Wine Steals Review (Cardiff By Sea Restaurants)

Pricing:

Another one of those "artisan" food places (I have theories about that word related to cost).  The food menu consists mostly of pizza, wraps and cheese/meat plates.  You're going to be spending about $25 per  food item (per pizza or per cheese plate).  But the food is kind of an afterthought.  Most people go here to drink.  The wine here ranges from $10-50 with the average bottle being about $17.

Distance:

A Cardiff By Sea restaurant.  Right off San Elijo Ave. and very close to Birmingham as an intersection.  Right next to the Jack in the Box if you're familiar with the area.  5-10 minute drive for most Encinitas people.

Thoughts:  

This place is overpriced.  The pizza is almost forgivable but $25 for a cheese board containing a few sparse chunks of cheese is just ridiculous.  The wine they sell is average.  If you know a little about wine you can find a decent bottle for a good price but most of the options there are little more than table wine.

But, I won't deny that it's a fun environment.  After 5pm most evenings it gets pretty crowded.  On Friday and Saturday nights it's packed and very much a single's bar type of scene.  So you go for the experience.  It's by the beach, it has a great view at sunset... not a bad way to get a buzz and have relaxed conversation with friends.  

If you're not into the overly crowded bar scene, the best time to go to Wine Steals in the afternoon around 3:30 or 4.  No one is there and you can have your pick of table or couch and just hang out drinking wine.  Then it doesn't really matter how crowded it gets later because you've already claimed your spot.