Reservations recommended but not required. Ok for groups. Ok for kids. Nice view. Menu offers something for everyone. The bar area and outside have different menus. But they will allow you to order from either if you ask. Nice views. Good prices. Must try spot if in the area. read more

Between the service and the food, I won't be returning. We have been looking for a nice place to eat with a good view all evening and finally settled here. We loved the place as soon as we walked in, gorgeous set up and view of the dock and sunset. We ordered a charcuterie plate and a mocktail while we looked at the menu. We saw a few other things we thought about trying, that was until the charcuterie came and the waitress was flighty. The charcuterie board was the most pathetic thing I have seen, and I have tried so many boards through the city. For 30 dollars you got a handful of cheese, 6 salamis, and 2 prosciutto... That is wild. I had more crackers then I had meat and cheese combined. The presentation was pathetic. I've gotten better and nicer charcuterie boards at pizza places. After that we decided to get the check and go, I couldn't justify spending more money here after what this looked like. The service was completely packed luster. The server seemed uninterested in our table, not sure why. I have great childhood memories at the resort. I don't think I will be coming back. read more

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Lack of communication and poor reviews led me to cancel our reservations. I was trying to reserve a table for my family for Valentine's day. I called and was sent to voicemail 3 times. Their online booking option was inflexible and I needed assistance. I called the hotel's mainline and they indicated they'd page the restaurant and that they'd return my call the same day. That never happened. When paying at this price point for a restaurant, I do expect them to at least be available for a phone call. Thankfully, we saw the other negative reviews and concluded that this kind of service would not satisfy us and canceled. We'll take our business elsewhere, as it would seem they've no need for it. read more

We had dinner reservations for 3 for outdoor dining, the view was very nice overlooking yachts and water, the service was great,we ordered drinks and appetizers, I had the filet mignon with the mash and veggies delicious , everything was excellent, very nice and clean, the staff was very nice. Highly recommended for special nights as is pretty pricey. I will be back, thank you. read more

Lindsey is such good vibes her service was AMAZING. She anticipates my needs! The chicken tenders were super yummy and we LOVE the summer vibes at Kona Kai. Thank you LINDSEY! read more

This is a really cool waterfront restaurant that's tucked away inside the Kona Kai hotel. It's perfect for a nice date night out if you're wanting something upscale and sleek. I thought the vibe was super trendy and cool and even the water glasses we drank out of were artsy and beautiful. Every detail and finish of this place was gorgeous. I really enjoyed my Parmesan truffle fries and love that they came in a big bowl. I gobbled them up. I was sad to realize the bar menu food items were different than the regular menu. I would have liked the mahi tacos or the sliders but I just thought they were seasonal or something when I didn't see them on the menu. By the time I realized they were on someone else's plate we had already ordered all the food and were full but I would have liked to know from the start that these options were available. I also didn't like how small the portions were for the yellowtail and the ahi tuna tacos though. I saw pictures on Yelp and was surprised they were even smaller in person. The yellowtail was also too lemony for my taste and I couldn't appreciate the fish as much as I wanted to. I also very much did not like that a benefit surcharge was added to our bill. I have noticed more and more restaurants doing this and I always dock a star on my reviews for any establishment that does this. It's extremely tacky to do, especially at a sophisticated place like this one. Benefits for employees should be paid by the employer, not by those dining at the restaurant in my opinion. I would say if you're looking for a sleek place to grab a drink in this area it could be a cool spot but I wasn't as impressed as I hoped for with the rest of the food menu. read more

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Lindsay was such an amazing bartender, we had an awesome day at the pool! We had the chicken tenders and chips and dips and everything was immaculate. Thank you Lindsay! read more

We had lunch at the adults only pool and it was amazing!! Lindsay was our bartender and she was so much fun, I would come back just to hangout at the bar with her. She recommended the fish tacos and they were SO good. The ceviche was also delish!! read more

Vessel Restaurant - Adults only pool bar - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Tucked away in a spot on Shelter Island, you have to go out of your way a bit to make it out to this quiet and serene restaurant by the Point Loma boat harbor but it is definitely worth the trip! We arrived around 6:30pm on a weekday and it wasn't super busy and we were able to promptly get seated. However, it did take a while for us to get our order but it looked like the restaurant was running on skeleton staff so I think its more that they were strained with the resources they had. To cut to the point, the lobster carbonara was the star of our night as there was ample lobster in the pasta. Unlike other joints where you order and get a sliver of meat and get charged an arm and a leg... Vessel makes sure you get healthy portions of lobster meat. The only downside was that the pasta was a tad bland and tasted better when we brought the leftovers home and salted it just a tad more. Likely unknown to most locals, this appears to be a spot that likely caters to out of towners and is a good place to escape to if you're looking for that vacation/staycation vibe without having to go too far. read more

Vessel Restaurant - Oysters and Parmesan-Truffle French Fries - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Five stars all around! Starting with Sonia and extending to the entire waitstaff and team--everyone was so kind, friendly, and welcoming. The food was delicious, and they were incredibly helpful and accommodating with kids and families, which we really appreciated. Beautiful outdoor patios overlooking the harbor make dining here extra special. Breakfast was a warm continental spread, including Bob's Red Mill oatmeal and Jane's jams--such a lovely touch. read more

Wonderful time staying at the hotel. Nootzy was amazing! So friendly! Helpful, split our main plate without asking, offered suggestions, and made our stay memorable. I will be coming back! Love the stay! the ambiance was awesome!! And dog friendly! Pools are awesome! read more

Vessel Restaurant - Nootzy! The bar treated us awesome! - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Enjoyed a delicious dinner with friends! We showed up without a reservation and we got a table right away. I had a chicken plate and it was perfection. Everyone raved about their meals. We tried 3 desserts and they were all exceptionally good, except for the apple option, which tasted slightly off. Weird combination of seasonings. It was a lovely evening overall. read more

This place is amazing. Ambience is great, we got there and it wasn't too busy. Staff members were great, friendly, attentive give and shout out to the manager for being amazing and sharing his knowledge of the menu with us! Food was amazing, you get what you pay for delicious, savory, oh too good food! For sure recommend this place... read more

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We stayed at the hotel which was wonderful so we decided to have brunch here on Sunday before going back home. We were both excited and hungry. Upon our arrival we were greeted by the sweet hostess. Restaurant was empty had about a couple people sitting inside. We opt to sit outside. This was for the Sunday brunch buffet they have here. Brunch was very limited and cold. Pretty basic breakfast dishes nothing spectacular. I was disappointed because everything was cold. The fruits they had were good and sweet especially the honeydew. The view was beautiful which sorta made up for the brunch. Our cups for our water were both dirty had lipstick stained on it. Coffee was just okay, if you're starving and looking for good tasty warm food I would skip this place. It was a bit pricey for what they served. read more

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We went there to redeem a coupon that we paid $55 for a $75 brunch at Kona Kai. It was buffet only. The food was no better than Holiday Inn (although we don't eat at Holiday Inn). The 'organic eggs' tasted like powdered eggs. The eggs Benedict were old and unappetizing. The 'fresh squeezed' orange juice tasted like it came from a can. Although we reserved a seat outside, they wouldn't let us pick our table and we wound up inside. Not going back. read more

We dined at Vessel a couple of times during our stay at Kona Kai, once for dinner and again for brunch and overall had a great experience! The staff was super friendly and even remembered us from our previous visit, which was such a nice touch. Service throughout was attentive and welcoming without feeling overbearing. The ambiance is definitely one of the highlights beautiful views of the marina, breezy outdoor seating, and a relaxed coastal vibe that made every meal feel like a mini escape. The only downside was the price point. While the food was tasty, the portions didn't quite match the cost especially at brunch. We tried the eggs Benedict and steak medium rare. That said, you're paying a bit for the setting and experience, which we did enjoy. Perfect spot if you're staying at Kona Kai and want to dine close by with a view. Just know you're treating yourself when you go! read more

Vessel Restaurant - Steak - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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It's been a minute since I last visited this restaurant We ordered the #ParmesanTruffleFries as a starter but it came after our main entrees ‍ It was enjoyed as I helped finish this item The #LobsterCarbonara came with lots of lobster but overall the dish lacked flavor. I am hoping like most pasta dishes in the U.S. it tastes more flavorful the next day. I had the #TablesideAffogoto for dessert and I should have had the expresso separate. It came paired with a biscotti that was harder than usual and I couldn't get it soften. I tried the #KeyLime and #BruleeBananaSplit and both were yummy The service was friendly and most of the entrees came out promptly except my starter and entree but worked out fine as I was busy taking photos. We were a party of 10 and everyone seemed to enjoy their meal and the ambience was great for our group. We didn't have the oceanside view but it was evening and the larger parties were against the wall. We didn't feel rushed and enjoyed our visit read more

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All you can eat brunch on weekends. Medium end hotel options in chafers. Not an amazing experience food-wise. No a la cart menu. View and patio are incredible! Service was okay. Not a lot of opportunity with the buffet option. read more

After struggling to find parking downtown and canceling our original reservation, we decided to try The Vessel since they had availability. Unfortunately, our experience was mixed. To start, we ordered the fritto misto, Brussels sprouts, and fries. The fritto misto was just okay--it didn't meet our expectations. The Brussels sprouts, however, were a hit, while the fries arrived lukewarm, which made us question their freshness. For entrees, my friends each ordered a burger and salmon, which they both enjoyed. I went with the lobster carbonara and specifically requested no poached egg, yet it arrived with the egg anyway. This was frustrating, and to add to it, I found the lobster overcooked and the snow peas had a taste that reminded me of frozen, thawed-out vegetables. For dessert, we ordered the sundae and I asked for it to come out with a candle, but the request was overlooked. Since it was night and raining, we couldn't appreciate what I imagine is a lovely marina view during the day. Overall, the service and a few kitchen errors kept our experience from being great, though my friends enjoyed their meals. read more

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You could tell they were short staffed, and those who were working were hustling all over the place. Food was average at best. We also had a couple speciality cocktails and those were average too. I would most likely give them one more try. Views are great overlooking the harbor. read more

Dinner was delicious! I recommend the Mediterranean Platter if you're open to an appetizer. The babaganoush is served with feta, so if you're dairy-free, make sure you mention it to your server when ordering. I had the Eggplant Jalfretzi for my main entree, and it was far tastier than I even expected: dairy-free, and delicious. I also highly recommend the glazed carrots; however, they are served over cream cheese, another thing to bring up if you've got dairy concerns. The Banana Old-Fashioned was a very unique and tasty twist on the classic cocktail. The view was beautiful at night, looking out in the marina. At breakfast, the hostess was very chipper and welcoming. They serve a breakfast buffet, which included various pastries and bagels, oatmeal, fruit, eggs, bacon, pancakes, and chicken apple sausage. The one thing I recommend you do t pass up is their muesli. I have never tasted such delicious muesli in my life! My only qualm with breakfast was that gratuity was automatically added--which is perfectly fine, except there were two separate gratuities: one for the server and one for the buffet. This was an unexpected extra charge. Not terrible, but as a whole, the Kona Kai resort does seem to seek out ways to nickel and dime you to death. I wouldn't let that small detail deter you, though. Worth it for the muesli alone! :) read more

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Made reservations even though I didn't have to during the time we arrived. It wasn't crowded or busy at all. Located at the beautiful property of the Kona Kai resort. We started with an appetizer Fritto Misto - calamari, jicama, red cabbage, peanut, togarishi, yuzu aioli Since it was happy hour, we chose the shrimp and some adult beverages for the table FYI the shrimp is not sharable ( 5 pieces) lol For our entrees we ordered the Maryland-Style Crab Cake Sandwich - butter lettuce, tomato, pickled fresno chilis, creamy mustard sauce, brioche bun, house-made old bay kettle chips Mahi Tacos - cucumber pico de gallo, pickled red cabbage, cilantro lime crema, chips & house-made salsa Vessel Burger - beef, gruyere cheese, bacon jam, arugula, tomato, pickles, pommery mustard aioli, brioche bun The food was good but a little on the pricey side. The view was nice too. read more

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So I was trying to make a memorable brunch experience with my gf and this was a swing and a miss. The view and ambiance are great, but it stops there. The service was a bit inconsistent as the servers were all over the place. The appetizers was delicious and the presentation was excellent. Our entrees however were a let down. My steak has a very gamey taste to me. The fries were crisp and flavorful though. My gf did not enjoy her fish and chips as the batter lacked a crisp texture and the dish as a whole lacked flavor. Great view, but that menu needs some love. read more

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When they say the appetizer is small, they do mean small. We laughed at the appetizer because we could not believe how little it actually was. It was the Ahi Tuna Tacos and it comes out with a slot for three tacos, they only serve two, with a little lime to fill in the third slot. Look at picture, ridiculous! For us being the almost the only ones in the restaurant, the service was pretty slow. The sandwich we had, hame and brie melt was pretty good and we split it and they did a great job splitting it in the kitchen. The view is amazing, but not sure if it makes up for the expense and lack of food. read more

Vessel Restaurant - Ahi Tuna Tacos - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great food Great service The ahi tacos was small but delicious! Great wine and cocktails read more

We stayed at the Kona Kai Resort for a little last minute getaway. Ended up eating here for breakfast because the other seafood places we wanted to try nearby were not open yet but we were hungry! Food and service are both decent, but not amazing. The price is quite expensive. They also add on a 5.5% surcharge automatically. Did enjoy being right by the water though. That's always a nice vibe. read more

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This was our first time here and we are already looking at dates to come back! Service was outstanding, Marins recommendations were on point!!! -We will be back! View is so pretty, atmosphere is amazing!! A must try if you are visiting or local to San Diego/North County!! read more

I wanted to find a nice place for dinner with a nice view to celebrate our wedding anniversary. And Vessel was a really great place. The food was amazing, service was excellent, and the view from the patio was perfect. I'd come here again for sure. read more

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Visiting Vessel for a Sunday brunch made it perfectly clear to me why they couldn't sustain a lunch business, nor even being open for dinner 7 nights a week. The restaurant was maybe 10-15% full, yet the hostess took 10 minutes just to seat us. She was woefully ill-suited for the position. The waiters (when seen) were scrambling to keep up (with a minimal crowd), due to other servers not showing up for work. Management couldn't seem to figure out a work-around. As for the food, the buffet was slow to be re-stocked, and food items were empty, the spoon rack empty, two large Dutch ovens with no description of the food inside, and nowhere to put the large, heavy lids. What caught my eye and got my taste buds excited, was a two-tier serving rack of iced Stone crabs! Something to get excited about, but upon sampling one back at the table, I discovered literally the worst, most inedible piece of seafood I have ever been served. They were possibly freezer-burned - hard (not frozen), unchewable, and devoid of any flavor. Just horrible. When I pointed it out to a manager(?) he apologized, but I noted that he kept them on the buffet. Other disappointments were the lack of bakery items, and the scones that were offered were leaden. All in all, about what you would expect at a Denny's - not an upscale waterfront resort. The cost for two (without any liquor or extras, save a juice and an iced tea) was $117, including a mandatory gratuity (which at a buffet is another story all together). Nobel House should be embarrassed if this is the best that they can offer at such an iconic location. read more

We came during happy hour and were in fact, very happy. we ordered almost everything on the happy hour menu and was not disappointed at all. The food was fantastic! I especially liked the chicken taco and the ceviche. The taco was perfectly seasoned. The ceviche was fresh and went great with the chips. Our server was attentive but not overbearing. He refreshed our drinks often and was very respectful. The only reason I gave 4 stars was because I didn't much love the salmon poke entree. Rice was a bit hard. Also the portion of fish could have been more. But overall we had a good experience. I would definitely come again for happy hour. read more

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A lovely restaurant inside a hotel, Vessel Restaurant's view and patio setting are worth the price of admission alone. I was there for their Sunday brunch and I think I'd like to try their regular menu during a sunset for happy hour or dinner because I want to like their menu offerings as much as I loved the setting. We happened to go on a whim, while taking a morning walk in that area. They only had their buffet brunch available, no a la carte menu for that time. The $45/person brunch menu was slightly underwhelming, but again, I think some of that price is the admission fee for that view and I'll pay it. To be fair, they did have a small tray of cold seafood selections, including cocktail shrimp, lox, small crab claws which saved the day. Without that offering, the rest of the menu was simple but good. The staff were super nice and very friendly. The waiter even brought out a water dish for our dog without us asking, and made a point of cooing a bit over our little pup, which of course made us happy. It's nice when you're made to feel welcomed, dog and all, and they did just that! There was a variety of breakfast pastries (bagels, danish and other sweet pastries), French toast, a pre-made ham, and cheese omelette tray, oatmeal, a variety of fruit (a very nice berry selection), a cheese tray, the aforementioned seafood tray (not huge, two-tier but good for the size of the people in the restaurant) and a basic green salad station. The variety was nice, the quality was pretty good but not amazing. (For example, I think IHOP could probably beat their French toast offering.) The one thing that flat out disappointed me was my mimosa. It came in a medium sized all purpose wine glass filled to 1/3 capacity which was $15. For that price, it should have been half full, even if they'd made it heavy on OJ, I'd say. So that was somewhat disappointing for the price. Though the experience had some holes, I did enjoy it. I found the "best of" in the buffet and truly enjoyed the patio on that crisp and sunny Sunday morning. Absolutely would go back to try their afternoon or evening menu items! read more

Vessel Restaurant - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

First off the view is incredible beautiful ocean views as you drive up then you see the incredible marina full of yachts. Secondly the service is one of the best I've seen. Everyone was attentive and friendly. Made the evening really special. I ordered the special of the evening which was a New York Steak. It was cooked perfect at mid-rare and incredibly flavorful and was trimmed up the best I've ever seen. As you can see it was big. The potatoes were tasty as was the veggies. This was tender and juicy and the grill added a nice flavor of fire very good cook. They gave us all free desserts I chose the key lime pie. Wow it did not disappoint. It was incredible. Tangy and creamy and raspberry cooly was sweet and tart. Great dessert. This place is great. A little spendy but you get what you pay for and from time to time it's worth paying for it. Four of us ate for under 300$ without tip. read more

Vessel Restaurant - Key Lime Pie - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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$38 for a brunch buffet, what a disappointment. The bagels were not fresh; I struggled to bite through it and then turned to use a knife, the amount of effort needed to cut through was laughable. They served lox with quartered sliced tomatoes, which was odd; I had to ask for sliced tomatoes instead. The French toast was subpar and lacked fresh cream. The buffet included yogurt, two small charcuterie plates roughly the size of a dinner plate, shrimp, and a small serving of tiny crab claws. The Eggs Benedict had overcooked meat;I'm not sure what kind; and the sausage links were dried out. Overall, it was undoubtedly the worst buffet I've experienced. My group wasn't interested in the buffet and preferred to order à la carte, but we had no choice but to settle for what was, frankly, one of the saddest buffets I've seen. Save your $38 and go elsewhere. San Diego has plenty of fantastic brunch spots, this place is not one of them. The staff though were excellent and very attentive! read more

The parking situation is why I give 4 stars. We were told that there was no need to validate the parking ticket because there was no charge on Tuesday -- just push the button, tell the attendant we ate there, then they'd buzz us through. We pushed, no answer, then paid $10. Not great. Now on to something positive ... We sat down on the beautiful patio, after walking through the beautifully appointed restaurant. The waitstaff came immediately to take our drink orders. Upon his return we ordered our food. It came out quickly, hot, and plated perfectly. My smoked salmon eggs Benedict was excellently prepared and the muffin was so fresh, too. The artichoke, spinach, and feta omelette was really delicious. The huevos rancheros had crispy tortillas on the bottom, homemade refried black beans, eggs, and smoked salmon was the other chosen protein. Wowzer it was gorgeous and tasty. We will go back and you will too. read more

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***Dinner*** My wife and I ate dinner here on our first night at the hotel and both have agreed this was our worst restaurant experience in San Diego over our three night stay. Upon arriving, we waited about 10 minutes to be seated because of a staff shortage. The hostess was off getting coffee for another couple and there was only one waitress who was stretched between every table in the restaurant and unable to assist. Once we did get seated, it took another 20-30 minutes for the waitress to come to our table and take our first order. We moved tables after about 10 minutes to be right in front of the door to the patio to ensure the sole waitress would see us. By this time we were fed up, and just ordered drinks plus entrees and thankfully we did. Our drinks took about another 10 minutes to arrive and then our food took an additional 30-40 minutes to arrive. We ordered the Mediterranean Platter as a starter and it was nothing special. Mostly nan and dips that tasted like they had been left out prior to being served. It also came with Falafel, but it was dry. The entree food was decent but not worth the price tag in the slightest. I ordered the Wagyu special and my wife ordered the vegetable gratin. Entrees are an average of $40+. In addition you'll be charged a 6% surcharge for your total bill. The ambience is decent sitting on the waterfront, but there are so many other options in San Diego. You are better off going anywhere else than Vessel for dinner. ***Breakfast**** In addition to eating dinner here, we ate breakfast here for three mornings. Service was way better at breakfast. We were promptly seated each morning and served beverages. Be aware though it is only a limited Buffett that they serve each morning of only about 10ish items. This Buffett is mainly meats with oatmeal, one fruit platter, and a special chief item. One morning it was French toast and another a breakfast burrito for example. This Buffett is fine, but not worth $26 a person! In addition to being very over priced, you're automatically charged a 20% gratuity plus another 6% surcharge for simply being seated at a table. Expect your Buffett to cost about $78+ for two people (drinks not included). For drinks, expect your usual breakfast drinks. However, I asked this morning for a coffee to go and our waitress just brought an empty coffee cup and lid to our table. The pot that they had previously brought to our table was almost empty and not a thought was given to asking / offering a refill or just simply bringing a (filled) to-go coffee cup to our table. There's better options, only come here if you know what you're getting. read more

Vessel Restaurant - Wagyu special - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

This is a great restaurant with excellent food and great service! Prices are on point for a resort. I was here with a large group from work. We all sat at the bar area. The drinks were well crafted. I had a few La Moras this was an amazing drink with brandy tequila and ginger beer. My friends all ordered chiecken sandwiches and they were huge and tasted great. I ate earlier so I asked if they still had the Pretelzs which you can find on the happy hour menu. The Pretzel was huuuge!!! Wish they had honey mustard as a dipping sauce but oh well. The restaurant itself was very clean and inviting, probably one of the cleanest ive seen in a hotel restaurant. The only negatives, I was charged full price for the pretzel instead of the happy hour price. The early morning bartender couldn't make a mixed drink if his life depended on it. As soon as I ordered my new favorite drink La Mora I saw the bartender look at the menu to see what was in it. I should of just had him make me a mimosa. The drink was nothing like what was made by the previous bartender. I asked him if this was the same drink and he said yea. I showed him the photo and he took the drink back added something else to it and it was even worse. Lol. Photo shown below. Other than that it was a wonderful experience. read more

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I hadn't been to Vessel Restaurant, and when I went there on Thanksgiving with my family, I was impressed with the ambiance, delicious and beautifully laid out food and excellent service and asked Ryan, the manager if I could film the restaurant and and food for my YouTube channel Ask Jeannette. Ryan was kind enough to allow me to video my first experience at Vessel and as of today, Vessel has 8,200 views and keeps growing. For a beautiful view, excellent food and service I highly recommend Vessel Restaurant. read more

* Herb-Roasted Jidori Chicken 2/5 * Bone in pork chop 2/5 * Clam chowder 4/5 * Fried calamari salad 4/5 -Herb-Roasted Jidori Chicken is nothing special. The bed of rice it's on was plain. -Bone in pork chop was nicely cooked and smoky. Nothing I'd go back for and not exciting enough to finish. -Clam chowder was the star of the night. Plenty of clams and nice and creamy and smooth. -Fried calamari salad my girlfriend really enjoyed. Lightly fried, and really fresh greens. Good size portion. read more

Vessel Restaurant - Grilled Bone-In Pork Chop* 2/5 - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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The 4-star rating is heavily because of the marina view and the charred Octopus. This is the best Octopus I have ever had. I had this dish three different days in a row, it's that good. The restaurant seemed either to be short handed for staff, or the servers were just not attentive. Although on one day at lunch, the service was pretty good. We stayed at the resort, so this is an obvious decision for something to eat. I spoke to several people that were locals that come here often. Good fanfare. I would give this place another try and hopefully the service picks up and I can update the review to 5-stars. Cheers! read more

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My eggplant steak was Awful. The beets were not even cooked for $34 or 37. Do not order it. Disappointed. But my dessert was good. Waitress was nice. read more