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    Juniper and Ivy

    4.1 (3.6k reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Juniper and Ivy Photos

    Business Info

    JUNIPER AND IVY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Juniper and Ivy

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    Brian M.

    Went here for the first time and had such an amazing meal. This is easily one of my top three favorite restaurants in San Diego when it comes to the service, menu, and value. We ordered the spicy tuna hand roll, tuna crudo , house sourdough, rigatoni, and miso black cod. Everything was delicious, but the tuna and rigatoni were definitely the highlights. The rigatoni was probably the best Italian dish I've had in a long time. I forgot our server's name, but he was attentive, helpful, and gave us some great recommendations. I can't wait to come back and try more of the menu.

    MARY'S ROASTED DUCK
    Mai H.

    My girlfriends took me here for my birthday dinner recently, and it was a fun spot to celebrate. I thought it was a nice touch that they printed a birthday greeting right on the menu. The food overall was quite good. The menu reminded me a bit of Kettner Exchange with the shareable, small-plate style, so it's a great place to come with a group and try a variety of dishes. My favorite of the night was the Bone Marrow & Tartare - rich, flavorful, and something I'd absolutely order again. The Inihaw Pork Belly was tender with great flavor, and the Miso Black Cod was perfectly cooked and buttery. It's hard to go wrong with black cod, but this one definitely delivered. The only dish I'd probably skip next time was the Oyster Sisig. It wasn't bad by any means, but it just wasn't memorable enough for me to order again, especially with so many other standout dishes on the menu. Service was friendly, but it felt a little slow throughout the meal. We had to ask multiple times for butter and a few other items before they finally arrived. By the time the duck came out, we were already too full to really enjoy it, so my friend ended up taking it home. I can see why so many reviewers rave about the creative, chef-driven menu and the quality of the ingredients. The atmosphere is lively without feeling too loud, making it a great place for date nights or celebrations. While the service could have been a bit more attentive, the food was enjoyable enough that I'd still come back to try more of the menu.

    Alberto C.

    I was very delighted to finally dine here at Juniper and Ivy. My overall experience was okay, but would love to return back. Some food items our table wanted were completely sold out which was a bummer. It become an inconvenience when someone prefers a dish for dietary reasons and get told it is no longer available. I do appreciate the service in bring the food items to the table. I wish our server would be more attentive with our drinks. The steak was super tasty but does take a while to be served. Despite that, the steak was well worth it. I really like the vibe in there. It was warm lighting. Clean bathrooms and quickly seated at our table.

    Oyster sisig
    Denise A.

    First time here. We had reservations for two to celebrate a birthday. Parking is street, but also a few valet spots! We were seated soon after checking in to our reservation. From start to finish, the service was great. We ordered everything to share between us: inihaw pork belly, sourdough with honey butter, oyster sisig and 22 oz sirloin steak. Each plate came over from a different staff who explained the dish. Everything tasted very good and well made. The 22 oz steak would've been nice a little more marinated? Our water was constantly filled which was appreciated because each bite was nice and rich in flavor. Good to wash down with water. As we closed our meal, our server came by with a complimentary bday cheesecake slice with a candle. So thoughtful! All in all, would love to dine here again. Thanks for a wonderful experience.

    Rigatoni
    Gene L.

    Juniper and Ivy is one of our favorite restaurants in San Diego, and with the food scene here is thriving, but when we want a higher end, comforting, California cuisine, we are never disappointed when we come here. First off, the starters - we had the bread which comes with a delicious slightly sweet butter mikolich farm honey butter - HIGHLY recommended! I really enjoyed the lemongrass beef skewers, and the shrimp, Hokkaido Scallop with miso butter / chili crunch / chives - it tasted like a deconstructed spring roll - so good!! The cauliflower steak was ok. For our entree, we had the Rigatoni, with pork bolognese / burrata / basil / grana padano, which my husband LOVED even more the next day. Previous visit, we've had the Miso Black Cod, with mushroom dashi / glazed shishito / roasted shiitakes and wanted to try something different. For dessert, we enjoyed the Pavlova. We loved the service and the space is gorgeous and so open but not too loud. We were there on a weekday (Tuesday) around 6pm.

    Richie M.

    Juniper and Ivy was an interesting experience. What I don't understand is how they can sellout so quickly on several dishes early in the evening. They make new menus every day which was a nice concept to have by staying up to date but selling out on multiple food items is not what I expected. The menu already has a limited amount of food items and for the restaurant to sellout that quickly was shocking. I would recommend to arrive there late afternoon and not early evening due to their several sold out dishes. I probably would come back only for the bar. The overall vibe of the restaurant was exquisite and the architecture was spectacular.

    Squashini
    Diane Y.

    We had a business dinner and I knew that this restaurant had a great reputation, so I trusted I would have vegan options. It's really artsy inside. The servers were very attentive. And the menu has several vegan options. The menu changes every day because it's truly farm to table. For an appetizer we got a few things but the vegan option I chose was a squashini - thinly sliced squash/zucchini topped with super fresh and flavorful vegetables and a vinaigrette. I chose a cauliflower steak for my main and it was totally satisfying. The combo of textures with a variety of colors was enjoyable. And, the vegan dessert was a macadamia nut Ube sorbet and it was so creamy I would consider it a gelato.

    Toffee pudding
    Nan Y.

    Ambiance - eclectic and modern! Service - incredible, 5 stars Food- really good and unique! Came here to celebrate a birthday! Burrata and tortellini were amazing but toffee pudding was my favorite (: . Also, delicious orange wine !

    Dianna S.

    Fabulous food and service. We shared many dishes and enjoyed all of them. Great ambiance.

    Michelle B.

    100% recommend! We chose Juniper & Ivy for our double date location and it did not disappoint. Service, food and drinks were delicious. I cannot wait to visit again. We will def repeat some of the dishes, but also excited to try other items on the menu.

    Oyster sisig
    Sharmagne M.

    We made a reservation for 5 p.m. through the OpenTable app--hooyah for Chase Sapphire Reserve's dining credit! We got there right when they opened at 5 and were seated right away. The music was at the perfect level, not too loud, which is a must for me. The bathroom has a shared washroom, which was a little confusing at first. There is a beautiful bar area as well. Our server was Isaiah, and he was an absolute darling. He recommended some of his favorites, and we tried a couple of them. They were very good. He gave us complimentary bubbly because we were celebrating our 10-year anniversary. Non-alcoholic for me, as I'm pregnant and about to pop lol. Then we were served deviled eggs, which my husband loved. I was very surprised to see Filipino dishes on their menu, so you know I had to try some! We ordered the following: Inihaw Pork Belly, Hokkaido Scallop, Roasted Marrow and Tartare, Shrimp Thai Salad, and the Oyster Sisig. I also ordered the 1 Hour to Fuji mocktail. The Inihaw Pork Belly had a banana ketchup glaze, but I couldn't taste it much, and it had a sugarcane gel sauce that was really tangy. I would rate this dish a 3/5. The Hokkaido Scallop was sooo good! 5/5 stars! The miso butter sauce was to die for! I wasn't a huge fan of the Roasted Marrow and Tartare because the marrow was a bit bland for me. The tartare was pretty good, according to my hubby. 3/5 for this plate for me. The Shrimp Thai Salad was so good! It wasn't too spicy, and the combination of bell peppers, lemongrass, peanuts, shallots, pomelo, and tamarind sauce was like a party in my mouth. 5/5 stars for this dish. I would highly recommend it! And last but not least, the Oyster Sisig. As a Filipina, I have very high expectations when it comes to Filipino food and was not expecting much from this dish. Boy, was I wrong! This absolutely knocked it out of the park for me. The oysters were fried and crispy but not overcooked, and their calamansi aioli was orgasmic, to say the least. It was so good that we ordered another. The only thing I could think of, as far as making it a bit more authentic to its name, is how the cast iron came out. Traditionally, sisig is served in a super-hot cast iron skillet so that when you mix it with the egg, the heat from the cast iron cooks the egg. Honestly, though, I wouldn't have it any other way. I don't normally eat eggs, but for this dish, I would make an exception every time. It's so good that I plan on coming here right after I give birth and ordering 10 plates of Oyster Sisig as my celebratory meal. If I could have this delivered to the hospital after I give birth, I would! 100/5 stars for the Oyster Sisig. My 1 Hour to Fuji mocktail was like a tangy apple soda, which I loved. This place is perfect for any date night. I love that they have small plates so you can try a variety of menu items without getting too full.

    Grant H.

    Overall Juniper & Ivy was a decent experience. I was hoping for an excellent experience given the reviews, notoriety, and the expectations this place sets for itself. It was a 2+ hour ordeal, which is my biggest complaint. We arrived at 715, our reservation time, and had to wait an additional 15 minutes for our table to become ready, which is whatever, but it set the tone for the rest of the evening. At first our waitress was attentive, but as the night grew we saw less and less of her and that also slowed our courses arriving. The appetizers and bread came out relatively quick, about 10-15 minutes after we ordered, then 20 minutes later came our tortellini, then about 25 minutes later our Cod, then another 25 minutes our asparagus and steak. It truly felt and tasted like our food sat out for a while before being brought to us. I was full when we left, but not due to portion sizes, but due to waiting so long between dishes arriving. We ordered a scallop, tostada, sourdough bread, asparagus, tortellini, black cod, and flat iron steak. My favorite was a tie between the scallop and the asparagus. Bites: these were definitely single serving - Scallop: well cooked, flavorful, and satiating. We ended up dipping our bread in the sauce because it was that good. Definitely don't miss this. - Tostada: pretty dang good, it was what I expected. Pantry: - Sourdough Bread: this was probably my third favorite overall. It was warm, well salted, and came with nice spreadable butter. Highly recommend ordering this to sop up the excesses sauces from the other dishes Small Plates: - Asparagus: the crispiness and creamy sauce were sublime. Definitely give it a taste - Tortellini: again, this was as I expected. Three tortellini for $30 seemed quite steep in price. It was tasty, but not a good quantity to taste, unfortunately. Plates: they market these as family style, but I would say they're also single serving. The portion sizes were quite small. - Miso Black Cod: this was unusual, but good. Historically the miso black cod I've had is a thicker sauce. This one was similar to actual miso soup. Which was still good. The cod was superbly cooked, didn't want to forget that. - Flat Iron Steak: this is what I was looking forward to the most and I'd say it overall fell short. Three pieces to go with some spring vegetables was just ok. The sauce reminded me of a watered down store-bought barbecue sauce. Inside was well decorated and aesthetically pleasing. The menu is presented and explained well. The support staff was great. Our waitress was on the slower side. And maybe that's due to the kitchen also being slow. It was an experience. I'd honestly recommend people away from Juniper & Ivy.

    New York Strip Steak
    RoseMary F.

    I hoped to get a seat at the Chef's Table, but there are only 14 seats available. it is an elongated and slightly curved table with a birds-eye view of the kitchen. Since we were dining late, and dinner rush was over, the hostess was able to snag two seats for me. It was a fun, entertaining and wonderful experience. This is a Michelin Bib Gourmand rated restaurant and I can see why. FIVE STARS in creativity, original recipes and stellar service. Where to begin... the menu is divided into the following categories (some highlights were): JUST A BITE - Mini-bite sized Oysters, Pork Belly, Albacore Tostadas. I had a Deviled Egg, which I loved and a Tart of Chicken Liver, the filling was nice and firm and had good texture. It was not on the menu, but I would definitely order it next time. PANTRY - Sourdough bread with Honey Butter, Roasted Bone Marrow with Sourdough bread. SMALL PLATES - Rockfish Aguachile served with Avocado cubes, minced Serrano chili, and Jalepeno oil. This was just right, not overly spicy; Strawberry Bufala Mozzarella Salad prepared with Mint, Pesto, Basil, Pine Nuts, and Mozzarella Cheese. This salad was OUTSTANDING, the combination of the Pesto on the Strawberries was amazing. PLATES - (Entrees) Jidori Chicken Roulade Black Truffle, Parsnip puree, Braised Kale; Miso Black Cod; 22oz Tajima New York Strip Steak; or Whole Fried Rose (not Red) Snapper. This is at the top of my bucket list. I am posting a photo to show how it was propped up on a wooden stand. The presentation was OUTSTANDING. DESSERT with WINE PAIRING (suggestions) - Guava Cheesecake Yodel - in a Dulcey Half Shell topped with Guava Puree and Cream Cheese. Paired with Ratafia Liqueur. Cocktails: I ordered the "This Must Be the Place," made with Gin, Vermouth and Limoncello. I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner, dessert, cocktail and Pinot Noir wine. Reservations are a must! Sincerely, Rosemary

    Miso black cod

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    Page 1 of 92

    Juniper and Ivy Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Juniper and Ivy

    Do they serve halal meat?

    Hala

    Do you offer 3-5 course meal on regular basis? If I made a regular reservation on opentable, would I be able to order it and what is the price?

    Hi there! We only do prix fixe menus for special occasions at the moment. Otherwise, we have bites to small plates to entrees available for regular reservations on Opentable.

    Do you offer any vegan entrees?

    Yes, your server will be able to assist you with that. We look forward to taking care of you.

    Are you food allergy friendly?

    they always ask when we go.

    What does the Sunday supper entail and is it worth doing that experience over the a La carte menu?

    Hello Gilbert, you should be able to see our offerings for Sunday supper on our website next week. Sunday Supper will entail 3 courses for $65. The menu will be rotating every four weeks and our first one will begin on the 19th. If you chose to… 

    What is usual attire?

    I saw very casual (tshirt and jeans) and pretty dressy (dresses and button up shirts. The ambiance is romantic and nice, but there doesnt seem to be a dress code.

    Do you offer valet parking?

    There is a business that does valet parking right outside of the restaurant.

    Is there a corkage fee?

    Hi Eileen. Yes, there is a corkage fee of $40 per 750ml bottle of wine. I hope this helps!

    Do they take walk-in on weekends? Or it's reservation only now?

    Hi there! We do take walk-ins when spacing allows. That said, tables tend to fill up pretty quickly on weekends so there are no guarantees. Our bar seating is first come first serve every evening. I hope this helps and that we get to see you soon!

    Are you able to do separate checks?

    Yes

    Do you serve your acclaimed cheese burger?

    Shh! We do have 4-5 available per evening (but they are not listed on the menu). Hope you’ll come give it a try!

    Is the regular menu available on Christmas Eve?

    Hello Nicole, We are offering a tasting menu of 5 courses for $125 and $95 for vegans. Al la… 

    Do they have kids menu?

    Hi Naina, we do not have a special kids menu, but we do have options we can make for children, such as burgers and pasta. Feel free to bring the kiddos!

    Do you offer discounts for front line workers? Thanks!!

    We currently do not have discounts for front line workers. Sorry about that, Parker.

    Does this place provide military discounts?

    Yes, we do offer 10% for our military friends.

    I was wondering if you are dog friendly?

    We are happy to accommodate you and your furry friend! Please let us know when you make the reservation what type of dog that you have so we can make sure that we seat you on an appropriate table.

    How to I get a gift card for a couple I want to surprise?

    You can go on the restaurants website and order on there. They have a tab specifically for gift cards. You can get an e-Giftcard or a physical card itself.

    What's the appropriate attire?

    They welcome any Q Anon attire- Seriously do NOT spend your money there, they are doing NOTHING about 2 staff members who were at the DC insurrection and spew Q Anon nonsense all over social media :(

    Is there any 5 courses meal options and if so how much?

    Hi Kendall, we do not currently have a prix-fixe menu unless it is a holiday, but can typically put a tasting menu together based on your budget. We are also working on a potential prix-fixe option, but it is not available quite yet (make sure… 

    The menu looks amazing. Can I get a sense of prices for entrees?

    Thank you for the kind words, Robb! Large plates range from $19-$34 right now, or our larger entrees for two or more are between $80-$100. We recommend getting a few bites to start your meal, or small plates to share amongst the table, which range… 

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    Common Stock - Charred Brussels -- love!

    Common Stock

    4.7(1.2k reviews)
    1.5 miHillcrest
    $$

    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!

    Photos
    Common Stock - Espresso martinis!

    Espresso martinis!

    Common Stock - Roasted Carrot & Parsnips

    Roasted Carrot & Parsnips

    Common Stock - Great food & drinks ....friendly welcoming service !!! Thank you HARVEY !!!!

    See all

    Great food & drinks ....friendly welcoming service !!! Thank you HARVEY !!!!

    Trust - Milk and Cookies

    Trust

    4.3(1.6k reviews)
    1.9 miHillcrest
    $$

    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

    Photos
    Trust - Interior

    Interior

    Trust - Bacon chop

    Bacon chop

    Trust - Roasted Carrots

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    Roasted Carrots

    Shorebird - Hamachi Crudo - yellowtail, Serrano, avocado, scallions, ponzu

    Shorebird

    4.2(210 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    Service great! Ambiance great!…read moreI love how the windows are floor to ceiling with a view of the sunset. We ordered ribeye medium rare. Most places say they do medium rare but its always overcooked. They did it right. We loved the mushroom risotto, whipped potatoes, and broccolini. Fried fish slightly overcooked but I still liked it. Don't get the miso cod. It's the saltiest thing I have ever eaten. Only real blemish in our dinner. I suggest everyone eat at this restaurant.

    We decided to try Shorebird after seeing so many stellar five-star reviews on Yelp, so we went in…read morewith pretty high expectations. Unfortunately, our experience didn't quite live up to the hype. First, the positives: the location is great, the restaurant itself is really cute and aesthetically pleasing, and the hostesses were absolute darlings, friendly, helpful, and welcoming. I wish the rest of our experience had matched that first impression. Once we were seated, the service was pretty disappointing. Our waiter came across a little arrogant and almost as though he was too busy to really give us his attention. Ironically, after nearly dropping our drinks when bringing them over, he seemed a little more personable afterward. Still, we were rarely checked on throughout the meal. No real "How is everything?" or checking to see if we needed another drink, anything else, or eventually the check, just the basic things you normally expect when dining out. So, if you're looking for a date-night spot where you can have a completely uninterrupted conversation, this might actually be perfect because you probably won't be interrupted at all. But if you appreciate attentive service and an occasional check-in, our experience definitely fell short. The food unfortunately didn't make up for the service either. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't memorable or something we'd go back for. My fiancé wasn't impressed with his steak but decided to just eat it rather than send it back. We also noticed the table behind us send an entire burger back because it apparently wasn't prepared to their liking, so it seemed we weren't the only ones underwhelmed with the food. Overall, I can understand the appeal of Shorebird for the location and atmosphere, but based on our experience, the food and service just weren't at the level we expected after reading all of the glowing reviews. San Diego has so many great places to eat that next time, we'd probably choose to try somewhere else.

    Photos
    Shorebird - Shorebird located in Seaport Village in San Diego offering coastal cuisine in a modern, airy setting with views of the ocean....

    Shorebird located in Seaport Village in San Diego offering coastal cuisine in a modern, airy setting with views of the ocean....

    Shorebird - Fluffy hotcakes served warm at brunch in San Diego, finished with butter and syrup for a classic start.

    Fluffy hotcakes served warm at brunch in San Diego, finished with butter and syrup for a classic start.

    Shorebird - At SHOREBIRD RESTAURANT

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    At SHOREBIRD RESTAURANT

    Fort Oak

    Fort Oak

    4.2(784 reviews)
    1.6 miMission Hills
    $$$

    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.

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    Fort Oak
    Fort Oak
    Fort Oak

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    Juniper and Ivy - newamerican - Updated September 2026

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