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.

O-side Epic...soo cool…read more What is missing. Pulp Fiction vibe. Good drinks, tea looked amazing too. DJ spinning at center adds to the eclectic experience. Its unseen. Share. Come. I see you Sound by the Sea.

I loved Sound by the Sea! Spent a Saturday night here enjoying the vibes. It's a cool, loungy…read morespot and they have a rotating schedule of open deck nights, where anyone can DJ. That evening's DJ was great and kept the vibe going. The service was ok; it took a little while to get someone to take our order, but as soon as they did, the drinks and food came quickly. I got one of the specials (2 empanadas and 2 glasses of wine for $30). All their drinks are made with Korean Soju. They also have a selection of wine and beer. My DIL had the Norwegian Wood and it was delicious - it also packed quite a punch! The food portions were small, but delicious. The truffle popcorn was amazing, as were the beef empanadas. I will definitely be back the next time I am in Oceanside!

We came here for dinner after the Del Mar races. There was live music out on the patio, which set…read morethe mood perfectly. Hubby ordered the roasted corn lemonade and I asked for a mocktail. The bartender made a very refreshing one! His lemonade needed a little more sweetness. The plates were made to share, so we agree on the tartare, tomato salad, and NY steak. Everything was delicious and beautifully plated! The tomato salad was light- it had a nice mustard and olive vinaigrette dressing. For dessert, we chose the burnt basque cheesecake! He liked it more than regular cheesecake. This one was a good one, as I've been searching for an authentic one that wasn't too burnt LOL. I could do without the olive oil on this one though. Overall, I had a really nice time here and can't wait to come back to try their other menu items.

We were sad to see the previous restaurant go (their food was amazing not sure why they didn't make…read moreit). But I love the new decor. Interesting menu choices. We enjoyed everything we got. I look forward to trying their breakfast.

Kat and Charlotte super amazing service and even though they are busy they still looked after my…read morewife and I. We are at the restaurant and the food was excellent! Benny was also amazing he was the manager Thanks again !

This place at night it's mostly drinks and snacks. It didn't seem a lot of items that we wanted to…read moretry in the menu. We also were sat down at the kind of like the living room. There was no room at the tables. So we stay there and eat. The service was great. The waitress was very attentive and right away helped us. We order a lobster roll came with potatoes chips. My daughter got the seabird burger. My G-son got just an order of fries. The fries were hot and crispy. They were good. The burger was not to my daughter delight. She didn't like it. She is very particular with her burgers. She likes them just regular American Burger. The place is a dream. I loved all the detail. And you can't beat the view. I wish they had more variety of food at night.

Ambiance...you walk in and its like a speakeasy..love the decor and dries flowers on ceiling…read moreService..fast and friendly Food..amazing..loved the samosas..nice flavours..the expresso martini was smooth and the tofu bahn mi was good spice flavours. They changed the menu every y months too.

Celebrated a dear friend's birthday with a big group on a Friday night, and the evening was…read moreseamless! Excellent drinks, quick nice service, and an incredible menu. The drink menu is great. Lots of tequila and mezcal cocktails, which are personal favorites. Really liked Tangerine You're My Sex Machine. For food, we basically ordered a massive spread of it all. Standouts were the yelllowtail ceviche--creamy & coconuty!--and all the steak dishes. Looking forward to more visits in the future. Vibes & ambiance are fun too.

Space Pad is hidden bar inside Kilowatts that feels like you've stepped through a sci-fi portal…read more Walk past the rows of pinball machines and find the mirrored hallway, and suddenly you're in another universe. The vibe is out of this world, literally. Neon glow, retro-futuristic decor, and that perfect mix of chill and cosmic weirdness that makes you want to stay for hours. The menu itself is fun to read. I was a little worried the drinks might lean too sweet, but I mentioned that to the bartender, and he nailed it. Every cocktail was balanced, creative, and smooth. You can tell he actually cares about the craft here. Highly recommend this spot. Great drinks, killer vibe, and we capped it off with some pinball on the way out. Tip: - wear something that glows under black light. It's fun watching yourself light up like part of the decor

Drinks are good and definitely a cool place! BUT the waiter/bartender tried to double tip himself…read morehoping I wouldn't notice. They make it hard to see but 20% gratuity was already included and somehow they "accidentally" selected an additional 30% tip for me. I had to ask about it and he gave me a refund but seemed suspicious. Make sure to thoroughly review your bill before paying. I have brought many people to this place over the years and probably won't be back.

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.

I need to give a special shout out to my two favorite waitresses Cara and Casey, thank you both for…read moreyour beautiful service and for always being so kind to our family whenever we come. I really love this place. It's a local gem in Oceanside. The food and drinks are always good. The service is great and the vibe is always good too. Sometimes it gets a little loud on the weekends, but that's to be expected. It is a taphouse after all, and there are sports events on every TV and music playing in the background. I really love the girl dinner - only served Monday through Thursday. We really like the chicken pot pie, Caesar wrap, and the beef dip. The burgers and sushi are solid bets here too. You can't go wrong with their happy hour specials here either. The unique deviled egg choices are a reason to stop in for a bite.

This is local hidden gem with unique dishes from its kitchen and refreshing drinks from its…read moretaphouse. I was glad to hear that it didn't only serve local brews. Inside is pretty laid-back with ample seating and the outdoor seating is wayyy laid-back especially when there's live music. Definitely a recommended spot for the Yelp Community! FYI - Street parking is available.

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!

I'm so glad the Heritage crew decided to utilize this space. Urge had the vision, but not the…read moreexecution to make 101 Proof really shine. They had fantastic bartenders and menu, but the speakeasy concept has been outdated for a while. Now, a Honky Tonk is a very different, good thing. The tunes are something North County has been wanting, but been missing in favor of larger venue DJ's, but the juke box here has been curated with classics. It's far too small to dance unless you're slow or maybe 2 stepping in the corner. The ambiance is dim, relaxed, fun. The drinks are just as good as some of the top bars around, helmed by Wyatt who you may remember from Switchboard and KNVS is a staple in Oceanside. Prices are excellent, staff is great. While you can get a cocktail here, you don't have to. A classic shot and a beer is just as likely to be had here as a stemmed glass proper cocktail. When it's jamming it is near a standing room all the way around. No doorman asking for a password, no re-entry on nights when Heritage are open (Monday is this exception). It's funny to watch South O locals wander in here and realize maybe it's time to stop trying to change places to be like other places and enjoy the experience shown.

Drinks are solid and served in kitschy mugs or fun appropriate to their name glasses. The…read morebartenders were as good looking as the drinks and knew how to make them, but the ambiance is lacking in a huge way. Cheaply done from the tables to decor and even though we went on a Saturday night the place was slow. Music was also good, but the DJ stopped playing about 20 min after we'd gotten there. That was a bummer. One round and we moved on.