Met up with some good friends, a long overdue reunion. This spot was less than a mile from our hotel (Del Mar Beach Hotel) and another friend recommended, so we decided on meeting here. Everyone really enjoyed their entrees. We had a huge lunch so we weren't super hungry for appetizers. Drinks weren't the best but we weren't really there to drink a lot anyway. The thing that made it memorable was the great view. We requested "outdoor" seating which I guess means indoor by the window for them. Not complaining however, since it was a little chilly at buggy and our view was great. In one shot, we could get a super closeup view of the water, the Del Mar fair, the race track and a train going through! Where else are you going to see that? All in all an enjoyable time with good friends and good food. Valet parking only it seems. I parked on the street which is basically the same or more, so valet is worth it. read more

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Came here for a company dinner last year and it was amazing. We had a private area that was to the side for ourselves with a great view, and the food and cocktails were amazing. Service was very good too! I got their special of the day which was a sea bass with scallops and OMG, this dish the envy of everyone. It tasted as good as it looked. read more

Brigantine - Seafood Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Ok so foods the same and good, service is amazing but Izabella is the bomb. Hospitality is about making us feel at home, she does that. Somebody please make her the boss, a server, a bartender! She's amazing and a dedicated hard worker read more

Love this spot - amazing views, great ambiance and lots of seating spaces. Very easy to get a reservation it seems that there is a lot of availability om Open Table. We came for brunch, and ordered salad and 2 entrees. Also got a mocktail and some coffee which was delicious. Caesar salad was great as well as the Macadamia Crusted fresh Mahi Mahi and Fish & Chips. Loved it can not wait to get back! read more

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I really enjoyed coming here with my family. They can accommodate large parties and takes reservations in advance. We had a total of 9 people, service was great! Most of us ordered the tempura lobster tacos. The lobster was fresh and had a good amount of meat. I love how the dish is balanced with veggies and carbs. The only downside to this location is parking. They only do valley parking for a $10 fee. It's a bit challenging to find street parking, so come in advance if you plan on finding self parking on the streets. read more

Brigantine - CRISPY LOBSTER TEMPURA TACOS - Seafood Near Me - Del Mar, California

I always enjoy trying seafood restaurants. For dinner, we sat at the front patio and had oysters on the half shell and calamari for appetizers, with a dirty martini. Blue cheese olives are always a plus! I debated between ordering the macadamia crusted mahi mahi and the wok-charred ahi, which my friend had. The mahi mahi was good but will get the ahi next time. I've heard great things about their happy hour, so will stop by next time I'm in the area. And I hope to sit inside or on the back patio, as I didn't feel the atmosphere described in other reviews. read more

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We attended the Pet & Reptile Expo held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, and decided to stop somewhere nearby for lunch. I remembered people telling me about the Brigantine, which happens to only be 4 min. from where we were. Since it is a Saturday, I was afraid it would be busy. They only have Valet at this restaurant, so if you come on a busy day and don't want to valet, you may be stuck trying to find beach street parking across the street... and let me tell you... at 12:30pm, it's next to impossible without a hefty wait, driving around unless you have some luck! We opted to Valet, and it was only $10. The valet was very nice and welcoming! Super quick. We entered the building and immediately saw the view. The hostesses welcomed us and asked if we had reservations. We didnt, and she said they are full at the moment but we can have a seat anywhere in the bar area. There were MANY open tables along with the bar seating. We opted for the 4-top on the far right side next to the fireplace. It was a half booth with 2 chairs. From here, we had a great view of the Del Mar Race tracks AND the lagoon to our right. I noticed they have a wrap around patio that has a small wrap-around shelf like table so that you can place your drink or food on. I can imagine the outside gets packed...but at 12:30pm on a Saturday, it actually was pretty open! We waited a bit and were greeted by our server who gave us the bar menu and regular lunch menu. When he came back, we ordered an IPA and a 9oz. Seaglass Riesling along with the half dozen oysters and 3 baked oysters. Our drinks quickly came out, and shortly after that, our oysters. The oysters were WONDERFUL. They came with lemon and a condiment cup of cocktail sauce with a dab of horseradish in the middle. Honestly? Thats all you needed. They were fresh and so tasty. The baked oysters were good. I preferred the chilled but my boyfriend really liked both. When our server came back, we ordered our entrees. I ordered the signature grilled marinated swordfish and my boyfriend got the lobster tempura tacos. Food took a bit of time...but with that view? You really dont mind. Once it all came out, we saw they were nicely plated. The flavor of BOTH dishes were great. The ONLY thing I noticed was the cook on my swordfish as it was dry BUT since it had an herbed butter on top...it definitely helped save the dish. We both finished our whole plate haha our server brought the dessert menu, and we chose the Brig Mud Pie. It was a SOLID way to end our meal. It could easily feed 4 people sharing...but since we have a sweet tooth, we finished it. I 100% recommend checking this spot out. Their views are gorgeous and the food is good. Again, keep in mind the parking and if you have a specific area you want to sit, make sure to make a reservation. Other than that, enjoy! read more

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Visited for my birthday last week and Sarah, our server, was nothing short of exceptional! She was kind, personable, and had a great sense of humor! We were sat at a middle table with a stunning view of the terrace and Del Mar race track in the background. The food was delightful as always -- not pictured but we also ordered a side of parmesan truffle fries and calamari strips that were on of the table's favorites. Thank you Sarah for the efficient service and positive experience on my birthday! We'll be back read more

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The serviice was great and good food. We had oysters on the half shell, chicken pot pie soup, house salad, crab cake, Caesar, sand dabs, and French dip. I would have liked more blue cheese on the salad, but it was good. The only issue was the cold temp and some rain coming in on us on this unusual Christmas Eve. We should have asked to move... read more

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*Haiku: Brigantine Fresh seafood choices Must try for Happy Hour Just $7! --- $7 Happy Hour - Mon 3p-close, Tues-Fri & Sun 3-6p My family and I came for evening happy hour specials and were blown away by the fresh seafood selections, all at affordable prices. We just can't get over the huge happy hour portion sizes. We ordered a bunch of items and enjoyed family-style. Must order happy hour menu items (all at $7 each!): 3 Oysters on the Half Shell, Shrimp Cocktail (generous, giant peeled shrimp), Classic Calamari Strips (meaty, lightly breaded pieces), Bowl of Clam Chowder (comfort in a bowl), Artichoke Fritters, Ahi Tuna Slider, Fried Fish Slider (love the sliders came with fries). Brigantine is an upscale restaurant with gorgeous ocean views. You can also catch a glimpse of some horse racing during Del Mar racing season. There's even a huge patio lawn/garden area where you can host a birthday or cocktail party. Service was stellar, friendly, and efficient. This spot is perfect for date night or a girl's get-together. read more

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Our server has been with the restaurant for 17 years!!! I find the best dining experiences are at places where not only the food is worth recommending, but the staff is worth recommending. At this moment about three restaurants come to mind from Malibu to San Diego that are truly providing quality customer service. Even if I spend $300 to take the family out I'm not questioning a dime because every cent is well worth it. I stumbled across Brigantine when another area fave was closed and after the drive down I didn't want to turn back. Boy am I glad we didn't. This day my family and I sat on the upper dining patio overlooking the beautiful blue skies and feeling the slight breeze with the racetrack within view. The seats were comfortable, the server served with knowledgeable and had a heart for the place. Food was so rich & flavorful. I enjoyed the crab topped halibut this day, my spouse enjoyed the swordfish and our family had the macadamia crusted fish and sand dabs. Our dairy sensitivity was accomodated, even the bar tender was very thoughtful about our drink as one was just a tad to bitter for our palate she kindly remade it while maintaining the integrity of the mix. We started with the calamari strips and coconut crusted shrimp, we could've eaten a plate each the dishes were robust and fairly well balanced in flavor. The only bit of advice I'd offer for a better appetizer experience is offering the horseradish based cocktail sauce over the sweeter undertones of the one currently served with the calamari strips. I would eat here weekly if I were able to. Perfect for special occasions or just stopping off for bar service expecting an exceptional spirit. Bravo Brigantine! read more

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We had blake at the bar he was amazing and very helpful, food was great l had clam chowder and my husband had brigs fish tacos

This is one of my faves. The whole vibe is great. It's nice and feels classy without being overly pretentious. I usually come for happy hour, and sit at the bar, but this time I brought colleagues for lunch. Our server was fabulous. Everyone in my party was from out of town, and loved the tacos. The classic brig tacos are cooked just the right way. Just enough crispiness. Not too bready. The Cobb salad had so much crab and shrimp, it was hard to finish it all. BTW: It's valet only, unless you wanna play chicken crossing over coast highway. read more

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在圣地亚哥海鲜圈小有名气的Brigantine，这次体验让我明白了什么叫"安全牌打到无聊"---- 不难吃，但吃完就像看了场没有高潮的电影。 生蚝的"瘦身计划" 新鲜度是有的，但生蚝个头实在不够肥美，柠檬汁滴下去瞬间淹没在壳里。 对比附近水产市场的饱满口感，这里的更像是"青春期还没吃胖"的版本。 不会出错的平庸哲学 · 鱼肉Taco：鱼肉新鲜，但酱汁像在超市冷藏区见过 · 海鲜沙拉：蔬菜爽脆，调味却中规中矩毫无记忆点 · 总结：每道菜都像在说 "我合格了，别骂我" 最讨厌的美式Valet Parking，强制性收费服务 真实评分（满分5） 食材新鲜度： 调味创意： 性价比： 停车体验： 记忆点：失忆中... read more

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Service was reasonable. Fried shrimp was cold and dry. Potatoes were cold and dry. No knife on table. French Toast cold and soggy. No Lemonade. The manager, Zoe, responded to this post immediately and offered a sincere apology. I would like to add that this was the only time in 7 or 8 meals in the last few years that my wife and I were not impressed with our experience. Zoe assured me this was a one-off and asked us to give them another chance. We will go back for dinner in the near future. read more

Oddly enough, I've been curious about the Brigantine for decades, passing by it along the 101, but it's only been in the last year that I have finally come. Why the change? A friend of mine loves the spot, so I have had half a dozen opportunities to enjoy food and drinks at this iconic San Diego establishment. One should understand from the start that this venue caters to a certain clientele. Its reasonably-sized parking lot is valet parking only, and at a pretty hefty rate. If you don't want to pay for parking, expect to do a bit of walking. Parking is ample in the area, but as a pedestrian you might be navigating some pretty big thoroughfares. Once inside, however, the Brigantine is an inviting space: cleanly and handsomely decorated and featuring a very handsome bar area, it is a great spot to sit and dine. It's only negative (in my book, at least) are the large screen monitors broadcasting sports events. Honestly, there are heaps of sports bars in San Diego--and the management should take note of how many patrons are NOT paying attention. That said, a balcony also wraps around its southern and western sides, affording views of the lagoon, the race track, the beach and Del Mar beyond. It's wonderful on a warm summer evening. Service, too, is generally excellent. Waitstaff always seems a bit harried, but they manage to maintain their aplomb and efficiency. Kudos on that score. Prices are not bad. The regular menu items are about what one might expect: slightly overpriced burgers and salads, but not outrageous. Their happy hour menu is actually a pretty good deal. Potables are about what one would expect: beers and wines that were chosen by a corporate management, but fine; a few signature cocktails. No complaints on this score. What is really a letdown, however, is the food itself. I have not tried the oyster bar, so I can't speak to its qualities. But for the rest? Typical bar and grill dishes, with a bit of a seafood theme. The tastes, textures and plating come right out of a Cisco playbook. There is absolutely nothing interesting (let alone unique) about the menu. It is dull, unimaginative food, sometimes competently prepared and sometimes rather sloppily thrown together. For that reason, I doubt I would ever come to the Brigantine by choice. Given its location as a destination spot, I doubt management gives two tosses about improving its menu. The space and location are enough to insure a steady stream of customers. And it IS a pleasant space. Just don't expect too much... read more

Decent happy hour in the bar area. They have good views from the outside seating area. The food and service here is good, can't go wrong with a fish taco Decent happy hour drink prices as well. I would recommend for a lunch or dinner date. read more

We have mixed feelings when it comes to Brigantine. Our server was "off" today. Not friendly as the servers we're use to having. The oysters were good. The Old Fashion and Bloody Mary were mediocre at best. We hear it's a fun place during Happy Hour, but at midday, not so much. The restaurant has a nice view of the race track. I doubt that we'll visit again, but that's just us. read more

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I am a brigantine lover and when sitting at the bar Fernando is typically always our bartender and is always hustling with how busy it is here. We have loved coming on Saturday and sitting on the other side of the bar and you can see part of the horse track so you can see the part of the races from your seat. Parking around here is mostly paid but if you just go around the corner you can find some street parking that you do not have to pay for. We decided to enjoy some of the calamari strips this time as well as the swordfish taco which are my favorite tacos here. I really love this location being so close to the beach it is the perfect spot to come and enjoy after a long beach day. read more

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The Brigantine in Del Mar is a local favorite of the small SD chain. it is located by the lagoon and Del Mar racetrack. The restaurant has an outdoor room with great view of the lagoon and the Del Mar racetrack. Several appetizers shared. Brussel sprouts were delicious. Calamari was somewhat unique in the preparation. Grilled octopus dish was fantastic. Properly grillled and served with chorizo chickpeas and a great sauce. For main courses we shared Mac encrusted mahi mahi, grilled ahi and scallops. All of the dishes were excellent! Services were excellent read more

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Friendly Staff, Welcoming Atmosphere, Beautiful View of Del Mar Racetrack, ample seating with panoramic windows. There is a $10 Valet Parking fee to park in their lot. Valet attendants are very cordial. We sat in the Bar Lounge area and enjoyed a spacious booth with views of their open kitchen, bar and views of Del Mar Vistas. The vodka martinis were delicious and our waitress was so kind and knowledgable about menu. The menu is vast and their seafood offerings are fantastic! We ordered two of their seafood specialties: 1 blackened swordfish plate served with mashed potatoes and Broccolini. 2. Fish & Chips served with coleslaw. Both of these dishes were fantastic and I highly recommend this restaurant ! read more

Brigantine - Blackened Swordfish - Seafood Near Me - Del Mar, California

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We were so excited to try Happy Hour at the Brigantine because we saw some great reviews. We order sliders and soup to start. The fish sliders tasted like they were fried too long and the fries were squishy and sat in oil too long but not fried at all. We also ordered fish and chips and the fries were once again soggy and not very eatable. We did have their amazing coconut shrimp that always hit the spot. The server was new, when we requested salad dressing on the side, our salads came with dressing on them and with a different dressing, that we did not request, on the side. We had to ask for our empty plates to be taken because we didn't have enough room on the table, and we also had to request refills on water by the end of our meal because we didn't receive any. It always a great ambiance at the Brigantine, but the service and the food was just not up to its usual standards. read more

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Great happy hour with lots of options and stunning views on a beautiful sunny day I wanted a quick snack because I missed lunch and had plans for dinner. Happy Hour is from 3-6, Tu-F and Sunday, 3 to close on Mondays. This made me happy! Everything is $7 which is quite reasonable. I got the 3 oysters on the half shell and fried fish slider, which was enough to hold me over for the time being. Oysters were a great deal and fresh. Fish slider was tasty and comes with fries but considering it's a single slider, I think I could've picked another choice to get more bang for my buck. Downside of this location is that there is only valet parking on site. There is metered parking across the street or free parking in the neighborhood. read more

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Service is nice. Good view to the Del Mar racing field. The service actress is nice but less experience. We ask recommended a white vine. She didn't know any about that but just pretend she knows and recommended something totally not related but expensive. read more

Took my wife out to a Valentines Day dinner date while visiting my parents (hooray for free child care!) and was looking forward to their fish tacos . Set up a reservation on their patio for 5:15pm so we could watch the sunset and we got set up in the back corner, nice and quiet with a great view of the racetrack, coaster train, and dog beach. Went to order around 5:30pm and noticed that they didn't have any fish tacos on the menu. What?!? I know it's been a few years since I'd been here, but I'd been craving their delicious fish tacos all week! TBH, I was looking forward to that more than what maybe would come later, if ya know what I mean Come to find out that they only serve their fish tacos in the bar or dining room, and not on the patio... uggh what a drag... thought about asking to move tables but we had already ordered an appetizer and our spot was great otherwise. Ended up getting a delicious octopus appetizer, a Brussel sprout salad, a shrimp and crab Louie salad for my main dish, and crab-stuffed, bacon-wrapped shrimp for my wife. It was all delicious, and the service was great, but I still wish I had those tacos... maybe I'll come back again to the bar the next time I'm in town. We'll have to wait and see. read more

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Met a friend for lunch at 1:30pm on Monday - not empty but we had no wait for a table next to the open-air window adjacent to the bar. Worth nothing the chairs at our two-top were spacious with seat and back cushions. I've had multiple back surgeries and it's not easy to tell what the seating situation will be, they were very comfortable. Service was excellent, I had a delicious french dip with fries and my friend had the swordfish combo they are running for their 30th anniversary that comes with clam chowder. He agreed everything was delicious. Valet parking here is $10, meters across the street are $8 for two hours - the only reason I didn't valet this time was that I didn't want them to deal with how dirty my car was. read more

Our second visit was just the other night while our first experience was back in October of 2020 for our Anniversary - we are not local. Location is most excellent. We made reservations for each visit and would suggest. Staff is attentive personable and well versed in the menu options - and - they are worth paying attention to. This time around we came on a Monday evening and fully embraced the happy hour opportunities - which run until 9:30. By sitting at the bar (a must to enjoy this pricing option). Our intimate table was along the full view glass-rail edge to take in the great views - highly recommend. With happy hour pricing we enjoyed nicely priced spirits and deals on small plate options this time around by enjoying delectable raw oysters, the Brussel sprouts and grilled octopus with the only less than option in our order being the crab cakes. These are not lump crab with full texture ingredients - they are finely shredded and lacked the texture and full bodied flavor we are more accustomed too...only downside. The Monday deal is worth considering - but this spot is worth the visit most definitely - great for a special occasion / date night: read more

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brigantine: good happy hour in bar, good views from patio. Staff is usually on point. A negative is the valet have to partake in but the valet staff are nice at least. oysters are a good choice read more

We've been coming to this Brig for many years now. The main appeal to us is the outside deck with an stunning view of the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the lagoon, and the Ocean. On a warm and sunny day it may get a little warm if you're in the direct sun, so beware. The happy hour menu is always a solid choice. We typically opt in for some cocktails, which are always a solid choice here, and some shareables. The service is always speedy, even when busy. This is a perfect spot for a sunny afternoon stop. read more

Brigantine - Beef Dip - Seafood Near Me - Del Mar, California

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The place is in an amazing spot with so much potential, but the service is not great! Possibly under staffed. We made a reservation for noon, for our anniversary. Arriving we had to wait at least 10 minutes in a si gle file line to get into the lobby. We were seated and sat for at least 20 minutes before our waitress came. She never returned to ask if we needed anything. We had to ask the bus boy for all of the things we needed including our silverware,napkins, and refills! The clam chowder is just ok. I was surprised. Pretty expensive to be so disappointed read more

For the location in Del Mar. We came on a Friday early evening. The location is phenomenal as its across the street from the beach. Service was good but they were challenged because there was a large beach event with hundreds of people and we all came over for drinks afterwards. Bartenders and cocktail drinks were great. However, we tried to order several food items at the bar as light snacks. The only item that came were french fries (tasted good). The other 3 or 4 dishes never got to the kitchen. I told the staff at least 3 times the items we wanted to order. Either they did not hear me, chose to ignore the order because they were busy, or they passed the message to other staff and the order just got dropped. Will I be back? Perhaps on a non-busy day. read more

After a long absence, we visited Brigantine in Del Mar for Happy Hour. We first ate at Brigantine over 20 years ago when we lived in Del Mar ... walking distance to this restaurant. I would say that most tables offer an ocean view or a view of the San San Dieguito Lagoon and Del Mar Fairgrounds. The ambiance is nautical and warm. Food and service are good. Valet parking or find a space on the street. read more

Nice ambiance and great food and service. Enjoy the scenery and meals with friends. Parking a bit challenging but worth it. read more

As a SD native I've been going to the Brig forever. There are so many things I love there and for the most part it's super consistent and delicious. The service is always great as well. The Del Mar location is unmatched with its views. With all that said the clam chowder is so bad now! It's literally like potato soup. Where are the clams?? Recently on a trip up to San Francisco my husband & I ate at Tadich Grill and ordered their clam chowder. It was unbelievable and every single bite had clams. Chunks of clams...so good! The brig needs to up their game bc Saturday we came for lunch & ordered some and it was terrible. Too much flour or thickener of some sort, all potatoes and little tiny chips of clams (maybe) not sure. Come on now. You can do better than this. Until then I'm never ordering it again which is a disappointment :( read more

Expensive but amazing. You should try here. It is worth the price. Great service, great views, and great food. Mahi mahi was super good with great risotto. Octopus was cooked perfectly and had a ton of flavor. Friendly waiters and just an overall great experience. I would heavily recommend going here for dinner read more

Brigantine - GRILLED SPANISH OCTOPUS - Seafood Near Me - Del Mar, California

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We come here for happy hour when we're in town sometimes and view of the racetrack is great and the ambiance of the restaurant is nice, modern and comfortable. The happy hour menu is well priced, but the problem is the service at the bar - it's awful! The guys can't be bothered to take your order or acknowledge you and see how things are and often have an empty glass waiting to be refilled. I'm always underwhelmed and annoyed. The food is fine but nothing spectacular. read more

Arrived a the Brigantine Del Mar for an 11:30 am Sunday Brunch reservation. We took advantage of valet service (currently $8.00) and entered the restaurant. We were greeted by a friendly hostess who told us our table for five was ready and available. She led us to our table which had a beautiful view of Del Mar Beach and the Del Mar racetrack. We were introduced to our server Amber. She was outstanding and took good care of us during our meal. She was friendly, personable and stayed on top of things whenever we needed drinks refilled or other requests. Upon viewing the menu, I chose to go with the Lobster Tacos. It included tender chunks of lobster perfectly seasoned with a marinated cucumber jicama salad and cilantro remoulade. All in a soft, blue corn tortilla. The dish was topped off with a side of garlic truffle fries and house veggies (steamed green beans and carrots). Overall, I enjoyed my meal, the outstanding service, the beautiful views and the casual vibe at this wonderful location in Del Mar. read more

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The Brigantine has been on my bucket list to try solely for the view as it faces the Del Mar Race Track and has an ocean view on the other side of it. We happened to pop in at the start of happy hour (Mon 3-9:30, Tue-Fri, Sun 3-6pm). Only the "lounge/bar" area was open at 3pm as full service dining doesn't start until 5pm, which was fine for us as we just wanted to sip on a drink, nibble on appetizers and take the view in. We sat ourselves on the back patio overlooking the racetrack. It's simply so marvelous. Service to start was abysmal. After waiting too long to be acknowledged I had to stop a server to ask for a menu who was helping someone next to us. After repeatedly attending to those guests and still offering no menu we meandered around to grab one ourselves and decided to order from the bartender. While we enjoyed our time overall begging for service has got to be the biggest offense in my book and I'm thankful there's plenty of other restaurants around that can offer a more welcoming atmosphere. read more

Brigantine - Happy Hour menu April 2025 - Seafood Near Me - Del Mar, California

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We hadn't been to Brigantine for a while because we live north now, and I realize how much I missed it. A great happy hour, fantastic service by Katie and just the overall energy at Brigantine makes the trip worth it. If you're ever at Del Mar racetrack there's a whole bunch of places around, but Brigantine must be on the list. Our dinner mate had Sandabs, which were some of the best I've ever had with the risotto. Clam chowder, fantastic oysters fresh out of the ocean. Drink selection is really fun and just adds to the overall vibe. Had a great night. Thanks, Brigantine. read more

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Had lunch with my wife and this was the first time we have been to Brigantine in Del Mar. The setting could not be more perfect as we sat on the patio with a view of Del Mar race track and the ocean. We found the food to be delicious and well presented. The person waiting on us however was a bit disappointing. They were cordial, but didn't seem very attentive to our needs. Like most restaurants these days, you have several staff bringing out drinks, then your appetizers and finally your main dish. Most of them only care that they brought out what they were suppose to and that's it. A tell for me is when it comes my drinks, especially my water glass. When I have to remind them that I could use more water, that tells me they have not been trained properly in the service of their paying customers. Attention to details is very important. If would benefit Brigantine to teach their staff on the proper methods of taking care of their patrons. Will we be back. Most likely, but not very soon. read more