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Hunsakers, Escondido, CA

Hunsakers

4.5
4.5
1230 Reviews
$31 to $50
Farm-to-table
My passion is creativity and inspiration and asking what’s next, while honoring all that has come before me. Tradition and innovation work together to drive thoughtful evolution to pave the way forward. I bring the best of myself in every dish.
Vincent’s has meant so much to me over these last 17 years, but it's important to evolve and stay ahead of the curve. The team and I are excited for this next chapter and we know our loyal guests will love the new experience we have planned.
- Chef Brandon Hunsaker

Make a reservation

2 people

8:30 PM


Booked 10 times today

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Elegant Dining
  • Cuisines
    Farm-to-table, French, Continental
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (760) 745-3835
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Owned/operated by
    LGBTQ+, Women
  • Executive chef
    Brandon Hunsaker
  • Catering
    For catering or private dinners call the restaurant and speak personally with Jeannette.
  • Private party facilities
    For catering or private dinners call the restaurant and speak personally with Jeannette.
  • Neighborhood
    Escondido
  • Cross street
    Broadway
  • Parking details
    Street parking is usually available on Grand Ave and Broadway. Within a close distance to the restaurant there are also public parking lots.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,230 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • North San Diego

    Neighborhood gem

  • North San Diego

    Good for special occasions

1,230 Reviews
  1. ShipwreckPointis1

    New York Area

    53 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    53 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This is a must try restaurant. 5 stars in all accounts.

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  2. KolbyLady

    San Diego

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    We had the San Diego Restaurant Week menu. Lovely kale salad with avocado and a yummy dressing, their Turkey Pot Pie ending with a shared plate of decadent desserts. Very impressed. It had been at least a year since we had been there. Their new owner is delightful and was so helpful. We will definitely go there again.

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  3. SDgal

    San Diego

    9 reviews

    2.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    overall2food2service1ambience4
    Have been going here for years. So sad we will not be returning. Terrible service, mediocre food and a very rude owner.

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  4. JoeT

    San Diego

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We went for SD Restaurant week. 3 courses. Salad was a Caesar with kale and corn bread croutons. Very tasty. We each had salmon Wellington. Was beautifully presented and just melted in mouth. Dessert was a great assortment of small pastries, each one more delicious than another. Overall a gourmet meal at a reasonable price

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  5. Lyndon

    San Diego

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing find. Visit and find out for your own experience.

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  6. ChristyM

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We were there to celebrate our anniversary. We were greeted by a very friendly staff, and gave us a great seat. The drinks are incredible, including their coffee. Dinner was so good, and dessert was one of the best we have ever had. We started with an amazing drink called Mr. Paradise. The best French onion soup we've ever had, then I had the most delicious crusted New York steak, my husband had the blue cheese filet mignon, and we shared the peanut butter gelato sundae. This will be our favorite celebration spot, and we left so happy.

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  7. MSmith61

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    My daughter and I happened upon this place and we were very happy that we did. Fantastic dining experience. Highly recommend.

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  8. Ym42

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 31, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent customer service! Delicious food and great alcohol 🍸 selection!

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 31, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Very nice place, great food & very romantic. My true love and I have a lovely meal and dessert. The selection of fine tequilas was very impressive. The owner was graceful and took the time to make sure each guest was having a wonderful experience.

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  10. Axbanrcrombie

    Las Vegas

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on August 31, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Everything was great. Ambience A+ Service A+ Food A+ Overall A+ We will come back again soon.

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  11. Joem

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 27, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience3
    Escargot was very good except for the bread which was soft and gummy. A nice crisp baguette would have been so much nicer to soak up the delicious garlic sauce. French Onion soup was the star of the night. Rich flavor and loads of cheese. Mushroom soup was also good. The entree of rack of lamb was very disappointing. The menu stated a blackberry reduction with butternut squash. No butternut squash was served, and the sauce was not a blackberry reduction. Not even a hint of blackberry. The meat was cooked well but was flavorless, not seasoned at all. We tried to order two different wines off the list but they couldn't find either one. Know your inventory. To their credit they did give us a nicer wine than what we had ordered and comped the wine, which was very appreciated. They have a very nice whiskey menu, but unlike the wince list, no prices listed. It's always nice to know what you are going to charged before you order. This was our anniversary dinner (36 years) and I had hoped for so much more. Nothing was bad just not exceptional for the price. I don't mind paying the money if the food is exceptional, sadly this was not the case. The service was excellent, however.

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  12. joyb

    Los Angeles

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on August 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    ANOTHER FABULOUS NIGHT AT HUNSAKERS! This is our go to restaurant for all special occasions, date nights, and “just because “. The staff is amazing and the owner is fabulous. The food is ALWAYS over the top delicious. If you have kiddos, get a sitter and GO! peace love joy

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  13. Stacy

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Ambience was beautiful, service was great, and food was delicious. We had the crab cakes appetizer, along with steak and fish meals. High marks all around.

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  14. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We loved our meal, it was an exquisite dining experience!!

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  15. JamieG

    San Diego

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on August 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was excellent. We had the stuffed fig appetizer, the scallops dinner, and the beef Wellington dinner. All of it was fantastic

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  16. sanfrancisco

    San Diego

    31 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    31 reviews

    Dined on July 30, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Unique menu offering a selection of favorites and weekly chef specials. Intimate and relaxing with a beautiful bar and wine list. The servers are attentive and polite We thoroughly enjoyed our evening.

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  17. BMan

    San Diego

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on July 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food and even better service! A real hidden gem.

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  18. Great2find

    San Diego

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on July 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This is what fine dining used to be. Extraordinary on all levels.

    1 person found this helpful

  19. MikeR

    San Diego

    23 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on July 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Stopped in for the first time before a show at the Arts Center. Quaint, quiet, charming and a must revisit. We feel like we kinda cheated out ordering the chicken pot pie for two after we saw all the amazing and well presented dishes coming from the kitchen. However, the pot pie was great and the dessert it came with was light and tasty! Service was excellent and will definitely be back to continue our exploration of the menu!!

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  20. Qwendala

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Interesting and well prepared food. Server was great

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  21. mrmr

    San Diego

    26 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on July 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Very close to Michelin level cuisine! Cannot believe this place is in Escondido but, so happy it is! Best fine dining in the area by far. The food is absolutely delicious and the service is fantastic. The steak merlot and cod were to die for. Love this place and for sure will be back soon!

    1 person found this helpful

  22. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Everything was delicious and the people are kind. Very happy

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  23. PhilP

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Was a great location to wrap up date night. Next time we hit the bar.

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  24. MikeR

    Orange County

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 1, 2023

    overall4food4service3ambience3
    Overall ok I guess. Salad delivered ered we didn't order, round drinks came we didn't order, additional onion soup came we didn't order. Seemed too many servers helping us. They got confused. Also why can't you just let your service and food do your talking. We don't need to know your personal support of a life style not all people support. If I would have known making reservations through Open Table we wouldn't have joined you for dinner. Best wishes we won't be visiting your place in the future.

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  25. ZtReTcH

    San Diego

    6 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on July 1, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience4
    Considering there was only one other table sat in the restaurant, it took way too long to get drinks after we ordered them (10+ minutes). The food presentation was sloppy and it lacked flavor. I had to ask for salt and pepper to add flavor. We had high hopes for the place. Unfortunately, we won’t be back.

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  26. RachelM

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on June 25, 2023

    overall2food2service3ambience2
    Having been to this place before I was expecting a similar experience. But I was a bit disappointed. Service was fine but the food was ehh. We were hoping for a Wellington which we were told the last time we were there that it is always on the menu. But it was not. There was no free bread and I ordered a lemonade and they got me a refill, but when I saw the receipt i was charged twice for a lemonade (the server did not tell me that I would be charged for a refill). I got the Korean ribs and was pretty disappointed. The membrane was still on the rib making it very hard to eat because the meat was still on the membrane. The crispy rice tasted like half uncooked and didn’t have a crispy feel, more like a chewy undercook feel. My husband got a chipotle skirt steak Mac and cheese. It was alright a bit salty. Not really a wow factor there. And my brother in law got lamb chops. Probably the best out of the 3. Again service was fine but if you had been there a year or so ago it’s completely different now. I miss the set course menus.

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  27. santa

    San Diego

    125 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    125 reviews

    Dined on June 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Best food in north county San Diego. It is worth the added expense. There are no “never buy” items on the menu. We will continue to come and enjoy.

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  28. Rufus

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on June 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This is a great place to come for a celebration or if you are in the mood for a great dining experience. Chef Hunsaker always has a delightful taste and interesting twist to each dish.

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  29. TracyM

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The menu is small but very interesting. The food is outstanding quality, fresh and flavorful. I can't wait to return!

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  30. CupcakeS

    Los Angeles

    81 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    81 reviews

    Dined on May 25, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    Delicious ! We came on a Weds night and were greeted warmly by owner Jeanette. We dined on the brussel sprout and squash blossom salad, the miso sable fish and the sweet potato stuffed with skirt steak on a bed of chmichurri. Dessert sounded wonderful but we were full. Next time !

    1 person found this helpful

  31. FamilyOut

    San Diego

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on May 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Perfect double date night. We all shared each other’s dishes and everything was exceptional.

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  32. AndrewC

    Los Angeles

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    A small, romantic restaurant, excellent food, service, very friendly stuff, and decent prices. An amazing wine selection.

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  33. Xhsoue

    San Diego

    14 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall4food2service4ambience3
    The decore is a little confusing and by the menu, the scheme is hard to figure out. I will say the plates are executed correctly with tradition of a refined pallet. The piano player was pleasant and a nice touch. Where it went off was lack of specialty. While our server was nice she hadn’t a clue of how to tie everything together; it was a relief, but would have been nice to figure out the overall concept of what Hunsakers is/was or could be.

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  34. Bruce

    San Diego

    22 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on April 30, 2023

    overall2food3service2ambience3
    Good to above average from a limited menu. Ambiance was serene despite an above average noise level when the restaurant filled up. My only complaint is the value. Our shared small plate, two wagu steak entrees and two glasses of wine came to $285 including 20% tip. Lower priced entrees would have brought the bill down to $200, still a bit on the high side. The service was good, but a bit inconsistent. Corkage, which we did not use, was $35, a bit on the high side. I will go back, but would like to see a more varied menu and better service. The food presentation was lovely.

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  35. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on April 30, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our first time dining at Hunsakers and the cocktails were excellent and the Chefs Mercy Meal was amazing! We loved every bit, from service to dining!

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  36. joyb

    Los Angeles

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on April 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It is ALWAYS over the moon fabulous. This has become our place, and Kasey has become for server. It is the very best Escondido has to offer. The food, the service, the cocktails, the owner, all spectacular. It’s the perfect place for a cozy date night, so leave the kids at home. I rarely if ever write reviews, so please heed my advice. BOOK HUNSAKERS!!! Peace…love…joy joyphil

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  37. lindseyb

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing experience! We love this place and food!! A must try

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  38. JasonB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    What a beautiful place to break bread. The food is fantastic (I love the homemade rolls). The service is dynamic, and the drink will make anyone Jolly. Come prepared to be wowed! I highly recommend Hunsakers. Kasey is such a kind server and chef.

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  39. santa

    San Diego

    125 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    125 reviews

    Dined on April 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Best food in North County. Best service, a classy place with good food and live music.

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  40. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    My husband and I celebrated our anniversary at our very favorite Escondido restaurant, Hunsaker’s. There was a guest chef as Chef Brandon Hunsaker was hurt in an accident last week. As was Chef Brandon, the guest chef also was trained under the original owner and chef, Vincent Grumel, and he brought a traditional Vincent’s flair to our meal last night. The food was superb. The small but fantastic restaurant is trying to find its way while Chef Brandon heals; if you can, please visit them soon to show your support for this Escondido institution.

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • Sealed or wrapped utensils used
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available
  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
    • Distancing maintained in common areas
    • Extra space between tables
  • Protective equipment

    • Waitstaff wear masks
  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Hunsakers is rated 4.5 stars by 1230 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

8:30 PM


Booked 10 times today
Google Map for Hunsakers

113 W Grand Ave, Escondido, CA 92025

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Broadway
  • Neighborhood
    Escondido
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Cuisines
    Farm-to-table, French, Continental
  • Dining style
    Elegant Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street parking is usually available on Grand Ave and Broadway. Within a close distance to the restaurant there are also public parking lots.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Owned/operated by
    LGBTQ+, Women
  • Executive chef
    Brandon Hunsaker
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (760) 745-3835
  • Catering
    For catering or private dinners call the restaurant and speak personally with Jeannette.
  • Private party facilities
    For catering or private dinners call the restaurant and speak personally with Jeannette.
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