3 stars for my first visit. I chose this place because my bf raved about their cauliflower po boy sandwich, but as we approached the counter, we couldn't find it. They rotate their menu items and the po boy so happened to be replaced with the vegetarian sandwich. Darn. However, they also had a vegan burger to choose as a plant based meal so that's what I ordered. The patty itself was good.. held well until half way through. I thought it needed vegan mayo or vegan cheese because it was so dry. Even though there was guacamole and pico de gallo, it wasn't enough. The waffle fries was better than Carl's Jr. But nothing else special about them. My bf ordered the Cuban sandwich and he would've liked more of the pickled onions or pickles because it was overwhelming with the meat. The bread was not pressed or toasted so it didn't add much to the bite. The restaurant is order at the counter, find a seat type of place. Open air seating and some tables had individual fans. read more

See all

Best bar in town in my opinion. Food is stellar, ambiance is great and the staff is awesome. Shout out to Domo!!

Cool atmosphere and decent drink selection but the food was not good. Ordered a cheesesteak and it was burnt and dry. Maybe came on an off night, will return for drinks, maybe not for food. read more

We came here to watch the end of the world series tonight and ordered the broccolini and the Philly cheesesteak with fried cauliflower. My only reason for minus one star is the lack of staff and the cheesesteak dripped a ton of oil every time I bit into it. I tried to blot it out before I ate any more of it. read more

Fernside - Cheesesteak and cauliflower - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

I love Fernside. Before I stopped drinking, their alcohol-infused slushies were a favorite. Great place to meet up with friends. Even though I don't drink anymore, I still often suggest Fernside. I Drinks are all amazing, even if you don't feel like one of their signature slushies. I've been trying their food on recent visits, and I LOVE their burger. The bun, the fern sauce, the melty cheese. Heavenly. Waffle fries are great here too. I've also tried their wedge salad. Hard to mess that one up also great. read more

If you're looking for a spot with slushees that'll knock your socks off, gin and tonics that are always on point, and food that's just a little bit different (in the best way), this place is my go-to. It's my default whenever friends visit or when I just want to get out of the house for some good food and drinks. Let's talk slushees--these things aren't just sugary, frozen treats; they're packed with booze and flavor. And the gin and tonics? Seriously, they've got it down to an art. Not to mention, the food options are unique and delicious--something for everyone, and always a little surprise with each dish. The vibe is perfect for a chill hangout--whether you're inside or out on the patio, you'll feel right at home. Plus, they're dog-friendly, so your pup can join the fun, too. And the staff? Always friendly and helpful, with great recommendations if you can't decide what to drink or eat (but really, just order the pickle beer--trust me). All in all, if you're looking for a place to kick back, enjoy great drinks, tasty food, and a super relaxed atmosphere, this is the spot. Definitely a hidden gem in the best possible way. read more

The hubby and I swing by for an hour while waiting to be called back to a bar down the street. Fernside sits on the corner across from Target, Piacere Mio and Shawarma Guys. To order, you walk up to the window, place your order, pay and then find a seat. Before you sit down though, your drink is ready at the bar. I really wanted to like Fernside because we've walked by SO many times, but was turned off by the drinks taking under a minute to make and then trying to figure out where to sit with a bar full of people who weren't budging to make room. The person who greeted us was super friendly and helpful but that's where it ended. The drinks were not impressive, somewhat bitter and overly boozy and the ambiance that day was off putting. IDK if I'll be back, since I'd like to give them another chance but we'll see. read more

Fernside - Slushee - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Came here during the SP Winter Walkabout and glad we stopped by. They have very reasonably priced sandwiches that come with cross-cut fries, around $14-$16, and other dishes to share in the same price range. If you're wanting to be a bit healthier, they have fry substitutes like crusty cauliflower. The cocktails are also well priced and delicious! I had the fried chicken sandwich with pickles, jalapeño, and creamy slaw w/lemon aioli, with the "Golden Nugget" for my drink (good if you like mezcal!) My gf got the Fernside burger, which looked pretty good! And a spicy Paloma to go with. This is a great place for people watching with outdoor seating, especially when SP has an event that brings everyone out to shop and play. I'll come back for the ribeye "not a Philly cheesesteak" and I also want to do the combo meals with a slushie (THEY HAVE A SLUSHIE MACHINE!!) beer, or cocktail to go with your sandwich - what a great deal!! read more

Fernside - Golden nugget - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

They had a new winter squash salad which was delicious but I would order the dressing on the side next time! Highly recommend ordering the "Not a Philly Cheesesteak". Ambiance is always great, good service too! read more

Fernside - NOT A PHILLY CHEESESTEAK and winter SQUASH SALAD - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

If I could rate this crusty cauliflower 100 stars I would, it's the crispiest most delicious thing in the entire world. No other cauli can compare and I give extra kudos to the chef! The boozy slushies hit the spot and I love that they have football on a few screens along with a great movie. The music is such a vibe, always at the perfect volume, and the staff is the absolute best, great people for sure. Ive been here for brunch, dinners and just drinks in the past and each time i have a great treat and time. Cant recommend Fernside enough! read more

Fernside - CRUSTY CAULIFLOWER - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

I really wanted to love this spot because it has all the makings of a great bar: boozy slushie drinks, fun branding, a full food menu, and great happy hour deals. However, I just wasn't blown away by the drink I ordered. The frozen watermelon mint slushie tasted kind of medicinal and fake. I did love the fun cup it came in, and a bendy straw is always a bonus. My friend got the other frozen drink which was a lot better, but really sweet. Since I've been cutting back on alcohol, if I'm ordering a drink at a bar, I want it to be really good. This was not really good. Like I definitely wouldn't order it again. The atmosphere is fun and funky, and the food all sounded amazing, we just weren't at a place where we were ready to eat yet. This neighborhood is super cute and I'd love to visit again for happy hour and try some other things. You can't really beat $7 cocktails! read more

Fernside - Mojito and watermelon mint slush - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

South Park is a gem and such a great neighborhood for a date night or hanging out with friends. Fernside is the perfect balance of both. I love a casual spot with good food and drink. Here, you order at the counter up front and then head to find an open seat. They have both indoor and outdoor options with great space for large groups. They are known for their slushies that come in little paper cups with lids. Perfect for a stroll around the neighborhood too! They've got fun bar eats like nacho fries and crusty cauliflower that are portioned to share! read more

This is such a fun place! Love coming here for happy hour with friends, and have been on more than a few dates here (seems to be a popular choice). The drinks are yummy, obviously the slushies are a gimmick but a very delicious one, and I always love admiring the new swag they have every couple months (hanging by the bathroom) which is always so clever. The food is good but not mind-blowing, sticking to snacky items is usually your best bet. Happy hour is a great deal and would be my preference to visit for. My only issue is the pre-set tipping options... they are VERY high for the level of service being provided (not bad, just minimal -- you order at a window, and pick up your own food & drinks at the bar and bring them to a table, if you can find one). The staff I do interact with are always friendly and helpful enough, but having tipping options that high for what the setup is here kind of feels a little bit scam-like. Wish they would adjust those accordingly. read more

Great atmosphere! But only getting three stars because of the salad! We ordered the Santa Fe kale salad which supposedly came with grilled chicken on the menu but it barely had any. Maybe 1 chicken tenders worth of chicken in there... 5 cubes. Maybe a few beans. Barely any dressing... for $18?!? We could've made our own x5 for that amount! Burger was good tho. read more

Fernside - Santa Fe kale salad - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

I like this place and come here with friends but don't always want a burger. Other options would be appreciated. Salads leave much to be desired. Ordered a $20 salad that was nothing more than a bag of lettuce with shredded carrots and a few small shrimp. Please don't advertise it as having carrots and cucumber when it's just a salad mix out of a bag. Do better, please. read more

Lately this place has been my jam. It's pretty large, we normally don't have to wait. You walk up to a counter and order. It's super trendy. I like that the menu is creative. You can bring your dog. The staff is super friendly. It's just a great local San Diego spot. We have been going after we go to the zoo, it is about 10 m away. We can usually find street parking pretty easily. read more

Fernside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

For a casual Sunday afternoon, Fernside is a chill and welcoming dive that's great to grab a burger and a drink with friends. There's seating in and outside that gives a lot of great shade and a nice breeze to beat the heat. Not to mention the perfect volume to have a conversation. I ordered just their fernside burger, which was delicious and well stuffed, but I was just a tad disappointed it was just two regular stacked patties instead of smash burgers as it was advertised. The ranch is actually pretty decent and the fries are great. I didn't try any of their drinks but this seems like a great place to have a slushy or cold beer. The service at the bar was also very sweet and helpful with my questions which I appreciated. I feel like I could become a regular here just from knowing how great I'd be treated. read more

Fernside - FERNSIDE BURGER with SIDE WAFFLE FRIES - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

This neighborhood corner bar in South Park is diagonally across the street from Target. They didn't have any signage posted outside the building at the time of my visit so I had to double check the address before I parked my vehicle. The interior was very basic without much decor so that seemed consistent with the exterior. It was open seating so I grabbed a menu and sat at a high-top table. Of the sandwiches on the list, the All That Pizzazz was my choice. It consisted of smoked turkey, ham, garlic shrimp, roasted mushrooms, white cheddar and a house sauce on an amoroso roll. A side of waffle fries came with the order. The food was good, but I thought it was a bit pricey for the portion size. I did notice a fair number of customers enter the place despite it being late at night. I had hoped the menu was going to expand to include some entrees for diversification of their offerings beyond appetizers, burgers, salads and sandwiches. I gave my experience at Fernside a three star rating. read more

See all

i always looked at this place on my way to target & it always looks lively & cute. it is! After going once it's hard to not go back again. Definitely feels like more of a locals place, very laid back and not usually over crowded. Friday evenings are pretty lit, parking is all street but usually never hard to find. Their frozen drinks are AMAZING. Don't frown upon the size of the cup, they make their drinks strong. Usually every time I go they switch up flavors which is awesome if you go here often. Food: solid 4 out of 5. they have a great menu with various veggie options but some are better than others. one of their best veggie options is the Veggie Po' Boy! The real stars of the show here are their WAFFLE FRIES. If you're going to love something here, it will for sure b the fries. Service is also very chill, you order before you seat yourself. I do like the fact that you can choose whatever seat/ table you want. The only down side is they close early at 9pm but theirs plenty of things in the area if you wanted to keep going after. Don't miss out when you're driving through South Park read more

Fernside - Veggie Po' Boy - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

This has to be my new favorite place in the area! The food was amazing AMAZING! We got the nachos fries which was a huge portion, we couldn't even finish it and the fancy grilled cheese which was made perfectly. You order at the counter and they bring you your drinks and you pick up your food at the counter. The workers there were super sweet and welcoming. It was such a nice cozy place to spend our Sunday evening. Can't wait to come back! read more

Fernside - NACHO FRIES and "Fancy" GRILLED CHEESE - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

NEIGHBORHOOD CHILL BAR ... with mediocre food. Again, how do you write an interesting review on a mediocre place. It's basic and boring. When you drive by you have to wonder why this place is a cool hangout. Always people there. I was on a very rare burger crave and wanted to try someplace new without ordering a big burger. PARTY BURGERS - there was no party in my mouth. The sliders were satisfying but average. I felt like I could have made them at home because there was nothing special about them, they are simply average mini sliders. The meat was cooked right but it lacked flavor. I love Hawaiian bread but I'm not a fan when it's used as a burger patti, it's too soft for it and I am not about sweet when it comes to a hearty burger. MOJITO - small portion mostly filled with ice for the price of $11 I didn't feel it was worth it. Until the next review... read more

Fernside - Mojito - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Alcoholic slushees and dog friendly and amazing staff all in one place! I wish they had more GF options but their lettuce wrapped burger is delicious and you can get a side salad rather than fries for a dollar more. They have cute outdoor seating too! A great place to hang out on a South Park crawl or a hot summer day. read more

This bar is my new fave local, and I'll give my reasons as follows: - The vibe is just chill. It's very much a neighborhood hang out with friendly staff and people just looking to hang out with friends. Not a pretentious place or a bar trying to be more than it is - just somewhere to go when you want to hang and I love that. - The slushees. I'm not a big drinker - so take what I say with a grain of salt - but to take a childhood fave from 7-11 and throw grown up flavors and alcohol in it? Sold. The Mexican Firing Squad is legit and a good constant - it's fun to also try some of the flavors they rotate in. - The food is even good. It's bar food for sure, but GOOD bar food - the nacho fries and the cauliflower bites are some of my faves. They also recently started brunch and had a biscuits and gravy dish that was delicious. read more

See all

Came before a Padres game. This place has the coolest vibe with fun music and an amazing selection of booze. It is a little confusing at first as u order everything at the front window. Service is great here. A lot of their signature cocktails are batched, but I was able to order something close with a better tequila. Bartender even checked with us before making it. Once u order, you get a buzzer to pick up your food, but the manager brought it out to us. And the front of house brought us our drinks. For food, we got the egg cheese sandwich and the salad, adding shrimp. Both were so delicious. Love the crispiness of the hash browns, and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. Street parking was easy too read more

See all

First timer and I had the fried chicken sandwich and to my surprise it came with waffle style fries... Delish. I also had one of their alcoholic beverages and wow!!! My taste buds were dancing. Customer service was excellent. I'm definitely returning! read more

Fernside - Fried Chicken Sandwich with Waffle Fries. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Good spot for drinks- the icee style drinks are unique. Not the best cocktails and pretty small for the price, but still a fun place. Service is walk up to the counter and not table side, so reordering drinks means you have to get back up. Food is just okay- we got the wings and several small appetizers to share. Parking can be chaotic, but if you're willing to walk there are several side streets that have plenty. read more

I've been wanting to try Fernside for a while now and finally went! I've heard that their adult icees were a hit, but went for the happy hour deals. Honestly pretty good happy hour, I felt like I should have gotten an entree instead because their burgers looked so good. The sliders were yummy, and I thought the fries that were loaded with toppings was going to be better, it was okay. If I come again I'll definitely try a regular burger and fries. It is really cute inside I love the aesthetic and the service was great! read more

Fernside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Great vibes and staff. Lost my wallet here and they saved it and stayed open late so I could grab it. The slushies are amazing. Wonderful place to chill on a weekend and enjoy the vibes. read more

Fernside is always a hit! I recently went to Fernside for Happy Hour. A few weeks back, I went for lunch! I'll caution that their Happy Hour is VERY small portion-wise. That's my one disappointment. However, the taste of their food is never a miss! I'd encourage to go to their Happy Hour - for DRINKS! & order yourself a full entree (Skip the tiniest sliders you've ever seen). Their Aperol Spritz is my favorite... it has a coconut flare that will leave you craving more. Their Chopped Salad is delicious and a heaping portion! I'd go make and order it all over again. Service is always kind. Dogs are welcomed.. and it seems to attract a good crowd. A little noisy.. but all part of the fun. read more

When one is waiting around for their dinner reservation, it only makes sense to have a drink and app at the local brewpub! Fernside has plenty of seating, friendly workers and an upbeat ambience. We decided to sit outside and I got to say it's perfect for chatting with your friends and do some people watching. They have a good selection of beer and cocktails. Of the two appetizers we ordered (the house pickles and the fries). The fries were by far the favourite and easier to share. No fry was left untouched by some sort of topping. Plus the waffle cut is perfect for shoveling those toppings into your mouth! read more

Fernside - Loaded fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Solid 2.4 stars... New happy hour joint! Ordered drinks before entering, because that's what you do here...and then proceeded to wait in line for 10 minutes as the single bartender was also slinging drinks for the bar... decent selection of local craft brews and of course the mixology options are endless! Ordered food at the bar, because that's what you do here...and then picked food up at the bar when the buzzer went off. I opted for the pulled pork sliders(3)...sweet pork on a nice bun smothered in slaw. Good flavor, but the bun was soggy from slaw liquid. Ambiance was rustic seat yourself, service was serve yourself, and prices were above expectation for all the work I was putting in. Just not my type of joint.. read more

Came here for dinner and a drink with friends. I had the fried chicken sandwich and a beer. I loved the coleslaw on the sandwich and the cold beer was a perfect pairing. I like that you order at the counter and seat yourself. They have plenty of seating inside and outside. It was a beautiful warm day so we sat on the patio next the side walk. Great spot for a casual meal or drinks. I especially love the location and the outside seating. read more

Fernside - FRIED CHICKEN SANDO & Liquid Candy - Tarantula Hill - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

The only thing I could think after being here a few hours was, "How did I NOT know this place existed?!" The quick hit for this review - it's nearly 100% perfection. 4.95 out of 5 - easily! Now, the further explanation -- I still consider myself fairly new to the SD area and dropped by the Southpark area with a friend. We strolled around and basically followed our noses and ears until we landed somewhere. Right off the bat, I was charmed by the menus posted outside of Fernside (which you can find on their website pretty easily). 5 pages were posted to the walls in various places for people to peruse; 3.5 of them were pretty much alcohol/drink options with the first page & bottom of the last page being dedicated to food. I loved it -- they knew what I was there for! I got the Fernside Burger (pictured) - and this isn't hyperbole: It is the best burger San Diego has given me in my time here. I thought I'd found it somewhere else before, but I was wrong. The Fernside burger is that taste of America people visiting the country want when they come here. It's perfection. Fernside -- if you're reading this, please don't ever change ANYTHING about how you made that beautiful thing! The ambiance in there is insane!! "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension" playing on the TVs. The Cure's "Boys Don't Cry" intermixed with other music from the 50s to 90s Hiphop playing over the sound system. Tiki glasses in the shape of well-known beloved Star Wars characters hidden within some of their other glasses. You could get a solid cerveza there - OR - you could pretty much order from the full run of Suntory Japanese Whisky (a personal favorite of mine) they had present. You could buy your table bottles of whiskey the same way some spots sell bottles of wine for their tables (they did wines by the bottle for your table as well, just FYI - but the bottles of spirits seemed like a more unique feature in my experiences)... Like... WTH - where was I (in a good way)?! How had I never happened across this spot!? It was as if someone said, "You know -- I want to make a bar where the theme pulling it all together is 'the good B-Sides most people don't know about, but should'," and they stuck the landing!! The staff there we cool as all get out, and the prices of everything were SO reasonable! If you can't tell, I plan to go back there. San Diego just keeps on giving -- I have a favorite brewery here, and now I think Fernside just cemented itself as my favorite bar/chill eatery in the area. Easily. I gave a 4.95 out of 5 at the beginning, and that's just because I'm being a butt. The place is perfect and EASILY a pleasantly unexpected 5-star experience. It didn't look bad from the outside by any means, but I just wasn't expecting it to be THAT good. The -.05 in the scoring above was because I didn't see the one thing there that seemed like it could fit the space: No arcade cabinet with like... a mix of classic video games on it. Haha - I'm not there to play games, but I was shocked to NOT see it considering everything else the place had going on! And for all I know, maybe it was there somewhere but I just didn't see it. Meh - small nit that honestly doesn't matter. I saw a family there with small kids in one of the two outdoor eating areas (so, it is kid-friendly for those who want to know) & all of the tables had these little personal-sized fans (I o'no how to describe that part -- you'll see it if you go there). There was a cute fluffy dog outside with a couple at one of the other outdoor/side patio areas - so they're dog-friendly, too. If you've never been to this spot & are a fan of good burgers, nice drinks, fun yet chill environments, polite (from what I could tell) patrons, and good music/audio-visuals -- this is the spot for you. read more

Fernside - This was the best burger I've had so far in San Diego. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Food was delicious. Drinks were great (the alcholic slushies was definitely a treat like the others rave about. Chandler was provided exceptional service. Staff was attentive in general. Came to watch the Superbowl although it was not an Eagles bar it was great to hear 90% of the people rooting for my team . Fly EAGLES FLY. Philly cheese steak was good, can request for a cheese wiz, and it was served with cajon style waffle fries. read more

So I just had a great fried chicken sandwich with jalapeño slaw. Yep. Tremendous. And some of the best waffle fries.....crispy, just the way I like them. Good drinks too. No kidding for sure. Friendly staff takes good care of their patrons. Try it or I'll haunt your dreams. ‍ read more

Fernside - Fernside dining. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

The best smash burger in town and they make one hell of a penicillin cocktail. All that and I was able to take a quality bottle of bourbon home with me. read more

Fernside - Fernside Burger and crisscut fries. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Love this place!! I live down the street and fernside has been my go to spot for happy hour and sports! I loveeee the alcoholic slushies and highly recommend trying at least one! They have a great happy hour menu with good selections, and the regular food menu has great options as well! The waffle cut fries are sooo good and they have delicious ranch. Super laid back and friendly place, definitely recommend!! read more

Visited during Valentine's, 4:30, perfect timing, not crowded, happy hour options and service was good. The food was just okay, Shrimp fried rice was okay, wings and chili fries once again just okay. Our drinks and salad did shine, well served and everything came out quick. You pay upfront, no servers and you pickup your items from the bar, seems like a decent arrangement. read more

Fernside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

It's more of a 4.5 I wish they had some sliding scale in here I really like furnside. The service is always friendly. Oh the slushies are great but I think they shrunk in size lately. The food is usually amazing. On Father's Day I had some of the best ribs that were on special for $7 for two ribs but it was worth every penny! They were probably the best ribs I've ever had and I do not generally like ribs and I have no idea why I ordered them. I think it was a mustard sauce that accompanied it that was the draw. I would give it five stars but there's some inconsistencies and things but it's so close to perfect 4.5 works read more

Fernside - Crumb catchers - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Amazing service, good food, and completely understanding work crew. Dealing with crazy customer with a smile on their face and a great attitudes no matter the circumstances. It doesn't go unnoticed. read more