Drinks were spot on, the mezcal/habanero Toxica blew me away...bartenders were down for small talk…read more Felt like a proper bar.

With so many places to imbibe in Oceanside, I realize how competitive these places have to be to…read morestay in business so I have to admit, my standards are fairly high. My husband and I stopped in to Frankie's on a recent Saturday at 5pm. Our kiddo had a performance down the street at 6pm so we had a little time to kill beforehand. The neighboring spots looked busy so we decided to go with Frankie's, seeing as they were less inundated at the time and we had a time constraint. Another allure was the sandwich board at the front door advertising discounted cocktails - sold!! Inside there were a handful of patrons at the bar, another table with two additional patrons and maybe a couple on the patio so it was fairly quiet and slow, so it looked promising. We headed up to the bar and hung out behind two empty barstools, the single female bartender greeted us and said she'd be right with us, but then continued chatting up the seated patrons, serving them and their friends that had just joined (AFTER we'd arrived). We moved a little further down to the handoff area where she was making drinks to save her having to come back to us again, and stood there for probably 10 minutes while she took orders and made all the drinks. We commented that she looked like she could definitely use a hand, and she said they were still adjusting into summer hours and determining whether more coverage was needed at this time - I figured 5pm on a Saturday should be primetime, so I'm not sure in what universe having a single bartender makes any sense. Finally we placed our cocktail orders, waited while they were made, and then put our card down for the tab. After we'd paid, I noticed the cocktails were more expensive than advertised on the sandwich board out front - I couldn't find a disclaimer anywhere that said only certain cocktails were included, so while it was a bummer I wasn't about to wait another 10-15 minutes to catch her attention and ask for clarification. Just a heads up to beware of whatever is advertised that might summon you in from the sidewalk, and make sure you ask before you make your selection. Drinks were very subpar, nothing special to write home about. While I can appreciate the Gatsby-esque vibe they're trying to uphold at Frankie's, they really should increase their staffing especially during prime weekend and evening hours, and be more transparent about their specials and what's included and what's not. Hindsight is 20/20, and the low volume of patrons when everything else around it was going off was probably a sign, so we'll skip Frankie's our next go around.

It's the 1st day of Summer and I wanted to spend a lot of time outdoors soaking up the sunshine…read more What a perrrfect time to finally go to the Tower39 Rooftop Lounge! I wanted to go there for the longest especially for Happy Hour. When I got up there, I was amazed at the ocean views and pleasantly surprised it wasn't crowded during this beauuutiful late afternoon. I picked my spot to sit then stood in line while looking over the front-n-back menu. Everything sounded good but I wanted something fresssh and summery. The friendly staff was very knowledgeable about the menu and helpful in my decision to keep it Summer related. Not too long afterwards, my order came out. Looove the quick service! Both female bartenders were slaying it as soon as the line grew. It was niiice to see the world cup on the t.v. screen. I enjoyed watching it while I ate my yummy food and watched the magical sunset. More people showed up closer to the golden hour. Overall, I had a wonderful experience. Highly recommend this coastal hot spot to the Yelp Community!!

Great spot, but no service. You have to go up to the bar to order which is a bummer. It would be my…read morego-to spot if they had servers. They recently updated their seating as well, to super comfortable seats. The food was really good as well! We had the shareable fondue, the prosciutto flatbread, the quesadilla, and one of their salads, and the food was delicious! Overall recommend this spot, but really wish they would add service or bring back the QR codes to order from the table. Plus you can't beat that gorgeous view of the beach and palm trees.

Kat and Charlotte super amazing service and even though they are busy they still looked after my…read morewife and I. We are at the restaurant and the food was excellent! Benny was also amazing he was the manager Thanks again !

Best bar we've been to in Oceanside. The service is incredible, they have a great selection of…read morespirits, and great atmosphere.

Absolutely delicious! The food was incredible, and Austin, our incredibly hospitable waiter,…read morerecommended some of his favorite dishes. One of them was the chicken shawarma, and it was so good! We were able to grab a charming spot outside near their garden, where they actually grow some of the fresh ingredients used in the dishes. Such a cool touch! They also offered a variety of sauces, all of which were delicious. Even the habanero sauce was surprisingly approachable, full of flavor without being overly spicy. The atmosphere was beautiful, the aesthetic was amazing, and the overall experience was fantastic. I would definitely come back.

We go and do Restaurant Reviews & attend special events at The Plot quarterly with my groups San…read moreDiego Foodies and Carlsbad Foodies. This time around, it's just the family for Mother's Day. Since I know my food, the table let me order. Fresh hand cut thick long French Fries without a ton of seasoning or oil arrived: one with a cashew cheese truffle sauce, one with no salt, and one salted as requested. My daughter loved her reuben. I loved my blt. The two Caesar salads for the table disappeared quickly because their dressing is unbelievable! Let's see .... what didn't we eat is probably smarter than what did we eat. Beet ketchup, The C Word (braised cabbage), a couple of cronic sushi rolls, and there was a special lemon creme brûlée. Everyone enjoyed everything they ate, including my almost 3 year old grandson (they brought out a specially sliced fruit bowl for him). They offered many choices for kids, but he just wanted fruit. Hope you had as wonderful a Mother's Day as I did. Yes. We appreciated eating healthy and not walking away stuffed but instead satisfied. They were selling plants. So I bought 4 and planted them today! The gift that keeps on giving! We will be back for sure! With garlic, gusto & gratitude, Chef Marian

I am not sure there is anywhere in North County that is anything like Sound by the Sea. It has…read moresuch a great laid back, chill vibe that you can feel walking in and never leaves you while you're there. We went for some drinks and something to eat after an event and it was the perfect place to wind down, listen to some great music and just enjoy yourself and your company. We had the charcuterie board with meat and it was perfect. There were a lot of different meats and cheeses I thoroughly enjoyed and a perfect accompaniment to the drinks, which was my main focus. I had the Exotica '58 Tiki and my gf had the Midnight Driver. Both were delicious and potent and looked incredible (see pic). We will definitely be back here but next time we might bring some folks to join the vibe... or maybe not. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!

I'll admit, I'm never in Oceanside since it's a bit of a drive compared to the other beach towns…read more My girlies and I decided to stop by here on the way home from being in OC, and the vibes did not disappoint. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by the host (I forgot his name, but it starts with a V?). Super friendly and helped all of us feel at home; Would occasionally check-in to make sure our needs were taken care of too. Sometimes you walk into bars and deal with judgy/pretentious people or service workers and we didn't get that impression at all from any of the staff here. My girlies and I ended up sitting in the outside area, which honestly was a great choice due to the humid weather AND we got a great view of the beach sunset. It's a bit stuffy (when it's hot), but still nice inside the establishment. We also ordered some drinks and tiramisu to make the most of our time there. Overall, Sound By The Sea is a great spot to catch-up and unwind during one of those longer summer nights (cue the Summer Nights song by Lil Rob lol). I hope you also enjoy the same fun experience my friends and I shared yesterday. Thank you. :-)

First time there this Saturday night & had a blast. Great drinks, great bites, great staff, close…read morelocation and the band. B.I.G is a must see!

It's super hot inside in the summer and can smell like a barn. Some of the bartenders are about as…read morekind as a rattlesnake & sometimes you get a really kind one. The outside is great b/c there is a huge outdoor fun area. Great location but...

Space Pad is hidden bar inside Kilowatts that feels like you've stepped through a sci-fi portal…read more Walk past the rows of pinball machines and find the mirrored hallway, and suddenly you're in another universe. The vibe is out of this world, literally. Neon glow, retro-futuristic decor, and that perfect mix of chill and cosmic weirdness that makes you want to stay for hours. The menu itself is fun to read. I was a little worried the drinks might lean too sweet, but I mentioned that to the bartender, and he nailed it. Every cocktail was balanced, creative, and smooth. You can tell he actually cares about the craft here. Highly recommend this spot. Great drinks, killer vibe, and we capped it off with some pinball on the way out. Tip: - wear something that glows under black light. It's fun watching yourself light up like part of the decor

Drinks are good and definitely a cool place! BUT the waiter/bartender tried to double tip himself…read morehoping I wouldn't notice. They make it hard to see but 20% gratuity was already included and somehow they "accidentally" selected an additional 30% tip for me. I had to ask about it and he gave me a refund but seemed suspicious. Make sure to thoroughly review your bill before paying. I have brought many people to this place over the years and probably won't be back.

What a gem! Came for…read morea relaxing Friday evening with girlfriends and we loved the rosé flight. The wine menu is pretty excellent with a great variety. Love that their flights change as well, so lots of fun wines to explore. The food menu was interesting and paired great with the food. Overall this is a fun addition to the quieter side of the block.

I've walked past this place plenty of times and finally decided after work to stop in, was around…read more7:30pm and was greeted by Micah, he was so kind and so easy to talk to. Helped me try a few wines and landed on the draft sparkling, which paired really nicely with my food. The kitchen is definitely on top of the products that come out and have high standards for their food. I left very happy with my experience, especially with the bar being filled with other kind folks, who loved to chat! Overall, the Merenda was a beautiful space, ambience was lovely. This is going to be my hidden gem that i bring my friends to and officially part of my boyfriend and I's date night list! Thank you Micah & see you soon!!