleanse your palette.) As far as the desserts go, I think the descriptions were more interesting than the taste.
So....all in all....not a bad place, we'll probably go back again sometime, but definitely not one of my favorites.
Ok, I know this is a new trendy place for the beer afficiandos.
100's of ales and all.
This is a food review only.
After reading the reviews here and checking Ritual out on Facebook, I decided since St Paddys Day was near to give the place a try since they were advertising a Brisket, Cabbage, Potatoes, carrots dinner.
My hubby had the Shepard's Pie....I'll make it quick: he said it was crappy, liquidy beef stew with no taste.(I wondered why he put pepper and salt and finally the house hot sauce in his Shepard's Pie,,,,said it was bland.....and this is a man who was born BLAND, LOL) Only thing good was large chunks of beef every now and then...which after the now, there was only then,,,and mostly carrots. He said The Field's Shepard's pie is better.
On to the BRISKET: sliced thin like thin bacon,,,,first two *strips* were dry and way overdown,,,,,think very dark brown here,,,,,and TOUGH.
Rest of the *strips* were nothing but fat. Nothing like taking a bite of rubbery, gooey fat, after stretching it with my fork and knife like a tug of war on my plate.
Now, I'm no expert, but my brisket at home, I boil and simmer for at least 2-3 hours, add cabbage(REAL CABBAGE, not that Bok Choy I had), carrot and potatoes and the meat barley needs a knife, and it juicy as hell. And, I trim off the fat BEFORE serving. The fat is only there to season and keep the meat from drying out as I cook it.
Ritual: I suggest either getting an Englishman in your kitchen or stick with basic *Pub Grub*, like Fish n Chips(which I saw a lot of orders for,,,,,,,should have taken the hint); no one can fuck that up,,,,,,,,or can they????
Out on a Bender, my crew rolled into the Ritual Tavern. I'd seen this place in the works for a while and now wish I'd kept more up to date on it. Because this place kicks ass!!
There is beer and then everything else. A for realsies, no dealsies, classic tavern. The menu offers a hearty selection of local brews, wines and fine cuisine. Mussels in white wine broth with shallots, parsley, and garlic was awesome. Great for dipping the bread! As well, the local beer battered onion rings were tasty to the last bit. I tried the special holiday brew and I'd go back for seconds, probably thirds.
Olde and classy, I felt as though I were missing my monocle.
Been here for the bar and apps (great beer and onion rings as everyone agrees on yelp), so I wanted to come for dinner with a girlfriend.
Warm, inviting, and cozy place. Dinner was just... okay. We had a nice bottle of sauvignon blanc, the cheese plate to start and split the shepherd's pie which turned out to be watery and bland. There was a pool of broth at the bottom of the bowl.
Quiet (but not too quiet that you think everyone is listening to your conversation) atmosphere to catch up with an old friend, good non-intrusive service, but we were definitely not raving about the food.
Maybe I'll just stick to the bar next time... if there is one.
I'd heard good things, but not being able to afford pricey places very often, I'd not taken the opportunity to go. I have to say I wasn't wowed. The decor is odd--vinyl tablecloths?--and the music was wretched. Seriously, an hour and a half of Steely Dan?!? There wasn't much on the menu that was appealing--sort of half-assed British Pub fare, but nothing too exciting. We got the special appetizer, heirloom tomatoes with goat cheese and basil. When it came out on its tiny plate, I couldn't tell where the cheese was--until I realized that the light dusting of white stuff on the tomato WAS the goat cheese. Disappointing. I also expected more draft beer. Lest I sound like a huge downer, the bread pudding and gelato for dessert was very good. Next time I feel like a night out, this won't be on my list.
went there for a dinner. European-like pub. Nice decoration and ambiance. The servers are nice and attentive. I ordered a French onion soup and portobello mushroom sandwich. The mushroom is exceptionally tender and juicy. glad to know that they purchased from local farms and food is organic. Veggie dishes selection is impressive.
After reading the reviews from others here, I'll definitely get a beer for my next visit.
Will go again? YES!
Attended an event dinner, Beer & Food pairing "prix fix" (set price/pre-planned food menu) at a North Park restaurant last night. The food & entertainment was wonderful. But the 5 star rating comes from the extraordinary service that I received. When I made the reservation the day before I explained that I have Celiac Disease and cannot consume Gluten or Dairy. Since their menu was already set for the night, my question was could I just order off their regular menu instead, but still pay the set fee. Well they did 1 better than that ... actually several points better. They modified each of the same foods listed on the menu to accommodate me specifically. They also switched the beer pairings for wine, since I cannot consume beer. Several different staff members served each course that night, yet each was aware of my special dietary needs and checked in to be sure I was happy. It's one thing to have a chef modify a dish at a restaurant (no melted cheese on top, no croutons, etc) but to have an entire 4-course meal, with 8-10 items each personally modified for me was beyond my wildest expectations. They did it happily, with class, concern, and courtesy. For ANYONE with Celiac Disease, you need to patronize this establishment. They already have a regular menu with various Gluten-Free choices ... and if you have even one-fifth of the experience I had, you'll be back. As will I!!!!
This is quickly becoming one of my new favorite neighborhood spots.
Unique pub-fare-with-a-conscience as most of the ingredients are locally grown ("local" is the new "organic", dont'cha know). The ketchup and mustard are each great and are housemade! (That's right, I just raved about condiments, but there really hasn't been much innovation here well, since, the first 56 varieties were introduced.)
As an a-quadro-pedi-tarian (I don't eat anything that walks on four legs), I find the menu to be a bit limited, but it's still got some good items for me to enjoy (the portobello mushroom sandwich, onion rings are both noteworthy and tasty!) Sorry I can't review the beef, but I bet some other reviewers have that well-covered.
Overall it's a smidge pricey but well worth a visit, espeically with happy hour specials on their unique selection of mostly local draft brews from 5:30 to 7:30pm.
One small nit: the cheese board wasn't that great; one of the cheeses they served on a particular visit had fennel or something, not good. And it seemed smallish portions of each cheese. However the server brought us some extra bread which was great, so that made up for it.
Great outdoor patio, dog friendly, knowledgeable and friendly (but not overbearing) staff.
Make it part of your weekly ritual! (Sorry, couldn't resist, you may throw your locally grown tomatoes now).
Its funny when you go to a new place. Depending on how that experience goes, you just can't wait to run home and dive onto the computer to YELP it out! This experience had so many memorable things, I just couldn't wait to get it down.
First impressions:
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We went over tonight at about 7:00pm. It was dark and a teeny bit foggy ...we nearly rode by it. Its on the east side of 30th, just north of Lincoln. The logo/mark for the restaurant is reminiscent of something you'd see for a tattoo parlor... there is seating outside and they have heating lamps if you're so inclined. When you walk in the door, you walk into a foyer that reminds you of a very homey pub in London. I had such a positive first impression of this place. The word I'd use to describe my initial impression when we walked in is 'Cozy'. We actually took off our jackets. You just wondered where the fireplace was with the dog laying on the floor and the hot cocoa in toasty steaming mug. It was very warm and inviting and their theme of a British pub was working for them big time
Staff:
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Our waiter Nick, was so friendly and gave great service. He was a bit theatrical in his movements so it sort of felt like dinner theater It was pretty entertaining. Sort of Shakespearean! By the end of the evening we were calling him 'Hamlet'.
The Beer Menu:
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Wow, great menu. It was a little hard to read because there was a lot on the menu and it was a little crammed together. It was interesting to see the selection and the locations where the beers originated. We ordered the Mission Blonde and the Winter Coronado. Both were perfect for our dinner choices.
Dinner:
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We ordered the burger and the fish and chips. Both were absolutely excellent!! And who makes condiments anymore?? These folks make their own mustard, ketchup, the hot sauce and this wonderful cajun flavored roumelaude (sp?). My burger was perfectly cooked and presented. The bottom bun got a little soggy but that didn't bother me. The flavor of everything was delicious! The Catfish was some version of the fish that didn't have a strong catfishy flavor. The batter was delicious and it was cooked to perfection.
Dessert:
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Sometimes a moment of hilarity can capture you in a public place that just makes it harder for you to get it together. We had one such event occur this evening.
We ordered the 'Beer Cheesecake'. I started taking bites from the point going toward the back. She started at the back. The first thing I noticed was the very yummy sugar cookie crust on the bottom! Very yummy! The texture of this and the slight beer taste was great. From the back, she took a bite, then another... and just continued to take small bites but was having a hard time agreeing with me in my assessment of this yummy dessert. So I'm thinking, she just doesn't like it...not that we're having two totally different taste experiences with this dessert!! So finally, she says ...try a bite from the back. I tasted it and as I was noticing the VERY different and displeasing taste of the rear of the cheesecake and beginning to formulate my thought on it, she says -- yeah "see I told you! It tastes funny --- It tastes like 'BUTT'"...
OMG I lost it and could barely get it together for 10 minutes..I can't think of the last time I laughed that hard.
There was something very off about the rear of this cheesecake. That part that rests up against the pan when its cooking and get that slightly different texture and flavor from the rest of the cheesecake. It was downright nasty. I laughed so freggin hard I nearly peed my pants. My face was covered in tears...and I was grabbing my stomach....the laughing and inability to breathe seemed to go on for ever...
I'm sure if we had told Nick, he would have swooped his cape, raised his hand and sailed off into the kitchen to save us from the offending tail end of this dessert. We just decided to eat it up to that last bit before the 'Butt'...and left the 'butt' part there.
Besides the 'Butt' on that cheesecake my only other gripe is my little nit and one I find myself encountering in many restaurants...I hate it when I pick up a ketchup bottle, the malt vinegar or any other such condiment and the bottle feels slimy and nasty. It doesn't actually have the contents on the outside, it just feels like a billion people have had their nasty hands all over it...and for a minute I'm completely grossed out and cease to use that hand to eat with directly...it only gets to hold the fork... yeah we all have our crap...that's mine.
Hey, enjoy this one. The food was great...stay away from the 'butt' of the cheesecake and enjoy the wonderful and entertaining service. I'd definitely go back to this place and bring friends! This is the type of place where you go a few times and everyone would probably know your name. Very neighborhood feeling!
It's often said that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Any woman who can put a meal together like the folks at Ritual can will be greeted by a wedding proposal from yours truly.
My dinner companion and I came by here today after comparably rough days. We had both been meaning to try this place out, as it's close to our respective neighborhoods, but today just happened to be the day it happened.
I was far from prepared for the experience I was about to partake in.
For starters, we were greeted with a carefully curated beer selection. It's top-notch and can go up against any of the beer bars around town. Of course, Chimay Tripel was present as well as a few rare specimens I had to indulge in.
We decided on splitting the cheese board, which came with three kinds of artisan cheeses, almonds, dried cherries and herbed goat cheese. Everything on the plate complemented each other and would make for a great snack on its own w/our beers.
However, it was suggested that we try the pulled pork sandwich as it wasn't an everyday item. Our appetizers and alcohol had us in an indulging spirit, so we decided to split one.
The sandwich is easily shared between two people. The natural pork flavor and BBQ balanced each other perfectly. The fries were seasoned and cooked just right. The cole slaw that came with was great, too (hint: adding some of the slaw to the sandwich makes for a great combo).
We were then asked if dessert was in order. We looked down at the menu and spotted "beer cheesecake". We had to see what this was all about.
The cake, paired with the raspberry lambic beer, made for one of the best desserts I've had in a long time. Everything about the cake was executed perfectly. It even had a slight "pan de leche" hint to it. My reaction went something like Cookie Monster dropping an F-bomb. Kinda like this: http://www.youtube.com...
Oh, my opening line about the way to a man's heart being through his stomach? I was not kidding. I proposed to the chef as we said goodbye. She told me to "give her a couple of months and we'll see".
As an aside, the staff here is great. Well-informed, friendly and courteous. For what you're paying, you are getting food & drink worth every penny.
In short, I may have found a new culinary obsession in Ritual Tavern. This restaurant has officially made its way into my regular dining rotation.
What sets the food at Ritual Tavern apart from its (so-called) North Park competition is that it's prepared with thought and consideration; the result are balanced dishes that taste good. Period.
On thought, consideration and balance: It's fall, a season in the culinary world marked by slow cooked foods, a focus on one pot meals and roasted meats. Ritual's take? A pulled pork sandwich unlike any I've had. Rich shredded pork that needn't be cooked in its own fat to achieve a perfectly moist texture, I'm not sure what the hell the Chef did to this pig, but it was fantastic. The meat was combined with just the right amount of BBQ sauce and sweet caramelized onions. Atop an artisan roll that held up to the hearty pork and sauce, and at the same time allowed for toothsome bites, epitomizes what a good sandwich in every respect ought to be.
A side of carrot raisin slaw was fall and timely with a blend of spices, I'm guessing, of the nutmeg and cinnamon varieties. With just the right amount of mayo, crunchy fresh produce, all properly seasoned--a side dish that made you cringe as a kid is reinvented. The shoestring-esque fries were crisp and seasoned with salt and black pepper, that's it.
The beer selection at Ritual will get an adventurer like myself into trouble fast. There were so many Belgians, Triples, and local varieties, not to mention the on-tap local craft beer selection. Even though it may be fall, I appreciate that I could still order a Saison here; I went with the San Diego Brew to start, which was yeasty, fruity and refreshing, great with the artisan cheese plate.
With dinner I upped my ante and tried Stone Brewery's latest--an attempt at a Belgian style. Only a couple weeks after its first production, I felt privileged to imbibe on a newly crafted micro in this cool little tavern, just three blocks from my home.
Clearly my dinner date and I were so giddy from pork and beer, that when presented with the dessert option we were quick to say (almost in unison) 'We'll have the beer cheesecake!'
And of course, my favorite indulgence, the Lindemans Frambois Lambic, a raspberry beer so delicious I could drink it for breakfast alongside my Nutty Nuggets. We had no idea what to expect from a beer cheesecake, and as I've been so disappointed with beer as an ingredient in foods before, I must say I was blown away from the perfectly complimentary flavors in this dessert. The beer provided for a yeasty, nutty, caramelly backdrop to this dense New York style cake, Dulce de leche in flavor, thrown just a bit by the fruit reduction over the top.
Everything I judge a good meal by, I experienced tonight at Ritual. I was able to make out all flavors and ingredients of the seasonal menu as I dined; the food was hot, fresh and clearly created by someone who understands what it is to eat and enjoy.
50% Off All Drinks Every Day
Neighborhood: Gaslamp
Dinner For Two $35
Neighborhood: Gaslamp
Neighborhood: North Park
Category: Seafood
Neighborhood: South Park
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: North Park
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: North Park
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: North Park
Category: Pubs
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