The wait was terribly long. Food was average. Husband and I had burgers. They weren't very moist. The beer selection was not the greatest, especially if you don't like IPA. They have like 2 non-ipa options. Also, got my order before our beer order. Never a good sign. The service was great, long wait for service, but they were definitely friendly. Maybe a 2nd shot if we ever are in the Universal City Walk area? Not sure.
Christine D.
Our trip here in late February was a good one. This place is a nice respite from the hustle and bustle of an amusement park. I've been to their locations in San Diego and thought they were great. Their food at Karl Strauss is great; it's pub food but taken up a notch. We sat outside and enjoyed the mall area. We got ahead of the dinner rush on a week night and the weather was nearing 80 degrees so we sat outside where we could watch the kids play in a nearby fountain. The service was great and all in all it was a pleasant time. They have a great selection of beers but, alas, I'm not a beer drinker so I cannot speak to that. They have wine as well. I'll definitely stop back again when I'm in the area.
Rosie T.
My fiance and I decided to come here because A) we love to try out different brewing companies and B) we wanted a snack while we were walking around. What we liked about this brewing company is that there are lots of open room and open space. We loved that we can see ourselves sitting out here during the spring or summer and enjoy ourselves having a cold beer. The atmosphere was really relaxing, the place was clean and the staff members were outstanding. When we were there, we got a flight of beers, I got their holiday cider and we got an order of the carne asada fries. My fiance loved all the beers he got and I loved the holiday cider- it tasted like a boozy apple cider with cinnamon! I don't know which I would've loved more- having it hot or drinking it cold! We also got the carne asada fries and they were sooooo yummy except they were spicy as fu**!!! Our bartender even noticed both of our faces turning red and noticed we were chugging our drinks to cool down our mouths. She even noted that it "looks redder than usual" which made us both laugh because the guy across us at the car ordered the same thing and he said it wasn't spicy nor were his fries red at all. All in all, we will be coming back here again when we come visit. We had such a blast, the atmosphere was perfect and the weather was just amazing.
Shareen D.
My friend and I had dinner here after a long day at universal studios. It was dinner time and they were already pretty busy. The only available seating was outdoors and it was pretty chilly already. Luckily, they had heating lamps which kept us warm. To eat, we decided to share the norm Mac and cheese and the firecracker wings. The firecracker wings are not officially on the menu, however, if you ask your server they can make them for you. The Mac and cheese was absolutely delicious. It was super saucy and the breadcrumbs on top added a perfect little crunch. The firecracker wings were also super flavorful. They were a little chewy but still pretty good overall. Our server was super nice and friendly. The service was pretty quick and prompt. They also add a 4% surcharge to every bill, so just be aware of that! I didn't get to try any of their beers because we had a long day at Universal and just wanted to eat then go back to the hotel. However, next time I am back at universal I will definitely be trying it out!
Susan Richardson
Fantastic lounge and bar! They offer beer and wine only. Small, clean, and cozy spot just 7min walk from union square. We escaped the crowds in union square and loved this place! They have happy hour everyday till 7pm, so awesome! Came here with my family and we could all hear each other and had good conversation. Friendly service and fantastic beer flight! Just go!
Matt Piska
Don't be put off by the fact that it's at the Universal lot and there are no prices on the menu downstairs - prices are great and the beers are better. Really friendly staff, happy to talk beer for ages, good for suggestions on what to have. Not pushy when it comes to more beer or food etc. All in all, a good stop after the studios.
Madie D.
This place is the best lunch spot for a day at Universal Studios! It is right outside the park so you don't have to worry about walking too far, yet it is outside the park so you don't have to pay amusement park prices for amusement park food! Amazing! The servers here were soooo friendly and they helped my friends and I choose the beers we wanted to try in our flights. They even gave us a free sample of their favorite beers! The fries and salad I ordered were both delicious. I will be back!
Serjio Castrellon
Jeremy was an attentive waiter so I hope management sees this and recognizes him for his good work.
Alyse H.
I'm a huge fan of Red Trolley Ale, so when I see a Karl Strauss nearby, I find a way to get there and have a beer. This visit, I was tempted by the IPA collab they had on tap with Pure Project called Murky Poetry. It was fruity, dank perfection. The server also brought a sample of the 31st anniversary Scotch ale that was aged in whisky barrels for 12 months. At 11%, it was boozy but approachable. Luckily it was happy hour when we stopped in, because the prices here aren't cheap. I'm sure that's due to the location, however. We opted for three, $1 off appetizers; Brussel sprouts with balsamic reduction and cheese, boneless buffalo wings with a spicy sauce on the side, and the tuna poke with chips. All the appetizers were good portions and tasted great.
Monica S.
This post is way over due from Aug. 2019. Last day at Universal Studios and we were craving a burger and a cold beer. Kids and teens were tired and hungry after a long day at the park. This place had no wait and a friendly staff. We all ordered our burgers and us adults had a nice cold beer. All our food came out on time aNd we had happy kids and teens.
Quick update since it's been a year. Visited with my bf on a Saturday night at around 7:00 PM. We beat the crowd by about 20 minutes. In short, the 5 stands. Same great service and delicious food. There was a new menu with a few great additions. I've included photos of the menu and our food (pretzels, Tofu Quinoa Bowl and Blackened Mahi Tacos). The pretzels were quite large. We weren't expecting 2. We ordered them before but forgot. Aside from being stuffed, we were very happy with the quality, portion size and taste of our food. ---- Great for vegetarian options at Universal City Walk! My bf and I dined at this restaurant on a Thursday night after going to Halloween Horror Night at Universal Studios. We arrived at 9:00pm and were seated outside on the patio. I don't think inside dining was available at that hour due to the 10:00 pm weekday closing time. The patio which looked like it seated no more than 40 people was comfortable and overlooked the waterscape on the Citywalk. The vibe was fun and relaxed. The menu had a great variety of options. I counted at least five vegetarian items that looked great. I was undecided between the El Jardin Burger and the Quinoa Bowl but opted for the later at the advice of our server. My bf chose the salmon plate and a saladWe were both very happy with our choices. Our food arrived and was beautifully plated and absolutely delicious! My bowl was a tad spicy for me but I throughly enjoyed it. The tofu was perfectly prepared, thick, and hearty. The service was friendly and helpful. Although we didn't visit the inside of the restaurant, I did see that there was a bar area that was open. Based on our experience, this restaurant rated a 5, rounded up from a 4.5.
Brianna V.
Walked by Karl Strauss at universal city walk and it looks very appealing from the outside. I recommend going into the bar area because the service is fast and efficient. Drinks- for drinks there were 3 of us and we tried a flight. We got the Newtopia (which was my overall favorite), windansea, mosaic, and follow the sun. The atmosphere was okay there really wasn't anything too special about it. It was just a typical bar but the outside seating is nice in the evening for the twinkling lights.
Nick S.
we ate here after a long day at universal. Food was great. Kids menu was great. I was impressed considering pricing was pretty low but service was great and portions were great.
Paul John G.
Worst customer service I've ever experienced. This was our first time at a Karl Strauss establishment. The place was not busy yet the server seemed like we were inconveniencing her because we were there. She had an attitude from the start. When I asked for a certain beer she snobbishly remarked they didn't have it. If she told us at the beginning which beers were available or not we wouldn't be asking. Will not return to any Karl Strauss restaurants because this one left a very bad taste. Plus they only have beer and wine.
Anna Benincasa
The waitstaff was excellent. We arrived just before closing and they did not rush us. The meal was delicious and the seasonal beer was very tasty. Will definitely be back.
The wait was terribly long. Food was average. Husband and I had burgers. They weren't very moist. The beer selection was not the greatest, especially if you don't like IPA. They have like 2 non-ipa options. Also, got my order before our beer order. Never a good sign. The service was great, long wait for service, but they were definitely friendly. Maybe a 2nd shot if we ever are in the Universal City Walk area? Not sure.
Our trip here in late February was a good one. This place is a nice respite from the hustle and bustle of an amusement park. I've been to their locations in San Diego and thought they were great. Their food at Karl Strauss is great; it's pub food but taken up a notch. We sat outside and enjoyed the mall area. We got ahead of the dinner rush on a week night and the weather was nearing 80 degrees so we sat outside where we could watch the kids play in a nearby fountain. The service was great and all in all it was a pleasant time. They have a great selection of beers but, alas, I'm not a beer drinker so I cannot speak to that. They have wine as well. I'll definitely stop back again when I'm in the area.
My fiance and I decided to come here because A) we love to try out different brewing companies and B) we wanted a snack while we were walking around. What we liked about this brewing company is that there are lots of open room and open space. We loved that we can see ourselves sitting out here during the spring or summer and enjoy ourselves having a cold beer. The atmosphere was really relaxing, the place was clean and the staff members were outstanding. When we were there, we got a flight of beers, I got their holiday cider and we got an order of the carne asada fries. My fiance loved all the beers he got and I loved the holiday cider- it tasted like a boozy apple cider with cinnamon! I don't know which I would've loved more- having it hot or drinking it cold! We also got the carne asada fries and they were sooooo yummy except they were spicy as fu**!!! Our bartender even noticed both of our faces turning red and noticed we were chugging our drinks to cool down our mouths. She even noted that it "looks redder than usual" which made us both laugh because the guy across us at the car ordered the same thing and he said it wasn't spicy nor were his fries red at all. All in all, we will be coming back here again when we come visit. We had such a blast, the atmosphere was perfect and the weather was just amazing.
My friend and I had dinner here after a long day at universal studios. It was dinner time and they were already pretty busy. The only available seating was outdoors and it was pretty chilly already. Luckily, they had heating lamps which kept us warm. To eat, we decided to share the norm Mac and cheese and the firecracker wings. The firecracker wings are not officially on the menu, however, if you ask your server they can make them for you. The Mac and cheese was absolutely delicious. It was super saucy and the breadcrumbs on top added a perfect little crunch. The firecracker wings were also super flavorful. They were a little chewy but still pretty good overall. Our server was super nice and friendly. The service was pretty quick and prompt. They also add a 4% surcharge to every bill, so just be aware of that! I didn't get to try any of their beers because we had a long day at Universal and just wanted to eat then go back to the hotel. However, next time I am back at universal I will definitely be trying it out!
Fantastic lounge and bar! They offer beer and wine only. Small, clean, and cozy spot just 7min walk from union square. We escaped the crowds in union square and loved this place! They have happy hour everyday till 7pm, so awesome! Came here with my family and we could all hear each other and had good conversation. Friendly service and fantastic beer flight! Just go!
Don't be put off by the fact that it's at the Universal lot and there are no prices on the menu downstairs - prices are great and the beers are better. Really friendly staff, happy to talk beer for ages, good for suggestions on what to have. Not pushy when it comes to more beer or food etc. All in all, a good stop after the studios.
This place is the best lunch spot for a day at Universal Studios! It is right outside the park so you don't have to worry about walking too far, yet it is outside the park so you don't have to pay amusement park prices for amusement park food! Amazing! The servers here were soooo friendly and they helped my friends and I choose the beers we wanted to try in our flights. They even gave us a free sample of their favorite beers! The fries and salad I ordered were both delicious. I will be back!
Jeremy was an attentive waiter so I hope management sees this and recognizes him for his good work.
I'm a huge fan of Red Trolley Ale, so when I see a Karl Strauss nearby, I find a way to get there and have a beer. This visit, I was tempted by the IPA collab they had on tap with Pure Project called Murky Poetry. It was fruity, dank perfection. The server also brought a sample of the 31st anniversary Scotch ale that was aged in whisky barrels for 12 months. At 11%, it was boozy but approachable. Luckily it was happy hour when we stopped in, because the prices here aren't cheap. I'm sure that's due to the location, however. We opted for three, $1 off appetizers; Brussel sprouts with balsamic reduction and cheese, boneless buffalo wings with a spicy sauce on the side, and the tuna poke with chips. All the appetizers were good portions and tasted great.
This post is way over due from Aug. 2019. Last day at Universal Studios and we were craving a burger and a cold beer. Kids and teens were tired and hungry after a long day at the park. This place had no wait and a friendly staff. We all ordered our burgers and us adults had a nice cold beer. All our food came out on time aNd we had happy kids and teens.
Restaurantji Recommends
Quick update since it's been a year. Visited with my bf on a Saturday night at around 7:00 PM. We beat the crowd by about 20 minutes. In short, the 5 stands. Same great service and delicious food. There was a new menu with a few great additions. I've included photos of the menu and our food (pretzels, Tofu Quinoa Bowl and Blackened Mahi Tacos). The pretzels were quite large. We weren't expecting 2. We ordered them before but forgot. Aside from being stuffed, we were very happy with the quality, portion size and taste of our food. ---- Great for vegetarian options at Universal City Walk! My bf and I dined at this restaurant on a Thursday night after going to Halloween Horror Night at Universal Studios. We arrived at 9:00pm and were seated outside on the patio. I don't think inside dining was available at that hour due to the 10:00 pm weekday closing time. The patio which looked like it seated no more than 40 people was comfortable and overlooked the waterscape on the Citywalk. The vibe was fun and relaxed. The menu had a great variety of options. I counted at least five vegetarian items that looked great. I was undecided between the El Jardin Burger and the Quinoa Bowl but opted for the later at the advice of our server. My bf chose the salmon plate and a saladWe were both very happy with our choices. Our food arrived and was beautifully plated and absolutely delicious! My bowl was a tad spicy for me but I throughly enjoyed it. The tofu was perfectly prepared, thick, and hearty. The service was friendly and helpful. Although we didn't visit the inside of the restaurant, I did see that there was a bar area that was open. Based on our experience, this restaurant rated a 5, rounded up from a 4.5.
Walked by Karl Strauss at universal city walk and it looks very appealing from the outside. I recommend going into the bar area because the service is fast and efficient. Drinks- for drinks there were 3 of us and we tried a flight. We got the Newtopia (which was my overall favorite), windansea, mosaic, and follow the sun. The atmosphere was okay there really wasn't anything too special about it. It was just a typical bar but the outside seating is nice in the evening for the twinkling lights.
we ate here after a long day at universal. Food was great. Kids menu was great. I was impressed considering pricing was pretty low but service was great and portions were great.
Worst customer service I've ever experienced. This was our first time at a Karl Strauss establishment. The place was not busy yet the server seemed like we were inconveniencing her because we were there. She had an attitude from the start. When I asked for a certain beer she snobbishly remarked they didn't have it. If she told us at the beginning which beers were available or not we wouldn't be asking. Will not return to any Karl Strauss restaurants because this one left a very bad taste. Plus they only have beer and wine.
The waitstaff was excellent. We arrived just before closing and they did not rush us. The meal was delicious and the seasonal beer was very tasty. Will definitely be back.