Tip Top Meats & European Delicatessen

Cute little place. Floor layout could use some improving. Food I bought was tasty when I cooked it at home. Very pricey, though. $ 9-​$ 11+ per package of wieners, sausage, or wurst. Lady at the front counter didn’t greet me when I came in, or say anything to me until I checked out. However, the freshly baked pretzel rolls that were there were worthwhile. Ended up being an impulse buy at the check out. I’ll go back for more of those and other pretzel stuff along with trying the hot food counter in the back.

Just not enough time left… to try all the crack goodness!!! So many choices! And that makes it so fun! THEN… there’s the take out portion of the deli! Go hungry! Leave Stuffed! Here’s how it works; Get in the back of the long line, sorry, good food = long lines. Drool over the Huge menu… make a choice. (this is the hardest part!) Go find a place to eat it all inside the deli.
Drool some more as they bring out plate after plate of yummy stuff you didn’t order! Soon, they will bring you you’re very own plate of awesome comfort food! Enjoy!*
*save room for killer pastries to go!**
**check out the amazing deli foods in the store to walk off the big meal you just ate!
Thanks Kristin for sharing you’re secret crackhouse of food!

This place has a mom and pop feel to it. When you first walk in there’s the storefront with meats and sausages for days, cheese, chocolates and other stuff. The back end is where you may order food and dine in. The food here is delicious and the price is right! We only spent right under $ 40 for three entrees which came with two sides, bread and a choice of soup or salad. As well as two deserts. I mean the strudel for instance is huge and only cost $ 2.89! The service here is friendly and good as well.

We always get a prime rib for Christmas. Tip-​Top quality is steadily declining, and this year was my last purchase there.
I asked for a 6-​lb prime rib & asked that it be coated with the rub (as I do every year). They ended up giving me a 5.5-lb. Got it home & realized there was no rub. Worse yet, it was FROZEN SOLID!
Needless to say, it wasn’t that good — it was the lowlight of my Christmas. :-(
My suggestion — if you want a butcher who gives you what you ask for, and one with quality meat — it ain’t Tip-​Top — at least not anymore.

My family stayed in Carlsbad for a three-​day weekend recently (two of which were spent at Legoland), so we headed to Tip Top for breakfast on one of the days.
The wife and I both ordered the Big John Breakfast; who can resist all the bacon, sausages, and ham you can eat? The bacon was good, but I especially liked the Polish sausage, as it had great flavor. Everything else was just your standard breakfast fare.
My wife upgraded her toast to a pancake, which was really dry and not very enjoyable.
For the price, this place isn’t bad. The lady behind the counter could use some smiles though.

Great place to go pick up fresh cuts of meats. They also have so many foreign foods that you can pick up too. They do serve food so you are able to eat there also. Interesting place to visit. A must if you are in the Carlsbad area.

I have been a long time fan for years! This has been a staple for my family since childhood. We would come here after church as we did once more yesterday. The food is always nice. Not anything extra special, but it tastes like home cooking which I enjoy.
The french toast is fried and tastes a bit like carnival food (i mean that as a compliment).
I am always astonished at the price, 5 of us including 3 men, were able to eat and be full for under $ 50 with coffee, Orange juice and sides… thinking again, maybe we were undercharged? I just don’t see how that is possible… grateful if we were!
The store is fun to go through! I love all the imports.
As long as Tip Top Meats exists, so will my family’s continued patronage.

My Prime Rib Roast Special for $ 14.99 was disappointing. My meat was tough and chewy, despite the fact that I ordered it medium rare. It was pink and tough. The baked potato didn’t have a good texture… probably made in advance and kept steaming. The red cabbage and sauerkraut was the best part of this meal. It comes with soup or salad. I didn’t care for the oxtail soup, which is salty and heavy, like gravy.
Stick to the sandwiches at Tip Top, as I highly recommend their Reuben sandwich, with pastrami subbed for the corned beef. The German potato salad is also excellent.
Even if there’s a line, you’ll get your food quickly. This is a convenient stop off the 5 in Carlsbad.
I’ve also tried the turkey sandwich, which was ok but a little dull.

It was late in afternoon, just left Cardiff State Beach and was told by a good friend that I really needed to check this place out.
Store front —
Now, «THIS IS A DELI!!!» (That’s what I told «Big John,» owner/​operator, when I happened to come across him working behind the meat counter.)
Photo —
Tip Top Meats & European Delicatessen has a lot to offer, from Portugeuse Sausage (linguica), to traditional bratwurst.
It’s amazing shops like this that I have a huge affinity for… It’s not the standard, cookie cutter, commercial, Safeway deli counter/​grocery store, THIS IS one person’s passion, his life and it shows.
Not everyone has the luxury to travel overseas to Europe and experience authentic cuisine but I would think this would be the poor man’s, staycation.
The Golden Pig —
The lady of the shop, who sat perched from her spot near the front door had about as much personality as a cigar store Indian. (Im joking, my apologies to the statue.) My guess is that she was Big John’s wife. We’ll just call her «Big Joan,» and she was. I smiled at her as I entered the shop, I thought she couldn’t give a sh*t… ‘Awesome! Well a big, hearty, welcome to our shop and by the way, «F*k you!» She made the cigar store Indian look like Mr. Congeniality.
German ketchup —
I grabbed a non-​commercial, good ol’ bottle of root beer. A tasty, root beer soda sounded reeeeeaaaal good, especially after spending a couple of hours with HAPA Boy @ the beach… ‘It was a good day. (That dog does love the beach.) ‘And the root beer, «Pretty damn tasty too!»
Pricing — The prices can be a tad on the high side but given the lack of local competition coupled with supply & demand, Big John has himself a market. Yes, there are other similar delis but nothing in comparison in the general area.
Seasoned vinegar —
However, most everyone else I met was relatively friendly… ‘And then there was the guy @ the deli counter. He must’ve given a wisecrack answer to just about every person that he dealt with… I was somewhat entertained and intrigued. «Hey, I wanna play too!» I was tempted to inquire about the «head to cheese ratio» of the German jello meat mold in the case just for my own kicks and have a bit of fun with him but we were pressed for time and running late. Raincheck.
Wall of Horseradish —
The restaurant line went from busy to grand opening status within 15 – 20 minutes. When I’m back in the Carlsbad area with more time, I really want to try and make it in here… Impressive line.
Photo —
A friend of mine, DH, has been to the restaurant twice, and was happy to report, «Eh, it’s just okay.» (Fair portions; good pricing; not too flavorful) Well, after all it is German food… ‘Have you ever had a bratwurst?
Be sure to not miss the floor show! — «AWESOMENESS!»
Dinner AND a show —
The older gentleman playing the accordion wearing the lederhosen outfit was awesome! That alone offset Big Joan’s warm welcome just 20 minutes earlier.
— Big Aloha!
Food: 4 (Huge variety)
Ambiance: 3
Service: 3
Value: 3 (So-​so; a bit pricey BUT it is a specialty shop after all.)

Very interesting experience I had at Tip Top Deli. In a nutshell, the food was great but the ambiance and service were poor.
I went mid-​week at lunchtime and encountered what I imagine to be the typical lunch rush. The problem is that the employees were rude, annoyed, and disorganized. Beyond that, their method of service is not typical but there are no signs or friendly faces to help one figure out the protocol. Then there was a man sitting ear me who was furious because his food was taking forever. The whole environment was pretty unwelcoming.
The redeeming quality was that my French dip was amazing. The meat is out of this world. The coleslaw was very good too. The price was fair and I was happy with the food.

Review for the deli portion:
Ordered the steak sandwich, and I could not have been more disappointed. Ordered the sandwich medium, Tip Top Meats served me a steak that looked like it had been nuked. Thought about sending it back, and should have, but attempted to trudge forward with the sandwich.
I shouldnt have.
The bread is basic and bland. Not toasted or anything. The vegetables were fresh, but its hard to mess up tomatoes and a piece of lettuce. The fries were unseasoned, unsalted, and undelicious. Just a big olé plate of disappointment.
I’d heard really good things about tip top, but those merits fell flat on their face. Don’t think I’ll be returning of my own free will.

Came here on a cold, Monday night after work under a friend’s strong recommendation. He said it was one of his favorite restaurants in the San Diego area. I was skeptical at first but was quickly convinced while looking at the menu and seeing a wide variety of dinner plates with descriptions that just make your mouth water.
At first, I wanted the Rouladen as I was told it was the signature dinner dish but they ran out of the dish at 7 pm (expected since they close at 8) so I opted for the pork chop dinner plate instead. The taste of the ham was clean and fresh and the sides were delicious as well. Not much of a ham guy myself so I don’t know why I opted for the pork chop thinking it would be something else. Definitely going back to try the BBQ beef ribs plate as I saw someone getting started on it on my way out.
Overall, a good restaurant with a nice homey interior feel. Food seemed good but I’ll have to try a couple more dishes to consider this place one of my favorites.

The meat is the best… But only if you cook it yourself! Previously on 2 occasions, someone in the family would drive from Los Angeles alllllll the way to Carlsbad to pick up a ton of steaks. This one time, on the way back from San Diego, I decided to stop by.
You can pick & buy your steak and have the restaurant cook it for ~$ 5 more. This meal come with your choice of salad or soup, sauerkraut or red cabbage (or both), bread, and mashed potatoes. The sides are all on one plate and the steak is one another with some onions on top. The steak cooked at the restaurant was just okaaaaay in my opinion. When I had the steak for the first time at home, it was the best thing ever so I the way it’s cooked makes a huge difference!
At the restaurant, you order at the counter, they give you a number, you pick a table, and they will bring your food out to you.

If you frequent german delis then you know what they might look like abs this place has it all. A large amount of packaged items for you pantry to the best selection of cold cuts and prime selection of beef.
There’s a bunch of imported beer as well. I see large lines for lunch and for the deli but I have never tried it although it looks tempting.

If you’re really hungry, you need to eat here. Period.
This place is such a hidden gem because you wouldn’t know that they give you large portions for a great price unless you experience it yourself!
We stopped by after shopping at the outlets and decided to share an Octoberfest platter ($ 8.99 special) and the plate had 3 large sausages, lots of sauerkraut, boiled cabbage, and potatoes! It fed the both of us for lunch and we even took home some leftovers!
Parking in the back can be a little hard because this is a well-​known local destination. However, we have not had problems finding parking.
Service is good and efficient and you order at the register, grab a number, and the servers bring you your food.
This is also a little European shop where you can get Europeans goodies (like cookies and baked goods) as well as a variety of meats from the butcher.
I highly recommend!

This place is so fricki good yummy and so fricki good cheap!!! I have never had German food but this place according to many who love German does it right! If so then I adore it because this place is phenomenal! The Ruben comes with THREE halves of the sandwich and a huge helping of either German potato salad or fries. I’m a big boy and this place consistently sends me home with food for later!
OH!!! I almost forgot! Their pastry selection… BOMB DIGGITY! Like some of the best pastries I have had in a very long time! I walk up and say «what’s that?» And regardless of the answer I say lets get one because they never disappoint!
Entering the place was odd the first time because it’s in the back of the grocery store… Deli style but they have a lot of seating and their menu is very big!

I would give their restaurant 4 stars, but only 2.5 stars for the grocery.
We visited the place for breakfast because it was just across the street from our lodging place. We had breakfast before heading to legoland.
Big John’s Breakfast — It was a generous serving of tasty Polish sausage, in-​house made Ham, potatoes, English muffin, and 3 eggs! It was cheap, tasty and filling. We just had to ask the potatoes to be made again because the first one came out really salty. And they graciously made us a new serving.
Their french toast was the best! It’s not too sweet and it’s served fresh and crunchy. Our 4yr old loved it.
I liked the milk chocolate. It’s not your usual sweet Nesquik drink. This is real milk chocolate drink that is made for kids and adults. Too bad I forgot to ask the brand that they use. It’s not American made for sure.
I really liked their meat shop and their other display in their grocery. Unfortunately, we realized that they sold us expired Kinder chocolate. That’s why I’m giving them a lower rating.

Tip Top is one of those places that just warms your heart to know it exists in this world. I walked in through the rear entrance past all of the traditional European grocery items, taking note of the fine selection of red cabbage, sauerkrauts, crackers, meats, and breads.
I made my way to the deli counter, and was overwhelmed by a menu in which everything looked incredible, and a decision was tough. Eventually, I ordered a polish sausage sandwich, added sauerkraut and a side of fries, and a drink. $ 9.78.
I sat down, and looked around in wonderment at this restaurant that had apparently avoided any urban pressures of modernization. Cozy yet spacious, seating was easy to find considering that we arrived just after 12:30. I watched the orders as they were delivered to the tables, and here’s my thoughts —
The Hamburger looks incredible! I’d never order something so American at a European Deli, but jeez! The thing looked legit!
The pastrami sandwich looked amazing as well. Between this and the burger, I saw a ton of both delivered to tables.
I received my polish sandwich, and it was massively proportioned. Two huge sausages, served with a French roll with the fixings for you to load up as you choose. To be honest, one sausage and no fries would have left me bursting at the seams.
All in all, this place is a winner. Charming, inexpensive, massive proportions, and high quality. They’ve won me over, and I look forward to experiencing more items from the expansive and impressive menu.
Maybe breakfast? I hear that’s a hit here, too.

2.5 stars
Came here for dinner, is kind of an odd set up, theres a deli /​diner i the back of the grocery store. It was a bit confusing as to where i should order, behind the meat counter or at the register. But i finally figured it out. The deli /​diner is German inspired, which means the food is very heavy, the portions are large and for a reasonable price.
I ordered the Jaeger schnitzel, breaded and fried veal with a mushroom gravy. You also get a choice of soup or salad and a side, i got the beef barley soup, and broccoli. The Veal had a nice crust on it but was a bit thick, i wish it was pounded thinner, and there was very little gravy. I wish there was at least 3 times more gravy. The soup was good, nothing special, the broccoli was a whole crown! Quite a lot of food for $ 10!
My brother got the stuffed pork chop, he had the same comment that i did, very filling but not anything special. He got the lentil soup which had a very beefy flavor. so it was good but just be aware that its not a vegetarian dish.
My nephews beef stroganoff i think was the best of the 3 meals, tender beef over noodles.
Over all the food was very filling but nothing too special, a great value for the price. I think if i came back I’d like to try the braised short ribs or the Octoberfest (sausage) platter. Also i noticed that many other peoples pics have fries, i wish i knew that was an option. Oh well next time.

I’m a little surprised I have never reviewed this place. The meat selection and attached grocery store are absolutely awesome. They have a really nice selection of hard to find meats and deli meats, price isn’t half bad either… The food is really just decent, not terrific, but not bad by any stretch. I’ve had breakfast, lunch and dinner here (separate occasions) lol. I must say that breakfast is the way to go… The eggs Benedict is legit and the Big Johns breakfast with all you can eat meat for under $ 8 is an absolute fantastic meal at a fantastic price. I’d recommend hitting this place up when in Carlsbad, especially for breakfast.
Pros–
Selection
Price
Market
Breakfast
Meat portions
Cons–
Service is meh
Sandwiches are not the greatest
Parking