Tip Top Meats is officially on its way back home. After closing its iconic North County San Diego grocery and eatery in 2024 and navigating a complicated legal battle, the beloved European delicatessen and restaurant is preparing to reopen in a small section of its original building in Carlsbad this summer.
The new restaurant will operate out of the space that previously housed the brand’s seafood-centric sister concept, Top Choice Fish Market & Eatery, which was located adjacent to Tip Top’s original grocery store from 2017 until it closed in 2021. Tip Top ownership has confirmed that the forthcoming location will feature a much smaller footprint – about 20% the size of the original store – posing both operational and customer service challenges. They emphasized the need to manage expectations, particularly due to the tight working space.
“We had a small setback with the health department and are back in the waiting line for inspection,” Tip Top’s ownership shared in a statement. “We hoped to be open this month, but it looks like we have to wait. I still don’t have an exact date until I hear from the inspector.”…