Little Victory is tucked into a small lot just around the corner from State Street and a lively…read morepart of Carlsbad Village. Parking can be an issue. I ended up about three blocks away in a residential area on a busy Saturday night. The cozy atmosphere is warm and comfortable. The staff does a good job weaving among the six tables in the dining room and six on the patio. Conversations are tougher inside. This is a natural wine bar, so some classiciists might not like the styles. Little Victory has a jammed, two-sided wine list (red and white) in incredibly small type. Natural wines often look and taste distinct from conventional bottles. They are frequently unfiltered and unfined, leaving them slightly cloudy with sediment. Expect vibrant acidity and complex flavor profiles that lean toward the earthy, savory. Bottle variation is common. Off-flavors and aromes include mousiness, excess volatile acidity (vinegar notes), or Brettanomyces (wet cardboard). Our waitress was patient and let us taste five whites, which were too funky for most of us (not fruit-driven noses and palates like most California wines). I settled on the Austrian 2024 Wurzinger Grüner Veltliner Früg, $17 BTG. It was cloudy, with some lime, floral, and yeasty nose; tight acids; and a tart finish. We did enjoy a fruity, balanced 2021 Viticultor Goyo Garcia Viadero Joven de Viejas Viñas, Ribera del Duero ($72 bottle; $25 at retail); and a good Temecula red blend, 2023 Lost Ranch Winery Moonshadow (53% Nero d'Avola; 47% Syrah; $17 by the glass). For appetizers, the four of us shared the olives ($8), bread and butter plate ($9), cheese platter ($18), and beef tartare ($25). Other things we shared were the local catch, $33; roasted octopus, $31; and the peach and fennel salad, $22. The octopus drew the most raves. The catch was a bit dry. Service was friendly, very helpful and responsive to our questions about the wines and the different dishes on the menu. The food runners were timely in bringing out our different dishes. Little Victory should do well in this bustling foodie town.

What a lovely little wine bar!! The best ambiance for a girls night out where all you want to do is…read morechat with your bffs. My cousin and I visited on a Friday night with no reservation. Plenty of street parking! We were seated right away at the bar stools. Lovely shop, very quaint and feels like you're just visiting a friends shop. We ordered the mussels, crudo and risotto. We were torn over what wine to get but they let us sample a couple! Super great service. Mussels were definitely the stand out dish, but everything was fresh! 3 plates was good for 2 people. We also got their cheesecake and it was SOOOO GOOD! Not too sweet, perfectly baked. It is a pricey restaurant but worth a special occasion.

This place is a gem! They have a self service wine bar, or a couple tasting options. They also have…read morea great chef with great food. We both did tastings and all the wine is great! Will definitely be back.

We are here for happy hour and bf is having a flight of white! It's so cute in here and I love the…read moreoutside area. We have the best weather here in Carlsbad! Lauren is so sweet and she knows her wines. She loves working here and it shows in her interactions with customers! We sat at the bar and talked to Gary who is the owner and he's super cool. I like their taste in music

Love that we can just tell Brian 'this time is like to try something..." and boom he has it in…read morefront of you for a taste, love it? You get a pour, not to your liking you get another taste! They have nice small food options, they are very tasty! Grateful to have found this place!

Relaxing yet chic wine bar with a vibe. It's cozy and includes great service. Can sit inside their…read moreSpanish colonial interior or outside (do not waste your time at Shoots if you want wine.) Definitely will and cannot wait to be back. I purchased a few bottles for a dinner party that the host let me taste beforehand to make sure it's what I envisioned. They also have hostess gifts so it's a one stop shop before the evening begins.

Such a chill and local winery that's easy to walk into and be seated immediately. They have a…read morewonderful and delicious selection of wines, but I really loved their 2019 Costa Azul Clement Hills Tempranillo. Definitely a smooth treat. Great ambiance and service too!

Nice little winery located just a block or so from the heart of carlsbad village. This place is…read moresmall but has a really nice selection of reds! The seating is very well done and they have a TV for sports. Good place to grab a drink before dinner in the village.

Super fun open mic on Thursday! Hosts Raynaldo and Suzanne are welcoming and help keep the evening…read morefun and light. Outdoor patio is spacious and great for summer evenings. Wines were good and they allow you to bring in food from neighboring restaurants. Be sure to check it out if you're a North County musician.

Sunday are the best with Raynaldo Martine open mic night his music is great and the people who come…read morein to play are good too.

I have not been to this location and quite some time I've…read morebeen meaning to come since they open up their kitchen and I have a food menu Since it's race season, I'd rather not go to the solana Beach location, which is my usual spot This is a perfect time to head to Carlsbad Ample outdoor outdoor rec seating. The last time I was here it was only a few indoor spaces. He also had a happy hour so we had a member glass and an addition we had the margarita pizza and two glasses (1 each) for $30 You still not Solana Beach Road but this was a super cool place

A nice place to stop for a glass of good wine. Our daughter is a member so we're there often…read more Pleasant environment outside or inside. The staff is very helpful and attentive. A good place to stop and join.

I'll admit, I'm never in Oceanside since it's a bit of a drive compared to the other beach towns…read more My girlies and I decided to stop by here on the way home from being in OC, and the vibes did not disappoint. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by the host (I forgot his name, but it starts with a V?). Super friendly and helped all of us feel at home; Would occasionally check-in to make sure our needs were taken care of too. Sometimes you walk into bars and deal with judgy/pretentious people or service workers and we didn't get that impression at all from any of the staff here. My girlies and I ended up sitting in the outside area, which honestly was a great choice due to the humid weather AND we got a great view of the beach sunset. It's a bit stuffy (when it's hot), but still nice inside the establishment. We also ordered some drinks and tiramisu to make the most of our time there. Overall, Sound By The Sea is a great spot to catch-up and unwind during one of those longer summer nights (cue the Summer Nights song by Lil Rob lol). I hope you also enjoy the same fun experience my friends and I shared yesterday. Thank you. :-)

My friend organized a '70s-themed beach party in Oceanside, and we ended up at this cool spot for…read moreappetizers and drinks. This was my second time here, and I love everything about this place. First of all, kudos to the bartender--I forgot her name, but she was incredibly generous and kind. She accidentally forgot my drink and kept apologizing, but I told her it was totally fine since we had a large party. To make up for it, she gave me two shots instead of one and even added a big discount. The ambiance of this place is unique and very artsy. If you're looking for a cool, one-of-a-kind spot to hang out, this is it. There's so much attention to detail throughout--even the restroom door is thoughtfully designed with a modern, creative touch. My friend ordered a variety of cocktails, and everyone enjoyed them. The food was great as well. I ordered the hummus plate, and it was the best I've ever had--so fresh and served in a generous portion. My friends tried the pizza and a few other items from the menu, and everything got a thumbs up. If you're in the area looking for a cool place to hang out or planning a party, this is the spot. I'll definitely be back again soon.

Absolutely loved Paon and sad to hear it has just closed! I still wanted to share my experience…read morehere because it is well deserved. Our wonderful server John really made our last visit fantastic. He helped us decide at every course and we were incredibly thankful for his perfect suggestions. All of our food was even more delicious than it looks, if that is even possible. Paon will be missed!

I was in France back in September 2024 and what I missed most was the bread at various restaurants…read moreand bakeries. I was pleasantly surprised by the chewy texture of the complimentary bread offered at Paon, and one bite took me back to the streets of Paris where I strolled along the Seine River munching on my baguette. Our waiter only offered one small piece each, so I had to ask for a second piece. If my meal were just the bread alone, this would have been a 5-star review. Unfortunately, my dining experience declined after the bread... I ordered the Organic Beet Salad, and it was a disappointing stack of 3 round pieces of beets, each 1/4 inch thick and 2 inches in diameter, topped with arugula and small pieces of pistachios sparsely scattered on the plate. My friend and I looked at each other and asked, "what happened to the rest of the salad?!" Seriously, $21 for 3 pieces of beets?? My friend ordered the French Onion Puree for $19 and got a regular sized serving so we continued to ponder what happened to my beet salad. It was the joke of the evening. This dish was an unconventional spin off the traditional French onion soup, and sadly, while it was a creative idea, it failed to deliver in taste. My favorite thing about French onion soup is the gooey gruyere cheese. There was a small dollop of melted brie on top and that was it. It was a disappointment, but not nearly as sad as my beet salad. For my entree, I ordered the Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass $55. The fish was very tender, but the dish itself was extremely buttery and oily. I ordered this dish because I wanted something healthy, but it turned out to be a very heavy dish. The basil beurre blanc was just too overwhelmingly rich. My friend ordered the Seared Rare Hawaiian Yellowfin Tuna $52. The execution on this dish was better than mine. For dessert, we shared a Creme Brulee $18. We did not like this dessert because it was room temperature and tasted like it had been sitting out for hours. We like it chilled but with the hard sugary glaze. The top wasn't torched enough. Overall, while we enjoyed the ambiance, we did not really care for the food (except the amazing bread). Seeing how much we enjoyed the bread, it would've been nice had our waiter been more generous and offered us more bread. A good server would be more proactive and not wait to be asked.