Celebrated a dear friend's birthday with a big group on a Friday night, and the evening was…read moreseamless! Excellent drinks, quick nice service, and an incredible menu. The drink menu is great. Lots of tequila and mezcal cocktails, which are personal favorites. Really liked Tangerine You're My Sex Machine. For food, we basically ordered a massive spread of it all. Standouts were the yelllowtail ceviche--creamy & coconuty!--and all the steak dishes. Looking forward to more visits in the future. Vibes & ambiance are fun too.

We had been aimlessly looking around for a spot that was open since our flight got in late at night…read more& we were starving. Places like the restaurant below were closing when their times were supposed to be open still. Kitty and Nate were awesome with their customer service! Super nice and accommodating, even when the food was a little too spicy for my mom. There were things like the drinks they made differently to accommodate for what we were looking for. Love the ambiance and the food was great. Whoever commented on having a midlife crisis, karmas going to kick your ass when you are that age. At least the owner has something going for themselves & has been really creative in the whole experience.

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.

I'm so glad the Heritage crew decided to utilize this space. Urge had the vision, but not the…read moreexecution to make 101 Proof really shine. They had fantastic bartenders and menu, but the speakeasy concept has been outdated for a while. Now, a Honky Tonk is a very different, good thing. The tunes are something North County has been wanting, but been missing in favor of larger venue DJ's, but the juke box here has been curated with classics. It's far too small to dance unless you're slow or maybe 2 stepping in the corner. The ambiance is dim, relaxed, fun. The drinks are just as good as some of the top bars around, helmed by Wyatt who you may remember from Switchboard and KNVS is a staple in Oceanside. Prices are excellent, staff is great. While you can get a cocktail here, you don't have to. A classic shot and a beer is just as likely to be had here as a stemmed glass proper cocktail. When it's jamming it is near a standing room all the way around. No doorman asking for a password, no re-entry on nights when Heritage are open (Monday is this exception). It's funny to watch South O locals wander in here and realize maybe it's time to stop trying to change places to be like other places and enjoy the experience shown.

Drinks are solid and served in kitschy mugs or fun appropriate to their name glasses. The…read morebartenders were as good looking as the drinks and knew how to make them, but the ambiance is lacking in a huge way. Cheaply done from the tables to decor and even though we went on a Saturday night the place was slow. Music was also good, but the DJ stopped playing about 20 min after we'd gotten there. That was a bummer. One round and we moved on.

If you're looking to enjoy well-prepared food and cocktails in Carlsbad, look no further! My recent…read moreexperience at Tower39 was so great that I've decided to make the rooftop an annual stop on my birthday. The team is so attentive to detail, and Zak and Nami demonstrate their commitment to ensuring guest aren't just dining but rather have a genuinely great experience. Not to mention the atmosphere is top notch. Highly recommended you check it out.

There is a lot of potential here but this would not be the place I would choose to come for food…read more The service was kind and helpful and easy enough to charge to the room. The view is really nice and one of kind to the area and the decor is chic and beachy. The Cali sandwich left much to be desired and the $3 upcharge for waffle fries that tasted like cardboard left me wondering why. The only dessert really is a chocolate fondue pot that comes with strawberries, salty (?) apples, canned (!!!!) pineapples and vanilla cookies. The price point was a little wild for that IMO ($20) but the chocolate was decent. I didn't try any beverages and there's only street parking if you're not staying at the hotel. I can imagine this spot would be fun for happy hour drinks, but I would skip the food.

WE LOVE MARK 10/10!! came in for a drink, ended up having another because he was just so sweet and…read morepersonable. Then surprised us with a glass of bubbly!? I just about cried. I also LOVE the martinis here. all around great place.

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 !

Make no mistake, they have resolutely not lost the plot here. For that matter, they've expanded…read moreupon it. The Plot stakes their claim on being vegetable-forward garden-to-table cuisine, harvesting as much if their ingredients from their own land behind the restaurant and the rest from local growers. The difference is quality is clear and striking, as is the undeniable finesse in which it's dispatched. Each plate I witnessed emerging from the kitchen seemed even more beautiful than the last. Those compositions are as thoughtfully created as the layers of flavor they contain. Never before would I have though to pair peaches with dill on top of French toast, but somehow, they pull it off. I've also never have battered and fried French toast, with resoundingly crispy edges encasing a custardy center within, and now I fear I may have a hard time going back to the typical pan-sear. And the bread itself. Oh, the bread! Across the board, some of the best bread I've had all year. If I had my wits about me I would have asked to buy a loaf, but by the time I finished eating I was clearly food-drunk. I got the shakshuka and the thick triangles of toasted and salted focaccia absolutely stole the show. Their vegan poached egg was delightful, creatively utilizing yellow bell pepper to fashion the yolk, but like I said: the bread. I cannot stop thinking about the bread.

What a cool concept!!! Literally farm to table... well, farm parking lot to table. But still,…read morealmost everything you'll have in your plate is from there on site in organic garden beds and massive planters (anything not grown there is bought from local organic farms). Fresh veggies and herbs are artfully blended to make these delicious and nutritious meals. We shared a few plates, the panko-crusted eggplant with smoky baba ganoush was amazing! The Caesar salad seemed like it could be basic, uh, nope. The "fried chicken" (soy) with the zesty lemony dressing was bright and made my tastebuds do a little happy dance! The French toast, oh-em-gee-willakers! Yes. A thousand times yes. What nice is it's real vegan food, but weird meat or egg substitutions that have weird additives and ingredients. No junk fillers, just veggies, legumes and plants. Server was so sweet, chatting us up on the concept and staff, chefs, etc. It's like the Trader Joe's of vegan restaurants.

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!!!!!

Came here 8/29 Saturday night and had a not great experience. Ambiance & vibe is cool! But, my…read moregroup ordered 3 drinks in total here and they were the worst cocktails I've had in my life, and they were $17. My friend ordered a "sexy boy" and it tasted like straight up Pine-sol. I LOVE something a little herbal or bitter-- this was not that, all 3 of us agreed it was undrinkable. She brought it back to the bartender for a lemon drop, that ended up being made sickeningly sweet, like biting into a cinnamon roll!! Can't we just get a normal drink!? There's a wide, wide range between Pine-sol and cinnamon roll. It almost felt insulting, honestly, like a bad joke.. I ordered one of their "specials" and it also came out tasting like cleaning solution. I know bitter Italian liqueurs, I'm not freshly 21, and I can usually get by with a drink I don't prefer, but this was (once again) soooo over-the-top bitter. It just didn't taste like something you should even put in your body-- cleaning solution is the most accurate descriptor. I was excited because this place has great reviews, but we must have came on a bad night.. I'd come back for the DJs, just order water or something in a can.

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...

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.

Whimsical speakeasy inside Killowatt Brewing in Oceanside. SMALL but incredibly detailed and…read moreentertaining atmosphere. Reservations suggested. Doors at the end of the hallway past the bathrooms. This is a FUN speakeasy. There are moving parts, visual effects, beautiful dioramas and hallucinogenic black-light effects. Drinks are good. I have been here 4 different times in various capacities (with 2-3 friends or with dates) and I found the staff inside a bit stoic and unwelcoming each time. I'm not expecting Puppy-dog enthusiasm but it definitely feels you are invading their space by being the room and I find I tend to apologize for my presence. That perception aside, if you aren't trying to chat the bartender up for lively conversation there is plenty to see in the cleverly themed bar. There are just a couple U-booths and a handful of bar stools. So you're on a time-limit for your stop in this portal.

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!!