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    Fernside

    4.1 (378 reviews)
    Open 3:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 1 week ago

    Order Fernside Takeout or Delivery

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    FERNSIDE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Fernside

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    Second order of PORK SCHNITZEL. Absolutely disgusting
    Melissa W.

    After working in food service my entire life...and growing up with an executive chef as a father- I really try not to be too critical, however, I find it hard to understand how these two schnitzel dishes passed the chef/cooks inspection, the expo peoples, etc. they are burnt beyond recognition. I will say my son's plain cheeseburger was fine. Everything else? Disgusting. My money will be better spent elsewhere.

    DIET FERNSIDE BURGER with CHILI CHEESE FRIES
    Kia S.

    Amazing "get in my belly" burgers. I will be honest. I immediately start eating and never take pics. My food is destroyed within seconds kinda good. Fantastic drinks! They are known for the slushees but don't sip too fast as these tasty treats will both sneak up on you and give you a brain freeze. The fries are crisscross cut and absolutely delicious! The burgers fantastic, even the bread (I'm not a bread person but I am here). Huge fan of their wings also, I recommend their Korean bbq wings. Just go. I'll try to take a better picture next time, but I won't be surprised if I post a half eaten burger! Service is chill. You order at door and you get a number. You walk up to the bar when your food is ready. Everyone here is always in a great mood. I bring friends here when they are in my neck of the woods. Love this place, never disappoints.

    Friday night fun!
    Benjamin W.

    The place is popping on a Friday after work. Open seating, so keep a sharp eye for an open table. My wife and I came here on a recommendation from a friend but were left a little disappointed. The food had great portions and was served quick and hot. Unfortunately, the chicken was bland (my description) or flat (my wife's description). It's like the chicken wasn't crunchy and it didn't seem seasoned. I don't think I'll be back here. That said, the people next to us really enjoyed their drinks and the open air seating was so relaxing on a warm spring evening.

    Julie T.

    Kudos to Fernside for supporting the South Park Cleanup today. The fig and burrata salad was delicious! Can't want to try the pumpkin spice whoopie pie when I get home.

    Cool decor
    Tiffany C.

    Stopped by for some beers after dinner. The place was chill and the Christmas Story decor was dope! Tried this pickle beer, it definitely tastes like pickle juice from the jar with a light beer taste. A must try for anyone who likes pickles.

    Ocho Margarita is Ocho bueno!
    Jaz A S.

    This is my seventeenth thousandth time at Fernside. What a cool bar pad it is! Just ordered a tart "Ocho" margarita and it is hitting IL posto! Cheers, great drinks, beer, snacks and overall service If you're looking for a cool spot while in South Park [ San Diego's most chill and cool neighborhood ] well then, you've found it. Enjoy!

    Maximus says the pulled pork is 10 out of 10 PULLED PORK SANDO
    Jeannette F.

    Max says the pulled pork is 10 out of 10! amazingly delicious! The people were amazing! Love all of things

    Catrina R.

    This is a neighborhood classic but the food isn't wonderful but it isn't bad either. I've had their breakfast sandwich and their burger. The burger is greasy as hell which was disappointing but their homemade sauces are tasty. They are kinda known for their alcoholic slushees but be fully warned they aren't really strong and I think a bit overrated. Parking is street which isn't too bad. Come here for drinks, to watch a game, and appetizers.

    FERNSIDE BURGER FRIED CHICKEN SANDO CRUSTY CAULIFLOWER
    Erik L.

    Fernside is such a gem of a neighborhood spot--one of those places that feels welcoming the second you walk up. The staff is always incredibly kind, and they never forget to treat my dog to a little snack at the counter. Big points for that! The menu has plenty of variety, so I like to switch it up with different burgers and entrées each time. But one thing's for sure: I'm always ordering the fried cauliflower--crispy, flavorful, and totally addicting. The space is open and airy, with a great vibe whether you're inside or out. Honestly, there's never a bad seat in the house. It's casual, friendly, and consistently good--can't ask for much more.

    Tory O.

    Fun corner cocktail bar/restaurant in South Park across from the Target. You order st the front then find seating. It was a Saturday night and I luckily found a place to sit with my group. I saw that they had Boozy Slushies. For the price, they pack a punch with the amount of alcohol that is present in them! Though the cups are cool, I couldn't even finish mine. It's best to share if you aren't a big alcohol drinker. I also ordered a grilled chicken sandwich with a side salad. The sandwich tasted great with their house sauce. I also got to try the criss cut fries which were fried perfectly and had a good crispiness to them. My girlfriend also ordered the burger sliders which she enjoyed as well. It's not the biggest venue so waiting for a table to open up can occur during the night rush.

    SUCH IS CHAMANGO SLUSHEE
    Gwen G.

    I've been wanting to check out Fernside ever since I heard that they have alcoholic slushees. I ordered the "Such is Chamango" and it did not disappoint! I would totally order it again. The service was speedy, because of the outside window. The place was busy for a Saturday night, but there was still plenty of seating space available. In my opinion, this is the perfect spot to bring your friends on a chill night.

    Upbeat decor and soundtrack

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Don't order nacho fries I am an idiot. Friends ordered other stuff that was okay though

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    5 years ago

    Good for both takeout and eat in, they are often very busy. The burgers are our favorite thing on the menu.

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    7 years ago

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    7 years ago

    This place is great! Definitely coning back soon. Sheri was our server and was so nice and attentive. Gave us some great recommendations.

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    5 years ago

    Very cool Bar! Enjoyed the rum slushie and margaritas. More self serve type of establishment. Overall, great place to grab a quick drink.

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Great little spot in South Park, food is great and first place that doesn't over cook my burger lol

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    4 years ago

    Delicious food, pup friendly, and Sam who helped us out with our order was truly delightful to chat with. Good vibes all around.

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    Page 6 of 10

    Fernside Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Fernside

    How late is the kitchen open on a Sunday night?

    I believe it is open until midnight. I do know it's open that late every other night during the week

    Do they have gluten free or vegetarian options?

    Check out the site here: https://www.fernsidebar.com/menus I saw a few vegetarian and vegan… Read more

    Is there enough street or lot parking for a large group to meet up?

    Yes, you can park at the target parking lot across the street. Always parking available.

    Do they have a happy hour?

    Yes they do was there this past week 3-6 weekdays.

    View All 6 Questions

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    Mothership

    4.3
    (945 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Mothership has already risen to the level of San Diego institution a must-visit that nails it every…read moretime. Simply put, this is the best bar experience in town. They serve both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks alongside a growing menu of vegan bites. They do have a seasonal cult favorite: savory donuts. If they're in season, do not leave without trying them. Note that there are no clear signs marking the entrance done intentionally as a nod to the speakeasy vibe. Once inside, the spaceship immersion is taken to another level. And if you're lucky, they'll trigger the spaceship lights-and-sounds sequence, which to me resembles a ship under attack. It's incredibly cool. The ambiance is fantastic, and so is the food and drinks everything here delivers. Do pay attention to the alcohol content of each drink, as some run quite strong. Reservations are strongly encouraged, as they book up early and walk-ins may not be accommodated.

    I like themed restaurants and bars, so Mothership was high on my list of San Diego destinations…read more The outside of the bar looks like a Mexican restaurant (which it was a few years ago), but the inside has been transformed into a scientific base on an alien planet. The decorations, colors, and music all fit the vibe perfectly and look great! If you've been to any of the Meow Wolf locations, it reminded me of that minus the interactivity. I guess that's my one criticism is that I wish there were points of interaction around the place. For example, the bar had these cool recessed lights that looked like control panels, but they could easily be made into an interactive element. A lot more could be done with projection technology too. We didn't eat dinner, but the menu looked interesting with all vegetarian entrees with futuristic names. We did have some drinks. I had a non-alcoholic Tang & Tonic which was yummy and reminded me of something I drank in the UK when I was a little kid. My friends got alcoholic drinks which they both enjoyed. The drinks were a decent size and not overpriced.

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    The bar area
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    Noble Experiment

    Noble Experiment

    4.5
    (1.9k reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    I'm not an often a cocktail drinker. So when the bartender asked what I'm looking for I was ill…read moreprepared. From his view, it probably sounded like "I'm Ron Burgundy?" (It definitely did). His questions guided my indecision towards a Berkshire Old Fashioned that was fantastic despite my fumbling to get there. With the warm up round over and the old fashioned loosening up my creativity, round two was set to be a knockout. I love coffee (specifically strong espresso drinks), so I asked for a strong, coffee infused, punchy cocktail, but with a different base of alcohol from the old fashioned. What came out was the best cocktail I will probably ever have in my life. The bourbon cocktail with coffee liqueur (and a number of other garnishes I will never remember) hit the bullseye. Flavorful, strong, bold, delicious all at the same time. Unfortunately (?), this was a noble experiment so I'll forever be chasing the white whale of what this drink was. But that's the allure.

    My brother-in-law and I were looking for places to drink....And we just wanted somewhere chill. We…read moreknew that any bar by tacos el gordo would be too wild for us, so we walked a couple blocks and approached Noble Experiment. I would say this was probably our highlight of our trip in San Diego. Garrick, the bartender there, was super accommodating. Not only was he and the other bartender were making damn good drinks, they would legit talk to you. The ambiance of the place is cool too. Felt like I was going inside some continental room like John Wick. Definitely my vibe and definitely coming back. But if you ever get Garrick as your bartender, you're in for a treat!

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    Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail
    Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail
    Bartenders creations.
    Bartenders creations.
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    Kindred

    Kindred

    4.4
    (2k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    The three of us came here on a Saturday afternoon and had a great time. The bar is beautifully…read moredecorated, with both indoor and patio seating. The drinks were fresh and expertly made. We tried the Palace of Certainty, Bees Knees, Camino Muerto, and King Friday. Since the menu rotates, it felt fun to try a few different options. One funny detail was that the main bar had some goth-themed music playing, while both the men's and women's restrooms had death metal. It added to the character of the place. Great drinks and a really cool atmosphere.

    Loved the food. Drinks, ambiance and service - not so much…read more Chimichurri (4/5) - Delicious sauce, seitan was tender with a nice charred outside. My charred skewer was a little too charred though so that overwhelmed the other flavors a bit. Doom Bloom (4/5) - perfectly battered, crunchy and delicious. The yuzu gave the otherwise heavy dish a little brightness. Crab cakes (5/5) - so yummy no notes! Eggroll burger (10/5) - what an innovative concept - egg roll filling with the egg roll skin in crisp layers in the bun too. It has crunch, umami, a little sweetness. SO GOOD. They were out of both gin drinks I was interested in (Starspawn and Spinal Tap) so I tried the Palace of Certainty since it looked interesting. I thought there would some savoriness to it from the basil and peppercorn but it was mainly just a sweet drink with not much complexity (3/5). They were very busy on a Saturday night despite us having a reservation (apparently kitchen was very backed up). First sat at the bar and then got seated at our table maybe 20 min after our reservation time. Got a bottle of water but no cups so we had to ask for cups. And then our food came maybe 40 min after ordering. But the seating arrangement is just bad. The table was worse than the bar. We regretted moving. If you are unlucky enough to get seated at the big long table as a two-person party then you have to sit across from them and it gets hard to hear each other because you're sitting right next to other groups too. It's a bad environment for a date night. I haven't had that level packed into a restaurant since New York! Also, the lighting at night is all weird and dim. We even saw the group next to us shine flashlights on their food and request more lighting.

    Photos
    Bar area. Ig @mel_foodie_ventures.
    Bar area. Ig @mel_foodie_ventures.
    Torched carrots
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    Books & Records

    Books & Records

    4.3
    (405 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    The happy hour and the vibes are immaculate!…read more A few months ago, I went here with my boyfriend, sisters and brothers in law for my going away dinner. I am so sad because I can't remember the name of our waitress! She was amazing because she was so ON POINT with everything -- from knowing the details of each menu item, to knowing what "medium+" is for a steak. She was attentive and amazing and shoutout to her! The food and tiny 'tinis were delicious! The steak and fries were such a good deal for $25. I could've eaten two of them, and now that I'm writing this months later, I'm thinking about that meal again. There is also a spot where the live musician plays, which is awesome! When I'm in San Diego, I have to come back.

    I really wanted to like Books & Records, but the service left a lot to be desired…read more After checking in, we waited a bit for our table, which was understandable. Once seated, though, we sat for about 20 minutes without anyone acknowledging us. I eventually had to flag someone down just to get water. We then waited even longer for our server to take our order. Because service was so slow, I ordered all of our drinks and food at once since I wasn't sure when we'd see our server again. What stood out even more was watching a couple seated next to us receive immediate attention. They were greeted, served water right away, and the woman was offered a purse hook. Meanwhile, we were sitting there with our purses shoved beside us and weren't offered the same courtesy. It may seem like a small detail, but combined with the lack of attention, it made us feel overlooked. The drinks came out quickly, and the chicken satay and mac and cheese were decent. Nothing was bad, but nothing really stood out food-wise either. The highlight of the evening was definitely the live music. The performers were fantastic and created a great atmosphere that honestly was the only enjoyable part of the evening.

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    Interior
    Interior
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    Bao buns
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    Botanica Art & Cocktails

    Botanica Art & Cocktails

    4.4
    (318 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Immediately fell in love with this quaint and chicly decorated speakeasy lounge. The staff was…read moreincredibly personable and helpful. The vibe was relaxed and unassuming. When I made the reservation, it was noted that there is a 1.5 hour limit on the table. Thankfully, Botanica isn't incredibly stringent about this rule as it gave us more time to eat, drink and be merry. My friend and I split the bill and I paid $87.49 with tip included. Here's what we had: Blistered shishito peppers - mild spice but flavorful New York strip yakitori - ordered two of these because they were that good! The steak was tender and the sauce rendered an umami flavor Botanika roll - tasted fine, but it ate one note. You can taste the citrusy parts but not much else. Mochi dessert - you can only get dessert if you order the pre fixe chef menu, but since our waitress didn't know this, she put the order in and gave it to us! We were incredibly grateful because it was the perfect end to a good meal For cocktails we ordered Spirited Away, Dragon of the West, Kyoko Sakura & Heads will Roll. All of the cocktails were beautifully presented and quite tasty.

    This place is calm, creative, and has the right low lighting without feeling too dark to see. The…read moredrinks are pricy, but very unique, and they have a special emphasis on aesthetic. The bartenders are nice and give good recommendations. It is attached to an art gallery and is supposed to have art displays in the bar area, but unfortunately they were all turned off when we were there.

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    Japanese Gin for the win!
    Japanese Gin for the win!
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    Charade

    Charade

    4.5
    (79 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    First time here. Definitely out of our comfort zone but enjoyed the show. Cas, Mj and Josie were…read moreamazing host and had great hospitality. Come visit!!!!!

    As the self-appointed king of speakeasies, I'm back at it with another one. After having dinner in…read morethe area, we stopped by Charade for some drinks on a Monday night. I parked on the street close to the dinner spot I went to and then walked over to Charade. Ambiance (5/5): Charade is a speakeasy so here's your clue. It's located inside Balboa. Look for the room with the arcade games and you're on the right track. Once you enter the speakeasy, you'll immediately be impressed with the old school charm. It seats roughly 20-30 people and there's a bar on one end and a stage on the other end. Old school red curtains add to the vibe. And here's the best part. On Mondays, it's jazz night. Local musicians will play which makes for a great time. Service (3/5): There was one bartender working when we were there. Overall, she provided pretty good service. There was one comment she made which rubbed me the wrong way but no biggie. Food (N/A): I had dinner prior so were on a liquid diet. I did notice that they have a few snacks available like popcorn. Drinks (4.5/5): When you think of speakeasies, you think of elevated cocktails. I look for creativity and an interesting blend of flavors and ingredients. The menu here, while not huge, has some interesting options. Outside of the menu itself, the prices are reasonable (especially for California). And they make you stiff drinks which is always appreciated. Taking into account the cocktails and the ambiance, Charade is an awesome laid-back speakeasy. Make sure to stop by on a Monday for jazz night. That takes things up a notch.

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    Burlesque fridays
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    The jazzy sound of Sip & Curl
    The jazzy sound of Sip & Curl
    Back room at the Charade

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    Back room at the Charade

    Fernside - cocktailbars - Updated June 2026

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