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    Pillbox Tavern

    4.3 (568 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Pillbox Tavern Photos

    Business Info

    PILLBOX TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Mango margarita and Mexican logger
    Lidia B.

    Great atmosphere, good spot to stop and have a quick bit or a drink . Ordered some wings and chips and drinks . Amazing service as well

    Our group of bikes by the outdoor seating
    Andrew S.

    This is the best spot. Food is so good and atmosphere so chill. Not a dive bar, but a casual beach bar with indoor and outdoor seating. A favorite spot with my riding buddies but also a spot to bring the wife or girlfriend. Great burgers, tacos, amazing fish and chips and more.

    Outside
    Trecia L.

    My husband and I came here on a Thursday night since we were in the area. We were able to find a parking spot in the parking area for the shopping strip. The place was busy but we were able to find a spot at the bar to order food. The bartender took our order and it came out in a reasonable amount of time. I ordered the beer battered fish and chips which were battered nicely and came with a small container of tartar sauce. My husband ordered the Shrimp Al Mezcal and he enjoyed it very much. The sauce had good flavor and the shrimp was nicely cooked. Overall the food was great. Great casual neighborhood spot.

    Nice place. We love the bar and the food is delicious. Service is great too.
    Annette C.

    Always a great place. I'd love the pillbox plate. They're macaroni salad is to die for. My husband loves the tacos. Definitely a good place to visit in Solana Beach.

    Hank
    Jodi B.

    We love Pillbox, the staff and their dog friendly patio. We are happy to hear the patio will be permanent as well.

    Outside
    Dan M.

    Driven by this corner so many times and never noticed this little tavern tucked away at this busy intersection. Fortunately we decided to stop by after hiking nearby and wanting a snack. We found parking on the side streets in the back (probably not easy on a weekend since this is close to the beach). The menu is better than what you would expect for bar/tavern. We enjoyed a salad and a sandwich. They have a good craft beer menu that rotates as well with local selections. They have several TV screens so would make a good viewing place for the big game. Staff were friendly too.

    Wings + guac and chips!
    Daryl K.

    If you are catching a game.... this is the place! TVs everywhere, atmosphere is on fire , happy hour is lit, and great selection of food items! Ordered the wings to start and were absolutely some of the best wings we have ever had! Lemon pepper dry rub and buffalo were bomb.com. Server was on point and ready to bring a new drink / fill waters for the whole game. Bloody Mary and list of beers on tap were fantastic. Had a blast with the family and other fans cheering on our team!

    Baja chicken salad
    Binh P.

    Nice spot with a good amount of seating near the beach. Food was interesting. Got the baja chicken salad and although I did enjoy it, it could be a pretty strange flavor combo. It had tender chicken drenched in bbq sauce sitting on top of lettuce, corn, black beans, onions, and tortilla strips mixed with ranch. Initially the bbq sauce was overwhelming, but after mixing with the ranch it got tastier. Chicken was crazy tender, on some bites I thought I was eating canned tuna. Just wished there was more corn or beans added. The waitress was really friendly. And I enjoyed the tall glass of pineapple juice, very generous.

    June gloom
    Grace M.

    4.5! The food and service were amazing. The waitress was really helpful and attentive. I enjoyed the pillhouse burger and the Philly cheese steak. Lots of food for the price. They were out of the happy hour Mac and cheese though :(. The only issue I had was when eating outside there was no lighting. However, they do have heaters available if needed. The beers were also really yummy. Open seating available.

    Dog friendly patio and comfortable, covered seating

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    1 year ago

    Packed and busy! Ended up ordering takeout, great comfort food. The seafood items are my favorite

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    10 months ago

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    10 months ago

    Great pizza. Just wish parking in the area wasn't so difficult. Aside from that, food is great

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    5 months ago

    Fantastic food, atmosphere and the staff are wonderful. We will definitely eat here again when in the area.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Tacos tacos tacos! Great happy hour for cheap eats and drinks, friendly servers, no riff raff

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    7 months ago

    Nothing special. For being in such a quaint area it should be nicer and food more special. Just average.

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    2 years ago

    The shrimp tacos were fabulous! The ambience was relaxed and service attentive. Loved the ocean breeze coming in so close to the beach.

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    1 year ago

    This place is amazing. Their chicken wings are awesome nice cold beers and they'll throw you out on your ass if you don't watch out.

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    Page 2 of 15

    Ask the Community - Pillbox Tavern

    What are the prices?

    It’s not expensive.

    Do you have a trivia night?

    I’m sorry. We do not.

    View All 3 Questions

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    4.2(634 reviews)
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    Good food and fast friendly service on my first time here ! Food arrived in a timely manner and…read moretheir lunch combo was very ressonably priced ! Restrooms were available for public use and clean - outstanding !

    TASTE FRIENDLY (4.25 stars)…read more Finally! Something simple, basic, and very affordable in Del Mar. Quick and easy! - PIZZA: thin crust, good - PRICE: very affordable - SERVICE: excellent and very friendly - AMBIANCE: block from the beach, small, but welcoming Pizza and beach vibes just go hand-and-hand. Both simple and fulfilling. They sell by the slice and they sell pies - more selection of pies over the glass casing for the slices. They also sell sandwiches and salads which I am excited to try next return. SPECIALITY OF THE DAY ($5) - cheese, pepperoni, mushroom, and garlic. As I've been told it's a staff favorite among the rotating flavors for speciality of the day. At first it tasted like a normal pepperoni pizza but then the garlic flavor really shines thru. The crust was "New York" style, thin and crispy... for me it had brittle edges! I find that thin crust pizza are just more fun to eat when on the go. HIGHLY RECOMMEND There are very few tables inside and out, however sometimes wiping your own table down may happen as people frequently so quickly that when one leaves another sits not leaving room for cleanup. Pet peeve, greasy marks on tables - be cautions that can be u friendly to clothes. I appreciate this space in the neighborhood and it appears so do many others!! Until the next review....

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    Del Mar Pizza - Inside

    Inside

    Del Mar Pizza - Slice selection

    Slice selection

    Del Mar Pizza - Sign outside

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    Chief's Burgers Brew & Spirits - Cheeseburger and fries

    Chief's Burgers Brew & Spirits

    3.9(476 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    After our Monday night "neon" run, we had a special event here to have some dinner and socialize…read more I had a great time! This is a dive bar and I saw a Ms Pac Man machine in the corner and will have to come back to play it, either with my run club or without them. They have a nice outdoor space and our entire running club took up the space. Service was excellent and we all got our food and beer without any hiccups. I had a cup of chili and a Prankster Blonde Ale, both were great! I'd definitely come back here again!

    My kiddos were running a 5K in Los Angeles and with my son having driven up earlier this week, I…read moredidn't want us to have two cars driving back home, so I took the Amtrak for the first time to meet up with my kiddos. Since my train wasn't leaving until later, I decided to find a place to eat dinner and found Chief's Burgers, Brew & Spirits. Chief's was a cool place to chill out and grab a bite. The burger and fries entree, the quality customer service from Nora, and the vibe were memorable. What was irritating was hearing a customer show his Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) by talking out loud about his disdain for our President. You lost old dude, but I won by dining at Chief's. 4.5 stars! Chief's Burgers is located in Solana Beach specifically on Lomas Santa Fe Drive. It's conveniently a short walk across from the Amtrak train station and within the Solana Beach Plaza strip mall. The plaza has Solana Frosty and Solana Beach Fish House. There is plenty of parking. As you step inside Chief's, you'll quickly determine that it's a sports bar with plenty of televisions, sports memorabilia, basketballs hanging from the ceiling, and a variety of modes of travel also hanging as decor. It's a spacious restaurant with bar top seating, low table top, high table top, picnic benches, and outdoor seating. There are a lot of Native American statues, framed pics, and depictions throughout the restaurant. There's a whole section decorated for Denver Broncos fans. I liked seeing tributes to our local sports teams. The customer service from Nora was noteworthy and I appreciated her friendly demeanor. I asked Nora why the restaurant was named Chief's and why there was an homage to the Broncos. She kindly explained that the owners were Native American and that they came from Colorado. Prior to embarking on the train, I initially thought I'd eat dinner with my kids once I got into Los Angeles, but since my train wasn't leaving until 5:40pm and wouldn't arrive at Union Station until about 8pm, I decided to find a restaurant to eat dinner. I found Chief's really quick since it was across from the station and walked over to dine in. Chief's serves a diverse menu besides burgers, which includes sandwiches, sides, Mexican food, appetizers, wings, salads, sliders, soup and chili, rice bowls, and dessert. I honestly wasn't sure what I was in the mood for, but I ordered their Jalapeño Jack burger, which comes with a 1/2 lb all natural angus beef thick patty, fresh jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion. All the burgers are served with french fries, salad, or coleslaw. Instead of fries, pay an additional $3 to substitute onion rings, sweet potato fries, frings, or potato salad. Unless I didn't hear Nora, I wasn't asked how I wanted my burger cooked. My burger came out well done, I liked that it was substantial, the toasted bun was a good vessel, the toppings were fresh, and I thought that was a delicious burger. I recommend that they season the patty a little more. I thought the fries stood out because they were crispy, golden brown, seasoned perfectly, and when dipped in mayo or ranch, they complemented the burger. For my first visit to Chief's, I really enjoyed my burger and fries. Next time I visit Chief's, I want to try their Philly Cheesesteak. Hanging out at Chief's before my first train ride made for a good start to my trip, but that old dude talking smack about our President made me wish the Trump Train made a stop, so it would drown out his crying.

    Photos
    Chief's Burgers Brew & Spirits - Bronco spot.....

    Bronco spot.....

    Chief's Burgers Brew & Spirits
    Chief's Burgers Brew & Spirits

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    Pizza Port - Solana Beach - Small Laguna-- veggie pizza

    Pizza Port - Solana Beach

    3.7(1.8k reviews)
    0.1 mi
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    Always a good time downing some local beers and delicious pizza pies at this casual sit down, right…read morenext to the fresh ocean air. Pizza Port, a local favorite on the main road up and down the coast, has served up their fresh made pizzas and self-brewed beers since 1987. Now situated across a few locations within San Diego county, this spot is where it all started. The brewpub holds a great dining space with seating indoors and out, arcades for those looking for a bit of entertainment, and a bar tap full of their own creations sure to satisfy all tastes. Street parking or public transport is how you'll get here but once you've arrived, might as well stay awhile as Solana Beach has much to offer. Head on inside and peruse their menu of pizzas to the left and beers to the right. You'll order the food and drinks separately but I recommend putting in the order for the food first as it'll take about 15-20 minutes to cook it up. In addition to pizzas, they have salads as well so you can get a nice balanced meal. All of their pizzas are made fresh unless you decide to order slices I suppose (I've always ordered the whole pizzas). As you wait, grab a drink and some seats and chill awhile. All of their tables have napkins dispensers and you can get the shakers for additional parmesan cheese or peppers. They also have a self service water and soda station. Their pizzas are delicious and generous with the toppings. If you're a pepperoni fan, they do a fine job spreading them out and crisping them up. Their white sauce pizzas are pretty good as well; creamy and melty which pairs well with the toasty and springy crust. I've never had a bad pizza here so you won't go wrong with your order. The staff are friendly and helpful. You'll definitely get the socal vibe here if you're not a local. Very hospital and relaxed atmosphere. Overall, Pizza Port is a great destination for out of towners to get a taste of the San Diego pizza and beer scene. In addition, it's a watering hole for many locals so you're bound to meet some folks who live or work nearby and perhaps can provide you a few other recommendations of places to visit and things to eat. Consider coming out to some of their local events too or checking out their other locations further south; it's always a good time for pizza and brews!

    Food is good We ordered "imperial beach " pizza and it's darn good! Soo good that I totally forgot…read moreto take a photo. If you are vegan and want a little lower calorie pizza, that is definitely the go on pizza. It comes with garlic, and poblano chicken with a kick. Love it. I do need to say they need a little better music especially when everyone is watching the FIFA right now :) Also the bathroom is quite disgusting. People don't flush on every single stall .

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    Pizza Port - Solana Beach - Indoor seating area

    Indoor seating area

    Pizza Port - Solana Beach - Pizza Monterey

    Pizza Monterey

    Pizza Port - Solana Beach

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    Chicken Charlie's - Mangonada. Mel_foodie_ventures

    Chicken Charlie's

    2.7(52 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    I always stop by Chicken Charlie's when I'm at the fair. It's a tradition! I also wanted to try…read moretheir newest item, Mangonada. After much anticipation, this wasn't a hit for me. I wanted to try something new, but I prefer this as a fresh mango with chamoy. The combination of the chamoy and fresh fruit has always worked well together but it misses when the fruit is fried. The batter was thick, mango was warm, and the chamoy was sweet. I'll pass on this next time. I had the Fried Oreos, which is usually my go to, but this was super sweet! Not sure if this was the case the other times I've gotten this, but I could only eat two. Finally, I tried their famous Maui chicken in the pineapple. First of all, the rice was mushy. Too much water! Should be light and fluffy but it wasn't. For the price, not enough chicken and too much pineapple. Would be nice to have more teriyaki glaze drizzled on top. Thankfully we were able to get some seats nearby. Lines weren't so long, so that's a plus.

    It was my first time ordering my food at Chicken Charlie's. I heard it was REAL fair/carnival food…read moreand wanted to give it try. The staff behind the counter was very friendly. The next thing you know, my order came out. I looove the quick service! I wish my Maui Chicken Sliders were intacted instead of stuck together. I had to pull them apart myself. No worries, the tastiness made up for it. My Golden Fries and Strawberry Funnel Cake were fresssh and cripsy just like I like them.

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    Chicken Charlie's
    Chicken Charlie's - Sad lobster

    Sad lobster

    Chicken Charlie's - Maui chicken at Del Mar fair

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    Maui chicken at Del Mar fair

    Best Pizza & Brew Cardiff By The Sea

    Best Pizza & Brew Cardiff By The Sea

    4.5(659 reviews)
    2.1 mi
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    I ordered for takeout online which was easy to do. It was thoughtfully prepared, packaged and…read moreready on time despite the fact that it was busy being a holiday weekend. I ordered French Fries, Burrata Caprese Salad, Pepperoni Pesto Ricotta Pizza, Burrata Sausage and Hot Honey Pizza ( Detroit Style) and Pesto Burrata Chicken Sandwich ( substituted sun dried tomatoes for regular tomato slices). Everyone enjoyed all the food. The favorite hands down was the Detroit Style Hot Honey Pizza. It was very rich and I had a small piece which was very filling. The crust was crispy and the flavor was layered perfectly with the hot honey. 10/10! I must also say that the French Fries being fried in beef tallow really enhanced their flavor. Perfect. Will definitely try more things from their menu. It ranks among my top 3 Pizza Restaurants.

    We walked into Best Pizza and Brews in Cardiff and immediately liked the lively and friendly vibe…read more We found seats at the bar (albeit terribly uncomfortable seats). Carly was our bartender/server for the day and she was fantastic. The tap list is pretty good, but they do not offer a hard seltzer. Kombucha and cider, yes, but they're not the same, so Becky had to settle for a beer which is never ideal. We were just there for a couple of drinks but I did check out the menu, and the Burrata Sausage Hot Honey pizza caught my eye, (mozzarella, homemade marinara, burrata, sausage, hot honey). I could not get that out of my head. We were camping across the 101 at San Elijo State Beach so I told Becky that we had to return. I needed that slice! The following day we returned for a light lunch. We ordered at the counter and took our number to our table on the patio. About five minutes later our food was delivered. That slice was everything I thought it would be and more! The thin crust was crispy and light. The sausage was exceptional. The hot honey was actually hot! Too many times hot honey is just honey. This was as advertised. Becky chose a slice of Pepperoni (tomato sauce topped with pepperoni, provolone, and mozzerella) Also a great slice. The provolone was a game changer and the sauce was delectable. excellent pizza! Carly, 5-stars! :-) Pizza, 5-stars! :-) Service at the counter, 5-stars! :-) Vibe indoors and outside, 5-stars! :-) No seltzer, 3- stars. :-( Uncomfortable Barstools, 2-stars. :-( Best Pizza and Brews Cardiff - get some!

    Photos
    Best Pizza & Brew Cardiff By The Sea - Hard working employees on a hot beach day

    Hard working employees on a hot beach day

    Best Pizza & Brew Cardiff By The Sea
    Best Pizza & Brew Cardiff By The Sea - Please try a BP&B pizza with a pint or two of Stone Buenaveza= perfect match!

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    Please try a BP&B pizza with a pint or two of Stone Buenaveza= perfect match!

    Viewpoint Brewing - Wedge salad - thick and juicy bacons with chopper eggs

    Viewpoint Brewing

    4.2(1.3k reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    This is probably my favorite brewery in all of San Diego as the views here are pretty sick and you…read morecan spot some cool birds while enjoying a beer and some food. I wonder if this is a location on eBird. Yes, I am a dork. I came here years ago while on a business trip and randomly found this place and loved it here. So when a date suggested we come here, I took a look at the venue and remembered what an awesome brewery this is! Date gets some brownie points for chosing this spot, maybe this could go somewhere haha. Parking is a situation here. But if you go past the restaurant, there is some parking on the road and in small lot meant for those enjoying nature. I felt bad taking one of these spots. There is paid public parking on the corner before the restaurant and valet is available at this brewery. I need to figure out another way to get here... On a Sunday afternoon, place had people but it wasnt mobbed. Baseball game and Del Mar horse races were showing on the TVs. But, don't come here to watch TV, look outside! I saw some very good bird action, including an egret doing some weird strutting in the lush greenery. I am bummed I forgot to bring my binoculars but I will be back here again soon with binocs ready! I started off with a hefeweisen and that was good, date had a Mexican lager x 2. I had the ceviche (pretty good) and had the aioli on the side. Date had a sandwich of some kind and copious amounts of fries. It took a lot of will power for me to not have any of those fries, they looked so yummy! I also had a watermelon beer, this had hints of watermelon flavor and I enjoyed it. Great spot for large groups too as there were a few large parties sitting in the "outside" space. Hostess initially asked if we wanted to sit "inside" or "outside," and I was confused as it all looked like outside to me haha. I guess this is SoCal, everything is open air. This is a nice spot to have convo, very spacious, lots of nice tables, we sat at a high top. I love perching higher up, kinda of like a bird haha! Waitresses here were all very good, some very cute too (eye candy is always appreciated). Overall, a really fun way to spend a Sunday summer afternoon! I'll be back!

    Seven of us had dinner at Viewpoint last night, reservations for a table right by the lagoon, and…read morethe view was really pretty. Valet parking for $6 on site was easy and smooth. The restaurant is really loud when crowded and you can only talk to the person right next to you, but that worked ok in a group of 7 anyway--we just had multiple mini conversations. If you're planning a large group gathering, you might have to play musical chairs to catch up with everyone, unless everyone has naturally loud voices that carry. Most of the people in our group ordered beers, but I ordered a nonalcoholic prickly pear hibiscus ginger beer which was ok--pretty subtle, but it quenches the thirst all the same. I ordered the Farmer's burger (black bean) with added avocado and a side salad which comes with a lemon vinaigrette. I had to eat it with a knife and fork after removing the top bun. Very tasty. My daughter ordered crispy shrimp tacos which she really enjoyed. Most people ordered the backyard burger which looked pretty good--choice of fries or side salad. Freddy our server was friendly and helpful. Overall a good dining experience!

    Photos
    Viewpoint Brewing - The bar area with the TV

    The bar area with the TV

    Viewpoint Brewing - Burger - came with their homemade sauce that has mayonnaise so we had it on the side.

    Burger - came with their homemade sauce that has mayonnaise so we had it on the side.

    Viewpoint Brewing - Outdoor seating with heaters

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    Outdoor seating with heaters

    Pillbox Tavern - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

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