My new favorite wine bar. Small nook tucked away in the middle of downtown La Jolla. Wonderful…read moreambiance, lovely staff, nice small food and tapas menu, amazing wine. Also love that they are open until midnight. Perfect late night spot to grab a nice nightcap.

A must go spot that recently opened up in La Jolla! Beautifully decorated inside with wine…read moreartifacts. Features a really nice limited menu of light bites and appetizers! Service was helpful in choosing the right type of wine for your preference and also very attentive to refill water etc. on a side note, they do not offer lemons for your water, unfortunately. Highly recommend a stop. Perfect for a first date, or romantic glass of wine and light bites!

Superb omakase experience with great quality fish and vibes. Nothing truly beats having smooth,…read morebuttery fish on a dinner night. Out of the dishes I got -- hon maguro nigiri, ika with shiso nigiri, iwashi nigiri, nodoguro nigiri, zuke nigiri, himitsu roll, and himitsu sushi -- my favorite was surprisingly the ika with shiso nigiri. The ika was fresh and the shiso gave that sweet and delicate notes that did not disappoint. Although this was my favorite, all the other nigiris were also amazing as expected from a quality omakase place. Service was quick and friendly. Our server checked on us quite often. Chef mitsu also consistently made sure that we were enjoying the food and experience. The chef also gave his opinions on various fish and gave background to what fish he likes to select and suggest. Honestly, there was nothing better than hearing from a chef who loves his art and craft.

I went with my mom for a bday celebration since the reviews looked good and I wanted to try a new…read morespot. The waitress was very nice but the sushi was fishy, rubbery and inedible. We had a bento box, Himitsu roll (which was fishy), the sushi lover set and the soft shell crab appetizer. The soft shell crab was the best thing there but I could not even finish half of my sushi due to how rubbery and inedible the rest of sushi was. The rice also fell apart immediately prior to picking it up with my chopsticks. I tried to just eat the sashimi without the rice to not waste food but we couldn't. The Bento box included salad that wasn't cleaned properly and included sausages and a very small amount of fish as the main course. There were also bones in a lot of the fish & eel nigiri (which I haven't experienced before) When asked how things tasted I mentioned that the sushi was rubbery and I couldn't finish the rest. She offered me to take it home which I politely declined. We were then charged a 20% service fee bundled in as a tip and this was not disclosed when we initially sat down. This was not only one of the most expensive lunches but my mom & I ended up getting sick later on that night and should have left halfway through the meal. Needless to say we will not be returning. We had hoped they would offer some sort of price break or an exchange for something else but it was such a horrible experience we just wanted to leave. Such a slimey way to do business and not disclosing a mandatory service fee.

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

Sevilla Valentine's Day Edition:…read more Pardon the delay, amigos! It's been a lengthy week! But I digress! You're here for the deets! Like every boyfriend who wants to show his adoration for his gorgeous girlfriend, I planned this event a few weeks ago. Commitment & dedication are key. Flamenco Show, 3 course dinner for two, AND dancing after?! Yeah, your amigo has it covered! This package is available on their website, and not only on Valentine's. But this day does make it more romantic! A minor 5-10 minute wait as we stepped out of our Uber to the front entrance of the club adjacent to the restaurant. Our lovely hostess greeted us & escorted us downstairs to pick our table. There were no specific table reservations, but all seats are good, as it's a small venue. The Love Gods smiled upon us and granted a table close to the front with an awesome view of the stage. Perfect table for the perfect date! Starters set the tone. What's this? A Welcome Charcuterie Platter?! It appears out of nowhere as our server takes our drink orders. The service here is impeccable! Impressive spread of cheesy, meaty goodness! The Shaved Jamón Serrano Ensalada Sevillana has a wonderfully zesty citrus vinaigrette that makes you clack your castanets! Ole!! Cocktails for the cute couple! A Oaxacan Flower for my Monterrey Mami! My gal loves her some mezcal! I opted for El Matador Margarita, because I know what I want...tequila! Plus the cucumber counts as healthy! I will die on this hill! The Main Course is the star of the show. And in full diva fashion, the Lobster Paella Valenciana stole the spotlight! A masterfully, monstrous mix of meat & seafood, all on top of some bomb-a** Saffron Bomba Rice! There's even a lobster tail in case you're still hungry! Queue the Flamenco show. The two dancers were elegant, the music was powerful, the singer sublime! Enjoy your dinner to a phenomenal 2 part show put on by very talented artists! We got to meet them after the show, as they personally thanked practically every guest! Elegant as their artform! Lest we forget the dessert! The Flourless Chocolate Cake was just the right amount of sweetness to cap off the dinner & show, as we shared our own sweet nothings. Love & Chocolate, a perfect combo, just like my beloved beauty & her humble narrator. As the performers were packing up & saying their final goodbyes, the staff was clearing the space for the last part of our adventure...dancing! A brief 15ish minute wait back outside & back inside we went! Got a great spot up front by the stage, but be aware the only sitting will be done by the VIP section. I believe it's bottle service only, but you can ask. We didn't, as we did not intend to sit at all! We boogied down, baby! The DJ did a great job keeping the vibe alive. Perfect ending to a perfect night. *Caveat - The dinner menu has other options & several a la carte items, if you so choose. Check their website for specific package info. You cannot go wrong. TL:DR - Never give up on love!

I have been wanting to come to Trust for so long and when my friends had suggested we had our…read morebrunch date I said yes. We came on Easter Sunday and was a lucky that I live close enough and had my husband drop me and friends off. To start we got their season sticky bun which was their carrot cake and we each ordered a cocktail, we got an order of espresso martinis which were little but mighty, they were so smooth and flavorful too. For my meal, I got the fried pork cutlet, whenever I see a porkchop I always order it. First, the carrot cake sticky bun, is INSANE that was the most delicious sticky bun I have ever eaten and just looking at the photos on my phone I am absolutely craving it. Sharing it between three girls is ideal but I would have definitely ordered my own. My porkchop was perfect, it comes with a sunny side eggs and potatoes. The porkchop was so incredibly tender and flavorful and that gravy is just perfect. I want that for my dinner tonight, I also tried my friends Albacore tartare which was pretty flavorful and was just refreshing for how warm it was. Definitely would like to come here for dinner with my husband!

Late Post.... Went here for brunch…read more The food was really good. Service was good as were the drinks. I recommend

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

1/2 Juniper & Ivy is…read morethe kind of restaurant that reminds you why you seek out places like this, the food is genuinely exceptional. It's just a shame the experience came with a few caveats. We requested the patio, drawn in by descriptions of a vibrant, lively porch. What we got was four tables, a persistent wind tunnel, and a front-row seat to the San Diego flight path, meaning every few minutes, conversation came to a full stop for a low-flying plane. No warning from the restaurant, which felt like a miss. Inside next time, without question. The menu itself was a little overwhelming at first, but our server stepped in with confident suggestions that completely redeemed the experience. And then the food arrived. The house sourdough with Mikolich Farm honey butter was the kind of bread course that makes you reconsider every other bread course. The shio tang oysters with mojito foam and cucumber relish were playful and precise. The three cheese tortellini, wild porcini, english peas, aged parm brodo, was the standout of the night: rich, deeply layered, and deeply comforting. The saffron bigoli and miso black cod were both beautifully executed. We paired everything with a Russian River Valley Pinot that was an ideal match for the table. Bottom line: the kitchen is firing on all cylinders. Sit inside, trust your server, and order the tortellini. You won't regret it.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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

My best friend and I visited this "wine bar" on Friday night and were honestly disappointed. We sat…read moreat the bar and were given a very limited food and wine menu. When I asked the bartender if that was the full menu, since it seemed odd there wasn't even a charcuterie option, his response was, "which restaurant has two menus?" Not the best start. Shortly after, when we mentioned we wanted to order a bottle, we were then handed a much more extensive wine list...which also included another small bites menu. That alone was confusing and felt inconsistent. We ordered a rosado from Spain, which we did enjoy, but overall the experience didn't match what you'd expect from a wine bar. The bottle wasn't chilled, and we noticed others in the restaurant had the same issue. Service was also lacking. The bartender never checked back on us, despite us sitting right at the bar. Overall, not the experience we were expecting. I'd recommend saving your money and going elsewhere.

TL;DR: Great seafood, great service, great vibes! What an awesome pocket of North Park for whatever…read moreoccasion! Must visit in SD! Stopped by after coming home from a work trip to get a late night meal and was so glad we did! Service was top notch! From the minute we walked up to the door to the dish recommendations, everything was so warm and welcoming. Drinks, both alcoholic and NA, were well-balanced and refreshing. Really opened our appetite to crush a bunch of fresh seafood ...speaking of... Wow. Just wow. Everything was so fresh and you could taste the ocean in each bite. - Oysters were freshly shucked and delicious without any of the add-on sauces/dressings - Carpaccio: not to say that it wasn't delicious. It's just that compared to everything else, this was just good. skippable tbh - Sardines on toast: another banger! such thick whole pieces that just melted away with each bite. yum. - Mussels (MVP app): wowwwww so good. Underrated. So glad our server recommended them. If I had to redo our meal, I'd have ordered 2 and skipped the carpaccio. MUST GET MUSSELS. - Beets were a refreshing change from the seafood. Open to other salads but def order one as a palette refresher from all the ocean - Octopus: perfectly cooked and not chewy at all - Potatoes: too heavy to end with. Not bad in any way but I'd skip this next time. Really only want a half bite. All in all, Mabel's smashed it and we'll be back 100%. Cheers, Mabel's!

On a casual walk around the neighborhood since I had parking which can be tricky. I found myself on…read morea very important mission: dessert. Mabel's has been on my list for a while I just hadn't made it in yet. The soft, intimate lighting and lively crowd pulled me in like a moth to a very chic flame. The hostess was warm and welcoming, and since the place was buzzing, we opted for the makeshift patio seating prime people watching territory. Inside, I noticed the layout has two distinct rooms, with one acting as a waiting area where guests can mingle and sip a drink before being seated. A nice touch if you enjoy a little pre-dinner social hour. Somewhere between scanning the menu and spotting all the seafood options, dessert quietly exited the chat. We decided to lean into the moment and see what the hype was about. After a quick chat with our waiter, we went with the octopus skewer and grilled swordfish. Now, fun fact I completely missed: it's a gin bar. This realization came after I confidently ordered a dirty martini like I knew what I was doing so I pivoted and reordered a glass of wine. Smooth recovery... mostly. The octopus was nicely cooked tender with a good char and the swordfish was... fine. Not bad, just not something I'll be dreaming about at 2 a.m. Overall, the dishes were executed well, but flavor-wise, they could've used a little more personality. A pinch of salt might've gone a long way. That said, I know their menu changes frequently, so I'd absolutely come back and give it another shot. And next time, I might actually stick to my original plan... you know, dessert.

We tried Tour de Tapas for the first time, and it was such a great experience! We were planning to…read moreeat at a nearby restaurant but saw this one. We took one look at the menu and knew we needed to try it! The service was wonderful! We sat at the bar and the gentleman that served us was friendly, attentive, and welcoming from the moment we sat down. The place itself was very clean and had a really nice atmosphere. The food was delicious, especially the patatas bravas, which were flavorful and perfectly cooked. I also tried both types of sangria, and they were delicious....refreshing, well-balanced, and definitely worth ordering again! Overall, it was a fantastic meal from start to finish. We're already looking forward to coming back and trying more of the menu! I MUST try the paella next time!!!!

Great food, great service. Because of its location, parking can be tough. I met a guy for a…read morebusiness mtg and brought my son. Why -2 star has been a debate in my head ever since that day. Everything started great, they even had my favorite beer Schmidtwick's. The food was delish and presented well. Our server was attentive and kind. The place was neat and clean, great for a mtg... The general manager came over and chitchatted with our table. I was the one who called the meeting, I chose the place via Yelp reviews. However, when the GM found out it was all three of our first time he proceeded to hand out his card. The guy that met me there was handed one, then my son who lives in Irvine was handed one. However, when I reached my hand out, he hesitated. I told him we don't live together (speaking of my son who was sitting next to me) and he started to hand it to me, but then pulled it back. He informed me it's in case we come back... funny, our topic of conversation that day was how hard it was for women growing up in my era and working their way up the ladder... how times have changed. Upon leaving, my guest laughed and said his wife would've gone ballistic at how the only woman at the table was treated. The GM appeared to look like we were the same age. I was quite insulted by his behavior. I hope something can be learned for my honest review. I did get a card, but I don't think I'll be back.

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

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

We stopped by for happy hour while using the laundromat down the street. The happy hour menu…read moreoffered a nice variety of appetizers, rolls and drinks! Our server was so friendly and brought out menus quickly since it was self seating. The outside seating was the perfect spot for some people watching and generally enjoying the weather. Now in terms of the food.. we enjoyed the little pickle platter. Unfortunately it came out much earlier than the rolls and we were quite hungry so we ate most of them before our rolls came out. They would have been great pairings with the rolls themselves. The kabocha squash roll was so unique and surprisingly tasty. A sweeter creamier roll for sure. The salmon skin roll was a nice savory balance to the squash roll. I'd have to say the salmon skin roll was my favorite. We'll definitely be back to try some of the other rolls!

The Joint has a really nice atmosphere both indoors and out. We order off the Happy Hour menu as…read morewell as the regular menu. We are doing tastings at 4 Restaurants in Ocean Beach. And this review is after that experience, so we can compare and contrast things like pricing and quality. When you come here you must bring a loaded wallet. To try a sour beer or any of their Russian River beers, (which was a surprise to us that there even was beer coming out of Russian River, a place I love for wine) .... is $19 for a bottle. And if you've never tried a sour beer and no one likes it, there are no returns. You pay your money and you take your chances. They are creative at The Joint. I mean an eel roll with macadamia nuts is a brilliant twist on sushi. The second thing we try is their soft shell crab roll. Delicious. Everyone at the table 'seconds' these comments. I ask someone on the way in, seated at a table eating sushi if it is good. He says: "I'll let you know". Later, he comes back to our table to let me yes! It's really good". So is this a good place to go for Sushi? The answer is yes. Is it a little confusing as an asian fusion place to have so many diverse choices? The answer is yes, but I also admit I do like all the options. Again, they call their Happy Hour food 'Tapas'. Is that Spanish, or is it just me? Japanese fried chicken or an arugula salad or oysters? lol Your taste buds must travel all over the place and that's hard on the palate and my headspace of 'what am I eating'? Is it overpriced? The answer is yes! And if I'm being honest, it surprises me that no one else on yelp is mentioning this. If money is not an issue and you want good sushi, our group recommends trying The Joint. Just don't count on happy hour having happy prices. $4 for an oyster is not happy! It's regular priced. Maybe even over priced for a happy hour menu where oysters come in at $1 and $2 for happy hour. And today, they are all out of oysters. lol We usually just tell you what to order when you go to a restaurant. This is the first time we have felt the need to let you know what you're in for, price wise. Sorry to the wonderful staff and great chef. No idea why they need to represent themselves as 'happy hour noon - 6pm every day', leading me to believe there is good pricing. But it's not my zoo, not my monkeys. With garlic, gusto and gratitude,  Chef Marian  San Diego Foodies Carlsbad Foodies