Honestly, not really my type of place...seeing as it fancy AND smancy...but Enoteca might have opened me up (figuratively) to trying new things (literally).
Now, my review might be tainted (you know what I mean) because I was fresh off a bike ride and was STARVING and THIRSTY...but they accepted my wrinkled-t-shirt-and-jeans look without much ballyhoo (and this is the type of place that if a ballyhoo is in order, ballyhooed you shall be!).
The dude who took my order was very thoughtful about my query of pesto lurking in my dishes. Â Pesto, you see, makes-a me-a sick-a. Â Why did I just slip into a faux Italian accent? Â Ask yourself why you don't more often...
Anyway, the order taking guy thought and thought and thought about my question. Â He was very thoughtful, as I said. Â Eventually, after thinking about it for a good minute (not exaggerating) he confirmed that my food requests were indeed nut free (the way I like my food AND women).
The view was pretty spectacular...overlooking Del Mar. Â We also saw Steve Fisher who I booed for some reason. Â I then yelled out a serious question, "How long is it going to take for SDSU to go on probation for recruiting violations?" Â He couldn't hear me...he's old, so that makes it ok.
All in all, a great experience...just a little too pricey for my taste. Â I'm used to paying $3 bucks for a burrito. $5 if it's pay day. Â $10 if there is crack in it.
I spent a lovely evening here last night for happy hour with some girlfriends to celebrate liberation from a horrible job. Hooray! It's one of my favorite places to take people in North County on a nice day. The outdoor bar sits on the rooftop of the plaza in downtown Del Mar with views of the ocean. It's a very cool, relaxing vibe.
I noticed that prices recently went up a bit but they still have a great happy hour-$6 glasses of wine and $6 pizzas from 4 to 6pm. The margherita and veggie pizzas were both quality and delicious, especially for only $6 bucks. Just beware of the parking! We ended up staying and gossiping for 5 hours and even with validation it was still $18, yikes. Either way, I couldn't think of a better place to celebrate new beginnings.
One of my favorite spots in Del Mar for happy hour, especially in the spring and summer! Although they do have a small indoor seating area by the bar, sitting outside is definitely the way to go! The deals here are phenominal as well as they food they serve. They usually have 5 wines out for happy hour and a variety of things to eat such as carpaccio, pizzas, bruschetta, and more.
Major thing to take note of: $5. Enough said :)
THREE STARS might be generous. Maybe I went on the wrong day but the music format for 3:00 in the afternoon could have been done with some class instead of a downtown bump and grind nightclub mix. Whoever selected the sounds for pre-sunset was a bit off on their genre. As for the food and service, we ordered light but had to ask for their bread basket, then ask for the olive oil and vinegar. Service was a big disoriented. Perhaps, another time...
Oh, and not to forget cuz we found it too comical, yet entertaining... plenty of overdone women.
Delicious wine, breathtaking view. Â Sometimes I wonder what I've done to deserve such experiences. Â
Tried 2 of their pizzas. Â Cheese and veggie. Â Thin crust and fresh out of the oven. Â Wouldn't say its the best pizza ever but after a couple of glasses of good wine, who cares?
Reasonably priced. Â Did I mention the amazing view?
The service could use a little work. Â We had to walk literally behind the bar to flag him down so we could order some food. Â Then there was a gentleman who sat at a table right next to us, and the server completely walked past him twice without acknowledging him. Â It wasn't until we mentioned something to the server that he turned around and greeted the gentleman. TSK TSK! Â Anyways, We came during Happy Hour and wanted to try the calamari and some Proseco. Â Both were wonderful, and the view of the ocean just makes everything that much better. Â Â You can't beat their Happy Hour prices! Now if only their servers would be a little more attentive, I might come back again sooner rather than later.
Review Source:Been meaning to try the happy hour for a while now, and finally was able to make it this past Friday. What a great deal! We had the vegetable pizza and the beef carpaccio off the $5 menu. Both were delicious. The server was nice enough to bring us a basket of Il Fornaio's great bread as well, which was perfect for soaking up the olive oil drizzled on the carpaccio. We had two glasses of wine that were five bucks each as well to round out the meal. The views are terrific and the atmosphere is very laid back. Perfect to unwind after a long week. Will be coming back soon.
Review Source:Picture this. Â The kind of day some of us Mid westerners dream about all year. Â Clear skies, warm temperatures, dining al fresco and it's January! Â This is one of the reasons I LOVE sunny, southern California!
After parking in the spacious garage underneath (don't forget your ticket as they validate), we climbed to the top level and grabbed a cute little table perfect for enjoying a glass of vino and people watching to our heart's content. Â The place was hopping so my friend went up to the bar and secured us a couple of glasses of wine and put in an order for a margarita pizza.
The wine was perfect (thanks to the bartender for his suggestions) and our food was quite tasty when it was brought to our table. Â And as a bonus? Â The atmosphere is perfect for talking to the people at the tables around you and we met some really delightful people.
And here's the bonus- the views are beautiful to begin with, but if you stay until sunset- the views are extraordinary . . . made a great afternoon into a great evening!
Next time you find yourself in Del Mar- add this to your list of places to stop and relax. Â
Even if the food and wine weren't as good as they are, the view alone would be worth the trip!
Customer service is nothing but top rated 100%..Jeff was very attentive at the bar and slavena was extremely helpfull...This place has awesome views at sunset and would be the perfect place to take that someone special out for a nice evening. The appetizer's look good and they have a real nice selection of wines, I tried a glass of wine that was suggested by Jeff and was pleased. I had the scallops and they were cooked to perfection. Â I will be coming back here with high expectations : )
Review Source:bf took me here to have a few mojitos before our dinner. what a spot! he nails it with romantic spots :) this place had live music and unbelievable drinks, but the best part was the view. the sun was setting when we arrived, and you could see the most beautiful shades of pink and orange over the ocean. absolutely gorgeous! i can't wait to come back
Review Source:I came here for a friend's Bar passing get together. Â She had ordered a bunch of appetizers and pizzas. Â They were totally delicious. Â We had a pizza with roasted vegetables, and another pizza with prosciutto. Â I didn't try the prosciutto pizza, unfortunately, but the pizza with roasted vegetables was yummy. Â
The caprese was also notable. Â The tomato was crisp and juicy, topped with a thick, soft slice of fresh mozzarella. Â The bruschetta was also pretty good. Â The bread was nicely toasted, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Â The tomatoes on top were well seasoned and flavorful. Â I had a glass of house chardonnay which was decent, although I am not particularly picky about wines. Â It had a hint of tartness. Â We also had some great olives, roasted vegetables, and chunks of artichokes. Â I like the atmosphere here. Â It's open air, and it's a great place for relaxing and for happy hour.
The drinks here are not cheap. Â I came on one other occasion to have some mojitos. Â Their mojitos are pretty popular, but they are like $11 each, which I'm not sure is worth the money. Â The mojitos are decent, but not $11 decent. Â I believe I've had better for that price.
I came here while waiting for my date to show up. He was late so I figured I would get a glass of wine while I waited. The gentleman at the bar was friendly however when I asked for a glass of Riesling he poured me a Sauvignon Blanc instead. When I sipped the wine I could taste the difference and he responded by saying he thought I would like it better. Humph. You don't know me! How dare you assume, wait a minute...wow it was actually a really nice glass. Okay so maybe Mr. Bartender you know a little more about wine then me. Thank you. Â
There is both an outdoor and indoor bar area; both are very small but a nice place to site. And wait. When my date finally did arrive, (20mins late) I was halfway through with my glass of wine. He ordered a drink so he could sit with me while I finished mine. The bartender never brought the requested drink and was flirting with a woman across the bar. When we asked to close my tab he asked another person to bring us his drink but we were at this time wanting to go grab dinner. I would have been upset at his unprofessionalism however since my date was late I figured the universe was making everything right. Ha!
It's a cool spot to check out and maybe have a cocktail or two but not really a hanging out kind of place.
I have been to Enoteca Del Fornaio a number of times over the last two years to take advantage of their drinks and slightly small, yet well placed patio. Â You would be hard pressed to find a better place for a margarita or beer while you watch the surf or the sunset. Â
If the review stopped here, this place would easily be a 4-5 star establishment. Â However, on my last two trips, I've found the staff to be unfriendly. Â As an example, on my most recent trip, after waiting at the bar for a few minutes to order a drink (no bartender in sight), one finally appeared and said, "they are really jerking me around today." Â He eventually asked for our order and warmed up, but you really don't expect that kind of behavior at a fast-food restaurant, let alone Il Fornaio.
Bottom line: Â Go here and enjoy the drinks and the wonderful view. Â The view really is too nice to pass up. Â Just don't expect consistently great or friendly service.
this would easily be a 5 stars if they would allow us to bring our drinks in this certain restricted area. ull know what i mean if you get there...
*~**~*
i will always have a soft spot for enoteca... i probably came here 4x now, and came again last night.
my first time here was with this guy who will always hold a special place in my heart, and the next few times were with friends....
an italian wine bar/cafe on the roof of del mar plaza. lots of chairs. total cafe setup. you can't get a better view of the ocean, can it get any more spectacular? Â the cafe set up totally makes this spot a great romantic spot whether you come at 2pm or 6pm for the sunset with a touch/glass of wine. for us ladies who love to shop, its a gorgeous lil boutiquey area with lots of other eateries and stores...
park in the garage butmake sure to get it validated. 2 hours free.
Interesting to read that everyone thinks the view here is amazing. Â I was expecting front row center ocean front. Â NOPE... Â This place is 1/2 mile from the ocean with a view of homes and businesses. Â For a true ocean FRONT view, visit The Beach House in Cardiff or Fisherman's on the Pier in San Clemente. Â
Arrived at 7pm on a Saturday night. Â Packed out and standing room only as to be expected. Â No waiter to be found anywhere. Â Had to go inside to order two glasses of average wine (Estancia Pinot) for $26.10 (did I hear that right?!). Â There are many other places with a better view, actual service, and less expensive. Â Will not return.
Enoteca's maintains the same type of atmosphere you experience anywhere else in del mar on a saturday night. It's a mix of cougars, surfer boys and silver foxes.
For me the main draw here is watching the sunset. It is a picture perfect view.
Il Fornaio's food is great and can be ordered from the bar or from inside the restaurant. The service is pretty fast but the outdoor tables are scarce. Diane P referenced loving their vodka collins and, as that is my favorite drink, I gave it a shot. It's pretty great because they make their own sweet and sour mix. They make most of their breads/pastas on location. Enjoy!
As far as upscale places to watch a sunset, grab a drink and/or heavy apps goes, it would be hard to top Enoteca anywhere in SD. Â They have a high class bar selection and an effin' GREAT 'personal' pizza, which is great to share with a date or friend and wash down with a glass of red.
Biggest downside is the constant stream of idiots that swarm here each night. Â Seriously, morons, does your mirror literally speak the words, "Hell yeah, pal/sweetheart, you ARE the SHIT" before you go out each night? Â Good lord. Â Have some freaking humility. Â Trust me, it's much more attractive to be around. Â I grew up around here (in Solana Beach where it's not nearly so "I-love-me-ish", thankfully) and the growing LA vibe is getting older by the day, but sadly still growing. Â With that said, the food, drinks and people watching potential here make Enoteca well worth your time, especially in the summer when the view, eye candy and weather are second-to-none. Â Just be willing to have a laugh and not take people too seriously.
Really one could not have a more beautiful spot...atop Del Mar Plaza overlooking the ocean. Â There is live music, so I hear, but when I arrived there was one performer playing a saxophone, but really we could not hear him. Â It is a great idea, but should be improved.
The drinks are good...there is a full bar and I had a margarita with my favorite tequilla and made perfectly. Â Prices are really appropriate for the location.
The problems:
1. Only a few tables crammed in a small area...all other places say "No alcohol beyond this point" which relagates all others to standing room only or sitting on a concrete slab. Â The tables that are there are so close together that one must wind amongst them.
2. Â There is a small bar that one must walk up to and quite the line forms. Â There are no waiters even if one is so lucky to have a table.
3. If one cares to order appetizers, one must walk into Il Fornaio and  place the order in the restaurant, as they do not take food orders at the bar and there is no waiter.
Yes, I would go back if I happened to be passing through the area, but I will not drive up to Del Mar just to go.
Beautiful ocean view. Â Minimal heaters so make sure to bring a jacket, even in the summer I would recommend a light sweater. Â I agree with Diane, Cougars all over! Great place to go if your just wanting to hang out, meet friends or just watch the sunset. I'm pretty sure that they allow smoking because you can catch the occasional cigar smokers. Â Great thing is that they allow you to bring your own bottles which is really nice. Â I always have a great time. One more thing! There is limited seating, and the tables are quite small, so it's kind of a hit or miss if you can sit. They don't take reservations.
Review Source:This outside bar and patio area is a great place to people watch. Â Notably, it is also cougar haven. Â When the Del Mar horse racing season starts, this place is packed to the brim with surgically-enhanced cougars and super tan rich men of all ages gawking at them and their lovely pair of "friends". Â It's amazing what you will witness here.
This location is great in the daytime or nighttime, it has beautiful ocean views, and it's a nice place to grab a drink before dining at Il Fornaio. Â They also make one of the best Vodka Collins I've ever had in my life.
There may be few things in life more enjoyable than a cold glass of white wine on a sunny day with an expanse of blue ocean and sky stretching out before you to remind you that life is good. Â I couldn't agree more with Amanda S.--this is the perfect place to bring out-of-town guests to enjoy a nice glass of wine on a sunny day with a view they're sure to appreciate.
We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch at Enoteca del Fornaio on a recent Saturday afternoon. Â The portions were huge (almost too big for lunch) and the food was quite tasty. Â However, my favorite part of the meal--other than the wine and outstanding view, that is--may have been the fresh bread and olive oil they brought to our table as soon as we sat down. Â Truly enjoyable.
My only complaint was that we didn't actually have a waiter--we had to order our wine and food from the bar (and we all had to share one menu) and then find a table after we'd ordered. Â Not a huge deal, but this place would surely have ranked five stars otherwise.
This place is a great place to bring out of town visitors on a sunny day, to visit by yourself on a sunny day, or to finish off a night of parting in Del Mar. Â There is a great view and sometimes they have live music....drinks are pricey but worth it and you can always pop into the fun little shops for some dangerous buzzed shopping when you are done. The only downside is that 90% of the women that go here have plastic surgery and huge Gucci purses....but maybe you are into that kind of thing. It makes for some great people watching.
Review Source:This is an elite and very stylish Italian-style outdoor cafe/bar that is the sister place to the restaurant IL Fornaio. Sit on a exquisite veranda atop the Del Mar Plaza and enjoy fine Italian wines and excellent espresso. Great place for a date with someone special as it has an incredible ocean view. I can't remember what I ordered but it was exceptionally good. If I think of it I will let you know.
Review Source:View of the Pacific Ocean.
70 degrees.
Sunny, not a cloud in the sky.
Waiter comes by as you order glass after glass of buttery, oaky Chard.
Get some Bruschetta when you feel a little hungry...
Finish it all off with a nice and strong espresso con crema.
Enoteca Del Fornaio absolutely rocks.
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