The Smoking Goat Reviews

First time here won’t be my last! We had a very nice experience eating our first dinner out in San Diego. We made it for happy hour and it was spectacular. It made us feel like we are right back in France eating mussels, french fries and Brie with a nice glass of rose and a Kronenberg 1664. The manager, Alex came by and introduce himself at our table and made the experience even better. We ended our dinner with the flourless chocolate cake it was divine!

Having been multiple times to the Smoking Goat and to the other top places in North Park over the years, I believe the Goat has the best food of them all and there is some other very good food places in the area. The quality and presentation is consistently terrific at the Goat and it is also a very comfortable place to dine. A nice wine list as well as decent selection of bottle and draft beers. Don't believe they have cocktails if that is important.

I went last night for dinner with my husband and another couple, friends of ours. My husband and I arrived about 30 minutes before our reservation, so we sat at the bar for a drink while we waited for our friends. I had a glass on wine and he had a beer. I wish I had asked the bartender for his name because not only was he friendly and efficient, he also had great tips on the food, and even gave us a couple of tasters of beers they had on tap and we had not heard of. The beers were so good, its what my husband and friend ended up ordering with dinner. Once our friends arrived we were immediately sat at our table, and right away our very attentive server approached us with the menus and to offer us water as we figured out what we wanted to drink. I ended up ordering the Lilli Rose with was delicious. We all ordered the 3 course option which is basically an appetizer, entree and dessert for $40. We all ordered something different so we could try every dish. Appetizers: Octopus, steak tartare, onion soup and ravioli. Each and every one of the were delicious. Entrees were salmon, chicken, pork chop and duck. Again, everything perfectly cooked, timely served and delicious. For dessert we basically ordered one of each so again, we could all share and try them all. Creme Brulee, Goat cheese cheesecake, chocolate cake and bread pudding. AMAZING! We ate absolutely way too much but enjoyed every single bite. The service was superb, the restaurant very nice and cozy as well. We will definitely return.

The duck fat frites with truffle oil are to die for! We had that to start as a replacement for appetizer in the three course prix fixe. To finish, we had the warm banana bread with ice cream so our meal was perfectly bookended with top notch deliciousness. Have to admit that our mains were just very good, not unbelievably good. We had the pork chop and the duck confit. Very nice but given our starters, we'd hoped for better. Our server was very friendly and attentive enough without smothering us. There was a great wine list. A very nice meal for a good reasonable price. We had more than enough food and brought some home with us.

The food is very good like everyone says and the staff is top notch. Had the scallops and they were excellent along with the Mac and Cheese. The restaurant is much more open since they expanded. They are definitely vying for the top restaurant in North Park.

I love the Smoking Goat. It's been great food and service since it opened. It's the kind of place that you get excited to go to, even if you've had everything on the menu. Not a bad dish! But I do recommend the truffle fat fries and the beet salad.

We had a great meal at The Smoking Goat. I had the steak frites and they were the equal of any I’ve had in Paris. My wife had the scallops and loved them. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone that wants a French bistro experience in San Diego.

This is an excellent place, the Service is attentive, discreet and very friendly. The food is absolutely delicious. very good serving size. extraordinary flavors. Good wine list. Easy to get to in a good area of San Diego (North Park ). Slightly high prices, but worth it without a doubt. I'd come back because it's already my favorite in SD.

The wife and I came here for dinner craving some cassulet, which is difficult to find in this part of the world, being that it is a southern france specialty. Long story short, the entre had just been discontinued for the season. We did enjoy the duck fat fries and scallop salad. The wine selection was pretty good as well. Only comment, not necessarily a negative one since it depends on how salty you like your food. We found the food to be extremely salty even for restaurant food. Keep that in mind if you have health reasons. The ambliance is great and the service was excellent.

If you're into dishes with a slightly different, but delicious flavor, then this is the place for you. Foods are served with a French and American combination. The escargot and French onion soup are good examples of the first course items. They also offer a nice variety of salads, a delicious one with arugula and burrata cheese. Also, a nice selection of entrees, seasoned with flavors from spices and herbs, i.e. the porchetta was outstanding! And of course, you need to try the Goat Cheese Cheesecake for dessert. All in all, you won't be disappointed.

The three pillars of a great restaurant are: Quality of the food, Service and Consistency. The Smoking Goat hits a trifecta-getting 5 stars in all three areas and making the Goat our go-to for date night and dinner when our friends from out-of-town come visit. Food: We have worked our way through most of the menu at this point with no bad experiences so will hit a few of the highlights from each course. Appetizers: The baked brie is nestled in its own mini skillet and sprinkled with pistachios and cranberries then lightly drizzled with honey. Rich and sweet it was almost the cause of divorce for last-bite-rites. The French Onion Soup is solid- right amount of salt and the French Wedge, generous. Main: The Diver Scallops are so huge I’m positive they were provided by a source one doesn’t question- or ask for a last name- and they are cooked with the right amount of crust-to-tender. The chicken dish ties with the New York Strip as a consistent go-to with the chicken winning as it savory but doesn’t feel heavy. Dessert: Goat Cheese cheesecake …all…day…long. It’s rich, it’s fluffy, and it’s magical. The Flourless Chocolate Cake is delicious and crowned with brandied cherries but the Griddled Banana Bread tops it for uniqueness in taste and presentation. Service: The entire staff has clairvoyant like powers. They are friendly and quick to attend when you need them and spookily aware when you want some space. All Consistency: we have dined there 6x in the past 4 months and have not had 1 single sub-par experience. Both Food and Service hold- and keep- a high bar.

Having heard good things of this restaurant, we chose to dine here on a busy Friday night. The heirloom tomato salad with burrata cheese was excellent; however, the beet salad came with only three pieces of beets and the greens were brown and old and could not be eaten. The scallop dish was worse as the scallops were not fresh and had the taste of iodine and were grossly under cooked and cold inside. The scallops were accompanied by fresh corn and beans which was tasty. Service was friendly and professional throughout the dinner. The wine list is small and nicely chosen; however, the mark ups on the wine must be around 500%. We had a nice white wine from Languedoc which was priced at $48 and sells at retail for around $8. The restaurant is loud and lively and everyone seems to have a good time. If the kitchen could improve, this venue could become a regular dining experience for me.

I have tried many restaurants, this one is a solid good - but I can't go as far as very good. We went for a birthday dinner this past Friday and the experience was positive. The location is nice, the space big. We sat inside, and it was a little warm in there (probably because the kitchen is somewhat open. I was surprised that they would not crank the AC up a notch, but with the outdoor seating area, it is likely tough to keep it cool in there - oh, and the flies out. The service was also solid, not bad - but not great either in terms of our primary server. He seemed sort of shy. This other guy was GREAT about making sure our water glasses were filled and our table clear when necessary. The food - there were four of us total and we ordered a bunch of different things. My Mom ordered the Beet Gazpacho and the Heirloom Tomato & Burrata Salad... she really enjoyed them both (I tasted the Gazpacho it was pretty yummy). My Dad ordered the Rib Eye that came with the truffle fries... he kept commenting on how very salty all of it was, and he normally doesn't complain about such things. I ordered the Half Pound Burger with truffle fries... I thought it was delicious, but its not difficult to make a burger... it was a huge amount of food and I ended up taking half of it home which made for a nice lunch the next day. Finally my niece, the birthday girl ordered three different appetizers: Escargot, Pate and the Mac/Cheese. I will say that the bread that comes with the pate and escargot is DELISH. I could have easily just eaten a loaf of that and been happy. They toast it and season it somehow. My niece enjoyed both of those appetizers... but then there is the Mac and Cheese. We were all pretty disappointed - for $10 bucks I was expecting more... not in terms of the portion which was okay at best... but my Mac and Cheese blows this one away. NOTHING about it stood out, it was average and that is being kind. Finally, we did order some drinks - we ordered a Goatlet and Moscow Goat. If you like your drinks straight up, you would likely enjoy the Goatlet... I did. I also tasted the Moscow Goat which is like a Moscow Mule and it was pretty tasty as well. All and all if you have not visited this restaurant, I would say try it once for a different experience, I am glad we went... but I probably would not return given there are so many other more unique dining experiences around town.

When Smoking Goat first opened it had very few tables (possibly 5/6). Watching Chef Fred grow the small space into this amazing, warm, welcoming home with a food menu with options for everyone that is exquisite, always spot on!

Went to Smoking Goat on Saturday evening, July 27 with two other people. The service was slow (and the place was not crowded at the time), the food was average at best, and the prices were above average for what was served. Not nearly as good as when we had visited previously. And to top it off, I looked at my AmEx account the day after our visit and found that the restaurant had arbitrarily charged a 20% service fee. They literally ignored the charge slip I signed (with and 18% tip, not bad for how they performed) and charged 20% for bad service for a party of four. I hope they wake up and get back to what had made them successful before, because this current mix is not it.

We had dinner here during our four night stay in SD and it was a real highlight. Food outstanding, service terrific and great ambience. Well worth the cab ride there. Lineup at door but our table was ready and on time. We loved the special and fresh fish. Outstanding and much fun. Highly recommend.

This place was alright - not bad, but nothing particularly special? Our waiter was really friendly but perhaps his knowledge of the food wasn't fantastic. I ate here for dinner with my sister. Entrees are on the pricier side. We shared a plate of cheese ($6 per cheese) which comes with plain crackers and some jam. The best dish of the night was the house-cured salmon. It came with a bright salad and was a great appetizer. The steak with the steak frites was on the fatty side and we didn't finish it. The shortribs were great but I wish it came with polenta or some other mushy starch. The carrots were fine but I wanted more CARBS.

If they were not out of short ribs I would give 5 stars. The salads were fresh, the French onion soup was delicious. I loved the duck. Great desserts. Our server, Wendy, was polite, friendly, and helpful. Quite limited wine and cocktail list. I haven't seen my cousin in many years. The restaurant was not too loud making it a great place to catch up. Really nice place for dinner

We started by sharing a gorgeous bowl of the mussels and escargot - beyond Heavenly! Both were served with grilled French bread slices, as both sauces were for dipping. My entree was the diver scallops, which was so delicious. The staff was Friendly & attentive. I certainly Can’t wait to go back, my new favorite neighborhood spot.

We had a great selection, nice staff,excellent foods from beginning to end. We will be back. The tag cassoulet was so large and so tasty! We went at opening I hope they do well and have ore customer every day keep changing the menu to keep our interest. Try it you'll like it.

Great food, the hanger steak is always cooked perfectly and they finally have foie gras back on the menu. I wish they would stay open later but you can't have it all. Very casual but still very nice. You can dress up or down and feel comfortable there.

I saw this restaurant listed in the san diego restaurant week. They had a specially crafter prix fix dinner menu. Enjoyed the cocktails - I had "the rusty kid" and my wife had the "lily rose". We ordered the truffle fries, beet salad, salmon and the porchetta. Everything was really good and the service was great.

We had a wonderful dinner!!! The place has all precautions and we felt good. The service was impeccable. Our waiter was very helpful and nice!!! The menu is amazing!!! I had the best scallops ever!!! They were delicious!!! And their pate was incredible!!! Great food!!!

We had a pleasant meal at the SMOKING GOAT RESTAURANT, and our server was SCOTTY. It began by him giving us a great well lit table by the front window. It had to have been one of the best tables in the place!!! He began by bringing us some sparkling PELLEGRINO WATER!!! Which, we think is the BEST SPARKLING WATER!!! We then went over the specialties, and ordered. We started with Baked Brie. If I could find fault in anything, the cheese had almost melted into the pan, not like pictures of the same item. I then had the French Onion Soup, and Gonzalo had the Beet Salad. For our ENTREES, I had the Salmon with Mashed Potatoes and Vegetables, and Gonzalo had the Steak Frites with Truffle Fries. I asked for substitutions for my sides on my Salmon, and SCOTTY asked the CHEF, who agreed. Gonzalo likes his Steak WELL DONE, and WELL DONE it was. We also ordered sides of Macaroni and Cheese, and Vegetables. BOTH WERE DELICIOUS!!! We appreciated our server, AND HIS HOSPITALITY TOWARDS US, giving us a slightly larger table, especially helpful given my disability. I need extra space and light, SCOTTY DID US RIGHT!!!

My husband and I enjoyed our delicious three-course dinner. Every plate was beautifully presented by friendly, attentive staff members. Make sure you visit for a memorable dining experience.

A good place to have dinner with friends or significant other. I had their steak meal and their pear salad, both were to die for! This place does not have restaurant parking, so we had to park around the neighborhood.

This is not our first time coming here. The food as usual was great. The service was awful. Here's a tip: don't fill up the water glass by reaching across the table especially if you can't pour as a watery steak doesn't taste good.

Wow ! This is an unexpected pleasure. Extremely good eats. Everything was beyond good. The octopus, the Pate...The DUCK...The short rib....All superb. Make reservation...wine & beer only....no parking...GO...you will enjoy.

My wife and I first came here several months ago, right before our 2nd child was born. It was packed and we had no reservations, so we had to sit at the bar. This time we had a party of 10 and made reservations, and all went well. Both times we took advantage of the $40 three course meal option. I started out with the prosciutto and burrata salad which was amazing (I have a little bit of a thing for prosciutto which makes my wife a little jealous at times, especially when I am holding it at night). My main course was the chicken, which was probably the 2nd best chicken dish I have ever had in my life, the first was in France. I am drooling thinking about it right now. The dessert, however, was lacking. I ended up with the grilled banana bread. The bread was cold and kind of hard. It's served with a scoop of ice cream on top. Of all the dishes, this one felt the most pre-made. I didn't finish it. My wife informed me that I had it the last time with the same experience. I really didn't care for it. My wife had the pear and blue cheese salad and the steak frites, which she also said was delicious. She ended up with the cheesecake which she enjoyed, but wasn't her favorite. So dessert was kind of a 50/50 mix among the table. This is not the cheapest place in town, and the dessert is hit or miss, but I will certainly be coming back.

Went in a group of 6, we enjoyed a delicious cheese plate - portions were small (but not out of keeping with other places), the delicious butternut squash ravioli was a standout dish for the meal, the barrata was also good. For mains we enjoyed the steak with truffle fries (which are quite rich), and the salmon. The wine and cocktails menus are quite varied. Service was good overall, there was an issue with our wine: the wrong bottle of the same winery was poured (one that was significantly more expensive) and rather than absorb the difference the waitress showed us the bottle poured and didn't offer any apologies. Aside from this mishap, our service was otherwise quite good. When we arrived it was raining hard outside and the roof near the front door was actually leaking and they had to mop up the floor and wipe off the tables. Prices were on the moderate to high side given the simplicity of the dishes served. Overall it was a very enjoyable meal in a cool and trendy environment, I would definitely recommend the ravioli appetizer!

My family and I greatly enjoyed our dinner at The Smoking Goat. Our meal was yummy! We had the Steak Frites, Maple Leaf Duck a l'orange, and Crème Brulee for dessert. The service was excellent. We loved the exposed brick and wood ceiling beams of the restaurant, and the very comfortable chairs. There's convenient street parking in the surrounding neighborhood. The two negatives of our experience: We thought the meal was overpriced for what it was, and my daughter's and my steaks were cooked medium rare rather than medium as we had requested.

The Smoking Goat has a limited but creative menu that is worthy of a special night out. We ordered the blue cheese salad and the bibb lettuce salad with Humbolt Fog cheese and both were delicious; the latter though, is large enough for two and made it nearly impossible for me to finish the wonderful lamb filet dish with beets, delicate little gnocchi and soy beans. The steak with truffle fries was, once again, fantastic but very large. We also ordered the halibut with turnip puree and vegetables; the puree, according to my fellow diner, was too sweet. We chose the fixed price three course menu since it was the most cost effective and very flexible. One of us opted for cheese as dessert, an excellent choice since the portions were larger than one finds in other venues. Expensive but good value.

....and a little difficult to find even though it's right on 30th street in North Park....not much signage and small. Great food and worth the trip. On street parking.

Wow! I Highly recommend this place! My husband and I went here while on vacation hoping to have a date night outside the tourist track. The reviews did not lie! Smoking goat has an elegant but laid back atmosphere and the service was basically everything you can hope for: attentive, easy going and very pleasant. They had great drink and wine specials, too (on a Wednesday). The food is definitely the star, though. While the menu is short, there wasn't one thing that didn't blow our mind. The truffle fries, blue and pear salad, and the mussels were phenomenal starters. For dinner, I had the pork chop and my husband the steak. Again, both excellent. I don't ever eat grits, but they have changed my mind! The star of the evening for me was the goat cheese cheesecake. I've seriously NEVER had such good cheesecake! I'll be dreaming about it till we go to San Diego again!

The menu is brief as is the wine list, but all the selections are attractive. We tried the mussels appetizer. Very good. We also had the salmon, the fish of the day and the hamburger with duck fat fries. All were excellent. We had a French Malbec as well as an IPA. Again excellent. And a shout out to the kitchen and wait staff. We were pressed for time with a show to go to and needed to be no more than an hour eating. They managed to achieve this timing without it feeling rushed. Nice job! I think we'll be back.

I usually have San Diego food in San Diego: fish tacos, sushi, and the like. If you're in the mood for something different, try this spot. The person who took me accurately described it as French cooking by a Texan. In other words, think French flavor and techniques with a love of meat. The atmosphere is relaxed and hip without be labored. We started with a bottle of malbec and the steak tartare. I'm not usually a tartare fan but this was delicious. For entree, I had scallops over a cassoulet, and my companions had the duck and the pork. Not only did we all love our dishes, but we each liked our own dish the best - a sign of good menu descriptions. I would go back and try many of the other selections.

My wife and I had dinner last week at The Smoking Goat to celebrate her birthday. When we dine out, we always try a new French restaurant. Having lived in Paris for a number of years, we have a pretty thorough idea of what we should expect. Also, aside from owning an import/export (wine & spirits) company in France, I had an equal number of years in restaurant/hotel food & beverage management as well as the wine business. I'm telling you all of this because we (my wife) know what we talk about. The Smoking Goat was nothing less than a shock. The food was outstanding! The service had a couple of glitches, although our server (female) was excellent and showed an above average knowledge of wine. Her recommendations for the food were very helpful and honest. I ordered handmade Ravioli stuffed with Ricotta and English Peas. A half order is offered on the menu, but I was convinced that I should try the full order because the price was the same. I relished the subtlety and flavors until I had a clean plate. It was the best I've ever had in a restaurant! Enfin, the desserts were perfect and topped off a dinner we shall never forget. Bus persons as well as others involved in service should never pull a plate if another guest is still eating. Every effort should also be made to avoid reaching across the table when there is space to move around it. We had a wonderful evening. I could write pages more, but I'll save that for the next time.

Although a bit loud due to its size -very small- the food is just amazing. Their dishes are creative yet affordable. My favorite: the Prosciutto Wrapped Quail. Their desserts are also great-and huge. If you want to try something new yet not "too crazy," the Smoking Goat is the way to go.

Had an enjoyable dinner at The Smoking Goat. The food was good, portions large, not very French. The menu is very small which caused us some problems. My husband has food allergies so his choices were limited. He had the steak and enjoyed it but it was a bit plain. They don't have a bar and offer a couple of signature cocktails that were so-so. I had high hopes for this restaurant and was disappointed. Will have to go back and give it another try.

When the great staff at the Smoking Goat found out it was the 65th anniversary of our parents, who are stranded inside their apartment during this epidemic, they offered to deliver them a night to remember. My 80-something folks have been quarantined far away from their children, so on their anniversary my sister called the Smoking Goat with an order for pick up. But the staff went the extra mile for these love birds and brought fine dining to their door step. My sister ordered the lamb (perfectly medium rare) and pasta with lamb sauce, crispy Romain salad and savory house fries. My parents 65th anniversary was spent alone- but were delivered a decadent feast to remember. We can’t wait to visit the Smoking Goat in person as a family for my parent’s next anniversary.

We visited for our anniversary and were thrilled with our choice. The food was wonderful - the brie cheese tartiflette was a great appetizer and we enjoyed the ribeye with duck fat fries. But the service was the best part. Definitely recommend visiting this restaurant.

Being a San Diegan I had looked forward to this restaurant for some time, intrigued by the name, and thinking of a simple dinner with French influence. It's located in a middle income somewhat commercial neighborhood of North Park which has recently generated lots of eating places, and it is on a busy street, offering patio dining. I ordered the grilled lamb with mixed fresh vegetables, served with mashed potatoes and a light wine gravy; it was excellent and a generous size serving. My husband ordered the roast chicken, a fairly meager entree. We shared a small dinner salad and just drank water but With the lamb I decided a glass of red wine would be nice and asked for a glass of house red; the waiter explained.. no house wine but we are pouring "...." and I said fine. There was no bread of any sort (which would have been nice to soak up some of that delicious sauce) and I was told they rarely serve bread . We did not order desert. Interior and exterior was done in black, no flowers,fairly spartan. The charge for our simple little dinner came in at $82 before tip which included $11 for that single glass of somewhat harsh heavily tanined red wine. Of course I should have looked at the wine list and made my own selection, but it felt like a "gotcha."--nevertheless, my fault. There are many other options in San Diego and great dinners with ocean views or lovely ambiance can be found in the same price range.. I was disappointed

Absolutely fantastic, one of my favorite new restaurants in San Diego. Off the tourist track, great ingredients and a lively vibe. Avoid the bar area seats if cigarette smoke bothers you as the bar next door allows smoking on their front patio which drifts into the restaurant.

Service was great and we were asked if we'd like to dine at a more relaxed pace which was great, we weren't rushed but attentive service. The food was tasty although not many options and the wine was good.

Food was excellent, service was great, location good. Parking could be hard to find depending on what time of day you go. There was 6 of us and 3 of us ordered the combo appetizer, entree and dessert. We also ordered a few salads. We shared everything so we could taste it all. We got the pork chops, sea bass and rack of lamb!! Very good!! The dessert griddle banana bread fosters was to die for!! Highly recommend! Enjoy

I believe we went there on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and it was stunning. We had a ton of restaurants around us in Pacific Beach but this was definitely worth the 20 min. drive. I wish our waitress spent more time with us...she took our order but then we really didn't have anymore contact with her as other people brought over our wine, food and cleared our table so I thought that was kind of odd.

The Smoking Goat is a nice trendy restaurant. The decor is nice and simple. Service is quite good too. I enjoyed my burata salad and my duck breast main course. Overall pretty good food that I don't mind eating again. But also not quite good enough that I will go there actively. Definitely with a try.

The Smoking Goat, located in North Park, is one of my favorite spots in San Diego. Local, organic, sustainable, community and family-owned; this is not just chatter from The Smoking Goat. It lives and breathes these words and you can taste these values with every bite. The Smoking Goat and Executive Chef Fred Piehl craft flavors so elegantly that every time you visit is a totally different experience. The first thing you notice as you walk up to the restaurant is the large sign portraying a goat greeting you from above. The rustic décor really makes you feel at home. There are a couple of different areas for seating depending on your mood or the size of your party. There is outdoor seating, but the night we dropped by it was actually drizzling rain… what are the odds? We started off with a couple of Rusty Kids: Carpano Antica, fresh OJ and bitters. This was a very good start to a great night. We asked Chef Piehl for his selection of dishes and wine pairings. This is what we usually do to get the best experience. We started the meal off with the House-Cured Scottish Salmon, consisted of a tempting combination of wild arugula, fennel, citrus, basil, mint and olive oil. The salmon was unbelievable; it just melted in your mouth. Next up was the House-Made Butternut Squash Ravioli, a delightful dish made with kale, butter and sage. And, finally, we got to sample the Tartiflette, a wonderful mixture of Brie and Taleggio cheese, onions, bacon lardons, potatoes, and ciabatta. The blend of cheeses with the onion and bacon gave it that savory flavor and creamy aroma you expect in such a dish. Take a look at the photography and see for yourself. I highly recommend all three appetizers as I can’t pick one over the other. We then ordered a couple of salads to share. The Beet Salad is a colorful medley of mixed lettuces, walnuts, and goat cheese. But my favorite, no doubt due to my addiction to blue cheese, was the Pear and Blue Cheese Salad; delectable poached and raw pears topped with pistachio pesto and drizzled in champagne vinaigrette. Such vibrant flavors from a salad; I loved it! Now it was time for the entrees, as if our starters weren’t enough. We shared the 10-oz Harris Ranch California Ribeye: a tender steak, cooked to perfection, served with herb butter and red wine sauce, duck fat truffle fries, and salad on the side. I sincerely love my steaks and this one was right up there with the best. It took everything I had not to eat the whole thing. However, my mother taught me better and that was a great lesson learned, because our other entrée was the Porchetta. This delicious dish consisted of slow-cooked pork belly, cheesy polenta, upland cress, goathorn pepper relish, roasted tomatoes, and chickpeas. If you haven’t experienced Porchetta, you must take a stab at it on your next date night. Of course, dessert cannot be dismissed, and it most certainly was not. We enjoyed the Griddled Banana Bread, a taste sensation which took me back to when I was growing up and my mother would bake it for a special holiday breakfast. It was accompanied by Bananas Foster and vanilla ice cream. As if one dessert wasn’t enough, I had to try the “Goat Cheese” Cheesecake, a decadently-rich dessert cake topped with vanilla-poached nectarines and whipped cream. Both desserts were out-of-this-world delicious! You should definitely pick at least one to share. What a beautiful evening, once again, and it was a shame it had to end. A great meal is always more than a dinner; it’s an experience you can get lost in. Well, back to reality and a very full drive back home to La Jolla… until next time Chef!

Huge portions! Great wine list and crafted cocktails. Tried the $40 3 course meal easily could have shared it between two people.the diver scallops were amazing, the tomato and burrata salad, creme brule. My friend had the sea bass and easily a 6-7 oz portion of fish! Chocolate cake not so great...only complaint

Was here a few years and still great. Family dinner. Three went with th duck and I had the Pork Choo they was excellent. Definitely would return.

Food and the service is Out of the World!! So much wine to choose from. All staff there was very attentive and knew when to check on us and when to leave us be. The Menu is Spectacular! We wanna go back and go down the entire menu. It is a bit higher prices for our area (North Park), but on a special occasion, I would highly recommend it. Weekends most likely need reservations.

Really cute restaurant in North Park with a conscientiously sourced menu that was well prepared. We went to celebrate my husband's birthday and all 3 of us ate from the prix fixe menu. Everything we tried was delicious. They also have a good wine list. Our server was perfect, attentive but not overly so.

We just had dinner at the Smoking Goat Restaurant in San Diego, CA. and it was one of the best meals we ever had. Saw it on the Cooking Channel and knew we had to go there. All of the entrees, there were four of us, were excellent. I had the Jidori Chicken on the cheesy polenta. It proved to be every bit as wonderful as it was inticing when I saw it prepared on the show. The carrot parsnip soup was delectable. Not very often do we have dessert but we did this time. The creme brulee and beignets were soooo good. Have to go there again. All the staff was great. Did have a reservation and got right in and it filled up quickly. It is like a relaxed French Bistro. So comfortable to be at and you feel welcome and not rushed in any way. A real winner. Cudos to all there......

What a Fabulous "Restaurant Week" Dinner we enjoyed last night at The Smoking Goat - "Modern French". Best Restaurants San Diego | The Smoking Goat | Modern French Bistro The Smoking Goat is an award-winning California-French bistro located in the heart of North Park, San Diego. It has received the Gold Medallion for the best French Bistro in San Diego for five consecutive years. The restaurant is known for its seasonal, sustainable, and organic ingredients, offering a rustic yet refined dining experience inspired by its European roots. Guests can enjoy a carefully selected wine and craft cocktails, and the restaurant is praised for its excellent service and delicious food, including popular dishes like duck a la orange and steak frites. My Sister and Brother in law and my wife and I sat outside in our perfect San Diego weather- and each of us ordered from the nicely organized Wine list. Oh yes - The service was also supurb. I enjoyed a quite respectable Cambria Chardonnay - my wife and Sister selected French offerings - very nice - and my Brother in Law savored an Oregon "Micro Bew"/Beer. The Three course Prix Fixe meal featured four Delicious options for each of the Courses - Restaurant Week Menu | The Smoking Goat and I zeroed in on the Outstanding French Onion Soup - followed by a perfectly cooked NY Medium Rare Steak with delectable Pommes Frites/Fries - cooked in Duckfat - and laced with Truffles (My dear sister kept "sampling" them - all night. :)) They enjoyed the Poached Pear Salads, a Cheese plate and Scottish Salmon and a Duroc Pork Chop their second Course - all great. And Desert - Mon Dieu !! Took me back to Michelin starred restaurants in France. My Creme Souffle -- Tres Bien -- and had a crust that broke like ice. Sacre Bleu !! And the Flourless Chocolate Cake - Viola - also took me ack to Michelin starred restaurants in France. The owner - Fred - also stopped by to chat after we finished with Dessert. About Chef Fred Piehl I The Smoking Goat - French Bistro San Diego Happy Tom.

Taking advantage of San Diego restaurant week we enjoyed a delicious dinner. The baked brie with pistachios and dried berries was not only flavorful but beautifully presented in a petite iron skillet. My partner ordered the escargot which was phenomenal. For our mains we chose the butternut squash ravioli and the steak frites. Both entrees were superb. The steak was perfectly cooked to a medium rare. To finish the evening we enjoyed the panne cotta and the goat cheese cheesecake, again both filled with flavor. The value at the this restaurant-$40. for a 3 course meal is well worth the visit. Every Wednesday they have a $40. menu as well. Definitely a worthwhile dining spot.

The only reason this isn't a five star review is the atmosphere. The food is unique, delicious, and beautifully presented. We ate here on a hot summer day when it was too warm inside and loud outside though the patrons at the bar next door were entertaining. The expansion that has begun should alleviate these problems and the food was fantastic. I would recommend the stuffed quail though every course was a treat.

Talk about a find in South Park - this owner run restaurant is DELICIOUS, with a scaled down menu, but every entree is superb, and we've been there 5 times over the last 18 months. Very friendly service, reasonable prices, simple atmosphere - but the food - worth every minute you wait and every dime you spend. Check it out.

Quick visit to SD. Had a great time/dinner. Nice ambience, delicious food. The service was a bit slow but we weren't in a hurry so it didn't matter.

Read the reviews and decided to give it a try. The meals were absolutely delicious. I had the steak frites which was almost as tender as a filet mignon and cooked to a perfect medium rare. The duck fat fries are the best I've ever tasted and if they're not part of your meal, I recommend getting them as a side dish. My wife had the appetizer ravioli and a salad, which was very filling for her and she thoroughly enjoyed both. One in our group is a vegetarian and she was very impressed with the flavors of the entree on the menu that met her requirements. They must be doing quite well because the restaurant was packed and they appear to be taking over the unit next door to expand. We went on a Saturday night and reservation are a must to get a table.

Great meal from beginning to end. The Prosciutto & Burrata Salad was amazing. We both enjoyed our entrees. Everything was fresh and delicious. And I'm so glad we saved room for the cheesecake. Well worth it. The service, atmosphere and cocktails were all wonderful as well. Highly recommended for dinner.

I moved from San Diego 3 years ago and was back in town for a week for work. Fortunately I had a free night to return to my favorite restaurant. I used to eat here with friends all the time. The food is amazing, the staff is friendly and overall a great atmosphere to enjoy a night out with friends or family. I was very happy to see they offer a tasting menu. I highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for great food!

We arrived on a Tuesday evening, expecting a fine dining experience without a rush. Our expectations were realized. I had the 15 oz. grilled brandt ribeye, duckfat truffle fries, herb butter, and a little salad, and my wife had the stuffed banderra quail, duck sausage & wild rice stuffing, warm spinach, orange, pecans, cranberries, brandy orange glaze, with shaved gouda. Both were delicious and nicely complemented with the small salad. A special experience for us was the tartiflette appetizer - a warm saint albray cheese, leeks and potato cooked in wine and grilled ciabatta. We asked the waiter for wine suggestions, the result being a nice pairing and not the most expensive options. An extra benefit was being informed that Tuesdays are $10 off the bottle of wine days. That was a nice savings on the bottle we had with the entree. Even though this was a Tuesday and the place is a medium priced establishment, it filled up with customers. The customers were a mix of ages, adding to the allure, signifying the overall quality and general appeal. One warning, they charge a $35.00 corkage fee, if you bring your own. This can put some people off. However, this is not a factor for us.

Somewhat limited menu but the choices we made were very good. The pork chop was excellent. Four of us had good service and everyone was happy with their food choices. We will try it again.

I always enjoy The Smoking goat. The specials are fun, fresh and locally sourced. The wait staff friendly.

Visited the Smoking Goat last night with some friends from out of town. I did some research before going, and I have to admit I was expecting more than what I got. There were 4 people in our party, and here's what we ordered: 1. The Duck Fat Truffle Fries: Very good. Super crispy exterior with a creamy, luxurious interior. Nice amount of Kosher salt and rosemary for seasoning. A little light on the truffle flavor. By themselves the fries would be deliciouse, but they serve them with a house made aioli that's very mustard "heavy". It's a nice stone ground mustard, so it's nice from a textural perspective- however, mustard is very salty in and of itself. So when you mix the seasoning on the fries with the salt that's naturally present in the mustard, you get an dish that's clawingly salty. I recommend just eating the fries by themselves. Their flavor will hold as a stand alone product. 2. Octopus Salad: This was the best bite of the night! The octopus was cooked to perfection! It sat on a smokey vegetable puree that was silky in texture, and absolutely sublime in flavor. The disc also included some fingerling potatoes (which added NOTHING to it), and a beautiful, organic arugula salad. The arugula salad was delicious. It was very lightly dressed, and lightly sprinkled with salt. When combined with the puree and a slicke of octopus, it was heaven in my mouth! 5 stars to this dish. 3. Seasonal Seafood Special (Diver Scallops) 3 of the 4 people in my party ordered this dish. From a flavor perspective, the dish didn't fall short. From a quantitative perspective, it fell short. The dish consisted of a little julienne (pickled) salad, a vegetable puree, and 3 medium sized diver scallops. Although delicious, the puree and the little crunchy salad were an afterthought. The focus of the dish was the scallops. At $33 per plate, that makes each scallop approximately $10. I think that's a bit pricey. But I though their cooking technique on the scallops was a bit strange. They were only seared on 1 side. The uncooked side was facing down on the plate. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with this, because admittedly, they were cooked perfectly. I've just never seen it before, and I though it unusual. 4. Flat Iron Steak: I ordered the flat iron steak. I ordered it rare. It was delicious. It say atop some caramelized bourbon onions, and a delicious sauce made from the steak drippings. It also came with a full order of the delicious duck fat truffle fries.This dish was very good, but not great. The quantity was good, and for $30 I felt I got my $'s worth. 5. Goat cheesecake (dessert): Delish! This dessert has a nice balance of sweet with a subtle hint of that sour tang that comes from a good goat cheese. The crust on the cheesecake was average, but really.... How many different ways are there to spruce up a graham cracker crust? It was topped with some cooked peaches. It certainly isn't peach season here, so I was curious where they got the "fresh" peaches for their fruit topping. However, sometimes it's better to not overthink something, and just enjoy it for what it is. So I would say the meal was 3.5 out of 5 stars. I would normally average up on a rating and give the dining establishment the benefit of the doubt, but there was one more thing that compelled me to lower their rating...... The friend we were sharing our meal with line in San Jose. We only see them once (maybe twice) a year, so we typically have a lot of catching up to do. After paying a bill of $198 (+ tax and tip), you would think the manager and staff would allow you to sit, digest, and fellowship with friends/family after your meal. This wasn't the case. We had a reservation at 5:30 (they open at 5). The restaurant was all but empty upon arrival. It took us a little over an hour to eat our meal. During the meal we ordered several bottles of sparkling water. At the end of the meal, after the plates were cleared, we drank the bottled water we purchased and talked. At the 2 hour mark from the time we arrived, the waitress "graciously" asked us if we could get up and make room for someone else who had a reservation. She said she would make room for us at the bar if we wanted, but nonetheless, we were being told our night was concluding at that table. WHO DOES THIS? I have NEVER had this happen before, ANYWHERE! I could understand if we arrived late, and we were lingering past the closing time, but that wasn't the case. The waitress was very polite when she asked us, and I understand she was just a messenger. So that was my experience at the Smoking Goat. Don't let my review dissuade you from trying the restaurant. It's good. The only time I ever give a bad review is if the establishment does something absolutely appalling. I will say this, I probably won't go back there though. San Diego has 4000 restaurants. That being said, you could eat at a different restaurant every day for over 11 years without hitting the same place twice. There are too many other places for me to eat at to give them a 2nd shot at redemption.

We had been here befor going to the Old Globe performance. The waiter was very responcive to our wish getting the food out fast. We had very nice dishes all over the table. I liked very much my handmade ravioli with vegan filling.

The service at this restaurant was extremely poor. Upon complaining to management, there was an apology and when our original waiter delivered the check, he apologized and said he had introduced an associate to us who would be helping him throughout the service. He never did that. No one ever asked how our dinners were and I had to flag down someone to ask for another glass of wine. The one bright spot of service came from the bus person who was very accommodating and brought us bread that was not originally offered. I have dined at this restaurant before, but not in some time. There is so much competition in San Diego....you have to shine in all areas. Unfortunately, one bad experience far out weighs a few good ones.

Some friends and I went here for a girl’s night. Our party of 6 was seated quickly. The restaurant is visually appealing. Dimly lit, open view kitchen, and rustic wood/brick walls. The menu is creative, no run of the mill chicken sandwiches here. I was excited to order something out of the norm but when the food arrived, I was a little disappointed. My steak was a bit bland. The saving grace was the amazing duck fat truffle fries - absolutely delicious. Our server was not exactly professional. He was very much a California ‘surfer dude’, pushing us on our shoulders when it was time to take our order and when we asked for recommendations, his suggestions were based on the size of the plate, not the flavor of the food - not a good sign. Not rude, just not what I would expect in a nice restaurant. Maybe I’m just too formal? I wouldn’t go back, not because the food is bad, but there are lots of fabulous restaurants in San Diego I’d rather go to.

We returned once again to the Smoking Goat for a deli table meal. The duck we had over a bed of farro was accompanied by a delicious huckleberry sauce. Go for the happy hour and stay for dinner. Christina in the bar are is a well trained server and knows her wines and food.

I was looking forward to trying the super popular The Smoking Goat in North Park. We ordered the French Onion Soup first followed by the Chicken Pate then Mac N Cheese explicitly in that order. Everything was delivered at the same time ruining our Goat experience. Note to self: avoid dining out on Saturday night when restaurants are focused on turning tables quickly to maximize dollars.

Some of our friends said it's a French bistro and others said it;s an American comfort food cafe. Whatever, the Smoking Goat is a really nice restaurant with a European ambience and an interesting goat-themed decor. Even with reservations, we had to wait about 15 minutes for our table for 4 but the hosts are very accommodating and pleasant and when a lingering group finally left, we were quickly escorted to a nice window table. The Wilhamette Valley Pinot Gris we ordered was out-of-stock but our second choice, a Rhone Valley Chardonnay turned out to be terrific as well as a little less expensive! We shared the great beet-spring greens-walnuts-champagne viniagrette salad. After that, one of us ordered the roast duck, which was amazing but I selected the Cassoulet which was finished for the evening. Oh well, let's hope we luck out with choice # 2 again? Voila, Bingo, the rather large pork chop was fantastic and successfully paired with a bed of creamy polenta and kale. Our friends who had suggested the "Goat" to us had an really big ribeye with a small salad and a house specialty - duck fat truffle fries. Having heard about these tasty tidbits, I asked to taste one. They are incredible. Our server, Jordan, was very efficient, knowledgeable and personable but even he could not persuade us to have dessert since the ample salad and entrees were sufficient, as well as that french fry! On the next visit, and there will be one, we hope to indulge in a creme brulee or two! Bon appetit at the Smoking Goat.

When visiting friends in San Diego last month, they suggested we try the Smoking Goat for dinner, because of the good reviews on Yelp. They had not dined there yet. "Off we went" driving south from the La Jolla area. I was hesitant to try a place with goat in the title, because I don't eat meat, and was happy to see they had a few healthy items on the menu (but not many) Fries cooked in duck fat and truffle oil may taste good, but my arteries are hardening just thinking about it. If you like meat, this is the place for you. Fortunately the appetizer special was a piece of grilled fish with greens. I didn't see anything else that I wanted to order, so I got a "Pear & Blue cheese Salad". The entire salad was Escarole, instead of mixed greens. Escarole should be included in a salad, and not be the only green. Otherwise the salad was good. The Griddled Banana Bread dessert was heavy and tasteless. However we still had a nice time sitting outside and visiting with our friends, drinking cocktails and wine.

While working in San Diego, I met my co-workers here for few glasses of wine and some delicious appetizers at the end of a long day. We ordered the Burrata salad along with a few other selections. Everything we had was made from quality ingredients and tasted delicious. Our server was friendly and all of her recommendations were spot on. The decor was rustic and charming. I would definitely recommend this place.

I have not been to Smoking Goat for a while. It is still very popular and the food is very good. I enjoyed my prime rib special and the appertizers. Service is reasonable but do get a reservation.

Ok, to dispel any rumors…there is no goat on the menu. Or, at least, there was none on the menu when we went. Nor did I spot one anywhere outside lighting up or smoldering anywhere else What the Smoking Goat is is a pleasant bistro type of place with satisfying quantities of food. As our host said as he brought us to our table, “We have a limited menu, but we do things well.” He was right. The purpose of a bistro, even an upscale one, is to provide good homey food done well, not to have a chef running around with a tweezers and micro-greens. Along with the missing goat, I saw no evidence of tweezers or micro-greens. We kept things even more simple. Two of our group of four ordered only a salad to split and two items from the menu. My wife and I ordered a salad to split which we didn’t, really because I also ordered a foie gras torchon from the appetizer section. I happen to like foie gras best when it is done as a torchon as it speaks well of the willingness of the restaurant to take the extra steps involved in its preparation. Then my wife ordered the chicken and I ordered the duck offering. (I remember that one of our friends ordered squash ravioli, but don’t remember what his wife ordered. Old age, I guess.) The food was very good, and very much in the style of a bistro. Presentations, while not necessarily picture inspiring, were more than adequate to create a pleasant homey offering. My foie gras torchon might have been the exception to the preceding comment as it was picture worthy. It was also a fine blend of torchon and items like poached pear etc. which complemented the foie gras. The torchon was also cooked beautifully. My duck breast was plentiful. Size-wise, I would not have wanted to meet that duck on a dark night in an alley unless it was on my side. That same size, however, seemed to make my duck breast slightly more chewy than other duck I have had, and seemed to have slipped a bit past optimum in the cooking, and the sauce was pretty scant. Sides were tasty. My wife’s chicken had turned into a pile of bones very quickly, so she demonstrated her satisfaction via her empty plate. When I looked back at my plate, it too was empty as was those of our friends. A slight disappointment was that our server never checked back with us to see if we were enjoying the meal. I know that many servers seem to be trained to watch for a customer has a full mouth before asking how the food was, but I appreciate being asked, even if my answer has to come from around a mouthful of food and is probably unintelligible. When we got there, the place was empty, and we questioned our decision, but by the time we left, it was full, and this was on a Thursday night. All of us were comfortably full and satisfied with our decision. A good sign was that as we left, one of our friends commented that the Smoking Goat was the kind of restaurant that one wants to go back to. More than the star indication, I think that comment says it all. (Note: As we took an Uber, I can't comment on the parking, but at the time we left , around 8:30, the area looked to be crowded and parking places at a premium.) Dinner for two, with two appetizers and two glasses of wine was $ 117 not counting the tip.

This was actually my second visit here and I would say I was very pleased both times. This time I had the ravioli, the seasonal vegetables. Both were fresh and tasty. I also had a glass of red wine. Our server was friendly and chatty. Overall great experience! Slightly chilly on the patio after dark, but I forgot my sweater, so no complaints.

We met some friends at the Smoking Goat on a Monday evening at 6:30pm and were seated right away. We ordered a round of drink and they came quickly. My drink was sweet but strong...just the way I like it. I wasn't super hungry so I ordered two appetizers (I normally just want to sample the whole appetizer menu). I ordered the arugula salad with prosciutto, strawberries, and burrata and the duck liver pate. My husband ordered the pea, ricotta, and truffle ravioli. For dessert we shared creme brûlée and a flourless chocolate cake. Everything was delicious and exceeded my expectations. Overall, the service was great, the food was excellent and I will definitely be eating here again.

I think this is one of the Best restaurants in Dan Diego It’s amazingly delicious!!!! Those meals you just don’t want to end We love having dinner here The service is incredible Everyone is friendly and helpful The place is gorgeous They have the best bar tender And the food…. OMG!!!! Is is super delicious!!!! Everything you order is to die for And let me tell you that I know You will love it too!!!!

Been in San Diego for over 30 years and this spot is not "one" of the best but is "the best" my wife and friends have ever been to. The chef/owner brings his many talents from 18 years in France. Book ahead especially on weekends.

Our waiter certainly hyped several of the entrees, but his recommendations were not born out. The prime rib looked delicious and was cooked just right. However, it had little tase; not much seasoning. Like the other dishes our group ordered, our food was not as hot as expected; several were sent back to the kitchen. The ambience is fairly plain. The prices were slightly high, but not excessive. The wine list was fair.

We met friends here last night and the food was amazing! Definitely on our list of the best food we’ve had! The service was great- so friendly, fast. Will definitely be going back!

The waiter is trying to persuade you to try this wine, that appetizer but when you order, he just disappears. No extra water refills. I know tips are based on percentage of bill, and wine or other drinks raise the tab, but truly , if one can't or doesn't want to drink alcohol-GIVE IT UP!! I wanted to tell the guy that I was on the way to an AA meeting to make him stop. Quit telling me about it. The food is decent. Octopus appetizer was definitely the best thing we had. They menu seemed to work very hard to include all the new buzzword sides that were just ok. Too many other great restaurants in SD to want to go back to this one.

We had dinner here on a Wednesday night. The service was attentive and not intrusive. The food was delicious. The tartiflette appetizer is a very large portion and can be shared. Butternut squash lasagna is superb. The short ribs wowed as well. The only caveat is that the parking - if you can't park on the street for the restaurant - puts you on dark, ill-lit residential blocks which feel a bit uncomfortable. Nevertheless, we'd go back.

We love this north park San Diego favorite. Every time the food is absolutely delicious. The wine list is really impressive and the staff is incredibly knowledgeable.

Back in town after a 6 week driving trip all over eastern Europe (former Yugoslavia) and heavily relying on Tripadvisor. So why is the Smoking Goat so far below numerous franchise fast food restaurants in SD?? Take the time visitors to sort and the Smoking Goat is worth the trip. Close to Balboa Park and the theaters but locals prize this place as their own. Food is fresh and seasonal, staff is well informed about the wine list. One entre was local seabass served over a spectacular soucatash and a coulis. Arugula salad with cheese and heirloom tomatoes. Roast pork was the second entre and equally delectable. Service is relaxed and welcoming. We went early and on to the Old Globe which worked very smoothly. Outdoor sidewalk dining available for temperate SD evenings but the interior is very energetic and fun.

New to the restaurant. We have been their three times with friends in the last two months. Have not been disappointed. Duck, pork chops, steak, scallops and escargot, salad with bur-rata cheese and heirloom tomatoes. All very good. Priced right. Service great.

The food is just excellent. I like particular like the European touch of the dishes. You can see and taste the love that has been put into their creation

Visiting from the East Coast, we went with our son and his girlfriend on one of our last nights before returning to the cold Northeast and we hoped this would be a great experience. Well... we were NOT disappointed. Started with the crab cakes and the beets and goat cheese appetizers and we knew we were in for a delightful meal. Each of us ordered different entrees- the scallops, the crispy chicken, the pork chops, and the ravioli- and each one of them was delicious and perfectly cooked, presented, and served! We accompanied our meal with several bottles of Vina Eguia- a reasonably priced bottle of red wine that I highly recommend as well. All-in-all our meal was exactly what we had hoped it would be. The atmosphere is very trendy and comfortable, although I would recommend a bit more subtle lighting in the main dining area. It was somewhat too bright for my liking- a picky, but honest observation. Don't miss this dining experience! It's a gem!

We picked the Smoking Goat since we live in the neighborhood. I would recommend the Smoking Goat even if you live far away. The food was excellent and not your everyday french food, such as quail stuffed with farro and toulouse sausage, crab and brie bisque and a goat cheese cheese cake. The service was great and the 3 course meal was only $60.00. In all my research that was a bargain and the food excelled.

The place is cozy and beautiful. If you appreciate good food and wine this is the place to go. The ingredients have the best quality I had the french burgundy by the glass, the waiter suggested, and it was amazing, next time I’m ordering the bottle, it was subbtle and fruity, it gives you the pleasure when drinking good wine. 👌🏻 I highly recommend the foie gras, I enjoyed it here like in not some many places. Lamb rack was tender and full of flavor. This place is like being in Europe’s country side but with this San Diego’s flavor. Definitely coming back!!

This is not a what you might think of as a truly French restaurant though the influence is there. Try the raclette au gratin for a very shareable appetizer that fulfills every French cheese fantasy. In fact, we decided to order several small plates and one entree to share, which was perfect since neither of us was on the mood for a heavy meat dish. The raclette arrived in a tiny cast iron skillet and was definitely enough for two or three. The foie gras tourchon (torchon meaning it was wrapped up like a rolled towel) was not as good as the foie gras we've had elsewhere. We also shared the huge portion of duck fat truffle fries. Again, tasty but not hugely different from hand cut fries elsewhere. Still, a nice side. The entree of handmade ricotta and English pea ravioli was my favorite. Tender pasta with a filling that was light and fresh. We thoroughly enjoyed it, and the larger portion size (two sizes are offered) was perfect for two people. I saw several people went with the three course experience. It seemed like many items had an additional charge if you selected those however, so it just didn't seem worth it. The vibe was fun, lots of couples of all ages on dates. Service was fine, but nothing to note. It was annoying that ALL of our food came out at the same time. Also, for a French restaurant, there were almost no French wines! The wine list you see online is, disappointingly, the same as the one in the restaurant. Overall, quite nice, but not quite 4 stars.

I love French food and there aren't that many French restaurants in San Diego. The Smoking Goat had been on my radar for quite awhile and I finally had dinner there. The restaurant itself is charming with a European vibe. I had the pear salad which was outstanding with its mix of ingredients , and the 1/2 Gone Straw Farms Chicken. The latter is served in a skillet with mashed potatoes and a vegetable medley. A nice sauce gives it added flavor. My only issue is that there are too many red meat options on the menu. Yes, they have salmon and scallops. There's a lamb dish also with pasta that sounded yummy (and for which I'd make an exception in terms of red meat) but it sounded more Italian than French. Why isn't the restaurant open for lunch? I wish it was. They change the menu four times a year (seasonally) so I'll look forward to seeing their other menus. I'd definitely go back.

My husband and I went for dinner. We were able to make reservations through Open Table. We arrived early and asked for seating on the patio. While they waited for a table to open up, we had wine and beer at the small bar. The atmosphere is really nice, comfortably casual yet refined so it made for a nice night out. We started with the tartiflette (sp?). Really enjoyed the gooey cheese and crisp toasts. Super yummy paired with a glass of white wine. For dinner, I ordered the ribeye and my husband ordered the pork chop. Amazing. I ordered medium rare and it was cooked perfectly. The pork was served medium-medium well, still a little pink. The duck fat fries were unbelievable. I don't think I can ever order fries and enjoy them as much! Our service was great and we ended up skipping dessert because we were so full. The one thing that could be improved would be the beer selection. No excuses for the uninspired beer selection with 83 craft breweries in San Diego. They told us they were planning to get a beer from Breckenridge. Not impressed on that front. Otherwise, great place and if you are craving a better beer, there are a million bars right up the street to accommodate you.

We have always enjoyed the many menu choices. Lots of fresh dishes to choose from always beautifully serves.

I came here off the recommendation of a friend in SD. Parking wasn’t too bad, only ended up a couple blocks away but it was very nice out (and was free) so we didn’t mind. We were seated promptly and started with a bottle of sparkling water. For an appetizer we shared the truffle fries & cheese board. I myself had the short ribs which were melt-in-your mouth good, tasted like Sunday night dinner at the folks! We had excellent service paired with incredible food - an overall great night!

What a great area for diners with so many interesting choices. We celebrated my parents 53 wedding anniversary at the Smoking Goat. The menu has casual and formal elements and represents French cooking classics with California ingredients. We had the escargots done in the classic style with lot's of melted butter and a just a hint of garlic and tarragon. The Wild Arugula Salad was beautiful and loaded with local ingredients. The Prime Rib special was sublime and at 14 oz provided me with 3 meals! The Duroc Pork Chop is marinated for 3 days and is thick and juicy. Our server was excited and enthusiastic about the menu and that got the rest of us excited too! He was very knowledgeable about how the dishes are prepared and that tells me that the Chef and front-of-the-house are a great team. It was reflected in our service and the quality of what we received.

I love this place. I took a friend here and it wa amazing…. Until our dinners came out before my guest was done his appetizer and when the meals came out they were simply put on rhe table. My guest felt bad the food was getting cold so he pushed his app aside and we ate the main- pork chop- which was amazing. During the entire main course no one came by to check in or see how we were doing. At the prices point of this restaurant, I expected more attention - well, more than zero. At the end of the night a man came by and asked how everything was. He was named Alex and was a manger. I relayed to him what the issues were and he really heard and understood and thanked me for the feedback. I was in food service for years and always appreciated a guest relaying a not so good time so that we could train and improve. Alex offered us a complimentary appetizer to go ( the one my guest did not finish) and we declined as the input was for help only, not free food. He said he insisted so we agreed. He went to the kitchen (which is open) and waited for the food. He came back thanked us again for the input and our the food in a bag. Alex took what was less than a stellar night and made it a stellar night. This is a really good place and even if something is a bit off, they took care of it.

Putting aside the fun of eating in a place with my nickname (Goat) in their name, this was a very fun place. As noted by others, the truffle fries, while not found only here, are great. The muscles were fresh and good (I might have hoped for a few more given the price but hey, it's California), the burger great as was the salmon salad. Excellent wine and just fun. We went early and so the place wasn't totally packed, you could actually hear the other people at your table and service excellent. I'd go back anytime.

There were six of us having dinner. From the time we sat down, I got the feeling our server was rather disinterested. We ordered a round of drinks that took quite a while to prepare. When we finally got them, a few people in our party were ready to eat, so we ordered our meals. We all chose the three-course prix fixe dinner. In a very short period, our first course arrived. Our server never came back to ask if we would like something else to drink, so that idea went out the window. There was at least a 20 minute wait between our first and second course. I might have ordered something else to drink, but once again, our server was nowhere to be found. I would have ordered a bottle of wine for the table, but there just seemed to be no interest on his part. Because of the length between courses, by the time everyone was finished with their entree, no one was really interested in having dessert, so three of us had it packed to go. I will say that everything that was ordered was well received. We ordered a variety of foods to include the duck, steak, and pork chop and I think everyone had something different for their first course. I am someone who likes to take my time when I go out. Good pacing of a meal is important. On this occasion, it didn't happen. I would be willing to give it another try next time I am in town, but I think I would want to try it with just my wife and control the pace of the meal myself. But, I definitely would ask for a different server.

The poached pear salad was amazingly good. I also enjoyed the Maple Leaf Duck Breast. The breast itself was good but slightly under seasoned but what made the dish were the vegetables. I assume there was duck fat involved but would definitely like to know how they were prepared. Since I was alone (side note: I lost TCM a few months ago so have, unfortunately, gotten used to dining "solo") I chose to sit at the bar. The bartender was extremely pleasant (as was everyone else I met) and very personable. I thoroughly enjoyed speaking w/ him and learned much about the area which was helpful on my first night in the city.

Reading all the reviews posted, my wife and I expected great things, but we were left disappointed and paid for an expensive meal that we did not want or like. I will caveat that we are not food snobs. We love well cooked and seasoned food with good service. Chances are if you are reading this post, so do you! We initially showed up and were greeted by the staff. My wife's (starter) octopus was over fried and had no taste or tasted like over grilled chicken. Oh well, so we went onto the main course for which we both were looking forward to (i.e., rack of lamb encrusted with pistachio). It was so OVER salted that it took away from the entire meal. The pom dolphin potatoes were over seasoned with nutmeg that it was uneatable after two bites. When the server came over to ask us how our meal was, we politely told her the truth of everything being over seasoned. She simply looked at us and said she would mention it to the chef. After that interaction, she barely gave us a glance with the exception of handing us our bill which we felt like we had to beg for. I sincerely hope others had a better experience, because ours was an overpriced meal that we should have sent back to the kitchen. With so many great places to eat in San Diego we are definitely NOT coming back.

Our waiter was polite, helpful and knew everything about the menu (wine and food). He was able to provide suitable recommendations for the wine, since the original selections were not available. Good food - back to basics, great flavours and generous portions, gd to share. We had the three course taster menu at USD40, great value. We had 1- mac n cheese/goat cassoulet/ Black Forest 2- crispy octopus/steak n duck fat truffle fries/Creme brûlée 3- butter squash ravioli/ pork chop n mash/Creme brûlée and an expresso Definitely worth a visit!

We were here during Restaurant Week, which was a good twist too. Terrific food (if you enjoy escargot, don’t miss this ~ on par with Paris!). Pretty good service. I’d definitely go back.

Went here for a belated anniversary dinner with friends. My wife had wanted to go here for awhile. Her duck was well prepared and very good. I had the burger and it was outstanding. The service was excellent and would go here again in the near future.

We arrived on time for our reservation and were told that they had only one table large enough for our party (7 people) and the people at that table had just gotten their dessert and the restaurant wasn't sure how long they would be. Okay. We attempted to wait in the bar but the bartender pointedly ignored us and the hostess implied we were in the way. At this point we decided to walk next door for a drink; the hostess said they would text when the table was ready. Almost as soon as we had gotten next door, the hostess chased us down to say they could seat us, so we dutifully trooped back and sat down. Our waiter appeared and explained that this is a beer and wine only place, which we had not noticed. He immediately went into a long spiel about the wine program and recommended a $75 bottle of wine.We explained that we had been looking forward to cocktails and asked for a few minutes to regroup and look at the wine. When he returned, we told him we had decided against ordering bottles for the table and would instead be ordering by the glass. He again tried to talk us into the $75 bottle of wine, both together, and individually whenever one of us asked for a by-the-glass recommendation. We did not take him up on it, and ordered food. Two of our party ordered an appetizer and a salad each (instead of an entree) and the waiter asked if they would like to add fish or scallops to the salad. Intrigued, both added scallops. When the bill came, we discovered that adding scallops was a $22 upcharge - the same amount as a full scallop entree, on TOP of the original price of the salad. The waiter had not mentioned the upcharge at all (we had expected one, but not one that equaled an entire additional dish each). We complained, and after speaking with a manager they did reduce the charge, but we were still irritated. In addition, the meal took nearly three hours, despite the fact that we ordered all of our courses including dessert at the beginning of the meal. The food was good - the goat cheese cheesecake in particular was outstanding - but the experience was unpleasant overall, and the low point of an otherwise lovely weekend.

A favorite for many years. This time we had the mussels which were delish. Then we each had the wild mushrooms linguine and lamb bolpgnese. Both were delicious. Service was attentive.

We chose this restaurant for our anniversary dinner on the strength of it’s positive reviews and we were not disappointed. The staff were extremely friendly and attentive and the food was simply excellent. I can highly recommend the pate plate, and the Scottish salmon was absolutely delectable. We were treated to a creme brûlée as an anniversary treat which finished off our wonderful meal just right! Many thanks to the Smoking Goat for a great experience. We will be back!

Family recommended The Smoking Goat. We were seated promptly at 5:30 for dinner. Beware parking can be a problem. I dropped my wife off and parked a couple of blocks away. To my surprise they do not have a liquor license so no hard booze cocktails. I had the "smoking goat" and my wife the "French 75". They were okay but not great. Our server Scotty was very helpful and attentive. I had the Cassoulet. It was large portion and we took some home. My wife and I shared a very good pear & blue cheese salad and she had the ravioli. We had some very nice glasses of wine. When we left around 6:45 pm they were pretty busy. This place has charm but would not be on my return list. Not that it was bad just not for me.

We came on a Friday evening, and were early for our reservation, but they were able to seat us, anyway. There were three in our party: my partner, my daughter, and me. We all ordered drinks to start (I had a glass of cider, my partner had red wine, and my daughter had a nonalcoholic drink made with berries, muddled mint, and fizzy water (I don't remember the name of it). It was very mild-tasting compared to my cider, which turned out to be much sweeter than expected (but not in a bad way). We each ordered the three course meal ($45 pp, though for the three of us, including drinks, extra charges for certain items, tax, and tip, it came to closer to $250 total). For starters, my daughter ordered the pate, my partner had a beautiful salad, and I, the steak tartare, served accompanied by tortilla chips. For our mains, My daughter ordered the steak frites, a generous portion of tender beef accompanied by truffle fries (delicious), I had the salmon (served with/on three veggies), and my partner enjoyed the beef cheeks, which came in a rich brown sauce. As if this weren't enough of an indulgence, my daughter finished with a HUGE slice of the goat cheese cheesecake (I tasted it with a little of the fruit compote, which cut the creaminess of the cheese wonderfully). I had ordered the flourless chocolate cake, but ended up taking it home because I was already feeling replete (when I ate it the next morning, it was quite yummy!), and my partner finished with a generous slice of chevre. We were celebrating my daughter's acceptance into a couple of colleges and my partner's birthday. Totally worth the splurge!

This local restaurant on 30th St between North and South Park is smokin' good! We got there 30 mins before evening service began and they allowed us to take a table on the patio and brought us our choice of water while we waited. The cocktails were a trip (try the smoking goat which was literally smoking!) and when the food came it was mindblowingly delicious. The salmon skin was crisp while the interior perfectly moist, and the parsnip puree, roasted cauliflower and broccolini were superbly cooked. The duck and it's au jus were truly tasty. The waiter was attentive and very patient with one of our diner's particular food limitations. The patio was perfect, not noisy considering it's right on the street. This is definitely an excellent place I will return to very soon!

On our last stay in San Diego we went to this AMAZIN restaurant and had a mouth watering dinner! Well worth the money! Staff is fantastic and the food was SO delicious that we personally congratulated the chef!

We were two couples, and decided to try The Smoking Goat on Restaurant week. Everything was great, the service, menu offerings, portion size, presentation, taste, etc. Thi s is a definite "go back to."

The Smoking Goat is a couple years old and recently expanded to double their size. Comfy dining room now. Enjoyed a birthday dinner with husband and friends. Interesting menu with small plates and regular entrees. Atmosphere is "happening" but not too noisy (a complaint in some of the large restaurant spaces where you cannot hear the others at your table). From a pork belly eater, to a seafood eater and a vegan - all were able to find something to enjoy on the menu. Look forward to returning. Most likely you need reservations!

My wife and I decided to make reservations at TSG for 2 and have a quiet little dinner Christmas eve. When our friends heard about it we need a table for eight!! Our first visit to TSG was several years ago when the restaurant was a lot smaller -- I was looking for duck confit. Kinda disappointed that this was not on the menu Christmas but our friends suggested The Smoking Goat Cassoulet. WOW. They said it was as good or better then when they had it in France! I will try this again and again... The expanded area is nice and the restaurant apparently is doing very well because the place was packed. None the less the staff were polite, attentive the food was served in good time and HOT. The wine was mainly from boutique wineries but very good. We will see them again soon.

We were so disappointed with our dining experience at Smoking Goat as we brought out of town guests to join us for the Wednesday, three-course $40 menu. We have previously dined before and were excited to share this dining establishment with guests. However, the service was just awful. The waiter could not get our order correct as he had to return twice to confirm our meals. We only saw him once during the entire meal besides the two times we had to request for him to come to our table. After waiting a long time and flagging down a different waiter as our waiter was no where to be seen, it appeared our dessert order was never placed as we saw our waiter arguing with the food runner about our dessert. After dessert and another long wait, we had to ask the food runner to send the waiter over with our bill. We asked him to split the dining checks and again he could not complete this simple task. The poor service ruined the overall dining experience. We would not recommend this restaurant.

We loved this gem. The restaurant has a cool vibe and nice outdoor area. The pâté was excellent. Steak was first rate. We also loved the mussels and Mac and cheese. Desserts were wonderful too. We loved everything.

We started with a pear salad which was superb. The two entrees, a pork chop and duck, were excellent as well. The pork chop with a tangy Basque sauce was the large and juicy standout. Service was fine, if a bit unctuous. The only downside is that the wine list is a bit pricey

My husband And I had such a nice time at The Smoking Goat! The food was memorable. I had the Sea Bass which was prepared so well with carrots, mushrooms in a lovely sauce. My husband had the beef cheeks and it was a phenomenal meal! The staff were so welcoming. We are leaving tomorrow, are tourists from Boston and look forward to a time to return to this area of San Diego! Would without reservation recommend The Smoking Goat!

We've eaten here a few times and it's always good. Nice decor. Good for a date night or for friends night out. Love the pate. The 3 courses for $40 is a bargain. I had the salmon last time and loved the crispy skin, even though I usually don't eat it, it was a perfect counterpoint to the mild salmon. Finish with the goat cheese cheese cake- not too sweet but creamy and luscious. Good wine selection too.

This is by far my favorite community restaurant. With their newly expanded location, they are able to accommodate small groups without compromising their excellent services and food quality. The staff is always friendly and ready to assist you. My favorite is the lamb!!! It is both tender and flavorful. The scallops and Rib eye are also wonderful alternatives. Don't leave without trying the banana bread fosters! I always recommend this restaurant to friends and family and will continue to do so.

Myself and a few colleagues choose this restaurant since we wanted to do something different than Mexican and seafood. This restaurant is located in a hip and trendy residential neighborhood. The food was excellent! I recommend the Compart Farms Pork Chop and the Pear & Bleu Cheese Salad. We ordered the Crispy Octopus and we were afraid to eat it. It looked like a fried eel. Other guest sitting around us ordered it and seemed to enjoy it. We couldn't do it.

The decor is very pleasing with a industrial and reclaimed wood decor. Our waiter Jordan was very good and recommended some great dishes for us to try along with a great recommendation on the wine. We got there around 5:30 and wasn’t too busy but as we had a glass of wine and a salad to start the place began to fill up to the point where it was completely full. Obviously very popular. For the price I thought the food was OK. My wife’s prime rib was Luke warm by the time she got it for some reason it took a while for us to get our dinner for four. Which included prime rib and the pork chops. Maybe it was just because they were so busy but still no excuse. Our visit prior to that about two months ago was a little better experience. Not gonna give up on them yet.

We choose to have Christmas Eve Dinner with a party of 6 adults and two children. We appreciated the exceptional service and outstanding food. We had option from Prix Fix menu which we opted for. I had the pork chop, good not great. Another had the scallops, exceptional, balance had the steak not sure what kind but it was also outstanding. Appetizers as they are called, French onion soup perfection, Burrata salad was awesome, dessert shined! Goat cheese cheesecake was heavenly, banana bread foster oh my goodness, great. Black Forest okay. Wine list pretty nice as well. We had a wonderful time we will go again, for a very busy evening they did a wonderful job of presentation and service as well as quality of food.

The minute our tyrranical governator decreed we could eat out again, we made reservations at the Smoking Goat. They operated with a very small staff with all table 5-7 feet apart. We were glad to go out and they were pleased to have us. I had the olive taponade and the Salmon with cous cous. KIller good! I recommend this place absolutely!

The atmosphere was very nice and service good. We skipped appetizers and went straight for the main course which was nice, but nothing to rave about. For desert we had the goat cheese cheesecake which was very good.

Great French Bistro Food. Really cute and cozy interior as well. Came here for Restaurant Week and was not disappointed. Shared the short ribs and duck and both were delicious!

A limited menu of bistro favorites like cassoulet and some more unusual items. Wait staff is very knowledgeable--our waitress guided us to just the right Rhone wine to complement our choices. California cheeses and charcuterie are another highlight. The prix fixe menu of one salad/appetizer, one entree, and one dessert or cheese is an excellent way to go.

The Smoking Goat has been on my list forever to try out. I love how small and intimate it is, but we had a heck of a time waiting to get in on a Saturday night recently. We called ahead, and they told us about 30 minutes for a table for 4. Not bad, right? This was about 8pm. When we arrived, our table still wasn't ready, so we went to Mosaic a few doors down and had some drinks to kill some time. What a great idea!! This took the edge off waiting. Came back 1/2 hour to 40 minutes later, and the table still wasn't ready. There were only 2-3 tables that seated 4, so it looked like the couples were taking their sweet time. After waiting another 20 minutes outside, they finally sat us at the bar to get started. We started our apps at the bar, and ate pretty slowly. Duck fat truffle fries and the bone marrow kept us company while we still waited for a table. Thank goodness the good eats and a bottle of wine made the wait tolerable! We were finally able to enjoy our entrees at a table. Woo!! I ordered the quail, hubby ordered the ginormous pork chop. Everything was cooked to perfection, very tasty, and very generous portions. It was worth the wait. We were the last people in the restaurant that night.... ordered dessert (is it sad that I don't even remember? eek!!) and espressos, and the waitress was kind enough to give us some dessert wine for our wait. We'll be back again! Maybe next time just a table for 2 instead of 4.

From the welcoming to coffee, excellent service and food. Octopus salad with Romanesco sauce, the pear salad, the 1/2 roasted chicken was simple, flavorful and tasty.

Delicious french food that is farm to table, in a vibrant area. Great place for a romantic date and dining out with friends. Parking could be a challenge. On the pricey side.

Such a cool place, good Wines, great simple food, my last visit was for restaurant week, the experience at goat was good, I had the duck breast it perfectly mes rare cook, my friend ordered the pork belly also very good, the goat cheese cake 'yumm' overall a fun laid back place to enjoy a nice dinner and a glass of wine.

One of the best meals we had in San Diego. We had made reservations and requested seating outside. When we arrived we were asked if would be okay with the enclosed outside dining instead of the patio. This was fine with us as we found the inside a bit too dark and loud for our tastes. Our waiter was Shawn and he was very good. Shawn went over the menu with us, discussed the specials of the day and made recommendations. My husband had the pork chop that was one of Shawn’s suggestions and my husband said it was one of the best that he has had. Shawn mentioned that the truffle fries were one of the specialties. When my husband asked if they could be substituted for the starch Shawn said it was not permitted as they are offered as an appetizer. We ordered the fries and they were also very good. I had the chicken au jus. It was so tasty and moist. The sauce that was served with the chicken was delicious. We shared the flourless chocolate cake for dessert. We had a lovely evening at Smoking Goat.

The Smoking Goat has expanded it's space and changed their menu since my last visit. Although a short listing of entrees, each one stimulated my desire to go to kitchen and add some new twists to dishes I prepare. The entrees we chose were delicious. The wine list is excellent as well. It's in North Park; #2 bus which stops almost in front from downtown Broadway. The restaurant is not well signed-we walked right by it. We'll return again very soon to try more dishes which change every 2-3 months.

Maybe I hit The Smoking Goat on a bad night during restaurant week, though I was among the first few through the door on Wednesday evening. After reading reviews for the duck breast I ordered it from the special prixe fixe menu of a three course meal for $35.00 plus wine. Salad, duck breast and bread pudding for dessert. I had to send the duck breast back as it was waaay too rare. Second time was a bit better but could have been done even more, but I didn't want to send it back twice. The dessert of bread pudding had the somewhat taste of bread pudding, but not the "chunky-ness" of it. It was more along the lines of a slice of marble cake. The wine, however, was very good, as was the excellent service provided by the servers and the bartender.

A great place to eat in North Park. We both did the $42 3 course dinner. Everything was excellent. The service was great and atmosphere was very nice as well. Highly recommend this neighborhood eatery.

Sometimes you have to write a review when a restaurant delivers a flawless evening from the moment you walk in to the final dessert that was placed in front of you ..it was every bit a five star. The new manager Alex who was formally with Barbarella Has made THE SMOKING GOAT feel like the restaurant you want to go back over and over again. We have been going there for many years but this time it felt different. Everyone has a smile on their face, everyone wants you to enjoy every aspect of the restaurant. We had our usual chicken dish and this is one dish you can’t miss. THANK YOU ALEX for making our evening wonderful.

We've been here many times over the years, and the food and service is always great. However, a few nights ago we watched the owners leave drunk and drive away (with their kids). My husband and i cannot support such reckless behaviour. Hopefully this was a one-time thing, but it never is.

We always try a New Restaurant on this Amaizing week in San Diego, and today was The Smoking Goat, and in words of my son this Restaurant is not good is Awesome!! We really enjoy everything, from the service, the decor, the ambiance and of course the Food, the portion of all the plates there great even that it was restaurant week(you know some times the restaurants their have smaller portions😕) and we really want to try other dishes on our second visit.

Had the Cassoulett, not traditional but good enough. Nice place, good bar scene, neighboorhood gem. Cheers!

We went to dinner here while in San Diego, it was very good/excellent. We ordered the Smoking Goat Three Course Experience, the entrees were excellent, appetizers and desserts very good. Service was very good. I would recommend this restaurant and will return when we are in the area. 4.5** but would rather round up to 5 than down to 4.

I don't think this restaurant is worth the price. First off, our waiter took a solid 10 - 15 minutes before he came over to get our drink order, so we already started off on the wrong foot. For our appetizer, we got the goat meatballs, The meatballs themselves were a little coarse, but the marinara sauce was very good. For our main courses, my boyfriend got the steak and fries, and I got the duck breast. The steak was good and the fries were fantastic, but my duck breast was kind of chewy and grey looking, and the rice underneath was bland and watery. We skipped dessert. Our bill was $100. Again, just not worth it for a hit-and-miss meal.

we dropped by on the recommendation of the owners of the VRBO we were staying at, and had a great time. At happy hour, they have a selection of small plate type items, as well as a large burger. we opted for a burger and, after some debate, the duckfat truffle fries. Burger was awesome - we split it, and the fries were crisp and hot. The other dishes looked hot and tasty too. The bartender and waitress were sociable enough without being too sociable. Excellent experience.

A good neighborhood restaurant in north park, was busy on a weeknight. Always a good sign. They gave a good and reasonably priced wine list and a limited menu. Our appetizers shared by the all were their delicious pumpkin raviolis and chicken liver pate. The very tasty pâté were served with toasted bread which was super oily. They should think of dry toast instead, similar to what they serve with their cheese plate. We tried their sole and salmon dishes which were praised by diners. As for the their steak, more attention to the requested oneness would be appreciated. The rare was medium and the medium was neatly well done. The tenderness of the meat made up for this omission. A great pumpkin pudding was shared by all. The cheese plate we ordered had a serving of goat cheese whose date due was well past. Pleasant and friendly waiters,

I have to brag about how awesome Ross and Victoria are. The two managers of the restaurant helped make my proposal amazing. I had my first date with my now fiancée a year and a half ago at the Smoking Goat. The experience was so great that I decided to propose there as well. Ross and Victoria were so helpful and unselfish with their time. They helped me coordinate with a videographer and photographer that were staked out in the restaurant. They also played along with my casual act even though I had been there several times setting up. It was a complete surprise and turned out perfect. Victoria even brought us champagne after. It was an amazing night and the tasty food, and delicious wine made the night even better. Thanks guys.

The food was wonderful The staff was inviting and informative about the food Loved the atmosphere of this place Warm and inviting ... with just the right amount of romance

After a disastrous dinner in the Gaslamp neighborhood, we decided to venture out to a "real" neighborhood. The menu of the Smoking Goat was intriguing and the reviews were good so we took a chance. We found the staff attentive and helpful, but not intrusive. The salads were fresh and flavorful, the duck fat fries were worth the add on, the ravioli was a treat and the pork shop was thick and very rich. Dessert was also worth the calories - especially the goat cheese cheesecake. When back in San Diego, we'd return and will recommend it to friends. One drawback? The bar next door sends their smokers to the sidewalk and the smoke wafts around and into the restaurant. Request a seat away from the door to avoid it.

We revisited The Smoking Goat, this time with friends in tow. We were disappointed. We had looked forward to the tratiflette that we had enjoyed on our first visit. However, we were served a smaller portion for four people and it was cold. My wife had the the spaghetti and it was served as a lump of noodles, difficult to break apart. On the upside, our friends enjoyed the burger (we should havde gone down the street to Craze Burger) and the service was very good. I'm not sure we will be going back but who knows.

We have smaller appetites and after listening to the lengthy (very lengthy) restaurant introduction and menu appraisal and recommendations from our knowledgeable server, we had to decline his many suggestions. Same routine for the (expensive) wine list. Scallops were on the menu, but when 2 of 3 of us ordered, they came back later to say "sold out". We all went with the hanger steak; I had the fries, friends went for mashed potatoes. We enjoyed very nicely presented hot tea with our meal. The food was really, really good. The steak was quite tender, presented sliced atop carmelized onions and in a reduction glaze. A spot of carrot or green on the plate might have added to the visual appeal, but the fries with mustard sauce were irresistible. I took home half my meal for the next evening and it was still delicious. I would return again with a heartier appetite and extra funds. Prices, for me, make this a special occasion resto only, but worth a splurge. Atmosphere is trendily industrial with a warm European feel. Service attentive until after eating, but in all fairness, the room was getting quite busy. Food seemed a bit of a wait. I would try it again, explore the menu some more.

If you're looking for dark and cozy, this is the spot. I make my husband take me here on special occasions. It's expensive, but worth the splurge once in a while. You'll get an incredible meal and a great atmosphere.

I came here for dinner earlier in the week for "date night" with my wife. We came based on a friend's recommendation. I know it gets rave reviews and many positive comments. And to be fair the food was good. First the good.. I got the steak with fries and both were really good. My wife got the pumpkin ravioli and she also enjoyed it. We shared the beet salad and I didn't think it was anything too special. I got an ice tea and was surprised they don't have any sweetener besides plain sugar. No equal. The restaurant wasn't busy but the service was a bit slow. I'm not sure if they were short handed. The guy waiting on us was very nice however. We also got the banana cake dessert and it was good but a bit too sweet. The atmosphere and environment is great. I'd definitely come again and give it another try. All in all a good place with good food.

After reading reviews of this place, we decided to try it. We started with the duckfat truffle fries which were incredible. We then moved on to the Salmon, which had an amazing flavor. Probably one of the best salmon dishes I've had. Our server Lisa recommended a wine from the 1/2 price menu (because it was Wednesday) which was very good. Even though we don't usually do desert, my granddaughter asked what banana foster was, so we had to try it. It too was incredible. Overall this was a great dining experience.

As the field of Cohen/Consortium-owned thematic restaurants continues to grow in this town, we are lucky to have a couple real gems still remaining. The Smoking Goat is definitely one of them. The tightly tailored menu hews close to what is currently available from nearby farms and stunning mainstays are always a treat. Think authentic Burgundian fare teleported to the quiet end of the overhyped flatlands of North Park. (Have no fear, you're only a mile from the South Park Route des Bières.) A compact wine list has a little something for everyone and do not leave without trying the truly sublime Griddled Banana Bread for dessert. Even back when this place was tiny and lacked A/C it was a favorite of ours. Thankfully their expansion simply made the incredible food more accessible to more folks – nothing lost and a rustically appointed new dining room gained! A note on service: This restaurant is blessed to have a long-serving backwaiter/busboy who is attentive, friendly, and efficient. The actual waitstaff, however, is a mixed bag. Expect nothing more than an order-taker and sometimes you'll be pleasantly surprised. Otherwise, be prepared for a server who doesn't know a demi-glace from a beurre noisette; a Corbières from a Condrieu. You'll get your food, no worries there, but you may be on your own beyond that. (Full disclosure: I spent years in the front of the house at a Michelin 2-star, so take my service comments with a grain of salt.) Highly recommended.

We had an excellent meal here. We arrived at 6:30 on a Sunday night and were seated right away, but the place was full by the end of the meal. With more people, the place got just a bit loud, but not overbearingly so. We started with chicken liver pate and had the short ribs and pork chop for our entrees. The pate was topped with blueberry jam and served with buttered crostini. Very rich but delicious. The crostini were a bit hard, but delicious. Decidedly not low cal. The short ribs and pork chop were tender and moist, cooked to perfection. Service was on point. Overall a great experience. Expect to pay about $30 per person, not including drinks.

This restaurant has wonderful French food in a nice neighborhood. The ambiance is lovely. Customer service is good.

This restaurant serves consistently delicious food. The ambiance is nice--good for dates or business meetings. Customer service is friendly and attentive.