Ironside continues to be a family favorite of ours - it offers a very cool, trendy deep sea…read moreaesthetic with a friendly and welcoming staff from the hostess stand, bartenders, and waiters. We tend to be quite regular here - whenever we find ourselves downtown or in the Little Italy area. We often take the trolley, but every so often we'll drive. Be prepared for this area to be busy, so parking can be tricky to find unless you opt for paid parking nearby. Each time, we're seated without a reservation (and sometimes as a family of 4) and it's been fun to bounce around their dining rooms as each spot has its own experience. This time, we snagged their bench seats right at the front. It's an open air concept, which I love, because I can enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant, yet outside a bit. My husband and I enjoy their menu and appreciate how it changes up regularly. Every visit necessitates oysters on the half shell, a ceviche, and a shared main. Cocktails continue to be on point, no notes. You cannot go wrong with any of their seafood - always so fresh and flavorful. We've had their seafood platters before - those are often changing up seasonally. It's a great way to try a little of everything if it's your first time or you're wanting to share. See for yourself why Ironside is a gem in downtown SD.

One of the coolest places to grab some seafood, Ironside goes all out on the nautical theme with…read moretheir interior and design. The New England Clam Chowder was creamy and the perfect start to the meal. The biscuit was good too, however it would have been better had it been served hot. The oysters rockefeller were also creamy, savory, and very tasty. It's a little weird how they serve it on a tray built for 6 but they only give 4. The Smoked Cod Toast I'd have to say was the most disappointing dish of the meal. It's basically an eggs benedict with fish on top. However I didn't get any smoky/fish taste and so the hollaindaise sauce overpowered the whole dish. The Rockfish Ceviche was very fresh and light. It goes very well with the basic saltine crackers. But the best dish of the night was definitely the Charred Octopus. So much flavor from the sauce and the olive tapenade, this is a must get. For dessert we got the banana pudding which was served tableside. They come out with a huge container and scoop it in front of you. While very good, I do wish it was a bit colder. Overall it was a great and fun meal that you should check out!

Today I brought my new baby out to try out our family's favorite restaurant. Baby-friendly with…read morespace to park the stroller next to our table. We put baby in high chair although baby kept trying to eat the table. We got our usual favorites (warm lobster rolls, clam chowder bowls, fried oyster, and fried clam belly). Surprisingly the clam belly was full of sand this time! Must not have soaked in water long enough, but when we told our server they swapped it out immediately. We substituted one of our coleslaw for potato salad, and one of our fries for onion rings. We definitely will continue doing so because it is nice to try out so many different dishes! As always, order the fries well-done for nice crispy fries. It's still on our to-do list to try the chicken parmesan since we've heard so many good things about it, but I really do like my Must Order dishes (listed below). Must Order (in order of ranking): - Clam chowder bowl - Warm lobster roll - Fried oysters - Fried scallops - Fried clam belly - Fried clam strips - Crab roll Pass: - Fish and chips - Calamari

We just dropped the kids off at camp and I wanted to try a local place with a lobster roll, while…read morethe kids weren't around to steal my food. Lobster roll (warm): It felt like a good amount of lobster, but the soggy roll ruined it for me. I couldn't even pick it up without the whole thing falling apart. The flavor was there but that soggy roll ruined it. Seafood platter: They said it was a plate for two, but I don't know about that. It was nice to try a variety of different seafood. Most of it was good but the fish needs to be firmer. It just fell apart and I wasn't used to that kind of texture. We sat outside in the patio area since inside seemed pretty busy. Service was quick and friendly.

We visited on a Monday for the AYCE option and had a great experience. Since we arrived right at…read moreopening, parking was easy and we were seated right away. Our server was very attentive, which was especially nice since we were among the first customers there. A few things to note: there is a 90-minute dining limit, and everyone at the table shares the same seafood bag, so your group will need to agree on one sauce flavor per round. We only made it through two rounds, but everything we ordered was delicious. The fries were crispy, and the mussels, shrimp, and clams were all meaty. The sauce was flavorful and complemented the seafood well. We finished the meal with the fried Oreo and ice cream, which was the perfect sweet ending. We'd definitely come back again for the AYCE experience!

Great concept & great menu--I love how the AYCE includes appetizers, soda, and typical seafood boil…read moreadd ons like potatoes, eggs, sausages, etc. However, they didn't execute it for me...I learned that seafood boil is definitely a quality over quantity type of meal. Half of the shrimp and crawfish we had were dead, so the taste and texture wasn't there. The clams and mussels were very sandy. The sauce was good but medium spice didn't have any kick at all but the next flavor was "atomic" which is very intimidating (I regret not trying the next level up though). Plus the service was slow and parking is terrible. My favorite items were the lemon pepper wings, quail eggs, and Cajun fries though lol

My wife and I had the pleasure of dining at C Level as part of our 45th wedding anniversary…read morecelebration. I almost never write reviews but after our experience, I felt compelled to do so. All in all, it was simply wonderful. The hostess was very professional and welcoming and set the tone for our celebration. We were seated by a window to enjoy a beautiful, relaxing view of the bay which enhanced our experience. We were greeted promptly by Kyle who was our kind, knowledgeable, and patient server. He went over the complete menu and wine list with us and made suggestions when asked. We had the blackened chicken sandwich and the c level wagyu burger and both were terrific. The burger was cooked perfectly and went very well with the wine that was suggested. Kyle made the experience memorable for us and we hope to see him on our next visit. Thanks to all the staff for taking such good care of us.

I've been coming here for years and it's honestly my favorite waterfront restaurant in San Diego…read morefor dinner with a view. My new birthday tradition is treating myself to a solo birthday dinner here during golden hour and watching the boats and jet skis go by with the San Diego skyline in the background. The ceviche verde is delicious and has just the right amount of spice. For my birthday I got the complimentary strawberry shortcake which was light and not overly sweet. The manager even came over to wish me a happy birthday which was such a thoughtful touch. I had such a nice evening. If you're looking for a great date night, birthday dinner, or even a peaceful solo dinner with beautiful bay views, I'd definitely recommend this spot. A couple tips: Try to make a reservation for a table outside. They have outdoor heaters but I always try to bring a jacket just in case I get cold. Also I would recommend booking for about an hour before sunset although there really isn't a bad time to go. Yesterday when I went, it was a Sunday night so it was fairly busy. One thing to keep in mind is that the parking lot is pretty small, so I'd give yourself a little extra time in case you need to find parking nearby. They also have valet for $10 if that's easier.

The clam chowder was fantastic, as was the service!…read more Our server, Marcus, was gracious and attentive, and the Manager, Joanna, was very kind and professional and made sure we had an excellent, quiet table. It was a lovely dinning experience, which can be hard to find these days.

My husband and I went to Water Grill a couple of weeks ago and we got the best service and good. We…read morehad Dawn wait on us and she was excellent and on top of everything but didn't bother us. We had fish taco and chili. They were both so good! Great wine. We will be back. Btw it's fun sitting by the windows people watching!

Fantastic venue - so so California! And an excellent wine list - innovative and surprising!read more

Excellent spot for lunch after a walk through Balboa Park…read more We were offered a seat inside or outside, we opted for the patio. The climate was perfect and there were umbrellas to provide adequate shade. The atmosphere was relaxed, we had time to review the menu and ordered drinks, then had time to decide on our meal. There was a smell outside the perimeter of the restaurant, which when the wind shifted, would come by and was a bit sour, but I'm not sure how the Restaurant would resolve that. I opted for the passion fruit sparkling lemondae- delicious and refreshing. We split the Farmers mixed greens salad. The dressing was very light, next time I may ask for a little more on the side. I also had the grilled Mahi Mahi sandwich. I had the Chipotle tartar sauce on the side, so the fish was a little dry but flavorful. My husband had the Kobe Burger and the raspberry sparkling lemondae and enjoyed both thoroughly. Excellent service, great patio seating, delicious food.

We went on a Saturday right around when they opened at noon and there was already a line waiting…read moreout the door. They are dine in only, and there is limited seating. Since we were a group of 6, it took us ~30 minutes before we were seated together. We were bummed that their smoked fish dip wasn't available, but we loved all the tacos! We tried the Estilo Baja and the De Coco, and both were fresh with a satisfying crunch and a chipotle-forward flavor. The swordfish was also delicious, with a well-seasoned peppery flavor. I'd recommend getting there earlier in the day as their they seem to close once they run out of ingredients. Their sign lists opening hours but doesn't include a closing time, and my friend mentioned she arrived once around 4pm on a previous visit and they were already closed.

Amazing tacos in the San Diego area! This was our first stop while visiting SD and it was a great…read morestart to the trip. First of all, the place is quite small but worth the wait if you have the time. It's intimate but the tacos come out relatively fast. They all come with 2 tacos and my husband and I ordered 2 fish and 1 shrimp plate and it was plenty. The al pastor margarita was also good and sweet. The fish tacos are all filled to the top with meat and slaw, all of which are perfectly seasoned. The tacos are also especially good and actually hold together. Great stop in the San Diego area!

I can't wait to go again!! Oscar's was amazing, best seafood tacos I've tried…read more The restaurant is a bit small and had limited seating, so we ended up eating outside, but it was a beautiful day. I tried the tacos especial (fish, shrimp, scallops) and grilled octopus and they were both amazing! I would get 2 tacos or 3 if you're really hungry.

Fish tacos are a San Diego staple, and Oscars is said to be the best restaurant for them…read more Grilled Fish Taco: Best of the meal. The fish was grilled to tender, paired with smooth avocado puree and fresh salsa--a rich and satisfying bite. But! The biggest surprise is the tortilla--it was on the softer side, yet surprisingly chewy. Smoked Fish Taco: A classic and San Diego signature dish. The fish was shredded into small pieces, giving it a smoky flavor and a slightly dry texture. The taste was nice, but you don't really feel the meat in bites, so it was slightly less impressive. Fish Ceviche: Marinated in lemon juice, the proteins denatured, making the fish appear white and fully cooked, but it still had a firm, raw texture. Completely different from other raw fish ceviche I've had. But! Incredibly tangy!!! The first bite was so tangy it was almost painful; it was only after being served as tapas with tostadas that I gradually got used to it. Lemon juice, tomato, and onion--it was easy to imagine the refreshing taste, while the rich aroma of avocado nicely balanced the harshness. Shrimp Ceviche: The shrimp appeared to be cooked; they weren't large but were quite fresh, with firm and tender meat. See above for other details. The restaurant is located in a small food court, with very limited parking and seating. It may be inconvenient for groups of four or more to dine in.