We were in the area looking for a brunch spot and striking out, and everyone was getting to the "we…read moreneed food NOW" stage, so we ended up at Common Stock. When we sat down, we were a little surprised that the brunch menu was pretty limited compared to the photos that originally caught our attention. I'm guessing those were from the dinner menu. Our server was actually so great about it--he told us to take our time looking it over and that if we weren't excited about anything, we were welcome to leave and he wouldn't take it personally. That honestly won us over. Even our kids were impressed by how straightforward and nice he was and decided we should stay. And I'm glad we did. The Crispy Brussels were delicious--seriously, one of the highlights. My daughter loved the Strawberry Shortcake French Toast. My son liked the Japanese Potato Hash, although he wished there was another way to add more protein besides bacon. I had the Hot Chicken + Waffle and really enjoyed it, and my husband had the Nashville Crispy Chicken Sandwich. The food took a little longer than expected, but the service more than made up for it. Our server was genuinely kind, honest, and attentive, which can make such a difference. We came in mostly because we were hungry and running out of options, but left really happy we gave Common Stock a chance. Great food and, more importantly, really great service.

the best steak and frites!! the ambience was nice, nothing too fancy but their service was great…read more I got the steak medium rare and it was perfectly made. The fries you can never go wrong with-- and their truffle dip was superb The location is great too, good amount of street parking definitely one of my favorites in SD!

This food was delicious and our server Uli was super attentive and gave us the best service!read more

everything about this place is absolutely amazing and I will definitely eat here again. the only…read morething keeping me from rating it a full five stars is how big the portions are, they are a little large for me but perfect for sharing. The service was absolutely fantastic and they very helpful!!

James was just wonderful, so pleasant. Easy parking close by. Big, super huge menu, and merciful…read moreto your wallet. Been coming here for years and never once regretted doing so. Indoor/Outdoor dining. Excellent background music featuring the greatest hits from the 80's & 90's.

I really wanted to give a higher rating, but due to the lack of quality : cost ratio I just…read morecouldn't. The restaurant itself has an open and welcoming atmosphere, comfortable seating, good a/c, friendly service, a good variety of menu options...however, the cost for what you get doesn't equate. Now, their prices are fair, compared to many other places out there, but due to the lack of quality it just hits harder. My Monte Cristo was so sad-looking and dry. The turkey was heavily peppered, which might be okay in any other turkey sandwich, but this did not go well with what a Monte Cristo should taste like (iykyk)...even when the raspberry jam was added all you could taste was pepper. In addition to the strong pepper taste, the turkey itself was extremely dry and shredded to pieces when I tried to remove it. Very disappointed. When I told our waiter, who was very friendly and had been attentive, he said that he'd let the cook know--and that was it. No follow up. No apology. My son had the French toast and it was okay, nothing special. I usually have lunch here, but it's been a few years since I've been here for breakfast -- so this was a bummer. The past few times I felt like the quality was slipping, but I chalked it up to a possible "off" day...but this recent visit confirmed that they weren't "off" days and the quality truly has slipped. Hopefully they can reevaluate things and make some improvements. They have a good menu and nice concept, I just hope they improve their quality and presentation.

I've been here too many times to not review, so here I am now! I think this place is a Central San…read moreDiego staple. The food is always bomb, the vibes are always right, and the team is always wonderful. The restaurant feels like your neighborhood diner, but a bit more upscale. The servers are always so kind, helpful, and know exactly how to help you decide what to get. My usuals are the squash blossom dish because i looooove squash blossoms and they're so good with eggs, but this time we got the braised duck with mushroom and brie scramble and WHEW, girl that was good. i love their bread they serve too, always make everything taste good + and their crispy potato! YESSSS. Maple Bacon Doughnuts are always a must have when you go. just do it and thank me later. IMO you can never go wrong with this place for brunch, even with the line. i haven't come here for dinner yet and that is next on my list.

Came here for breakfast this morning and I'm so glad we had reservations because there was a pretty…read morelong line. Definitely recommend making one! The restaurant itself was super cute and had a great vibe. I got the smoked brisket hash and a banana espresso martini, and both were absolutely delicious. The brisket was so tender and flavorful. My husband and cousin both got the fried chicken burger and really enjoyed it, and the truffle fries were amazing too. The only downside was the outside patio was pretty cramped. My husband basically had to sit sideways because there wasn't much space between tables. Service also wasn't as attentive as I would've liked. We weren't given utensils, and once my food arrived I had to wait around 8 minutes before I could get someone's attention to ask for them. Besides that, the food was amazing and I'd definitely come back. Hopefully for an inside table next time!

I recently moved to mission hills from ocean beach, and I've been searching for my favorite new…read morebreakfast spot. It didn't take long! FARMERS BOTTEGA! Let's address the obvious: The food is delicious! I had the crab cake Benedict. It did not disappoint. I'll give it an honest 8/10. And the bacon Bloody Mary hit the spot too! What really impressed me was the service. I work full time as a server. I work long hours every weekend. Walking into a brunch spot on a Monday morning is always risky... but today I can say that I was truly happy with my experience. My server ALEJANDRO was friendly, gave excellent recommendations about the menu, and made a mean Bloody Mary. I will 1000% be back soon Thanks Alejandro and thanks farmers bottega!

New favorite Breakfast in SD! Ordered the Brioche French…read moreToast with Strawberries and added Eggs & Bacon. Superb! And the coffee was also very good. They say "farm to table" and based on the fresh tastes I experienced I would have to agree. Highly recommend.

We had an amazing experience at Trust for a birthday brunch! We made a reservation for 10:45 and…read morewere seated very prompted. All of the staff including the host, our server, and the food runners were incredibly kind. The sticky bun was deliciousssss -- definitely a must have! We enjoyed a few cocktails and order the skillet, rolled tacos, and chilaquiles. We all enjoyed our dishes! I will definitely be coming back to enjoy a brunch and likely to try out the dinner menu as well.

Our waiter learned it was our first visit to the eatery, and recommended we try their…read more"off-the-menu" tasting menu. "2 dishes per person," he promised--we were game. He mentioned they'd course the dishes out, 2 at a time, ensuring each of the dishes were paired intentionally. Beet Salad From someone who's not easily impressed with vegetable-led dishes, this was delicious. This dish was visually vibrant, and the flavor mirrored that vibrancy. The beets themselves were stunningly soft, even juicy I'd say. It's root-y flavor was ever-present, but it never became unwelcome on the dish. "Fragrant" is another word we all used to describe the plate, with the fresh mint and succulent citrus fruit widening each our eyes. Sweet, savory, fresh and...creamy. This salad sat on top of a delightful carrot labneh, which provided a creamy element further elevating the dish. It brought a bit of tang to the salad that I appreciated. Finally, there was a crunchy detail (which we know I love) from intelligently included pieces of pastelli--a Greek treat made from sesame seeds and honey, and that sweet crunch fostered the table's excitement. Trust was firing on cylinders early, strong start. Hamachi Crudo Insane. I'm a big fan of the amount of flavor that's packed in such a delicate dish. Off rip, you're met with a visually exciting dish. Red, green, and purple from the thinly sliced pepper, cucumber, and radish pop right off the dish. Bright colors and exquisite execution, placed in a circle to match the shape of the dish, had each of us salivating. With the first taste, the crisp bite of fresh cucumber catches your senses immediately, and then subtly spicy, cream sauce. It was aguachile blanco--my first time having the blanco variant. The flavor was stupid, I struggled to describe it's uniqueness. The Mexican flavor profile was proliferated by fresh cilantro and thinly sliced radish, followed with a textured salsa seca. The light nature of the dish paired pristinely with the beet salad. Now, these next two dishes were an exciting 1-2 punch in showing you exactly what Chef is all about--that signature wood fire Wood Grilled Cauliflower I always eat my vegetables, but I rarely enjoy them. They're two for two in accomplishing that feat. In a bowl lined with curry, they served up a healthy helping of cauliflower that showcases its smokiness first. With that first bite, you taste the fire quickly, but what surprised me most was how soft each piece of the veg was. The curry and smoky flavor from the wood fire paired deliciously. Though, my favorite aspect of this delivery was the inclusion of raisins and fresh mint. This was a new combo for me, and it delivered. The sourness from the raisins and the cool, herbaceous qualities of the mint cut right through the charred flavor. A beautiful contrast. As we continued to dismantle the plate, there was a familiar flavor that we all recognized but couldn't identify. Maybe it was the serrano aioli or the black lentils. Either way, we all enjoyed this one. Wood Grilled Octopus This was a favorite of mine, but I was alone in that regard. While nobody disliked the dish, the table had mixed reviews. For me, this was perfectly cooked. The texture of the octopus was ridiculous with a cooking technique that created a crispy exterior while maintaining a tender bite. The smokiness didn't shy away here either. I mean damn. Most weren't a fan of the pepperoni, but fresh, ground meat added a rustic flavor pop that satiated my palate. It held that beloved pepperoni flavor, but this style allowed for it's flavor to spread across each bite. What made this dish unique from any other octopus I've had was the addition of castelvetrano olives and legumes. They both brought an interesting flavor and texture element that surprised me. Lastly, the salsa verde served as a perfect sauce, providing an element of moisture that complimented the charred features. Well done. After round two is when shit got real. Crab Fried Rice OH SHIT. WTF. One of the best rice dishes I've ever had. This is one we all wished was much much bigger. Despite the name, this dish includes chunks of incredibly juicy, wood-roasted lobster that there was never going to be enough of. The crab was shredded and could be found in each bite of plump rice, providing a pleasing flavor. Both a lemongrass emulsion and Thai chili were included, offering a wonderful duality of zest and spice. I thoroughly enjoyed the basil and cashew elements as they created some extra variety in flavor and texture. Not much else is needed for me to say, it's a must order. Char Sui Glazed Brisket OH SHIT. Back to back hitters, and they paired... There's sadly a character limit, but tap in and read the rest of my review for free on my Substack: Still Chewing https://stillchewing.substack.com/p/herb-and-sea

This restaurant had been on our radar ever since the T&C Resort's $90 million renovation in 2020…read more We finally tried ARLO on the strong recommendation of friends, and it turned out to be one of the best outdoor patio dining experiences we've had in quite some time. Our San Diego evening weather was absolutely perfect for dining al fresco! Our party of six was seated at the restaurant's best table, located at the northeast corner of their covered patio. We were greeted by George, the GM, and served by Patrick. The outdoor ambiance here is very chill. We enjoyed a comfortable breeze, and the nearby pool activity did not affect our dining experience at all. Our dishes included their delicious sourdough bread, rack of lamb, ribeye steak, seared scallops, salmon, branzino, wedge salad, s'mores, and blueberry cobbler. Everything was delicious! The portions are generous, and everything was nicely plated. For us, the highlights were the warm sourdough bread, rack of lamb appetizer, blueberry cobbler, and ribeye steak with a side of mushrooms--probably because those were the dishes my wife and I shared. Patrick was also kind enough to bring us a few s'mores desserts as we were celebrating an early birthday as well as our courting anniversary at the table. It was a very thoughtful touch. The restaurant also validates parking for guests who dine here, which is a nice convenience. Overall, we were impressed with the menu selection, food quality, service, and outdoor dining atmosphere. We would definitely return and highly recommend ARLO to anyone looking for a nice place to dine in the Mission Valley area, especially if you're seeking a great outdoor dining experience.

We really wanted to like this place, but unfortunately our experience was disappointing from…read morebeginning to end. We made a reservation earlier in the week for a girlfriend's birthday brunch on Sunday. We arrived at 11:45am and weren't seated until about 12:03pm. Normally I wouldn't mind waiting, but from what we could see, there were maybe 6-7 tables dining and plenty of open tables. They did have a pit bull look-alike contest and a live DJ going on, which gave the place a fun vibe. A few minutes after we were seated, the manager came over and introduced our server, which felt a little unusual and made us wonder if he was new. We placed our drink orders, but didn't receive them until around 12:35pm, almost 30 minutes later. We let our server know we were ready to order, and our food finally arrived around 1:15pm. During that entire wait, no one checked in or gave us an update that the kitchen was running behind. Unfortunately, the food didn't make up for the wait. We all agreed the best things we had were the mimosas and cinnamon roll. I ordered the Eggs in a Pot, which is similar to shakshuka and described on the menu as having poached eggs. My eggs were completely well done. When I mentioned it to our server, he told me the eggs are "always like that" for this dish. I've had plenty of shakshuka, and a fully cooked yolk is definitely not what I'd consider a poached egg. We also ordered the soufflé pancakes, but there was nothing soufflé-like about them. Instead of being light, airy and fluffy, they tasted like very thick regular pancakes. The tocino fried rice was another miss. The pork belly was dry and the fried rice lacked flavor. The deviled eggs also tasted off to us. They lacked flavor, and the texture of the egg whites made them seem like they may have been prepared well in advance. What made the experience more frustrating was that after our food arrived, no one came back to check on us. There were no water refills or "How is everything?" We had to flag people down when we needed something. I really do try to give restaurants the benefit of the doubt because every restaurant can have an off day. But when the service is this slow and nearly every dish at the table misses the mark, it's hard to overlook. The concept also felt a little confusing. It's presented as New American, but several dishes lean heavily into Asian fusion without feeling particularly cohesive or well executed. For a birthday brunch that we were looking forward to, this was unfortunately a disappointing experience. Between the long waits, lack of communication and follow-up, and food quality, I don't see us coming back.

Ok wait I loveeeed a lot of the dishes that we ordered here!! They are super accommodating with any…read moredietary restrictions (one person in our party is allergic to dairy and doesn't eat pork, and they were able to tailor dishes accordingly). Definitely on the pricier end for certain dishes but many of them are well worth it! - sourdough bread: good but also why are we spending $16 here. can't say it's worth - ahi tartare: no notes, everything hit, would come back for this alone - steamed clam and mussels: these were some meaty af mussels. delicious! the clams were tiny & pathetic tho and can't say I loved having the chorizo in there - charred broccolini: honestly don't remember this well but i had no complaints - grilled oysters: another fav of mine!!! a must get - hearth roasted carrots: the yogurt & pesto were on the side (due to dairy restrictions) but the pesto was SO. GOOD. paired beautifully with the carrots!!!!! I'm dying to know how to make this at home myself - branzino: good but would skip. I do typically like fish entrees but this wasn't overly impressive. could've used more sauce - NY strip: our favorite entree!!!! paired SO with the bone marrow - duck: super tender and fell right off the bone!!! our second fav entree - almond joy: incredible dessert, every bite I felt like I was getting a little something new. vanilla ice cream in the middle. LOVEEED this as our ending to dinner

Came for happy hour (wed-sun 4-6) in the bar ONLY.The bar is located in a separate room than the…read moredining area. Happy hour seating is walk ins only, no reservations. There is a "happy hour" on Monday but it's called Ouster Monday, oysters are $1 and they have different specials that are not offered on the normal happy hour. Got the crispy chicken wings, Wagyu longaniza, and burger The chicken wings were very crispy and came topped with a jalapeño relish. The relish had a citrusy taste to it or maybe it was the liquid from the pickled jalapeños. I liked the crispness of the chicken but I think the relish was too acidic for me. The Wagyu longaniza was my favorite, very strong beefy flavor. It came on top of salsa matcha which i thought was very tasty so much that I dipped the wings and burger in the sauce. The slice of radish on top gave it a nice texture and crunch. I see the Wagyu hotdog is offered on the oyster Monday special so I'm gonna have to come back and try that for sure. The burger was cooked nicely, medium as requested. It came topped with an egg, truffled onion jam, and cheddar cheese. The bun was nicely toasted and the egg and cheese added a nice rich element to it but I didn't care for the onion jam, it gave the burger an overall sweet profile. I'd simply ask for it without next time. Over all a solid burger, maybe I'd add bacon too. I also had a margarita which was on happy hour special. I asked for it to be spicy and they added a tajin rim which was nice. Spicy and refreshing! Parking is all on the street so I had to part a few blocks away. Overall a solid happy hour. I'll be back on Oyster Monday for the hot dog and fish collars.

C level will always be one of my favorite restaurants to celebrate occasions…read more - Amazing views of the San Diego skyline - Delicious Food -Great service! - fancy enough for all types of groups The location is the number one place why I love this place. You get the San Diego vibe all the while treating yourself to a delicious meal. Note: If you have a long layover in sd. Definitely try this place! It's across the SAN airport.

Looking for a spot on the harbor where you can enjoy a cocktail and a bite to eat while watching…read moresailboats, jet skiers, harbor cruise ships pass by? And of course the beautiful downtown San Diego skyline. You have three choices in this part of Harbor Island that are located right next door to each other, one being C Level. The daytime view is beautiful. The nighttime views are amazing. C Level shares the entrance with Island Prime. C Level offers a more reasonably priced menu and a more casual dining experience. We had the most delicious portobello mushroom veggie sandwich, served on a light and fluffy focaccia bread. Our cocktails were Deborah's Mai Tais, which had a coconut pina colada like taste to it. It liked it! C Level is a definite good spot to enjoy beautiful San Diego!

We were in San Diego for Labor Day weekend on a mission to find the best pancakes in the city, and…read moreSnooze had been on our radar (we saw it right on the window too, ha). Glad we stopped in. Pets: Allowed and welcomed on the front patio. They gave our puppy a nice big cup of water. We got the pancake flight and swapped the pineapple for the buttermilk, which ended up being the right call. Our waitress Violet was awesome, super friendly and really helpful walking us through the options. The strawberry pancake was my favorite of the three, so good. We also got the Benedict, which was lovely as well. Great spot, great service. Would come back next time we're in town.

It started off very promising. No wait and street parking free until 10am. We were seated pretty…read morequickly. Our server was pleasant. We started with the omg bacon. This came out but it was cold. The bacon was cold, flaccid smothered in their honey hot gel sauce. I wish the bacon was hot. For breakfast I ordered the protein bowl and he had the eggs Benedict and side of pork belly. The protein bowl stated it has two eggs. I'm pretty sure this is one egg under inflation. I mean, check the photo. I really wanted the scrambled eggs in this bowl. The rest seemed great in concept, tomato, sausage crumble, bacon, pickled onions on a bed of spinach. I couldn't overlook the small portion of scrambled egg. I wish the server asked me how was our meal. I would have showed her. Parking and convenience = 4 stars Service = 3 stars Food = 1 star Avg = 2.6 stars