I feel like we need to give Desi a star on Hollywood. She's got a tremendous story, a bar that is super chill, and a way to make people feel special. Driving by you would think "what is this place" but then you feel her warmth when she's serving you some whiskey and you'll understand why even on a random Tuesday in April, this place will at least be half packed. Why I like it so much? It's cheap and friendly and not pretentious at all like some other dive bars can become over time. They also sell pizza that is actually pretty damn good. It's right across the street from Liberty station. I usually park on the street. They have a poll table on the top and bottom floors. They have a few mighty ducks paraphernalia as well and another game in the corner on the top level. Most importantly they have one of those wifi jukebox where you can select which song you want to play via the app. read more

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This little bar is a knockout. Unexpectedly warm with a full menu. I was glad to come here on a date. I really like song machines where you can choose tunes. read more

Friendly staff and the pizza was so dang good!! Over all I had a nice night there when I was staying near sea world for the night! Thanks for the staff taking care of me after a long day! Awesome place to relax after a long day and play some pool read more

Desi's Bar & Grill - I just asked them to serve me something good!!! - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

We were here for a friend's birthday, so we were upstairs in the party room (which I think you need to pay to reserve). We figured we would be buying our dinner here, so we came hungry. I tried a couple slices of the Detroit style pizza, the all-meat one. It was very good, with that very crispy edge to the crust and plenty of sauce on top. My friend had a burger with Jojo potatoes, and I sampled her potatoes. I really like the bigger fries with the baked potato texture inside, but I think she prefers thin & crunchy. I was also very happy to see that they carry Faygo soda, which is a Detroit brand! It's hard to find in our area, and I got the last pineapple watermelon one, score! I can imagine that this is a fun place to come and hangout, and maybe play some pool. The food is a great addition. Parking is a little difficult, on the street and nearby neighborhood. But you might be able to park across the street at Liberty. read more

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We had the Detroit Pizza Habanero Chicken. Great pizza and the habo's were not too spicy hot. Bar is always clean, pool tables ready, and the staff great. A San Diego local gem. I hesitate to write a review because it's seems every time a local gem is reviewed, someone buys it to "re-imagine" the space or tear it down/build a condo. But Desi's deserves the truth be known about its pizza and kitchen overall. read more

I was in the area, picking up something from marketplace and waiting to pick my family up from the airport with some time to kill. I had just gotten off work and was a bit hungry but not too crazy and didn't want to spend a ton of money. So I came across this place on yelp and decided to give it a go based on the reviews. It did not disappoint. The pizza was delicious. I'm from Brooklyn, New York and Love Sicilians this square Detroit pizza was more like an Italian Sicilian it wasn't too dense. I also got an order of the buffalo chicken wings that were smoked. They were also really good. The person next to me got mozzarella sticks that were so amazing looking. I would've ordered it, but I was just too full. The bartender gar was really nice, attentive, and helpful with me making a decision. I highly recommend it a couple of pool tables. Lots of space downstairs it's definitely old-school. Don't expect anything fancy. I had just gotten off a long shift and spaced on getting some photos. read more

One of our favorite neighborhood bars we stumbled upon in San Diego. It definitely reminded us of a Midwest dive bar. We were pleasantly surprised to find out it's a Detroit themed bar, offering Detroit style pizza, faygo, coney dogs and more. Bartender was super friendly and had good recommendations. Pool was cheap as were the drinks and food. Loved every minute of our visit here. read more

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I love Desi's. This is our go-to dive bar, the service is awesome and we really appreciate Desi's passion for what she does! The food is always great, we loved the mac and cheese pizza, although it is not currently on the menu- the smash burger is great! Great value, good drinks, and fun (pool, darts, juke box). Fun ambiance as well, very casual and comfy! read more

This place is great! I have never had Detroit style pizza and this NY transplant loved it! My lady friend loved it! I couldn't use enough superlatives to describe our experience. Great service, excellent neighborhood feel, pool tables, ...solid. read more

This was my second time going to Desi's after being introduced by a friend and let me tell ya, this place is my go-to for a drink. The bartender Gar recognized me after being there only ONCE and he is super cool. I ordered my usual Jameson and coke while we talked about when the cold weather would let up. I also nibbled on some potato wedges which are amazingly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. That's when I spied that they also make Detroit style deep dish pizza. I've never had deep dish and decided to try it for the first time. I kid you not, my taste buds did acrobatics. The crust had a nice crunch but also was springy and soft. The sausage and peppers mixed well with the sauce. Come here if you want to experience a cozy place to eat and drink. You won't be disappointed. read more

Desi's Bar & Grill - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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It's been awhile, too long really, since I've been to Desi's. Recently I was feeling pretty good about heading back indoors. What better place to start with than one of my favorite bars? It's been 16 months, but I was remembered as soon as I walked in the door. It felt like I had been there the month before like usual. Gar was behind the bar, mixing up drinks that I still ask for with such vague requests like "Something with a soda like 7up?" and "Something with bourbon?" I just never want to get into a rut, you know? The booze selection is plentiful so there is always something different to mix up for me. Gar started me off with a Jameson & ginger ale which was a good call on his part. Try new things, that's how you might find new favorites. For my next drink some bourbon got made into a mule. Maybe it's the lime and ginger or maybe it's the mug, but mules are always a winner for me and easy to change up. Loved that drink too, but a girl can't drink on an empty stomach... In my previous review I said Desi's didn't have artisan bar food because at the time they did not. They had basic goodies like corndogs and wings which I happily ordered because corndogs and wings are delicious bar bites. I checked out their Instagram recently upon my re-entry into the land of the drinking in public and I saw a dude named Scotty is now slinging food, I mean legit cooking up some fancy ass stuff, in their kitchen space. He's even got a chef's hat! Don't mistake fancy for expensive as the dishes are still approachable, 10 smackers, and fit well at Desi's. Think sandwiches and snacky things. Basically stuff you want to stuff in your mouth. Scotty came over and told me all about his dishes for the evening as his menu changes frequently based on his whims. While all the items sounded good I definitely needed to get my hands on the quesadilla and the pork sandwich. The quesadilla would be perfect for sharing the way it's cut up. They're mini tortillas that kind of have this mickey mouse shape thing going on. This quesadilla isn't loaded with all kinds of junk, it's about the cheese here as it should be. Scotty adds some extra cheese around the tortillas which gets golden brown and crispy. So freaking good! The quesadillas were also served with this black hot sauce which is my new favorite. My pork sandwich arrived soon after. Let me tell you about this sandwich- it's pork tenderloin, cooked sous vide, and generously piled on a toasted roll with some pickles, some mustard, and some cheese. You want this sandwich. I don't want to stifle the man's creativity, but Scotty needs to bring that pork back on the regular. Change the other sandwich fixings to keep it fun, but that pork was the most juicy and tender pork I've ever had in my life. Desi's was already a favorite and now I love it even more. Comfy stools, not crowded, nothing fancy about it, plenty of cheap drinks, and delicious food = my kind of place. I have enough faith that if I show up and hear that the menu du jour doesn't include the pork sandwich that I will still end up with something tasty. But if I hear that delicious pork is again on the menu? I'm probably going to order two. read more

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Great spot to play a few rounds of pool with great music and ambiance. Padres games on the TV during the season, and postseason baseball as well. Awesome bartender and service, with good beer options on tap. read more

Pepperoni pizza double smash burger was bomb!!! Must try!! Open bar and great beer selections. Pool tables and juke box entertained us all night. Love this place!! read more

Desi's Bar & Grill - a man standing in front of a sign - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Being from Michigan I can assure you this is legit DETROIT style pizza! Stumbled upon it while walking in the area. Staff was so friendly and the pizza by the slice was amazing. It is better than some place in Detroit. The sauce and crust are to die for. Cheap(ish) drinks for the area. Pool is only .50 cents cool dive bar atmosphere but clean and nice. read more

Great unpretentious bar located near the east end of liberty station. Pool tables, darts and great food

Sweet pizza happy hour! Not my 3rd time in here, but they don't know my name either. Awesome pizza and super chill hole in the wall bar. I dig the window seats, it qualifies for good motorcycle parking, darts n pool. What else could you ask for?! read more

Great chill dive bar, LGBT+ friendly, fast service, the bartender/part-owner Gar is nice and remembers regulars. A couple of vegan options - great fries. They have Faygo soda and pool tables too. read more

Stopped in on a whim, the bartender was super nice. Looking forward to returning when we are back in town

Excellent water. It comes in a tall glass with ice. You must request it from the bartender; I did not notice a self-serve station. Overall, great water experience. read more

Desi's Bar & Grill - Water - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Great vibe with great service. I really enjoyed the pickle bacon pizza, which was delicious.

This place is pretty cool actually.. I have come here twice and the second time, they remembered me! I have only gone for trivia night, so the energy is different on its own. There were a few people who weren't there for trivia, but not a lot. This is definitely a hang out spot if you're into just kicking back with friends. If you are on a mission to meet people, try another area! (In my opinion!) HOWEVER..... The food really is magical. The burger is freaking good... And obviously the drinks don't disappoint lol. I really like this place and hope I can check it out when it isn't trivia night! read more

Desi's Bar & Grill - Soooo gooooooood - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Bartender was lovely and so welcoming!!! We got our drinks right as we walked in and food as soon as they could make it. Thank you so much Desi's!!! Will be back! read more

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Great people, great food. The bartender and cooks are great and always have a good laugh with them. One of the best hidden secrets in San Diego!! read more

Great drinks with a really nice bartenders. They got our order in quickly and served to perfection.

Oh wow....stayed way longer than was meant...good times! It was my first time at Desi's, which I was a little skeptical before stepping inside... But it all went away by it's laid back atmosphere; it turned out to be a cool time. The one bartender/cook (Adam) was such a sweetheart who was slammed with a lot of orders, but still remained cool, calm, professional, and super friendly. Their food menu contains ten or less items (bar food). Alot of different IPAs dominated their small craft beer selection, with one porter and a few ales... My ($7) burger was super tasty/perfect, and the small order of fries ($2) was actually big enough for two folks to share; but, there was too much spice on the fries. I was hoping for regular fries with a bit of salt; but their fries have a ton of some type of mccormick seasoning (yeesh). Still ate them, though. :") Very friendly patrons who were and/or seemed to be regulars. All in all it was a yummy hole in the wall food/beer, super friendly folks, clean restroom - can't go wrong with Desi's read more

Desi's Bar & Grill - The burger was actually soooo GOOD!! - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Ugh. This place is empty,garbage,and overpriced. Look at the hole in the wall if you are looking for a nice friendly bar. Also, Bartender britney sucks too. read more

I love the atmosphere and people the bartenders are great and the food with angry Pete's is dltondie for best pizza in all of San Diego. The Detroit style is definitely the way to go. The prices are half bad all things considered would recommends to anyone trying to have a great time and just relax and let loose and be yourself. read more

No BELVEDERE here. This place is just odd... smells odd, has odd people in it ... it's huge inside, bathroom and pool downstairs odd stage and seats / couches upstairs. Was this a chuck e. cheese gone bad? I don't think it is possible to attain a buzz here. Odd I don't think this has ever happened to me at a bar... no buzz. *zoinks* is it possible? Odd. 411 - they have darts, bar food, juke box, hard liquor, beer, pool tables and take cards (and the hole is next door) So bizzare... hODDa! read more

I play pool league and this is our home bar and sponsor for the APA pool league. With the exception of parking, this bar is overall a cool place to hangout, have a few drinks and definitely eat some food off the menu. Our league rotates through different bars, but we play here at least twice a month. All the bartenders seem nice and cordial. If you are looking for spot to have a good place to socialize, eat a burger and shoot pool, give Desi's a try! read more

A burger and beer for only $5 at lunch! You got to be kidding. Wow! Yummy! Rather it is your first visit or you have been coming here for years, you are treated like a valued friend. I arrived 10 minutes late for the lunch deal (11-3) and was surprised that they extended the offer to me. A huge cheese (choice of cheddar or jack) burger (toped with lettuce, pickle, onion and tomato). A condiment tray of catsup, mustard, and mayo are at your disposal. read more

This is most definitely your quintessential dive bar in San Diego, but what a great place to listen to Jerry Gontang and his troupe of players! They do serve a good burger with great fries and the service was fast and friendly. Enjoyed spending time listening to music with my son, who was a bit intimidated by the cougars hitting on him, right in front of his Mom, in the San Diego Parrot Club who had a Flock meeting prior to the music. It was kind of fun!! read more

Cheers bartender: "Pour you a beer, Mr. Peterson?" Norm: "Alright, but stop me at one....make that one-thirty." Desi's really is the friendly locals "Cheers" like bar where everybody knows your name, or gets to know you. We've been several times over the years, and it seems like we always meet friendly, interesting people. Good drinks; better than average bar food (the cheeseburger and wings are actually very good), pool table, darts, all at good prices. But the best part is the live music - the group last night (didn't catch their name) plays every Tuesday, and they were really good. Kind of Jimmy Buffet/James Taylor style. Definitey check them out. PS: their upstairs room is available for private events - have been there for charity poker tournaments, meetings, etc. read more

Definitely no frills, but it's a great place to avoid traffic after a day at the office. - Food is cheap and good - Drinks are cheap and strong - Friendly bartenders - Two recently-resurfaced pool tables and generally a fun group of folks for casual play - Darts - Occasional live music Don't expect ambiance or ample parking. But if you make it in the door, you're sure to meet some interesting characters. read more

All these negative reviews are crazy! Yes, it's a dive bar. Comfortable, relaxed, everyone knows everyone and if you aren't known, like I was, they get to know you! Pool tables... Check Darts... Check Food... Check Alcohol... Check Fun atmosphere... Check! What else could you want from bar? Love this place! read more

So I don't really even remember being here. I checked in. I must have had a drink or two (but I guess I had a few somewhere prior to this....) I have to give it 3 stars for serving my drunk ass and for being so memorable. read more

This is my bar. A local hang out for the industry workers of point loma. Brittany, Stephen, Lisa, and Desi herself, make this place feel like home. The drinks are more than fairly priced, and it's never a bad idea to socialize. A simple bar, with relatable clientele, you can't find a more chill place to drink. read more

This place is awesome! Great atmosphere great bartenders and delicious barfood. If you're looking for a dive bar atmosphere this is the place to come! read more

Super friendly neighborhood watering hole,no pretension,no annoying crowds,hipsters,man buns or high maintenance up talkers.Just a working class bar with folks that treat you right.Surprisingly good pub grub,Billiards and an upstairs,downstairs set up.Live shows come here so keep abreast.The place looks like its been about 10 different places in its long life and not one of them architecturally sound;but i like it like that.I wish this place was closer...because,as Hemingway said "Every man should have a bar he can call home. read more

Desi's Bar & Grill - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

20 tasty beers on tap. Double pour on Quality liquor. Inexpensive drinks and food. Outstandingly friendly bartender by the name of Deb. Whats not to like? read more

Stopped in for a few beers and some grub, before calling it a night on a day trip to SD. Decent food, and nice place, will definitely visit again if we are in the area. Thanks Rod! read more