I was specifically looking for a tapas bar because we weren't particularly hungry and just wanted a…read morefew small bites alongside a good glass of wine. On the wine front, Gata absolutely delivers. The wine list is thoughtfully curated, and it's the kind of place where one glass quickly turns into two because there are simply too many interesting options to pass up. Unfortunately, the food didn't come close to matching either the quality of the wine program or the price point. We ordered the deviled eggs, which turned out to be hard-boiled eggs sliced in half with a piece of ham placed on top. When you order deviled eggs, you generally expect, well... the eggs to actually be deviled. We mentioned our disappointment to the bartender, who was wonderful, engaging, and genuinely enjoyable to talk with. The explanation was that this is simply their interpretation of deviled eggs. Fair enough, but it wasn't an interpretation that worked for us. Ironically, the standout dish of the evening was the pigs in blankets, which is not a sentence I ever expected to write about an upscale wine bar. They were delicious, but they also raised the question of why the rest of the menu wasn't reaching the same level. Looking back, we realized we were the only people actually eating while everyone else was there for the wine. In hindsight, that should have been the clue. I only wish someone had mentioned that before we made the trip over expecting a tapas experience. Gata has so much potential. The atmosphere is lovely, the wine selection is excellent, and the staff were fantastic. If the small plates eventually rise to the level of the wine program, this place could be truly special. Until then, I'd absolutely recommend it for drinks, but probably not for dinner.

My new favorite wine bar. Small nook tucked away in the middle of downtown La Jolla. Wonderful…read moreambiance, lovely staff, nice small food and tapas menu, amazing wine. Also love that they are open until midnight. Perfect late night spot to grab a nice nightcap.

Great food reminds me of you of being in Spain. Highlight of this establishment is by far the white…read moreglove service and friendliness from the bartenders Alena and Israel. If you are questioning this go in and ask for Alena.

It has been a few years since I have been here, so now it is time to do a review…read more This place is located smack in the middle of downtown. Parking is really hard, so preferably take an uber or park at the conventiom center or Hilton. Its only a 10 min from there to the restaurant and super easy access to get put of downtown. I really like this place because the ambiance is like being in Spain, DJ and Live Latin Music until around 1am. Decor is like being in a Spaniard "Bar" and it is usually pretty busy. Full bar, good cocktails, wine list and a great variety type of Cold and Hot Tapas to share. Their signature dish for me Is the Black Seafood Paella made with the squid's black ink. Lively music and there is an area where you can dance if you are up to the mood Great place to gather with friends, they do take reservations or you can also walk in and sit at the bar if the tables are busy. There is like a second floor with tables to be a little bit more separate from the music. Ladies bathroom, very interesting decor with pics of cute famous Spanish and Latin Actors. The only thing is that there was no a/c in the restroom so it was super hot there even if were there for 2 minutes. Service was average. Not out of this world. I think our waiter was taking care of too many tables at the same time and he was always in a hurry. We had to hunt him down to get our orders taken and even for the bill. This left a lot to desire for the restaurant quality. But still a good option for dinner, fun, laughs and dance.

Worth coming here for the food and ambiance. Great date night spot and excellent service…read more Had the hamachi crudo, mushrooms, scallops, and the truffle spaetzle and all was phenomenal- highlight was the dessert and bread pudding. For a wine bar to have some elevated food is something...I came here and I don't even drink. The spaetzle I'd prob skip next time-just needed a kick or something, but the mushrooms and the little salad with the trout fish dish was incredible. Would love to come back. Pricey but ingredients were quality.

Lovely neighborhood spot with a mix of excellent wines and small plates. The flavor profiles were…read morerich without being heavy -- fig & prosciutto salad was outstanding and the mushrooms sooooo good! Service was very accommodating as Friday night walk ins and this is a great date night or casual couples dinner.

Always great service and live music! This is our go to spot! The prices of drinks are great!read more

We went to the Roxy to see a band the other night. The clientele seemed to be a mix of younger and…read moreolder people. The buzzword drink with "buzz button" in it is really interesting, it's a plant that makes your mouth tingle. Unfortunately there were a lot of sound issues with the band, that never really seemed to be worked out totally. There was a lot of starting and stopping. It also got pretty crowded (more younger crowd came in) so we left early-ish and there was a huge line to get in by that time. I'm not sure if the sound issues are a normal thing or that was a one off but it kind of makes me lean towards not trying to see bands here.

Love everything about this place. The vibe when walking in is cool and artful. You can tell time…read moreand effort are put into this place daily. The food is impeccable. This has quickly become one of my favorite spots in Oceanside and I am very familiar with the local food scene. Can't say enough about Dija Mara. Get the Nasi Goreng. You won't be disappointed

Our 20th wedding anniversary was spent at our true guilty pleasure: Dija Mara…read more We would have loved to get everything on the menu but honestly we get stuffed really quickly and tried to stick with the perfected dishes: Grilled Roti with Lamb Jus Curry Sea Bream Ceviche Actually we noticed the menu didn't mention "Sea Bream" anymore and just said "Local Ceviche". Did they change fish? Tasted the same basically. Still amazing as always. We also tried some new dishes: Beef Tartare Chicken Thigh Skewers Green Curry Mussels The Beef Tartare was just okay. It's the only dish I probably would not ever order again. It wasn't bad, but compared to every other banger on the menu, it's last. Something has to be last. The Chicken Thigh Skewers were AMAZING! OMG, so much flavor in the chicken but the sauce really drove it overboard. Wow. These are a must try, you won't regret it. And lastly, the Green Curry Mussels blew us away. I love mussels and always order it whenever I see it on a menu. We devoured all of the mussels (and added the $9 Roti) and even got a container to-go to save the broth, lol. Truly another banger from Dija Mara. I really appreciate that the menu changes periodically without removing the veteran dishes we continue to enjoy. Just want to mention something besides the culinary spectacles. Dija Mara's decor is every bit as memorable as its food. The artwork isn't an afterthought--it's part of the experience. The dining room manages to feel both trendy and intimate at the same time, while the graffiti-covered back wall adds a playful, street-art feel that contrasts beautifully with the polished food and cocktails. The result is a space that feels creative, unpretentious, and genuinely cool. The industrial concrete and reclaimed wood elements give it a modern edge, while the Indonesian-inspired art creates a sense of place that feels completely unique in North County. This is really our happy place and I hope it never changes.

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

I stumbled upon it as happy hour started. Emmy was my bartender. She is awesome. I had two espresso…read moretinis - they were the most smooth non-acidic espresso martinis I've ever had. They were topped with lavender cream... what a delicious balanced craft cocktail. Aside from my cocktails, I had a couple of bites, the chicken and the corn ribs. Both were very good. I enjoyed the ambiance. I love the colors of the furniture and the art. It was a lovely way to cap my late Saturday afternoon.

The five stars is solely for the cocktails! The vibe, service, music, and food is also good but I…read morewould 100% come back for their drinks. So damn good. Their take on an espresso martini and carajillo is the best version of an espresso martini I've had in San diego hands down. Do not sleep on it if you are an espresso martini girl. Ugh I was no joke dreaming about it. Food portions are small so definitely the type of place where the cocktails are the main star and food are the supporting actors.

This was probably our fourth time dining here, and each visit feels like being transported back to…read moreSan Sebastián. The flavors are simple yet outstanding, and the menu always feels thoughtfully put together. We ordered the prawns aglio e olio and heirloom tomatoes for starters, then we tried the pork chop--and it was easily one of the best we've ever had. Perfectly seasoned, incredibly tender, and just the right portion size. The wine selection was excellent, and we were happy to see that they've added whiskey to the menu. The only dish that didn't quite blow us away was the chocolate sourdough dessert, but we were curious and glad we gave it a try. What really completes the experience is the excellent service. Chris, the bartender, took wonderful care of us and recommended the perfect wine pairings for our meal. We keep coming back for a reason. We absolutely love this neighborhood gem!

If someone told me if I was down for some sangria and tapas, I'd immediately say yes…read more The host and waiter were both super attentive and kind. Unfortunately, we had to sit outside in the heat and had flies surrounding us. But that didn't bother us -- we just kept ordering sangria, since it was happy hour. We split the following: + Tuna, uni & paleta ibérica toast⁣ + Patatas bravas⁣ + tuna carpaccio⁣ + Ajillo squid⁣ + chorizo croquetas⁣ My personal favorites were the tuna, uni & paleta ibérica toast, the patatas bravas and red sangria. Everything else could have had just a little more salt in it.

We had such a lovely experience here after walking past and deciding to enjoy an early dinner. Our…read moreserver's name was AJ, and alongside the beautiful music, overall ambiance, and delicious food, he made our evening even more memorable. We enjoyed the bruschetta, French onion soup, mussels, and octopus - all very delicious and we were blown away by the affordability as well. It's the perfect date night spot, and we will certainly be back again!

Came here for a quick bite to eat last minute. It was the only thing open around late at night and…read morethey allowed us to come in and eat. our bartender was awesome. The ambience was definitely quiet and the food was delicious. Going to come back and try out more food. The manager is awesome also

Wonderful staff! Great food…read more They are also a winery. We had the Sauvignon Blanc they made, & it was so delicious. We got a take home bottle, we loved it so much. We have been coming here for years, when we visit family in San Diego. Has never disappointed. Nice ambiance, as well!

Just ate at Solterra for the first time in awhile. They've made some nice upgrades to the menu…read more Crab cakes are very nice. The ragu pasta was also excellent. The wines remain quite good. I see some negative comments about the service, but ours was excellent. Our server, Phil, knows the wine and made informed suggestions based our likes. All in all a very well spent evening.