Waitress (Alexis), thank you for being great. You made our first experience great. Can't wait to try brunch next.

Booked this for my mom's birthday dinner. Neither of us had been to Tom's in several decades. The reservation process and changes were easy and they were very accommodating. We arrived to lots of parking and were greeted instantly. Our server was so funny and extremely attentive. He got drinks out to us in a timely fashion even with the number of other tables and guests. The food came out and was perfectly plated and we all tucked heartily into our entrees. My only complaint was the potatoes in the August entree of the month the sea bass were undercooked. The flavour and the cook on the sea bass were exquisite. They brought out a delicious birthday brownie topped with ice cream and sprinkles that all 12 of us sampled. Mom had a wonderful birthday celebration so I'm happy. Thank you, Tom's, for making the evening special! read more

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3.5 stars -- Come for the view, not necessarily the food. It's been about a month now since visiting and just got around to this review. Just because a restaurant has been around for 55 years doesn't necessarily mean it's great--it means it has stood the test of time. After our experience at Tom Ham's Lighthouse, I'd say the incredible location and view probably have a lot to do with that longevity. The staff was friendly, but the service was painfully slow. Our dinner lasted 3.5 hours, and not once did a manager stop by to check on our table. Even when a few stragglers of our group arrived a few minutes after we were seated, the hostess simply pointed them toward our table rather than walking them over. Details matter. The menu is surprisingly small, and the food ranged from mediocre to good. The short ribs were basic with a small portion over mashed potatoes and three asparagus spears. The fish was decent, the tenderloin appetizer was overcooked, and the lobster bisque was a definite miss. The chicken lollipops and calamari were good, although the calamari portion was small. The shrimp cocktail had five decent-sized shrimp. We ate indoors, but with the restaurant open to the outside, the flies eventually became pretty annoying. Overall, the prices were reasonable, the staff was friendly, and the view is definitely the star of the show. Unfortunately, 3.5 hours for dinner with slow service, average food, and no manager checking in made the experience hard to rate any higher. Great view. Decent prices. Average food. Very slow service. read more

Food: 5/5 Drinks: 5/5 Portions: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Cleanliness: 5/5 Customer service: 5/5 Speed: 4/5 Price: $$$ Outdoor seating: yes ADA access: yes Restrooms: yes, M/F Dogs: no Kid Friendly: yes Vegetarian options: yes Vegan options: yes Ambiance: yes Pros: stunning views, upscale experience, lots of parking, good food, good service recovery!! Cons: they only have one vegetarian meal option that can be made vegan- but that's okay! It's delicious and I'm glad they offer something for us veggies (: read more

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Great service! We left with full bellies and enjoyed our time here. We were celebrating my grandmother in law's 86th birthday. It's great spot for gathering but it's more of an open air atmosphere. We visited mid heat wave and sat inside and were sweating during our whole dinner. The table behind us was also complaining about the a/c not being strong enough (the doors to the patio were open so I'm sure that had something to do with it). The table behind us was also very loud. This place is great for celebrations after all. It is, however, beautiful spot and the food was delicious. Our party enjoyed the calamari, beef tenderloin tips, paella, and whole fried fish. The whole fish was red snapper and so fresh and tasty. I grew up eating the whole fish so this was definitely my favorite on the menu. read more

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The view of this restaurant is amazing! It's very hard to beat the San Diego sunset and ocean. I also like that they have plenty of parking as well. The reason why I docked some stars is because I thought their food was just ok. The staff here are great though. read more

Tom Ham's Lighthouse - Prime rib - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

So, my former supervisor came to San Diego to take me to lunch. She resides in LA. I decided we would have lunch at this venue. Even though this venue is 35 miles from Oceanside... I can honestly say the drive south was truly worth the time it took to get there. I wanted to share one of San Diego's finer restaurants with her. This venue is located on Harbor Island, facing San Diego Bay and the Coronado Bridge. It includes a patio deck loaded with tables and umbrellas for your dinning pleasure while viewing Sailboats, Harbor-Cruise-ships, a view of North Island Naval Supply Center and the San Diego City-skyline on the clear days of summer. This venue offers a delicious Seafood and Americana menue and excellent Staff-Service. In my opinion this venue is Highly Recommended. (Note-Reservations are required and attire should always be "business-Casual). read more

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Came here for the brunch buffet. This place has a beautiful ambiance and view. The staff is very nice and our server was attentive. They have a huge seafood option as well as hot dishes, carving station, and breakfast classics. My favorite was the crab legs and shrimp. Definitely come hungry and save room for dessert. Great experience overall! read more

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Delicious spot with a wonderful view. Lots of chatters inside, with the bottom floor reserved for private rooms and reserved groups/parties. Super lively and adds to the amazing experience of this spot. There's a staircase to walk up on to dine-in and plenty of seats to sit down at while waiting. If you can't take the stairs, there's also an elevator on the side. I love the amazing views and the vibes of this spot. Located away from other buildings off to the side, you get a nice calm while eating at the balcony tables. Definitely have a jacket just incase it's too windy or cold for your liking. There's food is amazing and the chefs really bring out their best in each plate. Expect some wait time for your food, but just know it'll be worth it and it's a wonderful spot to relax, talk, or celebrate something special read more

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My mom and niece took me to this restaurant. The said it had a beautiful view and the food was really good. They weren't lying. The view was amazing. It was a nice chill atmosphere. Very relaxing. We sat outside and just watched the people with boats going by. The food was good. The serving size are pretty big! I got the lobster bisque and the fish and chips. Both were good! I also got the calamari the dipping sauce was so good! My daughter got the burger and my niece got the salmon burger. If I'm ever in the area again, I will definitely come back. I would recommend this restaurant to my family and friends. read more

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Had such a great experience here! We made a reservation the night prior for 815 pm outdoors (they have heat lamps). Although we didn't quite make it for sunset, it was still a beautiful skyline view of SD. We started with the Chicken Lollipops and Roasted Corn and Asparagus Salad. I'm not a sauce person and at first, I was nervous it would be too much on the chicken, but it was perfect! Crunchy perfection and still hot. The salad was very refreshing and loved the small mozzarella balls in it. For entrees, we got the Beef Braised Short Ribs and Cioppino. Both were great sized portions! The short ribs were so tender, perfectly cooked and the truffle mash potatoes were divine! My husband loved the cioppino, delicious flavors, good amount of seafood. Easy and free parking, beautiful and huge restaurant! A lovely date night spot! read more

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Came here as part of the anniversary event and had the most fun time. They set up a few stations; each station offering 2 small plates paired with 2 different beers. All the food were delicious! They sounded like simple "bar" food, like oysters or stuffed jalapeno but they added little details that really elevated them to the next level (like topping the oyster with quail egg). We enjoyed our food and drinks at the patio while enjoying the sunset and the beautiful scenery by the water. This is a great place to have a relaxing drinks and dinner! read more

Tom Ham's Lighthouse - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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We enjoyed weekend brunch. Pastry station - beautiful Mimosas & champagne - excellent Hot food was drying out ( yellowtail, hash) Some of the hot food was ok according to friends with us. The omelette bar - he lost track, it was very overcooked Seafood bar was good as far as chilled shrimp, crab. I tried one oyster on half shell & not real cool or fresh so passed on more. Lobster claws were ok a little rubbery. They serve hot butter which was good. I will say 5 star view and atmosphere, service was friendly & good. Of course the brunch is on your own, for service but they keep things picked up. Based on the overall experience brunch was not a good value in spite of " all you can eat". We always wanted to try it but won't go back. read more

Made a dinner reservation for 5PM. Waited a minute to get a table. We were given a corner with a great view! Linguine and Clams - fresh clams with delicious sauce but I wish it could have been thicker and linguine is more al dente. Had to request for extra parmesan cheese. Paella - perfectly cooked saffron rice, fresh seafoods and generous chicken and chorizo. Calamari with honey chili lime sauce - crispy outside and soft calamari with delicious sauce. Soup of the Day/ Lobster bisque - smooth, creamy, and well seasoned soup. Glad there's not too much wine added. Some restaurants, wine overpowers the soup. Outstanding customer service from front desk to our servers. We were given a great table overlooking San Diego Bay. Thanks for the free brownies with ice cream. Highly recommended! read more

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We had a lovely lunch with the family to celebrate my son's graduation from high school. We arrived on time after the graduation and were seated right away with a table with the view of the bay. Our waitress Sarah was exceptional. She made sure we were taken care of and even gave my son a complimentary dessert. We had delicious appetizers and the lunch menu had the perfect selections. We got the hamburger, fish & chips, turkey sandwich, lobster rolls and Bbq sandwich. Everything was so yummy and everyone enjoyed the lunch. Everyone at the restaurant were so friendly and we had an amazing experience celebrating my son's graduation. read more

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Beautiful views and amazing seafood. Would definitely recommend if you love a good raw bar, a drink, and an amazing view. The service was great and the price was much cheaper than places you can find downtown. I also love the fact that it is a real working lighthouse and the staff can tell you all about it if you ask. read more

Tom Ham's Lighthouse - Wine, a beer, and the chef Oyster Selection Chef's Choice of 12 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

My girlfriend and I were excited to celebrate her birthday here at Tom Ham's Lighthouse!!! We were super lucky to walk in and get seated right away. The restaurant is out on the end of the harbor, with a beautiful view of the sea. You have to get up stairs on the top floor for the restaurant, with an elevator also on the side. We were served by Christina, although it took quite a long time to be approached and order. She was sweet though and we picked out what we wanted. I got the calamari for our shared appetizer, then I ordered the paella and my girlfriend got the salmon. The calamari was crunchy and delicious, and was seasoned very well!!! The sauce on the side was like sweet soy sauce. This dish came out very quick!!! Like less than a couple minutes after ordering!!! We however waited for a pretty long time for our entrees. I figured it was because of the busy day. Downstairs there was a private engagement reception room going on!!! Luckily the ambiance and setting of this place kept us relaxed and calm, and the weather was beautiful!!! We were both pleased with the food when it finally came and were so hungry that we ate the plates clean. After we finished eating, Christina was sweet and sang happy birthday to my girlfriend, lighting a candle on the brownie dessert plate we chose. It was very soft and warm, deliciously created with the caramel and chocolate drizzles!!! Overall a fantastic end to our night, so we were very grateful. As we were leaving, many people were coming in and I'm sure it was because they were trying to get the sunset views. Such a nice classy place to go out and eat at!!! Perfect for a seafood craving as well. read more

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I've been hear before but it's been a few years! Overall, I would give it a 3 1/2! It's good, and it's a wonderful view. You mainly are paying for the view! The shrimp cocktail is your basic shrimp cocktail but nonetheless enjoyable. The calamari was super delicious and one of our main faves. The chefs special for oysters was my husband's fav as he is a huge fan of raw oysters. I got the pan seared scallops which was super good BUT sadly there was a bad after taste I just couldn't understand and I don't know how to explain it. They were nice enough to provide my daughter with a clam linguini since she loves clams. And they have mocktail options considering I am 7 months pregnant and it was refreshing! The desserts were amazing! Such a rich fudge brownie with ice cream. Alexis was our server and she really made the whole experience delightful! She was friendly and excited on the menu and special and we loved her! Thank you Alexis! read more

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We enjoyed Sunday brunch for a special occasion at Tom Ham's and really enjoyed our experience!! The ambience was spectacular it was a hot day and we were able to change out reservation to outside to enjoy the view and dine al fresco. The view is spectacular!! Service was great! Our server, Eddie, was excellent. We had a few laughs and he even pretended to not see me run into the door. *I trip over flat ground so this is not unusual* he was attentive and kind! Hope to have him as our service next time we visit. The food while in my opinion limited for a buffet, but was displayed very nicely. Pretty much everything was good. I'm big on crab legs and they did not disappoint! We will for sure be back! read more

Sadly, it seems that this restaurant is going downhill. The service and food were both bad from beginning to end. It took our server so long to take our order. We finally get our food but no silverware. By the time I can flag our server over to ask for silverware, my soup was lukewarm. My husband's Coke was flat so w Asher for a new one that never arrived but they did us the favor of taking it off the bill-ha! read more

Tom Ham's Lighthouse - Beet salad with no flavor- forgot the dressing? Lobster 'bisque ' which was salty and tasted more like tomato or carrot soup. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

We came for happy hour and got a table outside. We had 4 people. Later 2 more people joined us, so we got a second table next to it. ( They don't allow more than 4 people per table outside) They have a great happy hour that includes $2 off Small Bites and $3 off Appetizers. The Chicken Lollipops and the Steak Bites were delicious! You can also get oysters on happy hour. Our server was very accommodating and we really appreciated him - I believe his name was Gilbert. I'm going to check with the others that were there to verify his name. And the view can't be beat! It just can't be beat! read more

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There's truly nothing better than a breakfast buffet. It was nice to see they had such a wide variety of options. The fried chicken and tri tip carving station were my favorites. They had an omelet station, but I do wish they had a dish with just plain scrambled eggs as well. Great service and beautiful view. read more

Tom Ham's Lighthouse - Sunday Buffet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

How I missed this place for six plus decades visiting SD is my effing fault. Behold, one of the best view restaurants, attentive waitresses (Kerry) and 1.50 oysters. My new hang! read more

Love at First Light Stunning family-owned restaurant situated along the San Diego shores that's been in operation for over fifty years (ca. 1971) and even features a working US Coast Guard maintained beacon. The Good: *Renovated back in 2014, the interior of the restaurant is almost as stunning as the surroundings and views from the dining room. *Heated outdoor dining area (see "The Meh" below) *Local beers on-tap, as well as a full bar. *Reservations via OpenTable *The downstairs are rentable event spaces *Service from "Desiree L" was fantastic. *The Chicken Lollipops weren't quite what we were expecting, but holy-fucking-shit were they delicious! We were all fighting over the last ones. *We love a good Beet Salad and theirs was very good. My only complaint was I wish they'd use a blue or feta cheese instead of the burrata, but I'm probably in the minority on that. *Overall, the paella was good but I didn't get any soccarat (crispy rice from the bottom of the pan) w/ it. The Meh: *Service dogs only on the patio The Ugly: *The fact that they're not within a reasonable driving range from our place. :( Conclusion: Honestly, this place has everything we want in a restaurant: gorgeous interior, spectacular views, stellar service, good beer, and delicious food. Is *ALL* that really too much to ask?? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ read more

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The service here is always great and the food is always delicious. I recommend this place for date night with a good view of the harbor.

Wow what a view of the bay and what a Sunday brunch! Both amazing! Beautiful, clean restaurant with huge windows, wonderful non stop customer service. So many dishes to choose from, seafood, omelets, pastries, lemon pancakes, delicious roast beef with au jus, fresly cut fruit, berries and melons. So many choices and more! Orange and cranberry juice on tap. Black coffee, creamer and packets of sugar. My only complaint, I wasn't aware if there were other choices in regards to coffee or hot tea. The bar was open. read more

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When we were visiting San Diego, we took the time to find a spot that had great reviews and would have a beautiful view. Being in the industry for over 30 years, I give a lot of grace to bars and restaurants, but this experience was unacceptable in so many ways. Our cauliflower came out cold. That was fixed and was delicious. We get oysters every chance we get, but something just wasn't right about these and we couldn't finish them. Also, I've never had a shrimp cocktail I didn't like but the shrimp had an odd flavor and a rubbery texture to them like they had been frozen, which obviously wouldn't make sense. Couldn't eat them. Such a disappointment, considering we were AT the ocean. The Caesar salads were under-dressed and watered down due to the wet lettuce. I will say the dressing was delicious, once we received extra. The piña colada was a joke. It tasted like a watered down rum and pineapple with a splash of cream. (Yes, I told my nephew he's partly responsible for ordering a piña colada. Ha!) I have absolutely no idea what they could have put in the risotto to make it taste like kids mac & cheese and come out that color, but it was not consumed. The paella was just embarrassing. Although our server was fantastic and tried to make everything right for us, including bringing a complementary birthday dessert, the final disappointment was when we were slapped with a service charge to help pay for the crappy experience . It is the job of the restaurant to pay their staff a proper wage. It is our job to pay for what we consume and for our service. If this seafood restaurant was in Nebraska, maybe it would make sense, but there is no excuse for the quality, flavor and presentation of the items we were served. read more

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Great views, but the small portions and elevated prices are only good for VIP occasions.

Short on Time, too Long to read Review: Great service, amazing reviews, creamy pasta and flavorful soup. Steak and potatoes okay. Long review: Firstly, the views were amazing. Especially at 530pm. Suns slightly going down and your finishing dinner by the time it's dark outside. Our waitress was great. Constantly checking on us and ensuring we were doing okay. Soup of the day was lobster bisque and it was so creamy, had the hint of lobster taste and just enough to truly be set as an appetizer. The linguine noodles were clumped together, which is my only negative review. Typically I enjoy not having large clumps together. Clams were cooked well and the sauce was great, you could taste the hint of white wine without being over dominating. The portion was great enough to have left overs. The NY Steak was okay. We asked for Medium Rare and it came out more on the medium side. The potatoes were a nice texture. I would say for the price the steak may not be worth it. Overall a great experience while in SD. read more

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Superb seafood brunch buffet, with enough choices that even your land-lubbers will enjoy it. There is a huge selection of crab, and shellfish. As well as a beef carvery, lots of breakfast choices, an omelette and a pasta station. Our service was relaxed and unrushed and very friendly. The dining room is a bit noisy, but the outdoor deck is quieter and there's an amazing view of the harbor. My only complaint is that they had their dessert station stocked with nasty-assed Hershey's chocolate syrup. For what they are charging per person they could afford to put out something nicer like Lyon's chocolate sauce. I realize this seems nit-picky, but Hersheys truly is the bottom of the barrel, crap quality stuff. I did have an amazing meal. The hubby and I will be back again soon, and often! read more

The fourth consecutive year we've had Thanksgiving at Tom Ham's Lighthouse. Not surprisingly, it was the fourth consecutive year that we had the greatest Thanksgiving ever. The buffet is to die for! Something for everyone. While some hit up the traditional Thanksgiving food (turkey and prime rib carving stations, mashed potatoes, etc.), you'll find me at the Grand Seafood Buffet. Maine Lobster Claws, Snow Crab Legs, Oysters and Scallops On The Half Shell, Shrimp Ceviche, Peel and Eat Shrimp, New England Clam Chowder and Lobster Bisque. Those are the only items I chose! Well, except for a plate of Herbed Panko Mac N Cheese that I mixed with a whole bunch of lobster meat! See you next year Tom! read more

Honestly, you're coming here for the view -- and that part absolutely delivers. The waterfront setting is beautiful and feels special, especially around sunset. That's 100% the highlight. The food was pretty good, but not mind-blowing. Everything tasted fresh and decent. Service was friendly and attentive though, which I appreciated. read more

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What do you do when you have to get to the San Diego airport at 4am for a flight but want a good meal before turning in early? 1. You stay close to the airport. 2. You find a local joint with a happy hour and good food. 3. You don't expect excellence. I came here tonight with that in mind and got more than I hoped for. $1.50 oysters anywhere are great and these were a joy. While the menu suggested small or medium they were bigger, flavorful and fresh west coasts you'd pay triple for. Discounted California wines didn't hurt either. Then there was poorly described "herbed gnocchi in cheese sauce with bread crumbs". The author of the menu should be disciplined. This is the equivalent of describing the Sistine Chapel as "colored painting on wall, some nudes". This dish was so much more than that. Sliced Serrano peppers and greens topped off one of the best gnocchi dishes i may have ever had stateside or in Italy. Really. Rewrite that. Consider starting with the statement "this small dish may sexually arouse you". All for a happy hour in desperation of a good nights sleep, red-eyed rise and a longing to return. Then there's the service. Eduardo. Perfectly responsive, friendly as all get out and whatever his base salary is he deserves more. But maybe the place is dirty. Or boring. Or not worth looking at. Nope. From the nautical decor to the California topography inspired floor plan to the darn view of sail ships and helicopters. It's a sight to behold. But it's not all happy. Upon leaving I noticed the tribute wall. The genius who started this treasure DIED 2 years after opening it. Managed by his family. The whole experience started with a need, continued to a surprising joy and ended in sadness. I hope he knew what a joy he built and what a joy it is today. read more

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Tom Ham's is a beautiful restaurant with beautiful views. I came for restaurant week and not only that menu was extensive but the regular menu too. The oyster menu is great. I had the RW 3 course menu (lobster brisque, short ribs, and NY cheesecake) and everything was great. My server, Abby was really friendly and attentive. Overall I give this restaurant a 10 out of 10 and I will for sure be back. read more

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I'm so glad Tom Ham's Lighthouse on Harbor Drive is featured in San Diego Restaurant Week because the venue, service, and food were all outstanding. As soon as we sat down, Jamie came over with a big smile and introduced himself. I mentioned we were very hungry and needed to eat right away, and he made sure we didn't wait long at all. Our shrimp ceviche arrived almost immediately, followed by the blackened salmon BLT with a generous portion of perfectly crunchy French fries. The portions were huge. Even dessert impressed us. The New York cheesecake wasn't a thin slice, but a substantial square cube. While the food was excellent, the venue truly steals the show. The restaurant overlooks the harbor with beautiful views all the way to Coronado. Great food, attentive service, and a stunning setting. This is a place we'll definitely be returning to soon. read more

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The food was excellent, the service was outstanding, and the view from the window was absolutely beautiful. The prices were also very reasonable for the quality and experience. Overall, a great place with a wonderful atmosphere. Highly recommend! read more

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What a delightful little place -- metaphorically little not literally. My aunt and I stumbled upon it late afternoon after lunch hours but before dinner. They said there was an appetizer menu. We expected small bites with mid prices. The salads were tasty and huge! Auntie had lobster bisque and I had the tenderloin in addition to our salads. Rather we tried! Tasty and abundant for the price. Fantastic views and free parking. Say yes!!! read more

Tom Ham's Lighthouse - View from the bar - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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Love coming to this spot! The drinks are always delicious. The view is to die for- sunny, cloudy or rainy it's always going to be stunning! We had some out of town friends come visit and this was a must go to place to show off San Diego! Bar seating service was a little slow but that's okay, we were inside and most guests were outside. read more

Tom Ham's Lighthouse - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Went here for a work dinner with a colleague. Site was easily accessible, inviting, staff were very friendly and professional. I had the Salmon dinner with steamed vegetables. Everything was cooked wonderfully, and flavors were enjoyable. It was overkill for a work dinner but it would be amazing for dates and celebrating milestones. If I lived in San Diego, my wife and I would definitely be on-site weekly to enjoy the bar top and the beautiful view. There was a Brews, Views, and BBQ event tonight I wish I could have attended! read more

Tom Ham's Lighthouse - View from the patio seating. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Discovered Tom Ham's Lighthouse while in San Diego! One word...youmustgoforbrunch! I started at the bar with the Mai Tai.. holy cow... This is not for the thing at heart! Enjoyed the brunch featuring seafood lobster claws crab pasta omelet station and everything in between.... Finished off with dessert selections and a nap. Service was excellent....and the view by the bay is as good as it gets in San Diego. Treat yourself and visit Tom Ham's Lighthouse read more

Tom Ham's Lighthouse - Sunday Brunch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California