Carvers Steaks & Chops Reviews

4.4

229 of 4,574 Restaurants in San Diego


Reviews

Christmas Eve Dinner was OUTSTANDING!

By Mrs. Patti |

I have been here a few times both before we moved out of SD and when we go back to visit. It is a family tradition to go to dinner on Christmas Eve so that no one has to cook or do dishes so we can go to church and get to bed early. We made reservations with no problems. We were greeted and seated immediately. We try to sit in a certain server's area (he's a great guy). Wine list was extensive, meats were cooked to perfection. Food was delivered in a timely manner even though we were a larger party. Service was perfect. Atmosphere and decorations were lovely. Couldn't ask for a better night and a better meal!

Superb Steak House with Outstanding Staff

By Chuck B |

I called ahead to make reservations and inquire about their menu ingredients. My wife has extensive food allergies and cannot tolerate seasoned or spiced foods (bummer! but that's life!) I was assured there would be no problem - locally sourced menu items are prepared individually so main and side dishes could be prepared "bland" - as desired. We arrived and were seated. We explained the menu situation to the waitress and she was able to offer many suggestions, noting that she had local customers with food allergies and the restaurant could handle it. We ordered prime rib and it was one of the best, if not THE best meal we've eaten in recent history. Midway through the meal, the manager arrived at our table to ask about our meal. It turns out I'd spoken to him when I called. He'd put a note in their reservation system, which had been overlooked by the hostess & host. Since our waitress was "on top" of the situation, it didn't really matter, but the manager was very friendly and apologetic about missing the initial contact info. His manner and style, and that of the staff and nearby diners, lead me to believe this is a very well run establishment with many return customers. While it is a steak/chop house, the Carver's menu includes a good variety of seafood, fowl and pasta dishes.

Good food

By Jim M |

Good prime rib upscale atmosphere a little pricey but food is good.

Delicious Steak with great ambience!

By Victoria F |

Carvers is a classic steak house with really good food. A family group we went to celebrate a couple of birthdays and we weren't disappointed. The Rib eye I ordered was perfect and came with a salad/soup and side. The cheese bread was awesome. I highly recommend a visit if you are a steak or prime rib lover.

Local favorite

By paul303030 |

We go there often because we can always get a table and the food is consistently excellent at a reasonable price. The ambience is also quite pleasant. All meals come with soup or salad and vegetables or potatoes. The steaks and prime rib are excellent and among the best in town. The pasta and seafood dishes are also superb. We have never had a meal that was only mediocre.

DISHONEST General Manager - Andrew Boyer

By jenita143 |

I had a $20 gift certificate issued by Paragon Steakhouse Inc for Carvers Steakhouse that stated it was redeemable at the Rancho Bernardo location. We drove 20 miles there to try the resturant out and was relatively satified with our food portions, however, when we tried to redeem the gift certificates, the waiter informed me that they were no longer valid. The certificates have no expiration dates on them, but we were told that the resturant was bought by another company and they would not accept them. We then asked to speak with their manager. A man came out smelling like cigarettes and repeated the same thing without introducing himself. He told us he wouldn't get paid for the certificates and suggested that we drive to the issuing company 4 exits off the freeway to get a reinbursement. He then gave me a business card for "Andrew Boyer, general manager" and told me I can give his boss a call tomorrow when he was in. Fustrated by the situation, I called the number on the card while still in the restaurant. A man answered and when I asked to speak to Andrew, he said that was his name. I asked him if he was at the restaurant and he informed me that he was at the "corporate office". I explained the situation to him and he gave me the same EXACT explaination already knowing the name of the issuing company. I thought his voice seemed suspiciously similar to the man we spoke to earlier so I flagged down our waiter. The waiter politely informed us that the cigarette-smelling man we spoke to WAS Andrew Boyer, therefore, he had LIED to us on the phone about being from corporate. Their REAL owner's name was Mike. I checked the number on the card that I had called to get "corporate" was indeed, the phone number to the restaurant itself. Overall, the restaurant had good food but the customer service and professionalism of their general manger was unacceptable. I personally can let the $20 go, but after being lied to over it .....is ridiculous!! How can a man like that TRY to run a high-end steakhouse?

SERVICE AND FOOD WERE OUTSTANDING

By Jim F |

Service and food were outstanding and the price for the quality food is reasonable. The filet was cooked to perfection. The Wedge salad had a very good blue cheese dressing with bacon and tomato pieces. I recommend Carver's for what it is: a long standing, well established restaruant. Try it, you won't be disappointed.

You may arrive hungry...but you sure won't leave hungry.

By Garth P |

Wonderful staff , excellent food and service...what more can I say !

Nice!!

By Marshliving1 |

Very nice restaurant tucked away in a large shopping center in RB. Was greeted by a friendly hostess and the bartenders were really friendly too, making us feel right at home. We have been there twice since we can walk there from our rental, but mainly because we were so impressed by the atmosphere - almost like it's the neighborhood "pub" where everyone knows your name! The food is excellent and the happy hour is a great deal. Highly recommend!

Good Food, Great Service

By Cooking_Hawaiian |

This restaurant is nicely hidden in a strip mall. I have been staying in this area for years for work and somehow missed it. For those of you interested, just look for Starbucks...the restaurant is behind it. The food was good...I really enjoyed my ribeye steak. It was cooked perfectly. I asked for a side of creamed horseradish and was pleasantly surprised. Our waiter Adam did an amazing job, was very informative, made appropriate suggestions regarding the menu and even gave me a tip on how to make my own horseradish...which I really appreciated. I will definitely be back!

Wonderful

By Alli719 |

Visited this place with my husband and co-worker. Our server was terrific and friendly. My steak and veggies were done to perfection and everything tasted wonderful and fresh. My husband asked for a wine suggestion and was very pleased. Would definitely go back.

Great dinner experience

By dvmal |

8 of us went here for a family get together and all of us were wowed. The service was excellent, and our waiter Craig was prompt and efficient. The foods was prepared properly and the meals included a choice of salads and soups, yummy bread, the Main course, and a choice of side dishes. I had the surf and turf special with a bacon wrapped filet and a lobster tail, both of which were prepared properly and served hot. The dessert menu was impressive, so we got four desserts to share. The whisky bundt cake was awesome, and my wife loved the molten chocolate dessert. All in all a great restaurant that's tucked away in a shopping center.

Not a good place for allergies - management indifferent

By DM H |

We went to Carvers last night to try their $13 special (a friend gave me a gift card for my birthday). I have a dairy allergy and am allergic to some spices. I gave the server my medical allergy card. It turns out - I can have the steak (but I guess not the chicken) on the special but not any of the sides. Originally, I basically said (which I do at most restaurants) whatever you can give me is fine. Carvers is the only restaurant ever that said it would ruin their bottom line to give me anything else - I could pay $13 to get the steak by itself (nothing else on the plate) with the option of then paying full price ($4 each) for sides to get a baked potato and/or broccoli in place of the mashed potatoes and green beans. I didn't really want to talk to the manager - but the server had him come over anyway. He kept saying sorry you feel that way - not sorry that we have in any way made your dining experience less nice. He said that they get the green beans and mashed potato ingredients in bulk (so I asked him why they couldn't just make me green beans without butter - and he finally said oh - we can do that but there is no equivalent option for the mashed potatos). I am so underimpressed. I could see it if I went in there saying can you substitute this for that but I was completely open - in fact if they had just put green beans on with the steak I probably wouldn't have thought twice about it. The management just had a really awful attitude like it was my problem I posted the above on a mom's group - and afterwards I added (in response because a bunch of moms suggested talking to the corporate hq - they had experienced similar issues with the management not caring at all) Carvers is privately owned - no corporation. The GM was there that night and approved the decision - I think it is his/her policy. Yeah - if you have any food allergies (other than gluten-free - apparently they do cover that - my guess from looking at the menu is nut-free/peanut-free would be ok if you spoke with the waiter too) - I really would avoid this place. I think what bothered me the most is the manager really obviously could not care at all and was very off putting. He seemed like this was a conversation he had been through many times, and he was just bored with it and annoyed with people (to most restaurants known as paying customers) who wanted to take up his time with it... It just kind of ruined what could have been a nicer meal. I only wound up getting a salad which was ok - my husband's steak was very good and my son liked his Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and French Fries.

Best steak I've had

By Ben J |

I got the 12 dollar Tuesday filet mignonette and it was the best steak I've ever had at a restaurant. I mean that when I say it was the best I've ever had In a restaurant. I'd say it's better than my mom's but then I'd be in trouble. I wish I could afford to go on the other days of the week. I'll definitely be going back.

nice place

By jchd1948 |

went with a group of 10, friendly and pleasant atmosphere, the food and service were good. Happy to re-visit

What a Steakhouse Should Be

By ChinadollRVC |

After a long round of golf in a heatwave, three hungry golfers were in the mood for a steak and potato dinner. We ventured to Carvers and loved it. First off, the interior looks exactly what a high-end steakhouse should look like. Dark, rich walls, a roaring fire in the main dining room, and deep, comfy booths along the walls. Our waiter, Ryan, was terrific and made several good suggestions. My husband and I are not particularly huge eaters, so we shared a porterhouse. In many restaurants porterhouse cuts are huge and meant for two, but at Carvers it was an individual portion, making it perfect for us to share. The steak came with a choice of wedge or Caesar salad and a potato. Each salad was delicious and large without being ridiculous. We shared the baked potato as well, and to our surprise everything was split for us in the kitchen. The only thing we ordered in addition were the sherries mushrooms, which were a great accompaniment to the steak. Ordered medium-rare, the steak (bone in) was seasoned and grilled to perfection. After recently going to a very expensive steakhouse where everything was a la carte, we appreciated Carvers even more. The third in our party ordered the Chicago Ribeye and he said it was a great, tender cut of beef. Carvers has a fairly extensive single-malt Scotch list, so my husband was happy with their selection. The waiter suggested he try a "smoky scotch" after his Glenlivet, and gave him a small amount to sample. We topped off our meal with one Mississippi mud pie with three forks. We got beat up on the course pretty good, but were treated very well at Carvers. We would go back in a NY minute and recommend it to anyone in the San Diego area.

An excellent meal in a very comfortable setting

By DreamSeeker94 |

We met some special old friends here because they live nearby and our hotel was only a few minutes away. We had a great time together with some excellent food. The service was attentive but not bothersome. All of our food was cooked the way we requested and the flavors were awesome. I definitely recommend this restaurant.

I can only comment on the bar/dance room

By ifilef |

I've never had dinner there. I'm a divorced guy in my late 50's and like to dance. Bands are usually good for dancing-rock n roll, and there's apparently no cover charge. The crowd is age appropriate mid-40's on up to early 60's. Bartenders are usually attentive in getting drinks to you promptly; however, I've had drinks removed that were not yet completed on two occasions out of the five or so occasions that I've been there. That I do not appreciate. However, they'll make it right for you, but you can't 'unscramble an egg' and it's unpleasant.. The crowd is somewhat 'cliquish' as there appear to be a number of regulars. Most women that go there are not of the highest classes and some are what might be referred to as 'bar-fly's'. I've done quite a bit of dancing there, but found it to be not the friendliest of places, and will not be returning. Hostesses at the entrance always welcome you.

GREAT VALUE

By traveler123Ohio |

Very very nice place to dine. Staff was very attentive to our needs and the service was prompt. Food was excellent. I would dine here again.

A Sentimental Favorite!

By LutheranLadySanDiego |

When it comes to family gatherings, Carvers is our choice. My mother-in-law has such fond memories of date nights with my husband's father. Whenever we go we are reminded of the excellent service and classic ambiance and menu. We always leave with a satisfied smile!

Top of the class

By Channel_70 |

The Hendersonville Video crew voted for steak. Our client is an RB resident and knows every good steak eatery in North County. He said if we didn't rave about Carver's he'd pick up the tab. I had the prime rib and it was totally perfect. I almost didn't need a knife. Carver's is not trendy. Yes!

Excellent choice for us

By MarshallGulch |

My Dad now lives at Remington Club next door. Perfect choice to walk to dinner . You can see it from across the lot So it was prime rib, sirloin steak and shrimp scampi The first two were excellent. My shrimp was terrific but an absence of pasta. Still good but I would have a steak next time. The Caesar salad was just ok. I d have the other mixed Next time. We chose a quiet room so we could talk. Very special, and our service was superb. I can t wait to return. We ve been here years ago, but we ll Make this our place from now on. Thanks for some great meals.

largest steak i've had, and tasty till the last bite

By Csabatje |

this is a somewhat funny restaurant since you really have to look for it, where the entrance is... but it's worth the trouble. It was though full of elderly people, don't know why; so at first sight it might seem a bit too posh, but in the end it is a nice place. They have a very good wine selection, which i enjoyed fully, next to a porterhouse steak, the largest steak i've ever had, and one of the best tasting ones... Service is quick and efficient and not too aggressive as it usually would be at many places in the US (at least for a european guest :D ) It's not a cheap place at 30-ish bucks for a porterhouse but... worth a visit.

Carvers Steaks & Chops, Rancho Bernardo (San Diego), CA

By DaisyS01 |

Carvers Steak & Chops is a nice upper scale restaurant. It is classified as 'fine dining', but attire can be casual. It's not 'snooty' fine dining. Food was good, average pricing for fine dining.

Good food Great service

By Robert J |

This place has been around a long time but it has very reasonable priced food and the service is truly excellent. The Happy Hour in the Bar has prices you won't believe and some very good choices. Try Andrew's Cajun Shrimp. Great deal on good Prime Rib and lot's more. It is rare to see so many choices on a Happy Hour menu. When was the last time you got a Vodka Martini for less than $5 ? Beer and wine half price. Wow ... Management here is really top notch and it shows. We have eaten in the dinning room as well and were just as satisfied. Sunday evenings are our favorite. With Chris behind the bar, Randy serving and Dave (the manager) dropping by to see if everything is O.K. Doesn't get any better.

Value, Value, Value

By JeffofEscondio |

The best Steak value dinner in the county. Some steak houses are better, but not match the value. We generally have the Ribeye which we have found would cost double at Morton's.

Nicer, higher end restaurant - Very good food

By flgrl904 |

We had a large party for my nephew's graduation. The server was excellent and patient with us. They have a nice variety of dishes to choose from. I had the Pacific Rim Salad with grilled shrimp and it was excellent! I appreciated that they had a kid's menu as we had an 8 year old and 10 year old in our party. Everyone enjoyed their meals!

Straight no chaser!

By alj5702 |

This will be a brief review, if you want excellent service and kindness from a very caring staff stop by Carver's. I had never heard of this place before and stopped by with one of my work mates after we arrived in San Diego and this place is no joke!!! I had the lamb chops and my teammate had the steak!!! Simply incredible! On both meals!!!! Excellent location, nice ambiance and delightful good food. Go Carver's Steaks and Chops!!! You won't be dissapointed. Aj

Great steaks

By Megan W |

We had great service, the food was delicious. The meals were well priced for what you got, the only thing was the mushrooms were a little pricey at 6.00 but otherwise good. We were able to get a table right away which was great. I would go back.

Birthday bash

By cstruyk |

Celebrated birthday of wonderful girlfriend here. This is the best and only upscale/nice restaurant in the rancho Bernardo area. Great steak selection. Only reason not a 5 was incredibly short staffed on a Friday night... Also no prime rib on the night we went, which wasn't an issue as had other steaks. One of the better (not the best) steaks I've had in San Diego, but very nice

One of the Best Restaurants in San Diego

By SteveL_SD |

I've been enjoying prime rib; fine steaks and special meals at Carvers (formerly Monterey Jacks - formerly Hungry Hunter) for over 27 years! Every time, I say to myself, "I sould eat here more often." The service and food is superb! Thanks Carvers!

Needs some tender care

By 22club58 |

The last time we ate at this location, many years ago, it was a Hungry Hunter. The decor did not appear to have improved much and needed some tender care with tiles falling off the ceiling in the conservatory area. Service was friendly and helpful but the lunch menu was not that exciting. The prime rib ordered off the regular menu was a good portion and the house salad of romaine lettuce with bacon, onions and peppers was both pleasing and unusual. It seemed to us an average steak house which we appreciated solely because of the efforts of the server. Parking is in an attached lot.

Ordinary

By Neil R |

Ordinary steakhouse like you'd see attached to a Holiday Inn. Various steaks and chops from choice beef. Standard salads and sides.

Good value for a steak /prime rib dinner.

By UmmaBAtraveller |

Kinda old school building that smells moldy . However the dinners are good , not great or outstanding . We had prime rib , steaks , lots of appies , and the chocolate brownie for desert . The service was slow , but ok . And all dinners come with soup , salad. Potatoes options included in price.. Nothing to write home about . But a reasonable steak dinner for the family .

Great service

By Danny L |

I had the filet Mignon. Med. Rare. Very excellent. The service is good at Carvers and the food was great.

Catching up with good friends

By Michelle B |

Meet friends that I haven't seen in a few years. My request was a nice place with good food and a nice wine selection. This place delivered! The food was real delicious & the wine good. Love my prime rib & the spinach salad the dressing was homemade...yum

Best Rehearsal Dinner EVER!

By RobinB15 |

As the Mother of the Groom, trying to plan a rehearsal dinner, far away from my own home city, it was my responsibility to select a place with room to visit, eat, drink and share a wonderful evening after the wedding rehearsal. As the mother of a Marine, I knew the food had to be exceptional, plentiful with lots of BEEF! My son's future father in law suggested Carver's and it was the perfect place. Bruce, the Manager at Carvers was a dream to work with, understanding and helping when the date changed due to deployment, offering menu suggestions and ideas. The highly professional staff, were courteous, fun and informative without ever intruding on conversations and somehow managed to serve everyone (around 50 people) within a very short time frame. No one was left waiting for their entree, drinks or dessert. The steaks were tender, the prime rib was cooked perfectly as were the side dishes, salads and desserts. Thank you to Carver's for making this such an outstanding event.

Stay Away

By catatthebeach |

The good was the live music. A local band was playing on 2-09-2019 and they were very enjoyable. Everything else was bad. 1. Took forever to get menus. 2. Ordered a Johnny Walker Blue Label and was served a substitute though charged the $30 real thing price. 3. Clam Chowder was inedible and was sent back. They did not take it off the bill. 4. Caesar salad was pathetic, dressing lacked flavor. 5. But the unkindest cut of all was the 24 ounce Porterhouse steak: A. Served medium to medium well, though ordered medium rare. B. Was 1/2 inch think and was no where near one and a half pounds. C. Was full of sinew and tendon. Had to have good teeth to gnaw your way through it. No, I do not recommend this place. No, I will not be returning. Oh, our waitress, Jen, although slow to start, did a good job. The place appeared to be understaffed but she stepped up to the plate.

Fantastic Bar Menu

By rc45 |

Great place to grab a wonderful appetizer, light meal, or even something off the main dining room menu. Bar Menu food is plentiful & excellent. During happy hour wine & drinks are 1/2 half as well some of the bar menu items.

Amazing Food

By kzehn |

Good value for the amount of food you get! Excellent service, easy to make reservations, food was amazing

Dinner With Friends That Did Not Go Great

By Jeffrey P |

Made reservations well in advance for six. Parking is good and easy to turn into. We were greeted quickly and shown to a table in a corner. The restaurant was very busy and as a result the server was slow to come for drinks. We understood the problems. It took quite a while for the drinks to arrive, We ordered the Calamari and Garlic Bread appetizers. The Calamari was absolutely wonderful but the Garlic Bread was cold and too toasted. We ordered dinners which includes three Prime Ribs, one Ribeye, and two filets and associated side orders. I had the Caesar Salad (excellent) and the Baked Potato (good). My wife ordered a Caesar Salad (excellent) and French Fries (excellent). My wife's filet was very good but not as rare as she would have liked. I ordered the 14 ounce Prime Rib and it looked like an eight ounce that was the last one in the kitchen. It was very grisly, and not cooked the way I liked it. One of my friends sent his Prime Rib back because it was poorly cut and cooked. Overall, we were disappointed in the dinner and visit.

Welcome to Yesteryear...In a Good Way

By canncan |

Carvers is a classic American steakhouse. The ambiance is traditional, you don't have to yell to talk to your dining companions and the prices are not a la carte as they are at so many other steak chains. We recently went in a party of four, and we arrived in time for the early diner menu... though not intentionally. What a great deal! We started with a shared place of calimari. Instead of the usual rings, these were served in strips mixed with grilled onions and red bell pepper. We all agreed this was the most tender calimari we ever experienced. Two of us had the 8 oz. prime rib, and two of us had the 6 oz. filet. All were perfectly cooked and came with a choice of several salads and several rice or potato offerings. The prime rib was just $19.95, and the steak $20.95. The waitress was young but extremely professional. She knew her menu by heart, including the specials. She was attentive without being intrusive and was very pleasant. In fact, this was the best service we had experienced anywhere in a long time. We splurged and had two desserts, the raspberry cheesecake and the lemon posset; both were delightful. I am not sure how this place escaped our notice for so many years. But now that we know about it, we will most definitely be back!

Great Venue

By ntflady |

I spent a delightful evening with a dear out-of-town friend at this restaurant. The meal was excellent and the staff were so nice.

Great steak!

By JCooperJun |

Older decor, but the service and steaks were fantastic! Great wine list and priced was reasonable for a higher end steak house.

Excellent meal, excellent service

By jfjacksonNewark_Ohio |

Tuesdays is the time you want to go to Carvers! I was skeptical ordering a $13 filet, but it was one of the best dinners I have ever had! Wonderful atmosphere, excellent service, great value for a five star meal!

Very Good! You get what you pay for

By Roy Z |

Carver's was very close to my hotel and I was at first a little surprised by the prices but quickly realized that at Carver's you really do get what you pay for. I ordered an 18 oz bone-in rib eye that was absolutely delicious. Service was prompt and responsive. The wine list is extensive and our bottle of Merlot was excellent.

excellent food in a comfortable setting

By kevin p |

Recommended by a bus friend we had a party of 12. A real enjoyable evening. Laid back, but good service and food was a good. Beer was cold, place was busy thats a good sign. All ages too! I would go again.

A swing and a miss

By ColleenQD |

Booked a romantic dinner for 2 on Valentine’s Day. The small filet I ordered came out lukewarm and very dry (it was cooked to order at medium temp, so shouldn’t have been dry). My husband’s steak was better, he quite enjoyed it. We liked the salads and the bread was really nice. We would go back and give it another try, but I’d skip the filet Mignon and try something else.

Nice & quiet - good for...

By Jennifer D |

Nice & quiet - good for date night.

awesome french onion soup and steaks

By Christine W |

awesome french onion soup and steaks

Delicious Meal and Old Fashioned Steakhouse Atmosphere

By Tracey C |

We started the meal with a calamari appetizer which was fabulous. It was fried but not greasy. The sauce and vegetables make this the best calamari I have had. My husband had the prime rib and I had the beef medallions-they were a special and had three different sauces. I see from the other reviews that some people were unhappy with how their steaks were cooked but ours were exactly how we ordered them. The meat was not overly fatty. We shared the mud pie and it was yummy. We will be going back to enjoy the food and the ambiance.

Nice Place

By BufBills2020 |

Have enjoyed Carvers for family outings in one of their private dining rooms. Food and service were excellent. For regular dinners, have found the seating to be crowded.

Excellent Meal in an Out of the Way Location

By Gladys M |

Located in an little strip mall off the 15 Fwy but don't let the location throw you. Our meals were delicious and the service was excellent! There was a little mistake with my salad but as soon as I brought it to my server's attention, he immediately rectified the problem. I don't get upset when someone makes a mistake as long as it's handled promptly so it was fine. I had the salmon and pasta and my husband had the rib eye which was cooked to order and he loved. Plus, the live music in the bar was festive and enjoyable.

Don't miss it

By Serbay00 |

This steakhouse is more than excellent: service, food, design, fair price, they got it. We had romain and spinach salads really good, rib eyes, one was the day's special cooked, excellent both of them, and a warm apple crisp for dessert. Service was more than you could expect. If you are around stop by.

Delicious

By dunkertons |

We eat at Carvers often. We think your restaurant is one of the best in San Diego. We took our entire family for Christmas Eve dinner and everybody is still raving about it. We asked that Amine to wait on us as he has done it several times before. He went out of his way to provide great service. Thanks for making our Christmas so special.

Just average -- restaurant is tired

By Carlton's Mom |

Food is very average -- shrimp were hard, and so was the pasta. Carpet in the restaurant smells moldy -- clean it or remove it. The restaurant seems tired/dated, needs a refresh! Service was friendly.

Always good!

By Linda L |

Carvers is always good. The service, food, and drinks are consistently good. My daughter always orders the Maple Glazed Pork Chop and loves it every time. I had the Chicken Cordon Bleu last time and it was tender and tasty. The filets are always delicious as well as the salads and the side dishes. We go here frequently and are alway happy.

Ok steakhouse

By gzau |

Carvers is your average steakhouse. It is a but hard to get to as it's entertained is through a shopping mall. They served standard steakhouse good. It's not bad nut not good either. They do have a large retired crowd in early evening.

Needs a refresh...and better steaks

By David Marino |

We have not been here in a number of years and had nostalgic ideas about it being a great steakhouse, but it's just not anymore. The exterior of the building is completely trashed, with paint peeling and damage to the side of the building from the sign being removed, a beat up parking lot and poorly maintained landscaping. From the horribly maintained condition of the property itself, it makes you wonder whether you even want to step inside. Fortunately, the inside is still rustic, and the service is great, but the steak quality just is not fine. My father needed to send his prime rib back and my ribeye was overly fatty. The salads are overdressed. I recommended bringing your own wine as the list is very ordinary with nothing over $100, which doesn't mean that the list is value priced, but rather it's just a lot of pedestrian an ordinary wine being offered. You need to go into this understanding it's affordable, but by no means a fine dining restaurant.

Awesome fillet mignon with Bernaise Sauce.

By SusanM05 |

Awesome fillet mignon with Bernaise Sauce.

Atmosphere and quality of food is excellent

By bwaller1 |

I had salmon that was very fresh and cooked well. The service is excellent. The menu has many options for a variety of tastes. Atmosphere is comfortable with white tableclothes but you can come casual.

Great

By Ellie1704 |

Hidden behind a shopping center in Rancho Bernardo, but it's no secret. Quality food including steaks and prime rib. Friendly bar scene--happy hour all day Sunday. One of a few bars where all drinks, not just well booze, are half price. Friendly, knowledgable wait staff. Don't miss it.

Fine dining in the burbs

By JoAnn S |

You don't have to travel to the city or coast for a fine meal. The beef here is as good as any and the atmosphere is warm and well mannered. It is not inexpensive but a nice place to celebrate a special event.

Very Enjoyable Experience

By technocleric |

The ambiance is wonderful. Classic, upscale, established restaurant feel. Exceptionally well trained staff. Nice menu. There with two others. They loved their meals. Mine was quite good, but my filet mignon, while good was not tender enough to get them a five star rating. Wine selection is excellent.

Dinner

By Jose Luis V |

Nice place. Lots of people. Like the garlic bread. Calamary not the best, chowder was good, ordered the ribeye special it was so so, too much sauce on top of it and for me a bit salty. Créeme brûlée was really good. Option of wines is descent. A bit price for the quality.

Tuesday night special

By DBinCA |

Took advantage of the Tuesday night special, choice of 3 entrees (prime rib, filet, salmon) for $12. It's the perfect amount of great food and very good value. Enjoyed my prime rib, was cooked just how I like it, had a side of sherried mushrooms and pigged out a little on those but so yummy. Recommend making a reservation, we didn't but got there about 8pm and were able to get a table straight away even though it was very busy. Our server, John, was very welcoming and there when we needed him. Great food, good value. Can't beat Tuesdays @ Carvers.

Great Food and Poor Service

By Soc-Trang-Bill |

The food was excellent but service after order was practically non-existent. The waiter took the table candle for replacement and never brought it back; the waiter asked if we wanted more bread, then never brought it; no one asked if we wanted the wine glasses refilled; the water and tea glasses were empty most of the time; one soup never showed up (so I took it off of the tip); and we waited for some time after eating to have the table cleared and the check delivered, Thus my regular 20% plus tip receded to 10%.

Repeat customer!

By Judi G |

Whenever I get to the San Diego area, which is usually 3 times a year or so, I always get to Carvers for dinner. The filet was great, my son liked the ribs, whiskey peppercorn sauce was great as was his BBQ sauce.. romaine salad and garlic mashed potatoes are always good too.. Many appetizer choices look good, next time must try! Prompt service, reminds me of Midwest style supper clubs... A little difficult to find, in the strip mall with Vons

Good but a bit over rated

By Meceebee |

Service, food and atmosphere was good for an average restaurant but reviews and advertising demonstrates "fine dining" which it really isn't. The meal for The 3 of us was over $100 so it's also bit pricey for a Midwest family.

Good upscale Steak/Chop Choice

By NotSpecial |

A Great you-cannot-go-wrong, dependable Steak and Chops restaurant. Nice low key, classy setting, with a muted crowd, with great service and food choices. My first impressions was, this is a great place, to sit back, enjoy a good meal, have a great wine, and have a conversation at a normal volume. In addition to the Steaks, Chops, and Chicken was a surprise of Rack of Lamb ( I got a NY Strip - size choices were very nice ). The wine list and dinning service was very good. Time or order-to-table was very acceptable for a party of five. There was a bar that looked well stocked. The crowd was a little on the older side, which suited my needs. I recommened - so long as it meets your needs.

Fantastic Party Venue

By Mrs. Patti |

Hosting an elegant surprise event can be challenging, but the staff at Carvers was beyond fantastic! From the hostess (Tayler) that played a key roll in not raising any suspicions, to the management that orchestrated the space, staff & kitchen to handle 15 guests, to the wait staff (Lisa & Kathryn) that were exceptionally attentive to every detail. This incredible group of people made this 70th birthday unfold flawlessly! Drinks were always full, dinner was fantastic & the service was impeccable. The general ombiance of the restaurant is elegant, yet yields room for playfulness. The efforts of the staff made for a perfectly enjoyable event. Cannot say enough great things about this restaurant & its entire staff.

The Real Deal Seniors Playground

By lost_bobcat |

I have been going here for over 30 years off and on. I see the reviews and the expectations, but you just need to know what is good here. First, Happy hour is fantastic, great drink deals for under $5, Ryan is the best bartender in North County Hands down and will take good care of you. Then there is music on weekends, starts at 7:30 and packs the house with dance music and fun times, get early for a seat and have some good apetizers. Is this the best steak in town, maybe no... But there are many great apetizers I recommend. Going here to imprese for a big steak dinner will be hit or miss, but stick to the bar and its fun and you will be knowing what Carvers is all about

Review

By Barry R |

Food was excellent. I had an 8 oz filet cooked to perfection. Baked potato was terrific as was the romaine salad. The next nite I had grilled lamb chops excellent. Service good as well. I recommend highly.

Steak, steak and more steak.

By Thunder_Wabbit |

This is the second time I've been to Carver's and I must say that they are the best at what they do. The food was excellent and tasty. They're a little pricey but what you pay for what you get is a fantastic value. Upscale dining that you will definitely enjoy.Try their specials and couples menu!

Everything was delish.

By Mamamurt1 |

My husband and I ate here for Valentines Day and we were both very pleased. It was classy, the service was awesome, and our appetizer and meals were excellent. A bit pricey, but delicious!

Never Disappoints!

By Joann T |

We really enjoy Carvers. The food is consistently good and the staff is very friendly and helpful. We like to bring in our own bottle of wine and its never a problem. Although they do have a very reasonably priced wine list. Our favorites are the Spinach salad and the Prime Rib and we love a good Crème Brule.

Great food, service, atmosphere - and a great deal too

By Jack B |

I hate telling people this - but if you can make Tuesday dinner before 5:30, you can get Sirloin, Prime Rib, Salmon or Chicken + garlic mashed potatoes and vegetable for only $14 !! Yeah, it isn't the ginormous portion size that people expect now, but it is a great dinner and at a great price - in a beautiful quiet, wood paneled restaurant with linen table cloths and matching silverware. And service that can't be beat. If you are looking for a meal with quiet ambiance where you can talk and enjoy your company (not shout over blasting music or be distracted by 12 TVs), this is the place. They have beautiful atrium seating as well if the beautifully paneled wood , heavily padded booths don't suit you. And a fireplace. Nothing beats a nice steak, a glass of good wine and a fireplace. They have an extensive (but reasonably priced) wine list, and the regular menu (both lunch and dinner) has something for everyone and is excellent.

Wonderful not one complaint

By suzanne s |

Recently hubby and I were treated to a delightful dinner at Carvers for our Anniversary. We are both huge steak lovers and have eaten at many high end and not so high end steak houses workd/nationwide... so here is my review. We were seated at the table with two wing back chairs- very comfy -in the room with the fireplace, next to the atrium. We had a 5pm reservation. We were greeted graciously, seated promptly and our wine (we brought from our collection) was corked. $15.00 charge. Carvers wine selection is good size and with a nice variety- $25. and up-but I prefer mine and with that low a corkage fee, no complaints). The wait staff was excellant, attentive, polite, charming and knowledgable on the menu. Carvers has a great early bird specials and we will be back for these. All entrees come with choice of 2 soups, 3 salads and many sides. I had the salad and he had the french onion soup we enjoyed both completely. For the main meal I truly enjoyed the house cut prime rib with baked potato WONDERFUL! I like my meat rare to med rare and it was perfect, trimmed, juicy and seasoned perfectly. Hubby had the Chicken Cordon Blue- he practically licked the plate it was full of flavor and the sauce ws light and really complimented the chicken. I am not a chicken cordon bleu gal, but it did make me think for a moment hmmmm maybeeeeeee and then I went back to my prime rib. LOL There are many appetizers to choose from, but I love stuffed mushrooms as appetizer, this IS a deal breaker for me when it comes to a restaurant. And often they can be dry, bland and crunchy-- humm not a good thing. However, Carvers were delish. Mushrooms were the perfect bite size, with seafood and cheese, a nice bit of seasoning and not dry or crunchy...but not soggy either. I know this is classy but we couldnt help it- we sopped up the cheese and galic sauce with the fresh bread they serve. YUM! Let me point out- sometimes you dont want a steak or it doesnt fit into your budget, but you still want a nice night out with your sweetie ro friends or just by yourself.. Go to Carvers, you can have a glass of wine, a few appetizers, go right for dessert and keep it well with in a budget!! Honestly I can't remember what we had for dessert, it was a banana, chocolate tart thingy and it was another "gotta lick the plate" dish---but we didnt. All in all, go early and enjoy the quite peaceful dining experience, there were some kids there but they were well behaved. The prices were easy on the budget, dinner was $117.00 with tax and 20% gratuity. I said it has outdoor seating-it actually has a beautiful atrium-so you can enjoy the outside in the winter or rainy weather-inside. Plenty of parking Has a full bar Dress casual/comfy Takes all credit cards and cash Let them know its special night.

Perfect Filet Mignon, wonderful taste, best price on Tuesdays

By truthfultravel |

I have written a review for Carvers Steaks at least couple years before and re-reviewing it. This place is awesome in its food, service. The specials on Tuesdays still ongoing for many years, though the price went up little, now at $13. which is still a great value. One has the choice of Filet Mignon, Prime Rib or Salmon served with vegetable ,mashed potatoes, all you can eat bread that was served warm. The Filet was good perfect to order each time. Prime Rib was excellent too. Both were very flavorful. Service was great.

Great restaurant

By lew246 |

Very nice restaurant and bar. Very good Prime Rib. I would recommend it very nice place for dinner or just a drink and appetizers

2 of 3 orders disappointing

By Carmen S |

Our group of four went here to have a fine steak dinner at the end of a wonderful week in San Diego. It seems that if you want a filet mignon you are in the right place but the other 2 orders were not up to par. An order of prime rib was over cooked and seemed small. An order of Peppercorn New York was tough and the the sauce did not have a peppercorn flavor.

Excelent food and service

By robertma2c |

Carvers is a bit dated, and could use an update, but the food was as advertised (early bird special) and enjoyable. I have certain things I look for in a Prime Rib dinner. (1) The meat was very good and tasty without any uneatable portions. (2) The au-asus (s) sauce was on the side instead of being poured over the meat which I like. (3)The creamed horseradish sauce was also on the side, and the (4) potato was perfect, instead of undercooked That gives this place 4 stars in my book! The steaks and chicken dinners of our other dinners were also very good.

Classy atmosphere and delicious food

By JudytnewellTaubinger |

First visit was with a group of friends/ business associates. Steaks were done to perfection of individuals tastes and the salmon also a big hit. Attentive and friendly service. Mecikun sized dining area with fireplace and comfortable setting. Tables spaced nicely so we could have our own conversations. Enjoyed the ambiance and food so much we returned as a couple a few days later. Sat in the garden room quaint and quiiet Again great service and this night we had one of the specials , 2 3oz filets , one with bernaise and the other with pepper sauce. Delicious!!.

The best meat in town!

By Leelou9 |

Love love love Carvers. The filet and prime rib are always perfectly cooked and fabulous. And the cheesy potatoes are delicious.

OK Steak

By MountainMan1957 |

Four of us had dinner here. The service was great. I ordered the Chicago Ribeye Med-Rare. The cut was a bone in 18 oz. Mine was brought to me more Med than Med-Rare. I thought a "Steak" place would be spot on. Another person with us ordered the ribs and enjoyed them very much.

Meat Lovers Destination

By GrantGustafson |

Nice to find a place in the suburban scene of Rancho Bernardo which seemed to hold a little history and seemed to be a popular spot for the locals on a Friday night. Menu was very traditional steakhouse. My wife was ravenous for steak and she came away satisfied. Portions are large. We found an affordable bottle of wine (Zin for $27). The portabello mushroom appetizer was excellent and rich with cheese. Male waiter was a veteran server, on a mission to cover all the bases. They seem to know what they are doing in this culinary niche and add some local flavor of their own.

A very good restaurant in the north county

By Mickey |

We ate here on a recommendation, and we’re not disappointed. The food was much better than average and very large portions. We were a little surprised how busy the place was, and that might account for the slow service initially. All in all a better than average restaurant in the north county and one I would easily recommend.

Enjoyable Experience; We'd Return

By camillealice |

Carvers is on its game in the competitive world of restaurants in the San Diego area. Five of us went on a Saturday night to celebrate our son's birthday. The place looked pretty packed to us - glad we had reservations. We were brought to a corner table in a great location and our waiter was extremely pleasant, knowledgeable and proficient. We had brought 2 bottles of wine ($15. corkage fee) and he expertly opened and served while advising us of the night's specials. We started with appetizers of Cajun shrimp and hot and spicy shrimp that were a hit with everyone. The 8 oz filet mignon ($29.95) was cooked to perfection as was the Porterhouse ($39.95) and the 20oz prime rib ($39.95). Sides of various sauces are offered at an additional cost of $2.50. One of the evening's specials was swordfish topped with a shrimp stuffing ($34.95) - very good as was the accompanying salad. Saw lemon posset on the dessert menu and had to try it - light and delicious. Yes, I think the prices are on the high side, but no higher than many similar type restaurants. Our overall experience here was good from service to food and we'd definitely return.

Great dinner very reasonably priced excellent service

By Ed M |

Service was great from the time entered the restaurant. Started with French onion soup. Excellent base with the right amount of onion. The onion chips ruin the flavor Advise to chef, serve onion chips as a garnish if you must it takes away from the true flavoring. Iceberg salad... very nice..a little too much mayonnaise in the dressing. Preference is a sour cream Based. Main entree - prime rib - superb perfectly done. Dinner accompanied by a glass of Pinot. Looking forward to a return trip

Great Food, classy, comfortable setting!

By William P |

Haven't been here is years. We came to attend a retirement presentation put on by UBS and Pioneer Investments. Very nice house Pinot Noir. Started with a good Caesar Salad. I had the Salmon with Pilaf and my wife had Prime rib with mashed garlic potatoes! Both were excellent. The seminar was very informative and the food was something we would go back for!

Great service and wonderful food!

By Crystal J |

Ate from the lunch menu, had a wonderful cobb salad. Service was great, atmosphere was quiet enough to conduct a business conversation. Will visit again next time in town.

Over-hyped and pricey

By rtaba285 |

Nothing was really bad about the meal we shared with others. The wait staff was attentive. But was this meal really worth it? We did not find it inspiring, just OK. When they emphasize meat, they mean it. (The carnivores in our group seemed to like their entrees).There is nothing vegetarian on the menu. And the two fish options that day both came with sauces that we did not want. It was no problem to omit them, but the halibut and salmon arrived totally plain (a wedge of lemon) -- no herbs or flavoring on them when grilled. The side veggies were fine. We had been here a few years ago, and had we not been going with a group would not have rushed back.

Comfortable place for conversation

By SparkydogEscondidoCA |

My wife and I met some friends here during Happy Hour for dinner and conversation. When you enter it is almost like a step back in time. This is a classic steak house of the dark wood paneled, quiet type. It was obvious that the clientele was very comfortable in the setting. We started out in the lounge with drinks and then moved to the dinning room for dinner. We were seated in a comfortable and quiet booth, perfect for our situation. The restaurant had steady business but was not crowded on a Thursday evening. We all ordered the Filet Mignon special and were universally pleased. The steak was very tender and cooked to our orders. I especially liked the au gratin potato side. I would have preferred that the salad dressing was served on the side, but I didn't specify that when ordering. Overall, we were all pleased with the food, service, and atmosphere. This is a quiet place to meet friends and have a pleasant meal. It appears to be popular with the clientele of the nearby retirement facility.

Great Food ok Service

By kittykatpurr |

We went to this place based on reviews we read. The one thing was the service, it was suppose to be awesome however it was anything but... We were not even greeted at the door and the waiter while pleasant was in a hurry though there was not a lot of diners. The one saving grace was the food, some of the best prime rib ever. So food was good but for the price we expected a lot more out of the staff, we didn't even get a thanks or by. Would maybe try again but Ruth Chris still the best with service.

Consistently good food

By CGA2013 |

We've been going to Carver's since 1997. Whenever we are in San Diego, we always go back for dinner. The food and the service are always excellent. The furniture may be getting a little worn, but you go there for the food. The meats are always very good. Their specials are superb. Recommend trying them. Jus ask your server. Last time I had the filet trio (three 3 oz. filet mignons with different sauces), they were absolutely delicious.

Nice steaks and close to home!

By Michaelshoney |

Found this place on a best of list and decided to try it for date night. We loved it and will go back. My husband had the ribeye and garlic mashed potatoes and I had the special of 3-3 1/2 ounce filet mignons with different sauces and wild rice. We had the lentil soup and spinach salad to begin with and I enjoyed both. The spinach salad was great and I definitely recommend that one. The steaks were tender and well seasoned. The sides were amazing. And one great thing was my malibu rum and pineapple drink was only 7.50. Not sure if this was a special because it was Saturday night at about 6pm but I don't think so. Great price on drinks! The service was excellent and the place was nice and clean. Can't wait to go back and try the prime rib!

This is THE place for Steak in the San Diego Suburbs!

By writerguy1976 |

Went to eat here on July 24 for a late dinner after visiting the Zoo. We wanted a nice upscale place to eat as a family and this met the mark perfectly. It is to me what a chophouse is supposed to be, dimly lit, white table cloth and napkins, candles at every table, and a fireplace. Food-wise we ordered the Porterhouse and it was cooked and seasoned perfectly, with a garlic Au gratin potatoes and a nice salad. Everything was delicious. Getting hungry just thinking about it! Normally this is the sort of place I would go to with just my wife but my daughter was with us as well and they took care of her very well. I get sick of places just throwing chicken nuggets and fries at the kids, and they at least had some other options. She the mac and cheese, and it was great! It wasn't the typical Kraft out of the box stuff, but real kitchen made stuff. Desert wise you must, and let me repeat- MUST, order their creme brulee. It is simply the best I have ever had. I can't recommend this place highly enough, we were in California for eleven days and it was the best meal we had while we were out there.

Excellent Dinner -- Good Value

By boblLansdale |

Had a wonderful family dinner here in August. Food was excellent and prices were very reasonable for the quality and service. Dine here if you can. You will enjoy it.

Great family dinner for Christmas Eve.

By Bruce R |

Very good Christmas Eve dinner with family. The service was very fast and efficient. All the meals And appetizers were very good. The staff was friendly and pleasant.

Good Prime Rib

By Grock60750 |

We dine at Carver's often and I have the Prime Rib most of the time. It is excellent and I have to say I have never gotten a bad one.

the best prime rib

By Wander289202 |

the early bird special is a real deal..soup or salad, entree and vegetable or potato, it was excellent

Nothing Special

By Irene M |

SERVICE and ATMOSPHERE: My boyfriend and I came in on a Saturday for a romantic evening. We arrived about 20 minutes before Carvers closed, but the hosts and waiters were still so friendly and professional. The restaurant is classy but cozy inside with a warm fireplace. It ahd a mostly older crowd, most of whom were sitting at the bar with a live band. FOOD and VALUE: Carvers had some good food, but it was nothing to write home about. I ordered the cream of broccoli soup and the Tournedos Oscar ($26.95) which was filet medallions topped with asparagus, crab & Béarnaise. My boyfriend got the House Cut Prime Rib ($28.95) which was overcooked. Carvers serves good sized portions, but the flavor was nothing special. All in all, I would recommend driving to another steak place.

Prime Rib is the best!

By FourDoxn |

The husband and I recently returned to Carvers for dinner for the first time in years. From the moment we walked through the door, we were treated as if we were in a fine dining restaurant. Fine dining without having to dress...my kind of place! We really enjoy a nice dinner out occassionally and have eaten in some of California's best restaurants. We are picky about the service, the wine selection, and the food. The service, the wine selections, and the food were top notch! We actually returned again the next week with friends that have been in search of a decent prime rib dinner. The prime rib at Carvers is excellent. But so are the appetizers, the salads, and the side dishes. Even dessert! Not a weak plate the entire meal. If I was asked to critique the meal and the service...I would have to say I was 100% happy. We used to go to El Bizchocho at the Rancho Bernardo Inn, but with their drastic menu changes over the last few years...we stopped . Carvers is much more affordable than El Biz and has the old fashioned menu we enjoy when looking for this type of dining pleasure. Carvers will now receive our business. I must also add that this is one of the best lunch places in north San Diego County. . I sometimes bring my Mom to Carvers for a nice lunch. The service is a little slow compared to dinner, but if you are not in a hurry and want an nice lunch out with the girls, it is great. The Romaine and Grilled Tenderloin salad is excellent. Why did we stop going to Carver's for dinner? I can't remember...but we will definitely be back! Best prime rib in North County.

Good food - way too dark...

By susanandalbert |

The food at Carvers is always good, but their lighting is difficult for the normal eyesight and impossible for "older eyes"...they even have flashlights which means they know they have a problem...

Best Kept Secret

By DeeAnn M |

This place is tucked back behind a shopping center and most would never know this spot existed. I hesitate to even share about Carvers as then more people will discover the secret. After living close by for over 5 years we finally ventured in and were pleasantly surprised to learn what we had been missing. Carvers is a great dining spot with many options available. The happy hour in the lounge is a happening place offering discounted drinks/wine with a generous pour. The bar menu offers good choices at a very cheap price for the quality and quantity offered here. Depending on the day and time the lounge can be loud with lots of folks and dancing with lively music provided by a live band. This type thing is hard to find anymore. If you are seeking a quiet experience the dining room is more relaxing and provides a large menu with good choices of food that include soup, salad and sides. Most higher end restaurants will charge extra for the sides but they are included here. They offer an early bird dinner special at discounted pricing but even the regular menu is reasonably priced. Service was very good here in both the lounge and the dining room. You really cannot go wrong with this place. Give it a try.

Standard American lunch fare

By pmjc |

Three of us for lunch opted for soup / salad / sandwiches - standard fare. The Ahi tuna sandwich was a little "overdressed" with pickled onions and cabbage, and the toasted square roll was way too much bread. The clam chowder had unusually tough clams - lots of them which was nice, but too chewy by far. Had to leave them discreetly on the liner. The Caesar salad was standard fare, with tasteless croutons. The Reuben seemed to be the best best. Service was good, with plentiful refills on sodas, iced teas, and the atmosphere is pleasant.

A Top-Notch Steak Fan Experience

By calmtnman |

This is one of those restaurants that exceeded my expectations. Our meal with local relatives we had not seen in a while pleased all five of us. Most of us had steaks (either rib-eye or prime rib) and every one was raving about tenderness and the spot-on doneness they asked for. Salads and the clam chowder were also excellent. My baked potato with all the trimmings was just the right size (not one of those giant russets that is a meal in itself.) Other reviewers have complained about the outdated ambience in this restaurant and some have even complained about off-putting smells. We did not notice any of this. We were seated at a corner table in the atrium which is a beautiful place shaded by tall trees outside the glass enclosure. Other reviewers have raved about the flourless gooey brownie a la mode for dessert, I shared one, and both my companion and I decided that to really appreciate it you cannot be expecting a normal baked dessert for it is truly "gooey" and many would say under-baked. But if you are a true dark chocolate lover, go for it. I got a bite of my wife's chocolate mousse dessert and for my taste was much lighter and more pleasant.

Consistent

By SteveTignor |

We wind up at Carver's about once a year. The quality is consistent. Good steaks. Generous portions. We will continue to eat there.

A Classic

By Lauren S |

Carvers is always willing to go the extra mile to make your meal good. Not as good as some other Steak Houses in our area this is a classic and one of the few places you can still find a Prime Rib. The Prime Rib was wonderful seasoned nicely, cooked a little more than I like but still tasty. I would have preferred it a bit more rare. The vegetables are always just right. We also had some nice cocktails. a standard mojito and a gin a tonic. Close to home we don't have to go far for a nice meal.

Great steaks at a reasonable price

By bostonsig |

This is in a shopping mall so you can very easily miss it as it's tucked away. The waitstaff was very attentive and we were a large birthday celebration (all adults). They brought out the food on time for everyone and it was hot and really tasted great. We had many appetizers (calamari, stuffed mushrooms, crab cakes, garlic bread, etc) and they were all delicious. The wait stuff were attentive but not intrusive and really allowed us to enjoy our party. Steaks were perfectly cooked and well seasoned.

Dinner while staying in area

By Janet M |

Had a lovely visit with my husband while visiting the area. I had apple maple pork chop... It's huge! And great tasting! My husband had prime rib.. . Perfectly rare , Both came with salad , choice of potatoes and bread with maple butter. We also had the fresh asparagus. Would recommend to any steak and chop lover !

One of the Best Steakhouse that I have dined at!

By CG Commander |

I put this steakhouse on my top 25 list......my 18 ounce steak was grilled to the right temperature, the spinach salad was delicious, and the bake potato was the right size. I rarely rate a restaurant with a 5, but this one is a keeper, and worth another visit.

Nice place to go for Dinner or Happy Hour in the lounge.

By Pearl D |

Carvers is an old Rancho Bernardo establishment. Good steaks and Prime Rib. Other variable entrees on menu. Happy hour in the bar/lounge with a nice variety of food and very good prices. ie, hamburgers, small cut of Prime Rib, salads, soups etc. A more mature crowd and they have music and dancing on Friday nights. Maybe Saturday.

What A Hidden Gem!

By Cindy M |

We were taken to Carvers last night. What a wonderful place. It's sort of hidden in a shopping center but WOW, it was great! The 4 of us all ordered different things and all were equally pleased.

Steaks and Sea Food are excellant! at a fair price

By Al4Cabo |

Carvers is one of our favorite restaurants of which we frequent. The staff and owner are always ready to please with exceptional service, quality food and good prices. Stop by before dinner for Happy Hour which starts at 11 am till 6 pm. The service from Brian, Jon, Jennifer and Randy is fantastic not to mention happy hour prices and an extended menu. We have had dinners on numerious times and the steaks are exceptional as well as their sea food.

The Best in Rancho Bernardo!

By HalPoway |

Excellent steaks and lamb chops. Service is efficient. The glassed-in area on the lower level can be noisy when fully occupied but it is prettier than the main dining room thanks to the garden view. The Tuesday dinner special is a bargain at $15 - filet mignon, prime rib, salmon, or chicken. Also available with this dinner is a very good Cabernet for another $15.

Excellent Upscale Dining!

By Michael H |

The wine, food, service, and experience were all excellent! This is a VERY nice upscale restuarant with a variety of main dishes. The Sea Bass was cooked perfectly!

Festive for Christmas, great food and drink

By Reenactress |

I was a guest here at a large gathering in the banquet room, which was decorated as nicely as the main dining rooms. Our steaks were accurately prepared to the proper degree of doneness, large and good quality. The potato side dish was really flavorful, good veggies. Dinner salads standard; dark bread to cut at table, not my fav so I skipped it. Good shrimp apperizers. Nice small choc cake desert. Drinks well prepared. Service was very efficient and our banquet staff was assisted by colleagues when the trays came in to get the meals served promptly. First weekend in December the place was jammed. Decent restrooms, free parking.

A Great Recommendation

By kennedy777 |

We went here at the recommendation of a friend and what a great tip! It is tucked away behind the Vons market. They offered a good selection I had a fork tender petite prime rib and my companion enjoyed a petite filet mignon. Although they were called "petite," both were generous portions. It came with soup or salad and choice of side. Everything was prepared perfectly. Service was prompt, friendly and courteous. We lingered over our wine and we were not rushed or pressured to leave. We will most definitely go again when we are in the area.

Good food, but antiquated restaurant

By Jennyx |

This restaurant is bit of a landmark in Rancho Bernardo. Very popular, (especially with an older crowd) and, to be fair, whenever I and my colleagues have been there (which is often) we have enjoyed the food. The wait staff are also very professional and friendly. However, the premises themselves are rapidly going downhill. Several acquaintances have mentioned the weird smell (mould and/or old wood/furnishing), when entering the building and one commented on whether old cleaning rags had been used to wipe the table as there was an odour coming up from it, The place could do with a complete re-paint and a refurbishment of its old seating and booths. They have to have the lights on in the bar area all day because of the poor lighting. The only place to enjoy some Californian sunshine is in the garden room. Some folks I know won't eat there unless they are seated in the garden room area. The old and ancient carpet is something else which should be replaced. The 'old man's club" look is way out of date.

Best in Ranchi Bernardo.

By USPeru |

Simply outstanding. Very friendly and fast staff, excellent food, nice clientele. Great price for the meal you get, especially the Tuesday specials. Get the brownie for dessert, it's almost a week later and I'm still thinking about how good it was. :)

Great taste and value

By truthfultravel |

Dined with another couple at this pleasant restaurant hidden behind the Bernardo plaza near Von's. Great tasty filet mignon and prime rib. The side dishes of soup, mashed potato, cooked vegetables were very flavorful. We received attentive ,friendly service. The complimentary bread was warm & delicious. The only thing was the doneness of meat not to expectation. It was good that I ordered medium rare & the prime rib came medium. Carvers offers tuesday special all day for filet, prime rib and salmon.Choose one entree & it comes with mashed potato and vegetables for $12. What great value! Will definitely visit again.

Dinner

By 1ibrahim |

Excellent service my husband had the lamb chops which was great he really enjoyed the garlic mash potatoes.I had the Chicago Cut ribeye deliciously prepared lots of flavor highly recommend this place

Really good

By JimmyJackk |

Made reservation for Valentines Day dinner. Nice place great service. Prices are somewhat high but it’s a fine dining place. Good wine and very well made ribeye steak. Romano salad was great. Only thing I didn’t like was how slow the hostess was with lady in front of us because they were engaged in prolonged small talk.

World's greatest steaks

By mtawn |

The greatest steaks, ever - in the entire world! Beautiful restaurant, friendly service. AMAZING steaks and a wide selection of ales, including double porters. Very happy and pleased to have experienced this place.

Lovely Food, Spotty Service

By Poppy M |

I'd like to preface this review by saying that despite the criticisms below, I truly liked Carvers and will return. My brother and I had 7:30 pm reservations on a Thursday night and the restaurant seemed to be relatively busy. It was a little confusing to find as it's in the middle of what appeared to be an assisted living community! I almost turned around until I spotted it amongst the condos/apts. We were seated relatively quickly. My brother had the Crunchy Crab Cakes ($4.95) and was happy with them. I wasn't really impressed. Being from Maryland, I feel qualified to judge a crab cake! It appeared to be mostly claw meat that had been way over mixed with the filler ingredients. The flavor was pretty good but the texture was pretty awful. On the other hand, I could have eaten the accompanying cocktail sauce with a spoon! It was chunky with a bit of a kick to it. I had the French Onion Soup au Gratin that came with my meal and while the soup was delicious, the cheese was pasty and just barely melted. I mean, that's what we all order it for isn't it, the crusty cheese on top? Next time, I'll ask for it browned and crispy! I had the 14-oz Chicago Cut Rib Eye med rare ($31.95) and my brother had the 18-oz Texas Chile Oil Rib Eye rare ($36.50) and they were cooked perfectly. They both had great flavor, especially the one with chile oil. I'm not sure what made mine a "Chicago" cut. Neither one of them really looked like a rib eye in that they appeared pretty mangled being cut of of the bone. The visuals weren't there, but the flavor and temp were, most definitely! I had also ordered the side of mushrooms and onions ($4.95) and they added quite a bit to the flavor. I passed on the Whiskey Peppercorn Sauce ($2.50), but will get it next time - it sounded too good to be true! The service was forgettable - very spotty. It was a very attractive room that was beautifully enhanced by the tasteful holiday decorations.

Fair, at Best

By Kenneth G |

Our group of eight visited Carvers in San Diego for dinner on a Friday night. Our reservation was for 8:00 pm, and the restaurant was already beginning to thin, although the bar scene seemed active (if you were over 55). Our group had a mixed experienced. Some though their steaks were great, while others reported others "all right," at best. Service was attentive. Prices were reasonable, about $100 couple. (We brought our own wine, did not by drinks.)

Delicious.

By Simon78255060 |

Classic decor, fabulous steak and good service. Wasn't too sure about trying the place but was thrilled we did, as the food was some of the best ever. Go there.

Great food, great atmosphere, but a little hard to find

By Traci B |

Went for the first time last week. While a bit difficult to find in the shopping center, once there, I was surprised!! Loved the atmosphere... A bit old school, but kept up nicely. Food was terrific! Had the double cut lamb chops and they were amazing! My friend had their 11 oz filet and it was excellent! Service was great. A real gem in RB... Just wish I had known about it sooner!!

Unexpected gem -- FOOD A+

By longbeachCalifornia |

We made reservations for a night out during our stay at Rancho Bernardo Inn. When we arrived to "location" we thought ... oh no. The restaurant is behind a grocery store and next to a retirement housing building. Not the most appealing location. We were kindly seated and had a great server! The food was absolutely delicious! My husband had the Rib Eye - cooked perfectly. I had the rack of lamb - also cooked perfectly and tender. The potatoes were amazing and cheesy! We are regular diners at Mastro's, and Carver's can easily stand up to that caliber without the huge price tag. The only comment would be the decor - it's very dated. First class operation.

Great Steakhouse

By WEOOZE |

I have to this restaurant many times over the years and the food and service is always consistent. If you like steak, this place is very good and the atmosphere is a typical steakhouse with the dark wood look. Order the Chicago ribeye, it is the best tasting steak on the menu.

Happy Hour

By SoooZeeeQ |

The food and prices are good, but it is so loud in there, so do not expect to hear a word your tablemates say to you.

Nice atmosphere, wonderful food

By BocaRaton |

Pleasant dining experience with great service. Classic feel. Steaks are great, chop salad just the way I like it.

Great Early Menu

By Peter L |

We wanted an early meal after the drive and found Carvers. The salmon and prime rib were perfect for us, and the service was excellent. The food was great and very reasonably priced.

Excellent Food

By John H |

Carver's provides a variety of American foods, well prepared and at reasonable prices. Check on-line to see when their specials are (usually Mondays) as you can get around half price meals.

Hadn't been here in years (years!) but I'll be back soon!!

By Joes686 |

I literally live just a few blocks from Carver's but had not been there in at least 10 - 15 years I'd say. Boy have I been missing out. We were there to celebrate my birthday (one of those momentous ones) and the atmosphere, service, food, all met ane exceeded what I expected. It made for very memorable night. I like outdoor dining, and though they have an enclosed atrium/patio seating section that felt open and airy, and with the foliage outside the window, let you forget that you were behind a strip mall. The food was magnificent, and the best part, is that compared to most Steak Houses, more than reasonable in cost. Service was great, very friendly. It's a bit hard to find, but if you are looking for a really nice night out, and are in Inland North County, it's one of best options.

One of the best dinner salads in town

By labonnevie |

The food is very good, but I can't stop thinking about the little dinner salad with grilled onions, blue cheese and balsamic dressing. Yum.

Hidden gem

By 619Joey |

I took my dad here for father's day. Staff was friendly and very accommodating. Food was good with good portions served the way we requested. Located behind the strip mall, this place is definitely worth a visit.

Good meal

By traga911 |

While it was a little pricy for what you get it was still a good meal. We got seated quickly and served fast. Our server was fun, kind and a hoot to deal with. I will go back.

Great steak house in North County!

By Emily B |

Great steak house! My parents have been coming here for years so my husband and I finally got to try it. My steak was perfectly cooked and the seasoning was so tasty! I also had potato’s au gratin. Yum! My husband got a burger and fries and they did not disappoint. We will definitely return!

Excellent Steakhouse

By SpringfieldFresser |

Went with a party of 8, some had fish (yes, I know it is a steakhouse, but...) and a lobster tail was "just OK" but the steak and lamb were outstanding. They had 2kinds of lamb chop... rack of lamb (with a glaze) or lamb chops with dry seasoning (6) , and both were outstanding. One of our group is very much into desserts so ordered one of each! All were great, but try the bread pudding, if you're only going for one. The winelist was reasonable, as were the wine prices.

Delightful Evening with Friends

By Cheri W |

This is a very popular restaurant, so reservations are a must, especially if you have a favorite table or quiet corner you prefer. We met some friends there who had been boasting about the great food they had eaten there for years. This was our first time at this restaurant, so we were anxious to see how it compared to our favorite steak houses in Chicago. .My husband and I had the three Filet Mignon steaks, served with several different sauces.They were cooked to perfection- medium well, slightly pink in the middle, just the way we liked them. Garlic mash potatoes and steamed vegetables accompanied the steaks and were delicious.We drank a bottle of their red blended wine ($29) which was very drinkable, but not fantastic. And, finally we shared a slice of chocolate molten cake for dessert and loved it. The service was impeccable, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The restaurant was completely packed for a Saturday evening. We will definitely return to this restaurant. P.S. Tuesday evenings they run a special for $13... a choice of steak or chops with your choice of potato, and vegetables.

Excellent meal and experience

By BigGuy57 |

We went on a Saturday night, place was near full but we arrived early for our reservation and were seated promptly. Although full, noise levels were quite manageable and comfortable. My wife had a salad which she enjoyed, while I opted for French onion soup which was stunning in presentation with the usual Gruyere cheese on top in turn covered with curly fried onions. We shared crab cakes which were very good with spicy sauces. My wife enjoyed a fish special and I had the Lamb chops which were nicely done, with the usual mint jelly accompanying. This was very nicely paired with a glass of Coppola Malbec. Overall, we really enjoyed our meal. It was so worth the short drive from the resort nearby.

great steaks!!

By lilsnipper102 |

carvers has great steaks, salads, and garlic cheese bread! the wine list is great and service is excellent. the shrimp tempura isn't as good as it used to be. i get the whiskey peppercorn NY strip, and my husband is obsessed with their spinach salad! great place for a special occasion and a nice meal!

Excellent Evening Out

By Art B |

We went to Carver's for my wife's birthday dinner and it was great! From the warm greeting to paying the bill the service was fantastic and all done with a smile. We brought our own special wine and it was served to us in proper stemware by John, our perfect waiter. We ordered prime rib and fillets and they were all cooked to perfection and served with choice of sides included in the entree price (rare at a fine steak house). We had the Mud Pie for desert and it too was outstanding. Carver's is highly recommended for all occasions. Don't get too near the fireplace if you are heat sensitive, there are lots of very nice table locations. Go, relax and enjoy!

Great service, food, and Value

By fdl1948 |

Carvers is two steps above Outback in quality of food and five on service. Our server, Mateo, was outstanding and unlike some places that want you to order off a touch pad here we enjoyed the personal touch with his outstanding handling of the evening. The quality of food (filet and prime rib) were significantly better than Outback. The prices are slightly higher than Outback however the value is dramatic. I'll be back.

Best Steak Ever!

By Diana H |

The absolutely best steak we’ve ever had! Absolutely tender and worth every penny. Perfect place for date night. Highly recommend!

Best Steak ever!!!

By Teena O |

Best steak ever!!!!! Fast service but you never feel rushed. Very relaxing. A must do. I will be back! HOPE!!!!!

Delicious food and great service

By sharondutton0 |

I was so impressed by the service at this restaurant. I made a reservation for 10 and had no trouble. The table was ready early and the atmosphere was lovely. The hostess was accommodating and the waiter was really on top of it! I had the three filets and they were wonderful!!! Everyone at the table was very happy with the food. We had a marvelous good time!

We love this place. Great Steak, Service, and Ambiance.

By WEOOZE |

We have been going to Carver's for years, and strongly recommend it. I have been to some of the great steak houses in about 20 countries and around the world. This one isn't the fanciest, but it serves great cocktails, wine, a very tasty steak, and even has great dessert. The General Manager David does a tremendous job of keeping everyone on his team caring for all of the patrons. Carvers is excellent value for a night out.

Overpriced and Underwhelming

By James K |

Five of us visited for dinner on a Friday evening. Our two hosts had eaten at Carvers regularly and told us to expect a delicious meal. Having eaten at a number of fine steakhouses and at chain steakhouses over the years, we were well-prepared to evaluate Carvers. It was disappointing. Located in an upscale area and housed in a nice building, the first thing we noticed was the interior needed some updating. The wait staff was attentive, but they performed no better than at a cheaper chain restaurant. The menu was pretty standard for a steakhouse, but the prices seemed about $5-7 more per dish than at other similar restaurants, so we expected the food to be "a cut above." But it wasn't. You're getting standard chain restaurant fare at Carvers, but at a higher price. The steaks (a filet, two prime ribs, and two sirloins) were below par. They looked and tasted no better than at your average chain restaurant. Worse still, were the sides and the salads. They were poor. The mashed potatoes were a bit dry and not very hot, The rice pilaf was tasteless. The salads had been made much earlier, kept chilled, but the lettuce was pretty much wilted by the time it came to our table. Carvers isn't the worst steak place we've ever eaten at, but is certainly below average. We left thinking we could have done better for the $200 spent there.

A cringe worthy experience

By vbrother |

We're in Coronado for a month. I'd researched restaurants on-line as we love to eat out. Carvers has many good write ups and the menu looked very good so we geared up for the long ride from our Condo to the restaurant. Even with GPS this restaurant is difficult to find in the evening. It's a very nice looking restaurant on the inside. After we were seated the evening just went downhill. We were expecting a nice evening out but the pace of the evening set by our waitress Nancy was like dining at your local diner. We hadn't even had a chance to open the menus yet and she asked us if we had decided what we would like to drink, 5 minutes later she was back and asked if we were ready to order. I ordered lamb chops and my husband ordered the prime rib. Soup or salad came with the meal. I had the chowder - decent but not memorable. My husband had the Caesar salad - not very interesting and not much taste just lettuce. Then the entrees came my husbands prime rib was not very good my lamb chops were disgusting. They were so salty that I'm sure the blood pressure would be off the charts if I continued eating it. My husband tried it and he agreed that it was very salty. This was apparently the only flavouring that was used as there was not other taste other than salt and lamb chop. We waited for our illustrious waitress to return. We finally had to ask another waiter to send our waitress over. By the time she came to our table myu husband was 3/4 of the way through his meal. She asked if I would like another order or if I would like to see the menu again. By the time I got the menu hubby was finished dinner so I didn't bother ordering anything else. At no time did she ask my husband how his dinner was, she also did not seem very apologetic with regards to my meal We decided to order 2 desserts creme brulee and chocolate brownie. I asked Nancy if she could give us 10 minutes to finish the wine before bringing dessert. She seemed really put out by my request. It was such a disappointing experience and so not worth the drive or the money. Based on our experience I would not recommend this restaurant at all. Completely indifferent service, terrible food and high prices.

Special Occasion

By Sheila C |

This is a great place for family dinners get together's Birthdays Retirements Anniversaries Engagement parties! Food was great Service was great !

Fine dining in Rancho Bernardo - my favorite

By FluvialMan |

I had dinner here this week with my boss and fellow senior managers visiting from out of town. As host for our dinner, I considered other choices but finally came back to my first thought - Carver's. The ambiiance is refined and upscacle without being pretentious; it reminds me of a private club. We were warmly greeted by the hostess who had reserved a private room for our group per my request. We had two waiters for our group of 10 who provided excellent service, meeting our needs without being obstrusive. That being said, the best reason to go is for the food. There is a wide variety of foods on the menu, but I asked for the Filet Mignon. It was cooked to perfection and practically melted in my mouth. The prices are not cheap but for a fine dining experience it was worth it. As an aside, I occasionally take clients here for lunch which is obvously less expensive than dinner and also very nice.

Reliably Good

By Mary B |

We've been here a few times for their Tuesday specials. Always good service and good food! Their filet mignon is cooked just right every time.

Great food & service if you're in the Rancho Bernardo area

By MisHDChick |

We had a great stuffed portobello & spicy shrimp appetizers. Steaks were great! Wine was reasonably priced too

Amazingly Great Prime Rib and Steaks, Ribs, Chops

By SoCalBuck |

Carver's is not one of those pricey Steak Houses... but the meat, especially the prime rib, is as good as anywhere. The service is quick, amiable, and efficient. The ambiance is pleasant, though can be a bit noisy when crowded. It is my go-to place, and we are never disappointed. You will have a hard time finding better value. Also try their wedge salad, scalloped potatoes, cajun shrimp, crab claws, all very special

It's like Outback steak house with real steak house prices

By m2swim |

My strip was 30% fat and undercooked, my wife's filet medallions with three different sauces were overcooked. Sides and salads were OK. Service was great.

Easter Dinner at Carvers!

By Jo P |

If you've never been to Carvers previously, you really are missing out on an extraordinary dining experience. Speaking of experience, the staff are all seasoned professionals who know their job. There were 10 of us in the group. Ash was our main server. He made the meal even more enjoyable. The food never fails, whether its their meat or seafood or chicken, with sides to die for, the mushrooms were out of this world as was the garlic cheese bread. There was something for everyone from the 71 yr old to the 4 yr old. One of the best meals we've ever had! The crab topped filet mignon was delicious, as was the chicken cordon blue & rack of lamb. You won't be disappointed coming to Carvers. It's not cheap, but you are totally satisfied & will have leftovers too!

Steak? Yes, please!

By Kimberly H |

This one caught me by surprise. The prices weren't San Francisco-sized, so my expectations were incredibly low. What a surprise to find gigantic portions and delicious food at this spot! I had the prime rib and it was positively scrumptious. The wine list is also reasonable if not a bargain. I was pleased to find a Bay Area favorite on the list, Sbragia. Finished with the whiskey cake and that was lick your fingers (and the plate) good! We also had great service with our server even offering to have my friend's steak butterflied so she could enjoy it well, but still moist (I know, I know, I'm with you...I like my steak rare too!). Lovely bar area too for a pre-dinner drink--old, but quintessential, old school steak house. I'll be back!

Prime Rib Treat!

By Ira |

My wife & I went here by Lyft; otherwise, no way we could find it; even driver was amazed to have found this restaurant. Terrific prime rib & sides, served hot & very tasty in rather rustic atmosphere "whole in the wall."

Professional staff, great food, good atmosphere

By TravelingPalina |

I went to Carvers for a business dinner in March 2013. We went from a group of 10 to 4, unexpectedly. The hostess was obviously annoyed, and we had to wait about 10 minutes to sit down. Once we sat down, we had a wonderful experience. Our server was on top of her game. The wine selection was great, but a more extensive offering of wines by the glass would have been helpful. The food was fantastic. The portion size is perfect, and I enjoyed every bite. I will be back!

The best Steak in San Diego

By SebT |

The best Steak in San Diego - fantastic service, amazing steaks and great wine choice. Visited twice in 2 weeks and both times were faultless. Cant wait to return on our next holiday.

Perfect Meal, Great Service

By Colin Archibald |

Have not been to Carver's in years, and now I question myself why. The food was absolutely delicious and the service excellent. They have a Tuesday Special Menu with several dishes at $13. This is an incredible value based on the quality of what you get. It is really busy on Tuesday, so make a reservation.

Dining at its Best

By Neil A |

Hidden away amid the trees behind a mall is an unexpected dinner experience. The juicy ribeye steak was cooked to perfection while the waitress-recommendation tenderloins was equally delicious. The décor and atmosphere was wonderful. The staff and service was beyond great! A superb meal, excellent service, friendly and knowledgeable staff; what else can you ask for!