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Brigantine - Portside Pier

3.9 (2.3k reviews)
Open • 11:00 am - 9:30 pm

Brigantine - Portside Pier Photos

BRIGANTINE - PORTSIDE PIER ATMOSPHERE

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Casual
Touristy
Romantic
Classy

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Recommended Reviews - Brigantine - Portside Pier

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Clam Chowder
Jasmine P.

Service was good at this Brigantine at Portside Pier. Jack was a very attentive server for our group of 9 + one child. The food was not impressive. This place is more about the views than the food. Clam chowder was ok and not fresh as you'd expect from a high end seafood restaurant. I ordered the Tiger Shrimp and grits: the shrimp was good but you only get 4 and the grits were too salty. I didn't taste the lemon pan sauce that was described in the menu for that dish as it was overpowered by the salt. My husband ordered the Certified Sterling New York Steak. The steak was more tasty than my entree but my husband said he didn't enjoy it either. We dined with our elders who mostly ordered the mahi mahi, salmon, or halibut. The elders enjoyed their food as it was soft to chew and not heavy on other spices or flavors, just salt. The child in our group enjoyed his buttered noodles and fries. This Brigantine location is near downtown right on the pier. Convenient for cruise ship passengers and people downtown. We dined with a big group during a weeknight. We enjoyed the nighttime views of the city. I was lucky to score a parking spot in the lot just in front of the Brig, but on the weekends you could get stuck in this lot as many people usually wait in the through lane for others to leave. It's one way in and one way out and difficult to get back to the parking lot entrance once you've exited. If you can park somewhere else and walk (or take a rideshare/taxi), it might be a better experience.

Lobster Tacos (near)  Fish and Chips (far)
Tianna D.

Service was great and the view by the windows are gorgeous. It makes for a nice business dinner place with how nicely the people dress up here, turning it into a high end experience. The food is well made and tastes amazing but on the pricier end. Would I come here regularly? Probably not. I would make this into a special occasions spot though. 4/5. Boyfriend liked his fish and chips very much.

Shrimp and crab fondue
Jessica J.

Came here for a light dinner of some drinks and appetizers after walking around San Diego for the day. The view is worth a million bucks, it was a beautiful warm San Diego night so we sat outside and enjoyed our wine and cocktails and many apps. The coconut shrimp was by far the best of them with the baked oysters coming in a close second. The clams were also very good with the chorizo and curry broth. Everyone else enjoyed the shrimp and crab fondue but it wasn't for me. The staff was very friendly although a little slow with drinks at some times but it's a huge place and I know they were running around to take care of everyone. Would love to come back for dinner as all the food looked delicious.

Marinated Skirt Steak Taco
Karl A.

Another great meal at Brigantine! We got a table on the glass overlooking the water. The service was really good and we had some amazing cocktails fast. We started with some oysters, they were a little disappointing, barely any meat on them. My fish and chips were delicious. Nice and hearty with a light, flaky batter. Such a great venue! Great food, great drinks, great service!

Shrimp Cobb salad
John Y.

Four of us went and enjoyed our meal! Great selection of Seafood and the shrimp cocktail was huge, I believe 8 shrimp! I had the Tiger shrimp stuffed with crabmeat as a main entree, should have had one more shrimp only 4 served, but it was delicious. Another guest had the shrimp and crabmeat Cobb salad! Huge portion! They enjoyed very much! Another guest with dietary restrictions requested the Halibut to be grilled without butter. The waiter Brockton was very accommodating and provided excellent service! The Halibut came out great! We shared a s'mores brownie which finished off a great night! The restaurant was all windows surrounded by beautiful views. Sailboats coming in and out of the harbor! Overall a very nice night! Highly recommend!

Fresh potato chips
Kristin C.

Chips were warm and delicious, not salty. Mister and I split the crab cake benedict. It was okay, asked for more hollandaise as you can see they hardly include any. Got a taste the fish and chips and it is very delicious. The fish was so fresh and tasty, the coating was not greasy or thick. Very nice relaxing restaurant. The TV was faced towards our direction so we were able to watch Padres baseball. There were 9 of us and the price was very reasonable. Staff are friendly, lots of parking, about 10 minutes from the airport.

Michelle R.

Had family in town and we were craving a great San Diego vibe so we made reservations for a 4pm Saturday early dinner. We found parking across the street at Waterfront park (which said no parking from 8/19 and on) so we lucked out with it being the 15th. We got a great table outdoors on the side. I wore a light jacket which was perfect for the afternoon breeze. It was a tad bit chilly for my nephew so bring a light jacket of you're outside. We had 2 mocktails - the raspberry and sunrise drinks. Both were good! For appetizers, we had the Brussels sprouts and coconut shrimp. Both great! I had the cauliflower "steak" which was decent. They cooked it more unique and had a bed of cooked veggies below the cauliflower with a light tomato sauce. My husband got the steak and said it was average. Our nephew got the chicken cordon bleu and was a little underwhelmed by it. The server was really understanding and kept asking if we wanted to switch it out or get something else to go but my nephew declined. Teenagers can be picky eaters so it's totally okay. Must try; Brussel sprouts appetizer. It's such a good combination of cheese, meat and charred brussel sprouts. Highly recommend

Sam P.

I was in town for a work conference and before I head to head to the hotel decided to stop here for lunch over the water! The weather was typical San Diego perfect so enjoyed the outside patio out over the water! They are known for their fish tacos but as I wanted something lighter decided on a seafood salad! This dish is simply prepared and they let the seafood which was shrimp and crab Louis, be the star Everything was fresh and delicious but it just needed a tad more something - maybe dressing as it was all in the bottom under the salad. However it was still a great bowl! Service as fast and friendly and it was a great way to start the week prior to all day meetings!

Local beer ;)
Ben C.

Known for seating open air right above the water views, convenience off the boulevard walk and everyday seafood menu. They take advantage of the constant tourist flow and the prices reflect it $$$. It is busy at dinnertime, but lethargic service from entitled waiters is a common complaint. A few tables looked like date night ~ if you like tight seating with a lot of movement and crowd noise, this is your night out on the town. Lucky ones get the waterside view but the trade off is the amplified noise reflection off the glass window guard. The steamed clams arrived with almost all empty shells and cold broth. Crab cake was good but not jumbo as stated.

Menu
Connie L.

We came right at sunset and it's so beautiful! Tomato bisque- it was creamy and good. Its fine but nothing special. Lobster tempura tacos- The lobster was okay, could use more flavor. The aioli was good. The fries were great. Not too filling but was pretty okay overall. Oysters- They were huge! The sauce on the side was a bit like a soupy ketchup in my opinion but it was fine. I think it was a fair price with how large and creamy the oysters were. Fish and chips- fish were cripsy and big. Fries were a little stale, it should have been the same fries as the ones we had with the lobster tempura tacos but it wasn't... overall I would get it again but I hope they make the fries consistently Service was okay. We wanted to share the tomato bisque so we asked for bowls and spoons. We had to ask for bowls and spoons three times. They finally brought out bowls but no spoons. The soup was lukewarm by then and we gave up asking. We had to eat the soup with the fries or tip the bowl... I mean they were super nice though. Maybe it was just a busy day. The view was absolutely gorgeous... I would come again just to see it.

Menu
Erin G.

We stopped by for a cocktail and a quick snack in the late afternoon. Great location on the water. We were seated quickly. We sat by a large window overlooking the water. Once I read the menu I wished we were staying for dinner. I cannot remember the name of the cocktail I ordered (I think it was the strawberry rose lemonade) but it hit the spot. I ordered a bowl of clam chowder and it was very good. There were so many things on the menu I wanted to try that I wish I lived locally. This is one more recommendation I have for dining in San Diego.

Amanda L.

Just went with a group of 13 to enjoy dinner after a conference and had one of the best experiences yet! We love this location and often choose this Brigantine over the other locations, because you can't beat the views and the atmosphere. It was our lucky night, because we found parking right away, but I have had experiences in the past where parking took a good 30 minutes. We have also had times where we choose not to go, because we just don't want to deal with parking, but not going means we are missing out on some pretty amazing food. Our server was OUTSTANDING (I believe his name was Josh). He made our night enjoyable and was super patient with our large party! We got the surf and turf special that he recommended and OH MY GOSH....I need to eat it again! I could not get enough; the lobster was so good and flavorful. For appetizers, we did start with the Brussel sprouts and the French onion soup and both were PHENOMENAL. The French onion didn't have the crunch and a lot of cheese like others, but the flavor was amazing! For drinks, I was having their Old Fashions and they were soooo tasty. Was the perfect drink for the night. Dessert, we had a Mud Pie and Apple Crisp. The only thing we were disappointed with was the apple crisp, because we wanted it to be warmer and a little more crispier, but it truly did taste like Thanksgiving in your mouth! I should have taken more pictures, but we were too excited for our dishes, so we just dove right in! Gives me another reason to go back!

Interior
Justin C.

Came with a large group of 15 for a dinner reservation. The restaurant has beautiful views of the harbor. Service was efficient. I was torn between the lobster tacos and swordfish and the waiter recommended swordfish. I was not disappointed. The fish was cooked very well, juicy, and tender. Broccolini was also a great addition. Unfortunately, the delicious dish was a bit small. I felt like it could have used a larger portion of sides. Overall I had a good time at Brigantine enjoying the ocean views over dinner.

Strawberry lemonade cocktail

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Brigantine - Portside Pier Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Brigantine - Portside Pier

Are reservations needed?

I walked in. However if later in the evening, I would def reserve.

Is there a dress code?

No, you can wear what you'd like—dress for your occasion. Every time I've been there, the dress code has been pretty casual.

Is valet parking available?

Yes, the 4 restaurants share valet. There is also self parking within the block.

Do they accept apple pay?

Not when we went

Are dogs allowed on the patio?

We only allow service dogs.

Is there cover if it rains?

Some seats are covered. Just ask for them

Happy hour oyster?

Hello Hugh, we do not offer a happy hour at the Brigantine. There is a happy hour on the property at Ketch tasting deck featuring two dollars off of apps and drafts. However, they do not have raw oysters available. Have a great evening!

Is there a corkage fee? Do not respond if you do not know.

Hello! It is $20 per bottle of wine that is NOT on our wine menu. Hope to see you soon!

How can I speak to someone at the restaurant? I have been calling since yesterday and nobody picks up the phone?

Call the corporate office. The restaurant is a real shit show. Poorly run. Brigantine Corporate Office… 

Is this restaurant dog friendly?

"No" at the Brigantine on Harbor Blvd and "yes" at the one in Imperial Beach and Coronado.

Do you have happy hour menu?

Very few restaurants are offering a happy hour nowadays, but I know one that is and their food is delicious! Go to Isola on India between Beech and Cedar). Their happy hour is 2:30-5 pm on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday.

Can i bring my small dog and dine at the outdoor area?

Hi Richelle, We only allow service dogs.

Is the wine Wednesday half price bottle sale in the entire restaurant or just the bar area?

The entire restaurant.

Where do we park to come here?

Even on weekdays, it's very difficult to find parking. I just pay $10 to valet park. It's worth that to not have to circle around and around looking for parking.

What is dress code before 5pm?

No dress code

For walk-ins...what time is the best time to visit?

There isn’t ANY good time to go to The Brig Portside. The food is overpriced and EXTREMELY poor quality. The servers couldn’t even get our bill right. Go else where like the Fish Market or Top of the Market a few blocks south.

Do you do anything special for birthdays?

Yes we do a slice of birthday mud pie. Be sure to let your server know.

I was planning on bringing a large group of ladies in tomorrow, 8/20, for a happy hour meet and greet.Yelp pics show 3:30-6:00 but one of the ladies pointed out that the website says 2:30-4:00! Which is it? Because the latter would not work for us.

Just call restaurant. They are accomodating for large groups.

Hello I made reservations for 6 pm, and was wondering if reservations are timed or could we take our time? We would like to stay for sunset. Thank you.

The unspoken courtesy rule for dining when there it is usually a full customer day is not to extend 90 minutes. There's an entire two mile length of the harbor nearby you can easily give up your table go for a walk and sit along the harbor

Walk ins welcome today?

Yes walk-ins are always welcome!

View All 44 Questions

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Gata - Inside view behind the bar, perfect soft lighting.  Very romantic casual spot to stop!

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Brigantine - Portside Pier - seafood - Updated October 2026

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