ARTIFACT at Mingei Reviews

Strangely, Tripadvisor does not list this restaurant under Balboa Park. And it only has 1 review. We took a 6 week roadtrip across the country, looking for good restaurants wherever we stopped, and this may have been the best one. We were walking around the park and found it when we went in the Mingei Folk Museum. We ate on the patio on a beautiful day in January. We had pork with blue corn tortillas, lamb kibbeh with pita, wine and special non-alcolic drinks. All were excellent, as was the service and the atmosphere. We had earlier tried to get into another restaurant that was highly recommended and we were very glad that we didn't.

While this is an obvious restaurant to eat at if you were in Balboa Park, the food is so inventive that it’s worth the journey to come to Balboa Park just to eat here. Positioned in the middle of The Mingei museum, the room is absolutely bespoke and beautifully customized in its decor and the service is excellent. We had the roasted beets salad, pea and potato Samosa and the little gem salad and shared everything. Every bite was delicious, fresh and seasonal. They also have some very inventive mocktails, and I recommend that you eat on the outdoor patio, weather permitting, as the Patio has a mid-century metal sculpture on the wall that used to hang downtown in a bank that was repurposed for this area and is absolutely spectacular.

We had 3 amazing dishes and a dessert. The food here was 10/10 and on a hot day we were so lucky to sit for a long leisurely meal. You might think that the multicultural theme of this restaurant would mean that the flavors clashed, but they did not. We ordered spicy tofu, a gorgeous beet salad, meatballs with rice, and the chocolate mousse. Major thumbs up for every delicious bite!

Visited recently for dinner with my wife, son, and his girlfriend. Nice menu focusing on fresh and locally sourced food. Emphasizes ancient methods, spices, and herbs. Great venue in the Mengei International Museum at Balboa Park. A bit pricey, but worth the visit.

Just recently named a Michelin restaurant and I can understand why. The food was not only delicious but beautiful. The staff was incredibly friendly. We came to celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss. We were able to make a reservation through open table. We were greeted with smiles upon entering even though we were 5 minutes late. The environment is causal and not stuffy. In fact, the restaurant is more or less in the middle of a museum. Dress of any kind is welcome. All the tables are different adding an eclectic vibe. Some have couches with colorful pillows as seats. Kelly was our server! She offered bubbly to celebrate our anniversary. She was energetic and genuine. You can tell she loves working here. Now back to the food. Wow! So many choices. We settled on a short rib with noodles since that is Kelly’s favorite (tacos are her other!) and lamb. We finished with coconut ice cream and chocolate mousse with coconut cream because what is a celebration without dessert? The chocolate mousse was not chocolate my but the roasted coconut under the coconut cream made it delicious. It will soon be difficult to get a table. When making plans, add this to your list. We came for lunch and appetizers were $10-$20 and entrees $19-$29 and dessert under $10. Probably not a place for picky kids but for adults, couples, teenagers, ladies luncheon, business… yes! A treasured find and wonderful experience!

The very best in Balboa Park ( San Deigo ). Always changing upscale menu. Delicious with a very nice atmosphere. Highly, highly recommend reservations. Lunch hours are 11:30 am t0 2:30 pm, Happy Hour: Friday & Saturday 2:30 to5:00 pm, Dinner on Fridays only, 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm. We both had their Mole Duck Huarache paired with a nice glass of Riesling.

Creative global dishes in a pleasant setting. Flavorful options from all over the world. Also located in Balboa Park so a win-win.

Great vibe and service. Our waitress was very kind and attentive. We had the shrimp dumplings for appetizer, and the Piri Piri chicken and the avocado salad for our entrée. Also recommend the sangria. All were excellent!

The food here is excellent: creative, different…. Service is fantastic (Kelly is FABULOUS). Treat yourself to a museum/Balboa Park day and a meal here—it’s so worth it. Don’t miss the pierogis, the mocktails they offer, and the tapioca for dessert. A real pleasure!

It's always great to come to this place. The changing menu brings new delicious surprises every time. Friendly knowledgable staff. This time we tried the Avocado Bowl, the Heirloom Melon Salad and the Swordfish w/ Clams. Hmmm good! The best place in Balboa park to eat. I recommend making reservations!!!!