Pizza Port Carlsbad

coldriver

Texas

4.28/5  rDev -0.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

We visited here for a weekday lunch and found the atmosphere to be quite pleasant with none of the Chuck E Cheese craziness others have commented on. The decor is a surf theme with seperate areas for ordering beer and food. The tap selection was fantastic and everything we tried was great. There were several Port taps - and not just the regular stuff - as well as many great guest taps. The pizza was quite good, we couldn't complain about the service, and prices were reasonable. Overall we really enjoyed our visit.

04-16-2012 23:20:18 | More by coldriver

fox227

California

4.69/5  rDev +8.6%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.75 | $$

This is one of my favorite, must-go-to brew pubs. First, the atmosphere is fun and very relaxed, with a So-Cal surfer vibe, and a packed house that is always there to have fun and relax with a beer and some pizza.

The quality of the food and beer are both exceptional. Their house beers are what you'd expect from one of the best breweries in Southern California with an emphasis on their hoppy pales and IPAs. Not to shy away from being adventurous, they also brew many stouts, and English styles brews, and pretty much a Kitchen Sink approach to craft-brewing imagination. Upon any visit, I can expect something wonderful from them. Their guest list is usually very fine as well.

The service is generally very friendly, with regular tenders that I recognize from a few years back are still around to this day, suggesting that this is a family like crew who are passionate about serving good beer.

The selection is not as expansive as some bars, but there's usually a something for everyone inclusiveness, so no matter what kind of beer you're in the mood for, there's something very fine to be had.

Food: the pizzas are some of my favorite in So Cal and features very eclectic topping choices, including house recipes and create your own combos. The "Beer Buddy" bread sticks are also terrific if you simply want a snack with your yummy beer.

The prices are all very reasonable, with pints priced in a normal range, even with several 9% and above ales. But still others will be served in smaller glasses. But where else can I get a 16oz. pour of an Imperial IPA for a normal price? Excellent!

05-07-2013 22:19:23 | More by fox227

ALBuff

Hawaii

4.33/5  rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$

This place smelled amazing and the beer crust pizza is fantastic. The staff is friendly and patient despite the large crowds, and the beer selection is vast (includes their own brews and guests on tap). Delicious pizza aside, Pizza Port offers quality beer and a fun atmosphere suitable for barflies and families alike. I went on a Sunday during playoffs, so the brewpub was a touch louder and lively than I care for, but ultimately Pizza Port Carlsbad is a place I'd go back to again and again.

01-28-2013 07:19:59 | More by ALBuff

Jodi215

Arizona

4.13/5  rDev -4.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$

There are a few Pizza Ports around So Cal and we went to two of them this past week. It's a really great pizza joint with a fantastic beer list. Atmosphere is very casual surfer decor. Quality was great and we would go back again when we visit So Cal. Service was fantastic, very friendly and when I forgot to order a drink and went back the girl just gave me a glass and said it's on the house. As I mentioned before they have a fantastic selection of beers. Many of their own and a very good offering of guest beers. They usually have Pliny but dont put it on the menu so you have to ask for it. As for the food, the salads are huge and can feed up to four people. The pizza is very good and I had buddy bites and they were delicious. The value here is great for what you get.

12-21-2012 03:51:34 | More by Jodi215

slm100

4.4/5  rDev +1.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

LOVE this place. Great beers - always new and impressive beers to try. I was lucky enough to go once when they had an exceptional amount of barrel aged beers.
Lots of variety and guest beers on tap. They have 4 bars in the San Diego area.

The food is... well...Pizza but again they are exceptional, great choice of toppings and lots of ingredients to make your own, plus salads are good.

I bought a beer glass to add to my collection for $3 which once again is great value.

Cant say enough about this place. Just wish I could buy bottles of there Bacon and Eggs! :)

12-11-2012 22:24:31 | More by slm100

UCLABrewN84

California

4.33/5  rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

My first visit to a Pizza Port was the Carlsbad location. It has a nice family friendly atmosphere with some arcade games for kids, TVs for sports, etc. They have about 20 Port beers and 15 guest beers on tap along with some bottles I believe. I like the fact that they offer taster pours of all of their taps up to pitchers of certain beers. The quality of the beer seemed to be high for all but 1 of my samples. The pizza and other food (Beer Buddies and Portzel) was really tasty too. Service was good, more from the bar than the food area. Prices are pretty reasonable for both food and beer. I will definitely be back again.

08-07-2012 05:11:09 | More by UCLABrewN84

Bfarr

Washington

3.58/5  rDev -17.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

A different stlye of brewpub, Pizza Port takes a more European approach to seating and makes you fight for a space at one of the long tables mostly populated by little league baseball teams when I was there. After ordering your pizza you have tons of time before it's done to wait in a second line to get your beer (and finish it and go order a second). Service is essentially non-existant as it is limited to POS purchases. The astmosphere is very lively and if you're lucky and outgoing enough to sit by some good people you'll have an unexpected and pleasant evening of conversation. The bright side is with 25+ rotating taps of only the best beers available, you should have no problem getting the outgoing part taken care of. I haven't been to too many places that have Belgian's and taps from far and wide in addition to their own creations like barrel aged stouts and nitro DIPA's, all for $5-$6. Certainly a place to stop by and give it a try.

04-05-2012 03:49:56 | More by Bfarr

sholland119

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev -2.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

Well, yeah, maybe visiting on a Sunday during a Chargers game was not the best idea. But our remarkably low key visit to the (significantly smaller) Ocean Beach location an hour before did not prepare us for the madness that was Carlsbad.

Boy is this place big. Miles of picnic tables, a huge bar, lines 10 deep to get a beer or order a pizza. Loud too. We finally got two seats at the end of the bar where the couple of Raiders fans in the place were congregated watching the one TV that showed their team.

It was worth the wait though as the tap list was stellar. Lots of Pizza Port brews, great guest taps. Pizza was pretty good, and prepared rather quickly.

On the whole, this place had the vibe of a Chuck E. Cheese crossed with a sports bar. Just as many kids, lots of noisy football fans,albeit with far superior food and beer. If I had raised my kids near here, this place would have been my regular stop. At this point, I don't think I'd be going often.

HV

02-29-2012 18:15:13 | More by sholland119

Seanibus

California

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%
vibe: 2 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$

Let's get this established first - the beer here is outrageously good, the pizza is excellent and the price is nice.

And yet, I didn't really enjoy my visit. I found the dining room insanely loud and confusing. It was a punishing experience to eat here and I might be disinclined to go back because it is so chaotic.

On the upside, the tap list is huge, including Port offerings and an impressive selection of regional and national competitors, which was cool. The staff was friendly, if a little rough around the edges, which pretty well described the customer base too.

02-15-2012 04:49:02 | More by Seanibus

DoubleJ

California

4.36/5  rDev +0.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

This is much better than San Clemente. Like the SC location, there is little parking around at night, so don't be surprised if you park your car a block away. But don't let the parking situation get to yuor head, as you will be greatly rewarded.

It's not just a place for beer lovers, but also a place for kids too. There are long benches and tables for families to gather, several video gaming machines, a long bar section running on the left side of the place, and an easy to spot order spot for both the food and beer. The place was nearly packed before 6pm, but that didn't stop me coming in for a quick drink.

Roughly a dozen Pizza Port beers brewed at the Carlsbad location, and another 20 or so guest taps. There's a great mix of styles, ranging from the lighter Twery to the more alcoholic Stickly Stout and even a brew with sour cherries. I received my Twerp in a tulip, which tasted very good and was presented well. But generally, expect your beer to be served in the usual shaker. Pitchers are also available as well.

It may had been a short visit, but it was totally worth it. And for sure, the Carlsbad location warrants future visits.

01-31-2012 01:23:30 | More by DoubleJ