The Red Door

Went last week for restaurant week… Wish I had gone sooner! Had the panzenella salad… Delish. It was hard to decide between the fish tacos and the chicken sandwich… I was in luck as the friend I went with said she was torn so we ordered both and shared. The chicken sandwich won as the favorite but the tacos were still yummy. The chicken was cooked perfectly and had the right combo of flavors. The fries were tasty too!
The tacos had an amazing slaw on them with apples… Different but perfect little crunch and sweetness! I will be back again for sure!!!

Wed 1÷20÷16 dinner very disappointed. I had out-​of-​town visitors, so we gave it a try. Service was incredibly bad throughout the dinner. Couldn’t get someone to wait on us, so we contemplated leaving. During the dinner we had to ask 3x for a 2^nd drink. The regular menu was so limited in main food options that we selected the fixed menu for restaurant week. The food was ok, but not served hot, and 2 glasses of regular white house wine = $ 24! Not worth it.

A year or so ago, I ate at this restaurant and was disappointed because they did not offer the lunch menu that was posted on the SDRW website. I had painstakingly researched the menus of dozens of restaurants and settled on Red Door and they didn’t even have the dish I wanted to get.
So I decided to be a complete dick about it. I ate the delicious food I ordered, but urged my friends to dispute their credit card charges and wrote an angry letter to the California Attorney General’s office. I pointed out that the door wasn’t even a proper vermillion — «Don’t be deceived!» I shouted at passing traffic, «this portal has ferruginous tones!»
I was really whipped into a froth. Don’t let the Red Door’s commitment to organic, sustainable foods and local producers fool you. They are up to no good. The pillows in the comfy booths? Clearly a ploy to lull me to sleep so I they can steal my wallet. The delicious food? A conspiracy to fatten me to I can’t fit into my jeans. «Red» Door — I am putting you on notice! The world will know of your deceit and moral turpitude! I will use a bullhorn if I have to.
…Oh, no wait, that was somebody else.
What happened was, they didn’t have the item that was on the SDRW website and I rolled with it, and ordered something else and it was great.
Then I went back for lunch again and had a terrific entrée salad and dessert. The chef made a tasty dish out of fresh ingredients that were sourced from local farms and it was magical.

Zero Stars.
The Red Door did not honor the Restaurant Week Menu on Sunday, January 17, 2016 by claiming that they serve brunch instead of lunch. This restriction was not disclosed on the official Restaurant Week menu. See attached.
Manager talked down to me and claimed that they have been doing brunch for 7 years and I should have known better. He also refused to offer promotional pricing on the brunch menu. Shame on him and this establishment.
I brought 8 additional guests into his restaurant and I encouraged everyone to dispute the full credit card charge. I will also contact the California Office of the Attorney General regarding this deceptive advertising. It has no place in San Diego or California. See attached.

That was… Poor. ½ of one of the three dishes was good. Flavorless burger, limp fries, bad scalloped potatoes, rubbery sweetbreads. Didn’t ask if you wanted a second drink when empty. Inconsistent servers. Different servers every time they came around in a tiny restaurant! Am I on bizarro world?
Have you ever noticed that attractive people sometimes don’t need to try as hard to get ahead? Is that what’s happening at the Red Door? Food and atmosphere were beautiful, but come on now. The taste simply was not there. Man Candy’s actual steak was really, really good — but none of the accoutrements were worth eating. Adding insult to injury, this turned out to be a really expensive dinner, and we were hungry for good food after. Hungry to the point where we went to El Cuervo after and got fricking tacos. Save your time and your money and go elsewhere.

We really enjoyed eating here! The Red Door is a very cute farm to table restaurant. The menu changes (it may be different than what’s online) and their mixed drinks are super good!
It’s small (cozy!) inside, so if you plan on going on a busy evening… it might be a good idea to make a reservation!
Really good, fresh food :)

The ambiance here on Sunday’s is amazing, minus the noise of everyone one. When you have a jazz duo (amazing btw) playing, you’d think you’d use an inside voice as a sign of respect. Aside from that, the food is made more for the mature group. If you’re in your early twenties and still eat fast food, I wouldn’t recommend it because of the advanced flavor sided. The waitresses are very attentive and the restaurant itself is very aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Almost kitschy but not quite. All in all, a solid 4 star brunch spot. –1 star because all of the ingredients are not listed on each menu item.

Enjoyed a tasty happy hour that became a substantial meal, with a friend who shares my enjoyment of good wine. I was the first to arrive in the bar on a cold, rainy evening, and the server promised the place would be full in a short time. He was right!
The dining room filled quickly, with an interesting array of people from the neighborhood. The temperature increased as well– which we appreciated.
We decided to stay in the bar for our food and drink, partly because the bar’s happy hour prices run from 4 – 6 pm (vs. 4 – 5 pm in the dining room) and partly because the couch was very comfortable vs. traditional chairs.
We went on Monday, when bottles of wine are half price, and enjoyed a full-​bodied cabernet and several substantial appetizers, plus generous «cups» of cream of cauliflower soup (small portions, but served in large bowls).
In addition to the soup, our choices were the flatbread, sautéd veggies, and a truly decadent mac & cheese. The server also provided a basket of bread and some white bean spread alongside the butter, which was appreciated (I often choose olive oil vs. butter for bread).
By the time everything arrived, our small bar table was overflowing with plates of rich, tasty food. We had no desire (or table space) for a full dinner.
Overall, the food was delicious– but very rich. It was a holiday splurge, and a way to warm up on a cold winter night with food that truly «sticks to your ribs.» By sticking to appetizers, and boxing up a fair amount of leftovers, we still had room for dessert.
We shared the baked chocolate mousse, which paired well with the last of the cabernet.
Final bill for two was about $ 100– pricey, true, but we had more food than we could eat, with enough for meals the next day. (Next time I would skip the mac & cheese.)
The Red Door is definitely a neighborhood favorite, and lots of couples were dining nearby. It is a bit small for large groups– better to try elsewhere if you have more than 6 people.
But if you’re looking for a cozy or romantic spot, to share good food and wine with a few friends– give it a try. And if you like wine– try it on Monday.

Meh. I won’t be going back. I’ve heard good things, but I think we fell victim to a good restaurant under bad conditions. My friend arranged for a large group (15 of us) to go to the Red Door a week AFTER restaurant week (don’t remember why), and we ran later than we’d planned.
I was very hungry, and stayed that way throughout the meal. I’ll admit, I’m a relatively new pescetarian (not by choice) and I was not able to take advantage of the really good sounding things on the menu. That said, the flavor of my food was okay, but I was not impressed by the presentation or the pairing of flavors. I was also a bit frustrated because I ordered the vegetarian special and the plate came out with maybe 5 oz. of food. I understand small portions with Tapas, or expensive proteins, etc. Mine was entirely vegetables, and was pretty expensive. My wife was not pleased with her seafood risotto dish either, and did not feel well later because the sauce was a little on the oily side. The guys in the group were all exchanging glances at the small portions, but I will say that several of them were blown away by the flavors of their dishes, and really liked them.
We had a great group that night, and the server handled that well, but the food was slow to come out. All in all, the ambiance was nice, we had fun, but I went to Bronx pizza on the way to the car because I was still very hungry– disappointing. After talking with my friends, I realized that we were all a bit frustrated by the cost to food ratio, and all left hungry despite apps, bread, entrees and dessert. (please see my review of Bronx pizza– that place is AMAZING! Now that I think about it, Bronx pizza was closing for the night and gave both of my buddies a slice for free because I told them we had all left hungry, HA!).

Date of visit: 12/​12/​2015
Wow! The food here is really, really, really, good. The only complaint that anyone in our party had was the price, but it’s all locally and ethically sourced, which probably drives up the price. We ended up coming here because Izakaya Masa is currently on their holiday break, which we didn’t know about. It’s definitely a cute restaurant with cozy seating — great for a date night, and still good for a small group meal.
Prom Night. St. Germain, Lime Zest, Champagne. Okay, maybe I was a glass of wine in before ordering this drink, but I really enjoyed it! It was really tart and you could definitely taste the lime. If it wasn’t $ 11 I would have ordered another one, but we’re trying to save for a house, so I allowed myself just one.
Pork Schnitzel. This was really great schnitzel. I loved everything on my plate and the scalloped potatoes were on point. I also really liked the sauteed kale. It wasn’t too soggy and it was seasoned just right. The schnitzel itself was also really flavorful and not dry at all. Definitely recommend this dish.
Gnocchi. Cam got the gnocchi, which was also really good. Instead of the usual preparation with the gnocchi smothered in sauce, this dish featured sauteed gnocchi that had just enough caramelization to add that little extra flavor. The vegetables in this dish were also on point, and also featured sauteed kale, which is probably in season right now.
Overall, this is a really great splurge night. The ambiance doesn’t really reflect the price you’re paying as it feels more homey and casual, but the taste was really great.

Why haven’t I been here before?! Such a quaint little restaurant with spectacular food! It feels like you’re having dinner in someone’s living room.
Their concept is farm to table, and they do it well. Every item of food we had was delicious, although nothing was 5 star, per se — just solid 4 star dishes. To start we had the SHRIMP, SLAW, & FRUMPLINGS $ 17. I had the LAMB MEATBALLS $ 24 and my husband had their SHORT RIB SPECIAL. Each item had fresh ingredients that complimented each other well. That being said none of the dishes were above and beyond inventive.
Wish we had enough room for the banana crème pie, which our neighbors had and looked spectacular! After we declined dessert, our waiter did bring us a little plate of three little tiny chocolate truffles «for the baby» (I’m 9 months pregnant). Service was on point without being intrusive.
I would definitely recommend reservations as it’s a small space.
Parking: street.

The Red Door used to be one of our favorite Sunday breakfast places. How Sad. The menu changed and now there are very few options for healthy eating & it wasn’t very tasty.
I had the veggie hash. It sounded good on the menu with poached eggs, a variety of veggies, spices & sauce. It did have the two poached eggs, mostly white potatoes, some yellow squash & sauce. It tasted okay but nothing special. It was a very small portion & I’m a petite female. They didn’t even put bread on the table. For the same price at other gourmet restaurants, I could have had options of many creative egg dishes of normal size & bread & side of fruit.
A draw was to be the live music but the guests were so loud, they drowned out the music.

My second time here and it was — well — I’d give them 3 ½ stars. They are pricey, which means that you must hit it out of the park every time. And it was mediocre at best.
Started out with the Brussel sprouts which were not bad, just coated in oil, so when they went cold, it wasn’t pleasant.
My date ordered the catch of the day which was Opah. The fish came out seared and quite raw in the middle. Back it goes to the kitchen for something different. Meanwhile, I can’t eat my dish because she has nothing. Fortunately, the manager sees this and hastily brings out the soup de jour. He gets high marks. By that time, I’m eating cold lamb meatballs which were just OK.
Our waiter — I just gotta ask– what is up with the black nail polish? I know Halloween was the night before — but when you are ordering $ 35−40/plate– seeing black fingernail polish on a guy serving your food, well — it’s not the right venue.
I probably hit them on an off night (Day after Halloween, daylight savings). But having an off night while I’m paying for it — well, you can see the issue.

We came here with no reservation and got lucky because we were able to sit at the bar.
Service was ok but the food was pretty good.
I had the chilaquiles and the portion seemed tiny at first but it was filling,
they have bottomless mimosas to please the crowds!
For a place serving a good breakfast on weekends, i am disappointed they open until ten in the morning. I tried to go again and ended up at Patio at 9AM, not realizing red door was closed.

Why OH why does this place open so late on weekends?
they open at 10AM, reservations highly encouraged.
bottomless bellini for 10.00 will have me coming back.
Service was OK but we walked in with no reservations and the restaurant doesn’t offer outside seating, it is not a big restaurant but next time I will be sure to make a reservation.
There is nothing mini about the mini cini breakfast item, it is huge and delicious if you crave sugar and want something really bad and yummy.

Came here for Sunday brunch with a group of girlfriends. Other Unilocal reviews noted that Sunday brunch fills up as the restaurant is quite small so we made a reservation through Open table and glad we did. We were seated right away with no wait. There were musicians set up in the corner of the restaurant and made the dining experience even more lovely.
The girls and I had opted for the bottomless mimosas. They were delicious and cheap too — $ 10! Our waiter too was generous and ensured that our glasses kept full. Being farm to table and offering cage free eggs, Red Door has a variety of brunch options (even if small) they have an option for everyone from (what we ordered) bacon jam eggs benedicts (BAT Benny), fliget mignon on poached egg (Baller Benny), short ribs and pancakes (my fave), to a cinnamon bun to die for. All were delicious and rich in flavor. Definitely a must visit brunch spot.

Get the cinnamon roll!!! (Also known as Miss Cinny Bun) This thing will blow your mind!
While visiting San Diego joined a few friends here for brunch and it was wonderful! The restaurant is beautiful, the service was excellent and the food was incredibly good. I cannot speak to what everyone else had as honestly, the Bellini’s were flowing that day BUT I do know my biscuits and gravy were delicious!!! But I do remember everyone almost cleaning their plates so I have to say that there were no complaints and everyone left more than happy with their meals.
I definitely recommended and look forward to returning next time I am in town!

Been meaning to try this place out and so glad today was the day that I did. Parking can be tough, street with meters or the surrounding neighborhood is what you’ll find.
The establishment is quite small but not at all lacking in detail and was reminiscent of someone’s well decorated, cozy and way too cute home. There are a few booths that were stuffed with pillows and three separate dining areas, one in the front, one in the middle and another in the back with a huge wall of wines. A friend and I sat by the window and it was spacious enough for four.
We ordered the lamb-​wich and the garden bowl with steak tips. We were stunned with our choices. The lamb was tender and super tasty and the bowl was like a premium stir fry, it had the protein you desired with the quinoa and veggies that are good for the soul. The peach ketchup was very good. And note that this is coming from someone who HATES ketchup! Both dishes ran about $ 14 and I felt I spent my money’s worth. Our waitress tempted us with dessert. We opted for the banana cream pie, she told us it was their signature. What a great pie. It was stacked so if you’re shooting for something small that is two or three bites you might want to skip it. But if you’re sharing with another person or two, this is just right.
Our waitress did an amazing job, she wasn’t weird or talked too much. She was friendly in a natural demeanor. She gave us recommendations and was honest when she hadn’t had a dish that was new. Didn’t catch her name but she had a nose ring, thank you!
Extremely satisfied with my first experience. I hope I will get to dine for dinner sometime in the future!

Awesome little spot. Has about 15 tables and a small bar.
Small menu but tasty food.
Wanted to get the Tomahawk (pork chop) because it came with Mac n Cheese but really wanted the Lamb Meatballs… decisions decisions.
Our waiter suggested the lamb meatballs with a side of Mac N Cheese… waittttttttt what??? I can get a side of mac… yes! It’s not on the menu so be sure to ask.
Mac was absolutely delicious… creamy, saucy and tasty. It was $ 8 for the side, but the side was large and very filling. Cheese was ridiculously good. I should have asked but it had to have been made with Gruyère. The only thing «missing» was some breadcrumbs to top it off.
Lamb meatballs was so good, it was ridiculous. It had home 3 large made lamb meatballs which were moist and succulent, slivers of green beans and zucchini and feta. It also had a bed of crispy potatoes at the bottom, which were by the way the best crispy potatoes I ever had… tasty and kept its crisp even with the sauce. Super filling.
The menu is limited so it isn’t a place I would go often. But its such a great spot for high quality food in a great ambiance.
Service was superb. We had our server, runner, and busboy who cleaned up all our crumbs between meals. Thanks guys!

Cute little place with a nice ambiance. I came here with my girlfriends and we really liked how it had a home-​cooking experience feel to it. I even liked the cute little names they had for their menu items. We shared a cheese plate, I think they called it fromage a trois, very cute.
I had the turkey meatballs for my entrée and it was perfectly cooked. Even though the place is small, they didn’t rush us out and the waitress was attentive from start to finish. She even suggested the banana cream pie, which was really good.
I think we need more restaurants like this in town, it makes the dining experience much more personal and relaxed.