Dining in Carlsbad During Coronavirus

During the global pandemic, a new sense of normal has taken shape. No matter where you come from or who you are, the pandemic has influenced lives in every community across the globe. We are all working together to figure out how to navigate things like work, childcare, recreation, socialization, and our health. Leaders in the scientific community are working tirelessly to provide guidance, better understand the pandemic, and treat those who have become sick. We are learning how things like social distancing, washing our hands, and disinfecting common areas can stop the spread of the virus. These things are paving the way for us to be able to start re-engaging in the things that we have been missing during the quarantine.

One of the major parts of life that have changed during quarantine is how we eat. The city of Carlsbad is known for having some of the top chefs and most eclectic cuisines in the nation. During the pandemic, many popular food institutions have had to put their businesses on hold while quarantine is in place. Others have quickly shifted to take-out and delivery options.

Either way, people have to eat. Patronizing Carlsbad restaurants provides support for restaurants struggling to remain open during this time. Luckily, outdoor dining and things like curbside pickup and delivery are available through apps like Grubhub, Uber Eats, and DoorDash. With outdoor patios, distanced seating, dedicated servers, face coverings, and social distancing in place, Carlsbad restaurants are working hard to keep the community safe while serving up their most popular dishes.

Here is a list of popular Carlsbad restaurants and their current statuses. Since things are constantly shifting, it is best to check directly with a restaurant to confirm their hours of operation and menu options.

Carlsbad Brewing Company – Currently open. Tues-Sun, Noon – 8 p.m. (subject to change)

Carruth Cellars – Temporary Hours. Mon-Sat 3 p.m.-7 p.m. & Sun 2 p.m.- 6 p.m. Operating at a limited capacity with no outside food allowed. Wine club monthly bottles are to-go only. Parties up to 8 welcome.

Casa de Bandini – Open Mon – Sun, 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Call for take-out or use DoorDash or Postmates for delivery.

Clara – Now open for take-out, curbside pickup, and delivery. Cocktails, beer and wine are available for pickup. Tues – Sun, 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Crust Pizzeria – Online ordering available. Outside dining Tues-Sun from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Closed Mondays.

Ebullition Brew Works & Gastronomy – Currently offering pick-up and delivery of original beer only. On-site dining and tasting is closed until further guidance. Beer delivery now available through GrubHub. Open for visitors 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Hacienda de Vega – Now open for business. The interior has been redesigned with the pandemic in mind, and the live music layout has been updated. Take-out is available while indoor dining restrictions are in place.

Hennessey’s Tavern – Locations are open for take-out and delivery through DoorDash.

Richard Walker’s Pancake House – Open every day from 6:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. with social distancing in place and outdoor seating available on the patio.

Al’s Cafe in the Village – Open for business daily, 6:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Online ordering available.

Bantam’s Roost – Outdoor dining available.

Karl Strauss – Online ordering and contactless curbside pickup available.

Park 101 – Curbside pickup available Wed – Sun. They’ve also added two new restaurants concepts at their location with Wicked Maine Lobster open daily and The Aloha Spot open Fri – Sun for brunch.

Shorehouse Kitchen – Online ordering available through DoorDash.

Urban Plates – SoCal dining rooms now open for outdoor dining. Takeout, curbside pickup and delivery options through Postmates, DoorDash, and Uber Eats are all available.

Wood Ranch – Kitchen and bar now open. Takeout available. Hand sanitizing stations are available throughout the outdoor dining areas and patrons must wear masks and face coverings when not seated at their tables. If waiting to be seated, guests are asked to wait in their car. Party sizes are limited.

Pizza Port – Now open. Sun – Thurs, 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Fri – Sat, 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Online ordering and beer to-go available.

Toast Gastrobrunch – Open for takeout beginning May 23rd from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Cafe Elysa – Open for take-out only. Guests are encouraged to call ahead to ensure that menu items are available.

Leap Coffee – Currently offering free shipping on all U.S. orders over $30.00

Steady State Roasting – Open daily, 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Please allow 5-10 min for your order.

The Goods – Closed Monday. Open Tues, Thurs, and Sun from 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Wed, Fri, and Sat 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Vigilucci’s – Now open with limited seating available.

Barrio Eat Mexican – Open 7 days a week, 12:00 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Lucha Libre Taco Shop – Order online for pickup or delivery through DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub.

Senor Grubby’s – Open 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., online ordering available.

Del Lusso’s – Dine-in available with an open-air patio. Online pickup and delivery available as well.

Mendocino Farms – Open for takeout, curbside pickup, delivery and catering 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Pronto’s Gourmet Market – Open Mon-Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Online ordering available as well.

BigFoot Natural Cafe – Open Tues-Sun 12:00 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Carlsbad is Taking Steps to Keep Diners Safe

While many of the restaurants in Carlsbad are slowly reopening, dining-in looks a bit different than it did before quarantine. The City of Carlsbad is one of the few cities in Southern California that is officially allowing temporary use of public sidewalks and private parking for outdoor dining and expanded retail space. This means that restaurants can safely position tables and reduce the amount of indoor space being used for guests.

Businesses interested in using one of the many private parking lots in Carlsbad can fill out an application in order to notify the city of their plans. Those interested in expanding onto sidewalks can fill out a Right Way Use Application and complete the necessary steps to ensure patron’s safety in these new areas.

One of Carlsbad’s most famed restaurants, Jeune et Jolie, is taking safety to a new level. They have recently reopened as an all-outdoor restaurant. Owner John Resnick has been closely monitoring dining safety since early March. With health and safety as top priorities for his staff and guests, the decision to transition outdoors made perfect sense. The restaurant has repurposed its entire State Street parking lot into an outdoor dining space. Reservations launched on June 10 and the restaurant officially reopened on June 22.

The Windmill Food Hall Has Reopened

Before the pandemic hit, the Windmill Food Hall went through extensive renovations and is now officially back open to the public. They are hosting all day happy hours Monday through Thursday, trivia on Mondays, special drinks on Wednesdays, and free live music on Thursdays. With social distancing measures in place and to-go drinks available, the Windmill Food Court is happy to continue serving the Carlsbad community.

While the pandemic has changed our sense of normal, good food is still right around the corner. Dine outdoors at a distance, order online, or opt for curbside pickup in order to stay safe and healthy while still enjoying your favorite foods and supporting local business.