Yummy drinks in a cute dark bar in the middle of downtown TJ! Lovely break/little escape from the…read morehustle of downtown. Servers are attentive but not overbearing, fun to see the bartenders making drinks and using smoke.

This lace was delicious. They have a variety of food from pizza to crickets. Their drinks are…read moredelicious and they have mezcal. It's considered a little on the fancy side but well worth it. The service was fast and our server was very nice and attentive.

Delicious paella and Spanish tapas!…read more The paella was seasoned well with hefty portions of seafood. $59 for two people (minimum) and two tapas plates were plenty. The interior is decorated very casual and homey, it was a fun ambiance with excellent service! The flan dessert was so rich and creamy too. I would come back to try more of the hot tapas plates!

Came here during happy hour to see what all the hype was about, and it definitely lived up to its…read morereputation. The ambiance was relaxed and inviting, especially for the middle of the day, making it a great spot to unwind over a few tapas and drinks. Our waiter was incredibly friendly and helpful, walking us through the menu and offering recommendations, which made ordering much easier for first-timers. My favorite dish was the ham and cheese-filled tapa--it was rich, crispy, and packed with flavor. We also enjoyed the chicken with onions and the sausage, both of which were simple but well-executed. As with most traditional tapas bars, don't come expecting a huge meal since the portions are meant for sharing and sampling. The sangria was refreshing and paired well with the food, though it wasn't particularly memorable. Overall, Costa Brava is a great place for happy hour, good conversation, and authentic tapas with attentive service in a welcoming atmosphere.

Fantastic meal, wonderful service (from Tucker) and an adorable atmosphere- what else could you ask…read morefor! We were walk-ins, so seated at the bar but that was more than fine since we got to see all the actions as the dishes were being prepared. They recommend 4-6 dishes for 2 people. We got 5, and that felt right. We had the eggplant toast, corn soup, Brussels sprouts salad, yellowtail (our favorite) and the mushroom polenta. All delicious in their own way. What a gem of a restaurant!

Wow. Just wow. My…read morebest friend had been raving about Wolf in the Woods for years, so she brought me here for my birthday. As two serious foodies, our expectations were high. This place exceeded every one of them. Nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood, Wolf in the Woods feels like a hidden European café you'd stumble upon while traveling. Sitting outside beneath the umbrellas with a cocktail, watching the neighborhood stroll by. It felt like a little corner cafe in Paris. Then the food arrived. Every plate was beautifully presented, but the real magic was in the creativity of the flavors. The combinations were unexpected, yet every one worked. Every dish had me wondering how on earth someone came up with these pairings in the first place. The Sweet Corn & Piñon Soup deserves a standing ovation. We literally stopped talking after the first spoonful. Rich, savory, slightly sweet, comforting and completely unexpected all at the same time. Both of our eyes rolled back in our heads. The Beef Tataki completely surprised me. The outside had a delicate seared crust, the inside cut like butter, and the citrus pairing made me rethink what flavors belong together. And the mushroom and polenta dish? The mushrooms had an incredible texture--like savory little pieces of mushroom jerky. I would have happily bought a pound of them just to snack on. Every dish felt like it was taking me somewhere I'd never been before, yet somehow felt familiar at the same time. Wolf in the Woods creates an unforgettable experience.

I rarely write negative reviews, but after several experiences at Romesco's, I feel this one is…read morewarranted. My first issue happened during my birthday dinner, which my husband had planned to host as a surprise in the tapas bar area. When he booked the event, he was informed of a minimum spend requirement, which he agreed to. However, no one told him that it would be a half-off night. Because of that, and because some of our guests were charged separately for their meals (which we were embarrassed to discover after the fact), our final bill didn't come close to the required minimum. When we asked to speak with a manager, we were initially ignored. After repeatedly asking through our server, the manager eventually provided a partial gift card toward the remaining balance--but the situation could have easily been avoided with clear communication upfront. Unfortunately, things didn't improve when we returned to use that gift card. On multiple visits, we experienced long waits just to be acknowledged, and when we were told to seat ourselves, many of the tables were dirty and hadn't been cleared. The most frustrating experience was with a takeout order. I ordered the chicken marsala, expecting a quality meal for the $30 price. Instead, I received four extremely thin pieces of chicken. When I called to politely share my concern, the manager argued the portions are always weighed to 8 oz. After weighing what remained (I ate one very small piece), it came out to just 3.9 oz. So it would've been 4.5 oz at best. I sent photos and was told I'd receive a call back--but never did. I ended up bringing the food back to the restaurant, where I was told a gift card had been texted to me (it hadn't). It was resent on the spot, but even then, it didn't include the takeout fee. Yes, they charge a $6 service fee for takeout on top of the already overpriced dish!!! There was no apology or real acknowledgment of the issue. I was so hungry at that point that I ordered the shrimp and fries tapas--she charged me, minus the service fee lol. It was void of flavor tbh. At the end of the day, the recurring issues are lack of communication, inconsistent service, and disappointing food quality for the price. A sincere apology, acknowledgment of falling short of expectations, or follow-through would have gone a long way, but unfortunately, that never happened. It's disappointing because this place presents itself as a higher-end dining experience, but the service and quality just don't match. It's clear they only care about one thing...and it's definitely not the customer! I still have a significant balance left on the gift card, otherwise I likely wouldn't return.

After more than 15 years, we finally returned to Romesco's -- and it was a great reminder of why…read morethis place has remained a local favorite. We arrived around 5:30pm on a busy Friday evening with two other couples and no reservations (always a gamble). The dining room and tapas bar were fully booked for a party of six, but fortunately an outdoor patio table opened up and we happily took it. Even better, our server Jose Luis (who also works at TJ Oyster Bar) recognized us from past visits. He delivered friendly, attentive service all evening and struck the perfect balance of checking in without hovering. Drinks: * Paper Airplane (bourbon-based signature cocktail) -- excellent and well balanced * Estrella Galicia 0.0 ABV Spanish pilsner -- a surprisingly good non-alcoholic option Food: * Cazuelita de Costilla de Res (short rib tacos) -- flavorful and a standout starter * House bread -- simple but very satisfying * Tiramisu & churros -- both excellent and perfect for sharing Just "Meh": The Chicken Marsala. Not bad, but we've definitely had better at Italian restaurants. Next time we'll stick entirely with the Spanish/Mexiterranean side of the menu. Pro Tip: Make reservations for dinner or arrive early for happy hour (4-6pm, Mon-Fri) -- this place fills up quickly, especially on weekends. Service was attentive, pacing was smooth, and our table was well taken care of throughout the evening. Overall, a very enjoyable dining experience -- and we definitely won't wait another 15 years before coming back.

2nd floor towards the back of Plaza Fiesta. The stairs are kinda hard to find. Just look for the…read moreAmbar sign. Really good beer selection if you like light, non-hoppy beers. Also great music and atmosphere. There's a balcony to people watch and lots of seating inside. My favorite beer here is the Old Mission Guavalicious. Perfect balance of fruity and light flavor. Highly recommend checking this place out.

I am truly disappointed after observing the waitress recicling leftovers of all sauces and…read moredressings. All I could say about the nice service and average food, is useless after seeing this right in front of me, with no discretion at all, fir about 4-5 minutes. I even had time to take a video as I was so surprised! What a critical case of illegal behavior against the most basic hygiene in a restaurant. Disgusting! Estoy realmente decepcionada después de observar a la mesera reciclando las sobras de todas las salsas y aderezos. Todo lo que podría decir sobre el buen servicio y la comida promedio, es inútil después de ver esto justo en frente de mí, sin ninguna discreción en absoluto, durante unos 4-5 minutos. Hasta tuve tiempo de sacar vídeo porque estaba atónita! Qué caso crítico de comportamiento ilegal contra la higiene más básica en un restaurante. ¡Repugnante!

I love this place for breakfast This is my favorite place…read moreto eat breakfast . I really recommend this place very good customer service too !!

My buddy & I were heading to Solano Beach for a show at the BellyUp Tavern Saturday night. In…read morelooking for a place to grab a bite, Ted discovered CTZN & made a ressy. Traffic from LA moved, arriving 30 min early, the lovely hostess was pleased to seat us right away out front on the patio. Greeted by such flavorful aromas, we were immediately intrigued. Our server was perfect, explaining a few things on the menu, encouraging us to order our main course as they take about 45 min to create. So, ordered the Paella de Pollo to share. Then, we perused the drink menu! What a selection! We were feeling the need for some bourbon, tried the peach Ol' Fashioned. Concerned that such fruity concoctions can occasionally overwhelm the spirit, we were presented with a good looking, clear cubed lowball with a skewered marinated cherry along with a tiny cube of peach. It tasted delicious. CTZN has a mixologist Extradinaire at the helm! By this time, our 1st tapa was presented, Croquetas de Torrezno. Delicate & flavorful, smoked pork belly atop black garlic aioli, apricot jam & Ice wine vinegar. Delicious! Then we were presented with our Potatas Brava, 4 servings of delicately sliced potato dauphine with Bravas sauce & garlic aioli. So many flavors to these perfectly cooked slices. I'd wanted to try another drink & read the Paper Airplane was there. A delicate fruity/frothy mixture that my wife would've loved, but a bit sweet for me. So ordered my favorite bourbon cocktail, with a twist. A Black Manhattan. Again, the bar presented an excellent version, with the black amaro perfectly balanced. Now came the Paella de Pollo. A roasted small half chicken, cooked well with wild mushrooms, chorizo de Bilbao, garlic aioli & grilled lemon. Absolutely delicious with protein to spare. We topped it all off with their own wonderful cheesecake & fruit sauces shared. All of this while enjoying the perfect outdoor weather at the beach with an ongoing promenade of folks enjoying the afternoon sunset. A wonderfully creative bar, outstanding service and so many flavors on the menu, we need to come back to try more! I highly recommend CTZN when in North San Diego in stylish Solano Beach!

I would look at Shirley O's pix.... she did a way better job of photographing than I did…read more We sooo lucked out, going on a Sunday when they make fresh Paella right out front. Smells so good as you get close to walking in.... There are so many things this restaurant does right, it's hard to know where to start. First, by accident we showed up on a Basque Holiday. Amazing luck. Imagine this: we order their Paella that takes 45 minutes to finish and while we wait, we order something from every category to taste. The combination of how they 'treat' the ingredients, how they 'plate' the food, how amazing their staff is, down to their advisor who is basically an executive chef .... How inspired he is, how much he appreciates the fine job everyone in his Kichen does, how inspired our waiter is ... how nice the hostess is ... well, this was the most amazing experience. I believe it is the CAÑA DE CABRA TOAST, that has sliced peaches and jam with goat cheese that is one of the best starters we have ever enjoyed. Lisa says: 'The mint on the top is just the right addition'. Grilled Shrimp and PATATAS BRAVAS are done right. Careful of the heat on the potatoes, if that's not your thing. But just look at what they are creating .... all the work put in to thinly slice them and top them. The broth with clams makes you ask for more bread. The Seafood Paella arrives. Lisa says: "The scallops are done right and the fish is very light. The rice is flavorful, more of a smokey rice with great flavor rather than just saffron. I am a NY'er and I know my cheesecake. I rarely order it because it's not like back home. But with their 'in house' pastry person, I just want to say every bite, every look, every berry, every texture is just perfect. This Basque cheesecake is something I will think about and come back for over and over again. As Lisa eats her birthday dessert, her eyes roll back in her head. Aaah. So it isn't just me that loves this dessert! Can't wait to try everything on the menu! I'm bringing San Diego Foodies and Carlsbad Foodies from Meetup back here, so we can taste everything I missed! Now I hope I can get everyone to share. lol With garlic, gusto and gratitude,  Chef Marian  San Diego Foodies Carlsbad Foodies

Verde y Crema is one of my go-to spots when in downtown TJ. Whether I'm with a group, looking for a…read morenice meal, or wanting just a drink with some live music, they have it all. The food here is so, so good. I love how different the menu is and there are so many great things to choose from, we almost always end up ordering several plates to share so we can eat a little bit of it all! I will say that my favorite dish is definitely the Res Braseada. The meat is always cooked perfectly and just melts in your mouth. But the tacos are all good, the birria sandwich is bomb (and the fries that come with it, too), and the elotes.... get the elotes! They've got a great selection of beers and their wine is good, too. The different levels lend themselves well to whatever kind of vibe you're feeling, but no worries, the service is bomb no matter where you decide to plant yourself. Definitely recommend this spot to everyone and am looking forward to my next visit already!

Went around 4pm on a Saturday, so it wasn't busy yet. It was kind of strange walking up because it…read morewasn't obvious where to check in. If you want to eat in the restaurant, don't go all the way to the top (that's a bar area I think). We were greeted quickly and brought water, which was refreshing with the rosemary. I ordered a Mezcal cocktail that I forget the name of. It was oddly kind of thick, but still good. We started with the cauliflower ceviche, which was light and refreshing. It had great citrus flavor with a hint of spice. My husband ordered the birria grilled cheese, which was huge. He really enjoyed it. I got the seared yellowtail. The fish was cooked nicely, and the accompanying veggies were really good as well. Overall the service was friendly and food was good. We would go back. Maybe a little pricier than some of the other restaurants around, but still reasonable and worth the stop. They have an interesting variety of menu items. Check it out if you are looking for a nicer spot to eat downtown!

Great food, great customer service. Family owned and that's exactly what we felt like family. The…read morestaff joked around with the us. The food came out and everything was amazing. Just and FYI their pizza is so big you can barley fit it out the door. If you're looking for good pizza and wings look no further my friends *chef kiss*

Food was great. We tried the Pops supreme pizza. With so many toppings, that pizza alone let me…read moreknow that the other menu options were great. I don't live in the area and did a quick search for Pizza after leaving Sesames Place. I forgot to mention the wings and service. 10/10.