Being new to north county, I was excited to read a rave review about this place....a local restaurant with a great wine list. Â My first trip was on a Friday night, and we were seated quickly on the patio. Â The live music was great, and our server was very friendly. Â I thought I had an arugala salad...maybe it's not on the menu anymore, or maybe it was a special. Â My dad had sushi rolls, and my boyfriend had a flatbread. Â Everyone liked their meals, so we stayed for dessert.
I came back for my birthday and had another good meal. Â After reading some yelp reviews, I kept an eye out for things being prepared in the microwave. Â Our food was not; I watched it come out of the kitchen. Â The servings are a little small, but very yummy...I will go back with my wine-o friends!
Went there last night with friends. Great food, great wine and entertainment. Staff was friendly and owner/manager James was very nice as usual. Nothing at all like what I read about on yelp. We come here about once a month since it opened and never have seen or heard anything bad. Sorry that lady had a bad experience.Great place!
Review Source:Just went here last night with a friend and it was AMAZING! I read some of the other reviews that weren't so hot and I have NOOOO idea what they are talking about. The owner was actually our server and he was extremely friendly and gracious, making us feel like we had been there a million times before. We ordered a bottle of Pinot at his recommendation- which was DELISH, the ahi, and a cheese plate. The food was great and very fresh. I was really blown away by the amazing service and great atmosphere. Will definitely be a regular here!
Review Source:I have to say...I feel sorry for the people who work here. They are all very friendly and inviting, however the owner of the restaurant is quite the opposite.
I came here about a week ago with some coworkers for our monthly happy hour. I actually suggested the place, even though the owner had been rude to my group before, becuase I thought I would give it another chance. We arrived and began sitting at the bar. I loved that we could watch the chef prepare everything, and he was so friendly and inviting, it was really nice. Then, our group grew so we moved to the corner of the restaurant. We were enjoying ourselves for some time, but then I got the feeling they were trying to get us out, so they could turn their tables. My first clue is when the waitress took away food we weren't even done with yet, without asking.
Then, the waitress came by and told us we needed to go because some "regulars" reserved a table we were sitting at. She did not offer us another place to sit, she did not offer us any compensation for kicking us out, it was kind of blunt and rude.
We decided to speak to the owner to let him know that we thought this was a little rude and wished it would have been handled better. His response, "Arby's is right down the street." Really? So, a customer comes to you upset and you decide you should throw insults? Unbelieveable. It was so immature and childish. Honestly, if he would have apologized and offered to speak to his waitress, or even invited us back to a different table, that would have been kind, considerate, and great customer service. But suggesting a "fast food" place as some kind of insult, that's just ridiculous.
If you work here, I do feel sorry for you and hope you do well despite the ignorant, immature man that you have to work for.
Honestly, I hope after reading my review, you decide to support a business at restaurant row such as Sublime if you're looking for wine, or any other establishment who's owner deserves to have a profitable business. Stay away from Canape's.
A friend and I went here for dinner Wed. night. They had 1/2 price bottles of wine which was a great deal. I had the Osso Buffo ( cute name) and my friend had the pork. Both of us were pleased with our meal. Although a bit cold that night the outside fireplace looked very inviting. I do have to agree somewhat about the owner however, found him a bit intrusive. And was uncomfortable when he was bad mouthing previous owner. Other than that it was very enjoyable and will definitely give it another try.
Review Source:I really enjoyed stumbling across Canapes, as it is an excellent Happy Hour spot. Â I had a glass of Cabernet and the figs with goat cheese and honey as well as nibbled off my friend's cheese plate. Â
The wine was tasty and a generous pour for the $4 happy hour price. Â The figs were great and such a large portion for $3.50. Â My friend's cheese plate was massive and delicious. Â
Overall, we were very impressed by the price and quality of their Happy Hour menu. Â It is a great place to meet friends after work or before a movie and indulging while not breaking the bank.
Went to Canapes for a girls night out on a Tuesday night. Only a few other parties there, including another group of women for a book club.
We sat inside and it had a great vibe. It was dim and decorated for fall.
The food was great. The spinach artichoke was yummy (texture different from other restaurants), baguette with olive oil yummy (small but good). Flatbread was large and looked fresh. Prosciutto wrapped shrimp got rave reviews- as did the stuffed mushrooms (my friends ordered these). The caprese was good- although it took a rather long time to be served.
The prices were reasonable for this type of place- exactly what I expected.
We all loved Canapes food and would go back in a heartbeat. I hear that on Saturday they have live music. Definitely a must go during the week when it's not so crowded. Perfect place for book clubs or gals night out.
Convenient place to have a glass of wine and a cheese plate before seeing a movie next door. Â The happy hour menu is very limited. Stuffed mushrooms were marginal, but the cheese plate was good. Service was spotty and server was absent for so long that we ended up being late for the movie.
Review Source:Met here tonight with my mom and two of my sisters for a late birthday dinner for my mom. Â It had been recommended to her from her boss who had spoken highly of it. Â Hrmm, what can I say? Â
The waiter (didn't get his name, but he was really tall) was nice enough, and we soon realized he seemed so distracted was because it was only him and another waitress for the entire restaurant. Â We got there in ones and twos, which is very annoying for any waitperson, so I have to give him that. Â We were waiting on my sister who was stuck in traffic (and they had waited for me prior to this) so I know that it can be easy to lose track of tables like that. Â I commend the restaurant for even allowing us to sit without our entire party present. Â We inquired about the lettuce wraps and were told "I think we're out of lettuce .. . Â I know we were yesterday, but maybe we aren't, let me check". Â No problem, except we didn't hear an answer until we flagged him down, and were told they did have lettuce. Â Great. Â Put the order in, and out it came in perfect timing with sister's arrival. Â We had to ask twice for appetizer plates, but again, they were short-staffed so I don't hold grudges against anyone but possibly the manager that staffed them so short. Â My sister and I both had a glass of the Cedarbrook(?) house Chardonnay that was quite good, and was only $4, as Tuesdays they have HH prices all day on house wines.
Then. . . the food. Â My sister and I shared a flatbread pizza (Margarita) and the Caesar salad. Â My mom ordered the Arugula salad with seared Ahi added, and my picky little sister who hated the menu ordered the Mac N Cheese. Â My mom's salad was at least green, but had CANNED beets on it (EW!), and about two pieces of cheese on it. Â For someone who previously owned a restaurant. . . she was less than impressed. Â The tuna was decent, and there were 4 slices (at $6.50) of it.
The Mac N Cheese was okay. Â It had potential, and I enjoyed my few stolen bites until I tasted Bacon Bits. Â Not impressed.
Our salad was absolutely pathetic. Â When it came out, we (all four) actually started laughing. Â It was so yellow it looked like we had ordered the core of a head of Romaine. Â Our theory that we came up with was that they had found ONE head of Romaine lettuce in the kitchen and used all the big green outer pieces for the lettuce wraps, then cut up the core for the salad. Â The one good thing was that the Parmesan cheese was very tasty, and it was flaked, not shredded. Â THe dressing was good too. Â It had the potential of being good if the actual lettuce wasn't something usually thrown into a garbage disposal. Â I think the waiter was even embarrassed. Â I took a picture, but I might be too lazy to upload it, lol.
Our pizza was pretty okay. Â I like how they use a whole slice of tomato and a decent amount of mozzarella, but the crust was boring and there wasn't any 'sauce' to be distinguished. Â I'd eat it again. . . if it came in a box from my local Von's.
As far as the location, it's a great little spot! Â Quiet, secluded, lots of 50-ish women out for a light dinner. Â We sat on the patio and I never stepped inside. Â At one point there were two women that were seated behind us and the chairs wouldn't fit, so they ended up moving. Â Definitely a little too cramped. . . none of us were big women!
Overall, it wasn't terrible. Â Our bill was around $70, which I have no complaints about (even though my sisters left hungry, and I'm definitely glad I wasn't starving when I came in). Â It definitely had the feel of a place that is struggling. Â The overworked staff, the meager ingredients, the "we're out of that, sorry" conversations I overheard several times. . . .it seems like they are trying to cut any corner they can. Â I actually said I was going to write the management and give them a heads up, but then I read the other Yelp reviews, and the owner sounds like someone who thinks he knows way more than any stupid customer. Â Not a great way to think about your clientele. Â I don't think we'll be back, which is a bummer, because it's a cool spot and I meet my family on Restaurant Row about once a fortnight.
Came here with my sister for some pre-movie appetizers. Â After looking at the menu on-line we were so excited to sample small modern-themed bites in San Marcos. Â
We tried the Mac&Cheese, Stuffed Mushrooms, and California Flat-bread Pizza. Â As we tasted each item we hoped the next would be better and calorie-worthy. Â To our disappointment everything was below par!
Mac&Cheese was dry and lacked a cheese flavor. Â Stuffed Mushrooms looked burnt and tasted boring. Â The flat-bread pizza tasted like it was compiled of canned toppings and over-topped with frozen cheese.
I so hoped for this to be a fun go-to restaurant to frequent for drinks and appetizers. Â But the search goes on. Â Nice concept, but needs a huge improvement on the quality of food. Â We almost wished we had stayed home and made our own appetizers.
The only part we really enjoyed was sitting outdoors near the fire pit. Â Nice ambiance. Â Just wish the food went with it.
Went there on a Saturday early evening.The ambience is delightful outside,did not try inside.The owner/manager greeted us in very manner.We had a bottle of Californian wine & "canapes"delicious.Freshly prepared to order ,great tastes.
Will reccomend & make it a frequent "place"to enjoy!
Came here today with my mom for mothers day. It was pretty mediocre. Maybe it was an off day, but the place seemed disorganized. There were at least 3 different versions of the menu which we found to be confusing. The wine list was extensive and the beer selection was good, but overpriced. I did like that there were clever names for food; ie heart stopping risotto, roast of beast, devil in red. I give them points for personality.
The food though left something to be desired, at least for me. My dads soup was served lukewarm. it was tasty, but should have been hot. We ordered several tapas and a couple entrees. Most were bland. The presentation was nice, but the food was lacking for me.
I was really disappointed - I had been looking forward to trying this place since it opened, but for me it fell short. I definitely will be giving it another chance, but as first impressions go, it was a let down. Bummer.
Before you spend money at this place, be certain and scroll down the reviews until you get to the exchange between the  owner of Canapes and another patron. Speaks volumes.
This is the thing. For the price of the food, it is mediocre at best. It's just...ok. If this place was in Downtown SD, it would have been out of business in it's first week. No way can it run with the Big Dogs. Yet, it's menu pricing acts like it can. Sorry. Canapes has a long way to go. Too much competition in San Diego for me to spend money here again. But I guess if you live in the area and your choice is here or IHop - I don't know... personally I still wouldn't spend the money. I've given this restaurant way too many chances. FAIL. Here's a few places to try: 3rd Corner, Red Velvet Wine Bar, Wine Vault.
There are several good waiters there. I can't remember names, but one was very well versed in wine. And I think the wine list has much to be desired for someone that owned a wine shop. Really? Who would have known? Not by this list.
But ultimately, I found the owner of the place an insufferable ass. Not suited at all to a hospitality business.
Lived in Escondido for over 40 years and the wife & I finally ventured out to lunch with friends in San Marcos' Restaurant Row. Read some reviews of Canapes on the internet and found our way to this delightful venue. We can't believe what we have been missing. We were very pleasantly surprised with excellent food, delightful wine and impeccable service. Best of all, the price was right. If you don't find us at home, we are probably on our way back to Canapes. Owner/chef, James Allyn, can be justifiably proud of this restaurant.
Review Source:I have been here twice on dates with my boyfriend and enjoyed it both times. Â I was surprised to see that other reviews were not so good. The food portions may be small, however they are actually adequate servings for one person...no need to over indulge. Â I actually appreciate the smaller portion sizes because it forces you to eat slowly and enjoy the dining experience. Â Preston waited on us both times and he is definitely an excellent server. This place gives a 4 star dining experience with 2 star prices. Will surely return.
Review Source:Scrumptious mac&cheese, amazing happy hour prices..Only gripe is that it's literally only 1 hour.
Great wine, esp. for only $4 a glass.
Read my full review here:
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I came here back in November on a date night with my boyfriend and it was nicely decorated with a cozy Christmas feel. Â It's a rather small restaurant and it's best to go with a reservation to make sure you get seated as it was packed. Â We were seated promptly and ordered a ton of food (i.e., appetizers, bottle of wine, salad, entree, dessert). Â Unfortunately, even after eating as much as I had, I did not feel full despite ordering dessert. Â The food was good however, yet portions were small. Â We had a lovely time and service was fair. Â The server did not come to check on us as frequently as I would have liked but the night went by fairly smoothly. Â I was disappointed to read prior reviews on miscommunication between customers and the owner. Â I think this restaurant has a lot of potential.
Review Source:My friend and I decided to try something new on "Thanksgiving Eve". We were not disappointed with Canapes! It had an impressive wine list, a lot food choices, and our waiter was very attentive and friendly. We tried the proscuitto wrapped shrimp, spinach artichoke dip, steak canapes, the stuffed mushrooms, and the red velvet cake. The steak canapes and the red velvet cake were amazing. The rest of our food was also very good, though I wouldn't describe it as extraordinary. Overall, a great experience and priced reasonably. I will definitely go back there again.
Review Source:I've been meaning to visit James' new restaurant since it opened in Restaurant Row. Judging by how delightful (and addictive) his appetizers always tasted over at his North County Wine Company, I had a feeling that Canapés was going to be something special. Holy cow! I was right.
Let me start out by saying that the restaurant is simply beautiful. My dining partner and I opted to sit outside on the patio to take in the cool night air and listen to the live entertainment. Seated next to a water fountain, I was pleased to be serenaded by the sound of water trickling and the soothing voice of the singer being featured.
My night, however, truly began when my eye immediately honed in on the fact that Cakebread appeared on the extensive wine list. This is a wine that, sadly, does not appear on the lists of most restaurants. As soon as I saw it I knew I must have a bottle. This particular chardonnay is so fun: very fruity, but in a restrained and balanced way. I truly would have been a happy camper with just the bottle of wine alone, but the evening progressed with further culinary delights....
We started with the Double Crème Baked Brie and the Crab Roll. The brie was spread on several baked bread crisps, sprinkled with drunken raisins. Soooo good. In addition, we loved the Crab Roll. What distinguishes this roll from some of the standard sushi rolls is that it is wrapped in tapioca paper, instead of seaweed. The marriage between the tapioca paper and the crab filling was so delectable. Both starters seemed to work so well with the Cakebread, too.
I was intent on pairing the chard with something special on the menu. I chose the Scampi Classic and my BFF had the Ahi Tuna Tartare. The scampi was cooked in a lovely white wine and tomato-garlic-basil creme sauce, all over a bed of angel hair pasta. The pasta and shrimp were cooked perfectly for me. I'm not a fan of Ahi, but my friend advised me that it was really good.
To finish things off, we both decided to share a piece of the Devil in Red Cake. This is a sinful piece of red velvet cake smothered in a rich chocolate ganache. I've never had red velvet cake served like that before. Nevertheless, three minutes after it made its appearance at the table it had vanished.
John, our waiter, was so attentive! Checked in on us several times to ensure everything was perfect, a gesture that I, personally, really appreciate.
Now that I've been bitten by the Canapés bug, this may very well be my new go-to place in North County for a relaxing evening meal and a great glass of my favorite vino.
I would say this Canapes place is not to shabby. Â I expected much less based on past reviews I read. The isolation is very nice, the food is petite but very good, and the wine selection is the same. Â Wednesday night movie nights can be very romantic. We enjoyed "Road to Bali". Â There is no other place in San Marcos that I have seen so devoted to wine and food that is actually this good. Â My few downfalls are that the owner is a little snobbish, and the wine selection could be a little better. Â I would like to see some more local wines on the list supporting local wine businesses. Â The wine list is small but there are a few fantastic wines in the mix. Â Preston was very nice and professional while attending to us so I would say Canapes service was excellent. Â I would definitely recommend this restaurant and you make your own decison because it is for a specific taste.
Review Source:I am not a wine drinker, so I won't be able to comment on the wine selection.  We  come here for lunch.  They have excellent Panini's and sandwiches, whic are reasonably priced and delicious.  The build your own panini is the way to go since you can build just about anything with their large selection of meats, cheeses and toppings.
I still haven't tried the Tapas, but everyone I have seen come out of the kitchen has looked amazing. Â The atmosphere is nice and quiet and the waiters have all been very nice and accomodating.
I have been to Canapes several times now and have to say that I have enjoyed it consistently each time. They have a nice selection of tapas (small appetizers), which they call "tastes" but also have some conventionally sized meals too. Their tastes are flavorful and nicely displayed and all pair perfectly with wine. Their "Olivade" (tapenade) is to die for and I make sure to order it every time I go. Also worth trying is the Crab Melt, Mac n' Cheese and Prosciutto Wrapped Shrimp.
As for the wines... I must admit I LOVE a good glass of wine but I'm no connoisseur. All I can say is I have enjoyed every glass I have tried. My favorites are the Wisteria Cabernet and the Root 1 Carmenere, but of course wine tastes are wholly personal. Â
The ambiance is nice. The restaurant is small and intimate inside with comfortable dimmed lighting and large window walls on two sides that allow for people watching. The outside patio is very popular. It has an arbor of grape leaves that cover half the patio and an outdoor fire pit that is welcoming and cozy. Some nights they have live entertainment which helps a city girl like me forget she's out in the 'burbs. It's a nice touch.
The wait staff is well trained and very hospitable. You can tell the management has established their expectations and it shows. Sometimes they are a little slow to greet you at your table but tend to make up for it by checking in regularly through your meal.
Canapes loses a star for a couple of reasons. First, the prep time for the food is pretty inconsistent. Sometimes it comes right out, other times you wait forever. The other night my friend ordered a meal from the back kitchen and I ordered "tastes" from the prep kitchen. The waitress warned us that they sometimes don't come out together. That was an understatement. My tastes came out a good 20 minutes before my friend's Panini. He didn't want me to wait so I ended up finishing my entire meal before his arrived. Canapes is still a new restaurant so hopefully they will be able to work out some of these inconsistencies. I have to agree with the other posters that were put off by the convection ovens. They look like microwaves and I couldn't tell the difference until the owner told me himself that it was a convection oven and not a micro. Either way, there could be a perception issue here that could be handled with a little redesign. The only other negative I have is the value. I have never left feeling particularly full and also have never been able to get out the door spending under $60. The food is yummy and I enjoy going but do find myself wondering if I want to drop $75 +/- (for two) on a "light meal" and a couple of glasses of wine.
Overall, I'd recommend it. It's worth a visit.
I tried Canapes last night with a friend after seeing the menu and being very impressed. The place was small and fairly slow for a friday night. Very wide selections of wine and I had a delicious savignon blanc that I would gladly go back for. I had the smoked salmon, which was very good, but too salty for my own taste. My friend had the spinach shrimp salad which was also a bit salty.
Our server was okay. She never came back to check on the food or to see if we wanted another glass of wine. We probably would have had more wine if given the chance, but instead chose to take our next drink to a place that wanted our business.
Overall not bad, a good place for wine and food, but it's not going to be our new restaurant as we had hoped.
I first went here for a relaxing lunch with my wife and daughter. Â We tried several of the small tapas plates. Â The menu is creative and the portions were appropriately sized. Â As with most meals you are going to have favorites but at Canapes it's great to try other items that you would not usually try. Â It's great sharing choices too!
We went again last evening with some friends. Â This couple loves to dine out and while they usually stick with the tried and true, they were anxious to try Canapes. Â The four of us ordered one item each and shared with the table. Â The wine list is fairly extensive and they have selections by the glass. Â We first tried a bottle of the Tempranillo which was dry, crisp, and fruity. Â We shared the pate plate, the ahi tartare, prosciutto wrapped shrimp, and the beef roll for our first round. Â All delicious! Â We next ordered a bottle of the Pinot Grigio which was also delicious as well as the seared ahi, mac and cheese, crab melt, and another order of the proscioutto wrapped shrimp. Â That was the favoriteof the meal for the four of us. Â We finished the evening with four pressed coffees and shared the Devil In Red Cake for dessert. Â I love to drink coffee and would have preferred a brewed coffee. Â I felt that the pressed coffee lacked body and fullness of coffee flavor, though it was satisfying.
You can dine outside on the patio where on this Saturday night musicians played for several hours. Â The dining room is small but intimate. Â You can also sit on a stool at the counter where the food prep occurs. Â This night was particularly busy and we did have to wait a bit for our second round of tapas so you should maybe place your order before you finish your first round of plates. Â No big deal because good conversation is a good and important part of a good dining experience.
There is plenty of parking and the restaurant is casual yet laid back and relaxing. Â Canapes is a wonderful restaurant.
Overall I give Canapes high marks. Â While I don't think it's the best wine bar in San Diego I certainly think it's the best one (perhaps the only one?) in San Marcos and would probably give most places in North County a run for the money. Â
North County certainly needed a place like this. Â It has a comfortable atmosphere, an outdoor patio with fire pits for conversation, and the owner does a good job of trying to have regular events that invite you to come back like a movie night, live music, wine dinners, and other specials.
I've sipped some good wines here. Â The wine list is fairly broad and has some interesting choices that I've tried over time and enjoyed. Â There are high-end wines you can try along with the more moderately priced wines. Â They also have a good selection of beer on tap or in bottles.
Most people come here for a nice glass of wine and the many tapas on the menu. Â Overall the tapas are well executed but you're really missing out if you haven't tried the entrees. Â The pork loin is divine with a yummy reduction sauce. Â Salmon is done precisely right and moist. Â I tried the Osso Bucco. Â It was fine but not one I'll try again. Â You might like it if you like short ribs. Â Haven't tried the shrimp scampi yet.
I'm a repeat customer and have been here many times. Â Always an enjoyable visit. Â I would recommend this place to you if you enjoy wine and good food in a comfortable unstuffy atmosphere. Â The service is generally good to excellent although like anyplace it can get a little overwhelmed on a busy night.
A note to the critics. Â If you're expecting 5-star service and the rest then you should be willing to pay 5-star prices for it. Â Canapes prices are moderate for what you're receiving so I don't think the criticism is justified.
Went to this restaurant last night with a friend for a quick bite & some wine before a movie. Â We ordered the mac & cheese, moroccan chicken, tuna tartare & followed it up with a tiramisu. Â Everything was delicious, staff was very nice and we were out in time for our movie. Â I will be back again!!! Â Oh by the way - prices were reasonable. Â This is a must do!
Review Source:We went here twice last weekend. Both times the food and drink were excellent! I really enjoy their small plates that they have because you can order enough to make it a meal and not pay a huge price greater than what a regular meal would be.
My favorite dish was the mac and cheese, followed closely by the Thai Beef Cucumber Cups. The Mac and Cheese is not creamy, but made with real cheese melted in with the pasta and the Parmesan and bacon bits on top made this the best Mac and Cheese I've eaten in awhile. The Thai Beef cups were spicy, but very good! I plan on having these on every visit - they went down perfectly with the beer I was drinking.
Each of the tastes come with wine and beer pairings which is excellent for someone new to this sort of experience of pairing.
Great place to meet a group for happy hour! When summer hits, the patio of this place will be the busiest place on Old Restaurant Row!
Ok, so I gave Canape's two chances now. My wife and I came in and had dinner with her parents about a month ago, and more recently we came down for a few glasses of wine and to try a few of their "signature delights". Our first experience was interesting to say the least. We began our meal by waiting at the hostess stand for about five minutes while the owner bragged about telling a patron to, and I quote "f**k off". This probably should have been a sign of things to come, but we were hungry and the menu looked good so we sat. I actually enjoyed the Osso Bucco and risotto, the meat was perfectly braised and the risotto was tender and firm. My wife's dish however, left little to be desired. I'm not sure what was going on in the kitchen when they prepare her chicken, but it came to the table dry, greasy and completely overcooked. Not wanting to complain, she picked at it, but ended up enjoying much of mine. Overall, an awkward and off putting experience.
Wanting to give Canapes another shot, our second visit to the establishment was, to be nice, a horrendous experience. I have to say, the place was busy when we arrived, there was music on the patio, so I cannot blame the staff for the delays in wine, food, check, general service, etc. but what I cannot abide by is the open use of a microwave in full view of customers. We sat at the end of the canapes bar, as the other bar seats were filled and it was just the two of us. I could not believe my eyes when I heard the familiar report of the microwave going off, not to mention the amount of items I saw coming from said microwave! And yes Mr. James A. I do mean microwave, not oven. I am a professionally established Chef and am fully aware of the difference.
I have read the other reviews on this site after visiting the restaurant and unfortunately have to agree with most all of them. I have worked in highly regarded eating establishments all over the country, with some excellent Chefs and great owners, and I am appalled at the notion of anything being served to customers out of a microwave(not oven). We hastily left, never planning to return to Canapes, but not before hearing the owner three separate times bashing the previous restaurant to other patrons. Nobody wants to hear this same tired story, especially not your customers. This restaurant reeks of an  inexperienced owner, and unfortunately will not survive due to that, unless drastic measures are taken. Maybe removing the microwave(not oven) is a start. Also, Mr. James A., coming on a public forum and lashing out at reviews is not a particularly good way to defend yourself or your business. Maybe try taking these into consideration and winning these disgruntled customers back?
Great outdoor patio,live music on some nights, fireplace and laid back experience. Very good food, best Coquille St Jacques in San Diego, the chef know how to do this classic. David (has served us twice) is super, remembered my name from my first visit and is very hospitable and makes excellent recommendations. Great wine selections, if you purchase a bottle of wine across the street from their Wine Shop, there is no corkage fee at the restaurant. Definately give it a try. Cheers
Review Source:My wife and I have been there several times and also attended a Tobin James party. The staff knows there wine and there food. James is a great host, and David and Alex are great!! So far all the food we have had there has been great. Our favorite is the Osso Buffo, no that is not a typo. We used to go to Friars Folly all the time. This is now Friars Folly 2.0. Thanks James.
Review Source:MEET THE CANAPES OWNER - JAMES ALLYN'S TRUE COLORS
LESSONS IN WHAT NOT DO -
1. Â TREAT YOUR GUESTS BAD
2. Â USE PROJECTION OF YOUR OWN ANGER TO INSULT YOUR GUESTS
3. Â CONTINUE TO INSULT YOUR GUESTS ON YELP
4. Â CALL MICROWAVING FOOD IN FRONT OF GUESTS AT THE BAR A HOT NEW CONCEPT
Mr. Allyn, you reap what you sow. Â Treat people or talk bad about them and it comes back to you. Â
Since everyone else is posting their comments, I guess mine will just add further support to guide people in their decision making about where they spend their dining dollars. Â
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3/12/2010 Â James A. to "Holly G (Responds to my review of his soft opening):
I find it truly amazing that you are such an angry person and feel that you have to slam me and my new business in such a manner. From the tonality of your writings you must have been one of the Wednesday Girls Gone Wine supporters from the prior restaurant that failed and went broke.
Please introduce yourself the next time you are in town so that you can slam me and my business in person verses hiding behind some ridiculous blog on the internet."
james a.
**
*My Response to James A.
"You might want to consider a lesson in guest relations. Â With a response like this, do you seriously think you've created a warm welcoming invitation for me to want to come back and introduce myself? You just lost an opportunity to convert me to give your business another chance.
I'm not angry. Â I have no intention, or interest, in slamming or hurting your business. Â My voice is just one of many. Â Readers of Yelp generally consider the reviews with a grain of salt. Â Yelp is not a ridiculous blog on the Internet. Â Yelp is one of the most popular forums on the Internet where people can offer their opinions about their experiences.
I'm sorry if my post hit a raw nerve. Â Unfortunately, it takes a tough skin to read criticisms. Â Please read it again because it was also written to offer you suggestions for success and well wishes for your future."
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James A. Just can't leave it alone and fires back another message about a month later:
james a., Owner  to me:
i find people that hide behind a public poling place like you do very annoying !
please refrain from your personal attacks  as no one cares about you voicing your anger!!!
**
My response:
Hiding? Â I'm offering a public service by reviewing your restaurant.
Angry? Â Look in the mirror and you can see who is angry. Â I have nothing personal against you or your restaurant except that I choose not to spend my dollars where I would get treated badly.
Nobody cares? Â Have you looked at the list of negative reviews of you and your business. Â I'm not alone. Â This should be a wake up call for you that your personality may not be cut out for dealing with the public. Â Maybe you ought to cut your losses and run before you alienate even more people or try and learn how to be a nice guy.
**************************************************Â*******************
Next day, James A. gets another punch in by adding further insult to me for daring to point out something to him.
James A. to Me:
"now i know who you are,
you are nothing but an angry woman that hates men and only cares about yourself. please get a life and leave me alone"
****
OK I'm telling myself to leave it alone, but I can't hold back the temptation to retort:
"Dear James A.,
You really don't get it? Â I'm not personally attacking you. Â I care enough to let you and the public know what isn't working so you can fix it.
Just because I'm a Yelp reviewer and my experience wasn't the best at Canapes, you've judged me as a man hater and only caring about myself?
You could have known me if you wouldn't have been so rude and dismissive the first time I met you (or as insulting in your responses). Â
You could have changed my impression of you with an excuse for your behavior and encouraged me to give your business another try. Â I could have become one of your best customers, spread the word and posted a glowing review for you.
I easily spent $500.00 a month at Friars Folly. Â My friends spent a lot too. Â That could have been yours. Â Now it will be Market Street's, Tango's or anyplace but yours - only because of your attitude. Â Too bad, because your place could have been a great hangout.
I have a life, thank you. Â One that doesn't have time to help you anymore see things from a perspective that could improve your business."
****************
James A. gets the last word in and act like a bully to tell me what to do! Â
THE LAST WORD
"Anger management - I can see that you are set out to destroy all of man kind.
Please refrain from your angry way of life, as it will all catch up with you and kick you in the butt some day when you least expect it"
james a.
We used to go to Friars Follies and was sad when it closed. Yes, it was in need of decorating, but the food was good and I loved having live entertainment. We went to Edwards the other day to see a movie and when it was sold out, decided to walk over to Restaurant Row. To our surprise, a new restaurant had opened in the Friars Follies location. I loved the new decor and the way they served wine. Our waiter was so polite and took great care of us. The owner came over and introduced himself. It was a nice touch. We didn't have time to eat, but loved the wine the owner suggested. It was absolutely delicious. Every time we go to the movies, we'll make going to Canapes part of our outing! Can't wait till they have live entertainment. Â
Oh... and by the way... I hadn't read these reviews before we went. But... I just wanted to say that I gave our waiter about a 25% tip because he was worth it!
Not impressed....here is why:
Menu was ok.. So decided to try three dishes [brie double thing, dates with goat chese and a chicken dish]
The servings were so small....yes this is a tapas place, but when you are paying 5 dollars for a taste I need more than a lick. Â Three meals, one wine, one champagne and a nice 50 dollar bill! Â Had to come home..and within 2 seconds in the door go in the refridge...that hungry.....
Therefore my summary..is that you can spend 50 bucks some place else...where you will walk out full and satisfied. Â
This place will not make it...which is a bummer as the concept is good..just with the size of servings and price - not so much!
Had an opportunity to check out Canapes at a sneak peek on Thursday. This was an incredible experience, with amazing delectable appetizers, beautiful wine selection and unique hand crafted beers.
Many people will recognize owner James Allyn from his wine bar "The North County Wine Company", just across from Restaurant Row. James has brought his flair for style and service to the new establishment and paired all of his entrees and starters with his amazing wine and beer selection, right on the menu.
I was new to this location, formally Friar's Folly's. I understand this was very kitschy /homey place but run down and in serious need of an update. James and his crew have gutted the place and you can actually watch the head Chef as he prepares tasters for the patrons. Â James also worked to install air conditioners for warm summer nights and heaters for the winter, one of the chief complaints, according to a former regular of this establishment.
The lighting, settings, and atmosphere is clean and welcoming. Outside, patrons can cozy up to the firepits and listen to live music in the romantic courthard surrounded by old wood railings and coblestone walkways. The shops in the courtyard are closed in the evenings but come for lunch and check them out too.
Located next to the walking path that leads to the Edward's Theater, this is a perfect pre or post movie spot for a bite to eat and a glass of wine or pint of a micro-brew beer.
All and all, I loved everything I tasted and had 3 different beers that I've never tasted before and enjoyed them all.
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