Chaplos

Sad that this place closed as they had really good food and great happy hour! Unfortunately as soon as the restaurant opened, I immediately thought the location wasn’t the greatest and had a feeling it was going to last.

Beautiful place! Went with my girlfriend and really enjoyed the décor, as well as the music! We really enjoyed the mussels and clams!!! The broth is delicious, and I recommend dipping the bread in the broth!!!
The bacon-​wrapped asparagus was delish!!! Real exquisite steak too!!! I recommend this place for date night fellas! ;)

This is a terrible restaurant. My pasta was definitely re-​heated and the meatballs might as well have been made of sand.
This is the worst restaurant I’ve been to in a long time, and that’s saying a lot because I’m a miserable asshole who thinks most restaurants in San Diego suck.

Came here for happy hour with the coworkers. Everything was pretty delicious — I’ll definitely be coming back for dinner some day soon. Here’s the rundown:
— duck flautitas: super crispy. Meaty and tender. The sauce they use was slightly overpowering, but overall not too bad.
— pork sliders: pork was tender and soft. Super flavorful. Served on what seems like a pretzel roll (I’m a total sucker for good bread).
— beef carpaccio: Nothing really screamed out at me. It was pretty standard.
— bone marrow: the bones were huge but not much marrow. However flavors were good and the green salsa/​sauce they serve with it is delicious! But i did wish they could toast the bread they serve with it a little more.
Overall — great job chaplos!

We came here for Valentine’s Day, and were very impressed with the décor! There is a beautiful dark wood bar, and a couple screens with Turner Classic Movies playing.
The food here was tasty — the polenta was very good, with the braised short rib in second place. We were not expecting Hash House-​sized portions by any stretch, but the portions here were very small and we both left hungry.
We will likely come back to try again — Valentine’s Day was a very busy night for downtown restaurants, and I’m sure that the service is more on-​point normally.

I’m not sure why my co-​workers and I keep coming back to this place for lunch. It’s been a bad experience every time. The only reason must be because we are so tired of everything nearby our office and it’s walking distance.
The restaurant itself is cute, nicely decorated and has the potential of being a great place.
The downside is that the service, every time, has been HORRIBLE and the food is inconsistent. I remember the first time I went my fries were cold, not even room temperature! I can eat fries all day so it was quite disappointing. My co-​workers entrees took forever.
The second time we went there was an unexpected tasting event right before lunch so the kitchen was way behind and they were understaffed. It took almost 45 minutes for our food to come out. Keep in mind there was only one other table seated at the same time. The manger apologized and so we figured we’d give them another try… And another… and another. Obviously too much wishful thinking!
Went there again today, telling ourselves that if the experience does not improve we would vow to never come back. The waiter never came by to ask us how our food was… I had to ask for water… My glass was chipped… We had to ask for our check… Basically we were ignored the whole time. Fries were cold again! They weren’t THAT busy.
Today was the last straw. Sorry Chaplos, we really aren’t coming back.

I got the travelzoo deal and went in tonight. The first impression was good, cute place, and our server was nice.
I ordered the city heights and it was way too sweet. We had the civeche as an app and it was nothing special. The surf and turf was bad, they shouldn’t be able to name what was on that plate surf and turf. They served canned freaking lobster in chipotle sauce YUCK! The pork ribs were wonderful though.
All and all you can find much better close by and the menu needs to refined (except the ribs).

Solid food. Cool décor. But what is its identity?
Here we go. Another trendy restaurant downtown that predicts to be all sexy and no soul. The façade does not disappoint with its aged grey wood, steel, and exotic chandeliers. On a Saturday night, this beauty was only half filled, mostly with hipsters and a few lost symphony goers. I suppose it’s hard to fill the restaurant for dinner with no assigned parking and barely any street parking. But the staff, as untested as they were Saturday night, seemed fast and friendly.
I expected to see unique Latin and Colombian style foods. But the selections were non-​regional, pedestrian, and typical. We started with the fish ceviche, which was good with its strong citrus base. But too many tomatoes distracted me from enjoying the fish. The beet salad was decent, although beets chopped in cubes remind me of a salad bar rather than a posh restaurant. The presentation could have been better.
The main dishes were solid and surprisingly light. The short rib was extremely lean and not at all saucy. Although the texture was good, I left wanting more naughtiness: more fat, more sweet, and more molasses. Similarly, the salmon could have used a sweeter and thicker glaze. Instead, it came with a true Ponzu sauce that was a bit too sour with lemon. Thankfully, the ginger chunks in the rice balanced it out with some much needed sweetness.
I thought at least I could get lost in the unique trans music swirling all around. But then came the radio commercials. There’s nothing that will silence a restaurant and turn heads like a thirty-​second Verizon commercial blaring overhead. Seriously? Someone needs an iPod for Christmas.
I wanted so much to be engrossed in the fantasy this beautiful restaurant could create, but there was always something yanking me back to a more mundane reality.

Had an amazing brunch with bottomless mimosas. Eggs Benedict and nutella banana pancakes were super yummy. Excellent service with friendly staff.
Easy access to the trolley and great place to go before heading out on the trolley to watch the game.

Next time you’re in San Diego get out of the Gas Lamp District and go to a real restaurant, CHAPLOS is wonderful .
We had the Ahi Tartare as an appetizer, and the Braised Short ribs and Lamb Chops for dinner. The meat and veggies were cooked to perfection and the home cooked potato chips were awesome.
The service was excellent and the ambiance was dark but welcoming. The music was cool, most from the rat pack era.
We didn’t go to Sunday brunch, but they had items listed on the menu like Nutella Banana Pancakes, churro-​style French Toast and Chilaquiles!
Very nice, very nice indeed.

Gorgeous restaurant, dim lights, roaring 20s theme, black and white and and check those lamps art-​deco type of the ceiling, at the entrance. Also, do not miss to take a peek at the opposite sex to yours bahtroom (as I assume you will visit your own gender bathroom as well). In both you will find surprises, cool messages (well, check my pictures if you don’t feel like stepping into fordidden territory:) and imagery.
I went yesterday for brunch with 2 friends before we headed towards the Symphony Hall to attend a concert. We were short of time (less than an hour to eat our brunch), and I would like to say the service was fast (waiters were very nice) but no, it wasn’t. I don’t know what was cooking at the kitchen, but we were only a few customers in a very empty restaurant (not sure if it is the not so cool location in a corner and in an office building, this place is so pretty!) and we were expecting fast service.
Especially one of my friends got very disappointed after asking for coffee several times and also getting her order wrong did not do a favor (we all got egg benedits, I absolutely adored the flavor and texture and that spicy sauce, very nice). She asked no pork stuff in it, and she got the bacon, so they needed to redo the whole thing and took a while. We did not arrive late to next destination but Chaplos did not cause a great impression to my friends (I was the one who decided to go there). So I guess I will have to try again next time for dinner or something. I really liked what I had and would have given 4 stars if it wasn’t for the slow factor and the confusion.

First of all, my visiting was a total accident. By mistake, I bought the wrong Groupon. However, I really enjoyed the food, service and atmosphere of this place. The only downside is the parking of downtown and the street needs work; it’s uneven and my girlfriend almost fell while crossing the street in high heeled boots when the road suddenly dropped down a couple inches.
I ordered the shrimp homemade raviolis. The raviolis were good but I was expecting the shrimp to be inside but were instead on top of the cheese-​filled ravioli. I wish the shrimp had been inside. The sauce was creamy and not too strong. It was well done but it won’t fill you up.
We got the french fries for an appetizer and I thought they were delicious. My girlfriend ordered the chicken pesto pasta and it tasted fresh.
The atmosphere was very elegant. It made you feel like you were in a fancy restaurant in the 1920s. It’s dimly lit and the walls, floors and tables are all black, creating a dark setting.

When my boyfriend accidentally bought a Groupon for Chaplos, we had no idea what was in store for us. We’d never heard of the restaurant and likely never would have found it on our own. It’s located on the lower floor of a tall building on the outskirts of downtown. We took the motorcycle but I imagine that parking would be difficult in a car, as it is in all downtown spots.
We decided to order two pasta dishes. I got the chicken pesto pasta and my boyfriend got the shrimp ravioli. I was concerned about the pesto being too overpowering so the chef’s kindly lessened the amount of pesto. It was a decent-​sized portion, more than I could finish in one sitting. My boyfriend’s shrimp ravioli came in a creamy sauce with large shrimp on top. The raviolis themselves seemed to be just cheese though. The portion size for this dish seemed small, especially considering that it cost a few dollars extra too.
We ordered a side of fries to start the meal and they were just ok. I prefer my fries with a bit more crisp and I definitely like them better with a side of ranch, which sadly this restaurant does not carry.
Our waiter was friendly and accommodating to our requests and apologetic when he couldn’t help us (such as with the ranch).
The bill was a little confusing. For some reason an automatic 18% gratuity was added, even when it was just the two of us.

I’ve been here three times :).
The food is so good! so far I’ve had the Ceviche its delicious, the bone in rib eye it was perfect, I’ve also had the lamb chops yum amazing!!! Can’t wait to go again.
This place is perfect for business meetings. The décor is beautiful and most importantly the service is great.

Came here on a groupon a month or so ago and we will definitely be back! Food was good, ambiance was great and the service was even better. I had the prosciutto wrapped asparagus stuffed with blue cheese which was beyond excellent and I had the lamb for the entrée. Lamb was ok, but I prefer it a little juicier. However, the balsamic reduction and the chips along with it were excellent!
My fiancé had a pasta dish and the tomato bisque which he really enjoyed. I love the décor and our waiter was awesome and very personable. I wish I could remember his name and be able to give him a great review. Hopefully we will be back soon!

It seems that my decent first/​second time experiences were an anomaly. Chaplos seems to have trouble maintaining some sort of consistency with their food and service.
Since going back, our lamb has been overcooked, a bartender (while we were paying) reminded us they were closing, and a friend called in today to see when one of our favorite servers were working (Marie, she’s French and so amazing), and the gal that picked up the phone just said «UHHHH I have no idea…» and left it as that.
For the fact that this place is often empty on what would usually be busy weekend nights at other places, you would think they’d want to go above and beyond the standard protocols.
So far we’ve only met 2 great and nice servers, Marie and this other gentleman that works the evenings named Dan.
If you’re going to make a tirp to downtown, there are SO MANY better places to spend your money. Or even head to Hillcrest and dine at Au Revoir.

I got a groupon to this place so I dragged my boyfriend along. We both liked most of the things we ordered. We went on friday night and there was no trouble getting a table. The décor resembles a modern day speakeasy. Our server was really nice. We got
Beet Salad: this was really good! I like this the best out of the whole meal. I really like how the beets were cut up into small pieces and that the feta was mixed into the beets.
Bone in Rib Eye: my boyfriend got a pretty fatty piece, ¹⁄₃ of it was fat which sucked but overall the taste was really good.
Prosciutto wrapped asparagus: it was SUPPPPER salty, it was almost like eating a cube of salt.
Double baked potato: they took the insides and smashed it up and put it back in the potato and baked it again. It was really creamy and good. I think it needed a little bit of cheese though.
Lamb chops: I like the sauce that it came with because it is a little sweet which balanced out the saltiness. My boyfriend was dipping his rib eye in the sauce too. The lamb was pretty tender but just a little difficult to cut off the bone.
Overall, I would say that this is a good place to go for a fancy date night.

Check this place out before it becomes the next «big thing» and you can’t even get a reservation!
Went for lunch with a group of 15 and packed out the King’s Table in the center of the restaurant. Perfect for a group and plenty of space.
The Empenandas were crispy, but not burned. The crust was moist and the corn crisp with the spinach cooked just right. A little pricey for 4 pieces.
Ceviche has a zesty kick & the meat is tender with fresh salsa & herbs.
The Tomato Bisque was perfect! Just he right amount of spice, cream & tomato and incredibly priced!
My salad was disappointing, clearly this is NOT a place to come if you are thinking salad. It was a typical house salad = greens were fresh, dressing light with not a lot of taste, but the chicken was dry & only grilled with no seasoning.
The service was prompt, kind and very attentive. The place is still really wonderful and I want to get back before it’s too trendy to get a space!

Our neighborhood continues to get better and better! Chaplos is here! This place is a pleasant combination of classy and contemporary. They have a valet and burgers! They have a 1920s-​1930s focused drink called a flapper yet advertise on Groupon. I simply love the mixture of old and new! It is also a great date place!
With VERY good wine on tap (yes, wine on tap!!), we each had a Cabernet. It went very well with our dinner. We both chose the infamous Chaplos Burger… which was incredibly good!!! One of the best burgers in downtown San Diego. I actually place it on my top three list! My Sweetie even suggested it was her favorite of all downtown! The «pretzel» bun was good and not too firm. The fries were perfectly spiced and great with the LOTS of extra ketchup we requested from our waiter, Tom. Tom was awesome! I definitely recommend asking for him when you arrive. He is simply a cool waiter.
To top off our romantic evening, we had a Flapper. It is in interesting sparkling wine mixed with pear vodka. Maybe I should have not had wine beforehand, because the Flapper was a bit srong for me. However, the cherry in it was good, and it had a refreshing flavor nonetheless.
We will be back to this local neighborhood place and hope everyone tries it out!

I was wavering on how to star this place because I wanted to give it a 3.5.
This is newly opened and they are still working out some kinks. The inside of the place looks really nice, and I can see this being a great place to go for a happy hour or pre drinks before a night out on the town.
Our waiter was really good. He was friendly without being annoying, tried to help me out with a special request, didn’t hate on a Groupon user, and probably was the best part of the meal aside from my dining companion of course.
Food:
Calamari w/​shrimp — Tasted really fresh and I thought it was good! my only feedback would be to maybe have another option for sauce as sometimes a cream based one is heavy and to also maybe add more greens in the mix. There was a wilted piece of lettuce under everything.
Marg Flatbread — Meh. Not really worth it’s price and the flatbread was a big soggy. The flavors were bold so I dunno, this could end up being someones favorite dish. I just thought the flatbread could have been cooked more.
I tried a nibble of the local fish and it was good. I THINK on the menu it said it was served on fries but they are more like fingerling potatoes. Again I think it needed a green element to break up the rest of the dish.
House Salad — The size is really big and I thought it was good. I loved the chickpeas in it.
I liked the little mini salt shaker to grind your own sea salt!
The wine and beer list needs some serious work. It just doesn’t fit the place and also the options are all over the place.
I was told about a Happy Hour but I couldn’t get info on what the food specials were if any. Drinks at HH are $ 5.
I can tell this place does want to do well. At the end of the meal they gave out a card to fill out to give an opinion and on the bottom of it there is a coupon for 50% off.
I would give this place another chance but I wouldn’t tell anyone to make a special trip here as it stands. I am sure there will be a ton more reviews given that they had a Groupon deal.