Viewpoint Brewing Company

Most Del Mar dining sits either right on the coast charging view tax or tucked inland serving locals. Viewpoint occupies the middle ground: a sprawling brewery with legitimate gastropub cooking and lagoon views that don't come with resort pricing. While Red Tracton's caters to the racetrack crowd and Chin's masters Sichuan fire, this place built its reputation on house-brewed IPAs and a kitchen that actually understands how to handle chicken.

The beer list runs deep — twelve taps rotating through styles that show genuine brewing skill, not just hazy IPA variations. The **chicken pot pie** is the sleeper hit: proper pastry, meat that hasn't been turned to dust, a filling that tastes like someone made stock instead of opening a can. The **chicken and French toast** divides opinion — the breading-to-meat ratio leans heavy, but the French toast itself holds up. The **spanakopita** works as a bar snack that isn't just fried cheese.

The lagoon-facing patio is the reason most people show up post-hike with dogs in tow. Parking turns chaotic on weekends, which is the price you pay for waterfront real estate off San Dieguito Drive. Service stays quick even when the place fills up, and the burger cooks to temp without requiring three follow-ups.

This is the spot for brunch after a morning trail run or beer flights when you're tired of the polished tasting rooms closer to the village. The view earns its A++, the kitchen doesn't mail it in, and the beer justifies the drive — which is more than most brewery-restaurants manage.