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Fort Oak

4.2 (777 reviews)
Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM
Updated 1 month ago

Fort Oak Photos

Business Info

FORT OAK ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Casual
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Fort Oak

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Reviews With Photos

Branzino
Katrina M.

The staff here were very personable and inviting. I had a great time at this restaurant and enjoyed the branzino. It was really delicious! It was really nice inside with many different rooms for seating.

Elizabeth N.

Very cute little place with outdoor and indoor seating. Love their $1 monday oyster special. The best $1 oysters I've ever had. Had their dry aged steak with bake potato which cost $128 and unfortunately the bake potato was the show stopper. I will have the bake potato over the steak anyday. The steak was super dry and burnt. The ahi tuna tartar with toast was super tasty with just the right amount of flavor. Service was friendly but a bit slow at times. I will definitely be back for the monday $1 oysters!!!

Branzino
Dawn A.

We had an amazing time. This was a business dinner with 7 of us there. Everyone we interacted with set a high standard for what to expect. Johnny was our server and he did not disappoint. He gave great recommendations, was pleasant to interact with, responsive, and appropriate with giving us our space for business. The young man who bussed for him was also so great. There was a party of about 100 people there and other than seeing the tables, there was not one thing about the service that was interrupted because of it. The food: I don't think there was anything in the menu that was not... wouldn't order that again. Highlights: get the sourdough, branzino, NY Strip, any of the shareables, and the apple crisp. Honestly tried about 20 different things and I'd recommend it all. It was a business dinner so i didn't want to be weird with pics. Prices were very reasonable. Parking can be tough. Street parking.

Ari R.

My friends had been wanting to try this restaurant, so we made reservations ahead of time to avoid the wait. Parking is limited to street parking, and we ended up parking several blocks away. When we arrived, there was a long line next to the restaurant for another establishment, which made things a bit confusing at first. Thankfully, our reservation worked out well and we were seated right on time. It was a cold evening and indoor seating was limited, so we ended up sitting outside. The restaurant has a nice ambiance with modern décor and a lively atmosphere. We ordered several dishes and shared everything so we could try a variety of items. The presentation of the food was excellent and the service was good. Overall, the experience was pleasant, but none of the dishes particularly stood out or left a lasting impression for our group. It's a solid spot with good presentation and service, but for us it didn't quite reach the "must return" level.

Danielle M.

Monday oysters!!!! If I could come every Monday for oysters I would. They are the best oysters in town by far! For $1 it's a deal you can't miss. Happy hour is a great deal for drinks too. I love their rose and gin and tonics. The restaurant is usually full for Monday happy hour so the service can be a little slow but that's understandable with how busy they are so I don't blame them! Vibes are great. It's a small restaurant and both inside and outside are very enjoyable to be seated.

Entrance
Renee N.

Ever since pop up Christmas bars began appearing during the holiday season, I try to visit at least one or two every year. We happened to be in San Diego over the Thanksgiving weekend and my daughter found this adorable and festive bar. The "Snowed In" bar was lively and snow so much fun. We went around 4:30pm on a Sunday evening and because they limit how many people can go inside, we waited about 20 minutes to enter. You will appreciate them limiting the amount of people once you get inside as it is not very big, but it packs in a ton of holiday spirit. We were able to get a couple seats at the bar and perused the holiday drinks menu. We decided to try the following drinks - Santa Slaps made with Cutwater Vodka, cold brew, amaretto, cream and chai. We also tried Sleigh My Name - Tito's vodka, lemon, allspice, and cherry vanilla. The Santa Slaps stole the show in terms of flavor. So good! We stayed about an hour just taking in all the decor surrounding us and it made us all so cheerful. Well, the drinks probably helped too! Ha! Ha! If in the area, be sure to stop by for a sip of Santa Slaps.

Wood fire grill
Matthew C.

Came here on a Friday night with a reservation. Sat at the counter where most of the items are made. Place is pretty similar to "The Bear" show if if you've seen it. Presentation is on point and service is stellar. Ordered a couple apps, oysters and tuna tartare. Both of the appetizers were amazing and I would go there again just for those. A pretty good wine list, as well as multiple by the glass options that are not basic. For the entrée went with the bone marrow New York, which was cooked perfectly. Not a very big area inside the counter seating but the vibe is really cool and you get to interact with the cooks. Overall, really pleased with this place and I'll come back here

Truffle Burger - chefs kiss!!
Breanne B.

Fort Oak happy hour was so good! Everything we ordered was delicious and beautifully done. The al pastor tostada was packed with flavor and had the perfect balance of crispy + savory with the freshest toppings. We also got the refried bean dip with tortilla chips and it was good, cheesy, and topped with pickled onions that gave it the perfect little tang. And the burger... WOW. Super juicy, so flavorful, and the truffle sauce + caramelized onions took it to another level. Every bite tasted like it was made with so much care and quality. And don't skip the esquites...seriously so delicious. Creamy, flavorful, and the perfect little side to share (I could've eaten the whole thing myself). Great happy hour vibes, great service, amazing food, and I'll 100% be back!

Ceviche
Heather D.

First let's talk about the decor. Tasteful, modern without being too trendy. Timeless. The seats are comfortable which is something I appreciate in a high end restaurant. The food: we started with the muscles & clams. So good. The chorizo was the perfect amount of spice and texture. Next we got the shrimp ceviche. Perfect balance of sweet and savory. We ended with the ribeye. Melt in your mouth. Best steak I've ever had. The potato could have been warmer but the flavor was amazing. Drinks: Santa's helper was perfect for my friend. Tequila and chili is her dream combination. I had an espresso martini. So good and smooth the perfect blend of coffee, sweetness, and a little heat. Now we get to the best part. The service: Miguel was everything you want in a waiter, at your elbow providing whatever you need before you even realize you need it but not intrusive. Really was supreme service. It's a very festive atmosphere right now with the bar being decorated. We came at eight and the line was long. When we left at 10, the line was even longer. We had reservations, and the restaurant is typically fully booked. I will definitely be back. The table next to us, had the Bronzino and quail, and it looked amazing. Parking is street parking

Janet G.

Snowed Inn was one of the coolest experiences and definitely worth the wait. The decor was on point, so much Christmas flair everywhere. I think every square inch was covered. The drinks were delicious as well. We had the fried mushrooms and fries for appetizers which were great! It did take a while to squeeze into the bar to get a drink and the place is small, so just be prepared to stand. Once we flagged down the bartender they were quick with our drinks and order. Will definitely be back next year. : ) This was such a fun way to celebrate the holiday season. We did pass through the restaurant and it also looked phenomenal, definitely want to try in the future.

IG @devouredwithlove
Clara T.

Visited the place once for a date night and 2nd time for the Christmas decorations at the bar area. My review is based on both visits. Pros: - Drinks and food were excellent. The dry aged steak with the baked potato was divine. I loved all of the drinks I've had here! - Customer service was on point during my dine-in experience. Service at the bar during their "Snowed In" holiday pop up was great also; quick and efficient during this occasion, but still attentive. - Ambience is lovely for a date night OR the holidays. I highly recommend trying both. Cons: - Come early for holiday pop up or else you'll get stuck waiting outside for awhile. Make a reservation for dine-in. I'm not sure you can do a walk-in but why do that when you don't need to wait? - Parking can get difficult especially during peak meal-time. Tip: If you like pate, get the chicken pate. Dry aged steak will feed 3-4 people so order accordingly if you're getting that. If you're trying to go for Snowed In, go EARLY. Getting a seat at the bar is nearly impossible the later you go.

Jordyn J.

Cute decor and tasty drinks. I really enjoyed this holiday pop up. Our drinks were pretty good. We didn't get a chance to order food because it was too busy, but the limited menu had some good options. Unfortunately, The bartender serving drinks was in a noticeably bad mood and very rude to customers, which was a bit off-putting to us. We waited over 30 minutes in the rain to get in, and left after a drink due to her seeming so frustrated. I totally understand having a bad night, but please don't take it out on customers who just walked in. I'm hoping to return at some point for the normal restaurant and to experience the full menu.

Heritage pork chop
Scott C.

I love the service and mood here. It's upscale and elegant without the Downtown or La Jolla stuffiness. We were there for NYE dinner, and they were serving their typical menu versus a special prefix which was fine for us since it had been about 6 years since we'd been. We ordered dirty martinis that came with three blue cheese stuffed olives each. They were fantastic. Shortly after our cocktails arrived we were brought a trio of appetizers in succession. The ahi tartare was composed almost like a dip, served with toast points, which tasted bright and fresh. Plus who doesn't love a buttery toast point? The charred caulilini was my favorite bite, served with a smoky chili aioli and topped with herbs and almonds, the young cauliflower variant had great char flavor, but was still crunchy and fresh. The carrots were unfortunately too salty and a bit overdone. Our entrees were both healthy portions of protein and expertly grilled. The branzino was flaky and tender, deboned in the middle for easy eating, but still presented in the whole fish for drama. The pork chop was juicy and very thick cut, prepared medium and paired nicely with a sticky soy glaze. We ended the dinner with a scoop of their marshmallow ice cream, which tasted more like mega-ultra vanilla ice cream. Good but nothing very special. Overall it was a fantastic final meal for 2025.

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Fort Oak Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Fort Oak

Is there valet or easy parking options?

Street parking. I found a spot easily

Do they have happy hour?

The $1 oysters are available for 2 hours, from 4PM to 6PM on Monday.

What is the dress code?

Hello John, Our dress code is business/smart casual. Please let me know if you have any questions.… 

Is there a separate happy hour menu that's different from the dinner menu?

Nope.

Does their staff still wear masks? Are the tables still evenly spaced out?

Is there Indoor seating during this time?

Yes

Can you sit at the bar and eat without a reservation?

Normally (non-Covid) yes. But no indoor seating now.

Open for thanksgiving? Hours?

Nope. Everyone needs to relax and get ready for Christmas.

Fort Oak or Trust?

Same owners; slightly different vibe. I gotta say, Fort Oak was a very fine meal and I look forward to my next visit. For me, 5 stars.

Dog friendly patio?

yes. the outside area is dog friendly. weather permitting of course.

Is this place good for large parties?

I think they could accommodate you in kitchen & patios which are nice. Did a party of 26 last year at Trust & Steve & his team were tremendous.

Is there a happy hour? What time?

Yes! Starts at 3pm and ends at 6pm. But you can also order off the dinner menu after 5:00pm. So for 30 glorious minutes you get discounts on drinks and can order "bites" off the bar menu and anything off the dinner menu. My favorite 60 minutes of… 

The hours show 3pm-9/10p. Is it open for brunch?

It is! The hours on here are incorrect.

What are the hours for the brunch menu?

9am -2pm

View All 17 Questions

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Hash House A Go Go

Hash House A Go Go

4.1
(8.9k reviews)
0.8 mi
$$

Wow! Everything about this place was phenomenal. The atmosphere, the food, and the service…read more The inside gives western diner in the absolute best way possible! It's got the decor, chairs, and art to match. Jessica was our server and she was amazing! She gave us lots of suggestions on what to try and what is on the menu since it was my first time here. She recommended the bloody Mary flight so did grab that to try! We also ordered the biscuits and gravy to share and orange juice. The portions are so large! So I am glad we decided to share the biscuits and gravy but let me run down each thing. Bloody Mary Flight: Honestly every single one was amazing. My favorite was definitely the pickle Mary! Everything tasted so delicious and was garnished beautifully. Well worth the 22 dollars. Biscuits and Gravy: Absolute perfection of comfort food. The biscuits were so fluffy and well seasoned. The gravy was also soooo good, just like my mom makes. The sausage in it was also cooked so well and juicy. I've never tried mashed potatoes with the biscuits and gravy but it worked very well! Orange Juice: Not a fan really, not pulpy enough and I wasn't a fan of the flavor. Overall this is definitely a must visit! I will definitely be back.

Hash House was such a great place to have brunch at! There was no line for a party of 6 on a Sunday…read morearound 1pm, and we were seated right away. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating. The food was amazing! In particular, I enjoyed the fried chicken and waffle tower and their roasted chicken hash. I was surprised they didn't include a side of butter along with their biscuits, but I'll probably just ask for it next time. One important thing to note is that their dishes are HUGE. All 6 of us had our own dishes, but I would highly highly recommend ordering a couple dishes and sharing it family style if you're dining with a group. One note I did have about Hash House is how overstimulating the menu is lol. The menu had a lot of clashing fonts, colors, and clip art images, it made it hard to digest the menu. I didn't even notice some menu offerings because of how busy the menu was. Also, our waitress did initially charge us for 6 coffees, even though we only had 3. It was a good thing we caught that error on the receipt before paying. Overall, the food at Hash House is definitely worth coming back for.

Photos
Dining Room
Dining Room
1. Smoked Bacon Fresh Avocado
1. Smoked Bacon Fresh Avocado
Iced coffee 10/10

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Iced coffee 10/10
Crest Cafe

Crest Cafe

3.4
(1.5k reviews)
0.7 mi
$$

Cute Lil diner in the heart of Hillcrest. Was wanting a lil somethin' somethin' as we had a big…read moreItalian lunch in Little Italy, but we did walk over 3 miles for the day. Upon entering, we were directed to seat ourselves by the bus boy so as we proceeded. The server abruptly stopped us in our tracks and kind of rudely told us that he'd be with us and to wait. As he approached to seat us I informed him that the bus boy told us to seat ourselves and the server half jokingly asked who so I pointed to him. As for the food, we ordered sandwiches and fries. I got the turkey and brie sandwich with grilled onions and it was real carved turkey (so good). Unfortunately, the fries were soggy and not crispy and fresh. BFF had the Cubano sandwich and it was a good size but they put a thick piece of ham steak on it along with shredded pork that wasn't seasoned. He claims his fries were good and fresh. The ambience is cute, very clean and plenty of seating indoors and out for such a small restaurant. Prices are reasonable, too. Had it not been for the server rubbing me the wrong way upon entering as well as the soggy fries, I would have given this place 5 stars.

I really wanted to give a higher rating, but I 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 apart when I went 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.

Photos
Cute little bar
Cute little bar
Monterey Chicken with salad
Monterey Chicken with salad
Crest Cafe

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Trust

Trust

4.3
(1.6k reviews)
1.5 mi
$$

As I sit here, I couldn't help but update a review from 2+ yrs ago…read more I have truly fallen in love with this place. My wife and I were served by Anthony this evening. As always, he was outstanding & knowledgable. He guided us in our experience and we were blown away. Ordered the Beet salad, Steamed Clams to start. I got the Swordfish & Roasted Carrots and my wife enjoyed the Oxtail. Outstanding! They knew it was my birthday and the team wrote me a signed card by the staff. Very sweet. Grateful for this place. Stay forever.

My friend and I loved being able to sit out on the patio to enjoy our food and champagne on such a…read morebeautiful day. The server was awesome and even brought my pup a bowl of water. We got champagne and did their Honeydew Lemongrass Limeade as the mixer, which I highly recommend! My friend got the Egg White Scramble and I ended up getting the Fried Rice. I was pretty disappointed in the basically non-existent bok choy in my dish since they chop it up and add it to the rice. It's a waste of bok choy honestly and the dish would be better with full bok choy pieces between the rice and egg. They couldn't even provide me with a side of bok choy because they pre-chop everything. As our dessert, we ended up splitting the Ultimate Sticky Bun. It is unfair how delicious this was! Condensed milk, strawberries, and lavender ice cream. Soo happy we decided to set one aside for dessert. There's a reason these sell out quickly!

Photos
Interior
Interior
Bacon chop
Bacon chop
Roasted Carrots

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Roasted Carrots
ARLO

ARLO

4.1
(471 reviews)
0.9 mi
$$

AMAZING redemption meal at @eatatarlo!! So glad we came back to give them another try..... The…read morehostess Scarlett was very friendly & welcoming. She sat us right away. Patrick was our server. He was great & super attentive. What we ordered: * House Made Swim Biscuit * Blueberry and Burrata * Short Rib Hash and Eggs * ARLO's Souffle Pancakes * Japanese Milk Bread Cinnamon Roll * Signature Bloody Mary * Busa-Latte Everything we had was amazing. The burrata blueberry salad was nice & refreshing. Our poached eggs on our short rib hash were cooked perfectly. Nice change from our last experience. The show stoppers were our sweet treats. The ARLO'S "must try" cinnamon roll was delicious. Dare I say way better than the San Diego Fair's Old Fashioned Cinnamon Roll? It's most definitely is a must try!! The souffle pancakes were extraordinary...... Warm, soft & SO fluffy. I don't think I can have regular pancakes ever again.... Thank you ARLO for such a great experience. We look forward to visiting again!! Great vibes.... #DiningWithTheAndersons #BreakfastDate #ARLO #RedemptionMeal #OhSoYummy

3.5 stars for food, extra star for the service…read more My friend and I came for dinner on a Friday and Anthony took SUCH good care of us! The place was empty on a Friday at 7 which was weird, but the decor and ambience are really very nice. Anthony was friendly and energetic and gave very enthusiastic descriptions of all the menu items. He was attentive and kept our drinks full and crumbs cleared, but the flow of the meal was relaxed which was good because there was so much food in the four course prix fixe. Another example of the excellent service was this: the sun was in my eyes and I mentioned it but they didn't have blinds to draw, so Anthony went and found a large umbrella from the patio and moved it until it blocked the sun, watching my face til I was no longer squinting. As for the food: The sourdough was delicious and the herb butter really elevated the already great bread. I had the pork belly appetizer which was a generous portion with the frisée and other greens on the side too. The fat was well rendered so it melted in my mouth with wonderful caramelization and crisp edges. It was sweet but also tangy with the kumquat slices on top. The sumac popcorn was a fun and unusual addition and altogether I would highly recommend this appetizer. My friend had the gnocchi which was a bit dense but I loved the mushroom flavor and again, it was a generous portion. Very cool variety of mushrooms in it and the truffle wasn't too much. I chose the little gem wedge salad which came with the most wonderfully crisp guanciale. The cubes were so light and crumbly-crisp they seemed like they were freeze dried. The buttermilk blue cheese dressing was excellent, and my friend's Cesar salad was very authentic and looked great as well. I was starting to get full at this point so I started saving room for the short rib main, but the portion there wasn't overwhelming. The honey cornbread was sadly my favorite part here as the meat was not as tender as hoped and could have used more bordelaise. After the appetizer and salad (and I don't even usually like salad) the main was only so-so. For dessert my friend and I shared the s'more which sounded like a must, and the blueberry cobbler (crumble?). The s'more was delicious though more a mousse than a s'more as the marshmallow aspects (inside the mousse and the sauce as well) were not strong in taste and didn't really get across the marshmellow idea. Maybe if the sauce was thicker and torched more like a meringue but it tasted more like a cream sauce. The crumbs were very tasty and I loved that the chocolate portions were not too sweet but more bittersweet which helped with the richness. The blueberry dessert could have used more of the crumble as that was the best part, but it was pretty good. Overall we had a great time and enjoyed the cocktails as well. The blackberry cocktail was our favorite of the two we tried and we stuck with that one. One thing to note was they had changed the menu so that more of the items on the menu were upcharges for the prix fixe, so the value was not as good. The original price was enough of a deal that it did draw me more to trying this place. But overall still solid, though given the stiff competition in San Diego for fine dining it's not high on my list to run back.

Photos
Entrance
Entrance
Baked Alaskan
Baked Alaskan
DJ was a super nice touch

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DJ was a super nice touch

Fort Oak - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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