Knotty Barrel Rancho Penasquitos

We were looking for a halfway point between our home and our friends in East County so based on the reviews we selected this place. We were greeted right away and sat in a booth. The first thing I noticed was the plexiglass dividers between the booths were dirty with fingerprints and honestly made me want to move to a table because it wasn't great to look at. Our server was incredible. She was very accommodating, friendly and took great care of us. This is the reason the 3 stars because of the service. Excellent beer list and even had non-alcoholic beer which was appreciated. Our only complaint was the food. The smashburger came out looking like a burger from a school cafeteria. No flavor and dry. I asked for a burger like the one my wife got (house burger?) because it looked better. When mine came out I asked the manager who brought it and was very nice and accommodating, if there was any sauce on it. There is nothing. Had to add mustard, mayonnaise and ketchup. The burger was split in three places and also over cooked. Our grilled burgers at home are way more flavorful. In fact that was the one complaint by all was the food lacked flavor. Including the poke stack and fish and chips. The seasonal flatbread with chorizo was tasty and should have probably had just the wings. Again, disappointed because this location is perfect to meet up, but probably won't be back due to the food.

I loved this place! Great doggy place. Their patio was great for my babies!I got the sausage trio. They were fine. I mean, nothing phenomenal about sausages. I said the same thing about the brat in Germany, so there's ny thought on sausages. Lol. They had 2 dollars off their 3-6pm happy hour menu. Also, 7$ red and white wine. Still, the place was comparable to other restaurants price wise. The service was fast and pleasant. The host was great at greeting. This is a very chill vibe and comfortable. I'd definitely come again!

Interesting pub in the middle of PQ. We were pleasantly surprised by the creativity of the food, not typical pub fare. We tried four different appetizers to go with a Friday night beer. -whipped goat cheese toast was the unanimous favorite. Goat cheese spread on thick wheat toast topped with hazelnuts, pomegranate arils, pickled fennel, and carrot. It was absolutely delicious but very difficult to eat. Nuts and pomegranate rolled off and the carrot and fennel were too big. Pickled fennel is tasty!-seasonal flatbread with sausage and peppers had the perfect amount of heat-totchos had a mild cheese sauce, jalapenos, and pickled onions. Tots were nice and crispy, kind of fell flat unless you have a composed bite with all of it together -Brussels sprouts were a bit of a letdown. It seemed to be a riff on elote. The cream and pickled onions were good but the corn didn't belong and the sprouts themselves weren't very well seasoned They had a good beer selection, mostly IPA. Friendly wait staff and plenty of parking. They have a large patio that looks nice but it was too chilly the night we went. Would definitely come back!

My husband and I tried to come here on a weekend and they were packed. Tried again on a Tuesday happy hour, with a group of 7, and was able to get a table inside. Service was friendly and efficient. Food was delicious and came out in a reasonable amount of time. It's no doubt that this is a popular locals spot. Great for groups to gather.

we tried this location out and were pleasantly surprised! such a good find. It's a little farther from our house than our standard burger place but worth the drive. I love the salads with salmon and the rest of the family loves the burgers. It's all good. Oh and the pretzel is good too. Perfect place to watch a game and eat good food.

We met here with family to celebrate our parents' 64th wedding anniversary although they have both passed. There were seven of us missing four family members. My sister made the reservation so, when we arrived we were quickly directed to our table. The interior was very clean and had a combination sports bar, rustic, and industrial vibe with the exposed ducting overhead. The interior is nicely laid out and there is a patio for outdoor dining. Our waitress was very friendly and hardworking. She explained that one of the fryers was down so that limited our ability to order some of the menu items. I was looking forward to fish & chips. Instead I opted for the Turkey & Brie on sourdough bread with tater tots. It was delicious! The majority of the family ordered burgers or sandwiches. The food came out quickly. Everybody enjoyed the food but a little disappointed about the fryer being out of commission.We would like to return and try out the menu items we were unable to order this visit.

Very lowkey well decorated brunch, lunch and dinner restaurant located in Rancho Penasquitos. Server was on top of his game, and took great care of my party of six. The food menu is small but there is definitely something for everyone, mighty but small. Great drinks, great value for your money! I will be returning if I am in the area again!

I've been here a few times now and I've loved it every visit. I love their cocktails and I'm normally a beer type of girl. Service is fast and the servers are always nice. Their fish n chips are probably some of the best I've had! I love that they're kid friendly & my kids loved their food as well. Highly recommend if you want a cold beer and some good food.

I met a couple of girlfriends after work for cocktails and dinner. I ventured up north to meet them at Knotty Barrel. I was surprised to see that it is part of a strip mall with a Vons. While I waited for them, I ordered the French 75. It was great. Nate really knows how to mix a drink. Once they arrived, we were seated in Chelsey's section. She was nice and friendly. She left us alone so we could catch up. We were seated in the bar area in a booth. There was an odd step so watch out how much you drink or you will end up eating $h1t trying to get out of the booth. We started off with the roasted brussels sprouts and loaded tots totchos. Both were really good. Great for sharing with others. The tater tots with beer cheese and bacon were chefs kiss. My friends ordered the ahi poke stack. I didn't try it as I am not adventurous when it comes to raw fish. For my dinner, I ordered the Carnitas Mac and Cheese. I was caught off guard by the level of spice. The jalapeño and green chile flavor was strong. It you only like a little bit of spice, don't get this. It did have good flavor. There wasn't very much carnitas so I was a bit disappointed. Due to all of the cheese, it did not hold well the following day. In retrospect, I probably should have got one more appetizer and called it a day. I will stick with appetizers on my next visit.

Best fish'n chips we've had this side of Ireland. The batter was thin and crispy, served with an excellent tartar sauce, malt vinegar and the lemon was grilled for a delicious touch. Added bonus? Guinness on draft Excellent service and casual dining indoors or outdoor patio. We'll be back soon