I absolutely loved it here and will be back many times. The ambiance was perfect. The zesty hour…read morewas one of the best. I ordered all of the wines -- the lobster bisque was delightful. The service was exemplary.

Love this place! Always surprised that the literal happy hour 4 to 5pm "Zesty Hour" isn't crazy…read morebusy. Select wines by the glass and draft beer only $5! Nice selection of appetizers from the restaurant next door are reduced price and very tasty especially garlic knots. Nice outdoor patio cozy inside bar area and very friendly and helpful service. Love to meet friends here and always bring out of town guests. Great way to wind down your day or start your evening!

Underbelly Ramen is easily one of my favorite ramen spots, and I don't say that lightly. I've tried…read morea lot of ramen places over the years since it's genuinely my favorite food, and this one consistently stands out. As a vegetarian, I really appreciate that there are solid, flavorful options. The Farmers Market bowl is my go-to every time. I usually add tofu and the eggplant wrap, and it's honestly so good, rich, satisfying, and full of flavor without feeling heavy or boring like some veggie ramen can. Everything is always fresh, and it never disappoints. The vibe is also a huge plus, lively but still comfortable, perfect for a casual meal or going with friends. Service is quick and always friendly! Highly recommend if you love ramen, especially if you're looking for vegetarian-friendly options that actually feel thoughtful and delicious.

I really love this spot. I actually used to live down the street, so it started as a convenient…read morego-to, but I still come back because the ambiance is great and the ramen is consistently good. I also appreciate that I don't get that heavy MSG aftertaste that I get at some other ramen places. The noodles are flavorful, and they're very generous with the toppings. I've ordered the Farmers Market ramen a few times, and my boyfriend usually gets the tonkotsu -- both are always solid. Overall, for San Diego, I think this place is a great ramen spot.

Ordered a bunch of shareables and my favorite was definitely the patatas bravas Finca style its…read morecrispy potatoes with the jalapeño crema and it was so flavorful. The barbecued pork with guava bagna càuda was super tender and cooked perfectly, and the truffle braised lamb ossobuco was also really good. The jamón ibérico had an interesting sweet and savory combo with the goat cheese and date jam on a crispy baguette. Service was great our waiter was really attentive as well as the people bringing our plates. Overall, a great place for shareables and dinner with friends.

I was extremely disappointed. They had changed their whole…read moremenu. No bone marrow, no octopus. Service was good but the food was not what I expected. I ordered the tuna tartare with some kind of aioli sauce. Nowhere did it say it would be spicy . If I'd known, I would not have ordered it because I don't do spicy. So take a good look at the menu now preferably before you go they might have their current menu up somewhere or they should.

Quick pre holiday party drinks with coworkers while we waited for our event to start at the…read moreconvention center next door. The bar was busy with hotel guests and our coworkers. The space was very open with ample seating inside and out. The staff was very friendly and our drinks were made super quick. My husband ordered an old fashion and I ordered the passion by. Both drinks were good, a little pricy but typical hotel pricing. We had a good time catching up with friends before making our way to our event.

My friend and had been planning to meet at a Mission Valley wine bar on a Friday evening, but found…read morethat it wasn't open. So, we looked to find something nearby and found Monkeybar. I had sort of been to Monkeybar several years back when I used Resort Pass to spend a day lounging by the pool. At that time, I had walked up to the bar several times for mimosas, but mainly spent time at the pool rather than in the bar. This time, it was a chilly January evening and we walked in to find that there was a convention at the hotel, so it was pretty packed. The decor was modern, but the bar itself was really just a hotel lobby bar. I was hoping it would have a bit more character. There was a DJ playing, which was cool, but it also was pretty loud making it difficult to catch up with my friend. We struggled as the indoor area was loud and the outdoor area was really cold. The couple of outdoor tables that had fire pits were already taken by convention-goers. Finally, we chose to sit on the outside area of the bar, which was still chilly, but was quiet enough so that we could chat. Anyway, I was a bit hungry, and had been hoping for a salad, but there were none on the menu. We chose to share the edamame hummus. They did have some decent sounding cocktails on the menu, but we were in the mood for wine. We both chose glasses of Malbec. The Malbec was decent, so I had a second glass. Our bartender was friendly, but out hummus was forgotten. After I asked, he expedited our order. I enjoyed the hummus and the variety of veggies. As it got colder, we moved inside when the DJ ended. Parking is free with validation, however mine did not get validated correctly by the bartender. I explained to the parking attendant and he let me go. All in all, it was a decent place to talk with a friend over a glass of wine. I think it would be a nice bar if I were staying in the hotel, but not special enough to make the trip. I do think the atmosphere might be much more lovely on a summer weekend, as sitting outside by the pool would be very nice.

Needed some adventure and I've been missing Spain, so I leashed up my pup and headed to Little…read moreItaly. It's about as close to Madrid (other than Balboa Park) as you're going to get in the county of San Diego...especially if you sit down at Barra Oliba. I literally felt like I was in a café in Madrid or Barcelona and enjoyed not only the familiar salty flavors that I've missed from Spain, but also the pure, rich, olive oil, and quiet ambiance as this is one block from the busiest part of Little Italy. My server, German, (his name) enjoyed helping me create the ideal light supper and allowed me to try a few Spanish wines (they have so many!). I settled on a Verdejo from Rueda. It was the right balance of fruit, acid, and slight floral to perfectly pair to my meal. I had the seasonal fish meuniere - white fish delicious and crispy on top (my favorite), garnished with capers and roe. It was accompanied with a tender lettuce and heirloom tomato salad with saffron dressing. The leftover dressing for the salad was the most amazing vinegar dip for a couple tater tots when I got home. The dressing was something I will go back for! Thank you, Barra Oliba for the perfect Spanish "girl dinner!" Can't wait to come back and try the Paella!

Went here for the first time with my date this past weekend 4/25. We had a reservation but chose to…read moresit at the bar since there were two great seats available. The night started off really well. The gentleman at the front greeted us, and we instantly connected since we're both from Guadalajara. It felt like the experience was going in a great direction. At the bar, things changed. The bartender was friendly toward me but not toward my Middle Eastern date, which made things uncomfortable. When taking our order, he stayed in the middle of the bar while opening a wine bottle instead of coming over, so we could hear him. When my date asked him to come closer, he seemed visibly annoyed. The food, though, was amazing--delicious and great quality. We'll give it another try, but next time we won't sit at the bar.

I didn't even know this place existed, but I'm glad I found it. The bartenders were great and…read moreattentive. The drinks were excellent as well. I especially loved the two mezcal cocktails! It is a small space, so a reservation is definitely helpful, and there isn't much room to walk around, which can make getting to the bathroom a bit tricky. Overall, though, it's a great spot and I'd definitely come back.

This place is calm, creative, and has the right low lighting without feeling too dark to see. The…read moredrinks are pricy, but very unique, and they have a special emphasis on aesthetic. The bartenders are nice and give good recommendations. It is attached to an art gallery and is supposed to have art displays in the bar area, but unfortunately they were all turned off when we were there.

We hosted our son and daughter-in-law's rehearsal dinner at the Brigantine Portside and it was…read moreamazing. The spectacular sunset views, the food and the staff couldn't have been better. Thanks to the entire team for a memorable evening.

This beautiful restaurant/upstairs bar has beautiful views and very friendly staff, and for that…read morealone I have to give 5 stars. We had a reservation for the restaurant downstairs and were seated fairly promptly. Our waiter, Blake, was awesome the whole evening, giving us suggestions, etc. We were seated at a table not with the spectacular views, but we all got up and went outside to take pictures while waiting for our food. I ordered a lavender lemon prosecco drink which was excellent. I also had the clam chowder. It was decent, not the best I've had, but ok. My friends ordered the pasta special that had shrimp and salmon. They said it was very delicious. We all split 2 large Brig house salads, which were also excellent. After dinner we checked out the upstairs outdoor bar. It had firepit tables and such beautiful views of the boat of the Maritime museum; just gorgeous. I would love to come back here for drinks for sure!!!

Best Sangria and beef empanadas. We had great service and…read moregreat food! Decor and ambiance was fantastic and set the tone. Can't wait to go back. Our new favorite restaurant.

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!

I just had a very nice, quick dinner and Jason was my server tonight…read more I already knew what I wanted to order, a really good beet salad, and he took my order quickly, the food was ready within minutes, and he took care of my bill in a timely manner. Looking forward to bringing friends by.

Both amazing and disappointing!…read more Went for happy hour and it's even available on Saturday too! Parking wasn't super easy but we got lucky pretty close by on the street. It's paid parking so don't forget... Sangrias: Get! A few different flavors and they're all yummy tbh. Burrata: Maybe? This was a little bit too literal. I would imagine it comes with a couple other things, maybe a basil leaf or a little cherry tomatoe on the side would have been better. It was still yummy but it wasnt as fresh or creamy as I hoped. HOWEVER.... if you get the below, then the whole is greater than the sum of its parts Bruschetta: Get So bright and combined with the little pieces of toast they have it's just a burst of flavor and freshness. Definitely recommend. Tiger Prawns: SKIP These were horrendously overcooked. It was like eating a piece of rubber. Not seasoned well either. And you get like 5 for a premium price of 17. Terribly disappointing. Service was so friendly and amazing. Almost the saving grace after the hit and miss from above. Food: 6/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Service: 9/10 Value: 6/10

Drove from San Fernando Valley , Los Angeles Best Service…read morein California for high end dining b Creative and amazing foods and wines

My wife and I had a wonderful dinner at Juniper and Ivy. Delicious food impeccably presented with…read moreoutstanding service. Truly, our service was what one always hopes for in fine dining for but so rarely receives these days. Our primary did an excellent job helping us select our meal. She was attentive, supportive and a pleasure to talk with, yet also discreet. Plates were well-timed. Our water glasses always seemed to be full although I rarely noticed it happening. All of our entrees were delicious. Favorites? Probably, first, the Hokkaido Scallop starter. The scallops themselves were huge, perfectly cooked with a crusted chili crunch topping and served with a delicious miso butter sauce. Not overly spicy, the flavors meshed perfectly. I also loved the Miso Black Cod (especially because it's a dish one can rarely find near the East Coast where we live.) Any misses? Not really, although the Pâté de Campagne was prepared as very rustic. It was tasty but I found it difficult to eat with the bread, Overall, I recommend Juniper and Ivy as a great place to celebrate an event, enjoy a date, or just have an excellent evening dinner away from the house.