Urge American Gastropub

claspada

New Jersey

4.26/5  rDev -1.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25 | food: 3.5 | $$$

Stopped by here for lunch on my trip one day, sat at the bar and watched a soccer game. Plenty of tables and a wrap-around square bar so plenty of seating.

Service was excellent, bartender was always on the spot and willing to help with beer and food. Also let me charge my phone, damn iphone maps kill your battery, anyway.

The beer I wanted kicked halfway through my pour so that was free which was a cool start, then I ended up having two more local beers that I would never be able to have on the East Coast, both were above average and served in appropriate glassware. They have about 20 on draft from what I recall.

Food was a bit too bar pub grub for my tastes, wanted something light at a reasonable price and it was kind of hard to find on the menu. Ended up getting a fatty pork sandwich after being told it was pork loin, which it was definitely not.

So overall the beer was great, food disappointing, so good and bad.

06-19-2013 00:50:16 | More by claspada

heavenlyStash

California

4.88/5  rDev +12.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5 | $$

Out working in the area with a couple of friends and we decide to grab a pint and lunch, started off with a great greeting & Welcome. family Oriented place with a great authentic GastroPub look. Lets not forget about the Amazing service that all the employees provide & to a great tap selection if your ever in North county or Rancho Bernardo Stop in and check em out ...

06-13-2013 04:14:54 | More by heavenlyStash

vfgccp

New York

4.81/5  rDev +10.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 4.75 | food: 5 | $$

A- Nice atmosphere, good bar seating, and a nice outdoor patio area. Being that it is in So-Cal the outdoor area is pretty much opened year round.

Service- Great, the managers all the way down to the bar tenders, they are all friendly and knowledgable.

Selection- Great selection of both beer and food, and the menus are always rotating.

Food- AMAZING!! Wild Boar Burger, Homemade sausage corn-dog lollypops (yes you read that right), seriously great eats.

As I travel a lot for work, I am always on the lookout for a great gastropub. There are few places I've been that compare in food quality/selection, and beer selection. Urge really is an incredible place.

06-11-2013 22:09:25 | More by vfgccp

notchucknorris

California

4.28/5  rDev -1.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

I live in Carlsbad, so this place is a bit of a drive, but it was well worth it. A friend who was down for the weekend wanted to check this place out, so we made the trek over there.

The place looks unassuming enough. It's in a shopping center, tucked behind a grocery store and a few other businesses. If you don't drive right past it, it's well worth checking out.

The food was really solid and the tap list was equally good. I don't remember exactly how many taps they had, but I remember being pleasantly surprised. If you happen to be in the area, check this place out.

01-03-2012 06:22:35 | More by notchucknorris

madpentzer

California

4.55/5  rDev +4.8%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

I love this place and have been there many times. The beer selection, both draft and bottle list, is great and so is the food. All the menu items have beer integrated into the recipe in one way or another and I really enjoyed their Fahrenheit Burger. Also Also, the chicken and waffles is amazing. It's always clean and I like the modern design. The service was great and best of all the prices aren't bad. Got a pint (20 oz) of Sculpin for $6. Overall, an awesome beer fan eatery and if your in San Diego I would check it out.

08-20-2011 19:23:41 | More by madpentzer

dhartogs

Virginia

4.88/5  rDev +12.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$

I've been here twice, had fantastic burgers, I like the Milk burger the best. The beer selection is top notch. Just had the LIfe & Limb this past week. In November for a Stone Tap takeover they had a great selection, including a few vertical epics. Bonus points for service tasters of beer as well. Good service, great food, and great beer. Sounds like an easy formula but many fail where Urge delivers. The bar area is spacious and not cramped, unless there is an event, and the seating areas are nice.

08-11-2011 20:44:24 | More by dhartogs

NoSignsOfPain

California

4.63/5  rDev +6.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

ehammond1 and I decided to check this place out after spending some time at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens. It didn't feel like an overly swanky gastropub. Upon arrival we got seated right away in the inside dining area.

We started out our evening with a pint of Magic Hat No. 9 and Ballast Point Sculpin (which was a second choice because Mother Earth's Los Cuatros Amigos just kicked); though what we really wanted was a pitcher of Tokyo. The rest of the taplist was pretty solid as well.

The menu was great with a lot to choose from; we ended up ordering mussels and fish tacos to split. We ended the evening with their vanilla bean bread pudding (much was left over but they were great the next day!)

It was a really great dining experience, and it was really because Finn! our server was fantastic. He would probably be half the reason that we go next time! He only works Monday - Thursday, so look out for him ;) He's great! Can't wait to go here again next time I'm in town.

07-20-2011 22:59:34 | More by NoSignsOfPain

gerrick

California

3.88/5  rDev -10.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Whenever I’m in North County San Diego I always make it a habit to stop by Urge Gastropub. While it’s located in a strip style mall, don’t let the exterior fool you – inside lies a true beer bar with approx. 50 taps and a decent bottle selection. Plenty of local San Diego micro breweries are represented along with tons of others from just about anywhere you could want a beer.

The food is excellent and always tastes fresh. I strongly suggest the Beer Cheese Fries (don’t skimp – add the chislic); the short rib sliders are also outstanding – all the burgers are solid. For desert – get the deconstructed smores; the wife is always a huge fan of this one.

There is never quite enough seating though and often the wait can be a bit long, so I try to go during off hours. The bar has some tv’s if you can’t miss your game.

The service staff is hit or miss, some actually know a thing or two about beer, but the average server here will be unable to help you select a beer.

05-27-2011 21:31:23 | More by gerrick

AylwinForbes

Illinois

2.88/5  rDev -33.6%
vibe: 2 | quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 4 | $$

The only urge I felt after spending about half an hour here was one to flee as fast as possible. I have to admit to great disappointment after much anticipation derived from other reviews. Perhaps it is just not my vibe. The location should have served as a warning. The GPS brings me to a nondescript mall but the precise location of Urge is a total mystery. After much fumbling around I finally find it. The second warming should have been the plethora of plasma screens; places should make a decision as to what they are: beer destinations or sports bars; the two don't mix in my view. I am perhaps too old for this, but settling down at the bar sandwiched among tanktop-wearing youths shouting at basketball games is not conducive to pleasure.

I cannot deny the selection and I gave this aspect a fair rating. Certainly some I would never find back home in Chitown. The first barman was polite and prompt in his delivery. Then it all went downhill. I was contemplating a second, but the next barman was way too concerned with chatting with his tanktop buddies to notice my dwindling glass. Then it was taken away without any enquiry as to my needs. I even had to demand to settle up.

I cannot speak to the food as I did not try it. This passes itself off as a gastropub. I don't believe it for a moment. For one thing it is a chain. At best moderate I would guess; but I am unlikely to ever venture to find out.

04-24-2011 22:45:39 | More by AylwinForbes

LittleDon

Texas

4.3/5  rDev -0.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

It is what the name says it is. Good food, good beer, a solid establishment.

Napa valley nouveau: stone, concrete floors, high ceilings. Like many things in Rancho Bernardo, Urge is located in an upscale strip mall. Not the easiest place to find once you get to the address (approximately) but worth the trouble. The food is upper end pub food, well prepared, tasty, and possibly a bit on the pricey side. The local seafood appetizer in beer was excellent. The shellfish were fresh and the broth was very good. Unfortunately, no bread was provided to soak up the left over liquor (I'm sure if I had only asked, I would have had some). The rabbit burger was excellent. A nice balance between the rich and savory rabbit, smoked gouda, and slightly sweet bun. If you get it, make sure to ask to have it done no more than medium. Any longer cooking might render it dry and less appealing. Service was excellent, although a better understanding of the beers would have made for a nicer experience. The beer selection, while not the biggest or best, was very passable. Plenty to choose from around the SD area and a few CA and other standards. The biggest problem Urge has is that it's located in a part of San Diego County that is out of the way. Far enough from greater SD to make it a bit of a haul, and just south of Escondido and San Marcos. Regardless, if you're close by, it is worth a trip.

04-22-2011 22:18:28 | More by LittleDon