Last season we came here a lot during NBA playoffs. They used to have pretty good happy hour deals. I think margaritas used to be $3 or $4, but I recently looked at their menu online and I don't think it's a special anymore. It's now $6 for a shaker margarita. Kind of steep. I would call to make reservations so we would always have a place to sit by the tvs so we can watch the game. It gets pretty crowded so I suggest calling ahead and putting your name down. They have tvs everywhere so you pretty much have a good seat wherever you're at. The two tables towards the front where the wall of tvs are is the best place to sit, but they're usually taken. Service is just okay here. I know they get crowded, but maybe they should just step up their game. We haven't been back since last year because each time got less and less fun. Service just went downhill so we stopped coming. Now they don't even have good drink specials. Also, their parking lot sucks. So most times we would have to park in a lot down the street that had gravel everywhere. If you live in the area, I guess it's an option to consider watching games at. But we probably won't be back anytime soon.
(2)
Colleen D.
this is the best place i've been to in a long time,the people are great,family owned and operated and the taste of the food proves that it was made from a family recipe and its delicious! the folks are very attentive to your needs,and everyone of them are busy making sure everyone's happy. on the weekends you can catch gray the k.d.j and her super duper karaoke show that is entertaining like no other ! especially when she brings out her special guests,lou and samboa . i drive 60 miles round trip every weekend because i always have the most fun ,me and my friend janice recommend this place to all of our singer friends.. .you havent really experienced great barbaque, or a great time dancing, or singing karaoke until you try out gray the singing and dancing k.d.j at kaminskies on a friday and saturday night. you'll be telling folks how cool this place is just like we do.... try them you'll love them!!! We plan to go out this Friday night again....great time ,great party,great Karaoke show , me and my friends will continue to drive out to POWAY on the weekends...maybe I should move closer to POWAY . CHULA VISTA HAS ABSOLUTLY NOTHING ANYWHERE NEAR AS FUN !!!;;
(5)
Jimmy D.
The food is ok but its definitely no Phil's. It's big enough to hold a big party for a HH although the drinks are still a little pricey and the beer selection isn't that great. It's is Poway after all.
(3)
Zeel J.
When it comes to BBQ in the Poway area, this would be my choice place to eat. But outside of Poway, I'm personally more of a fan of other places in SD. But one thing I've learned is that BBQ food is a personal experience. Every place has a unique BBQ sauce, and when people find the BBQ sauce that is right for them, they are in heaven. So I encourage people to stop here, and give it a chance. My go-to favorite here is the pulled pork sandwich. It's got a great atmosphere, and a pretty decent menu. Great for Happy Hours. The "Great for Happy Hours" is what made me knock it up a notch to 4 stars. Nice having a place to gather for big events.
(4)
Chris E.
Large! Portions! Definitely get your moneys worth. Friendly Staff...great time for the entire family or adults only. LOTS! of TVs for game watching!
(4)
Sharmila P.
They have very good BBQ. They smoke their meats for a long time and do not use the boiling or baking short cut to get the meat done faster. Their sauce is very good. Bold, but not overpowering. Their drink prices are mediocre, but not horrible. Best of all they have karaoke on friday nights. Fun atmosphere!
(3)
Jenn P.
I love Kaminski's. Their food is always delicious and they always have the most friendly wait staff. Never had any issues! :)
(5)
Shelley L.
My husband and I went to Kaminiski's a few weeks back with his brother and sister-in-law. The Great: 1. The atmosphere was awesome. They had karaoke night the evening we were there. 2. Fabulous drinks. 3. Everything our table had for dinner was amazing. I personally had the beef and cheddar. The beef was fresh and they served it between garlic toast. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The garlic fries, sweet potato fries and the wings were all great too. 4.Kaminiski's is very kid friendly. We have 3 children and although they were not with us that evening there were several other kids there too. The place was so loud no one would ever notice kids yacking away. The OK: 1. Very loud. Hard to carry on a conversation with your family and friends. 2. The wait was long for Poway. Overall: Worth the wait. We loved it and will definitely be going again soon.
(4)
Lee D.
This is my "Go To" place for a warm welcome, great food, and a large selection of beer. The BBQ is great! This is a family owned and operated business and it shows. There is always a family member on premise to uphold the attention to detail and the quality of the food. And a shout out to my favorite bar tender Angela. Sit at the bar if she is serving and you won't be sorry! Great food, great atmosphere, and people that remember your name when you walk in - and they are genuinely glad to see you. Try and get that at a chain! Love this place. For lunch my favorite is the BBQ Chicken salad. The sweet potato fries - oh yah man. Tell them Lee sent you. Lee D.
(5)
Michael W.
Listen ... I continue to come here, and the more I'm there, the more I think "this is what my Grandma's house would be like if she had sports on every wall." What I mean by that, is that the staff is so friendly and accomodating, I feel like my Grandma's favorite grandchild, for whom she'd do anything for and was always as kind as a saint. Sometimes, great service will overcome average food ... in Kaminski's case. great service compliements great food ... or vice versa.
(5)
Brad F.
Great place to meet friends and have fun! Beer is cold, BBQ is great and they have a ton of TV's for all the games. Only knock on the place is on karaoke night. Some people seem to think its for their own personal concert. Otherwise, great!
(4)
Boss C.
i actually enjoyed this place a lot but heres a couple things to keep in mind. First off, make sure you come during a happy hour time. it can get expensive. Secondly, the chicken wings are pretty good but the dont cut at the joints, you just get the leg wing and that little pointy end all connected. Finally, the beef brisket was tasty and the inside is actually very appealing and clean. lots of tvs. I'll be back-terminator
(3)
Juje J.
We all came here with one thing on our minds...to kick back with old friends, watch an NFL Playoff game and have a pretty good time doing it. Kaminski's BBQ & Sports Lounge has a nice cosy feel to the place, with all their huge LCD big screens (for watching football and other sports), a huge bar in the center, and a huge sink to wash your hands (in case you get a little too sloppy from all the BBQ sauce you might get from the wings or ribs you might order) I like the fact that they do serve an affordable meal during the playoffs...something they call the "NFL PLAY OFF SPECIALS!!" My friend ordered 2 Kaminski's Dogs for $4 bucks a piece and they were pretty good sized for what he ordered. My other friend ordered chips and cheese for $3 bucks and it was enough for her because she ate some of the wings I ordered (regular menu) from my plate. The Wings: These wings are huge...not like a turkey, but bigger than any wings I've ever seen at a sports bar...ANY SPORTS BAR. They were crispy and seasoned and had a taste like they were dry rubbed (the way ribs are dry rubbed), Then they were layered with Kaminski's BBQ sauce, which I found to be very good and tangy. I normally finish a plate of wings, but this was not the case on this day. Even though I shared some wings with a friend of mine, I just couldn't finish these huge wings, so I took them home (leftovers). NOTE* ~My friend told me that these were the biggest wings she'd ever seen and could barely finish 1 and a half of them. Back to the "NFL PLAY OFF SPECIAL!!" There's a little side note on that menu that says, "Knock Off Playoffs ~ When a players helmet gets knocked off during the game, knock off $1.00 your next appetizer or beer" I found it kind of amusing when I here some people at the bar, cheering for a players helmet to get knocked off. All in all, this is a pretty good Sports Bar and Grill. If there's a down side to the place, it was trying to get our waitress' attention at times. It wasn't bad, but then again, it wasn't great either. There were times I felt like I was waving at a 747 Jumbo Jet just to try to get her attention. Overall, I'd come here again to watch football and to try out their ribs. The food here is good and ithe place has a very nice Sports Bar feel to it...4 stars.
(4)
Sonny C.
They call themselves a Sports Bar but when I called to ask about watching the World Series with sound they said NOT in the main bar but we can put you in the back room. What kind of Sports Bar are they, it's the World Series after all. Bet if the Padre's where in it they would have sound, likely that will ever happen... So if you are looking for a REAL SPORTS BAR, go somewhere else... BOSTON STRONG...
(1)
Karmyn P.
I don't know if this place has a travel food truck because when I was at a carnival me and my husband had a pulled pork sandwich brisket sandwich with fries and it was so great so we decided to go here because we saw that same food truck parked here often so we went in and left disappointed. I had a brisket salad this time around and the brisket was so dry no matter how much ranch I put on top.
(1)
David M.
This is the best place in Poway for BBQ and a beer. Great atmosphere, great food and a great selection of beers.
(5)
Dan W.
Was fine till I pulled out the 2inch twist tie out of from my potato skins. Disgusting and pathetic. Won't be back. Who are they hiring anyway??
(1)
Long N.
Came here on a saturday night. Crowded, probably good place to watch sports, but not my vibe. Lot of lights, its bright in here, applause/cheering, a bunch of tvs, and a super loud person mc ing the game. In their defense, it is march madness, and im not into basketball (or baseball or hockey). Its not bad if that what you are looking for, but its not for me. And the required valet parking is unnecessary. Its not that schwanky of a place and my car was about 20 steps from the door, but i still had to wait for the several people in front of me to get their cars first
(3)
Tom G.
I've enjoyed my visits to Kaminski's over the past 2 years. I started with the BBQ items on the menu, but I've finally "committed" to one item -- the grilled rib eye skewers [with gorgonzola cheese]. Put that appetizer together with some fries and a microbrew beer [or 2] and you're all set.
(4)
Randy C.
Really surprised by this place. Drive by it all the time. Thought it was some sort of ordinary sports bar that serves BBQ. And well it is... but the food was quite good. I ordered the Coconut Porter beer. It was very good and I highly recommend it, even if it only comes in a can. My GF and I shared the BBQ sampler plate. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone amazing. Loved the brisket beef. Texas toast and beans on the side. Yum. The chicken with onions... very good. The service was spot on. The place was clean. Nice large screens to watch stuff on. Plenty of parking... and parking friendly for very low cars. Nice. I will be back.
(5)
t g.
First time here. Saturday around 3 PM. Two of us. Appetizer onion rings and sauce very good. Of two meals one meal very good. I ordered the signature pork ribs. Sauce excellent! Half of the ribs were juicy and tender, other half well done. Not what I expected for their signature dish. Service was excellent.
(2)
Wolfgang L.
Forget Phil's. If you are a true fan of BBQ meat, come here. Not that Phil's is not good, which it is, but the wait is just not worth it. Yes you can do take out but if you can find a place just as good while you can actually sit in and have a good time with your friend, why not? They also have very good brisket which Phil's does not. This place is a true hidden gem. Do watch out for karaoke contests which are held regularly in the place if you are sensitive to people singing. Or maybe you want to try your talent there?
(4)
Dina G.
Went again to Kaminski's because we remembered how good it was before. The meal was good, not great. Husband got the beef ribs and was not wowed, I got the pulled pork sandwich and it was pretty bland, I had to add a lot of the table side bbq sauce to flavor it up. Our server was odd. He found the urge to touch both me and my husband on the shoulder every time he checked on us. Some people like that, me...not so much. The place was slow when we got there but by the time we left it was hoppin'.
(3)
Liz D.
Had appetizers they were okay, onion rings had too much beer flavor, potato skins were cold, nothing special. Good ambiance, great place to have a drink and decent plate of food.
(3)
Alan C.
This is a great place to hang out and have a beer while watching sports.
(5)
Dan B.
I too have been coming here since the reopening. Although I am surprised by the 1 & 2 star reviews I must say the place has gone downhill as of late. I love their "Kaminski Pulled Pork Sandwich" but the last few times I went they put a lot less meat on it. I am not crazy about their beer selection but they have a few I think are OK. The reviews about the service are accurate. It's average and even worse when busy. I cannot possibly complete a review on Kaminskis without mentioning one thing. COLESLAW!! it can be ordered as a side or put on just about any sandwich you wish. For you coleslaw fans out there, this is the best I have ever eaten. Keep in mind I like mine original, with out a bunch of crap added in the mask the flavor(raisins, nuts, carrots, onions, etc etc). Kaminskis coleslaw is basic but just the right flavor and amount of sauce. Not runny. This is an old family recipe and it is delicious. So for the atmosphere and my favorite coleslaw ever, they get three stars. If the pork sandwich was as FAT as it used to be and service was better they would get 4 stars.
(3)
Nora S.
We were hankering for some good barbecue and hanging out during happy hour before we had to go to our son's Open House. Kaminsky's was the place decided on. Large, remodeled place. It doesn't match it's Powegian surroundings, which is probably a good thing. It was a nice place to hang out, drink and eat appetizers from the Happy Hour menu. They have a rotating menu of 5$ appetizers plus 5$ cocktails. Not too bad although it can add up fast! We ordered a trio of sliders; your choice of sandwich. Went with the brisket, BBQ chicken and Carolina pulled pork. The BBQ chicken was by far and away the tastiest of the three due to their very excellent BBQ sauce. Sweet, tangy with just a touch of heat. We loved it. Pour some of that on your nicely smoked brisket and you're good to go. The Carolina pulled pork was....interesting. Much too vinegary for my tastes. We also ordered their spinach salad, which was very good. And then saw they had a monthly special of rib tips. This was outstanding. The meat was smoky and tender and covered with the great BBQ sauce. The plate came with coleslaw (put some lemon on that, please!) and beans. I thought the beans were great. The drinks were ok. Mojito was nice and refreshing, but the other cocktail was way too sweet and didn't taste very alcoholic. Save the money for some beer, which is cheaper anyways. Although we enjoyed ourselves, the big downside to this place is the price. Man, it's pricey! Even with Happy Hour prices, we ended up spending over 30$ here with tax and tip. That's pretty insane considering we didn't even order a full plate of food.
(3)
Allen C.
Good BBQ, fo show!!! Neat place in poway! Great owners who check on u and shake ur hand! The service started out awesome then kind of faded off! Food was good and booze were flowing! Took forever to get our bill but we did hit it at peak busy time on a fri night! It's a must try fo sho!!!!
(4)
Elizabeth K.
Really nothing special, but the quality is exactly what I'd expect, there are big screens everywhere, and the happy hour menu is just right in price and selection, especially for $6 rib tips.
(3)
Ryan K.
We've come here a few times for work happy hours, and I've never been impressed. First off, the barbecue is crap. I smoke meat just about every weekend, so I know barbecue, and this place just isn't up to par. San Diego doesn't really have great barbecue so I can understand the rave reviews because people don't know better, but trust me, it's not very good. The other food is okay when it actually comes out warm, and they have a good selection of beer. Second, whenever we come here the service is terrible. They send one waitress to cover 20-30 people, and she takes like 45 minutes to get you a beer. Okay, the bar is seriously 3 feet away, I'll go ask the bartender instead of waiting the better part of an hour. Mission: Beer is accomplished. Except now everyone in our group is doing this and the waitress throws a hissy fit because the bartender is getting all our tips, so she stops showing up to serve us altogether! This has happened every single time we have come here. We place orders for 5 minutes, everyone gets tired of how long it takes, goes to the bar, so the waitress never comes back. As a bar I guess it's okay (hence the 2 stars) with all the TV screens and stuff, but it gets really loud and really busy. There are better bars in Poway to go for happy hour, so I'd recommend going to one of them instead.
(2)
Kimberly T.
"Meh. I've experienced better." I gave it two stars because of the nice TVS, and nicely decorated. That would be it.. Food- The potato chip nachos - served cold but had potential if they were hot like they should have been. The wings were good but expensive for wings. The coffee was good. The tea was weak. We decided to try desert.. the apply cobbler is NOT cobbler at best its a fancy expensive for what you get COLD apple tart dish. It said served hot but it was not hot. Cobbler should have some juice and crust but this one did not.. it had baked apples sliced onto a plate, with a little crust in the middle with a small scoop of ice cream. We sent it back. Parking get crowded especiall on Sat. I dont get the free valet although it was friendly but I dont want to feel like I need to tip someone to bring my car ten feet. Service was BAD... friendly when you could get them to your table. I asked for water it never came.. 15 minutes later asked a young man walking by he brought it right away, he refilled my coffee later on, and also helped out in other areas. He was not our server. I felt at the end I should go find him and tip him instead. Will probably go back because of the games, and lack of places to watch in our area. BUT, think it is REALLY lame they have no real happy hour, and offer no real play off games specials. If you like beer you might like this place, its the only thing on "special" we could see. SO many places offer happy hour especially on game days I think Id rather find those spots. This was our second time to this place. Same review both times.. except when empty (first time) service was better.
(2)
Lisa d.
LOVE this place! Better than Phils! Always quick service and always very tasty food. The brisket & mac sandwich is to die for!
(5)
Gary G.
Its a record. 1 1/2 hours to get our food. Went for breakfast for the World Cup game that they advertised, ordered when we arrived and didn't get served for 90 minutes! That's a first. Others that ordered after us were served earlier. Waiter told us a few times food was coming, then the order of the orders was mixed up so some got it earlier, but everyone was waiting at least an hour. This is the second time I had to wait for over an hour for service here. Last time was for a basketball game. The fault is with the poor management, they do not gear up staff in the kitchen for the rushes that should be obvious at a sports bar....for sports events. The food is good, the people are friendly and apologetic, but they are put in a tough position by the poor planning of the people in charge. Has the potential to be a great place if they can fix this major flaw. Good for food, but beware of sporting events...you could be waiting....a looooonggg time.
(2)
Cyndi M.
This is a really nice Upscale Sportsbar...lots of flat screen tv's, even outside near the cozy fireplace that I love to sit at...the staff is super friendly to me everytime i go...and the bathrooms are super clean, which gets major bonus points from me! I would have given 5 stars if they had a better parking situation, sometimes its hard to find parking...but I have fallen in LOVE with their "SALMON MELT" sandwich, you must definitely try it...I highly recommend this place to everyone! : )
(4)
Jennifer W.
Maybe if you are into smoky, loud bars, then you will like this place. I gave two stars to balance out the fact that I cannot rate the food. We had to wander around for several minutes and ask a waitress to find the hostess. She was friendly and apologized for our confusion. We decided to sit outside because of the noise from blaring TV's inside. The patio was nice until we realized that it is really the "smoking section". Now 15 minutes into our experience with nothing on the table and not having placed an order, we asked if we could move inside. The waitress offered to have the manager ask the smokers stop. No, thank you. We decided to leave and will not go back. If we want BBQ, it is worth the drive to Phil's.
(2)
Monica B.
Wow! I can't believe all of the bad reviews for this place. I LOVE Kaminski's. It's my favorite bar in the area to go watch the games. Ya, it gets hectic and loud in there but we always have a good time. The family that owns this place is so sweet. They always talk to us and find a place for us even when we come with the baby. I'm all about supporting my local family restaurant. One star off for parking. I hate having to park a block away. Sometimes they do valet, other times no.
(4)
Paula D.
We went to Kaminski's to eat dinner and the food was great.! The pulled pork was sublime! Grilled corn, tasty. I don't like coleslaw most of the time but theirs was really fresh and tasty. I love the fried potato chips. The service was great! We had great servers who were very attentive and the manager made a point of coming by and making sure we had everything we needed. I am looking forward to going back soon!
(5)
Michelle M.
First off, love it when we come during late lunch, it's pretty much not busy. Not sure if that a good or bad thing but I love it. Every BBQ place I go to is crazy busy. Second, we order from where we are seated. Customer service here is great. They all know what they are serving & give great options when we got questions. So BBQ is pretty awesome here! Not too saucy just how I like it. So if you get it as ribs or sandwiches, it's just ALL good. Love their sweet potato fries & that they serve with chipotle sauce. I always ask for more. I can't wait to visit again. Drooling just writing all this.
(5)
Paul T.
We have been to Kaminski's several times since their (re?)opening on Poway Rd. The parking lot isn't huge but there are other lots and small side streets within a few yards. This visit I had a BBQ combo of Hot Link sausage and brisket, while my wife had the 1/4 Rotissierie Chicken. The Combo was a very big portion of both beef and sausage, with very good fries and baked beans. (They usually offer Ranch Beans but are trying our the baked beans instead. They were good but I prefer the Ranch beans.) My wife's chicken was just a fraction dry, but still fine. She did say it tasted (and it looked to me) as if it were smoked chicken, perhaps they cook it both ways? We received very good and attentive service. The restaurant is well decorated and furnished, always spotlessly clean and a good place to catch a game. My wifes dinner was under $10, and my combo was $24. One one hand the combo seems a little steep but the BBQ was very good and the portions were big enough to have a good take home box (I've just finished a scrambled egg and hot link breakfast burrito at home. If the drink prices were a bit lower and/or the combo was $21 I'd happily give 5 stars, but I think 4 is appropriate. There are not a huge number of restaurants in Poway but this is one of the good ones.
(4)
Paula D.
Pulled Pork Sandwich was good, baby back ribs were good too liked the atmosphere and next time will bring friends and check out the band. :)
(3)
Jacqueline S.
Love the brisket and garlic fries!! Great place for kids as they have lots of board games to keep kids entertained while waiting for their food.
(4)
Laura U.
Great service. Decent food. LOTS of great TV's to watch all the games. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
(4)
Sal Q.
Every now and then I forget how Kaminski's tastes and what it costs and go there because it's close by. And by the end of the meal I remember why I don't go. The food isn't bad, but compared to Famous Dave's, Claim Jumper, or a couple little bbq hole-in-the-wall places whose names I can't remember (one on Miramar), it's way too overpriced for the portions you get and the taste of the food. The host sat us down and left us one menu. When the waitress came by to ask if we were ready, my wife said "not yet, we only got the one menu", and she said "oh ok" and left. That was it, no new menu. She spent the rest of the evening being slow for everything including our check, and I noticed at least one other waitress wasn't doing much better... I could hear the people next to me grumbling the same way we were. This was on a Friday night, but it was around 5:30, before the rush. We watched our waitress stand around talking with the bartender for at least 5 minutes while our check worked hard to grow legs on its own and get to us. I thought back to the last couple of times we were here, and recalled something similar happened each time. I think the reviewers who got great service were lucky enough to get great service, but I don't think it's consistent and pushed by the owners well enough. So maybe with this review I'll remember to never visit again, there are better places to go to instead.
(1)
Kathy P.
Ewe! I wanted to cry when my husband and I left this place.... We stopped in for a rare afternoon out for happy hour/ dinner. We had been here previously for the latenite band bar scene, so this was a first for the food experience. All I can say is AVOID the hummus and pita happy hour platter.($5) An absolute rip off. OK if you like to just eat bread but the hummus was horrible.... and the "veggies" that come with it consisted of two finely shredded celery pieces and two carrots. Then came the horrific sliders....($5) not bad if you like bread, heavy bread, and sauce... I wanted to barf when I left this place.... My husband is a real meat and sauce lover and he admitted he was very disappointed... Btw, the wait staff was stellar and I give them a thumbs up... We left the business at about 6 pm, a wed. eve. and the place was empty, more staff than customers... not sure but hopefully they were expecting the bar crowd to show up? Very disappointing....
(2)
Jim L.
Not a bad place to stop by and have a drink or and appetizers. They do have a good selection of appetizers. I would suggest the onion rings, the homemade potato chips or the garlic fries. Can you tell I have a liking for fried food? Obviously not a healthy choice but a tasty one to say the least. The dinners themself are decent but the portions are small. There are much better BBQ places out there and much better on this street. This place always seems to be crowded and parking can be tough but they do offer vallet. While it's not a bad place, I believe the name is the draw here. They have a full bar but not a lot of drafts to choose from. Enough however to quench a thirst. Service was ok and we got seated immediately in the bar.
(3)
Dianne O.
Too bad a rating lower than a 1 star cannot be given. This place certainly deserves it. The 1/3 pound burger was ordered medium rare and came out like a hockey puck, and it was smaller than a regular burger; lots of bun, though. The fries were cold and soggy. The sweet potato fries that we paid extra for were soggy and cold. The corn that we paid extra for was spoiled (very bad taste) and was cold, the kernels were wrinkled. $7.98 for a child's meal that consisted of two bland chicken fingers and an ear of bad corn is way overpriced. The BBQ barely hit the OK mark. The waitress breezed by, did not stop, and threw over her shoulder, "So how is everything? OK?" and kept on going. Did not stop for an answer. At least the beer and the water were cold!!. Overall, one of the worst dining experiences we've had in a long time. We'll never go back.
(1)
bre l.
If you love sports, and food great choice. I ordered the cobb salad, it wasn't all that great. I know I know, my fault next time I will get their bbq items.
(4)
Patrick W.
I've been here before and Kaminski's is OK. The meat has been pretty good but everything is prepared beforehand and that works for some things, but not others. Pros: The meat The place is clean The food comes out very fast Cons: Small portions Early preparation of the sides makes them tough (fries, corn on the cob) Parking here is atrocious but they do offer valet The service was good the first time I went here, but poor the second time. This place is in walking distance to my house and has a nice bar. I'll probably try it again if I want to stop by for a drink and would eat at the bar. I don't see myself suggesting it though on my family nights out.
(3)
Kirt W.
There aren't many good options in Poway so Kaminski's get a strong review out of the gate. This is a fairly new restaurant built on the ashes of Dad's (anyone remember Dad's?). I've tried the ribs and pulled pork on a few occasions and been very happy. Good beer selection and full bar which is a plus but it can get a bit loud. But...if you're in Poway and want a sit down meal and a cold beer, Kaminski's is your best option.
(4)
Sarah M.
I'm not the biggest fan of BBQ, but I like it from time to time. Wilmar D. is a HUGE fan of BBQ and we've seen this place a bunch of times so we decided to stop in. First thing I noticed: the SPACE. There's A LOT of it and it's a nice looking restaurant. Plenty of tv's to watch whatever sport you are into and just lots of room to get comfy. We seated ourselves at the bar and got to ordering. Drinks are pricier than I wanted (6 for a jack and coke, 5ish for coors light), but with a nicer environment, you pay more for drinks. Foodwise, I ordered the beef ribs with corn and mac and cheese, and Wilmar ordered the baby back ribs with fries and beans. The beef ribs were a-okay, but not my fav (btw, PHIL'S is my fav, mmmhmm). BUT, don't get me wrong, they were still tasty and the meat was falling right off of the bone. The corn was amazing, but corn is just amazing to begin with, so that's not really praising them that much haha. I liked how they served it with butter though!! :) The mac and cheese was just OKAY, just wasn't cheesy enough for my personal liking. I ate off of Wilmar's plate and i LOVED the baby back ribs! They were delicious. The fries were pretty good too. So the food was decent, but unfortunately the service wasn't similar. Everyone was nice in general, but our bartender didn't come by very often, so we were often waiting (to order food, to order another drink, to ask for water, etc). If it was busy, I might have understood, but it wasn't, so I was disappointed. Overall, it was an OKAY experience. It is a beautiful restaurant with decent food, but the service could be better. Also, side note, they have karaoke once a week and happy hour, in case any of you readers were interested :)
(3)
Natalie M.
Not a bad place to go and watch a game or have a drink, but the food is not so awesome. They do have a decent HH from 3-6 and 9-11 with $5 apps and specialty drinks and $1 off all pint. Pros: fun and upbeat atmosphere, TVs in every directions, plenty of seating Cons: no parking, OK at best food, unhelpful staff I would probably only go back if I had no where else to watch a game and wanted to have a variety of things to drink.
(3)
Selina H.
Valet in poway!? Better believe it. Ok beer. Ok food. Ok all around but not much to write home about.
(3)
Robert S.
Cleanest Bar in Poway. Lots of TV's, lots of Beers, Drinks, Food. Family owned and Family run Restaurant with Good BBQ Food. Tables in the back for Family's and the Bar in front for the Sports Fans. I have always had Great Serve and will be back. Thanks JW
(5)
Lysabeth L.
The beef ribs were yummy! Brisket was a bit dry. There was no wait for a Friday night. Karaoke was fun to watch!
(4)
Matt G.
I have stopped by Kaminski's a few times for lunch. It's a really good local place for barbecue. As soon as you step in the door you are smacked in the face with a finger-lickin' good aroma. They have a variety of meals and drinks to choose from. The meat is tender and flavorful. The prices are good, the BBQ is good, the family who owns/runs it are nice. Good place to stop if you're in Poway craving BBQ. The costumer service has always been outstanding. Angela has always served me in the bar area. She is very personable and makes awesome drinks. They are a sports lounge so they have multiple flat screens playing all kinds of sports. They normally host events for UFC fights and other big "games" From what I understand they also are a big supporter of kids sports in the Poway area. I will absolutely be back and soon.
(5)
Cherie T.
the food are just okay. i prefer Phil's BBQ. but if you're in the area, and Phil's is too far.. then check out Kaminski. It's good, but not great. But this restaurant is great for big groups and if you're sports person, this is your place... tons of tvs around the restaurant so you can be tuned in to a game. i ordered two BBQ Combos #1: 1/2 baby back ribs, hot link sausages, french fries and cole slaw #2: 1/2 rotisserie chicken, kaminski pulled pork, beans, and potato salad the ribs were good, the meat just falls off the bone, the pulled pork was soft and smokey. The chicken was good but not good enough for me to order it again. the hot links was just okay, nothing special. All the sides were just "meh; i've had better" If i ever do go back.. i'd like to order their 3 course meal ($17) on Sunday nights for dinner.
(3)
Molly R.
We tried out Kaminski's last weekend. Although we did not have food it was an interesting experience. Karaoke night, the bar was packed...with....an older crowd, some children?? A weird wigged KJ. It was far out. He actually said "that was pretty good for a little black girl" after a woman was finished singing. Which I thought was a strange comment to make. It was a weird vibe. I don't see myself hanging out in this place. The drinks were ok, the entertainment was weird at best. I don't care for a bar that has children in it, and when they are singing the karaoke its even weirder. Save that for the kiddie parties and let the adults have their fun.
(2)
Linda P.
I've come here several times I must admit the ambiance is good but the food is terrible. The only thing I could recommend is the corn on the cobb! However, I do like the fact they have a full bar. If you want BBQ go to Phill's its the best in town.
(2)
Channer A.
Great atmosphere, Bar setup is fantastic, not a bad seat in the house, not a fan a places where you have bad seats, if it busy yea those chairs are open and your stuck with a bad experience. Not here. TVs are everywhere so it doesn't matter where u sit. Food is good, have not checked out anything special on the menu so my review will lack in that department, I might have had a ckn ceasar salad when I went idk but it was good. The only reason I'm not going higher is because the eye candy there is nothing to scream about..
(3)
Joey M.
Went back to enjoy a little dinner. I just was not impressed with my experience. We sat in the bar and one of the bartenders was really bad. This lady just keep talking to some people she knew and really just forgot about us. What made it bad was she was talking about personal things that nobody really wanted to hear. She also totally half assed our drinks. She forgot to add a garnish to every drink. She might have asked us if we were ok once. As for the food, it was just average. The only good part of the night was the desert. The ice cream cake is worth trying. Luckily some Mexican bartender took over for the lady and was really cool. He was on top of it, but it was a little to late for us. Might come back???
(2)
Jackie T.
This place is alright. Pretty good in general for the Poway area but it's still no Phil's. I had the beef brisket sandwich. The meat was cooked okay, a little on the dry side. The sweet potato fries were good but I've had better. The bbq sauce was good but nothing spectacular. They might be a good place for happy hour though. They do have a nice sports bar feel where you can grab a few drinks and have some appetizers. Also, the location is so weird. It's a random restaurant in the middle of who knows what kind of warehouse looking stores.
(3)
Christopher K.
Came here for happy hour, the rib tips for $6 is about as good a deal as you can find. The food was good and the price was right.
(4)
Be W.
This makes twice in three months that we have given this Sports Lounge a try and spent over $50.00 for two people, no alcohol was purchased. And got the worst service ever. The waitress could not seem to get to our table. Plenty of staff to help. Also touching her mouth over and over then sticking her fingers in a glass to take to bartender so he could fill the drink order. It took 2 hours to order food and eat and wait again for bill. This was Saturday October 19th 6:30pm. Extremely disappointing after dropping that amount of money. I would say just because the parking lot is full, still does not mean anyone in the place cares to have customer service. Do not bother. We have experienced better service, food for less money in Poway.
(2)
Donna C.
This is THE BEST BBQ west of Memphis. Everyone I bring always want to come back. Everything on the menu is delish. The ribs are soooo fall of the bone tender. Their home made BBQ sauce is something I can drink and dab behind my ears. I also love the ribeye steak sandwich with a Real Ribeye Steak. The stekl delmonico is equally tender and flavorful. The best way to describe Kaminski's menu is everything is made with love. Another must try is their home made Mud Pie...OMG BECKY it's so good you'll slap your mama :-) The staff is above and beyond friendly, I am always remembered and made to feel welcomed. I am so glad I only live 2 miles from this fabulous restaurant, it is one I plan to use to cater our company's 4th of July BBQ party. I love this family owned restaurant, they are how ALL restaurants should be. I frequent here a few times a week because it's like going home for a wonderful meal. Thank You Kaminski :-)
(5)
Alan W.
So a couple of friends and I visited late night to see if it the experience was any better than my prior dinner visit. I will admit there was an improvement but not a significant one. First impression visiting is that parking is a challenge. It's not that you have to park that far away, it is that you have to wait to pull out, U-turn on Poway Road, etc. if the lot is full. BBQ was bland, nobody enjoyed the food. I had the brisket which proved to be a big mistake. I've never eaten a leather shoe with ketchup...or maybe that is what I was served? Dessert was equally awful, the apple cobbler tasted like an old TV dinner dessert mixed with sawdust. Very few desserts I dislike but now I'm nervous to eat apple cobbler anywhere. We got a good laugh when we read the drink prices and the addendum at the bottom stating that prices may be higher when a band is playing. Really? Charge a cover if the band is that good, don't bump the cost of my drinks! I will give props for being one of very few clean, decent places open late in the Poway area. The TV wall is great for watching sports. The servers are hit or miss. The vibe is a bit weird (is it a sports bar? BBQ? a 40+ swinger bar?) Not sure I'll rush out to return unless there isn't much else open late...
(2)
Lefev J.
Went here with the family for dinner one evening. We sat out on the patio, which was much better than inside which is very loud. I understand it's a sports bar type place, but it was full of families with kids, with tv's blaring, it was just too loud in there for me. The portions are on the smaller side and nothing worth going back for. The meat does have a very distinct smoke flavor which I am not a fan of. Our server was pretty slow IMO, and the prices seemed inflated to me for what you get. Parking is not good here, the lot is very small and oddly shaped so we parked across the street by the old overflow parking for the Ford dealership, which is a dirt lot that the restaurant uses for parking. Considering our first experience, I think it will be our last.
(2)
Edward H.
While Phil's BBQ is by far the clear favorite for BBQ in San Diego, this Poway establishment is definitely worth mentioning amongst the top places in San Diego. Working in the Poway area, I've had several chances to try Kaminski's during lunch and have never been disappointed. I typically order the garlic fries appetizer. These are just about the BEST garlic fries I've ever had. They're typically served with a chipotle dipping sauce that make them that much better. You can't beat that for a starter. On my first visit, I selected the Smokin' Taco Trio, and have repeatedly ordered the same menu item each and every time I've been there. You get three tacos and can choose between the Brisket, Kaminski's Pulled Pork, Carolina Pulled Pork, and Pulled BBQ Chicken. It's an excellent way to try the different BBQ meat options. The tacos are topped with cabbage, pico de gallo, and the chipotle sauce. The combination of tacos and garlic fries just can't be beat. My friends have ordered other menu item and have all been happy with the food. They also offer a pretty decent variety of beers, which goes well with the sports bar ambiance. If you're ever in the Poway area, I would highly recommend giving this place a try. An extremely nice woman, who I believe is the owner of the establishment, will frequently walk around and check on the customers, which I found to be excellent customer service.
(5)
Jaime R.
We tried this place out again and the waiter was great!
(4)
Mel P.
No complaints, food was great. I love the BBQ pulled pork sandwich. Staff was friendly. Will definitely go back.
(5)
Joe M.
I just went this weekend. I had the beef brisket sandwich with the garlic fries. They were both delicious but eating the entire plate of garlic fries was a mistake and I paid for it but so good. I don't think humans should consume that much raw garlic and thousand island dressing. I couldn't help it. Those fries committed a hate crime on my stomach. I will go back and repeat.
(4)
Tony D.
Went here with a good friend of mine on a Friday night. Expected to have a long wait, but was seated quickly. Service was great. The food was good and I found the BBQ sauce to be good. Great place to watch some sports and hang out. I wouldn't take my wife there on a date night though.
(4)
Peter F.
Nothing special, just another corporate-feeling restaurant. Decent beer selection, food is good (large portions), staff is very friendly - but I can't shake the vibe of the place. Granted both times I was in there, I've been below median age by a good 15 years, but I kept feeling like I was in an Airport-area chain steakhouse.
(3)
Jessica G.
Go to this place!! It's great! They are super friendly and the Karolina pork sandwich is excellent!! Yumm. My husband and I enjoy the tvs and experience!! Check it out on Sunday!
(5)
Darrel U.
*Parking - not so good, but they offer free valet + tip of course *****Atmosphere - Excellent. It's crowded, but clean, spacious and a decent amount of monitors. Friendly hostess too. **Service - Attentive, but disorganized ***Food - The Iowa ribs were decent. Strange thing though, I got a full rack that was split into two. One rack was was tender and tasty. The other rack was very dry. They name their bread "Texas Toast", so I was expecting a large buttery cheese toast type of concoction, but it was only a small half roll with barely any butter. -Oddities- All the employees were really pushing the mud pie on everybody. It was decent, but nothing special. A bit confusing...You can order and serve yourself or you can opt for the sit down service. The self serve section was mixed with the sit down service which was a bit odd. Overall a it was decent experience.
(3)
Vicki A.
The Great- it's clean The good - the food The bad - the lack of a lunch menu The ugly - the speed of service Went here during my lunch break. NO ONE in the staff was in a hurry. They were nice enough and the food was good. I wish there was a lunch menu. I was 20 minutes late back from an hour lunch. I think they've been open for awhile - so I guess they just aren't looking for the lunch crowd. Since I don't live in Poway - I probably won't be returning any time soon to dine. Too bad - they're food is good
(2)
Michelle Y.
Came here for an office lunch outing for someone's birthday. The place itself is pretty nice with large windows so there was plenty of natural lighting. The Ghana vs. Uruguay World Cup game was playing on all of their flat panels - almost everyone there was really into it (we became absorbed into it as well). On to the food: I was recommended to try their Kaminski Pulled Pork Sandwich. It was pretty good but it was nothing more special than I've had at other places. However, I will say that while another BBQ establishment I go to serves only the sandwich for $7, Kaminski has a side of your choice with the sandwich for $8-9 so with this I was quite pleased. Definitely try their sweet potato fries! They have fresh-made chips which are pretty good, but I wouldn't shell out the money for it. You can get almost just as good chips at the grocery store at a cheaper cost.
(2)
Ben S.
I stopped by here for lunch yesterday while I was getting my tires did across the street. It was okay but I wasn't impressed with the food especially considering how expensive it was. There was no lunch menu so all of the meals were around $15 ore more. I wouldn't recommend this to others for lunch. Maybe for dinner or to watch a game.
(2)
Lucynda S.
Great food, great decor, friendly staff. I love Kaminski's. I highly recommend the Garlic fries. They are AMAZING. The food is a little pricey however but depending on what you get it is well worth it :)
(4)
Kelly Y.
I love their grilled cheese sandwich and garlic fries when they do it right. The food quality, to-go staff and overall consistancy is hit and miss. I would prefer to do lunch here.
(3)
Laura L.
I have gone here the last two weels to watch the Chargers game (or highlights of the blacked out game on Red Zone). The restaurant itself is really nice. There are a lot of TVs and for the most part you can see the Chargers game from any seat. Of course they have other games for other team fans! The servers are all very nice. The food is okay. Not the best BBQ but decent. I do love the Carolina Pulled Pork platter. I am so glad they brought it back because they got rid of it when they changed it to Dad's. Very sad about the fire, but they did a great job in rebuilding it and bringing back the old name. The mudd pie is very good! Try it!
(4)
Greg B.
I went here for lunch last week and wanted to clarify one thing -- they have ample free parking less than a block away, so you don't' have to valet. As for the review... had a pulled pork sandwich and sweet potato fries. Both were good, although the aoli sauce was bland and tasteless. Overall, decent service. However, everything was prices a few bucks above acceptable. The fries were $3.99 and the sandwich was 8.99. With an iced tea, my whole meal came out to over $15 which is overpriced for lunch -- especially at a BBQ/bar in Poway. drop the prices a few bucks and it was a pretty decent meal.
(3)
Ed G.
Awesome BBQ and will definitely head back soon. Great place for lunch.
(5)
Sylvia H.
I also wanted to like this place, but it's not that great. The BBQ was ehhhhh. Well, maybe if you like SMOKED bbq, then you might like it. My friend's potato salad was completely dry and bland. It's like they forgot the mayo and seasoning. She had to ask for mayo and she added a bunch of salt/pepper/mustard to season it. Sorry - it's a nice atmosphere for the food doesn't cut it.
(2)
Melanie B.
If you want good bbq, do NOT go here! If you want so-so bbq, do NOT go here! It's that bad! My husband got take-out the week this opened. We ordered: cowboy ribs with potato salad and beans, pulled pork with fries and mac salad. Pulled pork sandwich--I had to ADD my OWN BBQ sauce from my pantry (Sweet Baby Ray's) because there WAS NO FLAVOR! I had to ADD SALT and PEPPER to the mac salad because there was NO FLAVOR! The fries were previously frozen and then fried--you could tell--Ore Ida has better fries than Kaminskis! Cowboy ribs--My husband had to ADD BBQ sauce to it. It looked like it was smoked and should have a smoked flavor, but there was NO FLAVOR! His potato salad was GROSS and the beans were GROSS! We threw the food away, it was so disappointing! The prices were TOO much for the sorry, small portions they gave. Smokin Joe's is 10 times better and Phil's is 100 times better than this place! Bottom line: Do NOT go here! Waste of money!!!
(1)
Gena B.
I don't eat a lot of BBQ, so you might not want to go by me... BUT, I dine out A LOT.... k - quick to be seated. nice inside. clean. host got us drinks right off - which i TOTALLY appreciated b/c at most places, you have to wait and wait to get something. And I was specific on my drink and it was exact. my friend and i ordered the same thing, so i can't tell you much about the menu options - we both got the pulled pork sandwich. I'm not good with "sweet" things, and the sauce was too sweet for me (I'm hyper sensitve though) but the meat was REALLY tender and i LOVED the bun. It made a MESS though! lol. the mac and cheese was SUPER good but i was trying to stay away from carbs, so i was disappointed that there wasn't a "vegie" option or something for the side - ALL of the sides were potatoes, pasta, corn, etc. I asked my friend and he said he thought it was "ok" for better or worse, we ate at around 1pm and as of 9pm i still wasn't hungry. i would try it again. The lunch menu was basicaly $7-$10 per lunch item. For a sit down restaurant, i thought it was ok. Service was ok. Good iced tea (i'm particular) and great with the refills.
(3)
Ima d.
I had such high hopes for this place, only to be let down... In fact this place is walking distance from my house and I won't go anymore. Pathetic attempt at BBQ, mediocore service, but everyone is polite... I personally think they spent to much money making this place look fancy, and not enough on the basics. There are places where they need to add more TV's infact it looks like they plan to but ran out of money. If you want real BBQ go to smokin joes down the street and if you want a sports bar go to Oggis.
(2)
Laurie P.
My review only addresses the bar area. The bar has a nice open feeling with the high ceiling and very clean. Decent sized dance floor and quick service with the drinks. I loved the live music on Saturday night; quality classic rock, a group called Classic Buzz. This was my first visit; I live out of town now, but will go back when in town.
(5)
Sandy M.
Great food and I love the super Q truck!
(4)
Raffy Joy B.
has a good restaurant week menu, a little above average bbq spot, ribs were good, atmosphere good, TVs playing sports was excellent, parking's horrible... would return
(3)
A B.
I used to come here when they first opened up. It was a a great food, good deal with good size portions. Now its 180 degrees difference, its crappy food, lousy service and half the size portions for a lot more money. As always you are only good as your last meal served, and I've been here few times during the last month and I had to finally give up on the place. There is another BBQ Brick place in Poway that is decent. Perhaps, a short drive to Brett's BBQ in Rancho Bernardo. Save your hard earned money.
(1)
Darlene J.
Pretty good place to go! Food is really good and with all the TV'S Hubby is happy! Took the family right after Thanksgiving and everyone enjoyed it & are asking if we can take them again.
(4)
Sandra U.
Love the atmosphere of this place. Kids are around, but they're not the dominant noise or population. This would be a great place for happy hour or a casual dinner. The music level is just right for conversation, and there are big screens everywhere with various sports on. Now, the food: yum! I'm a fan of sweet and spicy barbeque versus tangy barbeque. Their sauce has just a hint of sweet with plenty of tang and spice. I loved it. My husband and I split an order of beef ribs and could barely finish it. We had potato salad and beans for the sides. The beans kinda sucked. The menu is full of barbeque favorites and there is quite a selection of salads and other entrees as well. They have a hand washing station right in the dining area which is really nice after you've been chowing on barbeque and you want to hang out and drink with friends and don't want to miss anything by trekking all of the way to the head. Good wine selection. Good service. Yes, there is mandatory valet on Fridays and Saturdays, which really isn't a BAD thing because parking around there can be pretty hellish. Valet is free, but we always tip $2 for it. So what? You're out for a good time! To-go is an option for those on the run or who don't feel like being social. I'm sure I'll be doing this once in a while on work nights when I don't feel like cooking! We will DEFINITELY be back and we will be brining friends.
(4)
Shannon D.
I love the new layout of the place and the upgraded modern style. Food was OK.... don't even remember what I ate. Its a total meat head venue, with TVs covering every wall space. Not my normal go to place, but my dad digs it and its usually where we go when I go visit him up in Poway.
(3)
Joslyn M.
I'm giving two stars and I'm being generous. They only get the extra star because of previous experiences which weren't this terrible. The food is good. I love the pulled pork melt, it's juicy and has mac n cheese, which should be a staple in every American's diet. They lost their first point when I realized for two sandwiches and garlic fries I was going to be paying $32+. The second point was lost when I called ahead and was told "5-10 minutes" when it actually took over 20 minutes. It's cool, if you need more time, just don't quote me 5 minutes on the phone. The third point was docked after the gentleman handed me the bag and told me my briscuit sandwich was on top. I advised him we had ordered two pulled pork sandwiches, zero briscuit. SO THE GUY PROCEEDS TO TAKE THE LID OFF THE BOXES AND OPEN UP BOTH OUR SANDWICHES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT KIND THEY ARE! This was not a kitchen worker whose hands are thoroughly washed on a regular basis. No. This was the cashier that probably just sneezed into that hand two minutes earlier. I'm pretty grossed out right now.
(2)
Austin R.
Let's start at 3 stars. +1 for bar area - plenty of room, lots of tables, huge bar, lots of TVs +1 for service - attentive and nice waitresses 0 for drink prices - $5.25 for a 23oz Stone during happy hour - reasonable. -2 for food - we had both types of wings. The BBQ were sickly sweet, the HOT I'm pretty sure they just poured Frank's over them. Nothing against Frank's, but I would expect something I can't make at home. We're back to 3 stars. I won't go back.
(3)
Emily G.
We go here about once a month (I wish more) and love it! They are dog friendly so we bring our pup and sit on the patio. They bring out a cute lil' dog bowl with dog treats and a water bowl. Fun karaoke nights too! The wait staff is amazing and the owner is actively involved and visits tables throughout the restaurant. Very fun environment and my parents love to come here when they are in town visiting! Great family place!
(4)
Rachel G.
Unbeliviable! We drove all the way out from ob to have dinner around 930 because they're site says they close at 12, apparently they decided to close early with no notice on their site. Wasted half a tank of gas and a great deal of disappointment. You cant just close down without notice!! That's terrible buisness. Was really looking forward to having the pulled pork sandwich and sweet potatoe fries, ruined evening. Ended up at in and out burger, at least they're consistent.
(2)
Maria K.
We came from work for a business lunch, and had to come back with my family to see the Green Bay/Falcons game! Great food, good service, very clean. Ordered the pulled pork sandwich, and not only the BBQ sauce was great, but the bun was warm. Also the fruit salad was made from fresh cut apples and oranges. The attention to detail was very refreshing. We will keep coming for the food and the atmosphere. Oh yes, and they have valet parking, so be ready.
(4)
Kristen J.
I was hesitant to go here after such mixed reviews, but we ended up having a really great meal. The pulled pork is really great, the sides are also well done (coleslaw, fries, sweet potato fries) and the BBQ chicken salad was super tasty. Great service, nice atmosphere.
(4)
Chris C.
Passed by this place last night and thought we would give it a shot. Nice sports bar ambiance, might have found my local spot to watch my Sooners play...We loved the food (fall off the bone baby backs, pulled pork and brisket) and our waitress Janet was fantastic! It got a bit noisy once the dinner rush was on but that was ok, just meant I didn't gave to ride my 5 y/o sons ads to be quiet...t they have a large selection of family board games so after we ate we played yahtzee! Who doesn't love some good bbq AND family game night without having to do the dishes? Only complaint was that the drinks are WAY overpriced....
(4)
eris a.
If I was total man's man, I would totally be into this place. Good ass barbecue, flat screens everywhere, huge open space, and a big bar. Nothing else to say. That about sums it up.
(3)
Brendan L.
The food is pretty good. I like the sweet potato fries and BBQ sauce. But please tell me why a BBQ PLACE DOESN'T SERVE CORNBREAD. That is unsettling to me. I thought the waitress was kidding me when she said they don't have it. To counter my request she said they have mud pie. Really? Because when I think of BBQ I really think of mud pie.
(3)
jerome q.
BBQ that you don't have to wait in line for an hour or so. Plus they serve mac and cheese!!!
(3)
Dejah U.
2 for Dinner on a weekend. Very disappointing. Food OK, overpriced BBQ dinner. We've been looking for some REAL Carolina BBQ (like the kind in Carolina), and a friend mentioned Kaminski's. First, who has valet at a BBQ place?? I thought that was neat, and convenient. The hostess was very welcoming, so we were off to a good start. We ordered: Ribs with fries and coleslaw; and the Carolina Pulled Pork PLATE with baked beans and coleslaw. We got our food and let me tell you, DO NOT order the pulled pork plate if you're hungry. I'm not exaggerating when I say that there was only 1 cup of pulled pork on the plate (guess we should have ordered the sandwich without the bun, probably would have been more meat for less $$). Quantity aside, quality was just as poor. The pork had an overwhelming vinegar taste, and the coleslaw was more of a soup than a slaw (which some people like, just not me). The ribs were good - it had great smoke and caramelization, and it wasn't dowsed in sauce. The fries were typical bar fries, so I enjoyed them. I ran out of water (my drink) at the beginning of our meal, and our server disappeared until it was basically check time (funny how that happens). And I was pretty parched from the acidic pork... so that didn't add to an overall positive experience. Glad we tried it, I'm ALWAYS up for BBQ, but I'll never go back. MAYBE for the ribs, but doubt it. It was too pricey, and not good enough.
(2)
Ryan D.
This place has the best BBQ in SD IMO! I get this sample plate that has a little bit of everything.
(4)
george g.
This is about as good as it gets for bbq. Hands down the best I have had. Even better than I can make 5*****
(5)
Willy E.
Kaminski's is great. I consider it a rarity among sports bars as it's a) very clean b) has plenty of space c) lacks that musty smell of typical sports bars d) the food is pretty good. Sure it's not 5-star BBQ, but I happily go there for my BBQ. Solid selection of beers on tap, including the newly introduced Pacifico on tap, which is excellent. The prices are very fair - great value for a day at Kaminski's. Family-owned, ownership and staff are very friendly. Only downside, the game-watching is less ideal than you'd expect, considering everything else is so professional. Sometimes they have the same game on 3 tv's side by side, which is more dizzying than anything. And their overall selection of football games has been lacking on several occasions - I walked in last Sunday to a packed restaurant, but only 2 games, one of which was a baseball game. I know Kaminski's just got off the ground recently and so far so good (if not great). But they need to improve the games offered, to truly be called a sports bar (or lounge)...
(4)
Beth F.
Good food, customer service and BBQ!
(5)
Larry S.
Stopped in for the advertised BBQ. Almost walked back out the door at the price. Smelled good with a pleasant atmosphere so we thought we would give it a try. Food taste and quality was excellent, IMO the best real BBQ in SD. The price cost it a star, a half rack of ribs and a serving of pulled pork with simple sides should NOT cost $22.
(3)
Kira R.
Kaminski's is Amazing! Angela rocks from drink service to her awesome karaoke entertaining! Try anything and everything here!
(5)
Josh F.
I ordered their pulled pork burger with sweet potato fries and coleslaw. I liked the presentation, and the pulled pork was very moist and tasted great. I read some of the other reviews claiming bad service, but my waitress Jamie was very nice and helpful and came by every 5-7 minutes of so to check if we needed anything and if the food was good. Very nice atmostphere, suitable for families on non-game days(i went on a sunday late a night when it was kind of slow), and a pretty standard looking island bar with more more tv monitors than I could count. I'd definitely recommend anyone that likes some good bbq and a nice laid-back atmosphere to Kaminski's. 4 stars
(4)
Adam M.
Ehhh...not horrible but not really good either. Good menu but the execution was lacking. Service was good though, I would give it another try and see if it has improved
(2)
Pat T.
Good food, busy atmosphere. Seems to be one of the best choices in the Poway area for dinner. We haven't found anything better.
(4)
David D.
drink prices are RIDICULOUS! That ain't no happy hour.
(2)
White R.
We turned around at the door. We went out on a Saturday night just looking for a cool place to have some drinks at the bar, so we decided on a local bar. We arrived three hours before the band was supposed to show, and they wanted a $5 cover charge for us. Hogwash! The place looked very large, a few people in there, and we weren't even going to stay that long. They should at least have a place for people to go who don't care about the band, just want some drinks. We will not go back and try again. Cover charges are ridiculous. I've been to plenty of bars who have live music and have no cover charge!
(1)
Yvonne W.
So soooo good! I've been twice so far and absolutely love it! FINALLY a GOOD local BBQ joint!
(5)
Ann T.
I LOVE THIS PLACE...the food was SOOO good and the atmosphere was awesome. There was a live band playing and of course the company I was with made the whole night even better. We had the pulled pork and potatoe salad. WOW! I definitely love the BBQ sauce they make. It's NOT Phil's but I definitely recommend it!
(5)
Checkin I.
Food is pretty good , Janet the server is the best , One big problem is that they charge you $3 to get in to watch a band , Even if you are ordering food and beers, that is plain wrong , what a rip off , and the guy at the door doesn't care , sais we have to pay for the band...idiot
(2)
Jeff G.
Not so bad for SoCal. Let's face it, this neck of the woods is going to be about Central or South American cuisine, with a sprout and tofu pizza thrown in from time to time just to make us question the regions sanity. Kaminski's has reasonably competent Q at a reasonable price, with enough TV's tucked in around the edges to make boring dinner companions tolerable. The sauces are decent if ordinary, the meats have a nice smoky flavor, the sides range from ok to above average. And they have that rarity, a hand rinse sink out in the dining room that you rarely see outside of Texas. Would I make a special trip to have dinner here? No. Would I grab a buddy and drop in if I was staying nearby on business (which I am)? Definitely. Approach it with that expectation and you'll be fine.
(3)
Angela L.
I really enjoyed my Iowa baby back ribs and my husband's steak was tasty. I don' t know why they rating is so poor. It has an inviting and fun atmosphere. Going back for a work lunch soon.
(4)
Andrew F.
I'm really starting to like this BBQ sports bar a lot. I have had amazing BBQ here and I have seen some food come out of the kitchen that I thought was below their quality. You do have to be a little forcefully with them if you think the food is not perfect and have them redo the plate and have them get it right. But when they do get it right it's really good. The best deal is the BBQ platter for 19.99. It's plenty of food for 2 people. Service is good usually. I have had less then average service there but I can deal with that as long as the food is satisfying. Try this place and be proactive with their servers otherwise you might not see or taste their true quality.
(4)
Darrell H.
Found out about this place because of their Super Q truck. Tried it out and loved it! My first trip I just got a Bacon Cheese Burger and a side salad. The burger was nothing short of amazing. The meat was full and juicy, and the bacon was nice and thick and full of flavor. My 2nd trip around I celebrated my birthday there with the GF and my parents. Everyone was very please with their meals. This time around I tried the St. Louis burger. A burger topped with pulled pork. It was so damn big and filling and full of flavor. This time around I tried the mac and cheese as my side and everyone agree that it was delicious. I tried out the pork ribs my GF had ordered and they were kind of standard (which is why I took away a star). But overall the place is great with amazing tasting food, clean interior, tons of TVs (cant wait to try this place out during football season) and so far the service from the waitresses has been A+.
(4)
Qrious2no K.
Love this place! Service is amazingly attentive and the staff is super friendly. They have an outside seating area with a fire pit, great happy hour location. They also have live music, I'll be there on June 24th for that! Oh and Hands Down, they have THE BEST mac'n'cheese...
(5)
Janinius B.
Kaminski's just recently opened and is all shiny and new. The atmosphere is nice with big screen t.v.'s on the walls and tasteful decor. The food was delicious: the onion rings were crispy and tasty ( a must try), the ranch was creamy, the buns on the sandwiches were soft and fresh, I had the veggie burger which was great and my friend had the Carolina pulled pork and loved it. Service was friendly. I will be back.
(5)
Rich Y.
I'm a Kaminski's regular for 4 great reason. Great Food, Great Atmosphere, Great Value, Great Service! The Brisket, BBQ Chicken, Pulled Pork and Sweet Potato Fries are 4 more good reasons to go there too! Best BBQ in Town!
(5)
Lori I.
My husband and I have been coming here for awhile now. We love the food and the sports bar area. When our daughter was born we didnt go out much but when we did we tended to go to Kaminski's a lot. Every time we did they were so accommodating to us. They would put us in the back part of the bar where it was quiet and where we could watch sports and enjoy our dinner. Our daughter loved it cause it wasnt terribly noisey or overwhelming. So when we started planning our daughters 1st birthday party we were trying to decide where we wanted to get the food. It was a no brainer to us we chose Kaminski's. To say it was a hit would be an understatement. Everyone LOVED it and I can bet they will be coming into the restuarant to eat very soon! Ordering the catering was so simple too. I spoke to Marsha and she was super sweet and helpful. Pickup was so easy and the food was just perfect. I didnt get any serving utensils which I think my husband just forgot to ask for. But overall the food was a huge hit at our party and it made the day that much better and special so thank you very much!!!
(5)
nan e.
I really like this place. We go about 3 times a month for Saturday lunch. I think the BBQ sauce is better than Phils and the restaurant isn't as loud! Reasonably prices. Sometimes service at the bar is slow, but I'm not in a hurry anyway. I tell all my friends about it.
(5)
Don D.
Update: Wow, it seems like there have been several "insider" reviews that MUST be coming from family and friends. Nobody would write a review like some of these (I mean you Margaret S.) if they weren't related to the owners or if they had actually ever eaten BBQ. If you like Kaminski's food, you probably LOVE the McRib sandwich! I did get them a second try and came away equally if not more unimpressed. The beer was cold and they had college football games that weren't being broadcast locally, but the food is terrible and overpriced. 2 stars for beer and football only. I won't be ordering food here ever again. Not really sure what I was thinking when I wrote my original review and called the food "OK". Gross! Original Review: Maybe a 2.5 star. In all fairness, was only their 3rd night since opening but still some pretty serious issues to work out beyond the expected opening week troubles. First of all, they couldn't decide if they wanted to be a quick-service restaurant or a full service restaurant and bar so they've tried to do both in separate halves of the restaurant. It's a nice, large space, but not nearly enough parking. Not sure how they managed to get that permitted by the city. Secondly, for being a local family-owned establishment it has a really corporate impersonal feel, a la Applebees or TGI Fridays. The food is OK, but quite honestly this BBQ would be laughed out of town in Kansas City or Memphis or any other "real" BBQ town. Again, I'll cut them some slack since they just opened but the service was not all that friendly AT ALL and bordered on surly by the waitress (hostesses were quite pleasant). Finally, food and beverage prices are a little high. I think they're about 20% above what they should be for what they're offering. I'll be willing to give them another try, and I wish them success, but I think that they will have to make some adjustments to survive long-term.
(2)
April J.
I went here with a coworker the other day and we ordered the bbq beef sandwich. They gave about 4 oz of beef and the bread was definitely overpowering. I also finished the whole meal, which I rarely do. That tells you how little food our meal came with. I wasn't too happy with my order because I had high expectations for this place ever since i went last time. There was not enough meat and it wasn't worth the money. My co-worker also thought so.
(3)
Bethany P.
I haven't had anything here but the Carolina Pulled Pork sandwich. Being from North Carolina, it is very difficult to find a proper Carolina-style pulled pork sandwich with VINEGAR based BBQ sauce anywhere very far from the Carolinas. Kaminski's isn't perfect, but it's the closest thing to the Carolinas that I've found anywhere, so I LOVED it. Especially considering that they do other styles of BBQ, not just Carolina style. Their cole slaw is delicious. They don't offer BBQ slaw though, in case anyone else from the Carolinas is wondering. I prefer regular cole slaw anyways though, so it's great. A little slaw on the sandwich and a side of slaw to go along with it. Fantastico!! Their potato salad is a little dry - it could use a little more mayo and mustard. Mac and cheese was good, very cheesey. The atmosphere is also great. It's a new building, very nicely done, very clean inside. Everytime I've been here the service has been great. It's always a fun atmosphere with a large bar in the center of the main dining room and large screen TV's all around. If you're a Tarheel, missing a good, home-style barbeque sandwich, this place will hit the spot. It does for me every time!!
(5)
KURT M.
was here on a Friday night happy hour with some co-workers. Staff was friendly enough. Full bar, and good beer selection. We got a BBQ sampler. I thought the Carolina style BBQ was good, but the other options were just okay. Lots of TV's though, so it would be a good option to go and watch a game.
(3)
Lisa C.
Bobby Flay won't be doin' a throwdown at this joint!
(1)
donna h.
Been to this one 4 times, for drinks & appetizers, dinner, lunch, and yes, Saturday breakfast. While only one thing is truly outstanding (the sweet potatoe fries), this is a nice, clean place for a casual meal at reasonable prices, with friendly owners & servers. Also plenty of TVs if you want to watch sports, and music at night if you want to dance (big dance floor). The ribs are OK, the pulled pork is better and the salmon steak is very good. We'll go again.
(3)
Scott M.
Slow service. Small portions. High prices. I won't be back.
(2)
Nancy W.
The ribs are fall off the bone good, very tender. The beef brisket is so very tender, not dry. Impressed.... On a Friday around 7 and 8 really not much of a crowd. Not much on tap and there is a full bar - but if you feel like BBQ this place really isn't that bad.
(4)
Melissa R.
over priced & food was just okay
(2)
Christina H.
So I decided to take my parents here while they visited from out of town, so we decided to give this place a go. The atmosphere was awesome, very open and sporty while still very classy. Our blonde waitress, I remember her name being Cassie (maybe started with a K?), well she was terrific. As my parents age, they get a little more uptight in the service industry...basically they are happy as can be when the service is great or they complain for weeks if it was horrible. We were greeted right away in a super friendly manner and was given our drinks within minutes. She was extremely knowledgeable of the menu and was always there whenever we had a request or needed anything. When a server keeps my picky parents extremely happy, I have to go out of my way to recognize them. The food was pricey, but good. The only downside was the miniature sized parking lot, but ample parking available close by. Overall, this was an awesome place with good food and great service, definitely will head back again!
(5)
Carol P.
Great atmosphere, service and food. The rib tips appetizer is a full meal w side dishes. Best ribs ever!
(5)
Cate D.
Ordered their sweet potatoe fries which were pretty darn good until we got halfway through to the STALE ONES!!!! What kind of restaurant does this????? They put fresh HOT ones on the top half and nasty, limp, stale ones on the bottom half???? What a joke that I was so embarrassed to even bring this up to the waiter. The brisket sandwich is edible but I swear their BBQ sauce tastes just like KC Masterpiece. I will NEVER be coming back. No wonder it was so dead during peak lunch hour.
(1)
Phillip B.
Let me preface this by saying that the food here is decent compared to many of the other BBQ places in the area, but just not that great. The real reason for 2 stars is the service. We came here almost religiously, once a week for about 3 months because it was close. The servers/ greeter never once looked like they were happy to see us & the wait time for the food was wildly erratic. I think the last straw was waiting about 45 minutes for the food and then getting the wrong change & not being able to flag anyone down to fix it. Like I said the food's decent (not great) but the service won't ever have me going back there. Too bad...
(2)
Michelle D.
My husband and I have been wanting to give Kaminski's a try since they opened (reopened) last year. This past Friday, we decided we needed a date night and met at Kaminski's after work. Negative #1 - mandatory valet parking. Valet parking is a treat to some people, but should be an option for everyone! This is not the case at Kaminski's, there is no other choice. My husband was in his car in front of me talking to the valet 'boy' - but when I saw him get out of his car, I was surprised! I lowered my window and told him that we needed to go home and leave my car off since my work laptop was in the car, amongst other personal items I didn't feel comfortable leaving in the hands of a teenager. The valet was kind enough however, to offer to move a cone in front when I explained that for security reasons I couldn't give him the keys to my car. Hoping to salvage an evening, hubby reluctantly gave up his keys and allowed the valet to park his car. Again - valet service should always be a choice, since not every customer views this as a wonderful luxury! Plus, the parking lot isn't that big, why can't we park ourselves? Negative # 2 - small TVs. Kaminski's is advertised as a "sports lounge / BBQ" - with a wall of TVs offering a great view of the game. I would be extremely disappointed if I was meeting friends to see a ball game - the TVs are smaller than my son's TV in his bedroom. Yes, there were many 32 inch flat screen TVs, but if you're marketing yourself as a sports bar, you need more than a few 50+ TVs! Positive # 1 - fast and polite service. Immediately upon entering we were greeted by a friendly hostess. We decided to sit at the bar where we were waited on immediately. Our appetizer (nachos) came up quick, as did our drinks. We ordered a pulled-pork meal to bring home to our son. He didn't eat it until the next day, but it reheated ok, and he liked it, although he did have to add some Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce. Positive # 2 - decent Happy Hour prices. For two drafts, an appetizer, and a dinner to go, our check with tip came to $28 and some change. All in all, I still like the happy hour at the Brigantine better, but I suppose Kaminski's is OK given the options in Poway.
(3)
Heather W.
I really like Kaminski's! It's a great place for good food, a fun atmosphere, and a place to get OUT in Poway, where there aren't a lof of fun options. Go here too if you want to watch sports!
(4)
Monique B.
Did not eat here, but my friends and I stopped here after dinner to listen to the live band, 619, and have some drinks. The band was fantastic! Played a lot of classic rock and sounded great! We sat out on the patio since the inside seating was full. Patio was nice, but there were a lot of inconsiderate smokers out there.
(4)
shawn p.
Went here for lunch around 1 on a Friday, August 6th, 2010. No problem being seated right away, got a quick glass of good iced tea. Ordered Carolina pulled pork sandwhich, sweet potato fries, and a salad with bleu cheese. Came out pretty quick. Fries were super! crispy, and hot, I ate them first because once fries get cold they lose their luster. They were great as was the chipotle dipping sauce! EXCELLENT! Pulled pork was perfect! Nice pile, great bun, and good cole slaw on top, just like it is supposed to be. Had some really authentic vinegar BBQ sauce. Yes, it is supposed to be watery- vinegar, and it has a bite! It was good so I had to try their traditional BBQ sauce. Being a fan of Sweet Baby Rays, if you buy store bought stuff, I thought this was really, really good. Not too sweet, semi-light, smooth, and not overpowering at all, with a little kick at the end. I would buy this in a bottle if they had it for sale (probably do). Salad was not your typical iceberg and a tomato, it was mixed greens and iceberg, chok full of tomatoes and carrots, and chunks of real bleu cheese along with the standard dressing! I was impressed for an extra buck-fifty! I am really into BBQ, I do my own slow smoked brisket, pork shoulder, ribs, etc.....I drive places to buy special woods, I am a food snob of sorts. I love Phils BBQ, but don't love their CRAZY wait. This place could quite possibly be better than Phil's. More menu items, different sides......I really am looking forward to coming back and trying other menu items. Next week, I'm trying the brisket. It is family owned and operated. Barbara served me and I couldn't begin to find a complaint. No joke, this is worth a little drive to check out. You won't have to wait in an hour or more line around the building and you won't have to hover over people to wait for their table. Nice big seating inside, as well as patio space and a big room for groups. No, I am not a friend, but I may end up one once I eat there several times in the next few months since I have a project in the area. I plan on seeing a lot of them in the near future. Go check this place out.
(5)
Roselyn F.
This place is really good. It's a little more convenient than phil's bbq only because we didn't have to wait in a long line before entering. We went for a birthday celebration on a Friday night and it might be preferable if you make a reservation first. The food is great. Really tender. My husband had the Pork BBQ ribs and I had the BBQ beef. Bother really great and the meat falls off the bone. They also have what's called Friday Karaoke which is really nice entertainment too. Check it out! This is a family friendly place. I do agree parking fills up fast however there is a nearby parking lot and street parking as well.
(4)
John And Leslie D.
I really like this place. The BBQ is good and the staff is friendly but most of all this is a great place to watch the games and it is family friendly as well. It's a family favorite!
(4)
Andy S.
I went here for Happy Hour and a Chargers Game thinking it would be a great place to eat and have a beer... and watch the game. I was crowded and we ended up outside... Sweet, that's where all the smokers hang out so we kept getting wiffs of cigerettes and cigars as we ate out tasteless food.... which took an one and 15 minutes to get, after waiting 30 minutes to get our order taken.... The manager was so embaraased (we didn't complain but they recognized the lag) that he gave us $5 off our bill.... ye ha! So I went back here with some customers that were in town thinking that the service and food I received previously was due to their being so busy... The place wasn't busy at all.... again it took us 45 minutes to get our tasteless food.... They even messed up one our orders giving us the wrong plate... Lo and behold, it only took 10 minutes to bring the right plate... So why did we wait 45 minutes to receive all the rest of the food? Was it sitting under the heat lamp? So that's it for me.... I will NEVER go back to this establishment and waste my money again....
(1)
Timothy S.
the bbq sauce was really good. i got a big platter full of all the meats. the meat on the ribs just fall off the bone. wings come in full size. the chicken, brisket, and pulled pork is awesome. "WAY TENDER MEAT". good texas toast, coleslaw, and potato salad. great place to eat BBQ.
(4)
Ellen R.
My husband & I went to Kaminiski's on a Friday night. We arrived just before 5:30. It was busy! Parking was a little tight but we squeezed in. The atmosphere is casual with an energetic vibe. It's clean and well decorated. What impressed us was seeing the owners mingling with the customers. The service was great and the food wonderful. We ordered pork ribs and a couple of sides. It was just the right amount of food for the two of us. Nice mix of clientele.
(4)
D H.
I've brought my family to Kaminsky's twice now and had a great experience both times. Food is good, the standard BBQ menu and BBQ prices. Atmosphere is great. They have a quiet dining side and a happening bar side with a wall of large monitors on one side and a few other monitors sprinkled througout. Nice set up to catch a game with friends. Living in PQ it's nice to have good BBQ nearby. Good restaurants are few and far between up here in north county. We'll be back often.
(4)
Michael B.
both ketchup and vinegar based pork barbeque. First place I have found vinegar based bbq in San Diego
(4)
maggie f.
My husband and I have been to Kaminski BBQ 2 times. The first time my husband ordered a beef brisket sandwich. It was so tough he had to send it back. I ordered 1/4 of a chicken and honestly it was the smallest 1/4 of a chicken I have ever seen. Was it a checken or a cornish game hen? The service was not real great. We decided to give it a second chance and went again on New Years Eve. Big mistake. We were seated in a corner and totally forgotten about. The waitress that took our order said that although this was not her "section" she would take our order. She took our drink order but failed to bring our drinks without 2 reminders. She then took our food order. My husband's steak sandwich was full of fat. How do you serve a steak sandwich that is full of fat. We then had to flag somebody down to get refills and my husband had to go find his own sweet and low. When we were ready to leave we asked for the check. whcih our waitress gave us. Our waitress never returned so we handed it to someone else. She then later returned with the wrong check illed to our credit card. A big mess! We will NOT go back!
(2)
Donny P.
Beer is always cold. Good usually comes out hot even though it may take awhile especially when they are super busy at lunch time. Best place to sit is at the bar as the full menu is there and you can still see all the tvs with sports on all of them. Maybe I think service is snappier because the bartenders are super friendly and time passes quickly (sorry coworkers, you're nice to talk to also!). My favorite is the beef and cheddar. You can dowse your meat with either with the Carolina style vinegrette sauce or the standard yummy kamiski sauce. And if you feel like a fat kid, order yourself the tatie tots with jalapeños cheese and sour cream. Throw some pulled pork on top if you want!
(4)
Catherine V.
The service and food here are about as good as my karaoke skills: bad. Came here for a friends birthday for their BBQ and Friday night karaoke and despite our reservation (made a week in advance) it took them over 30 minutes to seat us. Then even longer to be seen by a waiter! The food was average barbecue, nothing special but not bad - but I will say that our waiter wasn't very attentive or even cordial to us. He made us feel like it was a burden that such a large group (12 people) came it. When we finished our meals we waited, not exaggerating, for over an hour to receive our checks! It was unacceptable and unprofessional. We kept looking for our waiter to ask for the checks but he was no where to be found - for an entire hour! Later we we're told that our waiter had left without giving another staff member a heads up about our table needing service! I cannot believe the lack of common courtesy. Thank god the karaoke was there to entertain our large group otherwise there would have been 12 extremely upset and irritated customers - okay, MORE upset and irritated than we already we're. When a staff member from the back finally came to assist our tables it took another 30 minutes for our table to finally pay and be on our way. Worst customer service I've seen in a long time. Won't be back.
(1)
Michelle M.
Went on a Sunday and it was not that busy. The restaurant is very open and roomy. You're greeted soon as you walk in. Customer service was great and our waiter was very knowledgeable. Brisket was tasty and moist. Ribs were a little dry. Almost like they were in the warmer too long (but still tasty). The potato salad was delish. Simple recipe not the yellow Costco kind. It tasted homemade. I didn't care for the Mac n cheese because it was very bland. It tasted mostly of flour so I just ignored it on my plate. Huge flat screens playing different games and there's a good view from every angle. You can still have a decent conversation and watch the game. Was able to visit the bathroom and it's very clean and very well maintained. That's always a plus. Our waiter came back several times and checked on us, refilled our waters often, and was just very pleasant. Will come back again. Thx :)
(4)
Stacy T.
Kaminskis is amazing!!! First- the service is outstanding. Everyone is super friendly. They are always on top of there game in regards to customer service. Marsha one of the managers goes above and beyond to make sure her customers are happy. You don't see that to often. Second- the food- yummy! My favorite are the big wings. These wings are like the size of your face! We like them with no sauce. You get an awesome smokey flavor! There fries are super crispy and come with a chipotle ranch! Again- I cannot say enough great things about this place. Another bonus- they are the official OU SOONERS bar!!!!
(5)
Arnel D.
Kaminski's is the type of bar where if you come here often enough, people will start to know your name. It's small but large enough for you and a few pals to get together chop it up and throwback a few beers or safe enough and decent food to being your girlfriend or wife. There are tons of food options and daily deals and a few big screen TVs. They show UFC matches, PPV boxing matches and even live bands. The food could be great but could be bad... I'm providing and overall rating since they have overflow parking, karaoke and beer 394! Give this place a try but during happy hour - you'll get more bang for your buck!
(4)
Steph P.
I was really excited to come here after having some of their bbq on their food truck. Unfortunately, the food 'from the source' was not as good as the food on their food truck. Almost everything that was brought out to us was cold/tough. It was very disappointing. The prices are also pretty steep. Maybe its because we went here for lunch but all of our food was mediocre. I think i'll stick to their food truck.
(2)
Michele M.
I love BBQ and I've lived in Memphis...for 5 months. I have yet to find BBQ that equals the BBQ I ate for 5 months in Memphis but Kaminski's comes a little closer. They have some delicious Pulled Pork and Baby Back Ribs. And their chips are awesome. Once again, I'm a sucker for home-made potato chips. My only complaint is that this place is a little pricey. I know smoking meat is time consuming because I smoke my own meat. But come on, this is in Poway and there are no views of the ocean if you know what I mean.
(4)
S C.
Really comfortable local tavern. Great place to watch sports and the food is good with a wide variety. So for a kick back, easy and fun night out this is the place.
(5)
Kimberly M.
Kaminskis is okay. The food is decent but it is pretty darn expensive. When I usually crave barbecue I make my way to Temecula for better and cheaper food. I would only come here if someone else wanted to go. Service seems iffy. One time it was super friendly and another the waitress seemed like she didn't give two fucks about being there. There's nothing here that really stands out. Some nights the tiny parking lot could be slammed. I do like the TVs here and sometimes they have karaoke nights. Very basic place.
(3)
Tommy B.
Pulled pork sandwich is killer! Sweet slaw and the fries are light and not greasy. Not too bad for a Saturday evening!
(4)
Carl L.
Great sports bar! Awesome Food!!! Get the 3 tacos! Mmm
(5)
Claire C.
This place is pretty cool. The food is just ok but good atmosphere. They do have a lot of variety in their menu which I love! Super family friendly despite the dark bar like mood. Fun music and sports events too
(4)
Terri G.
WOW!! What an amazing place!! I wish it was closer to where we live in Dana Point! ! We would be there all the time! We had a sporting event at the local HS and a large group stopped by before the game, with little warning and they were so accommodating!! Happy hour and the daily specials were so yummy! And drink specials great. The bar area is amazing!! Large. Multiple tables. Tons of TV's and the outdoor patio was so cool! Had an outdoor fireplace, darts and cozy couches. Our server, David, was phenomenal!! So accommodating! As people arrived, he just kept adding space for us! Food was terrific, service exceptional and they even gave us separate checks!! Wow. The younger kids had this totally cool wall of all sorts of board games to choose from to keep them entertained while the adults hung out and watched sports and visited. I want to again thank David and the other servers for making our time there exceptional. We were there Wednesday May 27, 2015
(5)
Madeline N.
Exceptional service from Janet. What a gem she is! This was my first trip here and I can say I will gladly return and request Janet's section. She was attentive, honest and had great recommendations, she gets the whole serving thing- paying attention to every detail. The food was very good too, all around a great time in little old Poway. Thanks Janet!
(4)
Jodi W.
I had them cater a golf event my company was participating in. It couldn't have been easier!! Stan took care of everything - at a VERY reasonable cost - and it was completely worry free! And DELICIOUS!! We had so many compliments on the food and just about everybody agreed Kaminiski's was one of the best once they heard who it was catered by. I would def recommend to anyone looking for yummy food for an event!!
(5)
Megan V.
My boyfriend and I just finished our hike at Iron Mountain with a time constraint before game time. I reluctantly agreed to stop here because it's one of the closest sports bars. The host gave us a friendly greeting and sat us. We asked about the games on and he was extremely helpful. When our game wasn't on the channels they pulled out their laptop and streamed it near our table for us. How cool, right? Refreshing actually. As we are from the Midwest, this place is a gem in SoCal. The BBQ reminds me of home, which is hard to do. This place is hands down worth stopping by.
(5)
Nancy W.
My friends and I came here after Go Karting because we were hungry. My boyfriend and I had ordered the BBQ combo with 1/2 pulled pork, ribs, fries & corn. The fries and ribs were really good! I wish it came with more fries but the pulled pork was okay. the pulled pork we had at SuperQ (their food truck) was better when we had tried it 2 tuesdays ago. & the corn was meh
(3)
Lindsey E.
I needed a few days to cool off before writing this review. This may be the worst service I've ever received anywhere. We walked in and the hostess was in the middle of doing something with the register, she greets us said she'd be right with us and then a few minutes later took us to our table. We were waiting quite a while before our server came. She asked if she could get us drinks, one of us ordered the Tony Gwynn Alesmith, which was heavily advertised, to which our server replied "We don't have that". Not "I'm sorry we ran out of that" or "unfortunately we don't have any of that right now", just "we don't have it". To which he replied that he need a second to see what else they had and she said "All we have is Stone". When he asked her which Stone her answer was "I don't know". Okay, at this point we were thinking maybe she's really busy or maybe she's had a bad day and we let it go. Unfortunately the bad service and terrible attitude continued. Our drinks came and we went to order, my son was ordering buffalo wings off the appetizer menu and before he could finish ordering and telling her that's what he was having for dinner she practically ran away from the table without taking the rest of our orders. She came back after much longer than expected with the wings and took the rest of our orders. Her demeanor was once again rude and you could easily tell there were about a million places she would rather be. That was the last we saw of her until she came back with the bill. The food runner brought us our food, which again took longer than what's customary. Our server never came by to see if everything was okay and never refilled our empty drinks or offered water. The restaurant was very slow at that point and there was no visible reason for the lack of service or rudeness. When she came back she actually slammed our bill down on the table and walked off without saying a word. No "have a good night" or "take care of this whenever you're ready", not a single word. I definitely won't be returning. The meal wasn't worth the 2 hours it took to eat and the bad service definitely wasn't worth $70. There are much better bbq places in the area (like Brett's) and they have friendly and courteous service. Read my other reviews, I don't hold people to an unreasonably high standard and I treat them with respect. This experience was so strange and unexplainable. Honestly, the service was so bad that I don't even feel it was worth mentioning how good the food is, it doesn't matter when you are tested so poorly. I guess I'm a sucker, I still left a 20% tip because people need to pay their bills no matter how rude they are.
(1)
Patrick T.
Holy hickory smoke this BBQ is the best in the whole county. My second time here and again I eat way to much. To good to stop. The best is the Texas brisket and the smoked chicken. Must try. I also commend the sampler platter. Add a beer or margarita to seal the deal.
(5)
Allie P.
Wow this place has amazing food and very friendly staff. First discovered their food at the food truck they have, fell in love with the food and wanted more so went to the resturant for a to-go order. It was ready right away and tasted amazing. I even forgot to tell the I didn't want onions on my food and the we so nice about remaking the food without onion and it was ready in no time. If you love BBQ it's a must to got here or find out where their food truck will be located!!
(5)
Ali M.
As others have alluded, this is a great traditional family run restaurant with first class service, and great food and beverages. Although the food and drinks, specially the wide array of craft beers are great, I really was impressed by the fantastic service. I've been here on a few occasions and each time experienced awesome first class service. The servers and wait staff all seem to enjoy their jobs and who they work for. They are friendly and very knowledgeable of their menu and food offerings. With so many offerings, I really liked how they let me sample their beers, sides and even briskets before I could decide on what to order. Hope you enjoy the entire experience like I did. Oh and before I forget they are also a top notch sports bar with every sporting event imaginable .
Wow. We only went here because our home was undergoing renovation, there was nothing to heat up in the garage microwave, and we had a $5 coupon. What we didn't expect was a lively interior and crowd, making you forget that you were in dull, red-necky Poway. We each had variants of the brisket sandwich -- the meat was tender and moist, and we loved the vinegary BBQ sauce! The choice of beers on tap was decent, and the service friendly and prompt. Yes, we'll be back, and we'll bring our friends...!
(4)
bing s.
Super late post, but I came here for the first time with my brother who treated me a birthday (10/28) meal after work. It was the closest from our work with BBQ. Stepped in and it was empty, this was at 3pm on a Tuesday. I didn't see the host but I guess one of the lead cook or somebody came right away to seat us, so that was cool. Finally the waitress came and took our order, she was nice. The charger atmosphere was nice. I reason I came here was to try the beef BBQ ribs, the only place I know that serves that is PHILLS BBQ, so I must try this place out. I even ordered the pork ribs. The mashed potato and beans tasted ok, but I really like that they had a fully loaded tatar tots and oh and the beefy ribs was delicious. A lot of meat and it was falling off the bones and the BBQ sauce was on point. I would definite come back to this place again during game time!!!
(4)
Ursula V.
I just moved into the area and was very impressed with their Awesome karaoke! Great cocktails too... Very happy with this place !
(5)
Jessica L.
Our experience at kaminskis let's just say it's like having a barbecue at your house Lindsay one of the bartenders took special care of us and Marshall I guess he must be one of the owners grandsons was extremely funny enjoy the environment extremely and the food was absolutely amazing!!! Baby back ribs and rotisserie chicken sandwich was amazing also!! We live in San Diego and we will definitely be back!!! Also the owner(mom) was so sweet and really took pride in the restaurant
(5)
Lynn O.
Just finished a delicious lunch, using a $15-for-$30 coupon. Really enjoyed ourselves: * the atmosphere is nice: comfortable booth + lots of wood, big spacious place, nice bar, and sports TVs everywhere but not noisy * Alex our waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable * Food was good and portions were huge For $9 we had a flight of 3 5-oz craft beers (from a good choice of 20 or so) plus a huge helping of delicious garlic fries and sauce Then, for $22 we had a HUGE BBQ sampler plate w 3 ribs + big portions of rib tips, brisket, chicken, and 2 kinds of pulled pork, plus BBQ beans (outstanding), cole slaw, fries, and toast. The two of us ate our fill, then took home 2/3 of the food - really! Our favorites were the ribs and the Kaminski's smoked pulled pork. The Carolina-style vinegary pulled pork was too tame for our tastes, and even the brisket was just OK, but the overall package we delightful, and our total out-of-pocket cost today (after buying the $15 coupon) was just $3 plus a $6 tip. Sat nights they have live music and a dance floor - we'll try that next.
(4)
Kristen F.
We went for lunch on Friday, and it was great! Got there about 11:15, and it was pretty dead. Sat at the bar, and Tina helped us. She was super nice and helpful! She recommended a couple things, and got our orders in quickly, even as she was still getting everything set for the day. As our food came, it started getting really busy! It seemed like there was just Tina and one other person there. They handled everyone beautifully. Tina kept on top of our drinks, and making sure we were happy, while serving a couple other tables and handing drink orders. The food was great, and I even took home my other 1/2 of my sandwich to eat the next day. Yum!
(5)
Sunny J.
Great place for happy hour and lunch. This seems to be the go to place for big get together s at work. Recommendations: -Kaminski's pulled pork sandwich which is my go to BBQ fav And it never disappoints. -Roasted chicken sandwich for a lighter healthy option without the mayo
(3)
Karina G.
We often go on Friday night for drinks and Karaoke. Love the atmosphere, the people are really friendly. The specialty Martinis are my favorites.
(4)
Laura H.
Great cocktails, yummy BBQ! Service for large party was outstanding, thank you Marshall :)
(4)
Rob I.
I'm a BBQ lover and found this place. Every aspect of this place Rocks! This place Kills Phils BBQ hands down. The staff were quick and very accommodating. Food was amazing and zero disappointment. Beers are enjoyable. Great atmoshphere. Working on having their food trucks come out to let more folks enjoy this great BBQ experience. Thanks Christina for the fun time. Had the combos and she made it a fun time. Definitely be back here with more people to eat and drink. Thanks for the great afternoon. If you're anywhere close, you need to drop in.
(5)
Christie B.
My brother suggested this place after our 7 hour drive from SJ. We had a party of 10 and a baby. Although we called ahead, there was still a short wait which was no big deal. The very nice lady who is either the manager or the owner (or both) was extremely friendly and helpful. The overall feel of this place is BBQ Sports bar meets family friendly date night. There are TV's showing multiple sports and in the center of the room is a very large bar area with lots of seating. They also have a covered patio area which is nice for large groups. The night we were there, a festive bridal rehearsal dinner group was there. The menu was large with plenty of options. BBQ places tend to be on the pricy side and this place was no exception. We had a large party and everyone ordered something different or split and entree with someone. Salmon tacos: I shared these with my mom. They're an appetizer and come with 3 tacos. They were okay. The salmon wasn't in one big piece as I expected. It was more like small chunks with a lot of filler. Were okay nothing memorable. Side salad w/ balsamic dressing. Standard lettuce, carrot and cucumber. They brought me the wrong dressing but I didn't realize it until I'd already poured it all over my salad so I just ate it, My daughter had just eaten a burrito about an hour before we came so she was looking for dessert. She ordered: Strawberry margarita: WAY to syrupy and sweet. She couldn't even finish half of it. Apple Tart w/vanilla ice-cream. This was NOT a tart. It was and open faced hot apple pie with ice cream and whipped cream. It was sweet but yummy. Everyone else ordered some version of BBQ. Ribs, pulled pork, brisket, potato with ranch chili beans (yes, my dads a vegan). Everyone seemed to like their meals as their plates were clean! Our server was very nice but a few smiles here and there would been nice. Maybe she was just having a rough day. We all have those. One thing that caught my attention is the Super Bowl article in the lobby from 1994. Yes, when the Chargers played the SF 49ers. This being Chargers territory, the article was foreseeing a Charger win. My dad and I actually went to this game in Miami and the happy Niner Fan that I am is thrilled to say that the Chargers lost. Lol #niner4life! Overall this place is a fun, family friendly ace with decent food and a large bar. There aren't many places like this in Poway so I'm sure we'll be back,
(4)
Dianne R.
I come here for the beef brisket barbecue sandwiches! My last two experiences here have been very strange with waitresses! I guess I'm just too beautiful LOL I'll be back! It looks like Yelp wants me to keep writing on and on but I don't feel like I should have to! I'll be back! The food is damn delicious!
(5)
Niki G.
I like this place ! I've been there several times,, the food is delicious and the atmosphere is very nice ! I recommend it !
(5)
Josh H.
I went here yesterday evening with my sister and our significant others and it was a great experienced. Inside, the place is not only big, but it is also very nice. My girlfriend and I shared the BBQ platter and it did not disappoint; the baby back ribs were delicious and fell right off of the bone. The pulled pork, brisket and pulled chicken were also really good and I was very impressed with the quality of the food. The platter was served with coleslaw which was really good, some good beans and some very good garlic bread. In addition, we had some hot wings which were great. All of the meats including the hot wings had a nice smoky flavor and this place had some great homemade BBQ sauce. We had a really good server and the experience overall was excellent. I would definitely recommend this place and I wish we had more places like this in Santa Barbara.
(5)
Krystle J.
This place was the most fun I've had in forever. The food is great, the staff is absolutely amazing and attentive, the karaoke is the most fun you'll ever have, and the prices reasonable. I couldn't ask for a better place and experience!
(5)
Nicky T.
This is a very fun restaurant! Great food with a great staff! They have karaoke night a couple nights a week (I think) and they have a food truck! Barbecue food is one of my favorite food genres! Their meat is delicious and tender! Their staff is very friendly and fun and are very attentive. The decor is very cool and they have an impressive amount of televisions. It's a very comfortable cool place to hang out and eat some good food. The karaoke is very cool and they have a great setup for it! I would never do karaoke myself, I'm a big chicken haha, but I enjoy watching others belt it out and have a great time! I actually did not know they did karaoke until I came in one night while it was going on and I though it was a live band playing! The only reasons I give this tasty fun place a four star rather than a five is because sometimes there are little bits of bone in the pulled chicken or pulled pork. Which is a very normal occurrence for that type of meal but it hurts when you bite one!!! The second reason is that on karaoke nights the music is SO loud my husband and I cannot hear one another talk. I think the majority of the people that go on those nights are there to watch sports and listen to the music which is fine! We have a good time either way! Overall this is a great place! :)
(4)
Thomas S.
Really good food, good beer, friendly service, and good atmosphere. My co-workers and I go here all the time.
(5)
Diana S.
Came here for lunch after hiking on mt. Woodson this passed Sunday. The food was delicious, no complaints there. Service was good also, I was a little impatient because I was starving from the hike and I thought the waiter was taking too long but the food came out quickly and I was not disappointed. If I lived in the area I would def go back.
(4)
Rosine L.
I came here for lunch and it was a pretty good experience. I ordered a rotisserie chicken sandwich and my boyfriend ordered a Carolina pull pork sandwich. We also ordered Garlic fries as an appetizer. The fries were good but the only problem was that they didn't blot the fries enough after taking them out of the fryer so they were drenched in oil at the bottom of the plate. The service was up to par and food came out pretty fast. I would come back again.
(4)
Andrew F.
Valet parking is free. I saw the sign that didn't say FREE, so I told the attendant I didn't want to pay for ballet parking. He let me turn around and park across the street. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich, and it was okay but the portions are small. With how many BBQ places there are in San Deigo, they need to step up their game to be competitive.
(2)
Carolyn B.
We love theIr BBQ! My husband is from Dallas and knows BBQ! He says this is the best in So Cal. The Beef Brisket is awesome! The restaurant is gorgeous and comfortable. Great sports bar atmosphere, too. One wall covered in flat screen TVs. Family owned and operated. Great service and quality.
(5)
Bella C.
The food was OK and my martini was water down. It was a pricy dinner for the four of us. I had a cocktail and my three other friends had a beer each. We ordered a full rack dinner, a brisket melt and a cheese burger and tater tots....grand total was $199.34! The atmosphere was cool tho. Lots of TV to watch the games on
(3)
Mike S.
Stay away from this place. You can expect the worst customer service from here. The problem starts at the top. If the owner can't appreciate the customers then staff won't either. In addition the food is overpriced for what you get. I am thinking of starting my own BBQ restaurant just to make this place go out of business.
(1)
Claudia M.
Really cute atmosphere! Nice outdoor lounge seating, big bar and tvs! Try the melt sandwich you're choice of meat with Mac and cheese sooooooo good!
(4)
Bau N.
If you are craving meat, this is the place to go eat in POWAY. I like to order the Cowboy beef ribs, mash potatoes, and garlic fries. You can not go wrong with that combo. The garlic fries are crispy, the mash potatoes are creamy and flavorful.
(5)
Joanna M.
First timer here and I must say, they have amazing service! Friendly and courteous waiters. Always checked on my table to make sure everything was going great. And not to mention, the food is superb! I definitely recommend the Kaminski's pulled pork sandwich and just a tip, ask for the coleslaw on the sandwich! The best pulled pork sandwich I've had in awhile! I can definitely say I'll be a returning customer very soon.
(5)
Desmond F.
Not bad, I've been here a few times now. The bbq is ok but you can get better else where. The sport bar is pretty sizeable. Lots of tv's and good happy hour. They use melty cheese on their nachos in addition to shredded cheddar. Yes!
(3)
Steve M.
I was in the mood for wings and WOW. The BBQ sauce was amazing and the these may have been the meaty(est) wings I have ever had in my life, the meat just fell off the wings. SO GOOD. Deep fried pickles were good as well. I will return to try the full on BBQ !
(5)
Jayne M.
This place used to be Dads now its changes to another sports bar but this place is really nice and upgraded. If you're a sports fan this is a perfect place for you to come and watch the games. They have a list of what games are in what sections. The food is good too. Lots of seating and the servers are attentive and friendly
(4)
Greg D.
I normally reviee breweries so this is a change of pace. The food is top notch. This is the favored spot with my boss when I am out here on consulting trips. The food is great. I love the BBQ combo for dinner. Pay the extra and get the mac and cheese. The beer selection is excellent. A wide range of great local beers with a few weaning beers for the weak-hearted. Good for a dinner or sporting event. A great place if you want dinner in Poway.
(5)
Curtis L.
My friends had been raving about this place, so I finally gave in and tried it. DAMN. This place is the bee's knee's, I was upset that I hadn't tried it earlier! Silly me :P Big Mike was very knowledgable about the menu and provided excellent service.
(5)
Ashlley F.
I have been coming to Kaminski ' s for a long time and they never disappoint, but today I went in for the Sunday Brunch and man was I impressed! $1 mimosas. ...Yes please! I had their scramble bowl with brisket and it was out of this world. Go here for brunch. You will be pleasantly surprised!!!!!
(5)
Ciri W.
I love Kaminsinski's! We've been twice and have been amazed by the food and environment both times. The only downfall to Kaminski's is that it is very expensive. Its just my husband and I, we each had one "adult" drink, one appitizer to share, our dinners and after tip i believe it was over 80 dollars. Definitely a once in awhile thing, but honestly it was worth it, we didnt HAVE to get an appetizer, in fact we shouldn't have because the entre was so large that I couldn't finish it all! Our server was nice. We went on a Friday and LOVED the kareoke. What an awesome addition to the restaurant.
(5)
Abby F.
I'm so impressed with this place! It fits in more with the pacific beach bar scene than the center of Poway. There's even a stage for karaoke night! The employees are genuine and sweet. Ask for Lindsay when you come in!
(5)
Arnold L.
My family and I have been living in the area for 4 years and haven't tried to go to this place because of my picky kids ... until two days ago. We came in and a friendly greeting welcomed us. They have friendly staff and like any other sports bar, they have the cool displays of different signed sports collections and lots of TVs. When we ordered, we got quite a bit of a confusion. The take out menu they had printed a different price tag on the menu items. We didn't really complain about it but brought it to their attention. Little did we know, the hostess had already told the owner about the price difference. Suddenly, the owner talked to us and apologized for the confusion and that she's already put in an order to replace the menu to reflect the correct price. Anyway, we tried the beef brisket bbq and the lava cake dessert the owner threw in as a gesture of good faith. The brisket was delicious and the bbq sauce was perfect. The lava cake is to die for. We will be back for more. :)
(4)
Faye H.
Tuesday night around 6pm. We wanted a quick meal and drink. Unfortunately, the bar area was closed off for some party. Why close off the bar area at a sports bar!!???? I think that's maybe why our experience there was weird... This place is weird!! Is it a sports bar? A Phils BBQ? An Outback? Where we sat was not comfortable at all. The food was not memorable. But!!! An extra star for our server, who was cool, nice, and quick...tall thin white guy.
(2)
Tom H.
Very good for large groups and end of the season team parties for sure. The food is just ok and nothing stands out. I've had the pork sandwich and cheeseburger with fries and both were average. Service has also been an issue at this place. I've been about 10 times and each time it appeared that they were short handed. But they seemed to get the orders out anyway. I only go to attend a team party or dinner with a very large group. Never my first choice with my family.
(2)
Joanne L.
This family owned and operated eatery is only place to go for ribs. They are family friendly with board games for kids as well as a wall of flat screen TVs for sport enthusiasts. The menu has something for everyone. I enjoyed my meal. The ribs will keep me coming back again and again Oops I never finished posting this review. It's still my favorite place for ribs
(5)
Jack C.
I haven't eaten here often but when I have I have really enjoyed it. The ribs are what I love the best. I would get those everytime I came here. Then I became a vegan and was worried that I might not find anything to eat. But I did. They have a vegan burger which was delicious. So I can still come here and eat. Yeah. It can get crowded on weakends so keep that in mind.
(4)
Maria C.
Came to eat with my family on a Saturday night. Fun atmosphere, lots of tvs and sports decor. There was a live band that was decent. The service was great. We were promptly acknowledged and checked on multiple times. My problem was with the food. Although the bbq was decent, I did not like the mashed potatoes at all - they were very watery! But my biggest complaint is that the food was served lukewarm as if it had been sitting a while. We may give it a shot one more time to see if the food is better. Otherwise, we'd stick with Phil's.
(3)
Roland H.
This was my first visit with my friend Rich who lives in Poway. We had lunch in the Sports Bar area, but there's a whole other section for family and children separate from the Sports Bar environment. We were greeted by June Kaminski who seated us in a comfortable booth. Our server Kassie, promptly greeted us and took our drink orders. They serve a variety of quality beers both on tap and in bottles. I ordered the Kaminski pork sandwich with a side of Texas beans and Rich had the beef brisket sandwich. We also shared a delicious order of tasty onion rings. The pulled pork was juicy and delicious with just the right amount of sauce that didn't smoother the flavor of the meat. The bun was lightly toasted to perfection. BBQ sauce is at your table for those who want to add more sauce to their order. The beans were also delicious with just the right amount of spices. I know Phil's is popular, but Kaminski's surpassed their meats. Unlike Phil's, Kaminski's meats a slow-smoked which adds so much more flavor. Rich gave me a sample of his brisket which was moist, flavorful, and tender. This was a most enjoyable lunch with great food and a friendly and attentive staff. I look forward to my next visit. My only regret is that I don't live closer.
(5)
Rebecca A.
If I could give 0 stars I would.. Friday night, sign says they close at 1am, and we are told at 1204am that they are closed, wow.
(1)
Emily G.
They have really good bbq, pretty great beer selection and a fun social calendar. Good for the whole family, lots of tvs for sports watchers. Great spot.
(4)
Sanjay S.
I came here on a Saturday night around 9:00 PM to grab some dinner. The Lounge was about 1/4 full. They have lots of TVs everywhere and one wall completely covered with TVs which is great for watching sports. Saturdays seem to be Karaoke nights so please make sure you are ok with listening to loud music and "interesting" singing performances while you are eating your food. Speaking of, I had a full order of the "Iowa Baby Back Pork Ribs". I would say the ribs were decent, nothing too spectacular though. The sides (Fries, Mac & Cheese, Texas Toast) were all pretty good. However, I've been to some other BBQ spots here in Southern California which were in a different league. I would come here first for the entertainment and second for the food. If you are mainly in it for the food, try "The Tulsa Rib Company" in Orange. I know it is quite a drive but they have the best tasting ribs so far. Or go down south towards SeaWorld and hit up Phil's BBQ.
(3)
John B.
Beer was on point. The service was great. The food was darn good but the temperature was unbelievable. I walked over to the thermostat and read it. Unreal! 82 degrees in a restaurant! I was pouring sweat and asked for the check. Cmon guys OSHA would be pissed!
(2)
Jennifer G.
Smelly! That's the first thing I noticed when my man and I went there at 10pm. It smelled like dirty mop water with bleach. We both smelt it, so I wasn't over exaggerating. They were out if fish so I ordered shrimp. It taste funny so I didn't eat it. We also ordered garlic fries that were soaked in garlic. The fries were good but too wet. Also had the tots and those were the best thing I had. Overall not impressed. Not sure I would be back for food maybe a beer. Customer service was alright, we were trying to get our waitresses attention for 10mins on a very slow time, while she was chatting up some regulars. Only reason I give it a 3 is because there are TVs everywhere and a fully loaded bar.
(3)
Stacy R.
Love how Kaminski's supports local community members by hosting fundraising events. The next event is January 25th between 11:30 am - 4:00 pm for Larry Poole, long time member of the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang who support local youth programs throughout the county. Larry is a self-employed horse shoer who was injured while riding his horse in the Mother Goose Parade. The cost is $20 and includes pulled pork or chicken sandwich with sides, live music and raffle prizes. I'm sure it will be a fun event while raising money for a great cause.
(5)
MacKay P.
Really great atmosphere and super clean! Decor is good and TVs can be seen from all tables. Tina was our server, we had the best time, laughed the whole time. The food was amazing, pulled pork is highly suggested and so is the baby back ribs! Overall great experience!
(5)
Alex F.
I love sports bars. I love BBQ. I love any place that serves fried pickles. So, naturally, I should also love Kaminski's. Nature is weird. This place is just okay. I went here on a Thursday night with a group and had a couple of things off of their happy hour appetizer menu. I also had this lemonade-iced tea-vodka drink or three. The drink was by far the best part. The prices were cool. And their devotion to athletics was awesome. I would go back to watch the Niners and drink and not pay a ton of money. Definitely not to eat, though. We got the garlic fries, the chips, the fried pickles, and the Kaminski's pulled pork sliders. The fries were typical garlic fries, the chips needed salt, the pickles weren't special, and the sliders were awful. Seriously. The bread was dry, the pork was not tender at all, and their BBQ sauce leaves a lot to be desired. The fries, chips, and pickles all came with the exact same dipping sauce. In all, I like the concept, but whoever is working in their kitchen really needs to grow an imagination. It was typical bar food, nothing more. If you're looking for a good place to watch a game, this is it. If you're looking for a good place to eat, go elsewhere.
(3)
Lorie T.
Horrible service and the food had no taste! Real bummer
(1)
Sabrina M.
So awesome! Came down to Escondido for the weekend and we found this restaurant on Yelp! It's great!!! Amazing food, family oriented and the family is so friendly! I definitely recommend eating here!!!
(5)
Clint O.
Tried the beef brisket sandwich. Just cutting into it I knew it was dry. The bun and brisket were dry and lacked a true smokey flavor. Then I tried the pulled pork and it wasn't good either. The beef ribs my wife had were great with a nice smoke ring. Mashed potatoes were awesome with butter and garlic flavor. Service was smooth but I never saw the manager which I expect when returning a dish. This restaurant doesn't have great BBQ and is way over priced. From a native Texan - find a hole in the wall.
(2)
Jen L.
Decor is nice.. Food was just ok.. The BBQ is too over priced in my opinion.. Having valet even through it's free is not necessary.. Service was not the best.. I doubt we'd come here again..
(3)
Josh C.
Wow! It's not very often that I'm impressed with the staff at restaurants so that's saying something. Everyone from the hostess to the waitress here were super accommodating and cheerful. We had 8 people and 3 dogs and they quickly set us up on the patio. They even brought water and snacks for the dogs. Kassie (our waitress) and Marsha (manager) were absolutely amazing. Pleasantly surprised at this place. Cheers!
(5)
Beldon L.
My wife & I have been going to Kaminski's for 4 years now & we love this place. We have tried others BBQ places and Kaminski's blows them out of the water. The ambiance in here great, lots of TV's if you want to catch the game or you can get a booth and have a private evening. The brisket & pulled pork are outstanding and are good serve as a sandwich or as a plate. Mikes & Phil's have nothing on Kaminiski's.
(5)
Jes G.
Came here for a night with friends. Was immediately concerned/intrigued when I found out from the valet that there would be a karaoke competition later. I told him to leave me car close because I wanted out if it got bad. (And it did). There are plenty of options for food. And most of it tastes all right. Nothing that I'd show up specifically here for, but it's tasty enough. The bathrooms were clean, and the location is nice. My biggest annoyance came from the waitress. She was fun and playful, but she kept bringing out food and drinks because she wanted us to try them. Sure, we tried them, but we also paid for every single one! At least ask us instead of pretending they're gifts. We paid, and without complaint since we ate them and they all tasted fine, but that's pretty duplicitous, if you ask me. I've been to many restaurants where they've given you mistakes, or the chef is sampling out items that may be new or over-orders. Just be clear up front.
(3)
Micah P.
This is your basic, run-of-the-mill sports bar. There are lots of TVs with various sport programs in a nice, big open space. You can chose from a wide variety of beers that are reasonably priced or, if you're hungry, select from different barbecue dishes. The staff is usually pretty friendly and the parking lot is good sized. The food was good. I had the sweet potato fries and pulled pork sandwich and I'd order them again. On Tuesdays, they have $3.50 Dos Equis draft beers. I had to knock off a star because they would not accept my coupon, which was for $5 off $25. They said that it couldn't be used with their Taco Tuesday specials. I understand that they can't combine offers but the waitress could have been nicer and less abrupt. I feel if this restaurant is going to nickel and dime you over $5 then they need to reevaluate their customer service.
(3)
Amanda D.
Sports bar with like 35 TVs around. Pretty classy for Poway and semi north county. Coleslaw is a hit and the wings are GIANT. Good happy hour menu too.
(4)
Danielle G.
I just used Kaminskis to cater my daughter's 1st birthday. I bought 3 smokehouse packs and had about 30 adults. The food was delicious! Everyone kept commenting about how good it was. The only downside was the potato salad was such a hit that it ran out before everyone got some so I'd recommend doing less of another side to get more of it.
(5)
McKenna R.
My boyfriend and I always come here. And every time they have the slowest most crapy service ever. They basically think my boyfriend is under age and question him if he is actually 21.... We arnt a bunch of kids that are trying to come in and have Alcoholic beverages with a fake id... Like come on. Our waitress was so slow and was being completely rude about things. You guys need to step up your services. I think it's very unprofessional to be waiting around for dessert for an extra 20 mins when the place wasn't even busy. Just an FYI for everyone.
(1)
Pat K.
Much better this time. We ordered the ribs and it was delicious. Yes there are better/different rib places but for a neighborhood bbq place, it is fantastic. Service was friendly, as usual. We'll be back.
(5)
Jeff W.
Three of us guys came to Kaminski's and had an excellent experience. Our server Alex was awesome and very attentive. The ribs were incredible and the beer was great. Mud pie!!!! Ridiculously awesome!
(5)
Kathy B.
Love this place! Great food and awesome people! Haley was the best server and gave us so much attention. Our glasses were filled and there was never a lapse in service! If you want a great meal with a fun-filled atmosphere, come to Kaminski's!
(5)
Tammy N.
Been here once with some friends. Great vibe and good food. Prices are decent and service was average good. If you go here I recommend getting something BBQ!
(4)
Todd P.
I'm from AZ, so we were visiting relatives in Poway and decided to stop in for a Friday night dinner. My girlfriend kathye, had hummus plate which was just OK. Her daughter had a pulled pork sandwich, which she fell in love with and eventually married. I had wings, which were delicious, big, and juicy! The 5 stars go out to our waitress Janet. She couldn't have been sweeter and funnier and more attentive! Thanks Janet, you made our night!
(5)
Sasha E.
Pretty good BBQ! went in for HH with friends and they had really good specials. Wish the portion of the fried pickles was a little bigger for the price.
(4)
Windsor L.
The food wouldn't be as much of a slap in the face if some of the staff weren't so incredibly rude. With the bartenders being their only highlight I'd rather get kicked by a steer than to call this BBQ or expect any sort of implied southern hospitality.
(2)
Shellene M.
Just ate another excellent meal here at Kaminskis! Every time we come we try something new and it never fails to please! Love the atmosphere, lively and fun, they even have board games to choose from while waiting for your order, great for kids! The family being so involved is a huge plus as well. Where else can you go and see the owners out running the floor and greeting customers? Live music frequently and karaoke on some weekends! Plus... there's free vallet parking! Everyone should give this place a try (just not when I'm coming so I don't have to wait! Haha! )!
(5)
Ron B.
Overpriced; overcooked:, dry and not appealing. Typical Poway place where they act like they are the best. Phil's wipes the floor with this place. Plus the customer service is rude. Take the drive to san marcos or go next door and get some Italian. This is another 1 and done type place.
(2)
Jacob K.
Amazing melt sandwich.. with chicken tenders inside of it.... with bacon too. Just ask for Haley...bomb server, she knows what's up. Also a Ballast Point Victory at Sea beer float? Best place in town.
(5)
Devon H.
Great burgers and fun and lively environment definitely will go back!
(4)
John R.
Love the BBQ here. Lots of TVs for sports fans. Definitely worth going back to. With Jimmy's Brick BBQ gone now this is probably the best BBQ in Poway.
(4)
Ramon T.
Only 2 stars. I normally don't write reviews, but having to leave my table to get waters after our food came? Not acceptable. I'm in the industry and this was the worst service I have ever seen. Not one check up from when we ordered til we were fed up and just wanted the check. None the less tonic water is not sprite. Food was ok. Setting was real nice though!
(2)
Lance K.
Writing this out of total frustration, just spent 73$ on take out. 1. Had to come in because the girl answering the phone kept putting me on hold (3 mins at a time)to get answers to basic training e.g. Can I buy meat by the pound. So now I am waiting for my order at the restaurant. 2. I forgot to show my coupon, I asked for the measly $5 off and got a lengthy explanation that he would have to recharge my card then I'd have to wait for the charge to be negated. Ok, well how about just crediting my card $5 or giving me an extra side. Lame.... No wonder why this place has 3 stars, wish Phil's or someone that could actually make real BBQ would move in.
(1)
Barbara P.
WORST BUSINESS EVER... they do not honor living social deals.... even thou it is not stated on the voucher they don't do take out orders and don't want to be bothered when they are busy... bad bad bad...
(1)
Amy S.
Creeping back in San Diego history apparently this is the place David Westerfield stopped at before going to commit the murder of Danielle Van Damm. I suppose the restaurant got a lot of flack for that back in the day but in a way to make light of the situation Kaminiski's is pretty solid. It was selected by some co-workers for a happy hour goodbye to one of our friends. I had never been seeing as working in Poway is too much Poway for me. I don't care to hang out past my scheduled time. Kaminiski's has a decent beer selection. I didn't get a chance to cruise the food options because I wasn't hungry but based on the appetizers my friends ordered it looks like standard sports bar food fair. I thought it a bit odd that there is a valet parking option out front but apparently this place can pop off. Our service was a bit slower than I'd like it to be but I wouldn't say no to going back to give it another chance.
(3)
Carmen V.
Good but not great, is the place to take my friend Noura, who used to live in San Diego and moved to Lebanon and cannot find decent buffalo wings. Well, here you have galore. With that spicy sauce and some nice music too. This is mostly a sports bar, and I don't care about those sports anyways, so I just go for the beer+wings+enjoy friendship. A nice place to hang out in Poway. At least they are not pretentious and you will have a good time no matter what.
(3)
Tyler W.
Staff treats me and my girlfriend like we are family. Every time we come down to San Diego we also stop in a few times to eat and catch a game. Excellent beer choices, top shelf liquor, and great music with live bands and djs on weekends.
(5)
Kinjal H.
Easy going atmosphere. Good service. Lots of regulars. Good BBQ and really good service. I would go back.
(5)
Josh G.
The concept is interesting but don't go expecting to find good NC style BBQ, you will be disappointed. The pork is dry and the sauce appears to be just vinegar. The search for decent pulled pork on the west coast continues.
(2)
Katie H.
I love this place. It's greatly improved over the years. Went about a month ago. Sat on the patio and the service was great. I got the chicken nuggets baked in BBQ sauce. SO good. I got the powder blue martini and my friend got the sangria. We both loved it. We of course got a second round. We also got the garlic fries and loved them. Their happy hour prices are great!! I would definitely recommend this place during happy hour. I'll be visiting again soon.
(5)
Mark P.
Heard this was a great place for BBQ. Fell short though. Better than Phils since I cannot get brisket at Phils. Brisket was dry. Bummer. Had to use the sauce to get it down. I asked the waitress why so dry? She says what? dry? I said Yep, very. Me and my buddy both had the Brisket plate, both dry. My friend was embarrassed since he was bragging about the brisket. She said next time I can ask for a taste first. Good idea. She did give me a small helping to take home, it was much better. Best brisket I ever had was in Anaheim CA. I could not believe it. So moist and melt in your mouth. I have not found any brisket that good yet in SD. Still looking for great BBQ Brisket. Not an easy task or easy to BBQ.
(3)
Kim L.
I went with my sister to meet up with her old friends and was pleasantly surprised. I grew up in Poway and had been to the Old Mine Co. many times. This was a totally new, updated place with large flatscreens everywhere you looked. It was midafternoon, so we only had beer and appetizers. We were waited on by Dana and Janet, who were both amazing. We shared lobster mac and cheese, chips and guacamole and loaded tater tots. Everything was delicious. I can't wait to go back with my husband.
(5)
Joanne L.
This is my absolute favorite place for BBQ. Their baby back ribs are the best in San Diego. They're moist and tender and smoked to perfection. Their beef brisket melt in your mouth. Once I had dessert first. The mud pie. It's made with a huge chunk of cookies n cream ice cream with an outer shell of Oreos. It would have melted before I could get home. They have fantastic service who treat you like family. It is definitely family friendly, they have a selection of board games to entertain the children and they're also pet friendly. What more could you ask for
(5)
Mark W.
Boil it down to the best brisket I've had on the west coast and a good selection of beers with good ambiance and service. The wait staff was professional and laid back all at the same time. Fair prices for what you get and good happy hour deals. It's a casual spot that has all the games on and is clean and big. Nothing to worry about coming here. It all seems to be taken care of.
(5)
Brandon W.
Love this place. The BBQ Brisket sliders are incredible. If you like sports you'll love it. TVs everywhere, plenty of variety.
(5)
Pooneh P.
We went here today for a family celebration and there was a confusion with the menu and i asked the manger of the store about my question. Her response was rude and aggressive and left our table with my question still unanswered. Not only was the customer service terrible but the food was all brought to the table cold and everything took way too much time. The food was unsatisfactory and the service was bad and took forever. I would NOT recommend this place unless u like bad food and rude people
(1)
Michael W.
The beef brisket is the best I've had in San Diego. Other meats are just ok; go to Phil's for those. I've only been once, so I'm not sure if it's consistently good. But I'd be willing to go back and find out. Also, lots of TV's for all you sports lovers!
(4)
Matty G.
I have stopped by Kaminski's a few times for lunch. It's a really good local place for barbecue. As soon as you step in the door you are smacked in the face with a finger-lickin' good aroma. They have a variety of meals and drinks to choose from. The meat is tender and flavorful. The prices are good, the BBQ is good, the family who owns/runs it are nice. Good place to stop if you're in Poway craving BBQ. The costumer service has always been outstanding. Angela has always served me in the bar area. She is very personable and makes awesome drinks. They are a sports lounge so they have multiple flat screens playing all kinds of sports. They normally host events for UFC fights and other big "games" From what I understand they also are a big supporter of kids sports in the Poway area. I will absolutely be back and soon.
(4)
Robert Z.
Food was very good. Service was also very good. Parking not so good. It's a sports bar with great BBQ. I will go back for dinner agin. Robert Zuver
(4)
fern w.
Love the family created bbq sauce..... Chicken, brisket and bbq potato chip nachos!!!! Everything is delicious and staff makes you feel like part of the family. Fun place , lots of TV to watch.
(5)
Phillip N.
The service is great. Love a BBQ place with a sink in the dining area. Very clean. Love the garlic fries, wings, and Southern style entrees. Of course, there is sports running in the background. Not like it matters to me. But it's a plus if you like sports because the TVs are decent size and there are several.
(3)
Mark J.
I can walk to this place which is a bonus. Ample TV's and friendly staff. Try the barbecue sampler, feeds 2. Ivan is the man for drinks behind the bar!
(4)
Abbie H.
Since I work in Poway, I sometimes find myself going out with coworkers around there. We went to Kaminski's for a friend's birthday dinner. I liked it. We showed up and surprised them with a 12-top, which was accommodated quickly given that it was fairly crowded by the time we got there. Service was friendly, although drinks took quite a while to come out. I had a traditional pulled pork sandwich that was a bit dry, but still really good. Sweet potato fries were amazzzzzing and the aioli they are served with was so good! We put down a couple of baskets of those. Drinks were solid. Being a native Iowan, I am hard pressed to find good BBQ in southern California, but I'd say Kaminski's is a great start.
(3)
Michael S.
The food is really good and quick to come out. Beer selection is good as well. I've only sat at the bar the few times I was there but the bartenders service is really slow & un attentive. I would like to sit at a table and get an experience with a server. They always look aware of what's going on.
(3)
Mike M.
Would of gaven it 5 stars but, I payed a visit yesterday and: Service was crap! Host greets us by saying "Hi how many" and before we even answer he grabs the menus and walks away...so does he want us to follow him. Oh and all the while yelling at a coworker "whats up big dawg! " he sits us, hands us the menu and walks away..Latino spikey haired twerp. Then while my girlfriend is holding our baby, the server walks up and asks if we want some drinks. We order water, he returns and asks if we need some time. I said yes, I also added my girlfriend's arms are getting tired (yes, my sons a mammas boy lol) and asked if we can get a high chair for our son, since your wonderful hosts couldn't even acknowledge my son because he was too busy yelling at his homies. So we get our food, but somethings missing...we have no utensils! He returns, and apologises and hands us utensils. The food was great but really uncomfortable setting, I mean im not asking for a five star setting but shit, were paying $20 a freakin plate here. The whole time, the spikey haired hosts decides to yell and talk to the rest of the staff by talking about some outing...it was annoying. I felt the place was being ran by either somome very irresponsible that doesn't take their job seriously or a bunch of freakin kids...next time I order from from here, its gonna be to go.
(3)
Chelsea S.
This place is great, especially if you're a Chicago sports fan! They always have the Bears game on and one of the rooms is usually filled up just with Bears fans. TVs everywhere, and if you ask they can usually change one to the game you want to watch. This is the kind of place where the owners are always there, walking around and asking people how there food is and if they need anything. The service is great and the food is amazing; the barbecue is seriously awesome. Definitely one of the best barbecue places in the San Diego area.
(5)
Teal B.
Marshall is awesome. Attentive, a great sport, and he knows The Cranberries. Would come here again just because of him. :)
(5)
Christine H.
I always go here when I'm back in town with my parents for great food! My parents like to get the BBQ combo and I usually get the pulled pork sandwich. Our server, Haley was extremely nice and super helpful. She was really attentive and took our order fast and brought our food out nice and hot. A great place to come in and relax! I always want to go here whenever I'm down from college!
(4)
Leslie J S.
Great friendly casual service, sat at the bar, ate well, enjoyed the surroundings...too bad the LAKings lost..otherwise we'll be back!!
(4)
Mary F.
We live close by and have have been to Kaminski's several times for various football games. Overall, the waitresses could use more training on how to politely communicate with customers. We asked our waitress what is in the nachos. She said "it is listed in the menu." Wow! She appeared too bothered to tell us! Her other answers to our questions were short and abrupt. It was definitely a different and much more upbeat atmosphere to have eaten at Oggi's near highway 56 or even the new Ballast Point off of Miramar Road that is now serving dinner.
(2)
Tori S.
I go to Kaminski's often with my family and I'm never disappointed! The atmosphere is always fun and the service is great! We always sit in Haley's section because she's the best server! Great attitude, friendly, and always quick to help out. We'll definitely keep coming back!
(5)
Mel C.
In the last 2 weeks, I've had Famous Dave's, Dave & Buster's, and Phil's BBQ. I think my rating is only 3 stars because the BBQ in my opinion here is just okay at best. Pros: -Great place to catch the game. -Live band during the weekends -Bar equals beer Cons: -Parking (sometimes) -Price and Value: I don't think you get much for what you pay for. Sad when you can actually count how many pieces of fries, onion rings, and chips you get. -Over-Sauced: Their BBQ might actually be really good, but tough for me to notice because there's way too much sauce on it. My Ratings -Burgers: 4 stars -Mac and Cheese: 4 stars -Beef Briskets: 3 stars -BBQ Chicken: 3 stars -Garlic Mash: 4 stars -All Appetizers: 2 stars (skimp!!) -Rotisserie Chicken: 3 stars -Staff: 4 stars, although didn't feel welcomed my last time here. Walked in and there was at least 4 employees at the front that didn't even greet or immediately seat us. It took, what I thought was a manager, to point it out to the staff to attend to us. Good save. The 3 stars is for the food price and value. Probably come back, but just to sit at the bar and drink
(3)
Jaime H.
Great BBQ, my favorite is the pork ribs. This is not fine dining, but it is incredible BBQ, with big screens everywhere, and friendly staff. Even on a busy Saturday night they have free valet parking, because otherwise parking would be tough. I was impressed.
(5)
Socrates G.
I flew to San Diego for some business in Poway, went to dinner at Kaminskis sport lounge, nice to have great service - Tina is the best - and the food - perfect for having a long day - great atmosphere - thanks
(4)
Andrea A.
Sooo let me start off saying the Sangria was awesomely gooood! I ordered BBQ combo w/ chicken rotisserie and pulled pork! Best BBQ ever! Garlic fries are delish! My baby loved the Mac n cheese ! Our server was amazing. Poor guy I forgot his name. But the food had me in heaven! Def coming back!
(5)
STEVE S.
Food quality has improved significantly since my first review over 4 years ago. However, I can never understand the use of ball park cheese; it is terrible and, frankly, cheap. I had the nachos during FIFA and could not finish the mess. I highly recommend they get rid of the use of ball park cheese in general and start going with the real thing. This restaurant deserves better! Otherwise we had a good experience.
(3)
Erica I.
I wasn't entirely impressed with the food at Kaminski's. It's nice to go somewhere with great entertainment and updated ambiance but the food itself needs some work. I grew up in the south where you can find barbecue on every street corner and while it wasn't all good, it all had a certain standard to it or it was put out of business. Kaminski's apparently doesn't have any competition which I believe it lacks the hardiness it should have. Pulled pork needs real sweet barbecue sauce with juicy meat, not dry with vinegar sauce (I still don't understand the vinegar thing), and the potatoes here where overcooked without any of the stick-to-your-ribs toppings it needed. Real barbecue food attracts truck drivers, construction workers, police officers, and paramedics- people who need to be filled quickly at a decent price. In the end Kaminski's is too embellished and naive to what real barbecue is to offer it. I wouldn't go as far as to say it was "bad" but it certainly wasn't for me or my husband.
(2)
Michael K.
The best sports bar in Poway!! They have friendly staff, lots of TVs and good ribs. This is a very family friendly place and I enjoyed watching World Cup games here.
(5)
Dave L.
The Kaminski's pulled pork BBQ sandwich is terrific. Very tasty. Has some zing but does not come on too strong. Very good side salad as well. Iced tea brewed properly, no bitter taste that some restaurants have. Service was outstanding. Diane at the bar was very friendly and on top of things without being a pest.
(5)
Dale L.
Kaminski's is second rate BBQ. Limited parking, high prices, outdated entertainment setup and average to above average food. After paying for two beers and two entrees, I left feeling underwhelmed and 50 dollars short. My wife and I checked out Kaminski's in hopes of finding a new NFL Sunday spot. No complaints with the cleanliness, service or food/beer selection. But based on the prices, I was hoping for Phil's quality and instead I got Abbey's. Would I get the $15 mac n cheese, pulled pork sandwich again? Probably, but only from their food truck at the reduced price of $9. Did I find anything worth blogging about on their $20 sampler? No. And the sports bar experience? It was okay, but their TV's look a bit old. Bottom line, I think I've been spoiled by Phil's $7 Tickler. Kaminski's is good but not great, which provides little incentive to return anytime soon (NFL Sunday or otherwise). By the way, is it me or does their water taste funny?
(3)
PattieCakesAble C.
Numb with yum!
(5)
Taci T.
This place is awesome! It's a little on the pricy side but it's worth it. The food is fantastic. We got the 2 item combo. The ribs were so fender the meat fell right off the bone and the brisket was cooked perfectly. Great sides. The service was great too. Janet was friendly and fun and the manager even made her way over to make sure everything was going well. The environment is nice. Not a typical sports bar feel. I would recommend this place to anyone who loves BBQ for sure!!!
(5)
Anna Maria R.
My husband and I finally got a chance to try out this Poway gem. Experience began with their free valet parking (attendant was super nice). Walked in to a nice foyer and immediately greeted and seated at a high table in the sports bar section. Lots of tv's, comfortable seating and great atmosphere. Ordered the hot wings and potato skins from the happy hour menu, along with two draft beers - Blue Moon & Racer 5. Our waitress was very attentive and nice. Also ordered a cesar salad for myself, and a pulled pork sandwich with homemade chips for my husband. Everything was delicious! Wings were so good! Only negative was that the pulled pork was a bit dry. We had a really nice experience, ate good food and were provided exceptional service!!! Will definitely come again!!!
(4)
Beverly A.
Don't come here solely for the BBQ - because it's simply was NOT worth it. The atmosphere was OK, it's spacious and has a bar/loungy feel (comparable to Callahan's). Their garlic fries are GOOD though, but everything else was OK. The bread/sweet potato fries were stale, and the chicken was dry (the BBQ sauce couldn't even mask it!). They only have 1 BBQ sauce option which is fine, but I think it would've made the food taste a little better if they had other options (sweet, spicy, etc). There are other BBQ places in this are that are WAY better, The hostess was moody and our waiter delivered 2 wrong orders (in our party of 6). We only got refills when requested, so I wasn't impressed at all. Parking can fill up quick, but they have valet to help out.
(2)
Jim W.
Love this place! Marsha and the staff are always so good to us, even when we come in wearing Patriots and Broncos gear! Food is great, service is great and super consistent. Good but not great tap list - would like to see a bit more of the local beers (and Julian hard cider on draft!) for a 6-star experience.
(5)
Phil D.
Food isn't that great. TVs galore, but contribute to a feeling that it's one big gimmick. No soul to this place at all.
(2)
Chad Y.
This place rules. Not only is the service top notch, but they have some of the best BBQ (particularly the beef brisket) that I have ever had. For a fun atmosphere, great beer selection, and great eats, check it out!
(5)
Ray R.
BBQ ribs and BBQ brisket was great. Best BBQ in a long time. I'm new to the RB/Poway area but as a Texan consider myself a connoisseur of BBQ, and these guy got the food right. Price was a bit high, $55.00 for two meals, beer and a shake.
(4)
Peter D.
Good local spot in Poway. Down home. Local people. Great atmosphere. The pulled pork is delicious and recommended.
(4)
Calvin H.
Ok BBQ place for poway. The place itself is fairly spacious and clean. The food can be a little bit pricey and the BBQ doesn't compare to Phil's. However, it being a sports bar, there are a lot of TVs showing all the big games and a full bar. So if you're looking for a place to chill this may be suitable.
(3)
Mike C.
For a sports bar, why is it pretty busy here during a mid-week lunch hour? Or a better question question would be...why I am drinking during a mid-week lunch hour? Well, I can't really comment on the BBQ stuff but I had some of their garlic fries. It was decent, but didn't really stand out. It didn't have that kick I would normally expect from pure, concentrated garlic paste. Wasn't really a fan either of the fries-in-a-cone concept. Especially if garlic is involved. Towards the bottom, there is usually too much garlic due to gravity drain. So it becomes slightly soggy towards the end. It came with a chipotle-ranch sauce. It complimented the fries. Had some zing to it. It was a Wednesday, so they have a $4 special on a pint of Lightning Amber Lager. Slightly bitter, but not a real fan of it. They have other specials too depending on which day you come in. Their happy hour is Monday through Friday 3-6pm, and Monday through Thursday 9-11pm: Consists of $1 off wells, drafts, bottled beers and wines, $5 specialty drinks. Lots of appetizers at $5 each. Very nice atmosphere. Plenty of tv's everywhere. Plenty of trophy cases of sports memorabilia stuff all over. Very clean. Appears like the restaurant just opened for business from all the newness of all things inside. The staff were super friendly. From the moment I walked in and until I finally exited, they greeted me, ensured my needs where satisfied and gave me a quick thank you on the way out. Very professional and very customer service oriented. Check this place out. I'll definite come back when I have more time to spare and try their BBQ menu. So to answer the first question...looks like a lot of people were probably just taking an hour off of work to get a quick bite. Next question...as for me, I was in the area going to the ortho and just dropped by real quick...so no..I'm not an alki. Ha.
(4)
James F.
Yelp and Kaminski's website lists the place's hours as Sun - Thur :11am - 11:30pm Fri & Sat : 11am - 1:30am The place was closed well before 11pm on a weekday. If I'm hungry to try something new and it's late at night, don't expect any sympathy from me due to scheduling discrepancies.
(1)
Sarah R.
Love eating here. Have been here over a dozen times and the food is always good. Garlic fries and the pulled pork are my go-to orders. Lots of space so happy hour is always fun. Prices are average for BBQ and because it's so good I can't complain. Parking can get crazy but they offer free valet. I'm sure some people can have off days, but I've always had good service so 5 stars from me.
(5)
Ellen C.
The service was very strange..... The brisket was meh. The baby back ribs is the better BBQ option. The BBQ sauce is meh. The mac n cheese was okay. Corn was grilled, which was nice but it was just ok. Overall, meh. I've had the BBQ from their truck, and the truck was way better.
(2)
Seth G.
Beware a business that issues gift certificates and doesn't honor them. The food was alright. When it came time to pay I presented a gift certificate that they had donated to a local organization that sends business their way (and I had won in a raffle), and the management refused to honor it. I spoke with the manager, even presenting the receipt that they include in the gift envelope, and she and the owner essentially told me to take a walk. I can't recommend a business that treats customers and supporting organizations in such a dishonorable fashion.
(1)
Scot D.
Nice place, friendly staff, & food was pretty good. Only thing I didn't like was when I asked for some coffee - never came. Last I heard from the girl behind the bar was that they were going to brew a new batch. I waited about 45 min's, never saw it. I shouldn't have to ask repeatedly. They weren't that busy, place was slow, shouldn't have been a problem. Disappointing.
(3)
Jeremy M.
Nothing close to a Lucile's or Famous Dave's but a good spot nonetheless if you're in the area. Plenty of TV's, decent sized bar area, and great specials (happy hour, daily specials, etc.).
(4)
Elizabeth P.
Mediocre food and large portions. My chicken was a little pinkish-red inside though. :/
(2)
Shannon O.
I was really excited to try this place, and when we walked in it looked really cool too, but it really went down from there. I had two drinks which were both really terrible, a mimosa which was unbelievably sour and a Bloody Mary that I had to return because there was a crazy amount of horseradish in it. I never return drinks! Then my friends pulled pork sandwich came without a drop of BBQ sauce. At a BBQ place, really? Also the waiter kept touching and putting his arm around my husband which was just really odd. We won't be going back...
(1)
Bill P.
A nice, middle-of-the-road place, but definitely not a "destination" bar/restaurant. In other words, i wouldn't go out of my way to go there. The Bar B Q is simply "ok". Nothing better. Phil's beats it all to heck. Rings and sweet potato fries are delicious. The atmosphere is good... maybe a little better than ok if you're only comparing it to other Poway places. I think you all know what I mean. TVs are fairly big and reasonably well placed. Service was good (only) on my two visits here, though I've heard complaints from friends who've eaten there. Would I go here again? Sure, if I was driving by the place and got a wild hair. Otherwise, there are much better venues to consider.
(3)
S T.
I really like the food here and it's never really busy!! The spinach salad, garlic frys and mud pie is awesome... The 3 stars are cause the last 2 times I went here the service was really slow.. Sat at the bar one time and the bartender only had 1 guest not including me and my wife and she took forever for everything.. The last time I went, we were helped by 3 different people, I didn't know if I was gonna tip 3 people or none haha.. Still none the less great food and lots of tvs to watch all the sports you can handle
(3)
Phil R.
Let's be honest, it's not the best BBQ I've ever had, but it IS the best BBQ in Poway. Without question. The pulled pork was tender and the sauce (I got their "house" sauce) was bold and delicious. Their sweet potato fries are really good, their slaw, so-so. All the other sides are solidly "good" to "great". I appreciated the service as I ordered "double-meat" for my pulled pork plate and they hooked me up with a good discount for the extra meat. I've been here with 6 or more people and have always received good service. They are kid friendly too, so that's a plus. If you're in the Poway area and don't feel like a drive or waiting in a long line, head over to Kaminski's.
(4)
Tom C.
Had a great meal last night. The service was spot on- family run and friendly staff Highly recommend the baby back ribs! They do have a variety of BBQ sauces. Also- there is a really nice bar with numerous TVs to watch multiple sports.
(4)
Myekah B.
Graianne runs Karaoke here and she is the Best KJ around! So I go every Friday to enjoy her show. You should check it out on Friday Nights!
(5)
George R.
It took over an hour to get the food on Father's Day and then the order was wrong. The steak salad was undercooked. We had to ask twice to get an adjustment to the check. The food is usually good here but stay away on a busy night.
(2)
Dennis W.
VERY slow service. How slow, after our order was taken she came back and asked our order a second time. When the food came my order was wrong, (plate when I ordered a sandwich). Had to ask for tea refill, once we got the bill it took them 28 minutes to bring change and credit cards back. First time there, NEVER again.
(1)
John P.
This is a very customer oriented establishment. The brisket and pork were both outstanding. Great customer service in the bar Adjusted the TV in front of us so we could see the game we wanted
(4)
JNadene A.
I think this place is cool. It's by my work so some people from work would come here for lunch. The prices are are little pricey. My salad was $14, that includes tip. Yes it has meat but $14? Also, I agree with Jimmy D, this is not Phil's BBQ and peeking at my co-worker's food, his BBQ sandwich looked dry and he was working that BBQ sauce we had on our table. My meat was pretty moist and that's probably bc it was mixed with the dressing. But anyways, the place is cool. I would come here again for lunch with my co-workers again (I don't go out to lunch that often, I usually bring lunch). If I lived in the area, I would come here to watch football games. Really my stars review is 5 stars for AMAZING customer service and 3 stars for the food.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Valet, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Live Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Elainne P.
Last season we came here a lot during NBA playoffs. They used to have pretty good happy hour deals. I think margaritas used to be $3 or $4, but I recently looked at their menu online and I don't think it's a special anymore. It's now $6 for a shaker margarita. Kind of steep. I would call to make reservations so we would always have a place to sit by the tvs so we can watch the game. It gets pretty crowded so I suggest calling ahead and putting your name down. They have tvs everywhere so you pretty much have a good seat wherever you're at. The two tables towards the front where the wall of tvs are is the best place to sit, but they're usually taken. Service is just okay here. I know they get crowded, but maybe they should just step up their game. We haven't been back since last year because each time got less and less fun. Service just went downhill so we stopped coming. Now they don't even have good drink specials. Also, their parking lot sucks. So most times we would have to park in a lot down the street that had gravel everywhere. If you live in the area, I guess it's an option to consider watching games at. But we probably won't be back anytime soon.
(2)Colleen D.
this is the best place i've been to in a long time,the people are great,family owned and operated and the taste of the food proves that it was made from a family recipe and its delicious! the folks are very attentive to your needs,and everyone of them are busy making sure everyone's happy. on the weekends you can catch gray the k.d.j and her super duper karaoke show that is entertaining like no other ! especially when she brings out her special guests,lou and samboa . i drive 60 miles round trip every weekend because i always have the most fun ,me and my friend janice recommend this place to all of our singer friends.. .you havent really experienced great barbaque, or a great time dancing, or singing karaoke until you try out gray the singing and dancing k.d.j at kaminskies on a friday and saturday night. you'll be telling folks how cool this place is just like we do.... try them you'll love them!!! We plan to go out this Friday night again....great time ,great party,great Karaoke show , me and my friends will continue to drive out to POWAY on the weekends...maybe I should move closer to POWAY . CHULA VISTA HAS ABSOLUTLY NOTHING ANYWHERE NEAR AS FUN !!!;;
(5)Jimmy D.
The food is ok but its definitely no Phil's. It's big enough to hold a big party for a HH although the drinks are still a little pricey and the beer selection isn't that great. It's is Poway after all.
(3)Zeel J.
When it comes to BBQ in the Poway area, this would be my choice place to eat. But outside of Poway, I'm personally more of a fan of other places in SD. But one thing I've learned is that BBQ food is a personal experience. Every place has a unique BBQ sauce, and when people find the BBQ sauce that is right for them, they are in heaven. So I encourage people to stop here, and give it a chance. My go-to favorite here is the pulled pork sandwich. It's got a great atmosphere, and a pretty decent menu. Great for Happy Hours. The "Great for Happy Hours" is what made me knock it up a notch to 4 stars. Nice having a place to gather for big events.
(4)Chris E.
Large! Portions! Definitely get your moneys worth. Friendly Staff...great time for the entire family or adults only. LOTS! of TVs for game watching!
(4)Sharmila P.
They have very good BBQ. They smoke their meats for a long time and do not use the boiling or baking short cut to get the meat done faster. Their sauce is very good. Bold, but not overpowering. Their drink prices are mediocre, but not horrible. Best of all they have karaoke on friday nights. Fun atmosphere!
(3)Jenn P.
I love Kaminski's. Their food is always delicious and they always have the most friendly wait staff. Never had any issues! :)
(5)Shelley L.
My husband and I went to Kaminiski's a few weeks back with his brother and sister-in-law. The Great: 1. The atmosphere was awesome. They had karaoke night the evening we were there. 2. Fabulous drinks. 3. Everything our table had for dinner was amazing. I personally had the beef and cheddar. The beef was fresh and they served it between garlic toast. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The garlic fries, sweet potato fries and the wings were all great too. 4.Kaminiski's is very kid friendly. We have 3 children and although they were not with us that evening there were several other kids there too. The place was so loud no one would ever notice kids yacking away. The OK: 1. Very loud. Hard to carry on a conversation with your family and friends. 2. The wait was long for Poway. Overall: Worth the wait. We loved it and will definitely be going again soon.
(4)Lee D.
This is my "Go To" place for a warm welcome, great food, and a large selection of beer. The BBQ is great! This is a family owned and operated business and it shows. There is always a family member on premise to uphold the attention to detail and the quality of the food. And a shout out to my favorite bar tender Angela. Sit at the bar if she is serving and you won't be sorry! Great food, great atmosphere, and people that remember your name when you walk in - and they are genuinely glad to see you. Try and get that at a chain! Love this place. For lunch my favorite is the BBQ Chicken salad. The sweet potato fries - oh yah man. Tell them Lee sent you. Lee D.
(5)Michael W.
Listen ... I continue to come here, and the more I'm there, the more I think "this is what my Grandma's house would be like if she had sports on every wall." What I mean by that, is that the staff is so friendly and accomodating, I feel like my Grandma's favorite grandchild, for whom she'd do anything for and was always as kind as a saint. Sometimes, great service will overcome average food ... in Kaminski's case. great service compliements great food ... or vice versa.
(5)Brad F.
Great place to meet friends and have fun! Beer is cold, BBQ is great and they have a ton of TV's for all the games. Only knock on the place is on karaoke night. Some people seem to think its for their own personal concert. Otherwise, great!
(4)Boss C.
i actually enjoyed this place a lot but heres a couple things to keep in mind. First off, make sure you come during a happy hour time. it can get expensive. Secondly, the chicken wings are pretty good but the dont cut at the joints, you just get the leg wing and that little pointy end all connected. Finally, the beef brisket was tasty and the inside is actually very appealing and clean. lots of tvs. I'll be back-terminator
(3)Juje J.
We all came here with one thing on our minds...to kick back with old friends, watch an NFL Playoff game and have a pretty good time doing it. Kaminski's BBQ & Sports Lounge has a nice cosy feel to the place, with all their huge LCD big screens (for watching football and other sports), a huge bar in the center, and a huge sink to wash your hands (in case you get a little too sloppy from all the BBQ sauce you might get from the wings or ribs you might order) I like the fact that they do serve an affordable meal during the playoffs...something they call the "NFL PLAY OFF SPECIALS!!" My friend ordered 2 Kaminski's Dogs for $4 bucks a piece and they were pretty good sized for what he ordered. My other friend ordered chips and cheese for $3 bucks and it was enough for her because she ate some of the wings I ordered (regular menu) from my plate. The Wings: These wings are huge...not like a turkey, but bigger than any wings I've ever seen at a sports bar...ANY SPORTS BAR. They were crispy and seasoned and had a taste like they were dry rubbed (the way ribs are dry rubbed), Then they were layered with Kaminski's BBQ sauce, which I found to be very good and tangy. I normally finish a plate of wings, but this was not the case on this day. Even though I shared some wings with a friend of mine, I just couldn't finish these huge wings, so I took them home (leftovers). NOTE* ~My friend told me that these were the biggest wings she'd ever seen and could barely finish 1 and a half of them. Back to the "NFL PLAY OFF SPECIAL!!" There's a little side note on that menu that says, "Knock Off Playoffs ~ When a players helmet gets knocked off during the game, knock off $1.00 your next appetizer or beer" I found it kind of amusing when I here some people at the bar, cheering for a players helmet to get knocked off. All in all, this is a pretty good Sports Bar and Grill. If there's a down side to the place, it was trying to get our waitress' attention at times. It wasn't bad, but then again, it wasn't great either. There were times I felt like I was waving at a 747 Jumbo Jet just to try to get her attention. Overall, I'd come here again to watch football and to try out their ribs. The food here is good and ithe place has a very nice Sports Bar feel to it...4 stars.
(4)Sonny C.
They call themselves a Sports Bar but when I called to ask about watching the World Series with sound they said NOT in the main bar but we can put you in the back room. What kind of Sports Bar are they, it's the World Series after all. Bet if the Padre's where in it they would have sound, likely that will ever happen... So if you are looking for a REAL SPORTS BAR, go somewhere else... BOSTON STRONG...
(1)Karmyn P.
I don't know if this place has a travel food truck because when I was at a carnival me and my husband had a pulled pork sandwich brisket sandwich with fries and it was so great so we decided to go here because we saw that same food truck parked here often so we went in and left disappointed. I had a brisket salad this time around and the brisket was so dry no matter how much ranch I put on top.
(1)David M.
This is the best place in Poway for BBQ and a beer. Great atmosphere, great food and a great selection of beers.
(5)Dan W.
Was fine till I pulled out the 2inch twist tie out of from my potato skins. Disgusting and pathetic. Won't be back. Who are they hiring anyway??
(1)Long N.
Came here on a saturday night. Crowded, probably good place to watch sports, but not my vibe. Lot of lights, its bright in here, applause/cheering, a bunch of tvs, and a super loud person mc ing the game. In their defense, it is march madness, and im not into basketball (or baseball or hockey). Its not bad if that what you are looking for, but its not for me. And the required valet parking is unnecessary. Its not that schwanky of a place and my car was about 20 steps from the door, but i still had to wait for the several people in front of me to get their cars first
(3)Tom G.
I've enjoyed my visits to Kaminski's over the past 2 years. I started with the BBQ items on the menu, but I've finally "committed" to one item -- the grilled rib eye skewers [with gorgonzola cheese]. Put that appetizer together with some fries and a microbrew beer [or 2] and you're all set.
(4)Randy C.
Really surprised by this place. Drive by it all the time. Thought it was some sort of ordinary sports bar that serves BBQ. And well it is... but the food was quite good. I ordered the Coconut Porter beer. It was very good and I highly recommend it, even if it only comes in a can. My GF and I shared the BBQ sampler plate. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone amazing. Loved the brisket beef. Texas toast and beans on the side. Yum. The chicken with onions... very good. The service was spot on. The place was clean. Nice large screens to watch stuff on. Plenty of parking... and parking friendly for very low cars. Nice. I will be back.
(5)t g.
First time here. Saturday around 3 PM. Two of us. Appetizer onion rings and sauce very good. Of two meals one meal very good. I ordered the signature pork ribs. Sauce excellent! Half of the ribs were juicy and tender, other half well done. Not what I expected for their signature dish. Service was excellent.
(2)Wolfgang L.
Forget Phil's. If you are a true fan of BBQ meat, come here. Not that Phil's is not good, which it is, but the wait is just not worth it. Yes you can do take out but if you can find a place just as good while you can actually sit in and have a good time with your friend, why not? They also have very good brisket which Phil's does not. This place is a true hidden gem. Do watch out for karaoke contests which are held regularly in the place if you are sensitive to people singing. Or maybe you want to try your talent there?
(4)Dina G.
Went again to Kaminski's because we remembered how good it was before. The meal was good, not great. Husband got the beef ribs and was not wowed, I got the pulled pork sandwich and it was pretty bland, I had to add a lot of the table side bbq sauce to flavor it up. Our server was odd. He found the urge to touch both me and my husband on the shoulder every time he checked on us. Some people like that, me...not so much. The place was slow when we got there but by the time we left it was hoppin'.
(3)Liz D.
Had appetizers they were okay, onion rings had too much beer flavor, potato skins were cold, nothing special. Good ambiance, great place to have a drink and decent plate of food.
(3)Alan C.
This is a great place to hang out and have a beer while watching sports.
(5)Dan B.
I too have been coming here since the reopening. Although I am surprised by the 1 & 2 star reviews I must say the place has gone downhill as of late. I love their "Kaminski Pulled Pork Sandwich" but the last few times I went they put a lot less meat on it. I am not crazy about their beer selection but they have a few I think are OK. The reviews about the service are accurate. It's average and even worse when busy. I cannot possibly complete a review on Kaminskis without mentioning one thing. COLESLAW!! it can be ordered as a side or put on just about any sandwich you wish. For you coleslaw fans out there, this is the best I have ever eaten. Keep in mind I like mine original, with out a bunch of crap added in the mask the flavor(raisins, nuts, carrots, onions, etc etc). Kaminskis coleslaw is basic but just the right flavor and amount of sauce. Not runny. This is an old family recipe and it is delicious. So for the atmosphere and my favorite coleslaw ever, they get three stars. If the pork sandwich was as FAT as it used to be and service was better they would get 4 stars.
(3)Nora S.
We were hankering for some good barbecue and hanging out during happy hour before we had to go to our son's Open House. Kaminsky's was the place decided on. Large, remodeled place. It doesn't match it's Powegian surroundings, which is probably a good thing. It was a nice place to hang out, drink and eat appetizers from the Happy Hour menu. They have a rotating menu of 5$ appetizers plus 5$ cocktails. Not too bad although it can add up fast! We ordered a trio of sliders; your choice of sandwich. Went with the brisket, BBQ chicken and Carolina pulled pork. The BBQ chicken was by far and away the tastiest of the three due to their very excellent BBQ sauce. Sweet, tangy with just a touch of heat. We loved it. Pour some of that on your nicely smoked brisket and you're good to go. The Carolina pulled pork was....interesting. Much too vinegary for my tastes. We also ordered their spinach salad, which was very good. And then saw they had a monthly special of rib tips. This was outstanding. The meat was smoky and tender and covered with the great BBQ sauce. The plate came with coleslaw (put some lemon on that, please!) and beans. I thought the beans were great. The drinks were ok. Mojito was nice and refreshing, but the other cocktail was way too sweet and didn't taste very alcoholic. Save the money for some beer, which is cheaper anyways. Although we enjoyed ourselves, the big downside to this place is the price. Man, it's pricey! Even with Happy Hour prices, we ended up spending over 30$ here with tax and tip. That's pretty insane considering we didn't even order a full plate of food.
(3)Allen C.
Good BBQ, fo show!!! Neat place in poway! Great owners who check on u and shake ur hand! The service started out awesome then kind of faded off! Food was good and booze were flowing! Took forever to get our bill but we did hit it at peak busy time on a fri night! It's a must try fo sho!!!!
(4)Elizabeth K.
Really nothing special, but the quality is exactly what I'd expect, there are big screens everywhere, and the happy hour menu is just right in price and selection, especially for $6 rib tips.
(3)Ryan K.
We've come here a few times for work happy hours, and I've never been impressed. First off, the barbecue is crap. I smoke meat just about every weekend, so I know barbecue, and this place just isn't up to par. San Diego doesn't really have great barbecue so I can understand the rave reviews because people don't know better, but trust me, it's not very good. The other food is okay when it actually comes out warm, and they have a good selection of beer. Second, whenever we come here the service is terrible. They send one waitress to cover 20-30 people, and she takes like 45 minutes to get you a beer. Okay, the bar is seriously 3 feet away, I'll go ask the bartender instead of waiting the better part of an hour. Mission: Beer is accomplished. Except now everyone in our group is doing this and the waitress throws a hissy fit because the bartender is getting all our tips, so she stops showing up to serve us altogether! This has happened every single time we have come here. We place orders for 5 minutes, everyone gets tired of how long it takes, goes to the bar, so the waitress never comes back. As a bar I guess it's okay (hence the 2 stars) with all the TV screens and stuff, but it gets really loud and really busy. There are better bars in Poway to go for happy hour, so I'd recommend going to one of them instead.
(2)Kimberly T.
"Meh. I've experienced better." I gave it two stars because of the nice TVS, and nicely decorated. That would be it.. Food- The potato chip nachos - served cold but had potential if they were hot like they should have been. The wings were good but expensive for wings. The coffee was good. The tea was weak. We decided to try desert.. the apply cobbler is NOT cobbler at best its a fancy expensive for what you get COLD apple tart dish. It said served hot but it was not hot. Cobbler should have some juice and crust but this one did not.. it had baked apples sliced onto a plate, with a little crust in the middle with a small scoop of ice cream. We sent it back. Parking get crowded especiall on Sat. I dont get the free valet although it was friendly but I dont want to feel like I need to tip someone to bring my car ten feet. Service was BAD... friendly when you could get them to your table. I asked for water it never came.. 15 minutes later asked a young man walking by he brought it right away, he refilled my coffee later on, and also helped out in other areas. He was not our server. I felt at the end I should go find him and tip him instead. Will probably go back because of the games, and lack of places to watch in our area. BUT, think it is REALLY lame they have no real happy hour, and offer no real play off games specials. If you like beer you might like this place, its the only thing on "special" we could see. SO many places offer happy hour especially on game days I think Id rather find those spots. This was our second time to this place. Same review both times.. except when empty (first time) service was better.
(2)Lisa d.
LOVE this place! Better than Phils! Always quick service and always very tasty food. The brisket & mac sandwich is to die for!
(5)Gary G.
Its a record. 1 1/2 hours to get our food. Went for breakfast for the World Cup game that they advertised, ordered when we arrived and didn't get served for 90 minutes! That's a first. Others that ordered after us were served earlier. Waiter told us a few times food was coming, then the order of the orders was mixed up so some got it earlier, but everyone was waiting at least an hour. This is the second time I had to wait for over an hour for service here. Last time was for a basketball game. The fault is with the poor management, they do not gear up staff in the kitchen for the rushes that should be obvious at a sports bar....for sports events. The food is good, the people are friendly and apologetic, but they are put in a tough position by the poor planning of the people in charge. Has the potential to be a great place if they can fix this major flaw. Good for food, but beware of sporting events...you could be waiting....a looooonggg time.
(2)Cyndi M.
This is a really nice Upscale Sportsbar...lots of flat screen tv's, even outside near the cozy fireplace that I love to sit at...the staff is super friendly to me everytime i go...and the bathrooms are super clean, which gets major bonus points from me! I would have given 5 stars if they had a better parking situation, sometimes its hard to find parking...but I have fallen in LOVE with their "SALMON MELT" sandwich, you must definitely try it...I highly recommend this place to everyone! : )
(4)Jennifer W.
Maybe if you are into smoky, loud bars, then you will like this place. I gave two stars to balance out the fact that I cannot rate the food. We had to wander around for several minutes and ask a waitress to find the hostess. She was friendly and apologized for our confusion. We decided to sit outside because of the noise from blaring TV's inside. The patio was nice until we realized that it is really the "smoking section". Now 15 minutes into our experience with nothing on the table and not having placed an order, we asked if we could move inside. The waitress offered to have the manager ask the smokers stop. No, thank you. We decided to leave and will not go back. If we want BBQ, it is worth the drive to Phil's.
(2)Monica B.
Wow! I can't believe all of the bad reviews for this place. I LOVE Kaminski's. It's my favorite bar in the area to go watch the games. Ya, it gets hectic and loud in there but we always have a good time. The family that owns this place is so sweet. They always talk to us and find a place for us even when we come with the baby. I'm all about supporting my local family restaurant. One star off for parking. I hate having to park a block away. Sometimes they do valet, other times no.
(4)Paula D.
We went to Kaminski's to eat dinner and the food was great.! The pulled pork was sublime! Grilled corn, tasty. I don't like coleslaw most of the time but theirs was really fresh and tasty. I love the fried potato chips. The service was great! We had great servers who were very attentive and the manager made a point of coming by and making sure we had everything we needed. I am looking forward to going back soon!
(5)Michelle M.
First off, love it when we come during late lunch, it's pretty much not busy. Not sure if that a good or bad thing but I love it. Every BBQ place I go to is crazy busy. Second, we order from where we are seated. Customer service here is great. They all know what they are serving & give great options when we got questions. So BBQ is pretty awesome here! Not too saucy just how I like it. So if you get it as ribs or sandwiches, it's just ALL good. Love their sweet potato fries & that they serve with chipotle sauce. I always ask for more. I can't wait to visit again. Drooling just writing all this.
(5)Paul T.
We have been to Kaminski's several times since their (re?)opening on Poway Rd. The parking lot isn't huge but there are other lots and small side streets within a few yards. This visit I had a BBQ combo of Hot Link sausage and brisket, while my wife had the 1/4 Rotissierie Chicken. The Combo was a very big portion of both beef and sausage, with very good fries and baked beans. (They usually offer Ranch Beans but are trying our the baked beans instead. They were good but I prefer the Ranch beans.) My wife's chicken was just a fraction dry, but still fine. She did say it tasted (and it looked to me) as if it were smoked chicken, perhaps they cook it both ways? We received very good and attentive service. The restaurant is well decorated and furnished, always spotlessly clean and a good place to catch a game. My wifes dinner was under $10, and my combo was $24. One one hand the combo seems a little steep but the BBQ was very good and the portions were big enough to have a good take home box (I've just finished a scrambled egg and hot link breakfast burrito at home. If the drink prices were a bit lower and/or the combo was $21 I'd happily give 5 stars, but I think 4 is appropriate. There are not a huge number of restaurants in Poway but this is one of the good ones.
(4)Paula D.
Pulled Pork Sandwich was good, baby back ribs were good too liked the atmosphere and next time will bring friends and check out the band. :)
(3)Jacqueline S.
Love the brisket and garlic fries!! Great place for kids as they have lots of board games to keep kids entertained while waiting for their food.
(4)Laura U.
Great service. Decent food. LOTS of great TV's to watch all the games. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
(4)Sal Q.
Every now and then I forget how Kaminski's tastes and what it costs and go there because it's close by. And by the end of the meal I remember why I don't go. The food isn't bad, but compared to Famous Dave's, Claim Jumper, or a couple little bbq hole-in-the-wall places whose names I can't remember (one on Miramar), it's way too overpriced for the portions you get and the taste of the food. The host sat us down and left us one menu. When the waitress came by to ask if we were ready, my wife said "not yet, we only got the one menu", and she said "oh ok" and left. That was it, no new menu. She spent the rest of the evening being slow for everything including our check, and I noticed at least one other waitress wasn't doing much better... I could hear the people next to me grumbling the same way we were. This was on a Friday night, but it was around 5:30, before the rush. We watched our waitress stand around talking with the bartender for at least 5 minutes while our check worked hard to grow legs on its own and get to us. I thought back to the last couple of times we were here, and recalled something similar happened each time. I think the reviewers who got great service were lucky enough to get great service, but I don't think it's consistent and pushed by the owners well enough. So maybe with this review I'll remember to never visit again, there are better places to go to instead.
(1)Kathy P.
Ewe! I wanted to cry when my husband and I left this place.... We stopped in for a rare afternoon out for happy hour/ dinner. We had been here previously for the latenite band bar scene, so this was a first for the food experience. All I can say is AVOID the hummus and pita happy hour platter.($5) An absolute rip off. OK if you like to just eat bread but the hummus was horrible.... and the "veggies" that come with it consisted of two finely shredded celery pieces and two carrots. Then came the horrific sliders....($5) not bad if you like bread, heavy bread, and sauce... I wanted to barf when I left this place.... My husband is a real meat and sauce lover and he admitted he was very disappointed... Btw, the wait staff was stellar and I give them a thumbs up... We left the business at about 6 pm, a wed. eve. and the place was empty, more staff than customers... not sure but hopefully they were expecting the bar crowd to show up? Very disappointing....
(2)Jim L.
Not a bad place to stop by and have a drink or and appetizers. They do have a good selection of appetizers. I would suggest the onion rings, the homemade potato chips or the garlic fries. Can you tell I have a liking for fried food? Obviously not a healthy choice but a tasty one to say the least. The dinners themself are decent but the portions are small. There are much better BBQ places out there and much better on this street. This place always seems to be crowded and parking can be tough but they do offer vallet. While it's not a bad place, I believe the name is the draw here. They have a full bar but not a lot of drafts to choose from. Enough however to quench a thirst. Service was ok and we got seated immediately in the bar.
(3)Dianne O.
Too bad a rating lower than a 1 star cannot be given. This place certainly deserves it. The 1/3 pound burger was ordered medium rare and came out like a hockey puck, and it was smaller than a regular burger; lots of bun, though. The fries were cold and soggy. The sweet potato fries that we paid extra for were soggy and cold. The corn that we paid extra for was spoiled (very bad taste) and was cold, the kernels were wrinkled. $7.98 for a child's meal that consisted of two bland chicken fingers and an ear of bad corn is way overpriced. The BBQ barely hit the OK mark. The waitress breezed by, did not stop, and threw over her shoulder, "So how is everything? OK?" and kept on going. Did not stop for an answer. At least the beer and the water were cold!!. Overall, one of the worst dining experiences we've had in a long time. We'll never go back.
(1)bre l.
If you love sports, and food great choice. I ordered the cobb salad, it wasn't all that great. I know I know, my fault next time I will get their bbq items.
(4)Patrick W.
I've been here before and Kaminski's is OK. The meat has been pretty good but everything is prepared beforehand and that works for some things, but not others. Pros: The meat The place is clean The food comes out very fast Cons: Small portions Early preparation of the sides makes them tough (fries, corn on the cob) Parking here is atrocious but they do offer valet The service was good the first time I went here, but poor the second time. This place is in walking distance to my house and has a nice bar. I'll probably try it again if I want to stop by for a drink and would eat at the bar. I don't see myself suggesting it though on my family nights out.
(3)Kirt W.
There aren't many good options in Poway so Kaminski's get a strong review out of the gate. This is a fairly new restaurant built on the ashes of Dad's (anyone remember Dad's?). I've tried the ribs and pulled pork on a few occasions and been very happy. Good beer selection and full bar which is a plus but it can get a bit loud. But...if you're in Poway and want a sit down meal and a cold beer, Kaminski's is your best option.
(4)Sarah M.
I'm not the biggest fan of BBQ, but I like it from time to time. Wilmar D. is a HUGE fan of BBQ and we've seen this place a bunch of times so we decided to stop in. First thing I noticed: the SPACE. There's A LOT of it and it's a nice looking restaurant. Plenty of tv's to watch whatever sport you are into and just lots of room to get comfy. We seated ourselves at the bar and got to ordering. Drinks are pricier than I wanted (6 for a jack and coke, 5ish for coors light), but with a nicer environment, you pay more for drinks. Foodwise, I ordered the beef ribs with corn and mac and cheese, and Wilmar ordered the baby back ribs with fries and beans. The beef ribs were a-okay, but not my fav (btw, PHIL'S is my fav, mmmhmm). BUT, don't get me wrong, they were still tasty and the meat was falling right off of the bone. The corn was amazing, but corn is just amazing to begin with, so that's not really praising them that much haha. I liked how they served it with butter though!! :) The mac and cheese was just OKAY, just wasn't cheesy enough for my personal liking. I ate off of Wilmar's plate and i LOVED the baby back ribs! They were delicious. The fries were pretty good too. So the food was decent, but unfortunately the service wasn't similar. Everyone was nice in general, but our bartender didn't come by very often, so we were often waiting (to order food, to order another drink, to ask for water, etc). If it was busy, I might have understood, but it wasn't, so I was disappointed. Overall, it was an OKAY experience. It is a beautiful restaurant with decent food, but the service could be better. Also, side note, they have karaoke once a week and happy hour, in case any of you readers were interested :)
(3)Natalie M.
Not a bad place to go and watch a game or have a drink, but the food is not so awesome. They do have a decent HH from 3-6 and 9-11 with $5 apps and specialty drinks and $1 off all pint. Pros: fun and upbeat atmosphere, TVs in every directions, plenty of seating Cons: no parking, OK at best food, unhelpful staff I would probably only go back if I had no where else to watch a game and wanted to have a variety of things to drink.
(3)Selina H.
Valet in poway!? Better believe it. Ok beer. Ok food. Ok all around but not much to write home about.
(3)Robert S.
Cleanest Bar in Poway. Lots of TV's, lots of Beers, Drinks, Food. Family owned and Family run Restaurant with Good BBQ Food. Tables in the back for Family's and the Bar in front for the Sports Fans. I have always had Great Serve and will be back. Thanks JW
(5)Lysabeth L.
The beef ribs were yummy! Brisket was a bit dry. There was no wait for a Friday night. Karaoke was fun to watch!
(4)Matt G.
I have stopped by Kaminski's a few times for lunch. It's a really good local place for barbecue. As soon as you step in the door you are smacked in the face with a finger-lickin' good aroma. They have a variety of meals and drinks to choose from. The meat is tender and flavorful. The prices are good, the BBQ is good, the family who owns/runs it are nice. Good place to stop if you're in Poway craving BBQ. The costumer service has always been outstanding. Angela has always served me in the bar area. She is very personable and makes awesome drinks. They are a sports lounge so they have multiple flat screens playing all kinds of sports. They normally host events for UFC fights and other big "games" From what I understand they also are a big supporter of kids sports in the Poway area. I will absolutely be back and soon.
(5)Cherie T.
the food are just okay. i prefer Phil's BBQ. but if you're in the area, and Phil's is too far.. then check out Kaminski. It's good, but not great. But this restaurant is great for big groups and if you're sports person, this is your place... tons of tvs around the restaurant so you can be tuned in to a game. i ordered two BBQ Combos #1: 1/2 baby back ribs, hot link sausages, french fries and cole slaw #2: 1/2 rotisserie chicken, kaminski pulled pork, beans, and potato salad the ribs were good, the meat just falls off the bone, the pulled pork was soft and smokey. The chicken was good but not good enough for me to order it again. the hot links was just okay, nothing special. All the sides were just "meh; i've had better" If i ever do go back.. i'd like to order their 3 course meal ($17) on Sunday nights for dinner.
(3)Molly R.
We tried out Kaminski's last weekend. Although we did not have food it was an interesting experience. Karaoke night, the bar was packed...with....an older crowd, some children?? A weird wigged KJ. It was far out. He actually said "that was pretty good for a little black girl" after a woman was finished singing. Which I thought was a strange comment to make. It was a weird vibe. I don't see myself hanging out in this place. The drinks were ok, the entertainment was weird at best. I don't care for a bar that has children in it, and when they are singing the karaoke its even weirder. Save that for the kiddie parties and let the adults have their fun.
(2)Linda P.
I've come here several times I must admit the ambiance is good but the food is terrible. The only thing I could recommend is the corn on the cobb! However, I do like the fact they have a full bar. If you want BBQ go to Phill's its the best in town.
(2)Channer A.
Great atmosphere, Bar setup is fantastic, not a bad seat in the house, not a fan a places where you have bad seats, if it busy yea those chairs are open and your stuck with a bad experience. Not here. TVs are everywhere so it doesn't matter where u sit. Food is good, have not checked out anything special on the menu so my review will lack in that department, I might have had a ckn ceasar salad when I went idk but it was good. The only reason I'm not going higher is because the eye candy there is nothing to scream about..
(3)Joey M.
Went back to enjoy a little dinner. I just was not impressed with my experience. We sat in the bar and one of the bartenders was really bad. This lady just keep talking to some people she knew and really just forgot about us. What made it bad was she was talking about personal things that nobody really wanted to hear. She also totally half assed our drinks. She forgot to add a garnish to every drink. She might have asked us if we were ok once. As for the food, it was just average. The only good part of the night was the desert. The ice cream cake is worth trying. Luckily some Mexican bartender took over for the lady and was really cool. He was on top of it, but it was a little to late for us. Might come back???
(2)Jackie T.
This place is alright. Pretty good in general for the Poway area but it's still no Phil's. I had the beef brisket sandwich. The meat was cooked okay, a little on the dry side. The sweet potato fries were good but I've had better. The bbq sauce was good but nothing spectacular. They might be a good place for happy hour though. They do have a nice sports bar feel where you can grab a few drinks and have some appetizers. Also, the location is so weird. It's a random restaurant in the middle of who knows what kind of warehouse looking stores.
(3)Christopher K.
Came here for happy hour, the rib tips for $6 is about as good a deal as you can find. The food was good and the price was right.
(4)Be W.
This makes twice in three months that we have given this Sports Lounge a try and spent over $50.00 for two people, no alcohol was purchased. And got the worst service ever. The waitress could not seem to get to our table. Plenty of staff to help. Also touching her mouth over and over then sticking her fingers in a glass to take to bartender so he could fill the drink order. It took 2 hours to order food and eat and wait again for bill. This was Saturday October 19th 6:30pm. Extremely disappointing after dropping that amount of money. I would say just because the parking lot is full, still does not mean anyone in the place cares to have customer service. Do not bother. We have experienced better service, food for less money in Poway.
(2)Donna C.
This is THE BEST BBQ west of Memphis. Everyone I bring always want to come back. Everything on the menu is delish. The ribs are soooo fall of the bone tender. Their home made BBQ sauce is something I can drink and dab behind my ears. I also love the ribeye steak sandwich with a Real Ribeye Steak. The stekl delmonico is equally tender and flavorful. The best way to describe Kaminski's menu is everything is made with love. Another must try is their home made Mud Pie...OMG BECKY it's so good you'll slap your mama :-) The staff is above and beyond friendly, I am always remembered and made to feel welcomed. I am so glad I only live 2 miles from this fabulous restaurant, it is one I plan to use to cater our company's 4th of July BBQ party. I love this family owned restaurant, they are how ALL restaurants should be. I frequent here a few times a week because it's like going home for a wonderful meal. Thank You Kaminski :-)
(5)Alan W.
So a couple of friends and I visited late night to see if it the experience was any better than my prior dinner visit. I will admit there was an improvement but not a significant one. First impression visiting is that parking is a challenge. It's not that you have to park that far away, it is that you have to wait to pull out, U-turn on Poway Road, etc. if the lot is full. BBQ was bland, nobody enjoyed the food. I had the brisket which proved to be a big mistake. I've never eaten a leather shoe with ketchup...or maybe that is what I was served? Dessert was equally awful, the apple cobbler tasted like an old TV dinner dessert mixed with sawdust. Very few desserts I dislike but now I'm nervous to eat apple cobbler anywhere. We got a good laugh when we read the drink prices and the addendum at the bottom stating that prices may be higher when a band is playing. Really? Charge a cover if the band is that good, don't bump the cost of my drinks! I will give props for being one of very few clean, decent places open late in the Poway area. The TV wall is great for watching sports. The servers are hit or miss. The vibe is a bit weird (is it a sports bar? BBQ? a 40+ swinger bar?) Not sure I'll rush out to return unless there isn't much else open late...
(2)Lefev J.
Went here with the family for dinner one evening. We sat out on the patio, which was much better than inside which is very loud. I understand it's a sports bar type place, but it was full of families with kids, with tv's blaring, it was just too loud in there for me. The portions are on the smaller side and nothing worth going back for. The meat does have a very distinct smoke flavor which I am not a fan of. Our server was pretty slow IMO, and the prices seemed inflated to me for what you get. Parking is not good here, the lot is very small and oddly shaped so we parked across the street by the old overflow parking for the Ford dealership, which is a dirt lot that the restaurant uses for parking. Considering our first experience, I think it will be our last.
(2)Edward H.
While Phil's BBQ is by far the clear favorite for BBQ in San Diego, this Poway establishment is definitely worth mentioning amongst the top places in San Diego. Working in the Poway area, I've had several chances to try Kaminski's during lunch and have never been disappointed. I typically order the garlic fries appetizer. These are just about the BEST garlic fries I've ever had. They're typically served with a chipotle dipping sauce that make them that much better. You can't beat that for a starter. On my first visit, I selected the Smokin' Taco Trio, and have repeatedly ordered the same menu item each and every time I've been there. You get three tacos and can choose between the Brisket, Kaminski's Pulled Pork, Carolina Pulled Pork, and Pulled BBQ Chicken. It's an excellent way to try the different BBQ meat options. The tacos are topped with cabbage, pico de gallo, and the chipotle sauce. The combination of tacos and garlic fries just can't be beat. My friends have ordered other menu item and have all been happy with the food. They also offer a pretty decent variety of beers, which goes well with the sports bar ambiance. If you're ever in the Poway area, I would highly recommend giving this place a try. An extremely nice woman, who I believe is the owner of the establishment, will frequently walk around and check on the customers, which I found to be excellent customer service.
(5)Jaime R.
We tried this place out again and the waiter was great!
(4)Mel P.
No complaints, food was great. I love the BBQ pulled pork sandwich. Staff was friendly. Will definitely go back.
(5)Joe M.
I just went this weekend. I had the beef brisket sandwich with the garlic fries. They were both delicious but eating the entire plate of garlic fries was a mistake and I paid for it but so good. I don't think humans should consume that much raw garlic and thousand island dressing. I couldn't help it. Those fries committed a hate crime on my stomach. I will go back and repeat.
(4)Tony D.
Went here with a good friend of mine on a Friday night. Expected to have a long wait, but was seated quickly. Service was great. The food was good and I found the BBQ sauce to be good. Great place to watch some sports and hang out. I wouldn't take my wife there on a date night though.
(4)Peter F.
Nothing special, just another corporate-feeling restaurant. Decent beer selection, food is good (large portions), staff is very friendly - but I can't shake the vibe of the place. Granted both times I was in there, I've been below median age by a good 15 years, but I kept feeling like I was in an Airport-area chain steakhouse.
(3)Jessica G.
Go to this place!! It's great! They are super friendly and the Karolina pork sandwich is excellent!! Yumm. My husband and I enjoy the tvs and experience!! Check it out on Sunday!
(5)Darrel U.
*Parking - not so good, but they offer free valet + tip of course *****Atmosphere - Excellent. It's crowded, but clean, spacious and a decent amount of monitors. Friendly hostess too. **Service - Attentive, but disorganized ***Food - The Iowa ribs were decent. Strange thing though, I got a full rack that was split into two. One rack was was tender and tasty. The other rack was very dry. They name their bread "Texas Toast", so I was expecting a large buttery cheese toast type of concoction, but it was only a small half roll with barely any butter. -Oddities- All the employees were really pushing the mud pie on everybody. It was decent, but nothing special. A bit confusing...You can order and serve yourself or you can opt for the sit down service. The self serve section was mixed with the sit down service which was a bit odd. Overall a it was decent experience.
(3)Vicki A.
The Great- it's clean The good - the food The bad - the lack of a lunch menu The ugly - the speed of service Went here during my lunch break. NO ONE in the staff was in a hurry. They were nice enough and the food was good. I wish there was a lunch menu. I was 20 minutes late back from an hour lunch. I think they've been open for awhile - so I guess they just aren't looking for the lunch crowd. Since I don't live in Poway - I probably won't be returning any time soon to dine. Too bad - they're food is good
(2)Michelle Y.
Came here for an office lunch outing for someone's birthday. The place itself is pretty nice with large windows so there was plenty of natural lighting. The Ghana vs. Uruguay World Cup game was playing on all of their flat panels - almost everyone there was really into it (we became absorbed into it as well). On to the food: I was recommended to try their Kaminski Pulled Pork Sandwich. It was pretty good but it was nothing more special than I've had at other places. However, I will say that while another BBQ establishment I go to serves only the sandwich for $7, Kaminski has a side of your choice with the sandwich for $8-9 so with this I was quite pleased. Definitely try their sweet potato fries! They have fresh-made chips which are pretty good, but I wouldn't shell out the money for it. You can get almost just as good chips at the grocery store at a cheaper cost.
(2)Ben S.
I stopped by here for lunch yesterday while I was getting my tires did across the street. It was okay but I wasn't impressed with the food especially considering how expensive it was. There was no lunch menu so all of the meals were around $15 ore more. I wouldn't recommend this to others for lunch. Maybe for dinner or to watch a game.
(2)Lucynda S.
Great food, great decor, friendly staff. I love Kaminski's. I highly recommend the Garlic fries. They are AMAZING. The food is a little pricey however but depending on what you get it is well worth it :)
(4)Kelly Y.
I love their grilled cheese sandwich and garlic fries when they do it right. The food quality, to-go staff and overall consistancy is hit and miss. I would prefer to do lunch here.
(3)Laura L.
I have gone here the last two weels to watch the Chargers game (or highlights of the blacked out game on Red Zone). The restaurant itself is really nice. There are a lot of TVs and for the most part you can see the Chargers game from any seat. Of course they have other games for other team fans! The servers are all very nice. The food is okay. Not the best BBQ but decent. I do love the Carolina Pulled Pork platter. I am so glad they brought it back because they got rid of it when they changed it to Dad's. Very sad about the fire, but they did a great job in rebuilding it and bringing back the old name. The mudd pie is very good! Try it!
(4)Greg B.
I went here for lunch last week and wanted to clarify one thing -- they have ample free parking less than a block away, so you don't' have to valet. As for the review... had a pulled pork sandwich and sweet potato fries. Both were good, although the aoli sauce was bland and tasteless. Overall, decent service. However, everything was prices a few bucks above acceptable. The fries were $3.99 and the sandwich was 8.99. With an iced tea, my whole meal came out to over $15 which is overpriced for lunch -- especially at a BBQ/bar in Poway. drop the prices a few bucks and it was a pretty decent meal.
(3)Ed G.
Awesome BBQ and will definitely head back soon. Great place for lunch.
(5)Sylvia H.
I also wanted to like this place, but it's not that great. The BBQ was ehhhhh. Well, maybe if you like SMOKED bbq, then you might like it. My friend's potato salad was completely dry and bland. It's like they forgot the mayo and seasoning. She had to ask for mayo and she added a bunch of salt/pepper/mustard to season it. Sorry - it's a nice atmosphere for the food doesn't cut it.
(2)Melanie B.
If you want good bbq, do NOT go here! If you want so-so bbq, do NOT go here! It's that bad! My husband got take-out the week this opened. We ordered: cowboy ribs with potato salad and beans, pulled pork with fries and mac salad. Pulled pork sandwich--I had to ADD my OWN BBQ sauce from my pantry (Sweet Baby Ray's) because there WAS NO FLAVOR! I had to ADD SALT and PEPPER to the mac salad because there was NO FLAVOR! The fries were previously frozen and then fried--you could tell--Ore Ida has better fries than Kaminskis! Cowboy ribs--My husband had to ADD BBQ sauce to it. It looked like it was smoked and should have a smoked flavor, but there was NO FLAVOR! His potato salad was GROSS and the beans were GROSS! We threw the food away, it was so disappointing! The prices were TOO much for the sorry, small portions they gave. Smokin Joe's is 10 times better and Phil's is 100 times better than this place! Bottom line: Do NOT go here! Waste of money!!!
(1)Gena B.
I don't eat a lot of BBQ, so you might not want to go by me... BUT, I dine out A LOT.... k - quick to be seated. nice inside. clean. host got us drinks right off - which i TOTALLY appreciated b/c at most places, you have to wait and wait to get something. And I was specific on my drink and it was exact. my friend and i ordered the same thing, so i can't tell you much about the menu options - we both got the pulled pork sandwich. I'm not good with "sweet" things, and the sauce was too sweet for me (I'm hyper sensitve though) but the meat was REALLY tender and i LOVED the bun. It made a MESS though! lol. the mac and cheese was SUPER good but i was trying to stay away from carbs, so i was disappointed that there wasn't a "vegie" option or something for the side - ALL of the sides were potatoes, pasta, corn, etc. I asked my friend and he said he thought it was "ok" for better or worse, we ate at around 1pm and as of 9pm i still wasn't hungry. i would try it again. The lunch menu was basicaly $7-$10 per lunch item. For a sit down restaurant, i thought it was ok. Service was ok. Good iced tea (i'm particular) and great with the refills.
(3)Ima d.
I had such high hopes for this place, only to be let down... In fact this place is walking distance from my house and I won't go anymore. Pathetic attempt at BBQ, mediocore service, but everyone is polite... I personally think they spent to much money making this place look fancy, and not enough on the basics. There are places where they need to add more TV's infact it looks like they plan to but ran out of money. If you want real BBQ go to smokin joes down the street and if you want a sports bar go to Oggis.
(2)Laurie P.
My review only addresses the bar area. The bar has a nice open feeling with the high ceiling and very clean. Decent sized dance floor and quick service with the drinks. I loved the live music on Saturday night; quality classic rock, a group called Classic Buzz. This was my first visit; I live out of town now, but will go back when in town.
(5)Sandy M.
Great food and I love the super Q truck!
(4)Raffy Joy B.
has a good restaurant week menu, a little above average bbq spot, ribs were good, atmosphere good, TVs playing sports was excellent, parking's horrible... would return
(3)A B.
I used to come here when they first opened up. It was a a great food, good deal with good size portions. Now its 180 degrees difference, its crappy food, lousy service and half the size portions for a lot more money. As always you are only good as your last meal served, and I've been here few times during the last month and I had to finally give up on the place. There is another BBQ Brick place in Poway that is decent. Perhaps, a short drive to Brett's BBQ in Rancho Bernardo. Save your hard earned money.
(1)Darlene J.
Pretty good place to go! Food is really good and with all the TV'S Hubby is happy! Took the family right after Thanksgiving and everyone enjoyed it & are asking if we can take them again.
(4)Sandra U.
Love the atmosphere of this place. Kids are around, but they're not the dominant noise or population. This would be a great place for happy hour or a casual dinner. The music level is just right for conversation, and there are big screens everywhere with various sports on. Now, the food: yum! I'm a fan of sweet and spicy barbeque versus tangy barbeque. Their sauce has just a hint of sweet with plenty of tang and spice. I loved it. My husband and I split an order of beef ribs and could barely finish it. We had potato salad and beans for the sides. The beans kinda sucked. The menu is full of barbeque favorites and there is quite a selection of salads and other entrees as well. They have a hand washing station right in the dining area which is really nice after you've been chowing on barbeque and you want to hang out and drink with friends and don't want to miss anything by trekking all of the way to the head. Good wine selection. Good service. Yes, there is mandatory valet on Fridays and Saturdays, which really isn't a BAD thing because parking around there can be pretty hellish. Valet is free, but we always tip $2 for it. So what? You're out for a good time! To-go is an option for those on the run or who don't feel like being social. I'm sure I'll be doing this once in a while on work nights when I don't feel like cooking! We will DEFINITELY be back and we will be brining friends.
(4)Shannon D.
I love the new layout of the place and the upgraded modern style. Food was OK.... don't even remember what I ate. Its a total meat head venue, with TVs covering every wall space. Not my normal go to place, but my dad digs it and its usually where we go when I go visit him up in Poway.
(3)Joslyn M.
I'm giving two stars and I'm being generous. They only get the extra star because of previous experiences which weren't this terrible. The food is good. I love the pulled pork melt, it's juicy and has mac n cheese, which should be a staple in every American's diet. They lost their first point when I realized for two sandwiches and garlic fries I was going to be paying $32+. The second point was lost when I called ahead and was told "5-10 minutes" when it actually took over 20 minutes. It's cool, if you need more time, just don't quote me 5 minutes on the phone. The third point was docked after the gentleman handed me the bag and told me my briscuit sandwich was on top. I advised him we had ordered two pulled pork sandwiches, zero briscuit. SO THE GUY PROCEEDS TO TAKE THE LID OFF THE BOXES AND OPEN UP BOTH OUR SANDWICHES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT KIND THEY ARE! This was not a kitchen worker whose hands are thoroughly washed on a regular basis. No. This was the cashier that probably just sneezed into that hand two minutes earlier. I'm pretty grossed out right now.
(2)Austin R.
Let's start at 3 stars. +1 for bar area - plenty of room, lots of tables, huge bar, lots of TVs +1 for service - attentive and nice waitresses 0 for drink prices - $5.25 for a 23oz Stone during happy hour - reasonable. -2 for food - we had both types of wings. The BBQ were sickly sweet, the HOT I'm pretty sure they just poured Frank's over them. Nothing against Frank's, but I would expect something I can't make at home. We're back to 3 stars. I won't go back.
(3)Emily G.
We go here about once a month (I wish more) and love it! They are dog friendly so we bring our pup and sit on the patio. They bring out a cute lil' dog bowl with dog treats and a water bowl. Fun karaoke nights too! The wait staff is amazing and the owner is actively involved and visits tables throughout the restaurant. Very fun environment and my parents love to come here when they are in town visiting! Great family place!
(4)Rachel G.
Unbeliviable! We drove all the way out from ob to have dinner around 930 because they're site says they close at 12, apparently they decided to close early with no notice on their site. Wasted half a tank of gas and a great deal of disappointment. You cant just close down without notice!! That's terrible buisness. Was really looking forward to having the pulled pork sandwich and sweet potatoe fries, ruined evening. Ended up at in and out burger, at least they're consistent.
(2)Maria K.
We came from work for a business lunch, and had to come back with my family to see the Green Bay/Falcons game! Great food, good service, very clean. Ordered the pulled pork sandwich, and not only the BBQ sauce was great, but the bun was warm. Also the fruit salad was made from fresh cut apples and oranges. The attention to detail was very refreshing. We will keep coming for the food and the atmosphere. Oh yes, and they have valet parking, so be ready.
(4)Kristen J.
I was hesitant to go here after such mixed reviews, but we ended up having a really great meal. The pulled pork is really great, the sides are also well done (coleslaw, fries, sweet potato fries) and the BBQ chicken salad was super tasty. Great service, nice atmosphere.
(4)Chris C.
Passed by this place last night and thought we would give it a shot. Nice sports bar ambiance, might have found my local spot to watch my Sooners play...We loved the food (fall off the bone baby backs, pulled pork and brisket) and our waitress Janet was fantastic! It got a bit noisy once the dinner rush was on but that was ok, just meant I didn't gave to ride my 5 y/o sons ads to be quiet...t they have a large selection of family board games so after we ate we played yahtzee! Who doesn't love some good bbq AND family game night without having to do the dishes? Only complaint was that the drinks are WAY overpriced....
(4)eris a.
If I was total man's man, I would totally be into this place. Good ass barbecue, flat screens everywhere, huge open space, and a big bar. Nothing else to say. That about sums it up.
(3)Brendan L.
The food is pretty good. I like the sweet potato fries and BBQ sauce. But please tell me why a BBQ PLACE DOESN'T SERVE CORNBREAD. That is unsettling to me. I thought the waitress was kidding me when she said they don't have it. To counter my request she said they have mud pie. Really? Because when I think of BBQ I really think of mud pie.
(3)jerome q.
BBQ that you don't have to wait in line for an hour or so. Plus they serve mac and cheese!!!
(3)Dejah U.
2 for Dinner on a weekend. Very disappointing. Food OK, overpriced BBQ dinner. We've been looking for some REAL Carolina BBQ (like the kind in Carolina), and a friend mentioned Kaminski's. First, who has valet at a BBQ place?? I thought that was neat, and convenient. The hostess was very welcoming, so we were off to a good start. We ordered: Ribs with fries and coleslaw; and the Carolina Pulled Pork PLATE with baked beans and coleslaw. We got our food and let me tell you, DO NOT order the pulled pork plate if you're hungry. I'm not exaggerating when I say that there was only 1 cup of pulled pork on the plate (guess we should have ordered the sandwich without the bun, probably would have been more meat for less $$). Quantity aside, quality was just as poor. The pork had an overwhelming vinegar taste, and the coleslaw was more of a soup than a slaw (which some people like, just not me). The ribs were good - it had great smoke and caramelization, and it wasn't dowsed in sauce. The fries were typical bar fries, so I enjoyed them. I ran out of water (my drink) at the beginning of our meal, and our server disappeared until it was basically check time (funny how that happens). And I was pretty parched from the acidic pork... so that didn't add to an overall positive experience. Glad we tried it, I'm ALWAYS up for BBQ, but I'll never go back. MAYBE for the ribs, but doubt it. It was too pricey, and not good enough.
(2)Ryan D.
This place has the best BBQ in SD IMO! I get this sample plate that has a little bit of everything.
(4)george g.
This is about as good as it gets for bbq. Hands down the best I have had. Even better than I can make 5*****
(5)Willy E.
Kaminski's is great. I consider it a rarity among sports bars as it's a) very clean b) has plenty of space c) lacks that musty smell of typical sports bars d) the food is pretty good. Sure it's not 5-star BBQ, but I happily go there for my BBQ. Solid selection of beers on tap, including the newly introduced Pacifico on tap, which is excellent. The prices are very fair - great value for a day at Kaminski's. Family-owned, ownership and staff are very friendly. Only downside, the game-watching is less ideal than you'd expect, considering everything else is so professional. Sometimes they have the same game on 3 tv's side by side, which is more dizzying than anything. And their overall selection of football games has been lacking on several occasions - I walked in last Sunday to a packed restaurant, but only 2 games, one of which was a baseball game. I know Kaminski's just got off the ground recently and so far so good (if not great). But they need to improve the games offered, to truly be called a sports bar (or lounge)...
(4)Beth F.
Good food, customer service and BBQ!
(5)Larry S.
Stopped in for the advertised BBQ. Almost walked back out the door at the price. Smelled good with a pleasant atmosphere so we thought we would give it a try. Food taste and quality was excellent, IMO the best real BBQ in SD. The price cost it a star, a half rack of ribs and a serving of pulled pork with simple sides should NOT cost $22.
(3)Kira R.
Kaminski's is Amazing! Angela rocks from drink service to her awesome karaoke entertaining! Try anything and everything here!
(5)Josh F.
I ordered their pulled pork burger with sweet potato fries and coleslaw. I liked the presentation, and the pulled pork was very moist and tasted great. I read some of the other reviews claiming bad service, but my waitress Jamie was very nice and helpful and came by every 5-7 minutes of so to check if we needed anything and if the food was good. Very nice atmostphere, suitable for families on non-game days(i went on a sunday late a night when it was kind of slow), and a pretty standard looking island bar with more more tv monitors than I could count. I'd definitely recommend anyone that likes some good bbq and a nice laid-back atmosphere to Kaminski's. 4 stars
(4)Adam M.
Ehhh...not horrible but not really good either. Good menu but the execution was lacking. Service was good though, I would give it another try and see if it has improved
(2)Pat T.
Good food, busy atmosphere. Seems to be one of the best choices in the Poway area for dinner. We haven't found anything better.
(4)David D.
drink prices are RIDICULOUS! That ain't no happy hour.
(2)White R.
We turned around at the door. We went out on a Saturday night just looking for a cool place to have some drinks at the bar, so we decided on a local bar. We arrived three hours before the band was supposed to show, and they wanted a $5 cover charge for us. Hogwash! The place looked very large, a few people in there, and we weren't even going to stay that long. They should at least have a place for people to go who don't care about the band, just want some drinks. We will not go back and try again. Cover charges are ridiculous. I've been to plenty of bars who have live music and have no cover charge!
(1)Yvonne W.
So soooo good! I've been twice so far and absolutely love it! FINALLY a GOOD local BBQ joint!
(5)Ann T.
I LOVE THIS PLACE...the food was SOOO good and the atmosphere was awesome. There was a live band playing and of course the company I was with made the whole night even better. We had the pulled pork and potatoe salad. WOW! I definitely love the BBQ sauce they make. It's NOT Phil's but I definitely recommend it!
(5)Checkin I.
Food is pretty good , Janet the server is the best , One big problem is that they charge you $3 to get in to watch a band , Even if you are ordering food and beers, that is plain wrong , what a rip off , and the guy at the door doesn't care , sais we have to pay for the band...idiot
(2)Jeff G.
Not so bad for SoCal. Let's face it, this neck of the woods is going to be about Central or South American cuisine, with a sprout and tofu pizza thrown in from time to time just to make us question the regions sanity. Kaminski's has reasonably competent Q at a reasonable price, with enough TV's tucked in around the edges to make boring dinner companions tolerable. The sauces are decent if ordinary, the meats have a nice smoky flavor, the sides range from ok to above average. And they have that rarity, a hand rinse sink out in the dining room that you rarely see outside of Texas. Would I make a special trip to have dinner here? No. Would I grab a buddy and drop in if I was staying nearby on business (which I am)? Definitely. Approach it with that expectation and you'll be fine.
(3)Angela L.
I really enjoyed my Iowa baby back ribs and my husband's steak was tasty. I don' t know why they rating is so poor. It has an inviting and fun atmosphere. Going back for a work lunch soon.
(4)Andrew F.
I'm really starting to like this BBQ sports bar a lot. I have had amazing BBQ here and I have seen some food come out of the kitchen that I thought was below their quality. You do have to be a little forcefully with them if you think the food is not perfect and have them redo the plate and have them get it right. But when they do get it right it's really good. The best deal is the BBQ platter for 19.99. It's plenty of food for 2 people. Service is good usually. I have had less then average service there but I can deal with that as long as the food is satisfying. Try this place and be proactive with their servers otherwise you might not see or taste their true quality.
(4)Darrell H.
Found out about this place because of their Super Q truck. Tried it out and loved it! My first trip I just got a Bacon Cheese Burger and a side salad. The burger was nothing short of amazing. The meat was full and juicy, and the bacon was nice and thick and full of flavor. My 2nd trip around I celebrated my birthday there with the GF and my parents. Everyone was very please with their meals. This time around I tried the St. Louis burger. A burger topped with pulled pork. It was so damn big and filling and full of flavor. This time around I tried the mac and cheese as my side and everyone agree that it was delicious. I tried out the pork ribs my GF had ordered and they were kind of standard (which is why I took away a star). But overall the place is great with amazing tasting food, clean interior, tons of TVs (cant wait to try this place out during football season) and so far the service from the waitresses has been A+.
(4)Qrious2no K.
Love this place! Service is amazingly attentive and the staff is super friendly. They have an outside seating area with a fire pit, great happy hour location. They also have live music, I'll be there on June 24th for that! Oh and Hands Down, they have THE BEST mac'n'cheese...
(5)Janinius B.
Kaminski's just recently opened and is all shiny and new. The atmosphere is nice with big screen t.v.'s on the walls and tasteful decor. The food was delicious: the onion rings were crispy and tasty ( a must try), the ranch was creamy, the buns on the sandwiches were soft and fresh, I had the veggie burger which was great and my friend had the Carolina pulled pork and loved it. Service was friendly. I will be back.
(5)Rich Y.
I'm a Kaminski's regular for 4 great reason. Great Food, Great Atmosphere, Great Value, Great Service! The Brisket, BBQ Chicken, Pulled Pork and Sweet Potato Fries are 4 more good reasons to go there too! Best BBQ in Town!
(5)Lori I.
My husband and I have been coming here for awhile now. We love the food and the sports bar area. When our daughter was born we didnt go out much but when we did we tended to go to Kaminski's a lot. Every time we did they were so accommodating to us. They would put us in the back part of the bar where it was quiet and where we could watch sports and enjoy our dinner. Our daughter loved it cause it wasnt terribly noisey or overwhelming. So when we started planning our daughters 1st birthday party we were trying to decide where we wanted to get the food. It was a no brainer to us we chose Kaminski's. To say it was a hit would be an understatement. Everyone LOVED it and I can bet they will be coming into the restuarant to eat very soon! Ordering the catering was so simple too. I spoke to Marsha and she was super sweet and helpful. Pickup was so easy and the food was just perfect. I didnt get any serving utensils which I think my husband just forgot to ask for. But overall the food was a huge hit at our party and it made the day that much better and special so thank you very much!!!
(5)nan e.
I really like this place. We go about 3 times a month for Saturday lunch. I think the BBQ sauce is better than Phils and the restaurant isn't as loud! Reasonably prices. Sometimes service at the bar is slow, but I'm not in a hurry anyway. I tell all my friends about it.
(5)Don D.
Update: Wow, it seems like there have been several "insider" reviews that MUST be coming from family and friends. Nobody would write a review like some of these (I mean you Margaret S.) if they weren't related to the owners or if they had actually ever eaten BBQ. If you like Kaminski's food, you probably LOVE the McRib sandwich! I did get them a second try and came away equally if not more unimpressed. The beer was cold and they had college football games that weren't being broadcast locally, but the food is terrible and overpriced. 2 stars for beer and football only. I won't be ordering food here ever again. Not really sure what I was thinking when I wrote my original review and called the food "OK". Gross! Original Review: Maybe a 2.5 star. In all fairness, was only their 3rd night since opening but still some pretty serious issues to work out beyond the expected opening week troubles. First of all, they couldn't decide if they wanted to be a quick-service restaurant or a full service restaurant and bar so they've tried to do both in separate halves of the restaurant. It's a nice, large space, but not nearly enough parking. Not sure how they managed to get that permitted by the city. Secondly, for being a local family-owned establishment it has a really corporate impersonal feel, a la Applebees or TGI Fridays. The food is OK, but quite honestly this BBQ would be laughed out of town in Kansas City or Memphis or any other "real" BBQ town. Again, I'll cut them some slack since they just opened but the service was not all that friendly AT ALL and bordered on surly by the waitress (hostesses were quite pleasant). Finally, food and beverage prices are a little high. I think they're about 20% above what they should be for what they're offering. I'll be willing to give them another try, and I wish them success, but I think that they will have to make some adjustments to survive long-term.
(2)April J.
I went here with a coworker the other day and we ordered the bbq beef sandwich. They gave about 4 oz of beef and the bread was definitely overpowering. I also finished the whole meal, which I rarely do. That tells you how little food our meal came with. I wasn't too happy with my order because I had high expectations for this place ever since i went last time. There was not enough meat and it wasn't worth the money. My co-worker also thought so.
(3)Bethany P.
I haven't had anything here but the Carolina Pulled Pork sandwich. Being from North Carolina, it is very difficult to find a proper Carolina-style pulled pork sandwich with VINEGAR based BBQ sauce anywhere very far from the Carolinas. Kaminski's isn't perfect, but it's the closest thing to the Carolinas that I've found anywhere, so I LOVED it. Especially considering that they do other styles of BBQ, not just Carolina style. Their cole slaw is delicious. They don't offer BBQ slaw though, in case anyone else from the Carolinas is wondering. I prefer regular cole slaw anyways though, so it's great. A little slaw on the sandwich and a side of slaw to go along with it. Fantastico!! Their potato salad is a little dry - it could use a little more mayo and mustard. Mac and cheese was good, very cheesey. The atmosphere is also great. It's a new building, very nicely done, very clean inside. Everytime I've been here the service has been great. It's always a fun atmosphere with a large bar in the center of the main dining room and large screen TV's all around. If you're a Tarheel, missing a good, home-style barbeque sandwich, this place will hit the spot. It does for me every time!!
(5)KURT M.
was here on a Friday night happy hour with some co-workers. Staff was friendly enough. Full bar, and good beer selection. We got a BBQ sampler. I thought the Carolina style BBQ was good, but the other options were just okay. Lots of TV's though, so it would be a good option to go and watch a game.
(3)Lisa C.
Bobby Flay won't be doin' a throwdown at this joint!
(1)donna h.
Been to this one 4 times, for drinks & appetizers, dinner, lunch, and yes, Saturday breakfast. While only one thing is truly outstanding (the sweet potatoe fries), this is a nice, clean place for a casual meal at reasonable prices, with friendly owners & servers. Also plenty of TVs if you want to watch sports, and music at night if you want to dance (big dance floor). The ribs are OK, the pulled pork is better and the salmon steak is very good. We'll go again.
(3)Scott M.
Slow service. Small portions. High prices. I won't be back.
(2)Nancy W.
The ribs are fall off the bone good, very tender. The beef brisket is so very tender, not dry. Impressed.... On a Friday around 7 and 8 really not much of a crowd. Not much on tap and there is a full bar - but if you feel like BBQ this place really isn't that bad.
(4)Melissa R.
over priced & food was just okay
(2)Christina H.
So I decided to take my parents here while they visited from out of town, so we decided to give this place a go. The atmosphere was awesome, very open and sporty while still very classy. Our blonde waitress, I remember her name being Cassie (maybe started with a K?), well she was terrific. As my parents age, they get a little more uptight in the service industry...basically they are happy as can be when the service is great or they complain for weeks if it was horrible. We were greeted right away in a super friendly manner and was given our drinks within minutes. She was extremely knowledgeable of the menu and was always there whenever we had a request or needed anything. When a server keeps my picky parents extremely happy, I have to go out of my way to recognize them. The food was pricey, but good. The only downside was the miniature sized parking lot, but ample parking available close by. Overall, this was an awesome place with good food and great service, definitely will head back again!
(5)Carol P.
Great atmosphere, service and food. The rib tips appetizer is a full meal w side dishes. Best ribs ever!
(5)Cate D.
Ordered their sweet potatoe fries which were pretty darn good until we got halfway through to the STALE ONES!!!! What kind of restaurant does this????? They put fresh HOT ones on the top half and nasty, limp, stale ones on the bottom half???? What a joke that I was so embarrassed to even bring this up to the waiter. The brisket sandwich is edible but I swear their BBQ sauce tastes just like KC Masterpiece. I will NEVER be coming back. No wonder it was so dead during peak lunch hour.
(1)Phillip B.
Let me preface this by saying that the food here is decent compared to many of the other BBQ places in the area, but just not that great. The real reason for 2 stars is the service. We came here almost religiously, once a week for about 3 months because it was close. The servers/ greeter never once looked like they were happy to see us & the wait time for the food was wildly erratic. I think the last straw was waiting about 45 minutes for the food and then getting the wrong change & not being able to flag anyone down to fix it. Like I said the food's decent (not great) but the service won't ever have me going back there. Too bad...
(2)Michelle D.
My husband and I have been wanting to give Kaminski's a try since they opened (reopened) last year. This past Friday, we decided we needed a date night and met at Kaminski's after work. Negative #1 - mandatory valet parking. Valet parking is a treat to some people, but should be an option for everyone! This is not the case at Kaminski's, there is no other choice. My husband was in his car in front of me talking to the valet 'boy' - but when I saw him get out of his car, I was surprised! I lowered my window and told him that we needed to go home and leave my car off since my work laptop was in the car, amongst other personal items I didn't feel comfortable leaving in the hands of a teenager. The valet was kind enough however, to offer to move a cone in front when I explained that for security reasons I couldn't give him the keys to my car. Hoping to salvage an evening, hubby reluctantly gave up his keys and allowed the valet to park his car. Again - valet service should always be a choice, since not every customer views this as a wonderful luxury! Plus, the parking lot isn't that big, why can't we park ourselves? Negative # 2 - small TVs. Kaminski's is advertised as a "sports lounge / BBQ" - with a wall of TVs offering a great view of the game. I would be extremely disappointed if I was meeting friends to see a ball game - the TVs are smaller than my son's TV in his bedroom. Yes, there were many 32 inch flat screen TVs, but if you're marketing yourself as a sports bar, you need more than a few 50+ TVs! Positive # 1 - fast and polite service. Immediately upon entering we were greeted by a friendly hostess. We decided to sit at the bar where we were waited on immediately. Our appetizer (nachos) came up quick, as did our drinks. We ordered a pulled-pork meal to bring home to our son. He didn't eat it until the next day, but it reheated ok, and he liked it, although he did have to add some Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce. Positive # 2 - decent Happy Hour prices. For two drafts, an appetizer, and a dinner to go, our check with tip came to $28 and some change. All in all, I still like the happy hour at the Brigantine better, but I suppose Kaminski's is OK given the options in Poway.
(3)Heather W.
I really like Kaminski's! It's a great place for good food, a fun atmosphere, and a place to get OUT in Poway, where there aren't a lof of fun options. Go here too if you want to watch sports!
(4)Monique B.
Did not eat here, but my friends and I stopped here after dinner to listen to the live band, 619, and have some drinks. The band was fantastic! Played a lot of classic rock and sounded great! We sat out on the patio since the inside seating was full. Patio was nice, but there were a lot of inconsiderate smokers out there.
(4)shawn p.
Went here for lunch around 1 on a Friday, August 6th, 2010. No problem being seated right away, got a quick glass of good iced tea. Ordered Carolina pulled pork sandwhich, sweet potato fries, and a salad with bleu cheese. Came out pretty quick. Fries were super! crispy, and hot, I ate them first because once fries get cold they lose their luster. They were great as was the chipotle dipping sauce! EXCELLENT! Pulled pork was perfect! Nice pile, great bun, and good cole slaw on top, just like it is supposed to be. Had some really authentic vinegar BBQ sauce. Yes, it is supposed to be watery- vinegar, and it has a bite! It was good so I had to try their traditional BBQ sauce. Being a fan of Sweet Baby Rays, if you buy store bought stuff, I thought this was really, really good. Not too sweet, semi-light, smooth, and not overpowering at all, with a little kick at the end. I would buy this in a bottle if they had it for sale (probably do). Salad was not your typical iceberg and a tomato, it was mixed greens and iceberg, chok full of tomatoes and carrots, and chunks of real bleu cheese along with the standard dressing! I was impressed for an extra buck-fifty! I am really into BBQ, I do my own slow smoked brisket, pork shoulder, ribs, etc.....I drive places to buy special woods, I am a food snob of sorts. I love Phils BBQ, but don't love their CRAZY wait. This place could quite possibly be better than Phil's. More menu items, different sides......I really am looking forward to coming back and trying other menu items. Next week, I'm trying the brisket. It is family owned and operated. Barbara served me and I couldn't begin to find a complaint. No joke, this is worth a little drive to check out. You won't have to wait in an hour or more line around the building and you won't have to hover over people to wait for their table. Nice big seating inside, as well as patio space and a big room for groups. No, I am not a friend, but I may end up one once I eat there several times in the next few months since I have a project in the area. I plan on seeing a lot of them in the near future. Go check this place out.
(5)Roselyn F.
This place is really good. It's a little more convenient than phil's bbq only because we didn't have to wait in a long line before entering. We went for a birthday celebration on a Friday night and it might be preferable if you make a reservation first. The food is great. Really tender. My husband had the Pork BBQ ribs and I had the BBQ beef. Bother really great and the meat falls off the bone. They also have what's called Friday Karaoke which is really nice entertainment too. Check it out! This is a family friendly place. I do agree parking fills up fast however there is a nearby parking lot and street parking as well.
(4)John And Leslie D.
I really like this place. The BBQ is good and the staff is friendly but most of all this is a great place to watch the games and it is family friendly as well. It's a family favorite!
(4)Andy S.
I went here for Happy Hour and a Chargers Game thinking it would be a great place to eat and have a beer... and watch the game. I was crowded and we ended up outside... Sweet, that's where all the smokers hang out so we kept getting wiffs of cigerettes and cigars as we ate out tasteless food.... which took an one and 15 minutes to get, after waiting 30 minutes to get our order taken.... The manager was so embaraased (we didn't complain but they recognized the lag) that he gave us $5 off our bill.... ye ha! So I went back here with some customers that were in town thinking that the service and food I received previously was due to their being so busy... The place wasn't busy at all.... again it took us 45 minutes to get our tasteless food.... They even messed up one our orders giving us the wrong plate... Lo and behold, it only took 10 minutes to bring the right plate... So why did we wait 45 minutes to receive all the rest of the food? Was it sitting under the heat lamp? So that's it for me.... I will NEVER go back to this establishment and waste my money again....
(1)Timothy S.
the bbq sauce was really good. i got a big platter full of all the meats. the meat on the ribs just fall off the bone. wings come in full size. the chicken, brisket, and pulled pork is awesome. "WAY TENDER MEAT". good texas toast, coleslaw, and potato salad. great place to eat BBQ.
(4)Ellen R.
My husband & I went to Kaminiski's on a Friday night. We arrived just before 5:30. It was busy! Parking was a little tight but we squeezed in. The atmosphere is casual with an energetic vibe. It's clean and well decorated. What impressed us was seeing the owners mingling with the customers. The service was great and the food wonderful. We ordered pork ribs and a couple of sides. It was just the right amount of food for the two of us. Nice mix of clientele.
(4)D H.
I've brought my family to Kaminsky's twice now and had a great experience both times. Food is good, the standard BBQ menu and BBQ prices. Atmosphere is great. They have a quiet dining side and a happening bar side with a wall of large monitors on one side and a few other monitors sprinkled througout. Nice set up to catch a game with friends. Living in PQ it's nice to have good BBQ nearby. Good restaurants are few and far between up here in north county. We'll be back often.
(4)Michael B.
both ketchup and vinegar based pork barbeque. First place I have found vinegar based bbq in San Diego
(4)maggie f.
My husband and I have been to Kaminski BBQ 2 times. The first time my husband ordered a beef brisket sandwich. It was so tough he had to send it back. I ordered 1/4 of a chicken and honestly it was the smallest 1/4 of a chicken I have ever seen. Was it a checken or a cornish game hen? The service was not real great. We decided to give it a second chance and went again on New Years Eve. Big mistake. We were seated in a corner and totally forgotten about. The waitress that took our order said that although this was not her "section" she would take our order. She took our drink order but failed to bring our drinks without 2 reminders. She then took our food order. My husband's steak sandwich was full of fat. How do you serve a steak sandwich that is full of fat. We then had to flag somebody down to get refills and my husband had to go find his own sweet and low. When we were ready to leave we asked for the check. whcih our waitress gave us. Our waitress never returned so we handed it to someone else. She then later returned with the wrong check illed to our credit card. A big mess! We will NOT go back!
(2)Donny P.
Beer is always cold. Good usually comes out hot even though it may take awhile especially when they are super busy at lunch time. Best place to sit is at the bar as the full menu is there and you can still see all the tvs with sports on all of them. Maybe I think service is snappier because the bartenders are super friendly and time passes quickly (sorry coworkers, you're nice to talk to also!). My favorite is the beef and cheddar. You can dowse your meat with either with the Carolina style vinegrette sauce or the standard yummy kamiski sauce. And if you feel like a fat kid, order yourself the tatie tots with jalapeños cheese and sour cream. Throw some pulled pork on top if you want!
(4)Catherine V.
The service and food here are about as good as my karaoke skills: bad. Came here for a friends birthday for their BBQ and Friday night karaoke and despite our reservation (made a week in advance) it took them over 30 minutes to seat us. Then even longer to be seen by a waiter! The food was average barbecue, nothing special but not bad - but I will say that our waiter wasn't very attentive or even cordial to us. He made us feel like it was a burden that such a large group (12 people) came it. When we finished our meals we waited, not exaggerating, for over an hour to receive our checks! It was unacceptable and unprofessional. We kept looking for our waiter to ask for the checks but he was no where to be found - for an entire hour! Later we we're told that our waiter had left without giving another staff member a heads up about our table needing service! I cannot believe the lack of common courtesy. Thank god the karaoke was there to entertain our large group otherwise there would have been 12 extremely upset and irritated customers - okay, MORE upset and irritated than we already we're. When a staff member from the back finally came to assist our tables it took another 30 minutes for our table to finally pay and be on our way. Worst customer service I've seen in a long time. Won't be back.
(1)Michelle M.
Went on a Sunday and it was not that busy. The restaurant is very open and roomy. You're greeted soon as you walk in. Customer service was great and our waiter was very knowledgeable. Brisket was tasty and moist. Ribs were a little dry. Almost like they were in the warmer too long (but still tasty). The potato salad was delish. Simple recipe not the yellow Costco kind. It tasted homemade. I didn't care for the Mac n cheese because it was very bland. It tasted mostly of flour so I just ignored it on my plate. Huge flat screens playing different games and there's a good view from every angle. You can still have a decent conversation and watch the game. Was able to visit the bathroom and it's very clean and very well maintained. That's always a plus. Our waiter came back several times and checked on us, refilled our waters often, and was just very pleasant. Will come back again. Thx :)
(4)Stacy T.
Kaminskis is amazing!!! First- the service is outstanding. Everyone is super friendly. They are always on top of there game in regards to customer service. Marsha one of the managers goes above and beyond to make sure her customers are happy. You don't see that to often. Second- the food- yummy! My favorite are the big wings. These wings are like the size of your face! We like them with no sauce. You get an awesome smokey flavor! There fries are super crispy and come with a chipotle ranch! Again- I cannot say enough great things about this place. Another bonus- they are the official OU SOONERS bar!!!!
(5)Arnel D.
Kaminski's is the type of bar where if you come here often enough, people will start to know your name. It's small but large enough for you and a few pals to get together chop it up and throwback a few beers or safe enough and decent food to being your girlfriend or wife. There are tons of food options and daily deals and a few big screen TVs. They show UFC matches, PPV boxing matches and even live bands. The food could be great but could be bad... I'm providing and overall rating since they have overflow parking, karaoke and beer 394! Give this place a try but during happy hour - you'll get more bang for your buck!
(4)Steph P.
I was really excited to come here after having some of their bbq on their food truck. Unfortunately, the food 'from the source' was not as good as the food on their food truck. Almost everything that was brought out to us was cold/tough. It was very disappointing. The prices are also pretty steep. Maybe its because we went here for lunch but all of our food was mediocre. I think i'll stick to their food truck.
(2)Michele M.
I love BBQ and I've lived in Memphis...for 5 months. I have yet to find BBQ that equals the BBQ I ate for 5 months in Memphis but Kaminski's comes a little closer. They have some delicious Pulled Pork and Baby Back Ribs. And their chips are awesome. Once again, I'm a sucker for home-made potato chips. My only complaint is that this place is a little pricey. I know smoking meat is time consuming because I smoke my own meat. But come on, this is in Poway and there are no views of the ocean if you know what I mean.
(4)S C.
Really comfortable local tavern. Great place to watch sports and the food is good with a wide variety. So for a kick back, easy and fun night out this is the place.
(5)Kimberly M.
Kaminskis is okay. The food is decent but it is pretty darn expensive. When I usually crave barbecue I make my way to Temecula for better and cheaper food. I would only come here if someone else wanted to go. Service seems iffy. One time it was super friendly and another the waitress seemed like she didn't give two fucks about being there. There's nothing here that really stands out. Some nights the tiny parking lot could be slammed. I do like the TVs here and sometimes they have karaoke nights. Very basic place.
(3)Tommy B.
Pulled pork sandwich is killer! Sweet slaw and the fries are light and not greasy. Not too bad for a Saturday evening!
(4)Carl L.
Great sports bar! Awesome Food!!! Get the 3 tacos! Mmm
(5)Claire C.
This place is pretty cool. The food is just ok but good atmosphere. They do have a lot of variety in their menu which I love! Super family friendly despite the dark bar like mood. Fun music and sports events too
(4)Terri G.
WOW!! What an amazing place!! I wish it was closer to where we live in Dana Point! ! We would be there all the time! We had a sporting event at the local HS and a large group stopped by before the game, with little warning and they were so accommodating!! Happy hour and the daily specials were so yummy! And drink specials great. The bar area is amazing!! Large. Multiple tables. Tons of TV's and the outdoor patio was so cool! Had an outdoor fireplace, darts and cozy couches. Our server, David, was phenomenal!! So accommodating! As people arrived, he just kept adding space for us! Food was terrific, service exceptional and they even gave us separate checks!! Wow. The younger kids had this totally cool wall of all sorts of board games to choose from to keep them entertained while the adults hung out and watched sports and visited. I want to again thank David and the other servers for making our time there exceptional. We were there Wednesday May 27, 2015
(5)Madeline N.
Exceptional service from Janet. What a gem she is! This was my first trip here and I can say I will gladly return and request Janet's section. She was attentive, honest and had great recommendations, she gets the whole serving thing- paying attention to every detail. The food was very good too, all around a great time in little old Poway. Thanks Janet!
(4)Jodi W.
I had them cater a golf event my company was participating in. It couldn't have been easier!! Stan took care of everything - at a VERY reasonable cost - and it was completely worry free! And DELICIOUS!! We had so many compliments on the food and just about everybody agreed Kaminiski's was one of the best once they heard who it was catered by. I would def recommend to anyone looking for yummy food for an event!!
(5)Megan V.
My boyfriend and I just finished our hike at Iron Mountain with a time constraint before game time. I reluctantly agreed to stop here because it's one of the closest sports bars. The host gave us a friendly greeting and sat us. We asked about the games on and he was extremely helpful. When our game wasn't on the channels they pulled out their laptop and streamed it near our table for us. How cool, right? Refreshing actually. As we are from the Midwest, this place is a gem in SoCal. The BBQ reminds me of home, which is hard to do. This place is hands down worth stopping by.
(5)Nancy W.
My friends and I came here after Go Karting because we were hungry. My boyfriend and I had ordered the BBQ combo with 1/2 pulled pork, ribs, fries & corn. The fries and ribs were really good! I wish it came with more fries but the pulled pork was okay. the pulled pork we had at SuperQ (their food truck) was better when we had tried it 2 tuesdays ago. & the corn was meh
(3)Lindsey E.
I needed a few days to cool off before writing this review. This may be the worst service I've ever received anywhere. We walked in and the hostess was in the middle of doing something with the register, she greets us said she'd be right with us and then a few minutes later took us to our table. We were waiting quite a while before our server came. She asked if she could get us drinks, one of us ordered the Tony Gwynn Alesmith, which was heavily advertised, to which our server replied "We don't have that". Not "I'm sorry we ran out of that" or "unfortunately we don't have any of that right now", just "we don't have it". To which he replied that he need a second to see what else they had and she said "All we have is Stone". When he asked her which Stone her answer was "I don't know". Okay, at this point we were thinking maybe she's really busy or maybe she's had a bad day and we let it go. Unfortunately the bad service and terrible attitude continued. Our drinks came and we went to order, my son was ordering buffalo wings off the appetizer menu and before he could finish ordering and telling her that's what he was having for dinner she practically ran away from the table without taking the rest of our orders. She came back after much longer than expected with the wings and took the rest of our orders. Her demeanor was once again rude and you could easily tell there were about a million places she would rather be. That was the last we saw of her until she came back with the bill. The food runner brought us our food, which again took longer than what's customary. Our server never came by to see if everything was okay and never refilled our empty drinks or offered water. The restaurant was very slow at that point and there was no visible reason for the lack of service or rudeness. When she came back she actually slammed our bill down on the table and walked off without saying a word. No "have a good night" or "take care of this whenever you're ready", not a single word. I definitely won't be returning. The meal wasn't worth the 2 hours it took to eat and the bad service definitely wasn't worth $70. There are much better bbq places in the area (like Brett's) and they have friendly and courteous service. Read my other reviews, I don't hold people to an unreasonably high standard and I treat them with respect. This experience was so strange and unexplainable. Honestly, the service was so bad that I don't even feel it was worth mentioning how good the food is, it doesn't matter when you are tested so poorly. I guess I'm a sucker, I still left a 20% tip because people need to pay their bills no matter how rude they are.
(1)Patrick T.
Holy hickory smoke this BBQ is the best in the whole county. My second time here and again I eat way to much. To good to stop. The best is the Texas brisket and the smoked chicken. Must try. I also commend the sampler platter. Add a beer or margarita to seal the deal.
(5)Allie P.
Wow this place has amazing food and very friendly staff. First discovered their food at the food truck they have, fell in love with the food and wanted more so went to the resturant for a to-go order. It was ready right away and tasted amazing. I even forgot to tell the I didn't want onions on my food and the we so nice about remaking the food without onion and it was ready in no time. If you love BBQ it's a must to got here or find out where their food truck will be located!!
(5)Ali M.
As others have alluded, this is a great traditional family run restaurant with first class service, and great food and beverages. Although the food and drinks, specially the wide array of craft beers are great, I really was impressed by the fantastic service. I've been here on a few occasions and each time experienced awesome first class service. The servers and wait staff all seem to enjoy their jobs and who they work for. They are friendly and very knowledgeable of their menu and food offerings. With so many offerings, I really liked how they let me sample their beers, sides and even briskets before I could decide on what to order. Hope you enjoy the entire experience like I did. Oh and before I forget they are also a top notch sports bar with every sporting event imaginable .
(5)Séamus C.
Wow. We only went here because our home was undergoing renovation, there was nothing to heat up in the garage microwave, and we had a $5 coupon. What we didn't expect was a lively interior and crowd, making you forget that you were in dull, red-necky Poway. We each had variants of the brisket sandwich -- the meat was tender and moist, and we loved the vinegary BBQ sauce! The choice of beers on tap was decent, and the service friendly and prompt. Yes, we'll be back, and we'll bring our friends...!
(4)bing s.
Super late post, but I came here for the first time with my brother who treated me a birthday (10/28) meal after work. It was the closest from our work with BBQ. Stepped in and it was empty, this was at 3pm on a Tuesday. I didn't see the host but I guess one of the lead cook or somebody came right away to seat us, so that was cool. Finally the waitress came and took our order, she was nice. The charger atmosphere was nice. I reason I came here was to try the beef BBQ ribs, the only place I know that serves that is PHILLS BBQ, so I must try this place out. I even ordered the pork ribs. The mashed potato and beans tasted ok, but I really like that they had a fully loaded tatar tots and oh and the beefy ribs was delicious. A lot of meat and it was falling off the bones and the BBQ sauce was on point. I would definite come back to this place again during game time!!!
(4)Ursula V.
I just moved into the area and was very impressed with their Awesome karaoke! Great cocktails too... Very happy with this place !
(5)Jessica L.
Our experience at kaminskis let's just say it's like having a barbecue at your house Lindsay one of the bartenders took special care of us and Marshall I guess he must be one of the owners grandsons was extremely funny enjoy the environment extremely and the food was absolutely amazing!!! Baby back ribs and rotisserie chicken sandwich was amazing also!! We live in San Diego and we will definitely be back!!! Also the owner(mom) was so sweet and really took pride in the restaurant
(5)Lynn O.
Just finished a delicious lunch, using a $15-for-$30 coupon. Really enjoyed ourselves: * the atmosphere is nice: comfortable booth + lots of wood, big spacious place, nice bar, and sports TVs everywhere but not noisy * Alex our waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable * Food was good and portions were huge For $9 we had a flight of 3 5-oz craft beers (from a good choice of 20 or so) plus a huge helping of delicious garlic fries and sauce Then, for $22 we had a HUGE BBQ sampler plate w 3 ribs + big portions of rib tips, brisket, chicken, and 2 kinds of pulled pork, plus BBQ beans (outstanding), cole slaw, fries, and toast. The two of us ate our fill, then took home 2/3 of the food - really! Our favorites were the ribs and the Kaminski's smoked pulled pork. The Carolina-style vinegary pulled pork was too tame for our tastes, and even the brisket was just OK, but the overall package we delightful, and our total out-of-pocket cost today (after buying the $15 coupon) was just $3 plus a $6 tip. Sat nights they have live music and a dance floor - we'll try that next.
(4)Kristen F.
We went for lunch on Friday, and it was great! Got there about 11:15, and it was pretty dead. Sat at the bar, and Tina helped us. She was super nice and helpful! She recommended a couple things, and got our orders in quickly, even as she was still getting everything set for the day. As our food came, it started getting really busy! It seemed like there was just Tina and one other person there. They handled everyone beautifully. Tina kept on top of our drinks, and making sure we were happy, while serving a couple other tables and handing drink orders. The food was great, and I even took home my other 1/2 of my sandwich to eat the next day. Yum!
(5)Sunny J.
Great place for happy hour and lunch. This seems to be the go to place for big get together s at work. Recommendations: -Kaminski's pulled pork sandwich which is my go to BBQ fav And it never disappoints. -Roasted chicken sandwich for a lighter healthy option without the mayo
(3)Karina G.
We often go on Friday night for drinks and Karaoke. Love the atmosphere, the people are really friendly. The specialty Martinis are my favorites.
(4)Laura H.
Great cocktails, yummy BBQ! Service for large party was outstanding, thank you Marshall :)
(4)Rob I.
I'm a BBQ lover and found this place. Every aspect of this place Rocks! This place Kills Phils BBQ hands down. The staff were quick and very accommodating. Food was amazing and zero disappointment. Beers are enjoyable. Great atmoshphere. Working on having their food trucks come out to let more folks enjoy this great BBQ experience. Thanks Christina for the fun time. Had the combos and she made it a fun time. Definitely be back here with more people to eat and drink. Thanks for the great afternoon. If you're anywhere close, you need to drop in.
(5)Christie B.
My brother suggested this place after our 7 hour drive from SJ. We had a party of 10 and a baby. Although we called ahead, there was still a short wait which was no big deal. The very nice lady who is either the manager or the owner (or both) was extremely friendly and helpful. The overall feel of this place is BBQ Sports bar meets family friendly date night. There are TV's showing multiple sports and in the center of the room is a very large bar area with lots of seating. They also have a covered patio area which is nice for large groups. The night we were there, a festive bridal rehearsal dinner group was there. The menu was large with plenty of options. BBQ places tend to be on the pricy side and this place was no exception. We had a large party and everyone ordered something different or split and entree with someone. Salmon tacos: I shared these with my mom. They're an appetizer and come with 3 tacos. They were okay. The salmon wasn't in one big piece as I expected. It was more like small chunks with a lot of filler. Were okay nothing memorable. Side salad w/ balsamic dressing. Standard lettuce, carrot and cucumber. They brought me the wrong dressing but I didn't realize it until I'd already poured it all over my salad so I just ate it, My daughter had just eaten a burrito about an hour before we came so she was looking for dessert. She ordered: Strawberry margarita: WAY to syrupy and sweet. She couldn't even finish half of it. Apple Tart w/vanilla ice-cream. This was NOT a tart. It was and open faced hot apple pie with ice cream and whipped cream. It was sweet but yummy. Everyone else ordered some version of BBQ. Ribs, pulled pork, brisket, potato with ranch chili beans (yes, my dads a vegan). Everyone seemed to like their meals as their plates were clean! Our server was very nice but a few smiles here and there would been nice. Maybe she was just having a rough day. We all have those. One thing that caught my attention is the Super Bowl article in the lobby from 1994. Yes, when the Chargers played the SF 49ers. This being Chargers territory, the article was foreseeing a Charger win. My dad and I actually went to this game in Miami and the happy Niner Fan that I am is thrilled to say that the Chargers lost. Lol #niner4life! Overall this place is a fun, family friendly ace with decent food and a large bar. There aren't many places like this in Poway so I'm sure we'll be back,
(4)Dianne R.
I come here for the beef brisket barbecue sandwiches! My last two experiences here have been very strange with waitresses! I guess I'm just too beautiful LOL I'll be back! It looks like Yelp wants me to keep writing on and on but I don't feel like I should have to! I'll be back! The food is damn delicious!
(5)Niki G.
I like this place ! I've been there several times,, the food is delicious and the atmosphere is very nice ! I recommend it !
(5)Josh H.
I went here yesterday evening with my sister and our significant others and it was a great experienced. Inside, the place is not only big, but it is also very nice. My girlfriend and I shared the BBQ platter and it did not disappoint; the baby back ribs were delicious and fell right off of the bone. The pulled pork, brisket and pulled chicken were also really good and I was very impressed with the quality of the food. The platter was served with coleslaw which was really good, some good beans and some very good garlic bread. In addition, we had some hot wings which were great. All of the meats including the hot wings had a nice smoky flavor and this place had some great homemade BBQ sauce. We had a really good server and the experience overall was excellent. I would definitely recommend this place and I wish we had more places like this in Santa Barbara.
(5)Krystle J.
This place was the most fun I've had in forever. The food is great, the staff is absolutely amazing and attentive, the karaoke is the most fun you'll ever have, and the prices reasonable. I couldn't ask for a better place and experience!
(5)Nicky T.
This is a very fun restaurant! Great food with a great staff! They have karaoke night a couple nights a week (I think) and they have a food truck! Barbecue food is one of my favorite food genres! Their meat is delicious and tender! Their staff is very friendly and fun and are very attentive. The decor is very cool and they have an impressive amount of televisions. It's a very comfortable cool place to hang out and eat some good food. The karaoke is very cool and they have a great setup for it! I would never do karaoke myself, I'm a big chicken haha, but I enjoy watching others belt it out and have a great time! I actually did not know they did karaoke until I came in one night while it was going on and I though it was a live band playing! The only reasons I give this tasty fun place a four star rather than a five is because sometimes there are little bits of bone in the pulled chicken or pulled pork. Which is a very normal occurrence for that type of meal but it hurts when you bite one!!! The second reason is that on karaoke nights the music is SO loud my husband and I cannot hear one another talk. I think the majority of the people that go on those nights are there to watch sports and listen to the music which is fine! We have a good time either way! Overall this is a great place! :)
(4)Thomas S.
Really good food, good beer, friendly service, and good atmosphere. My co-workers and I go here all the time.
(5)Diana S.
Came here for lunch after hiking on mt. Woodson this passed Sunday. The food was delicious, no complaints there. Service was good also, I was a little impatient because I was starving from the hike and I thought the waiter was taking too long but the food came out quickly and I was not disappointed. If I lived in the area I would def go back.
(4)Rosine L.
I came here for lunch and it was a pretty good experience. I ordered a rotisserie chicken sandwich and my boyfriend ordered a Carolina pull pork sandwich. We also ordered Garlic fries as an appetizer. The fries were good but the only problem was that they didn't blot the fries enough after taking them out of the fryer so they were drenched in oil at the bottom of the plate. The service was up to par and food came out pretty fast. I would come back again.
(4)Andrew F.
Valet parking is free. I saw the sign that didn't say FREE, so I told the attendant I didn't want to pay for ballet parking. He let me turn around and park across the street. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich, and it was okay but the portions are small. With how many BBQ places there are in San Deigo, they need to step up their game to be competitive.
(2)Carolyn B.
We love theIr BBQ! My husband is from Dallas and knows BBQ! He says this is the best in So Cal. The Beef Brisket is awesome! The restaurant is gorgeous and comfortable. Great sports bar atmosphere, too. One wall covered in flat screen TVs. Family owned and operated. Great service and quality.
(5)Bella C.
The food was OK and my martini was water down. It was a pricy dinner for the four of us. I had a cocktail and my three other friends had a beer each. We ordered a full rack dinner, a brisket melt and a cheese burger and tater tots....grand total was $199.34! The atmosphere was cool tho. Lots of TV to watch the games on
(3)Mike S.
Stay away from this place. You can expect the worst customer service from here. The problem starts at the top. If the owner can't appreciate the customers then staff won't either. In addition the food is overpriced for what you get. I am thinking of starting my own BBQ restaurant just to make this place go out of business.
(1)Claudia M.
Really cute atmosphere! Nice outdoor lounge seating, big bar and tvs! Try the melt sandwich you're choice of meat with Mac and cheese sooooooo good!
(4)Bau N.
If you are craving meat, this is the place to go eat in POWAY. I like to order the Cowboy beef ribs, mash potatoes, and garlic fries. You can not go wrong with that combo. The garlic fries are crispy, the mash potatoes are creamy and flavorful.
(5)Joanna M.
First timer here and I must say, they have amazing service! Friendly and courteous waiters. Always checked on my table to make sure everything was going great. And not to mention, the food is superb! I definitely recommend the Kaminski's pulled pork sandwich and just a tip, ask for the coleslaw on the sandwich! The best pulled pork sandwich I've had in awhile! I can definitely say I'll be a returning customer very soon.
(5)Desmond F.
Not bad, I've been here a few times now. The bbq is ok but you can get better else where. The sport bar is pretty sizeable. Lots of tv's and good happy hour. They use melty cheese on their nachos in addition to shredded cheddar. Yes!
(3)Steve M.
I was in the mood for wings and WOW. The BBQ sauce was amazing and the these may have been the meaty(est) wings I have ever had in my life, the meat just fell off the wings. SO GOOD. Deep fried pickles were good as well. I will return to try the full on BBQ !
(5)Jayne M.
This place used to be Dads now its changes to another sports bar but this place is really nice and upgraded. If you're a sports fan this is a perfect place for you to come and watch the games. They have a list of what games are in what sections. The food is good too. Lots of seating and the servers are attentive and friendly
(4)Greg D.
I normally reviee breweries so this is a change of pace. The food is top notch. This is the favored spot with my boss when I am out here on consulting trips. The food is great. I love the BBQ combo for dinner. Pay the extra and get the mac and cheese. The beer selection is excellent. A wide range of great local beers with a few weaning beers for the weak-hearted. Good for a dinner or sporting event. A great place if you want dinner in Poway.
(5)Curtis L.
My friends had been raving about this place, so I finally gave in and tried it. DAMN. This place is the bee's knee's, I was upset that I hadn't tried it earlier! Silly me :P Big Mike was very knowledgable about the menu and provided excellent service.
(5)Ashlley F.
I have been coming to Kaminski ' s for a long time and they never disappoint, but today I went in for the Sunday Brunch and man was I impressed! $1 mimosas. ...Yes please! I had their scramble bowl with brisket and it was out of this world. Go here for brunch. You will be pleasantly surprised!!!!!
(5)Ciri W.
I love Kaminsinski's! We've been twice and have been amazed by the food and environment both times. The only downfall to Kaminski's is that it is very expensive. Its just my husband and I, we each had one "adult" drink, one appitizer to share, our dinners and after tip i believe it was over 80 dollars. Definitely a once in awhile thing, but honestly it was worth it, we didnt HAVE to get an appetizer, in fact we shouldn't have because the entre was so large that I couldn't finish it all! Our server was nice. We went on a Friday and LOVED the kareoke. What an awesome addition to the restaurant.
(5)Abby F.
I'm so impressed with this place! It fits in more with the pacific beach bar scene than the center of Poway. There's even a stage for karaoke night! The employees are genuine and sweet. Ask for Lindsay when you come in!
(5)Arnold L.
My family and I have been living in the area for 4 years and haven't tried to go to this place because of my picky kids ... until two days ago. We came in and a friendly greeting welcomed us. They have friendly staff and like any other sports bar, they have the cool displays of different signed sports collections and lots of TVs. When we ordered, we got quite a bit of a confusion. The take out menu they had printed a different price tag on the menu items. We didn't really complain about it but brought it to their attention. Little did we know, the hostess had already told the owner about the price difference. Suddenly, the owner talked to us and apologized for the confusion and that she's already put in an order to replace the menu to reflect the correct price. Anyway, we tried the beef brisket bbq and the lava cake dessert the owner threw in as a gesture of good faith. The brisket was delicious and the bbq sauce was perfect. The lava cake is to die for. We will be back for more. :)
(4)Faye H.
Tuesday night around 6pm. We wanted a quick meal and drink. Unfortunately, the bar area was closed off for some party. Why close off the bar area at a sports bar!!???? I think that's maybe why our experience there was weird... This place is weird!! Is it a sports bar? A Phils BBQ? An Outback? Where we sat was not comfortable at all. The food was not memorable. But!!! An extra star for our server, who was cool, nice, and quick...tall thin white guy.
(2)Tom H.
Very good for large groups and end of the season team parties for sure. The food is just ok and nothing stands out. I've had the pork sandwich and cheeseburger with fries and both were average. Service has also been an issue at this place. I've been about 10 times and each time it appeared that they were short handed. But they seemed to get the orders out anyway. I only go to attend a team party or dinner with a very large group. Never my first choice with my family.
(2)Joanne L.
This family owned and operated eatery is only place to go for ribs. They are family friendly with board games for kids as well as a wall of flat screen TVs for sport enthusiasts. The menu has something for everyone. I enjoyed my meal. The ribs will keep me coming back again and again Oops I never finished posting this review. It's still my favorite place for ribs
(5)Jack C.
I haven't eaten here often but when I have I have really enjoyed it. The ribs are what I love the best. I would get those everytime I came here. Then I became a vegan and was worried that I might not find anything to eat. But I did. They have a vegan burger which was delicious. So I can still come here and eat. Yeah. It can get crowded on weakends so keep that in mind.
(4)Maria C.
Came to eat with my family on a Saturday night. Fun atmosphere, lots of tvs and sports decor. There was a live band that was decent. The service was great. We were promptly acknowledged and checked on multiple times. My problem was with the food. Although the bbq was decent, I did not like the mashed potatoes at all - they were very watery! But my biggest complaint is that the food was served lukewarm as if it had been sitting a while. We may give it a shot one more time to see if the food is better. Otherwise, we'd stick with Phil's.
(3)Roland H.
This was my first visit with my friend Rich who lives in Poway. We had lunch in the Sports Bar area, but there's a whole other section for family and children separate from the Sports Bar environment. We were greeted by June Kaminski who seated us in a comfortable booth. Our server Kassie, promptly greeted us and took our drink orders. They serve a variety of quality beers both on tap and in bottles. I ordered the Kaminski pork sandwich with a side of Texas beans and Rich had the beef brisket sandwich. We also shared a delicious order of tasty onion rings. The pulled pork was juicy and delicious with just the right amount of sauce that didn't smoother the flavor of the meat. The bun was lightly toasted to perfection. BBQ sauce is at your table for those who want to add more sauce to their order. The beans were also delicious with just the right amount of spices. I know Phil's is popular, but Kaminski's surpassed their meats. Unlike Phil's, Kaminski's meats a slow-smoked which adds so much more flavor. Rich gave me a sample of his brisket which was moist, flavorful, and tender. This was a most enjoyable lunch with great food and a friendly and attentive staff. I look forward to my next visit. My only regret is that I don't live closer.
(5)Rebecca A.
If I could give 0 stars I would.. Friday night, sign says they close at 1am, and we are told at 1204am that they are closed, wow.
(1)Emily G.
They have really good bbq, pretty great beer selection and a fun social calendar. Good for the whole family, lots of tvs for sports watchers. Great spot.
(4)Sanjay S.
I came here on a Saturday night around 9:00 PM to grab some dinner. The Lounge was about 1/4 full. They have lots of TVs everywhere and one wall completely covered with TVs which is great for watching sports. Saturdays seem to be Karaoke nights so please make sure you are ok with listening to loud music and "interesting" singing performances while you are eating your food. Speaking of, I had a full order of the "Iowa Baby Back Pork Ribs". I would say the ribs were decent, nothing too spectacular though. The sides (Fries, Mac & Cheese, Texas Toast) were all pretty good. However, I've been to some other BBQ spots here in Southern California which were in a different league. I would come here first for the entertainment and second for the food. If you are mainly in it for the food, try "The Tulsa Rib Company" in Orange. I know it is quite a drive but they have the best tasting ribs so far. Or go down south towards SeaWorld and hit up Phil's BBQ.
(3)John B.
Beer was on point. The service was great. The food was darn good but the temperature was unbelievable. I walked over to the thermostat and read it. Unreal! 82 degrees in a restaurant! I was pouring sweat and asked for the check. Cmon guys OSHA would be pissed!
(2)Jennifer G.
Smelly! That's the first thing I noticed when my man and I went there at 10pm. It smelled like dirty mop water with bleach. We both smelt it, so I wasn't over exaggerating. They were out if fish so I ordered shrimp. It taste funny so I didn't eat it. We also ordered garlic fries that were soaked in garlic. The fries were good but too wet. Also had the tots and those were the best thing I had. Overall not impressed. Not sure I would be back for food maybe a beer. Customer service was alright, we were trying to get our waitresses attention for 10mins on a very slow time, while she was chatting up some regulars. Only reason I give it a 3 is because there are TVs everywhere and a fully loaded bar.
(3)Stacy R.
Love how Kaminski's supports local community members by hosting fundraising events. The next event is January 25th between 11:30 am - 4:00 pm for Larry Poole, long time member of the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang who support local youth programs throughout the county. Larry is a self-employed horse shoer who was injured while riding his horse in the Mother Goose Parade. The cost is $20 and includes pulled pork or chicken sandwich with sides, live music and raffle prizes. I'm sure it will be a fun event while raising money for a great cause.
(5)MacKay P.
Really great atmosphere and super clean! Decor is good and TVs can be seen from all tables. Tina was our server, we had the best time, laughed the whole time. The food was amazing, pulled pork is highly suggested and so is the baby back ribs! Overall great experience!
(5)Alex F.
I love sports bars. I love BBQ. I love any place that serves fried pickles. So, naturally, I should also love Kaminski's. Nature is weird. This place is just okay. I went here on a Thursday night with a group and had a couple of things off of their happy hour appetizer menu. I also had this lemonade-iced tea-vodka drink or three. The drink was by far the best part. The prices were cool. And their devotion to athletics was awesome. I would go back to watch the Niners and drink and not pay a ton of money. Definitely not to eat, though. We got the garlic fries, the chips, the fried pickles, and the Kaminski's pulled pork sliders. The fries were typical garlic fries, the chips needed salt, the pickles weren't special, and the sliders were awful. Seriously. The bread was dry, the pork was not tender at all, and their BBQ sauce leaves a lot to be desired. The fries, chips, and pickles all came with the exact same dipping sauce. In all, I like the concept, but whoever is working in their kitchen really needs to grow an imagination. It was typical bar food, nothing more. If you're looking for a good place to watch a game, this is it. If you're looking for a good place to eat, go elsewhere.
(3)Lorie T.
Horrible service and the food had no taste! Real bummer
(1)Sabrina M.
So awesome! Came down to Escondido for the weekend and we found this restaurant on Yelp! It's great!!! Amazing food, family oriented and the family is so friendly! I definitely recommend eating here!!!
(5)Clint O.
Tried the beef brisket sandwich. Just cutting into it I knew it was dry. The bun and brisket were dry and lacked a true smokey flavor. Then I tried the pulled pork and it wasn't good either. The beef ribs my wife had were great with a nice smoke ring. Mashed potatoes were awesome with butter and garlic flavor. Service was smooth but I never saw the manager which I expect when returning a dish. This restaurant doesn't have great BBQ and is way over priced. From a native Texan - find a hole in the wall.
(2)Jen L.
Decor is nice.. Food was just ok.. The BBQ is too over priced in my opinion.. Having valet even through it's free is not necessary.. Service was not the best.. I doubt we'd come here again..
(3)Josh C.
Wow! It's not very often that I'm impressed with the staff at restaurants so that's saying something. Everyone from the hostess to the waitress here were super accommodating and cheerful. We had 8 people and 3 dogs and they quickly set us up on the patio. They even brought water and snacks for the dogs. Kassie (our waitress) and Marsha (manager) were absolutely amazing. Pleasantly surprised at this place. Cheers!
(5)Beldon L.
My wife & I have been going to Kaminski's for 4 years now & we love this place. We have tried others BBQ places and Kaminski's blows them out of the water. The ambiance in here great, lots of TV's if you want to catch the game or you can get a booth and have a private evening. The brisket & pulled pork are outstanding and are good serve as a sandwich or as a plate. Mikes & Phil's have nothing on Kaminiski's.
(5)Jes G.
Came here for a night with friends. Was immediately concerned/intrigued when I found out from the valet that there would be a karaoke competition later. I told him to leave me car close because I wanted out if it got bad. (And it did). There are plenty of options for food. And most of it tastes all right. Nothing that I'd show up specifically here for, but it's tasty enough. The bathrooms were clean, and the location is nice. My biggest annoyance came from the waitress. She was fun and playful, but she kept bringing out food and drinks because she wanted us to try them. Sure, we tried them, but we also paid for every single one! At least ask us instead of pretending they're gifts. We paid, and without complaint since we ate them and they all tasted fine, but that's pretty duplicitous, if you ask me. I've been to many restaurants where they've given you mistakes, or the chef is sampling out items that may be new or over-orders. Just be clear up front.
(3)Micah P.
This is your basic, run-of-the-mill sports bar. There are lots of TVs with various sport programs in a nice, big open space. You can chose from a wide variety of beers that are reasonably priced or, if you're hungry, select from different barbecue dishes. The staff is usually pretty friendly and the parking lot is good sized. The food was good. I had the sweet potato fries and pulled pork sandwich and I'd order them again. On Tuesdays, they have $3.50 Dos Equis draft beers. I had to knock off a star because they would not accept my coupon, which was for $5 off $25. They said that it couldn't be used with their Taco Tuesday specials. I understand that they can't combine offers but the waitress could have been nicer and less abrupt. I feel if this restaurant is going to nickel and dime you over $5 then they need to reevaluate their customer service.
(3)Amanda D.
Sports bar with like 35 TVs around. Pretty classy for Poway and semi north county. Coleslaw is a hit and the wings are GIANT. Good happy hour menu too.
(4)Danielle G.
I just used Kaminskis to cater my daughter's 1st birthday. I bought 3 smokehouse packs and had about 30 adults. The food was delicious! Everyone kept commenting about how good it was. The only downside was the potato salad was such a hit that it ran out before everyone got some so I'd recommend doing less of another side to get more of it.
(5)McKenna R.
My boyfriend and I always come here. And every time they have the slowest most crapy service ever. They basically think my boyfriend is under age and question him if he is actually 21.... We arnt a bunch of kids that are trying to come in and have Alcoholic beverages with a fake id... Like come on. Our waitress was so slow and was being completely rude about things. You guys need to step up your services. I think it's very unprofessional to be waiting around for dessert for an extra 20 mins when the place wasn't even busy. Just an FYI for everyone.
(1)Pat K.
Much better this time. We ordered the ribs and it was delicious. Yes there are better/different rib places but for a neighborhood bbq place, it is fantastic. Service was friendly, as usual. We'll be back.
(5)Jeff W.
Three of us guys came to Kaminski's and had an excellent experience. Our server Alex was awesome and very attentive. The ribs were incredible and the beer was great. Mud pie!!!! Ridiculously awesome!
(5)Kathy B.
Love this place! Great food and awesome people! Haley was the best server and gave us so much attention. Our glasses were filled and there was never a lapse in service! If you want a great meal with a fun-filled atmosphere, come to Kaminski's!
(5)Tammy N.
Been here once with some friends. Great vibe and good food. Prices are decent and service was average good. If you go here I recommend getting something BBQ!
(4)Todd P.
I'm from AZ, so we were visiting relatives in Poway and decided to stop in for a Friday night dinner. My girlfriend kathye, had hummus plate which was just OK. Her daughter had a pulled pork sandwich, which she fell in love with and eventually married. I had wings, which were delicious, big, and juicy! The 5 stars go out to our waitress Janet. She couldn't have been sweeter and funnier and more attentive! Thanks Janet, you made our night!
(5)Sasha E.
Pretty good BBQ! went in for HH with friends and they had really good specials. Wish the portion of the fried pickles was a little bigger for the price.
(4)Windsor L.
The food wouldn't be as much of a slap in the face if some of the staff weren't so incredibly rude. With the bartenders being their only highlight I'd rather get kicked by a steer than to call this BBQ or expect any sort of implied southern hospitality.
(2)Shellene M.
Just ate another excellent meal here at Kaminskis! Every time we come we try something new and it never fails to please! Love the atmosphere, lively and fun, they even have board games to choose from while waiting for your order, great for kids! The family being so involved is a huge plus as well. Where else can you go and see the owners out running the floor and greeting customers? Live music frequently and karaoke on some weekends! Plus... there's free vallet parking! Everyone should give this place a try (just not when I'm coming so I don't have to wait! Haha! )!
(5)Ron B.
Overpriced; overcooked:, dry and not appealing. Typical Poway place where they act like they are the best. Phil's wipes the floor with this place. Plus the customer service is rude. Take the drive to san marcos or go next door and get some Italian. This is another 1 and done type place.
(2)Jacob K.
Amazing melt sandwich.. with chicken tenders inside of it.... with bacon too. Just ask for Haley...bomb server, she knows what's up. Also a Ballast Point Victory at Sea beer float? Best place in town.
(5)Devon H.
Great burgers and fun and lively environment definitely will go back!
(4)John R.
Love the BBQ here. Lots of TVs for sports fans. Definitely worth going back to. With Jimmy's Brick BBQ gone now this is probably the best BBQ in Poway.
(4)Ramon T.
Only 2 stars. I normally don't write reviews, but having to leave my table to get waters after our food came? Not acceptable. I'm in the industry and this was the worst service I have ever seen. Not one check up from when we ordered til we were fed up and just wanted the check. None the less tonic water is not sprite. Food was ok. Setting was real nice though!
(2)Lance K.
Writing this out of total frustration, just spent 73$ on take out. 1. Had to come in because the girl answering the phone kept putting me on hold (3 mins at a time)to get answers to basic training e.g. Can I buy meat by the pound. So now I am waiting for my order at the restaurant. 2. I forgot to show my coupon, I asked for the measly $5 off and got a lengthy explanation that he would have to recharge my card then I'd have to wait for the charge to be negated. Ok, well how about just crediting my card $5 or giving me an extra side. Lame.... No wonder why this place has 3 stars, wish Phil's or someone that could actually make real BBQ would move in.
(1)Barbara P.
WORST BUSINESS EVER... they do not honor living social deals.... even thou it is not stated on the voucher they don't do take out orders and don't want to be bothered when they are busy... bad bad bad...
(1)Amy S.
Creeping back in San Diego history apparently this is the place David Westerfield stopped at before going to commit the murder of Danielle Van Damm. I suppose the restaurant got a lot of flack for that back in the day but in a way to make light of the situation Kaminiski's is pretty solid. It was selected by some co-workers for a happy hour goodbye to one of our friends. I had never been seeing as working in Poway is too much Poway for me. I don't care to hang out past my scheduled time. Kaminiski's has a decent beer selection. I didn't get a chance to cruise the food options because I wasn't hungry but based on the appetizers my friends ordered it looks like standard sports bar food fair. I thought it a bit odd that there is a valet parking option out front but apparently this place can pop off. Our service was a bit slower than I'd like it to be but I wouldn't say no to going back to give it another chance.
(3)Carmen V.
Good but not great, is the place to take my friend Noura, who used to live in San Diego and moved to Lebanon and cannot find decent buffalo wings. Well, here you have galore. With that spicy sauce and some nice music too. This is mostly a sports bar, and I don't care about those sports anyways, so I just go for the beer+wings+enjoy friendship. A nice place to hang out in Poway. At least they are not pretentious and you will have a good time no matter what.
(3)Tyler W.
Staff treats me and my girlfriend like we are family. Every time we come down to San Diego we also stop in a few times to eat and catch a game. Excellent beer choices, top shelf liquor, and great music with live bands and djs on weekends.
(5)Kinjal H.
Easy going atmosphere. Good service. Lots of regulars. Good BBQ and really good service. I would go back.
(5)Josh G.
The concept is interesting but don't go expecting to find good NC style BBQ, you will be disappointed. The pork is dry and the sauce appears to be just vinegar. The search for decent pulled pork on the west coast continues.
(2)Katie H.
I love this place. It's greatly improved over the years. Went about a month ago. Sat on the patio and the service was great. I got the chicken nuggets baked in BBQ sauce. SO good. I got the powder blue martini and my friend got the sangria. We both loved it. We of course got a second round. We also got the garlic fries and loved them. Their happy hour prices are great!! I would definitely recommend this place during happy hour. I'll be visiting again soon.
(5)Mark P.
Heard this was a great place for BBQ. Fell short though. Better than Phils since I cannot get brisket at Phils. Brisket was dry. Bummer. Had to use the sauce to get it down. I asked the waitress why so dry? She says what? dry? I said Yep, very. Me and my buddy both had the Brisket plate, both dry. My friend was embarrassed since he was bragging about the brisket. She said next time I can ask for a taste first. Good idea. She did give me a small helping to take home, it was much better. Best brisket I ever had was in Anaheim CA. I could not believe it. So moist and melt in your mouth. I have not found any brisket that good yet in SD. Still looking for great BBQ Brisket. Not an easy task or easy to BBQ.
(3)Kim L.
I went with my sister to meet up with her old friends and was pleasantly surprised. I grew up in Poway and had been to the Old Mine Co. many times. This was a totally new, updated place with large flatscreens everywhere you looked. It was midafternoon, so we only had beer and appetizers. We were waited on by Dana and Janet, who were both amazing. We shared lobster mac and cheese, chips and guacamole and loaded tater tots. Everything was delicious. I can't wait to go back with my husband.
(5)Joanne L.
This is my absolute favorite place for BBQ. Their baby back ribs are the best in San Diego. They're moist and tender and smoked to perfection. Their beef brisket melt in your mouth. Once I had dessert first. The mud pie. It's made with a huge chunk of cookies n cream ice cream with an outer shell of Oreos. It would have melted before I could get home. They have fantastic service who treat you like family. It is definitely family friendly, they have a selection of board games to entertain the children and they're also pet friendly. What more could you ask for
(5)Mark W.
Boil it down to the best brisket I've had on the west coast and a good selection of beers with good ambiance and service. The wait staff was professional and laid back all at the same time. Fair prices for what you get and good happy hour deals. It's a casual spot that has all the games on and is clean and big. Nothing to worry about coming here. It all seems to be taken care of.
(5)Brandon W.
Love this place. The BBQ Brisket sliders are incredible. If you like sports you'll love it. TVs everywhere, plenty of variety.
(5)Pooneh P.
We went here today for a family celebration and there was a confusion with the menu and i asked the manger of the store about my question. Her response was rude and aggressive and left our table with my question still unanswered. Not only was the customer service terrible but the food was all brought to the table cold and everything took way too much time. The food was unsatisfactory and the service was bad and took forever. I would NOT recommend this place unless u like bad food and rude people
(1)Michael W.
The beef brisket is the best I've had in San Diego. Other meats are just ok; go to Phil's for those. I've only been once, so I'm not sure if it's consistently good. But I'd be willing to go back and find out. Also, lots of TV's for all you sports lovers!
(4)Matty G.
I have stopped by Kaminski's a few times for lunch. It's a really good local place for barbecue. As soon as you step in the door you are smacked in the face with a finger-lickin' good aroma. They have a variety of meals and drinks to choose from. The meat is tender and flavorful. The prices are good, the BBQ is good, the family who owns/runs it are nice. Good place to stop if you're in Poway craving BBQ. The costumer service has always been outstanding. Angela has always served me in the bar area. She is very personable and makes awesome drinks. They are a sports lounge so they have multiple flat screens playing all kinds of sports. They normally host events for UFC fights and other big "games" From what I understand they also are a big supporter of kids sports in the Poway area. I will absolutely be back and soon.
(4)Robert Z.
Food was very good. Service was also very good. Parking not so good. It's a sports bar with great BBQ. I will go back for dinner agin. Robert Zuver
(4)fern w.
Love the family created bbq sauce..... Chicken, brisket and bbq potato chip nachos!!!! Everything is delicious and staff makes you feel like part of the family. Fun place , lots of TV to watch.
(5)Phillip N.
The service is great. Love a BBQ place with a sink in the dining area. Very clean. Love the garlic fries, wings, and Southern style entrees. Of course, there is sports running in the background. Not like it matters to me. But it's a plus if you like sports because the TVs are decent size and there are several.
(3)Mark J.
I can walk to this place which is a bonus. Ample TV's and friendly staff. Try the barbecue sampler, feeds 2. Ivan is the man for drinks behind the bar!
(4)Abbie H.
Since I work in Poway, I sometimes find myself going out with coworkers around there. We went to Kaminski's for a friend's birthday dinner. I liked it. We showed up and surprised them with a 12-top, which was accommodated quickly given that it was fairly crowded by the time we got there. Service was friendly, although drinks took quite a while to come out. I had a traditional pulled pork sandwich that was a bit dry, but still really good. Sweet potato fries were amazzzzzing and the aioli they are served with was so good! We put down a couple of baskets of those. Drinks were solid. Being a native Iowan, I am hard pressed to find good BBQ in southern California, but I'd say Kaminski's is a great start.
(3)Michael S.
The food is really good and quick to come out. Beer selection is good as well. I've only sat at the bar the few times I was there but the bartenders service is really slow & un attentive. I would like to sit at a table and get an experience with a server. They always look aware of what's going on.
(3)Mike M.
Would of gaven it 5 stars but, I payed a visit yesterday and: Service was crap! Host greets us by saying "Hi how many" and before we even answer he grabs the menus and walks away...so does he want us to follow him. Oh and all the while yelling at a coworker "whats up big dawg! " he sits us, hands us the menu and walks away..Latino spikey haired twerp. Then while my girlfriend is holding our baby, the server walks up and asks if we want some drinks. We order water, he returns and asks if we need some time. I said yes, I also added my girlfriend's arms are getting tired (yes, my sons a mammas boy lol) and asked if we can get a high chair for our son, since your wonderful hosts couldn't even acknowledge my son because he was too busy yelling at his homies. So we get our food, but somethings missing...we have no utensils! He returns, and apologises and hands us utensils. The food was great but really uncomfortable setting, I mean im not asking for a five star setting but shit, were paying $20 a freakin plate here. The whole time, the spikey haired hosts decides to yell and talk to the rest of the staff by talking about some outing...it was annoying. I felt the place was being ran by either somome very irresponsible that doesn't take their job seriously or a bunch of freakin kids...next time I order from from here, its gonna be to go.
(3)Chelsea S.
This place is great, especially if you're a Chicago sports fan! They always have the Bears game on and one of the rooms is usually filled up just with Bears fans. TVs everywhere, and if you ask they can usually change one to the game you want to watch. This is the kind of place where the owners are always there, walking around and asking people how there food is and if they need anything. The service is great and the food is amazing; the barbecue is seriously awesome. Definitely one of the best barbecue places in the San Diego area.
(5)Teal B.
Marshall is awesome. Attentive, a great sport, and he knows The Cranberries. Would come here again just because of him. :)
(5)Christine H.
I always go here when I'm back in town with my parents for great food! My parents like to get the BBQ combo and I usually get the pulled pork sandwich. Our server, Haley was extremely nice and super helpful. She was really attentive and took our order fast and brought our food out nice and hot. A great place to come in and relax! I always want to go here whenever I'm down from college!
(4)Leslie J S.
Great friendly casual service, sat at the bar, ate well, enjoyed the surroundings...too bad the LAKings lost..otherwise we'll be back!!
(4)Mary F.
We live close by and have have been to Kaminski's several times for various football games. Overall, the waitresses could use more training on how to politely communicate with customers. We asked our waitress what is in the nachos. She said "it is listed in the menu." Wow! She appeared too bothered to tell us! Her other answers to our questions were short and abrupt. It was definitely a different and much more upbeat atmosphere to have eaten at Oggi's near highway 56 or even the new Ballast Point off of Miramar Road that is now serving dinner.
(2)Tori S.
I go to Kaminski's often with my family and I'm never disappointed! The atmosphere is always fun and the service is great! We always sit in Haley's section because she's the best server! Great attitude, friendly, and always quick to help out. We'll definitely keep coming back!
(5)Mel C.
In the last 2 weeks, I've had Famous Dave's, Dave & Buster's, and Phil's BBQ. I think my rating is only 3 stars because the BBQ in my opinion here is just okay at best. Pros: -Great place to catch the game. -Live band during the weekends -Bar equals beer Cons: -Parking (sometimes) -Price and Value: I don't think you get much for what you pay for. Sad when you can actually count how many pieces of fries, onion rings, and chips you get. -Over-Sauced: Their BBQ might actually be really good, but tough for me to notice because there's way too much sauce on it. My Ratings -Burgers: 4 stars -Mac and Cheese: 4 stars -Beef Briskets: 3 stars -BBQ Chicken: 3 stars -Garlic Mash: 4 stars -All Appetizers: 2 stars (skimp!!) -Rotisserie Chicken: 3 stars -Staff: 4 stars, although didn't feel welcomed my last time here. Walked in and there was at least 4 employees at the front that didn't even greet or immediately seat us. It took, what I thought was a manager, to point it out to the staff to attend to us. Good save. The 3 stars is for the food price and value. Probably come back, but just to sit at the bar and drink
(3)Jaime H.
Great BBQ, my favorite is the pork ribs. This is not fine dining, but it is incredible BBQ, with big screens everywhere, and friendly staff. Even on a busy Saturday night they have free valet parking, because otherwise parking would be tough. I was impressed.
(5)Socrates G.
I flew to San Diego for some business in Poway, went to dinner at Kaminskis sport lounge, nice to have great service - Tina is the best - and the food - perfect for having a long day - great atmosphere - thanks
(4)Andrea A.
Sooo let me start off saying the Sangria was awesomely gooood! I ordered BBQ combo w/ chicken rotisserie and pulled pork! Best BBQ ever! Garlic fries are delish! My baby loved the Mac n cheese ! Our server was amazing. Poor guy I forgot his name. But the food had me in heaven! Def coming back!
(5)STEVE S.
Food quality has improved significantly since my first review over 4 years ago. However, I can never understand the use of ball park cheese; it is terrible and, frankly, cheap. I had the nachos during FIFA and could not finish the mess. I highly recommend they get rid of the use of ball park cheese in general and start going with the real thing. This restaurant deserves better! Otherwise we had a good experience.
(3)Erica I.
I wasn't entirely impressed with the food at Kaminski's. It's nice to go somewhere with great entertainment and updated ambiance but the food itself needs some work. I grew up in the south where you can find barbecue on every street corner and while it wasn't all good, it all had a certain standard to it or it was put out of business. Kaminski's apparently doesn't have any competition which I believe it lacks the hardiness it should have. Pulled pork needs real sweet barbecue sauce with juicy meat, not dry with vinegar sauce (I still don't understand the vinegar thing), and the potatoes here where overcooked without any of the stick-to-your-ribs toppings it needed. Real barbecue food attracts truck drivers, construction workers, police officers, and paramedics- people who need to be filled quickly at a decent price. In the end Kaminski's is too embellished and naive to what real barbecue is to offer it. I wouldn't go as far as to say it was "bad" but it certainly wasn't for me or my husband.
(2)Michael K.
The best sports bar in Poway!! They have friendly staff, lots of TVs and good ribs. This is a very family friendly place and I enjoyed watching World Cup games here.
(5)Dave L.
The Kaminski's pulled pork BBQ sandwich is terrific. Very tasty. Has some zing but does not come on too strong. Very good side salad as well. Iced tea brewed properly, no bitter taste that some restaurants have. Service was outstanding. Diane at the bar was very friendly and on top of things without being a pest.
(5)Dale L.
Kaminski's is second rate BBQ. Limited parking, high prices, outdated entertainment setup and average to above average food. After paying for two beers and two entrees, I left feeling underwhelmed and 50 dollars short. My wife and I checked out Kaminski's in hopes of finding a new NFL Sunday spot. No complaints with the cleanliness, service or food/beer selection. But based on the prices, I was hoping for Phil's quality and instead I got Abbey's. Would I get the $15 mac n cheese, pulled pork sandwich again? Probably, but only from their food truck at the reduced price of $9. Did I find anything worth blogging about on their $20 sampler? No. And the sports bar experience? It was okay, but their TV's look a bit old. Bottom line, I think I've been spoiled by Phil's $7 Tickler. Kaminski's is good but not great, which provides little incentive to return anytime soon (NFL Sunday or otherwise). By the way, is it me or does their water taste funny?
(3)PattieCakesAble C.
Numb with yum!
(5)Taci T.
This place is awesome! It's a little on the pricy side but it's worth it. The food is fantastic. We got the 2 item combo. The ribs were so fender the meat fell right off the bone and the brisket was cooked perfectly. Great sides. The service was great too. Janet was friendly and fun and the manager even made her way over to make sure everything was going well. The environment is nice. Not a typical sports bar feel. I would recommend this place to anyone who loves BBQ for sure!!!
(5)Anna Maria R.
My husband and I finally got a chance to try out this Poway gem. Experience began with their free valet parking (attendant was super nice). Walked in to a nice foyer and immediately greeted and seated at a high table in the sports bar section. Lots of tv's, comfortable seating and great atmosphere. Ordered the hot wings and potato skins from the happy hour menu, along with two draft beers - Blue Moon & Racer 5. Our waitress was very attentive and nice. Also ordered a cesar salad for myself, and a pulled pork sandwich with homemade chips for my husband. Everything was delicious! Wings were so good! Only negative was that the pulled pork was a bit dry. We had a really nice experience, ate good food and were provided exceptional service!!! Will definitely come again!!!
(4)Beverly A.
Don't come here solely for the BBQ - because it's simply was NOT worth it. The atmosphere was OK, it's spacious and has a bar/loungy feel (comparable to Callahan's). Their garlic fries are GOOD though, but everything else was OK. The bread/sweet potato fries were stale, and the chicken was dry (the BBQ sauce couldn't even mask it!). They only have 1 BBQ sauce option which is fine, but I think it would've made the food taste a little better if they had other options (sweet, spicy, etc). There are other BBQ places in this are that are WAY better, The hostess was moody and our waiter delivered 2 wrong orders (in our party of 6). We only got refills when requested, so I wasn't impressed at all. Parking can fill up quick, but they have valet to help out.
(2)Jim W.
Love this place! Marsha and the staff are always so good to us, even when we come in wearing Patriots and Broncos gear! Food is great, service is great and super consistent. Good but not great tap list - would like to see a bit more of the local beers (and Julian hard cider on draft!) for a 6-star experience.
(5)Phil D.
Food isn't that great. TVs galore, but contribute to a feeling that it's one big gimmick. No soul to this place at all.
(2)Chad Y.
This place rules. Not only is the service top notch, but they have some of the best BBQ (particularly the beef brisket) that I have ever had. For a fun atmosphere, great beer selection, and great eats, check it out!
(5)Ray R.
BBQ ribs and BBQ brisket was great. Best BBQ in a long time. I'm new to the RB/Poway area but as a Texan consider myself a connoisseur of BBQ, and these guy got the food right. Price was a bit high, $55.00 for two meals, beer and a shake.
(4)Peter D.
Good local spot in Poway. Down home. Local people. Great atmosphere. The pulled pork is delicious and recommended.
(4)Calvin H.
Ok BBQ place for poway. The place itself is fairly spacious and clean. The food can be a little bit pricey and the BBQ doesn't compare to Phil's. However, it being a sports bar, there are a lot of TVs showing all the big games and a full bar. So if you're looking for a place to chill this may be suitable.
(3)Mike C.
For a sports bar, why is it pretty busy here during a mid-week lunch hour? Or a better question question would be...why I am drinking during a mid-week lunch hour? Well, I can't really comment on the BBQ stuff but I had some of their garlic fries. It was decent, but didn't really stand out. It didn't have that kick I would normally expect from pure, concentrated garlic paste. Wasn't really a fan either of the fries-in-a-cone concept. Especially if garlic is involved. Towards the bottom, there is usually too much garlic due to gravity drain. So it becomes slightly soggy towards the end. It came with a chipotle-ranch sauce. It complimented the fries. Had some zing to it. It was a Wednesday, so they have a $4 special on a pint of Lightning Amber Lager. Slightly bitter, but not a real fan of it. They have other specials too depending on which day you come in. Their happy hour is Monday through Friday 3-6pm, and Monday through Thursday 9-11pm: Consists of $1 off wells, drafts, bottled beers and wines, $5 specialty drinks. Lots of appetizers at $5 each. Very nice atmosphere. Plenty of tv's everywhere. Plenty of trophy cases of sports memorabilia stuff all over. Very clean. Appears like the restaurant just opened for business from all the newness of all things inside. The staff were super friendly. From the moment I walked in and until I finally exited, they greeted me, ensured my needs where satisfied and gave me a quick thank you on the way out. Very professional and very customer service oriented. Check this place out. I'll definite come back when I have more time to spare and try their BBQ menu. So to answer the first question...looks like a lot of people were probably just taking an hour off of work to get a quick bite. Next question...as for me, I was in the area going to the ortho and just dropped by real quick...so no..I'm not an alki. Ha.
(4)James F.
Yelp and Kaminski's website lists the place's hours as Sun - Thur :11am - 11:30pm Fri & Sat : 11am - 1:30am The place was closed well before 11pm on a weekday. If I'm hungry to try something new and it's late at night, don't expect any sympathy from me due to scheduling discrepancies.
(1)Sarah R.
Love eating here. Have been here over a dozen times and the food is always good. Garlic fries and the pulled pork are my go-to orders. Lots of space so happy hour is always fun. Prices are average for BBQ and because it's so good I can't complain. Parking can get crazy but they offer free valet. I'm sure some people can have off days, but I've always had good service so 5 stars from me.
(5)Ellen C.
The service was very strange..... The brisket was meh. The baby back ribs is the better BBQ option. The BBQ sauce is meh. The mac n cheese was okay. Corn was grilled, which was nice but it was just ok. Overall, meh. I've had the BBQ from their truck, and the truck was way better.
(2)Seth G.
Beware a business that issues gift certificates and doesn't honor them. The food was alright. When it came time to pay I presented a gift certificate that they had donated to a local organization that sends business their way (and I had won in a raffle), and the management refused to honor it. I spoke with the manager, even presenting the receipt that they include in the gift envelope, and she and the owner essentially told me to take a walk. I can't recommend a business that treats customers and supporting organizations in such a dishonorable fashion.
(1)Scot D.
Nice place, friendly staff, & food was pretty good. Only thing I didn't like was when I asked for some coffee - never came. Last I heard from the girl behind the bar was that they were going to brew a new batch. I waited about 45 min's, never saw it. I shouldn't have to ask repeatedly. They weren't that busy, place was slow, shouldn't have been a problem. Disappointing.
(3)Jeremy M.
Nothing close to a Lucile's or Famous Dave's but a good spot nonetheless if you're in the area. Plenty of TV's, decent sized bar area, and great specials (happy hour, daily specials, etc.).
(4)Elizabeth P.
Mediocre food and large portions. My chicken was a little pinkish-red inside though. :/
(2)Shannon O.
I was really excited to try this place, and when we walked in it looked really cool too, but it really went down from there. I had two drinks which were both really terrible, a mimosa which was unbelievably sour and a Bloody Mary that I had to return because there was a crazy amount of horseradish in it. I never return drinks! Then my friends pulled pork sandwich came without a drop of BBQ sauce. At a BBQ place, really? Also the waiter kept touching and putting his arm around my husband which was just really odd. We won't be going back...
(1)Bill P.
A nice, middle-of-the-road place, but definitely not a "destination" bar/restaurant. In other words, i wouldn't go out of my way to go there. The Bar B Q is simply "ok". Nothing better. Phil's beats it all to heck. Rings and sweet potato fries are delicious. The atmosphere is good... maybe a little better than ok if you're only comparing it to other Poway places. I think you all know what I mean. TVs are fairly big and reasonably well placed. Service was good (only) on my two visits here, though I've heard complaints from friends who've eaten there. Would I go here again? Sure, if I was driving by the place and got a wild hair. Otherwise, there are much better venues to consider.
(3)S T.
I really like the food here and it's never really busy!! The spinach salad, garlic frys and mud pie is awesome... The 3 stars are cause the last 2 times I went here the service was really slow.. Sat at the bar one time and the bartender only had 1 guest not including me and my wife and she took forever for everything.. The last time I went, we were helped by 3 different people, I didn't know if I was gonna tip 3 people or none haha.. Still none the less great food and lots of tvs to watch all the sports you can handle
(3)Phil R.
Let's be honest, it's not the best BBQ I've ever had, but it IS the best BBQ in Poway. Without question. The pulled pork was tender and the sauce (I got their "house" sauce) was bold and delicious. Their sweet potato fries are really good, their slaw, so-so. All the other sides are solidly "good" to "great". I appreciated the service as I ordered "double-meat" for my pulled pork plate and they hooked me up with a good discount for the extra meat. I've been here with 6 or more people and have always received good service. They are kid friendly too, so that's a plus. If you're in the Poway area and don't feel like a drive or waiting in a long line, head over to Kaminski's.
(4)Tom C.
Had a great meal last night. The service was spot on- family run and friendly staff Highly recommend the baby back ribs! They do have a variety of BBQ sauces. Also- there is a really nice bar with numerous TVs to watch multiple sports.
(4)Myekah B.
Graianne runs Karaoke here and she is the Best KJ around! So I go every Friday to enjoy her show. You should check it out on Friday Nights!
(5)George R.
It took over an hour to get the food on Father's Day and then the order was wrong. The steak salad was undercooked. We had to ask twice to get an adjustment to the check. The food is usually good here but stay away on a busy night.
(2)Dennis W.
VERY slow service. How slow, after our order was taken she came back and asked our order a second time. When the food came my order was wrong, (plate when I ordered a sandwich). Had to ask for tea refill, once we got the bill it took them 28 minutes to bring change and credit cards back. First time there, NEVER again.
(1)John P.
This is a very customer oriented establishment. The brisket and pork were both outstanding. Great customer service in the bar Adjusted the TV in front of us so we could see the game we wanted
(4)JNadene A.
I think this place is cool. It's by my work so some people from work would come here for lunch. The prices are are little pricey. My salad was $14, that includes tip. Yes it has meat but $14? Also, I agree with Jimmy D, this is not Phil's BBQ and peeking at my co-worker's food, his BBQ sandwich looked dry and he was working that BBQ sauce we had on our table. My meat was pretty moist and that's probably bc it was mixed with the dressing. But anyways, the place is cool. I would come here again for lunch with my co-workers again (I don't go out to lunch that often, I usually bring lunch). If I lived in the area, I would come here to watch football games. Really my stars review is 5 stars for AMAZING customer service and 3 stars for the food.
(3)