Mess Royale

Sad to see you leave Hillcrest – glad to be able to visit one last time on your last day a few weeks ago. We were poutine newbs before we stopped by to try your OG bowl, and my whole fam loved the perfectly crisp fries topped with savory gravy and tangy curds. The Montréal bagels were also a nice alternative to the big, airy rounds we’re used to.
I wonder if the Casino in Midway allows entry just to nab some of your poutine – sure we’ll be tempted to sneak in when cravings emerge on those rare chilly SD evenings.
Good luck in finding a new fulltime location!

Soooooo, There is some douche bag who claims he is from Canada, down a few reviews… He calls fries CHIPS… like he is some kind of posh poser. Booo him.
I am Fench Canadian and can attest to the authenticity of this fine poutine. I am sad to learn that the Hillcrest location is closing, but relieved to know that Mess Royal will be serving the best drunk/​anytime-​really food from Quebec in San Diego!
For all you sissies complaining about the saltiness and heaviness… munch on a bunch of kale, please. Thank you. (gotta stay politely Canadian)

Came here because we heard they were closing down and we didn’t want to have FOMO if we could help it, so we swung by here the Friday night before they were scheduled to close (the Hillcrest location) that Sunday.
I always order the grilled cheese wherever I can get it, so that’s what I did. I got it with caramelized onions and it turned out to be pretty decent, just a couple slices of standard cheese between supermarket white bread. Caramelized onions were a nice touch though, they may have saved the sandwich from being blah. We also got an order of candied bacon, out of curiosity. This was my least favorite thing we ordered; the bacon was extremely salty, to the point of being inedible. I didn’t really taste the «candied» part either. it was just plain salty.
We had high hopes for what Mess Royale’s signature dish, the poutine. We ordered ours surf and turf style, which was lobster and carne asada, served atop fries, gravy and cheese curds. I also thought this dish was too salty but my dining companion enjoyed it and thought that the lobster portions were generous. It just felt like very heavy, sit in your belly type of food to me. Service was a bit slow that night too. I wouldn’t seek them out at their new location, but they were worth a farewell try.

I have been waiting to visit Mess Royale for sooo long! Being from Canada and a lover of poutine it was destined!
When I walked in we were the only ones in the place. I saw a small amount of chips in the fryer basket and immediately said to myself «I hope they make some fresh chips for me…» Nope.
I was disappointed as soon as my Blazing Pig order arrived. Chips that had been sitting for who knows how long covered in gravy.
Another trip may be in order but the hour drive, the fight for parking, $ 15 and meeeh.
I had such high expectations. I want to support a business like this because it’s the only one like it in San Diego. Best wishes and I hope for a better visit next time.
As of 03÷07÷16 this location is CLOSED

Canada oh Canada! Star for Alanis Morissette, Celine Dion, Justin Bieber and Poutine! We tried their special Carne Asada Poutine. Casual chill spot. The vat baskets were full of freshly made fries. The gravy tilted a bit on the salty side. The cheese curds had good texture. A little firm with a nice spring to it. Fries were perfect thick cut and the egg on top was a delectable hot mess! The carne asada was decent. Overall not bad.

Sometimes the child in you just needs a grilled cheese! Fresh soft white bread smothered with butter with lots of melted cheese in between… yummy! Growing up the only thing my parents could get me to eat was a grilled cheese sandwich so of course it’s still one of my favorite comfort foods. I saw a thread on the Eating & Drinking in San Diego Facebook group and everyone had recommended Mess Royale so when craving a grilled cheese, I knew I had to check this out! Boy was everyone correct, seriously these grilled cheeses are absolutely amazing, the type of grilled cheese where the cheese sticks between the 2 sandwiches as you pull them apart.
I like basic grilled cheese sandwiches, just bread and cheese yet they have several add in’s on their menu in addition to other sandwiches, fries & bagels. They also seem to be known for their poutine dishes loaded with curds and gravy. I don’t eat meat and wasn’t sure if their original gravy dish was made with meat stock or not so for now I’ll continue to enjoy these sandwiches.
The gal working is also very friendly and service is quick. Obviously this isn’t a 5 star restaurant as you order at the counter and receive a # but for what it is, it’s definitely 5 stars with extra stars for extra cheese!

I was drawn to this place by their neat logo and decided to pop in for lunch and grab a bite. Glad I did!
I ordered the smoked salmon on a bagel. It was $ 12 and I didn’t mind the price because I feel like this sandwich always ranges between $ 6 and $ 12. The sandwich arrived quickly and was perfectly placed on the little tray and to my surprise it was accompanied by a nice little side salad!
The sandwich was INSANELY good. Like perfect — don’t change a thing. I ordered it exactly as it came and nothing was overpowering (fish, capers, onions or tomato). It was just fresh, tasty, balanced — perfect.
The little side salad had a tablespoon too much balsamic (if you like balsamic you know this can be intense). It was a touch dark and chilly in there, but the staff was super friendly. I got cheese curds to go and they were super tasty. Five stars all the way for this experience and food.

Oh, my husband’s love of poutine. It’s been four months since we were in Montréal, and I’m still not ready for a plate of gravy and cheese curd-​covered fries. Yet, I made the mistake of mentioning this place to my husband one day, and knew immediately that this would be our lunch spot.
The restaurant itself is kind of small, and parking is on the street. It was empty when we got there (not sure that’s a good sign). The menu board is posted on the left, and you place your order at the register before claiming a table.
My husband decided to go with the OG Poutine (the Montréal special), while I decided to try the grilled cheese with caramelized onions, and a sub side of fries (it comes with a salad, but I was drawn to the promise of a crispy spud, which of course was $ 2 extra).
We then asked about drinks; she said everything they have is on a shelf behind her. The thing she didn’t mention, that I noticed after we’d paid, is that they have a jug of fruit-​infused water and cups around the corner.
Let me say that, though the grilled cheese was good — three different cheeses and the onions — it certainly was not worth the $ 8 price tag. I mean, it’s grilled cheese, for crying out loud! The caramelized onions were a bit overpowering and surprisingly sweet (I was not a fan).
My husband, meanwhile, loved his dish. It was a large serving, and the cheese curds were melting away when they got to him. He had no problem finishing off the dish.
The girl at the front was friendly, and he loved the food, but I’m not as convinced. He asked me as we were leaving if I’d want to come back, and I answered honestly that I didn’t know. I’m still stung by the fact that I paid $ 10 for a grilled cheese sandwich and fries.
We shall see, though. If he gets another craving, I’m sure we’ll end up back here.

Ehh. This place is definitely over hyped. The service was really good though. But I’ll pass on the food. The best poutine I ever had was in LA so I was very decided to try this place. But I left this place feeling a little overwhelmed but not in a good way. On top of that I feel like it’s overpriced. Yes they do give you a nice amount but I still believe it’s pricey.
I’ve had the morning recovery there and the blazing pig. They taste great at first but I started to get really sick of the gravy. It was just too much. The fries are crispy enough to withstand the gravy though so it doesn’t get so soggy. I wish the gravy was more lighter, it was just way too salty. The pulled pork in the blazing pig was good but after awhile it was just too sweet. The bacon in it was good though. Not too much sausage in the morning recovery when I had it. These cheese curds also weren’t that great in my opinion. They didn’t taste like anything.
A couple next to me had the Montréal bagels, those look actually appealing. If I do ever come back I’ll probably try that. But I most likely won’t.

Why wasn’t I told about this delicious Canadian delicacy until recently? Poutine is AWESOME! I had this place bookmarked for a while due to the glowing reviews but never had the urge to try it until recently. And boy am I glad I did!
There are quite a few awesome and unique types of poutine you can buy here at Mess Royale. I got the the Super Mario with chicken, mushrooms, and caramelized onions. Me oh my was it good! And there was a lot! I barely got through ¼th of it for dinner… and then I ate it for breakfast… and lunch! If you aren’t a big eater then you can definitely split one between two people. My boyfriend got the OG and loved it. He came back another time without me (how rude!) and tried the Babe and said that that is the only one he is going to get whenever he comes to Mess Royale. Why? Because bacon.
The staff was really friendly and helpful when we asked them what to try. We showed up later in the night so there was plenty of seating for us; I’m not sure how busy it gets but I can see them running out of space during the rush feeding hours. I can’t wait to come back and bring all my friends!

What a little gem in the heart of Hillcrest! It’s the only legitimate poutine place in town (that I know of). They have the gravy & cheese curds, just like what you would typically find in poutine up in Canada. When you walk in, just go straight to the register and order away. The cashier/​waitress was really nice and explained the menu to us. After placing your order, grab a seat, and they’ll bring your order right to your table. The cashier/​waitress and the owner were both really proactive on checking up on each table, making sure every single person was satisfied.
We ordered their Babe (bacon poutine) and the daily special, which was the crab, bacon, and carne asada poutine. Both were really good and the bowls were huge! I really recommend mixing your fries because much of the gravy seeps to the bottom layer of your fries. I especially liked the crab in their daily special so we asked the owner, Hugo, if we can order a customized bowl of «crab poutine». He was more than happy to help us out and made us the order to take home. And just an extra tip: They separate the fries from the gravy so that you don’t end up with soggy fries when you get home when you order take-​out. Would I come back? Most definitely! I’m getting that lobster poutine next!

A restaurant with an entire menu dedicated to poutine, 5 stars!!!
While they do have other enticing items on the menu, i am so obsessed with poutine at the moment, that there was no room to try anything else this time around.
Clean and simple restaurant with not much seating, maybe about 20 tables total.
Portions are large and filling, better to be shared and well worth the around $ 10 price tag.
Service was excellent, the food made to order and ready in about 10 minutes.
I went with the super mario with mushrooms and onions and subbed pork for the chicken and it was fantastic!
Loved the gravy, loved the fries, great veggies, the meat very rich and a generous amount.
The guys shared the rocky, cheese steak poutine and added bacon and loved it as well.
I have to say this was my eating highlight this trip to San Diego, I cannot wait to come back for more and am so thankful they have brought their Canadian goodness here!

Disclaimer: I may not be a fan of your traditional poutine and so my review is a bit biased.
I ordered the OG poutine. I’m a huge fan of french fries and I love cheese so you’d think that this poutine and I would be a match made in heaven. I was disappointed. I felt that the cheese curds were a little lackluster in flavor and the gravy and fries just couldn’t redeem it. I really did have high hopes for this place and I just wasn’t all that impressed. I will give it another shot though. They might have been having an off day and the gravy and fries were pretty good.

Poutine, the most famous French Canadian dish in the whole entire world. It’s so good that I make my own poutine (srs).
I was so happy that this place opened up. People need to be more aware about the greatness that is poutine and I’m happy that San Diego has a joint that specializes in it.
I ordered the «Original Montréal Poutine.» I was happy because it tasted so good and it tasted like MY VERY OWN poutine.
The owner is a nice guy but he made a tiny douche comment. He asked me «Have you ever had poutine before?»
I replied «I make my own.»
This was the comment that offended me. He replied «Well, this here is the real deal…» and then made some comments about how to eat it and what not.
Sorry dude, I was offended because I’m an awesome chef and your poutine tasted exactly like my own so don’t go tell me that your poutine is more legit than mine
Despite that rude comment, I’ll still come back here. I love poutine and if I don’t have the time to make some poutine, I’ll just get one here

So I went here a few times to try different poutines, this place is legit! I have plenty of Canadian friends that rave about poutine and how you have to try it in Canada because it is not very good in the States. I wanted to try poutine when I was in Ft. Lauderdale, but was never able to go. When I saw this place on a drive-​by, I knew I had to go here.
First off, I am no expert on poutine, but based on all of the décor and the atmosphere, this feels very authentic. The owner of the restaurant is always walking around being friendly to his guests. He even offers samples of his fries to give the guests a taste. There are many references to Canada in the restaurant and an awesome California flag with «Poutine Republic» on it with the California bear snarfing down a bowl of poutine. Pretty BA, lol.
The first time I went was for lunch and the girl at the counter was very nice. I had the Super Mario poutine, which was delicious. The gravy tastes amazing and I have never had cheese curds before, so this was a first. It tasted like balls of string cheese, but not the same texture. Definitely a great cheese that melts with the fries and is unbelievably stringy. It gives an added fun factor when eating and a long string of cheese goes from your fork to the plate. I loved it.
I’ve been back a few times after that and tried other poutines, never disappointed. Keep a look out for the specials, they concoct a few different recipes on there that are tasty. And although poutine is the star of this place, lets not forget their other items. Their bagel sandwiches are delicious! And they offer other sandwiches and salads that I haven’t tried yet, but look equally great.
I would have given this place 5 stars if it weren’t for the owner. Don’t get me wrong, he’s an awesome guy. But sometimes I want to go there and eat in peace and he is very talkative and constantly asking about how his food is and getting us to try things that we didn’t come there for. Bro, let the food speak for itself, it is great and doesn’t need any extra hype.

In SD for two days for work, I really wanted to get their poutine… I had to do it by delivery, which any poutine lover would know is dumb. The fries were handcut, the gravy was hand made, and the curds were legit (but mine didn’t squeek — they had likely been refrigerated).
In SD again, I will make sure to visit their location.

It may be called Mess Royale, but I think of it as Yasssssss Royale, because their food is just that heavenly. This place has fast-​casual down to a science.
Mess Royale — for those who haven’t heard the buzz yet — has an interesting concept: poutine and bagels. If you’re on some low-​carb diet, stay far far away from this place. Otherwise, come on in, order at the counter, grab your number, and wait for some of the tastiest and most decadent creations to come your way.
I was there with a guest, so the two of us shared a couple of items. The first was the «White Knight» poutine, which came with all the fixins for fajitas, like grilled chicken and grilled peppers of all different colors. This poutine was just perfect — hot and crispy fries, gooey melty cheese curds, and a comforting gravy to pull it all together. Out of all the poutines I’ve had since they became trendy a few years ago, this is the one that reminded me most of the Québécois version I had when I was a kid.
Since the other specialty of the house is bagels, we had bagel B8 (smoked salmon, cream cheese, red onions, capers, tomatoes). I love pretty much anything with lox on it, and this bagel was *very* generous with the lox, which made me very happy. The side salad was a nice surprise — and an even nicer surprise was the free side of fries that came as part of their «Saturday special». (Obviously, all the fries that came with the poutine just weren’t enough.)
Needless to say, after all that, I left Mess Royale full, happy, and saying: «Yasssssss, I can’t wait to be back here.»

I have to admit, I was one of those rubberneckers driving slowly in my car a few months ago as I was cruising East on University when the banner for Mess Royale opening soon captured my immediate attention.
Mess Royale?! It makes you wonder what the heck was it was all about. When I read the smaller caption that it was going to be a bagel and poutine spot, my thoughts were… bagels, um okay. Poutine?! Holy moly, YES PLEASE!
I’m a fan of fries. I’m also a fan of gravy. I also became a fan of cheese curds when I first tried it at a sports bar in Madison a few years ago as I waited for my flight home from the Midwest. Well when you put these three ingredients together, you basically have a royal mess of goodness… or a Mess Royale of goodness.
Fortunately for us, when I learned that they opened up last month, I told my husband that we *had* to try it since he knows how much I love fries. It was his idea to extend the invite to our friends and +7 friends later, we were ordering as many poutine options that was on their menu four days after opening their doors to hungry poutine lovers.
They have a modest beer & wine selection, but enough to keep our group happy in the two and half hours we were there. Yep, two and a half hours of ordering food, some of us drinking beer & wine, catching up with one another’s lives, ordering more food, some more of us drinking more beer & wine, then finally trying to find the energy to roll out of there with happy bellies.
Here are a few of my faves… mind you, there were nine of us here when we oinked out, I didn’t eat this all on my own, lol:
Babe– bacon poutine. YES to crunchy bits of bacon pieces.
Brooklyn– NY Style pastrami poutine.
Surf & Turf– self explanatory. YUM
Candied bacon bites– served on a skewer. Order this if you love swine.
MTL– this was a hot dog, but not your ordinary hot dog.
Grilled Cheese with BACON– YES.
In closing, I’m not going to be *that Unilocaler* that would say I’ve been to (fill in the city/​country here) and I’ve had (fill in the «authentic» food name you ate here) and compare it to what’s here at Mess Royale. If you’re not going to come in here with an open mind of trying out fries covered with gravy & cheese curds and all the other amazing options on their menu, dine elsewhere. If you’re up for a fun adventure for your palette, then leave whatever diet you might be on at home and splurge on the poutine goodness waiting for you at Mess Royale, you will probably be happy you did.

This was my first experience eating poutine outside of Canada. I know there are places around town that serve it, but I’ve been hesitant to try any. I had read the reviews and bookmarked it to try in the future, as it had my curiosity piqued.
I’m definitely happy I made it by here today. I was in the mood for some comfort food and this was perfect. I was greeted immediately upon entering. I quickly looked at the menu board on the wall. So many choices. Luckily I already knew what I wanted, I just needed the name to order it.
I’m a simple girl, I go for the classic poutine. Nothing fancy for me. I want to taste that delicious gravy and those little bites of heaven, otherwise known as ‘cheese curds.’ Here they call it the O.G. and it’s divine. If I could take a bath in that gravy, I would. It’s so perfect, better than perfect. You can bet your sweet cheeks I’ll be back to get fat on that gravy.
The portion size here is very generous. I was not able to finish my bowl, and believe me, I tried! Service was just right. I was asked by two different people working if my food was ok. You order at the counter and they give you a number to place on your table so they can deliver your order to you when it’s ready. My food was so hot, you could see the steam rising. Everyone here was friendly and efficient. I came at lunch time and they had a large group ahead of me, but I only had to wait maybe 5 minutes.
There are, of course, lots of other items here besides poutine. They have bagels, sandwiches, salads, ect. I’m pretty sure they’re all equally delicious. They all sounded good, especially that bacon. I’m equally certain that I’ll probably never get beyond ordering poutine, and I’m ok with that. I’ll be back.

Did you know that Mess Royale belongs to the Poutine Republic?
I did not try the Poutines, I will save that for another time, but I did try their delectable grille cheese with sauteed onions which came with a side salad for $ 8. You can upgrade to fries, for an additional $ 2, but I stuck with the salad.
The grilled cheese was bliss. The country white bread had a great grill on its exterior which resulted in a great crunch, even with the gobs of melted cheese between the two slices of bread. The combination of cheeses, the Swiss, American Cheddar, and Monterrey Jack were well melted and taste fantastic together. The caramelized onions were very tender and sweet. The natural sweetness of the rendered down onions added a nice additional element to the sandwich. You can also add bacon to the grilled cheese or have it with out the onions. Either way, it’s all good.
The side salad came in a little side container. It was just the right size to enjoy with the grilled cheese, and came lightly dressed in a light balsamic dressing. All the salad greens were fresh and tasty. Service was quite friendly.