SUCH A GEM- the food, the service, the vibe. First, the food- we absolutely LOVED everything we…read morehad, flavors were excellent! Our can't miss is the smoked tuna empanada. The entire staff was incredible, warm, like we were part of the family. Then, the location - I love the outdoor dining vibe and all the art. It was a little hidden in the most fun way.

Finding the entrance was probably the hardest part of our evening My husband and I walked up…read morewondering if we were even in the right place, but luckily our server, Alex, spotted us outside and got us seated right away. From the start, Alex made the experience memorable. You can tell when someone genuinely loves the food they're serving, and his enthusiasm was contagious. Every recommendation came with thoughtful details, and honestly, he didn't steer us wrong. His top recommendation was the Oxtail Tetelas, and wow! This ended up being my favorite dish of the night. The sauce was absolutely incredible, rich and flavorful without overpowering the dish, and every ingredient worked together perfectly. As someone who has never considered Mexican cuisine my go-to choice, this dish completely changed my perspective. It was comforting, creative, and packed with flavor in all the right ways. My husband ordered the tuna empanadas, which were being made fresh at the time, and after stealing a few bites (as any good spouse does), I can confirm they were equally delicious. Fresh, light, and beautifully prepared. For drinks, I went with the Verde Zero Proof. It wasn't my usual flavor profile and had a bit more spice than my taste buds typically enjoy, but that's more of a "me" problem than a criticism. If you enjoy a little kick in your drinks, you'll probably appreciate it much more than I did. The restaurant itself has that cozy hole-in-the-wall charm that makes you feel like you've discovered a hidden gem. The vintage decor creates a warm atmosphere that's perfect for date night, and as dog parents, we especially appreciated that the place is dog-friendly. That was actually one of the main reasons we decided to give the place a try, and we're glad we did. Great food, great service, a cozy atmosphere, and a few surprises along the way. We'll have to come back to work our way through more of the menu

This was a serendipity find and it gives off enigmatic vibes, they had amazing selection of vegan…read morefood especially their scallion pancakes, loved the vibe and the place Menu is intriguing and has a speak easy kind of entrance, must try for vegan people! The server helped us understand the menu and they accomodate all dietary restrictions

Celebrated my teenager's birthday at Mothership, and it was definitely an experience! The…read morespace-themed speakeasy vibe is so creative and immersive--it honestly feels like you've stepped onto another planet. The kids had an absolute blast, especially with the fun non-alcoholic drinks that fit the theme perfectly. The menu is pretty limited, so if you're coming for dinner with a group, you'll likely end up ordering almost everything to make it a full meal. We tried the Potatoes, Sandwich (aka Jackfruit Bao Buns), Paella Rice (our family's favorite!), Lemon Pepper Tofu, and the Charred Zaatar Roti. The Paella Rice was the standout dish for us. Service was warm and attentive, and they made the birthday celebration extra special by surprising the birthday boy with a complimentary dollop of soft serve, which was a really thoughtful touch. The only reasons for 4 instead of 5 stars: the limited menu (in addition to this food menu, wish they would include also include some more appetizers from their sister establishments, so guests can sit back and enjoy their creative and in some cases strong cocktails! And the fact that they can't accommodate parties larger than six due to the seating layout. If you have a bigger family or group, that can make celebrating together a little tricky. Overall, such a unique spot that's worth visiting at least once for the atmosphere alone!

The best coffee in california! Hidden cafe but amazing!!!…read moreMust try it. All drinks are all good Service is good Vibes are good Everything is good

Street parking only, very scarce. No obvious signage, look for writing in the window. They have a…read morering type camera door system. Wait outside on the sidewalk (no exterior seating) and someone will come to take you inside. Do not ring the door bell. The theme is to take it slow. Each customer typically waits 20-30 minutes to enter as part of how they do things, even if there is open seating inside. Not sure if they use a timer to space entries but it seems consistent. They take one group in at a time. Interior: A few tables around the wall and then bar seating. Would not recommend for parties greater than 2, there just isn't the space. They welcome service animals, babies/children and strollers from what I observed. The music was very, very loud. It was difficult to hold a conversation. I did not see a bathroom. Ordering process: After seating you wait for a little bit for them to bring small water cups and a QR menu with a table number and a set of rules. They do not have a physical menu, you must use your phone to order. Cell phone reception was dicey and took a long time to load. They have an interesting concept where you have a digital 'tab' open on their toast website. Unfortunately you must provide your full name, email and phone number. They have pour over drinks (note these can take 15-20 minutes), matcha, Hojicha and others. You may only order one drink per person at a time. They have a small snack menu with rotating foods. They use oat milk only. No substitutions allowed. After mobile ordering, drinks take 20-30 minutes as part of their take it slow vibe. Matcha $8 is from Paru tea and was very good. Hojicha $8 was too milky and didn't have a strong enough flavor. When you are done you walk to the register by the door and wait to be checked out. If they are making a drink you wait until they are finished. I wasn't really a fan. Staff were brusque. Music was too loud to converse.

WOW i was so happy with this speakeasy !! finding the entrance was a bit tricky at first, but we…read morewalked into the bakery with 2 other parties and we all helped each other LOL. so cute that it's in a bakery though - definitely wanna come back to try the bakery goods and drinks! we had a reservation for 2 @ 8:45pm, and we got seated at a table. loved the ambiance, dimly lit but still a good amount of light, the japanese decor - it was all so great and immersive. our server Moe was so kind and explained the concept + menu to us, and she also helped me with choosing a drink after i told her i like sweet flavors :) food we ordered: - korean cucumber salad: smashed cucmbers in a korean chili sauce that was yummy but pretttty salty. i do think though that it paired really nicely with my sweeter drinks bc i love a sweet & salty pairing - alone though, it def could've been a bit much - nagoya karaage: delicious, crispy & tender chicken pieces! the flavor gave orange/citrus-y chicken to us, and we really enjoyed it drinks we ordered: - ao ichigo: this drink was sweet, light, and tart. the strawberry flavor really came through, and i thought i wouldn't feel anything after drinking it but the reposado/vodka/vermouth combo sneaks up on ya haha - sesame old fashioned: my fiancé is a new old fashioned drinker, and he enjoyed this one. he did say it was pretty standard in its flavor and he wishes he could've tasted the sesame more, but that being said it was one of the better old fashioneds that he's had - white lover: i think this drink was my favorite! a perfect ending drink since it was creamy from the calpico. it comes with a little circle scoop of some type of sweet ice cream that pairs PERFECTLY with this drink - you can either lick it as you sip the drink (which i did at the beginning), or just drop it into your drink (which i did at the end). it definitely enhanced the flavor so i really enjoyed this drink overall a great experience, can't wait to come back sometime so try more of their omiyage cocktails! :-)

We walked in after dinner on Saturday hoping they'd be able to fit us in. We were SO incredibly…read morelucky they had availability and sat our party in the back private room. It was absolutely the best way to end my husband's birthday weekend! Big shout out to Ben and Moe for taking care of us! They were both so nice, very knowledgeable and just made our experience at Kamon top notch! We had 12 cocktails and each one was perfection. The Tokyo Banana, The White Lover, Sazerac and Matcha one were our favorites!! Thank you for an amazing way to close out the best day ever!

Room 56 is an amazing speakeasy you could go to! The element of surprise is definitely there and it…read morefeels like this place should be kept secret in fact. Service here is amazing, the servers are very knowledgeable about their menu, everyone is very friendly and attentive. The vibes on the inside are immaculate, very upscale and intimate. The drinks are also good yet strong. It is on the pricier side however I didn't mind since the vibes of this speakeasy and drinks were equally as great. I'd definitely recommend!

Been twice now in the last month or so. First class hidden gem. The staff treat you like a human…read morebeing. They are very attentive and super accommodating. They explain everything regarding the menu and venue really well. The drink menu is like a short novel. So many options to choose from and described in detail down to the flavor profile you should expect from each creation. I will not say much more to spoil any surprises.

Went here with advance knowledge of the place during our PHX to SD whirlwind vacation to see Bob…read moreDylan at the Rady Shell. Had to put in our names, as there is only so much space on an early Saturday evening. Took all of 10 minutes before entry was granted. Led inside to a standing room-only table. Lady friend got the Saturn, myself the 151 Swizzle. I probably did the wrong thing and didn't allow the ice packed on top of the swizzle to melt thoroughly enough into the drink to dilute the 151 overproof black Demerara's rum. Nae worries, brah. It was delicious. Affordable tiki-theme cocktails, decor(!) and atmosphere is why this place will remain popular and a must visit when in Sandy Eggo. Top notch!

What a fun nightlife spot! If you're looking for a fun place to grab cocktails, this is definitely…read morea spot worth checking out! **Located inside Craft & Commerce Walking into False Idol honestly feels like you've been transported somewhere else. It's hidden behind Craft & Commerce, and once you step inside, the immersive tiki atmosphere really sets the mood. The decor, lighting, and sound effects all come together to make the experience feel fun and memorable. Just know, if you are hoping to sit down, good luck! A lot of reservations are made in advance. However, at the bar, if you see a reservation sign and they're not there yet, staff will let you sit down once it's time to get up for the reserved party. DRINKS: 9/10 The cocktails were creative, well crafted, and definitely strong enough to make you feel like you were getting your money's worth. I also loved how much attention they put into the presentation. Every drink looked like a piece of art and added to the whole tiki experience. SERVICE: 9/10 The staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. They took the time to answer questions and made great recommendations without making us feel rushed. AMBIANCE: 10/10 This is easily the highlight of the experience. The entire space is beautifully designed, and every little detail makes it feel like you've escaped into a hidden tropical bar. It's cozy, intimate, and unlike any other place I've been to in San Diego. Reservations are definitely worth making since the space is on the smaller side and fills up quickly. The only reason I'm giving 4 instead of 5 stars is that, while the experience and ambiance were amazing, the drinks are definitely on the pricier side. I understand you're paying for the craftsmanship and atmosphere, but it's probably not somewhere I'd visit regularly because of that. It's common for tiki bars to be pricey so it was to be expected. Overall, I'm really glad I finally got to experience False Idol. If you're in San Diego and enjoy creative cocktails in a one-of-a-kind atmosphere, I'd definitely recommend checking it out at least once!

Daniel is the kind of server who reminds you what good service is. He goes above and beyond, but it…read morenever feels forced--more like he actually cares about the experience. His recommendations were spot on. Not just "this is popular," but real insight into what works, what pairs well, and what you might want to skip depending on your taste. Same with the cocktails--he clearly knows the menu and can talk about it without sounding rehearsed. What stood out most was the balance. He's easygoing, drops in bits of local trivia that feel natural, and somehow reads the room perfectly. He checks in right when you need something and gives you space when you don't. Never hovering, never disappearing. The meal itself was great, but Daniel definitely made the whole experience better.

Excellent views and a good server made for a pleasant visit. One of the staff members at the front…read morecounter was exceptionally friendly and welcoming, but the other was quite rude, which took away from the overall experience. The food was mediocre. We ordered the calamari, smash burger, tacos, and kids' spaghetti. The calamari was the biggest disappointment. It had far too much breading, and some of the batter was undercooked and doughy. It was an easy pass. The rest of the food was decent but nothing memorable.

Service was friendly, though a little inconsistent when it got busier, with longer waits between…read moreorders. Overall, it's a solid place for drinks and atmosphere, but the food and consistency don't quite match the upscale vibe it's going for.

Our first visit to Starlite was very memorable. It was a great way to celebrate our wedding…read moreanniversary. Exceptional service by all staff. Food and ambiance was AMAZING!! What we ordered: * Wagyu & Local Yellowtail Tartare * Dry-aged Half Duck * Herb Scalloped Potatoes * Roasted Broccoli Kristina was our waitress. She was very friendly and attentive. We felt very welcomed. We even got complimentary champagne for our anniversary dinner (special touch). Our food was a special culinary experience. Everything was so full of flavor. Nice shareable portions. This business really shined..... Just like their name Starlite. This is a must try place. Especially for a special occasion. #DiningWithTheAndersons #TryingNewPlaces #ExceptionalExperience #CelebratingUs #WeFancyNow