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

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.

My family and I made reservations for the Easter buffet brunch in advance. It was $95 per person plus some surcharges, taxes & other fees. Only coffee, water, juice included. Made to order omelet & pasta station. I thought my omelet needed to be cooked longer. Plenty of different options for all. Some of the food needed more seasoning. I wish the egg for the eggs benedict was runny. Overall it was good but probably not worth the price. read more

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We ate here for Sunday Brunch outstanding great atmosphere great views of San Diego Ca bay friendly staff always there for your needs Food was amazing tasty and full of flavors mom aunt and my good brother and me were all satisfied and full we will come back and so will you Make Reservations read more

We decided to try Tom Ham's since it was close to our hotel near the marina. Situated at the western end of the Marina peninsula, Tom Ham's Lighthouse enjoys a commanding presence overlooking the bay. The restaurant offers private dining and event spaces on its 1st floor and primary dining on the floor 2 (upper level). It has an elevator for those needing additional assistance. We are continuing our October Birthday celebration, which included a 2-day stay in Vancouver, BC, a 12-day Pacific Coast Cruise on the NCL Jade, and our final destination in San Diego for 6-days. The Tom Ham's front staff were very welcoming and we were seated immediately. We had decided to do an early dinner before the crowd arrives. To that point, as the evening progressed this place got real busy. There was a wedding reception taking place in one of the lower level event spaces. The outside deck filled quickly as did the indoor dining space. Our server Gilberto T. was attentive and accommodating. He provided top notch service during our dinner. We began the evening with Sauvignon Blanc and an Old Fashioned featuring Woodford bourbon. Next came the appetizer, Platter #1 which included oysters, clams, scallops, jumbo shrimp, and mussels for $55. If we had a do over, would've gone for Platter #2 which provided more of everything and added half a lobster. We shared a chopped Caesar salad. The seafood was fresh and the Romaine lettuce, crisp! Next up were our entrees, the Creamy Tuscan Salmon and the Crispy Whole Roasted Fish. The Salmon was nicely seared and included artichokes, baby spinach, sundried tomatoes, capers, Parmesan, and Orecchiette pasta. The Crispy Roasted Fish was a New Zealand Red Snapper which included plugria buttered rice, zucchini squash, roasted tomatoes, arugula pesto, and saffron aioli. The snapper was a real nice size and not overcooked. My only issue was the amount of rice included with this entree, way too much in my opinion. For dessert we tried the New York Cheesecake and the Creme Brule, both were delicious! This restaurant offers stunning views of downtown San Diego and the bay, and good food. read more

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You are here for the view and that is definitely worth. Food is okay, not the best but prices seem comparable and even a bit cheaper than other similar spots in San Diego. Lobster rolls had fennel which I don't like and have never had in a roll before. Ceviche wasn't very flavorful, but very fresh. Drinks were good. read more

Went here with a group of 6 on a weekend. It was just ok, for the price (about $80) I don't think I'll be back. There were lots of stations available, but everything was pretty mediocre. I got the crab legs, which are served cold, and had so much water in them it kept shooting everywhere when you opened them. The benedicts were overcooked, so the egg was not runny at all. I tried a bit of most of the dishes, but again nothing was good, just ok, and some of them were nit as warm as they should have been. The desserts were pretty good, and i liked that they had ice cream, but think soft serve machines would have been better. I did like the mini pancakes and French toast. The service was good, a little slow at times. I think the menus could use some refreshing as they are a bit beat up. It is a very spacious location and can accommodate large groups so that's a plus. read more

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Had the opportunity to attend a wedding at Tom Ham's Lighthouse and I really admired and enjoyed not only the views of the water and downtown skyline, but the level of service that was provided by the staff. The lighthouse features their own parking lot which is a plus for anyone who chose to drive themselves. The Lighthouse was two story with their main restaurant and bar on the top floor and the bottom floor reserved for private events. We were able to explore a few different rooms including the main ballroom. The food was very tasty and and drinks were definitely flowing. I really enjoyed the special touch of a glass of bubbles as we were waiting for the ceremony itself. It was a great time and a venue I'd recommend folks checking out. read more

Absolutely iconic oysters absolutely iconic drinks, brilliant stuff, our waiter is fantastic, the view is beyond , nice music and atmosphere read more

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Clean, delightful view,attentive service,priced well, fantastic parking. The entrées were prepared with an attentive eye, the cuts of swordfish 6 ounces of veggies, fresh. The bar area prior to being seated had a wonderful selection of mixed drinks and quick service Kudos for all involved in the operation of Tom Ham's read more

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Went for the brunch buffet and it was absolutely lovely! I was totally pleased with all of the options. I have to say, I'm not much of a seafood person so I can't provide much insight there, but the rest of the options were delicious. Lots of classic breakfast options, as well and fruit and salad, plenty of desserts, a made-to-order custom pasta station, and of course the seafood and beef brisket. The staff was very friendly and on top of clearing plates and keeping waters topped up. And the view through the windows of this place was so gorgeous. Good sized parking lot so you don't have to worry about that. read more

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Came here for their Mother's Day brunch buffet and it was very crowded. Must make reservations beforehand on Open Table or else you risk waiting for 1+ hours on this occasion. Sure, it's pricey ($90/pp) so you better come prepared to eat your money's worth. In the Sunday brunch buffet, they have unlimited Maine lobster claws, raw oysters, raw scallops, crabs legs, shrimp; that's where your money's at. Other items worthwhile to eat are seafood omelet, eggs benedict, braised short ribs, made to order pasta station, etc. The drinks included are apple juice, pineapple, and orange juice. They used to include champagne, but you have to pay an extra fee for it now. Parking was a nightmare because they have a limited lot space and so people were creating makeshift parking spots, thus blocking other cars. read more

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Alexis is a Star! Excellent service with runners and bussers keeping it flowing! The fish of the day, fresh oysters, shrimp cocktail roasted corn salad and the chocolate brownie were all top notch. The only negative was the chargrilled oysters. Not cooked enough and would use parmigiana rather than fontina and add some breadcrumbs for crust. Probably best location we went to this trip! Beautiful view! We will be back next time in SD! read more

Mother's Day Dinner was a nice treat with beautiful water views, a spectacular San Diego skyline and a special menu. The steak was delicious and service was very sweet but we had to return our steaks to be recooked. My son ordered the risotto and it was very tasty but it was not hot it was more like room temp so this was disappointing, I hated to complain about it since it took the waitress a while to come back and check on us and by then half of it was eaten, oh well. Other than that this is a fun place to come, but better for lunch and sit outdoors. I do hope they do something about the waiters coming back quicker to check on meals to make sure they were prepared correctly. read more

Everytime we're in town & need to dine in celebration , we always come to this joint . The view of San Diego bay over sunset & early evening is stunning. The food is so good & the service impeccable . Shout out to the crew & esp to our gorgeous server Carrie who's quiet elegance & professionalism adds flavor to the dining experience . And we'll surely be back again . Cheers! read more

We celebrated our 4th of July here last night. The food we ordered were delicious and freshly made. Our server, Desiree, was very nice, friendly, and attentive. The price was reasonable and most of all the ambiance was very pleasant and welcoming. We have the best sitting table for 10 people to experience the view to watch the Big Bay Boom Independence Day fireworks displays all over San Diego Bay. It was awesome to see different angles along the bay from north,south,east, west you can see the glaring, shining, and beautiful fireworks synchronized by music that gave me goosebumps. While watching the fireworks, i was thinking of " I wished and hoped America will stand strong,free, peaceful, and prosperous, despite of all what is going on around us." What an amazing night to remember. I recommend this restaurant 100% read more

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We always go to Tom hams on the weekends. The place is great. You can see a view of the California coastline. They have wonderful food. It's a great place to eat and watch the beautiful sailboats go by read more

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Friend and I had a lovely time catching up for her birthday. We had an amazing view and were treated so well by all the staff. We loved every last bite of our salads and birthday dessert was delicious. We even saw a school of dolphins playing. Wonderful! read more

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Family get together in San Diego this year. The restaurant was so noisy my 6 yr old grandson said his ears hurt. Our waitress was great, offering suggestions and checking on us but not too much. The food not so great. The paella was not paella; it was seafood over boiled rice. The market fish was yellowtail which was overcooked. The roasted corn and artichoke salad was mostly chips and very little asparagus. Our entrees came out 5 minutes after our appetizers . The bay scallops on the raw bar menu were not bay scallops but ocean scallops. The oysters, mussels and shrimp were very good and we enjoyed them. To be fair, they took the scallops and the yellowtail off our bill. I hope they correct the menu and the kitchen gets their act together. The view is beautiful and the restaurant got less noisy as it got less crowded. read more

Service and food has gone down tremendously. I've ordered the scallops for years and they recently changed it. Now it's in puke pink sauce with like 2 nickels worth of sausage chopped into the smallest bits. I was so put off by it that u couldn't finish it. We ordered the fried oysters and they gave our order to the table behind us. Our server noticed after us not having food for 30 minutes so she put in another order, and again they almost brought it to the table behind us for a second time. I would've expected this to be comped, but nope! They have 2 cocktails that are available as mocktails. I tried to order one and the server goes "that's not available as a mocktail". I pointed to it on the menu saying "it says here, available as a mocktail". She continued to repeat without looking at me, "it's not available as a mocktail". Rude. Seating is more tight than ever. There is 0 chance of someone on a wheelchair navigating this place. On the patio, your back is like 2" away from another persons back. This place has been my go to for years for celebrations due to food, staff, and easy parking. This recent visit was so off putting, I don't think I'd return read more

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*3.5* Came on a Saturday evening for a celebratory dinner with a large party. Parking is readily available in the lot outside and the restaurant has a one-of-a-kind view of the bay. There is ample seating both indoors and out on their balcony patio, but we were seated inside. High ceilings and sprawling windows make it feel like a massive banquet hall. It was a busy night, and because I was closer to the wall away from the walkway it was hard to get our server's attention. However, she was more than approachable when she was present - can't quite fault her for that. Bread: Some of the other members of our group raved about their complimentary toasted bread with scallion butter for days before we even made the reservation only to find out that now it is charged for. Regardless, we ordered more than a few plates as both appetizers and dessert after we were done. It's hard to stay away from bread and butter, and introducing savoriness into the mix only makes the breakup that much harder. Fried Oysters: warm, crunchy, not overly salty. Sauce gave them a nice zing and the table enjoyed them. Would recommend. Beer Braised Beef Short Rib: a little disappointed considering how much I looked forward to trying this. The short rib was tough and dry yet somehow did not manage to absorb the jus that it was topped with at all. Flavorwise, it was also lacking. The mashed potato was honestly the best part of the dish, and that's saying something for a dish touching $40. Verdict: Social media destination restaurant. read more

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The Baseline: For a restaurant event venue, the space must be good for the group, the presentation must be upscale, the service from staff must be good/efficient, and the ambiance must be festive. Food: The food and presentation was very good for the wedding reception I attended here. I had a beef short rib and mash which was substantial. The pre-meal appetizers were a nice charcuterie with the stand outs of pickled yellow squash and zucchini (need to incorporate a squash quick pickle in my own charcuterie boards). The chicken over risotto was delicious (got to taste it). Great food for a wedding. Service: The service felt five star. The staff were accommodating and friendly. Loved the staff's commitment to service. Ambiance: Tom Ham's Lighthouse is a great venue with a nice reception area, dance floor, and the outside deck overlooks the San Diego bay and captures the San Diego skyline. Great place to celebrate. read more

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Amazing atmosphere, scenic views, easy parking, and great service, but unfortunately the food really left something to be desired. Was in the area with my future in-laws visiting from Europe, so I brought them here for lunch on a recommendation from my dad who has been here many times and has said that the prices were decent for the quality of food and location. I ordered the 6 oz top sirloin, my partner ordered the lobster roll, and my future in-laws ordered a seafood platter that they expected would be served hot. They were disappointed that it was served on ice. The menu didn't specify that it was a cold dish. They also got a ceasar salad that they said was nothing really special. They didn't really enjoy their meals to justify the prices. My steak was cooked unevenly, still very rare in the middle but very well on the outside (I ordered rare), and had a lot of moisture release, indicating it may have previously been frozen. I did enjoy the side salad with fresh tomatoes,. The poached egg was an unusual but welcome side, but It was cooked all the way through with a solid yolk, though rather than runny like I would expect a poached egg. The lobster roll had a strange aftertaste and didn't really have much flavor mostly just like mayo. Very bland and disappointing for the steep price. The staff did a great job serving and accommodating our party, but for the price, I'd probably choose somewhere else next time. read more

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

Our son and his wife gave us a Christmas gift of Sunday brunch at Tom Ham's Lighthouse. It was slightly intimidating because of the distance (we live in Carlsbad) but we went for it. We had an 11:30am seating. Everything was wonderful. It was easy to get to, easy to park, and a very pleasant location. The brunch was on the second floor, the stairway was intimidating, and the elevator was small, slow, and crowded. But we got there. We were seated at a table that, while not at a window, had pretty views out the windows. Every item that we tried from the buffet was excellent. There was a good variety of prepared food, lots of fresh produce, wonderful seafood, fried chicken, prime rib, desserts, etc etc etc. I think there might have been 100 different choices for what to put on our plates; I'm certainly not going to enumerate them here. Portions of sweets and pastries were very small, so we could try many varieties without overeating or wasting food. We'll be back. It's not something to do frequently, but when there is a special occasion, Tom Ham's Lighthouse will be on our list of possibilities. read more

Some of the best food I've had here in San Diego, the views are unmatched and the food even better. While I would recommend this spot more for a regular visit if you can afford it. I would definitely recommend this spot to anyone looking for a nice dinner, date or celebration. Everything that I've had and all of the foods my friends have had are delicious. I've heard no bad comments from anyone. Definitely a spot worth checking out! read more

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

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I'd been looking for a spot by the water and this place was just perfect. Went here for my anniversary and the staff asked if it was my anniversary without me even mentioning it! They saw the reservation stated that but I'd been to places were I put an occasion and it's never acknowledge so it was so sweet they noticed. We got a free dessert it was delicious we'll be back again for sure to try the dinner menu next time! read more

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They've won awards for their food and location. Their name frequently popped up when I googled best places for brunch in San Diego. With that in mind, I made reservations to celebrate my wife's birthday one Sunday morning in April. We were seated immediately outside upon arriving. We had a great view of of the harbor. They were one of the best brunch buffets that I have been to in a while. They had all kinds of seafood including snow crab and Jonah crab claws, shrimp, raw oysters and scallops. I only took photos of the seafood, but, the had much more. They had omelet stations and pasta stations. They served hot foods, breads, and even ice cream. They had everything! Everything was good. Service was good from the hostess seating us, to the our waitress who served us. Our plates were frequently cleared and our waitress kept our cups filled. We had a fantastic brunch at Tom Ham's Lighthouse. We definitely would come here again if we had the opportunity. read more

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Amazing baby shower experience! Laugan and the crew was incredibly communicative and wonderful to work with. They are professional and have everything in place to make your event spectacular. You cannot beat the view of the downtown San Diego skyline, Coronado bridge, and the bay with boats. The food and drink service was phenomenal and everything went according to plan. Guests were wowed by the convenience of parking, restroom access, disability access, food and drinks, and the view. Absolutely would recommend THL to anyone planning their next event! read more

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

Hosts did not greet us or even smile when we got there. Expected for the hosts to be well groomed considering they are the first people guests see. Waitress on the other hand did greet us with a smile and was well groomed. Had the Paella which was great. Also had the 12oz prime new york steak. Steak looked disappointing considering the price and it tasted ok. Hubby had the Jidori half chicken and that was ok as well. When we were told the chicken will take at least 20min to cook, we were offered bread while we waited but didn't tell us we would get charged for it. Bus boy took the bread plate with the butter without asking if we were done with it, we weren't. Overall, I guess we paid for the ambiance/view. Made a reservation on opentable and added we were celebrating our birthdays also but did not even get a complimentary cake or at least a happy birthday greeting. read more

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

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Came for father's day after making reservations 3 days prior. When making these reservations I was told iver the phone that the fathers day brunch would be held all day. Upon areiving it had been over for an hour. I asked about this and explained my problem, to my surprise they told me it was my fault and that "brunch always ends at this time, you can come back for your dinner reservations!" I called later on the phone and brought this up, they assured me there was no way the person on the phone told me that, and offered zero apologies or recognition of my problem. Me and my dad are now searching for other options. Nice. They had this weird lady take my complaint call and say "my father died" when I explained the incident... Super duper weird. read more

Tom Ham's is my go to place for Happy Hour when I fly into town from Charlotte, NC to visit family and friends. It's now one of my favorite places for dinner. I treated my friend to a belated birthday dinner. The food was delicious, complimented by the right portion and presentation. The service was excellent with Oksanna as our server. She was very friendly, attentive and knew the menu very well. I highly recommend her! As far as the ambiance, NOTHING beats the view of San Diego's skyline, overlooking San Diego bay, Harbor Island and North Island. I highly recommend those who visit San Diego to have a meal or happy hour at Tom Ham's. You won't be disappointed! read more

Tom Ham's Lighthouse - CREAMY TUSCAN SALMON, PAN SEARED SCALLOPS, BRUSSEL SPROUTS, PEARL POTATOES - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

To be clear, I really like this place. And I will be back. Just a recommendation for management.... Tenderloin tips were overcooked and tough. If you aren't going to ask, they should come out MR to Med. They were so tough I would swear they were sirloin tips. Mussels were very good. Would have liked a little spice to them. Green beans were perfect. Don't change a thing. Again, I'll be back. For the searcher... look for this place on Restaurant Week. Unbeatable deal, and the food and service are so worthy. read more

One of my favorites. Their food is always delicious. The views are amazing and perfect for a sunny day or romantic evening. I've been here with my husband as well as with friends! Highly recommend as their service is always very professional and prompt. read more

Wonderfully delicious!! Four of us had dinner here last Saturday. What a wonderful place! First off the service is top notch! Always attentive and never an empty water glass. Very personable too! We had appetizers, fried calamari and chicken lollipops. Both were super delicious! Tender pieces of crunchy calamari were delicious! The lollipop wings were awesome! Easy to hold while you eat the tender flavorful chicken! I had the paella and it was wonderful! Fresh seafood covering yummy rice! The Caesar Salad was fresh, crisp and tasty!! Super yummy! My daughter had the short ribs and she loved it!!! Fork tender short rib was so yummy!! She thought it was the best she has ever had! My son had a beet salad and loved the tasty beets and fresh greens. Very tasty!! Salmon grilled was super yummy too, read more

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Desiree our waitress she was awesome. They do have a have an outdoor patio. Came here for restaurant week so they had a special menu. Loved their food and drinks and will go back. The views of the sunset were awesome. Kinda casual place but okay if you're in jeans. read more

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

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If youre looking for a good happy hour spot put this on your list! At the time we went, the tables weren't full but the bar was full, thats where the party was! We were greeted as soon as we walked in and there bartenders were super nice and attentive! Although it seem calmed and it was not as busy, im sure when the place is full it will be a good time. The deals are good and the food is even better! We wanted to eat oysters and they had really good ones! Out of the three dishes the star was the cauliflower! Im not sure what or how it was cooked but the flavors work well together! I wish it wasn't as overcooked but the flavor makes up for that. The ceviche was good and of course the oysters were great! Try it if youre in the area you won't regret it. read more

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My wife and I went to a really fun event here at Tom Hamm's Lighthouse last night. It was called Brews, Views & Barbecue. They featured beers on tap from Kairoa Brewing Company, paired with absolute genius food pairings put together by Tom Hams Lighthouses Master Chef. When I say "Master Chef" I mean it! We started out with the grilled oysters, cowboy butter, quail egg, and bacon, grilled to perfection. These oysters were huge, like a big bowl full of oyster goodness! The quail egg was over easy and the oyster combined with the yolk of the egg, bacon, and cowboy butter were just genius! It was paired with Lion Heart Helles Lager, great lager, probably one of the best I have ever had. Then on to the smoked tuna fish dip. Green onions, buttery sourdough, and wasabi caviar. The smoked tuna with all of the added ingredients reminded me of foie gra, and it tasted amazing! Paired with Back Paddock, New Zealand Style Pilsner, it was good, very clean and refreshing, and ice cold. On to the TEXAS TWINKIES! Bacon wrapped jalapeño, stuffed with smoked brisket and cream cheese, with steakhouse aioli, this was my second favorite of the night. It was paired with Low Key, Session Hazy IPA. The Low Key was very hoppy, and I love a really hoppy IPA. Next, was the brisket bahn mi. Smoked brisket, cucumber, radish, and sriracha aioli, textbook bahn mi sandwich, and the smoked brisket really stood out on a proper bread. It was paired with Ripped Pants Revenge, a West Coast IPA. The Ripped Pants stood on its own, a very nice beer. Warm Cajon Lobster Roll was next on the pairing menu, Maine lobster meat, Cajun plugra cream sauce, Andouille sausage, on a PERFECT bun! This one was my favorite of the night. The lobster roll had everything you would expect on it but the mix was done so perfectly that you could taste every ingredient perfectly. My mouth is watering writing that sentence! It was paired with Sparkle Boiz Australian Sparking Ale. This Ale was so cold, clean, and delicious, it paired perfectly with the lobster roll without overpowering the pairing. This combo was absolute chef magic! Last on the menu was Peach Glazed Pork Belly, over Fontina polenta, and topped with an arugula pesto sauce. The three ingredients blended together for a sweet, tangy, savory blend of flavor with a little spice in the background. It was paired with White Peach Crush fruited hazy IPA. The IPA was good, and it complemented the dish perfectly. We ate until we almost couldn't move, all while listening to a really good DJ and his really great mix of tunes. The view of the bay was spectacular but the food, the beers, and the service were so awesome that we really enjoyed it most of all. Tom Ham's Lighthouse is celebrating 55 years of serving San Diegans with a full year of special events, monthly featured dinner dishes, and limited time experiences that honor their history and the community that's been a part of Tom Ham's since 1971. Give this place a visit, go to the events and be amazed at the staff, the food, and the best view in San Diego. I really want to give a shout out to the Master Chef for the pairings he put together. Sometimes you get to eat at a place where the chef just knows what things taste good together and the presentations were some of the best things I have ever eaten. Then he goes around mingling with the guests, answering questions, and representing his kitchen and staff. You can't beat that kind of culinary experience, especially for $77 per person, all you can eat and drink! read more

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A very cool restaurant that was a lighthouse. Great for groups and has beautiful views overlooking then city. Food is pretty good and the history is pretty cool. There is plenty of parking too so shouldn't be an issue. I got the Bouillabaisse and it was very flavorful with a good assortment of seafood. The Cauliflower was also pretty good and was nice to share as well. Service was friendly and attentive too. read more

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I'm leaving a 1 start review but would leave a 0 if I could. This blonde child with a weird middle part shoulder checked me as I was leaving and told me to "watch it". It sucks that a kid that looks 15 is working at such a high end restaurant like this and treating customers poorly. Please handle this. read more

Hands down the most beautiful view of the harbor of any restaurant. The water looked like it was literally sparking. On the other side of the island/peninsula, there are some nice restaurants but the view is no where near as beautiful. The server was sweet and took good care of us. The food was absolutely delicious. The lobster rolls were a great deal and had good chunks of lobster meat. I'm so surprised at the reasonable prices during lunch. I wanted to try the Sunday brunch which has the higher price tag, but we were just in the area before going to the airport. We will definitely be coming back again. Especially for this view. read more

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

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