Culinary Dropout just might become the Carmel Valley area’s new favorite hangout. The new restaurant opened April 30 in Del Mar Highlands Town Center, a place for classic comfort food, craft cocktails and live music.
For the grand opening, the first 50 customers to arrive received a custom Sector 9 skateboard and the eatery donated 20% of their proceeds to San Diego Fire-Rescue Foundation in gratitude for their service during the recent wildfires.
Culinary Dropout is part of the Arizona-based Fox Restaurant Concepts, created by restaurateur Sam Fox. This is the concept’s 14th location nationwide and the first in California — other local Fox restaurants include Flower Child in Del Mar’s Flower Hill Promenade and Blanco Cocina + Cantina in Coronado.
The new modern eatery fills the deep 8,000 square foot space on the lower level of the center that was formerly Tilly’s. The space has been completely transformed with warm wood millwork, chandeliers and velvety green booths along walls that are adorned with sports, music and pop culture decor—one wall goes from Elvis to “Star Wars” storm troopers to a large black and white portrait of late San Diego skateboarding icon Ellen O’Neal. Another wall features a unique art installation of Converse Chuck Taylors, with each sneaker designed by a member of the crew.
The bar at the front of the restaurant opens up into an outdoor patio that features TVs for guests to catch a game —it’s also the spot for many of Culinary Dropout’s planned live music offerings.
Culinary Dropout describes its fare as “damn good food for damn good people,” all scratch-made recipes made with fresh ingredients.
Appetizers to share include salty soft pretzel bites served with a provolone fondue that stays warm on the table, Waygu pigs in a blanket, and a stacked plate of barbecue pork belly nachos.
The California outpost is the first to include sushi on the menu which also features sandwiches, burgers, salads and fried chicken.
One of Culinary Dropout’s signature dishes is their 36-Hour Pork Ribs. A “true labor of love” that takes 36 hours to craft, the slow-braised ribs are drenched in a sweet and smoky house-made jalapeño molasses BBQ sauce. For weekend brunches, the restaurant will serve up breakfast items such as Banana Bread French toast, Smokehouse Hash with eggs and slow-roasted barbecue pork, and fried chicken with eggs and a buttermilk biscuit.
The drink list includes inventive cocktails, wines, local beers and some fun zero-proof options like the Vida Verdita, a blend of jalapeño, mint, pineapple, cilantro and bubbly water.
One of the favorite items over the soft opening weekend was the Mississippi Mud Pie dessert, with layers of whipped cream, smooth and rich chocolate ganache, topped with a drizzle of espresso fudge and crunchy toffee bits.
Culinary Dropout is open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and open until midnight on Friday. Happy hour throughout the week is from 3-6 p.m. On Saturdays, the restaurant is open for brunch from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and for dinner from 3 p.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday hours are brunch 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Culinary Dropout is located at 12875 El Camino Real. culinarydropout.com
