I had a great experience at The Brigantine on Poway Road The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the restaurant was exceptionally clean. From the moment we walked in, the host staff greeted us with a smile and seated us right away. Our server, Alyssa, was outstanding. She was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed without ever making us feel rushed. I ordered the fish tacos, and they were absolutely delicious. To finish the meal, we had the creme brulee, and it was prepared perfectly with a crisp caramelized top. I definitely recommend saving room for dessert. If you're in the Poway area and looking for great food, excellent service, and a welcoming atmosphere, I highly recommend checking out The Brigantine. read more

I came here for happy hour with my parents on a random Thursday around 5PM. It wasn't too crowded--plenty of parking, seats, and tables. We were seated almost immediately. It was my first time trying the happy hour here, so we were going in a bit blind. Frankly, the happy hour menu isn't that extensive. We ordered the artichoke fritters, potato skins, clam chowder, and flatbread. The flatbread lacks any description on the menu, so we were very uncertain about what we were ordering, haha. I also got a piña colada. It turns out the flatbread is very sad-looking. It looks like they dumped some barbecue sauce chicken onto half a piece of flatbread. Very unimpressed with the presentation and flavor. Meanwhile, the artichoke fritters were oddly sour...? I don't have artichoke that often, so I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be like that...Regardless, let's just say we didn't finish it. The potato skins were okay, but how can you mess that up? It tastes exactly how it looks; nothing crazy or special. Finally, the clam chowder was very rich and creamy. You can't really taste the clam. I actually quite liked this dish, though my parents would vehemently disagree. Piña colada was very icy and watered down. Overall, I wouldn't come back to Brigantine..at least not for happy hour. Yes, it's clean and open inside, but the food leaves much to be desired. read more

Brigantine - pina colada - Seafood Near Me - Poway, California

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This Brigantine is close to the Poway AMC. A perfect spot before or after the movies. We missed happy but decided to go as a large group after a movie. 8 of us found a long table in the bar area. We split some appetizers which were are delicious. We were very disappointed in the kids meals. They were inedible. Unfortunately the kids didn't tell us until the end of the meal. The chicken strips were noticeably Burt when they first came to the table. We sent it back, but apparently they were still inedible the second time as well. The noodles with butter were also inedible. So bad the child didn't want to eat them there or take them home. The fried artichoke, Brussels sprouts, salads and fish tacos were up to our usual standards. Very happy about that. A few cocktails were order as well. One thing our large group appreciated was being able to pay with the QR code and pay by item. It made it easy for us to all pay for ourselves and kids if we had any with us as well as our individual drinks, alcoholic or non alcoholic. Thank you for making that an option. No one wants to do the math or be left paying for someone else's cocktail. read more

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As one of the few more upscale and nicer restaurants in the Poway area, I felt my experience was average. The restaurant itself is spacious, modern, and beautiful inside. They did a great job with the decor. Plenty of free parking in the lot. A great venue for date night, a business meeting, or a celebratory meal. Service was great. Our drinks were constantly full and our server checked in periodically to see if we needed anything. The part that was a bit disappointing was the food. I felt the lunch prices were pretty high especially for the quantity and quality (everything was over $20). The "jumbo" crab cake barely could feed one person, the sand dabs fish was dry, the risotto gummy, and the ahi missing more rich flavor. Brigantine needs to focus on making their food better if they want to justify the high prices or else I'm not sure if return. read more

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I was recommended this place by a coworker and being away from home i craved seafood. I stopped in for dinner my waitress Jules was friendly and attentive. Food: Coconut shrimp- some burnt peices wish it had strong coconut taste. Nice salsa on top Baked Oysters- topping not needed these weren't my favorite they lacked flavor Brussel sprouts - delicious the char, the seasoning and the pork belly yum Bacon wrapped crab stuffed shrimp w/ potatoes and green beans - green beans steamed but had about no seasoning. Mashed potatoes were creamy yet could use a touch of salt. Shrimp with a well done and the bacon was a bit dry the jalapeño sauce made this dish and I wish I had more. The place had beautiful ambiance, great modern decor and plenty of seating throughout and a nice cozy patio. Nice place to dine for ambiance. I do wish the food had more flavor to match the upgraded decor and prices. read more

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Good service, easy parking, accept reservation, nice settings, roomy, and clean table, inside and patio dining. Private room available. Good for big party. Menu is limited. Not top notch seafood quality or steak but good presentation. read more

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We like this place because it's close to home so we decided to come here for Easter brunch. I was excited about the Easter menu and ordered the surf and turf chilaquiles. The good: Jumbo shrimp cooked well Carne asada not overcooked but had a char to it for added flavor Overall flavor was excellent The bad: The chips were soggy so I ended up not eating most of it. Took away the crunch factor My overall assessment - the dish had very good potential, but was lacking the crunchy chips to bring in the entire experience. Would I order this again? Possible. But seeing that it was on the special menu, not likely to see this again anytime soon. We have never had bad service here, so that added to the positive experience as well. read more

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Came here on a Tuesday afternoon for an early dinner. The restaurant is spacious with multiple dining areas and a bright, clean white ambience. The bar was lively as it was happy hour at the time of our visit. We were seated towards the back right next to the fireplace. The menu has a good variety of options. The food is of good quality. I particularly enjoyed their fish and chips. Their chicken salad is also a good size serving and filling. The server was friendly and attentive. He was patient with us even as we stayed all the way past closing. The good food + great ambience + reasonable prices makes this place perfect for celebrating a special occasion or just catching up with friends/family. read more

Brigantine - Chopped Chicken Salad - Seafood Near Me - Poway, California

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The remodeled Poway location of Brigantine is absolutely gorgeous as it's completely redone from floor to ceiling. It is truly an elegant and sophisticated spot for casual fine dining. I've dined at multiple locations of the Brig throughout San Diego over the years, and this one must be the most beautiful one as of late 2025. I recently had a family dinner here and because it wasn't too busy we were able to get the whole room to ourselves, right next to the beautiful indoor fireplace and enormous Christmas tree. It made for a very special evening. The food was first-rate, well portioned with lots of fresh seafood. Our table enjoyed octopus appetizers, clam chowder, lobster tacos, seafood louie salad with crab and shrimp, grilled fish, and fried fish and chips. The standout, surprisingly was the grilled fish as it was the moistest, juiciest, flakiest filet of mahi I've had in recent memory. Mahi is usually a dry fish that is just okay, but this one was amazing. I actually wondered if they gave us a different fish by accident but the flavor was still spot on. Fresh seafood, great service, excellent environment = huge win overall! read more

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Finally got around to trying this place and I was very impressed. It had my "3Bs & FF" - Bountiful Parking, Booths, clean Bathrooms & Fantastic Food !!! Wifey and I split the Shrimp & Crab Louie Salad and Grilled Swordfish. The portions were very generous and no extra charge for the split. The salad was very fresh and the dressing was delicious. The Swordfish was seasoned and grilled to perfection (Kudos to Chief Maria & her assistant Santiago-you could taste the Love) and was accompanied with some Rizzutto and broccolini and paired superbly with the fish. Outstanding service was provided by Josh - Thank you !!! They have their Happy Hour every day except Saturday from 3 to 6...this is on my list to check out...stay tuned !!! read more

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Monday all night Happy Hour continues to deliver! House Celestial Navigation IPA is tasty for $7. There was another IPA from Coronado(?) I didn't try. Oyster shooter pair ($7) were OK, but NO VODKA! and too much cocktail sauce...that's half the fun! If you want vodka, you want the "Peppered Vodka Shooter" ($7 for one). You're better off with three oysters on the half shell for $7 and add your own damn cocktail sauce. Artichoke Fritters were awesome. Similar to the Italian version, medium breading, fried perfectly, served with lemon aioli. Seems like the full portion and filling entree for one. That damn crabcake is still on the app menu. This Marylander says "avoid". read more

Brigantine - Artichoke Fritters: really good. $7 on Happy Hour and Mondays in the bar. - Seafood Near Me - Poway, California

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Such good food, came out fast, good service! would definitely come back. very aesthetic ambiance.

The Brig in Poway is solid! It's not great and it's not bad. You just never know how it's gonna turn out. Service is really good and they offer a full bar. With the latest renovations it makes it more enjoyable. Momma had an item of the Easter brunch menu (chilaquiles) I had the New York with crusted blue cheese. We had mimosas and toasted to Easter. Salute! read more

Brigantine - Braised Carnitas & Chilaquiles Stack - Seafood Near Me - Poway, California

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When we first got to Brigantine, I really liked how it was open seating -- super easy and casual. Hailey was our waitress, and she was absolutely amazing! She was so attentive, checked in often, and made sure everything came out perfectly. The food did not disappoint at all! I had the calamari tacos, and they were delicious -- perfectly crispy with fresh toppings and a creamy sauce that pulled it all together! Overall, this was a good experience -- great service, tasty food, and a relaxed vibe. I'd definitely come back to try more of the menu next time! read more

Brigantine - Calamari tacos - Seafood Near Me - Poway, California

HONEST REVIEW: BRIGANTINE - Poway This @brig location got a stunning facelift a few years ago and every detail was thought out fully from the upscale nautical accents to the fireplaces and the oyster presentation, it feels like a fancy seafood spot in La Jolla in the heart of Poway! Whether you're dining here for a date night, family lunch, or happy hour, you won't be disappointed. They offer complimentary butter and bread, a sourdough and a pumpernickel, that I could literally eat all day, it was so good. If you want exceptional seafood, you must try this spot, they know how to prepare seafood and the service was exceptional too. Kid friendly with great seafood and non-seafood options (which is rare) and HUGE PORTIONS for just $10. What we ordered: Calamari Strips (Happy hour) - 9/10 we are suckers for calamari strips over the rings and tentacles and the jalapeno cheese sauce just elevates this dish to another level Fried fish slider (Happy hour) - 9/10 huge piece of lightly battered fish with a supper buttery brioche bun Oysters (Happy hour) - 10/10 beautiful presentation! Potato skins (Happy hour) - 7/10 nothing special about these, but they were good Crab & Shrimp Fondue - 10/10 I live for this fondue, it has the perfect balance of seafood and cheese without being too rich, but also the dipping vessel, grilled baguette slices, is a match made in heaven Avocado Swordfish - 10/10 this dish blew my mind, the swordfish melted in my mouth and super creamy cheesy risotto, only miss was there was no seasoning on the broccolini Wok Charred Ahi - very light and flavorful, but also the cook on the ahi was exactly how it should be, seared on the outside w/pink in the center Kids Fried Shrimp - 8/10 I only gave this a lower score because it had a bit too much breading, which our daughter doesn't like, but otherwise the shrimp was cooked perfectly Mud Pie - 9/10 this dessert was enormous and everything you'd expect from a mud pie, no disappointment here! Follow @allthingsfoodinsandiego for more must try San Diego restaurants, date night ideas, food experiences, kid friendly spots, with a sprinkling of home-cooking! read more

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As you can see I have been to this brigantine before. I am now a firm believer and it's all about your server! On this night we ordered our typical clam chowder fish tacos, salads etc, with that, as we naturally expect our bread, our salad, our soup to come out before the dinner which is what is expected. Is expected. Guess what didn't happen. Everything came out together. Yes, that is correct. All the food came out together, we questioned our server who was very nice and the young lady who brought our food out and both of them explained because it was 5:00 around happy hour. That is not how service is typically done, unless you specifically ask for your soup and salad first. Interesting. I explained to them that I can go to Denny's in order at dinner and soup and salad and guess what comes first or at any other restaurant. So once again it's all about the server you have. The food was okay. Nothing to write home about. Could go either way but it's really a shame. Such a prime location. Beautiful restaurant with just below average service. And I don't know if can completely blame the servers because if they are not trained and do not know that this is typical. Maybe it's bad on brigantine for no training but at the end of the day I won't give my money there anymore! read more

First of all been coming to the Brigantine for 20 plus years. Before renovation, they were good food wise, ambiance, and service. Now that they renovated holy cow!!! Awful, horrific, service, what service there is none, you have to ask for silverware, and refills! Now the food, we sat in the bar area, and even thou we sat in the bar, that doesnt discredit the fact that our food should be served in a fashion of disgust. I ordered the fish and chips minus the fries and got fruit, other people in the party got shrimp cocktail, clam chowder, and fish tacos. Well needless to say, generally you would get some bread to begin with, waiting for soup, then would come dinner, we'll guess what everything came at the same time, the bread the soup the shrimp cocktail, and the meal????? How does that work!!! It was an awful experience. The food was sub par!!! They dont care about the customer, they care about getting you in and out for financial reasons. Dont ever patronize this place!!! Its awful!! The food is terrible my fruit salad was rotten, the fish was 2 pieces thats it, like fish sticks. Awful! It was a birthday also. I would of rather of gone to IHOP or McDonald's. Never again. Stay far away from this place. read more

Just wanted to update my previous review and acknowledge that Brigantine in Poway is STILL awesome. Had a great Margarita and fish tacos last weekend. I am sorry for not posting a picture of the tacos. They got eaten so fast that we couldn't capture them. The fish portion was amazing. It was practically enough for 2 tacos!!! Love love love this restaurant. Been going for 20 years. read more

Brigantine - My Daughter Loving her Birthday Sundae - Seafood Near Me - Poway, California

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Another great experience at the Brig with my son on a lovely Saturday morning. The restaurant had just opened and since we couldn't find parking at the local farmers market we thought let's go have lunch. We sat on the patio it was very nice, and a couple had brought their dogs so it was a pet friendly patio. Our server was very polite, friendly, got our order and we had a yummy lunch. I had the chicken cordon bleu and my son ate the chicken sandwich both were delicious. I especially loved the plants and the passion fruit margarita! read more

Brigantine - Seafood Near Me - Poway, California

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Update: We went back for Happy Hour and was able to find a table. It's open seating and people were a bit aggressive grabbing tables. We took advantage of the great happy hour menu and ordered lots of food and drinks. We were pretty happy with the service and food. Will definitely come back again. We went for happy hour on a Wednesday night and the place was packed! They have just reopened after their remodel and word must have gotten out. Lol. People were standing by tables and grabbing them as soon as it's vacated. Our group decided that we weren't up to the challenge and sat in the main dining room in the back instead. Bummer that we couldn't take advantage of the happy hour deals but there was a special on 50% off all bottles of wines in the dining room so we were happy with that. Our server Thomas was great! We ordered the tasty shrimp and crab fondue, fried calamari, huge shrimp and crab cob salad, tender halibut, and shrimp and grits. For desserts, we split the bread pudding and the s'mores chocolate cake. Everything was delicious! read more

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Really good food and great service! I had the lobster tacos and they were delicious! The restaurant is very clean and we sat next to the fireplace, which added to the experience. read more

Brigantine - Lobster tacos - Seafood Near Me - Poway, California

horrible food for the price. ordered expensive salad and the shrimp was overcooked. calamari served with ketchup! undercooked veggies. Unmotivated server. it was too loud, no music. horrible boring tasteless place. disgusting food read more

Service was very good. However the food has really gone down in quality. The bread is some of the worst I've ever tasted. The quantity of fish on the taco is much less than it used to be. And the tortilla was stale and very greasy. My last Brigantine fish taco forever. And probably my last visit. read more

I have been to their other locations in San Diego. This location in Poway is really spacious. My girlfriend and I came here for a weekend drink and snacks. The drinks are pretty well made with right amount of alcohol and flavor, and the presentation is decent too. Besides drinks, we also go through clam chowder, coconut shrimp and the fried calamari. We both like the clam chowder a lot, the thickness of the broth is just right with good flavor. The shrimp is a bit over fried, the calamari is tender with light breaded. The service is great and attentive. Will come back to experience more and try out other menu items. read more

Brigantine - Seafood Near Me - Poway, California

A Night Full of Warmth -- Literally and Figuratively! We had one of those rare, magical family dinners at The Brigantine that just makes you stop and say, "This. This is what it's all about." From the moment we walked in, it felt like the universe (and the host) had conspired to give us the perfect table -- tucked next to the fireplace, cozy, quiet, and perfect for our little 2.5-year-old explorer. I'm guessing that's not the norm, but wow, did it make the evening extra special. We all went for the special and let me tell you, the risotto was out of this world.Creamy, flavorful, and just the right amount of indulgent. Portions were generous (bless them for that), but the best part? Everyone left with full hearts and bigger smiles. It wasn't just dinner; it was a reminder of how good it feels to slow down, connect, and enjoy great food with your favorite people. The Brigantine didn't just deliver a meal -- they delivered a memory. read more

Brigantine - Seafood Near Me - Poway, California

Seating was quick, our table was nice, and our waitress was friendly. The vibe of the place was great. The food quality overall wasn't the best -- the French fries were definitely my favorite, and I'd come back just to take those to go. Everything else was just okay. read more

In town celebrating my dad's birthday and a visit to the Brig is a must. The team, food, and atmosphere are always on point. Big shoutout to Brittney, who made everything perfect for his special day. If you get the chance, ask to be seated in her section- she's one of the best. Thanks again, Brittney! read more

Went her 2x this week... first time was for Taco Tuesday... tacos were delicious and good size... ordered carne asada med rare and mahi mahi yum! The second time was for Happy Hour. Happy Hour food was good. Service was great including the manager. Clam chowder was thicker than I expected but i will be back for their tacos (and other items on menu). The decor inside has a clean bright nautical theme. read more

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Decent service, all staff were very nice and helpful but slow on refills and clearing the table. Took a minute to get menus as we were told to seat ourselves and waited for silverware till after we got our food. We came in on a Tuesday and ordered 2 tacos but both the swordfish and carnitas were very dry as well as my blackened salmon. The remodel of the place is nice though and more fitting than before. read more

Perfect spot to hold parties because they have a big dining area- far end of the restaurant. Look for Bill who patiently took care of our big party, 9 people. Bill was very patient and accurate with everything. Also, want to thank the concierge who was pleasing to welcome and accommodate us to our table; if they get a chance maybe they would consider replacing the heavy chairs (esp. for most of the elderly). Food was great and for non seafood eaters, don't ya worry, they have a chicken and a burger dish. read more

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This place is such a ripoff. Can't get anything a la carte so if you want to order a steak or anything for that matter, you can't add-on a side of shrimp or scallops anything. Menu is very limited for a seafood restaurant. The inside and vibe of this place is fine, but the menu is severely lacking and the food quality is drastically subpar for the pricing. At the very least the waitresses pay attention to you but I cannot get over how mediocre the food here is. I should have gone to the sushi place, at least I'd have a better choice of fresh fish options to choose from! read more

We celebrated a coworker's retirement lunch. No issues whatsoever. Josh was our waiter and was on point. I had the steak. It comes with mash potatoes and green beans. The mash was just ok and believe it or not the green beans were good. It's newly remodeled inside and is gorgeous. read more

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Love going to the brig! The food is super and delicious and the service is good and the Ambiance is like a Restrunt and bar.

Always an easy choice for lunch or dinner - fresh fish, burgers and tacos - among other things! Ordered their signature swordfish substituted the risotto with mashed potatoes! A small cup of clam chowder and bread. Food was exceptionally cooked! Brought out hot and quickly. The bread brought out with the chowder left something to be desired. Perhaps that's because I love sourdough bread with chowder so much - the plain white and brown (wheat?) bread they brought me was disappointing, to say the least. I guess not all Brigantines serve the same bread. Would I go again? Yes!!! Would I order their bread again? Probably not. Hopefully they change it to a wheat and/or sourdough in the future. My sever Alyssa was outstanding! Very quick and responsive when I requested items (lemon for my water, salt and pepper for my chowder). Not to mention the gorgeous fireplace they have lit makes for the perfect romantic atmosphere. Definitely recommend! read more

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Brother-in-law ordered the PARMESAN CRUSTED SAUTÉED SAND DABS. Dish had 3 fillets on a bed of risotto. Looked very delicious and healthier than the fish and chips, so I ordered one as well. The fish was tasty but the risotto was undercooked and grainy. The broccolini was cooked perfectly. Had to order the mud pie to compensate for the grainy risotto texture. read more

Good drinks, yummy caesar salad and delish clam chowder. Staff are always friendly. It can get busy, but we've had luck being seated in the bar with little to no wait. read more

Yesterday there was three of us in the lounge area for late lunch. Cheyenne was our server. Jerry knew his order for Carnitas Taco. Gloria and I ordered house salad, and asked lots of questions about the spicyness of the the marinated skirt steak tacos. We did order with various adjustments. Salsas and Pico on the side. Right away I knew I couldn't eat mine and the meat was marinated and spicy. I looked up and Gloria was having a reaction to the spicy crema she poured on hers. Cheyenne rushed up with concern and then replaced our two tacos -the classic fish and grilled chicken. Considering how busy the Brig was for Taco Tuesday, she provided us with stellar service!! read more

We just had dinner here on a Wednesday night. Despite it being a slow night, the service was horrible. We never received the waters for our table and our chowder was cold and late. By the time the food arrived we were famished. My son's cheeseburger was barely edible and the fries were cold and had obviously been sitting out for a while. I'm a Poway local, which is the only reason I gave them a shot. My obligation is over. I'll never return. read more

Had to break the number of reviews before me. This is number 667 I have been there before the food was great... Service was great. They had updated and they had remodeled so everything looked really nice. read more

Although we live in Carmel Valley, we do prefer this Brigantine vs. the one near us in Del Mar. The Poway restaurant is much nicer inside, there's ample/convenient parking and the service is much better than Del Mar. We visited last Sunday. Not knowing how busy it would be, we made an OpenTable reservation. When we arrived, the place was very slow - maybe 25% occupied. We then saw our favorite bartender (Jamie) was working the high tops in the bar so we asked for a table in there. Having had experience with the Brigantine Del Mar repeatedly screwing up our OpenTable reservations and marking us as no shows, I emphasized to the waitress and she confirmed that she had checked us in (so we don't get a "no show" from OpenTable). She mentioned that they save reservations for the dining room, but assured us she had checked us in.... As always, Jamie was polite, pleasant and attentive - and we actually quite enjoyed our lunch. But, alas, I get home only to see that the hostess had indeed marked us as "no shows". So, this entire decent dining experiences gets downgraded because now I have to deal with all the OpenTable AI bots to submit our receipt, prove we were there, etc. For the life of me, I have no idea why they would care if we sit a table and order a full meal or at a bar high top. I hope this helps them understand the inconvenience caused and the impact on the overall experience. read more