Knotty Barrel Gears Up For North County Expansion

Knotty Barrel, a longtime East Village gastropub and brewery, is prepping to open a huge new family-friendly restaurant and bar in Rancho Penasquitos. Due by the end of February, the space spans a 4,000-square-foot interior and an additional 2,000-square-foot outdoor patio, with 20 TVs, four giant fire pits, a grassy area, and exterior trellis seating. The 19-tap bar will feature several house beers from Knotty Brewing Company, with another 40 beers offered in bottles and can; cocktails will also be available.

The North County branch will serve a similar lunch and dinner menu as the East Village, which includes salads, sandwiches, and mains like fish and chips and pork tenderloin with mushrooms, shallots, cauliflower puree, and sauteed rainbow carrots. A new constant will be weekend breakfast service, starting at 8 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

The eatery has announced that Rancho Penasquitos resident James Thorp has joined the team as a partner and general manager after a dozen years with RMD Group; most recently, Thorp managed Rustic Root in the Gaslamp.

Courtesy rendering