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    The Dinner Detective

    4.0 (103 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

    The Dinner Detective Photos

    THE DINNER DETECTIVE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dressy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Dinner Detective

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    a piece of chocolate cake and a strawberry
    Cadie B.

    The performance and accommodations were amazing. The staff really cared about their audience and went above and beyond. I took my mother in law for her birthday and I would plan something again in the future. The desert was a nice surprise.

    Such a fun and original party time. The cast is so talented and imaginative. Food is also supersizing good.
    Rafa E.

    Awesome time and great fun. Take your chance at catching a killer and have a killer time.

    Ed R.

    Had a BLAST! Lots of interaction between cast and guests... so much so that you never know who it is. We'll be back!

    Mark P.

    This was such a fun experience. We recommend this experience to anyone looking for something fresh, new and fun.

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    5 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    6 months ago

    This experience requires you to use your phone a lot, which is usually not what people are looking for if you're trying to bond as a group.

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    5 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Fun time, the actors are fun interactive! Really enjoyed the story and energy of the crew!

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Good food. And overacting . I would have like more mystery but it was a fun night . Nice place

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    This was so much fun!!! I'm going to get my work to come and experience this soon. Thank you for making my 60th birthday memorable

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    The entertainment and interaction between the audience was nice, with the addition of food being served.

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    5 years ago

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - The Dinner Detective

    Is this show appropriate for kids 9 and up?

    The site states 15 years minimum for entry unless prior approved by directors

    Does the person named on the ticket have to be the person that goes?

    No, but the meals cannot change.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - The Dinner Detective

    The mystery begins, the Actors (detectives), start the show with a bang and keep you all engaged and suspecting one another.

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Lips

    Lips

    4.2
    (1.1k reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$$

    We had a blast here for a galentine's or early birthday celebration with my BBFF. The positive: we…read moremade reservations ahead & did not stand in line to long to get in. Promptly seated & orders taken soon after this by Indica who also was performing & did an absolutely stellar job!! Bottomless mimosas or Bloody Mary's are served with brunch & they are refilled frequently. Jordan never let a drink get a glass go empty. Our host for this show Paris continuously kept the crowd entertained with lots of laughter! I have gone to many drag show experiences, but this was probably in the top 5 for me & I would gladly attend another one on a visit back to Sd. A few negatives are although every seat is good- the table we were at sometimes caused the show lights to hit me directly in the eye so I had to divert my attention to performances. Our meal (we both ordered carne asada breakfast) was not really seasoned. I just would try something else next time I go. Overall I had a lot of fun at Lips & it's something I would highly recommend if you're in the area! Thank you for keeping the drag experience available semi locally for me!

    Great experience! We took our cousin here bc she has never been to a drag show and she loved it!…read more the performers are top notch and there was never a lull in the show and audience energy. They're sassy and fun The place is visually stunning, and aesthetic - everything to keep your eyes stimulated. It's perfect for bachelorettes, birthday parties, and whatever celebration you heart desires. Theres all you can drink brunch that if you're looking for something fun to do, this is your place!

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    Lips
    Lips
    Front of cabaret

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    Front of cabaret
    Cafe Sevilla

    Cafe Sevilla

    4.0
    (4.7k reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    Very good food and drinks, and the atmosphere was electric and authentic Spanish! Great service…read morewith nightclub type energy! Live latin music made the evening vibe even more electric! A nice, cozy spot to enjoy tapas, music, and dancing. A definite redo my next time I visit San Diego!

    Sevilla Valentine's Day Edition:…read more Pardon the delay, amigos! It's been a lengthy week! But I digress! You're here for the deets! Like every boyfriend who wants to show his adoration for his gorgeous girlfriend, I planned this event a few weeks ago. Commitment & dedication are key. Flamenco Show, 3 course dinner for two, AND dancing after?! Yeah, your amigo has it covered! This package is available on their website, and not only on Valentine's. But this day does make it more romantic! A minor 5-10 minute wait as we stepped out of our Uber to the front entrance of the club adjacent to the restaurant. Our lovely hostess greeted us & escorted us downstairs to pick our table. There were no specific table reservations, but all seats are good, as it's a small venue. The Love Gods smiled upon us and granted a table close to the front with an awesome view of the stage. Perfect table for the perfect date! Starters set the tone. What's this? A Welcome Charcuterie Platter?! It appears out of nowhere as our server takes our drink orders. The service here is impeccable! Impressive spread of cheesy, meaty goodness! The Shaved Jamón Serrano Ensalada Sevillana has a wonderfully zesty citrus vinaigrette that makes you clack your castanets! Ole!! Cocktails for the cute couple! A Oaxacan Flower for my Monterrey Mami! My gal loves her some mezcal! I opted for El Matador Margarita, because I know what I want...tequila! Plus the cucumber counts as healthy! I will die on this hill! The Main Course is the star of the show. And in full diva fashion, the Lobster Paella Valenciana stole the spotlight! A masterfully, monstrous mix of meat & seafood, all on top of some bomb-a** Saffron Bomba Rice! There's even a lobster tail in case you're still hungry! Queue the Flamenco show. The two dancers were elegant, the music was powerful, the singer sublime! Enjoy your dinner to a phenomenal 2 part show put on by very talented artists! We got to meet them after the show, as they personally thanked practically every guest! Elegant as their artform! Lest we forget the dessert! The Flourless Chocolate Cake was just the right amount of sweetness to cap off the dinner & show, as we shared our own sweet nothings. Love & Chocolate, a perfect combo, just like my beloved beauty & her humble narrator. As the performers were packing up & saying their final goodbyes, the staff was clearing the space for the last part of our adventure...dancing! A brief 15ish minute wait back outside & back inside we went! Got a great spot up front by the stage, but be aware the only sitting will be done by the VIP section. I believe it's bottle service only, but you can ask. We didn't, as we did not intend to sit at all! We boogied down, baby! The DJ did a great job keeping the vibe alive. Perfect ending to a perfect night. *Caveat - The dinner menu has other options & several a la carte items, if you so choose. Check their website for specific package info. You cannot go wrong. TL:DR - Never give up on love!

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Calamari
    Calamari
    Atmosphere of the restaurant

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    Atmosphere of the restaurant
    The Murder Mystery Company

    The Murder Mystery Company

    3.2
    (62 reviews)
    3.8 mi

    Fun fun fun! I have always wanted to go to one of these! I got invited to an event dinner by a…read morefriend and finally got to experience it. I must say the characters and plot overall were well thought out. The set-up is engaging and entertaining. I hope to try another mystery dinner soon.

    I've been wanting to go to one of these murder mysteries for a long time. While it wasn't quite…read morewhat I expected, it definitely was a great time! I imagined these murder mystery dinners to be Sherlock Holmes-esque, dark and mysterious...but instead this was quite the opposite. We came here on a 80's theme 'Til death do us part' series and the setting was straight out of a cheesy, tacky 80's theme prom night and I loved every second of it. The actors are hilarious and quite talented as each would play more than one role. I laughed so much during the entire show. While I would have hated to be one of the chosen ones from the audience to participate in the show, it was really fun and funny to see audience participation. Everyone was a good sport about it and it made it that much more memorable. But, I'm so glad I was out of reach to be called upon. Service was great. Food was edible, but who's there for the food anyway. It was my birthday and they made sure to embarrass me by having everyone sing Happy Birthday to me. (thanks, guys - I hate you). The actors and actresses all put on a great show and allow you to take photos with them at the end. Overall, it was a really fun night and would definitely recommend it.

    Photos
    The Murder Mystery Company
    The Murder Mystery Company
    The Murder Mystery Company

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    The Dinner Detective

    The Dinner Detective

    4.0
    (2 reviews)
    3.2 mi

    Dinner detective was a fun experience, especially for a girls night. Attended last night, the crew…read morewas funny and very in character. I laughed and jumped throughout. Food was good, had chicken, fish and pasta as options. Appetizers were provided before the start which included: veggie egg rolls/ dip, steak in a stick, cucumbers with cheese. There was a cash bar all night for beverages and alcohol drink. The event was located at the Courtyard Marriott downtown SD. The bottom level was cool as we got to see the old cash volt. Overall a great experience!

    This was our second go around with The Dinner Detectives (Murder mystery dinner show)…read more Our first time was 2021 or 2022, I believe. And back then- majority of staff were wearing face masks. This location is in Downtown San Diego in the lower level of Courtyard by Marriott. Down below are old bank vaults, that we opened for guests to walk in a few years back- during intermission. This time, they were closed. And I was told by another family member- they're now utilized as meeting/ event space. But, next to vault and alcohol bar below- there are also telephone rooms. Wooden closets w/ a cushioned bench. The old public wooden telephones had a brass hand crank and a wooden ear piece. We had a group of ten both times we attended and unfortunately were not seated together. Although both experiences were Christmas gifts for all of us to hang out- we had a social hour upstairs at the pool table area. Which worked out because I had no idea our tables would be split, due to our group size. The appetizer menu is vegetables, hummus, and pita chips. Check out the website for dinner menu. The pre set Greek Salads at the tables were delicious! Vine ripe tomatoes, Persian cucumber, red onion, Kalamata olive & red wine vinaigrette to start off with. What I didn't appreciate (along with some guests assigned to our table also- is that the salad plates were quickly removed from us while we were still finishing up). Both times, we had the chicken. And this time, the chicken was DEFINITELY not the highlight. Most likely it was the frozen breasts w/ grill marks on them and just reheated. No flavor. Tough as heck. The accompanying herbed polenta, braised kale, and heirloom tomato relish was good. The actors are fast paced. Be suspicious of those at your table, people you meet in the lobby below as you're waiting to enter the dinner room. Be observant. Ears and eyes open. Make sure your phone is charged- since you can scan a few QR codes during this experience. Which are also the clues that will be posted to the Clue Board. Another cool thing, someone that's part of this dinner mystery may use an attendee's social media as props! Like, obtaining photos- which is hilarious- bc it's part of the dinner mystery! There are gratuity envelopes at the center of every table. Although it's optional, of course, the gesture is appreciative. Restrooms are located at the main lobby and below. Stairs and elevator access. Valet parking available.

    Photos
    The Dinner Detective
    The Dinner Detective
    Didn't wanna give an entire clue away!

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    Didn't wanna give an entire clue away!
    San Diego Civic Theatre

    San Diego Civic Theatre

    3.8
    (481 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    Established in 1965
    Committed to satisfaction

    I've been to several musicals here and the experience is always a great one…read more Last night we saw The Sound of Music. The performance was wonderful and the voices of the cast were absolutely beautiful. The theater itself is large and you can see very well. I'm not very tall and even though people were seated in front of me I had a perfect view of the stage. The seats are comfortable and the ushers are very helpful. I believe there are concession stands on every floor as well as bars where you can get soft drinks or alcoholic beverages. The concessions are quite expensive but you expect that when you're at a theater of any kind. Very easy to find parking in the area. There is a large parking structure right next to the Civic Center as well as different parking lots where you can easily just park and walk across the street to the theater. The only rule that I have seen is that you do not bring in a bag that is larger than 12 in by 12 in. You go through a back check and walk through a metal detector but that's pretty common for any type of concert as well. Inside is very comfortable and I always enjoy coming here for a performance.

    I've seen several shows here in the past 3 years, and have enjoyed the lineup they offer. Most…read morerecently we saw MJ the musical which was such a great show. This being downtown San Diego of course you need to plan ahead for parking, but there are plenty of Lots nearby and walking distance, one of them that leads right into the parking lot of the theater. One of the positive aspects of being downtown is that you have plenty of options for dinner before or after the show. Of course you may want to make reservations ahead. They always offer concessions, of different alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as little charcuterie board type items, and candy, Etc. Of course just like any other venue of this type, it is priced above what you would normally pay for those items. I always try to sit in the orchestra section because I feel there is more leg room, and I hate to feel cramped. The seats also seem a bit more comfortable in that section. I will say I honestly don't think you could have a bad seat in this theater though. The sound is usually fine, but I will say for Moulin Rouge I had trouble hearing what they were saying especially during the songs. I love that everyone is always so helpful when trying to find your seat, they will walk you to your section and show you exactly where you need to go, which is nice because it can get chaotic with so many people ushering in. Overall this is a great location and the shows they have are amazing. Definitely reccomend looking at the season and seeing what they have to offer, they're is usually something for everyone

    Photos
    View of San Diego Civic Theatre from the stage
    View of San Diego Civic Theatre from the stage
    San Diego Civic Theatre ticket office
    San Diego Civic Theatre ticket office
    The Orchestra level of San Diego Civic Theatre before a show, seats filled by patrons.

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    The Orchestra level of San Diego Civic Theatre before a show, seats filled by patrons.
    Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas

    Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas

    3.4
    (1.8k reviews)
    13.6 mi
    $$

    This is my Favorite Dine In Theater in San Diego County. It's always super clean snd always feels…read moreso cozy. I love the big recliner seats. I often have date nights here because of the great food and drink selection they offer while watching a movie. That's the point of the experience is getting served at your seat while watching a movie which makes it unique. It's $22.25 per ticket. They do have a rewards program where you can earn points towards a free ticket or towards free food. Every time I am here, everyone is always happy and super friendly plus quick to provide assistance with anything. I recommend everyone having a movie night out in luxury style.

    We've been coming here for years. So here are my thoughts …read more... Service is always great ... our favorite server is Garrett. We didn't see him for a long time but had him today. We're so grateful he's back. He's attentive and professional and seems to always remember us. The food menu has improved. For a while food was coming out cold. Now we have new items that are delicious and they come out nice and hot. Loving the chicken nachos. Only complaint....Bathrooms Could use some attention. We often find the bathrooms out of soap and towels. Today one was flooded. Oh and we really miss theme nights. Hopefully you guys will bring them back. Our favorite was Elf. May we suggest doing one for the fall when practical magic part two comes out ??

    Photos
    3-1-24
    3-1-24
    Popcorn & m&m peanut
    Popcorn & m&m peanut
    Ordering food and drinks

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    Ordering food and drinks

    The Dinner Detective - dinnertheater - Updated July 2026

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