PLENTY OF CHOICES FOR FOOD AND DRINKS AT THE Sky Deck Restaurants
The $120 million Sky Deck at Del Mar Highlands Town Center is 26,700 square feet and features restaurants and one central bar. There are seven Sky Deck Restaurants. It is no surprise that it was named as one of Fodor’s 10 Best New Food Halls across the US. It is modeled after El Nacional, a multi-space restaurant located in the heart of Barcelona.
In addition to the restaurants, three beer and kombucha taprooms are on the second floor. Here are my favorite places to get a good meal and enjoy a drink at the Sky Deck Restaurants.
The complete list of Sky Deck Restaurants:
- Ambrogio15
- Craft House
- Glass Box
- Kiin Extraordinary Thai
- Lobster Lab
- Marufuku Ramen
- Understory
- Zen Modern Asian Bistro
CRAFT HOUSE
Craft House started as a food truck serving monster burgers, and now they have a fantastic location as one of the Sky Deck Restaurants. The Oaxacan braised short ribs at the Craft House Sky Deck are absolutely delicious – the combination of the crema poblano and Oaxacan mole with the meat is absolutely fantastic! The menu offers modern American cuisine with a Mexican fusion, and they are open for brunch, lunch, and dinner. My recommendation is to order the calabrian chili buffalo wings, fire-roasted elote, local catch ceviche, and steak & eggs. If you are hungry, get one of the monster burgers. Chef Caesar Huerta has now opened a second location in Fashion Valley.
GLASS BOX
If you want to experience the art of sushi, you need to dine at Glass Box. You will find chef Ethan and his team creating amazing sushi that is as pretty to look at as it is delicious to eat. Glass Box is on my list of top places to enjoy sushi in San Diego, and I have a full review of the restaurant in my post “Asian Coastal Sushi at Glass Box Del Mar.” The restaurant is visually stunning, and the toughest decision that you will have to make is choosing between their omakase, raw bar, robata, sushi, or entrees. Two of my favorite dishes are the A5 wagyu, cooked tableside with wasabi, truffle salt, and crispy garlic chips, and the sea bass, served with an amazing shiitake reduction sauce. A must-try of the Sky Deck Restaurants.
KIIN EXTRAORDINARY THAI
After spending two weeks in Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Bangkok, I always look to find Thai restaurants that serve authentic dishes. The food at Kiin Thai is similar to what we enjoyed in Thailand and is really delicious. The spice levels can be quite intense, so I recommend starting at a lower level and telling your server how spicy you like your food. Personally, I am on a mission to try all of their curry dishes – the yellow and panang are A+. One of my favorites of the Sky Deck Restaurants.
MARUFUKU RAMEN
Marufuku Ramen serves authentic Hakata-style ramen and has several locations all throughout California, Texas, and New York. The broth at Marufuku Ramen is what sets them apart from other ramen shops. They spend 20 hours making it and you can taste the difference. My favorite item on the menu is the Chicken Paitan DX – one of their most popular menu items. It has white “paitan” broth with regular toppings (chashu chicken breast, seasoned soft-boiled egg, green onions, kikurage mushrooms, bean sprouts, sweet corn, and nori seaweed). It also comes with a grilled chicken leg on a bed of bean sprouts. Pro tip: only 15 are served per day. Of all the Sky Deck Restaurants, there’s most often a line here.
Lobster Lab
Lobster Lab is the newest addition to the Sky Deck lineup. The restaurant started in Carlsbad and has since opened locations in San Clemente and now here at Sky Deck. The go-to order is the Connecticut Style XL Lobster Roll with buttery lobster and a perfectly toasted roll. They also do a lobster grilled cheese that’s already become a favorite among regulars. A solid pick if you’re craving something from the coast among the Sky Deck Restaurants.
UNDERSTORY
Understory always impresses me with their selection of original craft cocktails. As the cornerstone cocktail bar for the Sky Deck, you can also order food from any of the neighboring restaurants to enjoy with your drinks. The cocktails at Understory Del Mar change periodically, so not all of these drinks may be available when visit. I really enjoyed their Spring cocktails which included the Caribe: Understory private label Maestro Dobel Cristalino, espresso, chai tea, maple syrup, and house-made vanilla orange cordial. You can order food from any of the Sky Deck Restaurants.
If you have a favorite of the Sky Deck Restaurants, let me know.
You can also find Boochcraft, Latitude 33 Brewing, Mission Brewing, and Parfait Paris, but they have not been included in this roundup of Sky Deck Restaurants.
