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    Key and Cleaver

    4.8 (17 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Key and Cleaver Photos

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    Interior
    Kareem P.

    Key and Cleaver is a popular burger establishment that has made in presence in Downtown San Diego and is now in Downtown Oceanside. Key and Cleaver specializes in grass-fed, pasture-raised & grass-finished beef. They also have options to upgrade your bun into gluten-free and there's also a veggie garden burger too & it can be substituted to any flavor it appears. They take great pride in actually making sure that their meat is sourced from a local farm and their ingredients are fresh. They explained to me that some farms supply "grass fed" meat, but it's only for a period of time and not for the entire lifespan of the cow. They ensure that their meat has been entirely grass-fed & pasture-raised. They even brine their chicken thighs overnight and only cook them To-Order. This ensures that each one is juicy inside and crispy on the outside. As a matter of fact, their chicken sandwich is legendary and I one of the best I've had. The flavors outshined my burger! As for the establishment, they are in the former location of the Breakwater Brewing Company in Downtown Oceanside. They didn't change much to the interior, except for some minor decor. The seating is allocated to a few group tables in the rear, many duo high-tables on the side, one long bar to sit and also outside patio seating. Service was friendly and I am acknowledging they just opened today, so they are still training staff too. They currently have about half of their 30+ tap ready and this means they have the potential to carry many more beers, kombuchas & ciders. When their menu is updated a their tap is completed, I'll most likely update to 5 stars. Overall, I do like what Key and Cleaver bring to downtown Oceanside dining scene and I wouldn't classify them as "just another burger spot". They have a focus on providing a healthier option to the typical burger experience and I really like the option to upgrade items with beef tallow to enhance their flavors and having HOUSEMADE gluten-free sauces and bun options is a plus in my book! But you SERIOUSLY got to try their fried chicken sandwich with beef tallow rosemary fries!

    Mushroom Swiss burger

    This is our first visit to this new restaurant. The staff were really friendly and attentive, clearly wanting to give a great experience. The physical restaurant is mostly the same as the previous tenant had it and has some obvious issues that I am surprised didn't get fixed before the launch of a new business. It's like they had zero capital to start the place, but even low cost repairs weren't made. Not a good sign. The food was ok, not good, not bad, just ok. Overall, using a baseball analogy, this place is a bunt. They didn't even try to swing, they are just doing the least to try to get on base. For me, there are much better options out there.

    Black and Blue Burger
    Jerry R C.

    Really good hamburger with great flavor and quality ingredients. The Black and Blue burger.

    Black and blue with the fried chicken option. You can get it as a burger or veggie burger too.

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    Christopher D.

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    22 days ago

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    17 days ago

    Excellent Food and service. Menu is basic but has enough options. We will definitely be back!!

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    18 days ago

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    1 month ago

    Just tried K&C last night. Fantastic Food and Super Service. Loved this cozy place and will be back again soon!

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    Ask the Community - Key and Cleaver

    How many wings come in an order?

    It's a pound, so depending on the size of the wings it's anywhere from 5-7 wings per order.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Key and Cleaver

    Not a smash burger either, but a fatty burger that is pink inside for real burger fans!!!

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Mission Ave Bar and Grill - Best Burger in Oceanside, CA

    Mission Ave Bar and Grill

    4.4(1.4k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$
    Full bar
    Kitchen open late

    I had gotten an email wishing me a happy birthday and to come in for a FREE ENTREE. I was like,…read morewhat!? Yeah a lot of places give a free dessert but you almost never see a free dinner. I instantly set a reservation (didn't really need it) and we arrived around 4pm on a Tuesday and sat on the patio. Happy hour is daily from 4-6pm and if you sit on the recently renovated patio, drinks are 50% off. I ordered the Ribeye as my birthday entree and we also ordered the Fried Zucchini ($7), Popcorn Chicken ($9), Guajillo Braised Pork Shoulder ($21) and several cocktails ($7 each during HH). Everything was great honestly. No complaints. My wife REALLY loved the braised pork shoulder. My steak was excellent and even though it was free, $32 for a ribeye is the lowest you'll find anywhere. It was nice having not having to fight for a seat. Enjoying a cocktail on the patio in perfect weather is something everyone should try. Highly recommend coming to Mission Ave Bar & Grill for happy hour and to check out the new patio. Make sure to register for their mailing list to get birthday offers too!

    Mission Ave Bar and Grill is basically the type of place that says, "just one drink," and suddenly…read moreit's three hours later, you've made new friends, and you're emotionally attached to the Peanut butter stuffed french toast. From the juicy breakfast Burger to the dangerously good country benefit and spicy blood orange, everything feels a little too easy to fall in love with. The cozy atmosphere and friendly staff make it feel like your favorite neighborhood hangout -- even if it's your first time there. Honestly, if good food, great cocktails, and happy vibes had a love language... this place would be fluent. What I got: Peanut butter stuffed french toast $16 Country Benedict $17 Breakfast burger $18 Arnold Palmer Spicy blood orange $10

    Photos
    Mission Ave Bar and Grill - Best Espresso Martini in Oceanside, CA

    Best Espresso Martini in Oceanside, CA

    Mission Ave Bar and Grill - Best Short Rib Grilled Cheese in Oceanside, CA

    Best Short Rib Grilled Cheese in Oceanside, CA

    Mission Ave Bar and Grill - Live Music

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    Live Music

    BEERTOWN - Cajun fries!!!!! I love shoestring fries! These fries come with a kick to make sure you want another cold beer!

    BEERTOWN

    4.4(146 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Fun spot in Oceanside with a great vibe and lots of weekday specials. I had the miso chicken wings…read more.. tasty but light on sauce. They do charge for extra, which I get, but I wished for a little more to start. Their homemade ranch made up for it though! The happy hour pretzel ($10) was perfect for sharing, and my friend's grilled fish tacos were fresh and light. The coconut shrimp looked amazing, so I'll try that next time. Can't wait to come back for the $20 lobster roll weekends ..and once I'm not pregnant, to sample that awesome beer list!

    This place is awesome! Ryan was absolutely phenomenal and helped us find the NA beer options. Ryan…read moresaid usually they only have 4 but recently they've been carrying 6 options. We tried 4 today and absolutely loved them. If you're looking to go out with friends but don't drink alcohol, this place has got you covered with great NA options! The ambiance is so nice. It's very comfortable inside and currently they have cute Halloween window paintings! Ryan also did a great job suggesting the best options for us too! Beyond the great options here we also received such great service. Thank you so much, Ryan! If we lived in Oceanside this would definitely be our go to spot. Hopefully we can visit again soon!

    Photos
    BEERTOWN - My new favorite place, draft list on the wall! TVs and comfy barstools

    My new favorite place, draft list on the wall! TVs and comfy barstools

    BEERTOWN - Merchandise, Togo beers, leading to the outside seating!

    Merchandise, Togo beers, leading to the outside seating!

    BEERTOWN - Double IPA!!!! The do it right! The foam ring represents clean glass! Beer nerds know!

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    Double IPA!!!! The do it right! The foam ring represents clean glass! Beer nerds know!

    Fat Joe's O'side - Carne Asada taco, Adobada taco, chronic Amber Ale

    Fat Joe's O'side

    4.1(234 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    It seems odd to be leaving a 5-star review for a "bar," but every time I visit Fat Joe's it's such…read morea positive experience it's only fair to rate it as such. We visit at least once a month with friends from the nearby climbing gym, and always with our 6-year-old in tow who LOVES this place thanks to all the games there are to play. My favorite go-to menu item is the crunch wrap with carne asada - it's large so my husband and I usually split it. Their salsa is bomb, too (especially the green). We've also had some of their burgers, tacos, and our daughter always gets a personal pizza. The personal pizza scenario is the only thing I have beef with here - you get a 7" plain cheese pizza for $12, and you can add a max of 3 toppings which cost extra, so in the end our kid's food is more expensive than ours. Hey Fat Joe's - pleeeease considering adding a small pizza to the kid's menu and price it closer to the other $7 and $8 items!! The interior walls of Fat Joe's are decorated with art and murals of all the most important and beloved features of our city. The bartenders are friendly and efficient - drinks are poured/mixed and handed off quickly, and food arrives at your table shortly after. Bathrooms are always well-stocked and clean. Parking is pretty much limited to street parking and while it is limited, we've never had an issue finding a spot nearby. Finding solid family-friendly spots can be in short supply, but Fat Joe's hits all my criteria and remains one of our favorite spots to eat and spend time together.

    Oh WOW! We decided to try out Fat Joes today. The Men'sWorld Cup was on so they were busy and it…read morewas a bit loud. But we were oh so happy we decided to stop there and eat! Their burgers were great! 3 of us had burgers, one had a turkey burger, one of us had carnitas tacos. Those burgers were big and I would say homemade. Fresh veggies, yum, best burgers we have had in awhile!!! The fries homemade and tasty! The quac and homemade chips were so good too. We cannot wait to take our other friends and try more delicious food! You do not find many places with food so good. Can't wait till try more items! I call my husband Wimpy because he is a burger connoisseur and he said he thinks it was in the top 10 of burgers he has had in his lifetime and he has had some good ones!

    Photos
    Fat Joe's O'side
    Fat Joe's O'side - Cali burrito half

    Cali burrito half

    Fat Joe's O'side

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    Key and Cleaver - burgers - Updated June 2026

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