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    Lighthouse Oyster Bar & Grill

    3.5 (1.2k reviews)
    Closed • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Lighthouse Oyster Bar & Grill Photos

    Business Info

    LIGHTHOUSE OYSTER BAR & GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Happy hour specials
    Good for kids

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    Reviews With Photos

    Coconut Shrimp
    James K.

    Lighthouse is always a great option. Especially right before summer hits and it gets slammed w/ tourists It has great views and is great for small to medium size groups. Our server (Chuy) was great. Very attentive but not overbearing. We started with a few apps. Crab cakes - yes, coconut shrimp - yes, calamari - meh...they're strips and were decent but no actual cocktail sauce which I think would have been nice to add. I got the pan seared Black Sea bass w/ a couple scallops. I was excited for the bass and it was good but honestly it was slightly dry. The scallops were delicious. Wasabi garlic mashed potatoes - couldn't taste wasabi or garlic. - the table tasted and agreed. Not a big deal but just saying Hahha. Anyway, always worth coming for a meal. Others got the tacos and they may have won the day

    Tet S.

    This is good for groups. We decided to have a close friend birthday party. The ambience is very good. So far we ordered calamari and ceviche, both are great. So far... service is awesome. Carlos is very good! I will update this review after we eat. For now I will give this experience 4.6 for ambience and service.

    Seafood fettuccine
    Cynthia M.

    Service is always great. The best thing tonigjt was the Seven Seas! The seafood fettuccine was ok. Needed salt or some more flavor. But the seven seas could feed like 3 pple. So much fish, shrimp, clams, scallops and crab. Great view and vibes. We shared some wine at the bar inside while we waited for our table. And the chefs were nice.

    Chicken nachos - chicken was cold and the entire dish barely edible
    Vivian H.

    Yea this place is pretty terrible and the only saving grace is that the staff were really nice and maybe in the daytime, the views make up for the lackluster food. I came in here after trying to go to two other spots, (LTH and Pure Project were both packed with people and I needed some quiet) and was greeted pretty nicely by the host and chose a seat at their long inviting bar. Its Taco Tuesday as I was told and there was a special on Modelo draft (not my kind of beer) and taco specials. I had an Oside Blonde and that was pretty much the only thing good about the meal. I actually wanted a bowl of soup and when I asked the guy serving me which one was good, he was nice enough to give me a taste of all three, only the Manhattan clam chowder was edible and hot so I opted for that one. But when the soup came, it wasnt even hot and it was lukewarm!! I then ordered a chicken nachos and that was just a sordid mess honestly. The worst nachos I have ever eaten, and the grilled chicken was cold! I didnt want to make a fuss about the food as I just wanted to finish up my meal, pay and make a mad dash for the door. The other thing is they charged me fill price for the nachos even though it was a special for Taco Tuesday. And while the food is inedible, the staff were nice and it was fun to listen to some ska style Xmas music! You're not going to find me coming back here, but never say never, and maybe one day who knows I might be back for the $2 oyster special.

    View and my friends
    Jennie B.

    I had the best, most respectful, patient server name Fabricio. He made my experience so welcoming and easy. The shrimp Alfredo was to die for.. highly recommend. Chew (waiter) was also so helpful. Answered questions and asked if we needed anything. Highly recommend!

    Victoria B.

    We come here every time we come to Oceanside. My husband ordered Fishrmans Fry, I ordered the Seabass. His was not very tasty and my Seabass was dry. We spent a lot of money on these two meals... was not worth it. The service was wonderful and I have to say they have the best homemade tiramisu... I hope they get better cooks. I don't think these are the same cooks from last year. I have ordered Seabass before and it came out so moist and delicious and my husband's seafood smelled really bad, very fishy and the sauce was something you would not dip your bread in? The view is always beautiful ...

    Irish C.

    Loved the carnitas chips, the calamari is soft but lacking crunchiness, the mixed fried seafood is okay nothing special so as the fettucine. Service is okay . The view of the sunset is amazing. I just didnt expect the mosquitos.. so many mosquitos !

    Oysters on the half shell
    Kerry W.

    My grandson and I can't come to Oceanside without stopping here for dinner. We love the ambience and service is always wonderful. Happy hour here is always wonderful. It's the perfect way to end our first day on the ocean. Today we ordered the oysters, which are always delicious, crispy calamari and the shrimp scampi. The oysters are always a highlight fresh and delicious along with the calamari. The shrimp scampi was pretty good, it could've used more garlic. We enjoyed our evening watching the sunset before heading out.

    Sunset on the Oceanside marina
    Sonnie S.

    Last night we walked down the pier to choose a place for dinner. We liked the look of this restaurant and, since I use a walker and they have an elevator, this was it. The host, Chris, told us to sit where we wanted, then he kindly moved my walker out of the way. Very soon our server, Oracio, came with menus and to take our beverage orders. Too many times we have to wait, but our drinks were delivered quickly. We chose one of their local craft beer offerings. Then he gave us a perfect length of time to study our menus and order. Then our dinners arrived, also quickly. As we ate, there was the nice bonus of a beautiful sunset -- with no pressure to turn the table. If you go here on a Tuesday or Friday, ask for Oracio. The food and beverages, and the ambience were all great, and the excellent service tied the whole experience together. We'll definitely come back.

    Lobster Bisque and White Clam Chowder
    Kev B.

    Came in, got sat in the back with only one other party. Took ages to get our order in, and servers took so long to accommodate us. My wife and I noticed this cart carrying two uncovered buckets of either a sauce or a soup, there's no way that can be food safe whatsoever. The concern wasn't lowered even we finally got the soups, in which they were served to us lukewarm and bland. The overpriced oysters were probably the best part of this experience as they were actually good and clean. The steamed combo was a bowl of broth with a few miscellaneous tiny shells of things. So overpriced, not only was this a waste of $115 but a waste of an hour n a half as well.

    Parking
    Javier B.

    Seafood restaurant Upstairs Oceanside North county Great view Restrooms around the corner Street parking Amex accepted Vegan options Quick service Vegan options None seafood options Has a bar inside

    Coconut shrimp
    Tera R.

    Yum! crab Louie salad, coconut shrimp, clam chowder in bread bowl, cocktails - all so delicious! Service was great too. Hard to beat the Oceanside Harbor view from here.

    Campechana
    Gina J.

    Great scenery and the weather was the perfect way to start a beautiful today. We've started to come to the Lighthouse, it's our go to... regularly when we come to an Oceanside Harbor. I've found that the Super Campechana, clam chowder and Fish Tacos are our regular favorites. Had a Michelada and Michelob to start. We don't give the chefs enough of the praise for the dishes they've created and send out to their guests for heavenly consumption. We tip our servers for excellent service but they're the middle man for what the restaurant actually stands for. I took the time today to give our chefs praise for our dishes that we love so much. Thank you again for a wonderful experience.

    Bananas foster

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    Omgosh this place was incredible and the view was amazing! HUGE shout out to Carlos and the Chef they went above and beyond!

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    Food is awful, drinks are subpar. Everything was watered down and bland. Just good for the views of the harbor.

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    Page 1 of 30

    Lighthouse Oyster Bar & Grill Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Lighthouse Oyster Bar & Grill

    Is the patio dog friendly?

    Yes! I brought my pup :)

    Is this place still open? They haven't posted on Facebook in months and the website is down?

    The Lighthouse is alive & well. This mom & pop & son (sommelier) w/be there forever. Go early for the sunset & happy hour.

    When is happy hour?

    Happy hour is from 3:00 to 6:00pm daily

    Is there a party room?

    It didn't appear to be a party room, but depending on the size of the crowd they had a large inside area. Most people sit on the outside deck.

    View All 9 Questions

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    The Rooftop Bar - Spread Trio

    The Rooftop Bar

    3.9(612 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    •$$$

    The rooftop has one of the best views in Oceanside and is definitely a great spot to bring a date…read more The atmosphere and ocean views are the main draw, and the chicken sandwich was excellent. That said, after multiple visits, the service has consistently been the weak point. It can be slow and doesn't quite match the upscale experience or price point you'd expect from a rooftop like this. At these prices, I'd expect a level of service closer to what you'd receive at a high-end resort, and unfortunately it hasn't been there. You're definitely paying a premium for the location and view. I'd still recommend checking it out, especially for drinks, sunset, or a date night, but keep your expectations realistic when it comes to service and value.

    Saw great reviews about The Rooftop Bar and the recommendation on making reservations - glad we did…read morethat! It's beautiful at the top, we didn't really have a great view from our seats - but it also seemed like if you are a larger group there isn't too many options. We were seated by the pool area - which was strange since we weren't hotel guests and weren't planning to swim, but it was closer to the pier view. The main area seemed to be more shaded than the pool area, so half our group was in the sun and the other half were shaded, thankfully there was a breeze! We specifically went for the happy hour drinks and they were delicious!!! Service was good - our waitress was friendly. I will recommend this place to anyone visiting the area on the future!

    Photos
    The Rooftop Bar - Martini, juice, and olives

    Martini, juice, and olives

    The Rooftop Bar - Tuna Tartar with Virgin Pina (drink)

    Tuna Tartar with Virgin Pina (drink)

    The Rooftop Bar - Our cocktails

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    Our cocktails

    The Lobby Tiki Bar & Grill - Poke inari bombs

    The Lobby Tiki Bar & Grill

    4.4(221 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    •$$

    Went for Happy Hour Love the Tiki bar Ambience…read more They got it right Hubby loved the Taco Tuesday fish tacos I had the dry rib chicken wings...perfect Shout out to our amazing bartender Parker

    If you like your tiki bars low-key, The Lobby Tiki Bar & Grill has got you covered…read more If that sounds like a negative, it's not. In this case, "low-key" refers to a tiki bar that is not over-the-top; one that doesn't cause you to enter into an entirely different reality. There's a time and place for that sort of tiki bar but in a small coastal town perhaps you don't want or need to enter a fourth dimension. The Lobby is small (though larger than I'd anticipated), not noticeably dark (like many in the genre), and outfitted with a nice array of tiki-themed tchotchkes. Scooby Doo, playing silently on a small tv above the bar, is a perfect accompaniment to the pleasing decor. I both ate and drank here and found nothing not to enjoy. Tiki bars generally elicit happiness in me and this one, with its excellent server, did not change that mindset. An Astro Chimp ($14) was my tiki drink of choice, mostly because I was interested in trying a cocktail featuring cold brew. Very good, and it did not keep me up all night. Fish & Chips ($23) was a sizable and satisfying portion, plenty there to be shared by two. "Brussels" ($11), were also quite good and ample. You will not go hungry if you choose to dine here. The Lobby is a fun choice for your time in Oceanside. Stylish and satisfying on every front, I'd happily return. Other stuff: * There is apparently a stairway-accessible rooftop deck here but it was closed for a private event during my visit. If open, definitely worth checking out. * 5% surcharge is automatically added to everything you spend here.

    Photos
    The Lobby Tiki Bar & Grill - Jason Momoa

    Jason Momoa

    The Lobby Tiki Bar & Grill - Loco Moco

    Loco Moco

    The Lobby Tiki Bar & Grill - Temple of Doom

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    Temple of Doom

    Frankie’s - The bar is lovely!

    Frankie’s

    4.3(167 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    •$$

    Drinks were spot on, the mezcal/habanero Toxica blew me away...bartenders were down for small talk…read more Felt like a proper bar.

    With so many places to imbibe in Oceanside, I realize how competitive these places have to be to…read morestay in business so I have to admit, my standards are fairly high. My husband and I stopped in to Frankie's on a recent Saturday at 5pm. Our kiddo had a performance down the street at 6pm so we had a little time to kill beforehand. The neighboring spots looked busy so we decided to go with Frankie's, seeing as they were less inundated at the time and we had a time constraint. Another allure was the sandwich board at the front door advertising discounted cocktails - sold!! Inside there were a handful of patrons at the bar, another table with two additional patrons and maybe a couple on the patio so it was fairly quiet and slow, so it looked promising. We headed up to the bar and hung out behind two empty barstools, the single female bartender greeted us and said she'd be right with us, but then continued chatting up the seated patrons, serving them and their friends that had just joined (AFTER we'd arrived). We moved a little further down to the handoff area where she was making drinks to save her having to come back to us again, and stood there for probably 10 minutes while she took orders and made all the drinks. We commented that she looked like she could definitely use a hand, and she said they were still adjusting into summer hours and determining whether more coverage was needed at this time - I figured 5pm on a Saturday should be primetime, so I'm not sure in what universe having a single bartender makes any sense. Finally we placed our cocktail orders, waited while they were made, and then put our card down for the tab. After we'd paid, I noticed the cocktails were more expensive than advertised on the sandwich board out front - I couldn't find a disclaimer anywhere that said only certain cocktails were included, so while it was a bummer I wasn't about to wait another 10-15 minutes to catch her attention and ask for clarification. Just a heads up to beware of whatever is advertised that might summon you in from the sidewalk, and make sure you ask before you make your selection. Drinks were very subpar, nothing special to write home about. While I can appreciate the Gatsby-esque vibe they're trying to uphold at Frankie's, they really should increase their staffing especially during prime weekend and evening hours, and be more transparent about their specials and what's included and what's not. Hindsight is 20/20, and the low volume of patrons when everything else around it was going off was probably a sign, so we'll skip Frankie's our next go around.

    Photos
    Frankie’s - The bar

    The bar

    Frankie’s - Full Bar

    Full Bar

    Frankie’s - Behind the Bar

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    Behind the Bar

    The Surf Club Oceanside - Smash burger

    The Surf Club Oceanside

    3.6(149 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    •$$

    The Surf Club is a fun restaurant located in the heart of Oceanside near the beach and pier area…read more It's a restaurant adjacent to the Springhill Suites Marriott though I don't think it's affiliated. The inside has a beachy decor, a couple of pool tables, some video games and several tables for the restaurant. They also have a long indoor/outdoor bar area. There is an outside seating patio as well. Our table ordered several meals. The food was beautifully presented and tasty. We also ordered cocktails and beer. The service was excellent for our large group. Because of the large group, they charged an automatic gratuity, which was fine because I think we were well taken care of. I'm not sure how often, but the restaurant sometimes has a live music. I thought the placement of the band was a little bit strange. The band is at the front of the restaurant and there is a small dance area. But if you want to watch the band, there is not a lot of seating and the tables alongside the dance area are taken up for most of the time by people who are there to see the band. That leaves less tables for people who actually want to eat. The restaurant also has an upstairs area, which I thought would've been perfect for the band and dancing so that it's less disruptive for people who are there to eat. Just my two cents on that topic! The band was called The M-80s and they were excellent! I would definitely go see them again. I will definitely return to the Surf Club as well. Great location. Great service. I think this is a fantastic spot for vacationers to come and enjoy time with the locals while listening to great music. Parking can be found in the transit station multilevel parking lot, which is nearby or across the street at one of the pay lots.

    5/5 - Highly recommend!…read more The Surf Club Oceanside is such a beautiful spot! The atmosphere is relaxed, bright, and welcoming, with an amazing coastal vibe that's perfect whether you're grabbing drinks, celebrating a special occasion, or just spending time with friends and family. The ambiance alone makes you want to stay awhile, and the location is hard to beat. I always come here, but this last visit reminded me exactly why I'll always be loyal to this place. I brought my sister here to celebrate her 21st birthday and introduce her to a few drinks. Since she's new to drinking, she wasn't a fan of the first cocktail she ordered. Instead of just leaving it at that, our server took the time to ask what she liked and didn't like, relayed those notes to the bartender, and together they created a drink that was absolutely perfect for her. That is what true customer service looks like. They didn't have to go above and beyond, but they did. They turned what could have been a disappointing first experience into a memorable one that made my sister feel heard and taken care of. It's rare to find a place where the staff genuinely cares about making sure their guests leave happy. Between the beautiful ambiance, delicious food and drinks, and exceptional customer service, The Surf Club continues to earn my loyalty even back when they had their previous name as HELLO BETTY FISH HOUSE. I'll absolutely keep coming back and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Oceanside.

    Photos
    The Surf Club Oceanside
    The Surf Club Oceanside - Buffalo Wings and dirty carnitas fries

    Buffalo Wings and dirty carnitas fries

    The Surf Club Oceanside - Skinny margarita

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    Skinny margarita

    Cococabana - Mozzarella sticks

    Cococabana

    3.9(435 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    •$$

    7/10 overall! CocoCabana is definitely giving cute rooftop brunch spot. We went on a Sunday right…read morewhen they opened at 11 AM, and it was actually really nice and chill not crowded at all. The rooftop has such a pretty aesthetic with the umbrellas, decor, bar, and plenty of shaded seating. The view was nice, too! The Bananarama drinks were 10/10. They're non-alcoholic, super yummy, and SO cute. Honestly, I'd go back just for those. My breakfast sandwich with the potatoes was also really good solid 7/10. My mom got the butterscotch donuts and said they were to die for A few things could be better: the paper menus looked pretty worn compared to the cute menus I'd seen online, and some of the outdoor pillows definitely looked like they needed a wash/replacement. I also noticed that some of the food I saw people raving about on Yelp is from an older menu, so definitely check the current menu before getting your heart set on something. Overall, I'm glad I finally got to experience CocoCabana. Cute atmosphere, chill Sunday morning, good food, and those Bananaramas were bomb!

    This place kind of feels like a group of girls were sitting at a bar one night and decided how cool…read moreit would be to open their own place. And honestly, that would be cool if the flow was there, but you can kind of tell that all the ideas aren't fully there yet. For starters, the drinks are expensive, which I get because you're in Oceanside by the beach and I'm sure rent isn't cheap. But man, I paid $18 for a coffee-style cocktail and it was pretty bad. They put this whipped cream on top that just didn't work with the drink and was actually pretty nasty. They definitely put alcohol in it, which was good I guess, but overall it was probably one of the worst cocktails I've had in a while. My wife and I also walked up to the bar and waited to be attended. One of the waitresses was busy cleaning and organizing things, going back and forth from inside to outside, while another waitress was socializing with a group of guys for probably 6-7 minutes before noticing us standing at the front of the bar. I really don't mind waiting, but when you combine that with the quality of the drinks and the lack of attention, it just makes it seem like no one really cares that much. That's kind of why I made the comment in the beginning. The place has a cool idea behind it, but you can tell it's missing some of the professionalism and attention to detail that comes with running a good bar. The one thing that really saves this place is the view. It's a really nice view, and during sunset I can definitely see why people come here. Other than that though, I personally wouldn't spend my money here again.

    Photos
    Cococabana - Tiki Bar downstairs

    Tiki Bar downstairs

    Cococabana - Plantains and ceviche

    Plantains and ceviche

    Cococabana - Mango Guava Spritz and Miami Pound Machine

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    Mango Guava Spritz and Miami Pound Machine

    Lighthouse Oyster Bar & Grill - seafood - Updated October 2026

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