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    Pillbox Tavern

    4.3 (563 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Pillbox Tavern Photos

    Business Info

    PILLBOX TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Pillbox Tavern

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    Our group of bikes by the outdoor seating
    Andrew S.

    This is the best spot. Food is so good and atmosphere so chill. Not a dive bar, but a casual beach bar with indoor and outdoor seating. A favorite spot with my riding buddies but also a spot to bring the wife or girlfriend. Great burgers, tacos, amazing fish and chips and more.

    Outside
    Trecia L.

    My husband and I came here on a Thursday night since we were in the area. We were able to find a parking spot in the parking area for the shopping strip. The place was busy but we were able to find a spot at the bar to order food. The bartender took our order and it came out in a reasonable amount of time. I ordered the beer battered fish and chips which were battered nicely and came with a small container of tartar sauce. My husband ordered the Shrimp Al Mezcal and he enjoyed it very much. The sauce had good flavor and the shrimp was nicely cooked. Overall the food was great. Great casual neighborhood spot.

    Nice place. We love the bar and the food is delicious. Service is great too.
    Annette C.

    Always a great place. I'd love the pillbox plate. They're macaroni salad is to die for. My husband loves the tacos. Definitely a good place to visit in Solana Beach.

    Hank
    Jodi B.

    We love Pillbox, the staff and their dog friendly patio. We are happy to hear the patio will be permanent as well.

    Outside
    Dan M.

    Driven by this corner so many times and never noticed this little tavern tucked away at this busy intersection. Fortunately we decided to stop by after hiking nearby and wanting a snack. We found parking on the side streets in the back (probably not easy on a weekend since this is close to the beach). The menu is better than what you would expect for bar/tavern. We enjoyed a salad and a sandwich. They have a good craft beer menu that rotates as well with local selections. They have several TV screens so would make a good viewing place for the big game. Staff were friendly too.

    Wings + guac and chips!
    Daryl K.

    If you are catching a game.... this is the place! TVs everywhere, atmosphere is on fire , happy hour is lit, and great selection of food items! Ordered the wings to start and were absolutely some of the best wings we have ever had! Lemon pepper dry rub and buffalo were bomb.com. Server was on point and ready to bring a new drink / fill waters for the whole game. Bloody Mary and list of beers on tap were fantastic. Had a blast with the family and other fans cheering on our team!

    Baja chicken salad
    Binh P.

    Nice spot with a good amount of seating near the beach. Food was interesting. Got the baja chicken salad and although I did enjoy it, it could be a pretty strange flavor combo. It had tender chicken drenched in bbq sauce sitting on top of lettuce, corn, black beans, onions, and tortilla strips mixed with ranch. Initially the bbq sauce was overwhelming, but after mixing with the ranch it got tastier. Chicken was crazy tender, on some bites I thought I was eating canned tuna. Just wished there was more corn or beans added. The waitress was really friendly. And I enjoyed the tall glass of pineapple juice, very generous.

    Dog friendly patio and comfortable, covered seating

    Very small and busy but Ally was our server and we may have just gotten lucky, because she was one of the most organized servers we've ever had! She never lost pace refreshing our drinks, and making sure we had everything we needed. to grab a perfect table on the patio so we could bring our little fur baby:) The food is top of the line pub grub and we really enjoyed our time! As close to a 5 star experience as ever...

    Potato skins mango habanero and ranch sriracha wings  Fish tacos: one fried cod, 2 grilled mahi, one pastor Noonish cocktails

    We had a great first experience at Pillbox! Some of the best wings we've had in awhile. Everything was the perfect temperature too. Would be a great spot to come watch some sports games. Great service as well and vibes.

    June gloom
    Grace M.

    4.5! The food and service were amazing. The waitress was really helpful and attentive. I enjoyed the pillhouse burger and the Philly cheese steak. Lots of food for the price. They were out of the happy hour Mac and cheese though :(. The only issue I had was when eating outside there was no lighting. However, they do have heaters available if needed. The beers were also really yummy. Open seating available.

    Potato Skins with Ranch

    Really good food and great service! It's nice that this is a sports bar, but they have some healthier options (The Pillbox Plate, Chicken Tortilla Soup, House Made Chili, Tuna Sandwich, BBQ Chicken Salad) Their potato skins are (10/10)- crisp on the outside and soft in the middle. And, all of their dipping sauces are so, so good. The ranch, avocado Caesar, BBQ and honey mustard are my favorites. Small space, but it's perfect to watch the game and get some good food. I do recommend bringing a sweater or jacket, the doors/windows are usually open and it can be pretty breezy.

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    2 months ago

    Good bar food but especially the well seasoned tater tots that went with my hamburger.. A very friendly environment

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    Was great ambiance just off the Solana Beach access. Outdoor patio was very nice. Had the wings and Mac salad

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    Page 1 of 15

    Ask the Community - Pillbox Tavern

    What are the prices?

    It’s not expensive.

    Do you have a trivia night?

    I’m sorry. We do not.

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    Chief's Burgers Brew & Spirits

    3.9
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    0.1 mi
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    After our Monday night "neon" run, we had a special event here to have some dinner and socialize…read more I had a great time! This is a dive bar and I saw a Ms Pac Man machine in the corner and will have to come back to play it, either with my run club or without them. They have a nice outdoor space and our entire running club took up the space. Service was excellent and we all got our food and beer without any hiccups. I had a cup of chili and a Prankster Blonde Ale, both were great! I'd definitely come back here again!

    My kiddos were running a 5K in Los Angeles and with my son having driven up earlier this week, I…read moredidn't want us to have two cars driving back home, so I took the Amtrak for the first time to meet up with my kiddos. Since my train wasn't leaving until later, I decided to find a place to eat dinner and found Chief's Burgers, Brew & Spirits. Chief's was a cool place to chill out and grab a bite. The burger and fries entree, the quality customer service from Nora, and the vibe were memorable. What was irritating was hearing a customer show his Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) by talking out loud about his disdain for our President. You lost old dude, but I won by dining at Chief's. 4.5 stars! Chief's Burgers is located in Solana Beach specifically on Lomas Santa Fe Drive. It's conveniently a short walk across from the Amtrak train station and within the Solana Beach Plaza strip mall. The plaza has Solana Frosty and Solana Beach Fish House. There is plenty of parking. As you step inside Chief's, you'll quickly determine that it's a sports bar with plenty of televisions, sports memorabilia, basketballs hanging from the ceiling, and a variety of modes of travel also hanging as decor. It's a spacious restaurant with bar top seating, low table top, high table top, picnic benches, and outdoor seating. There are a lot of Native American statues, framed pics, and depictions throughout the restaurant. There's a whole section decorated for Denver Broncos fans. I liked seeing tributes to our local sports teams. The customer service from Nora was noteworthy and I appreciated her friendly demeanor. I asked Nora why the restaurant was named Chief's and why there was an homage to the Broncos. She kindly explained that the owners were Native American and that they came from Colorado. Prior to embarking on the train, I initially thought I'd eat dinner with my kids once I got into Los Angeles, but since my train wasn't leaving until 5:40pm and wouldn't arrive at Union Station until about 8pm, I decided to find a restaurant to eat dinner. I found Chief's really quick since it was across from the station and walked over to dine in. Chief's serves a diverse menu besides burgers, which includes sandwiches, sides, Mexican food, appetizers, wings, salads, sliders, soup and chili, rice bowls, and dessert. I honestly wasn't sure what I was in the mood for, but I ordered their Jalapeño Jack burger, which comes with a 1/2 lb all natural angus beef thick patty, fresh jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion. All the burgers are served with french fries, salad, or coleslaw. Instead of fries, pay an additional $3 to substitute onion rings, sweet potato fries, frings, or potato salad. Unless I didn't hear Nora, I wasn't asked how I wanted my burger cooked. My burger came out well done, I liked that it was substantial, the toasted bun was a good vessel, the toppings were fresh, and I thought that was a delicious burger. I recommend that they season the patty a little more. I thought the fries stood out because they were crispy, golden brown, seasoned perfectly, and when dipped in mayo or ranch, they complemented the burger. For my first visit to Chief's, I really enjoyed my burger and fries. Next time I visit Chief's, I want to try their Philly Cheesesteak. Hanging out at Chief's before my first train ride made for a good start to my trip, but that old dude talking smack about our President made me wish the Trump Train made a stop, so it would drown out his crying.

    Photos
    Bronco spot.....
    Bronco spot.....
    Chief's Burgers Brew & Spirits
    Chief's Burgers Brew & Spirits

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    Chicken Charlie's

    Chicken Charlie's

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    It was my first time ordering my food at Chicken Charlie's. I heard it was REAL fair/carnival food…read moreand wanted to give it try. The staff behind the counter was very friendly. The next thing you know, my order came out. I looove the quick service! I wish my Maui Chicken Sliders were intacted instead of stuck together. I had to pull them apart myself. No worries, the tastiness made up for it. My Golden Fries and Strawberry Funnel Cake were fresssh and cripsy just like I like them.

    Photos
    Chicken Charlie's
    Sad lobster
    Sad lobster
    Maui chicken at Del Mar fair

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    Maui chicken at Del Mar fair
    Best Pizza & Brew Cardiff By The Sea

    Best Pizza & Brew Cardiff By The Sea

    4.5
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    2.1 mi
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    I ordered for takeout online which was easy to do. It was thoughtfully prepared, packaged and…read moreready on time despite the fact that it was busy being a holiday weekend. I ordered French Fries, Burrata Caprese Salad, Pepperoni Pesto Ricotta Pizza, Burrata Sausage and Hot Honey Pizza ( Detroit Style) and Pesto Burrata Chicken Sandwich ( substituted sun dried tomatoes for regular tomato slices). Everyone enjoyed all the food. The favorite hands down was the Detroit Style Hot Honey Pizza. It was very rich and I had a small piece which was very filling. The crust was crispy and the flavor was layered perfectly with the hot honey. 10/10! I must also say that the French Fries being fried in beef tallow really enhanced their flavor. Perfect. Will definitely try more things from their menu. It ranks among my top 3 Pizza Restaurants.

    We walked into Best Pizza and Brews in Cardiff and immediately liked the lively and friendly vibe…read more We found seats at the bar (albeit terribly uncomfortable seats). Carly was our bartender/server for the day and she was fantastic. The tap list is pretty good, but they do not offer a hard seltzer. Kombucha and cider, yes, but they're not the same, so Becky had to settle for a beer which is never ideal. We were just there for a couple of drinks but I did check out the menu, and the Burrata Sausage Hot Honey pizza caught my eye, (mozzarella, homemade marinara, burrata, sausage, hot honey). I could not get that out of my head. We were camping across the 101 at San Elijo State Beach so I told Becky that we had to return. I needed that slice! The following day we returned for a light lunch. We ordered at the counter and took our number to our table on the patio. About five minutes later our food was delivered. That slice was everything I thought it would be and more! The thin crust was crispy and light. The sausage was exceptional. The hot honey was actually hot! Too many times hot honey is just honey. This was as advertised. Becky chose a slice of Pepperoni (tomato sauce topped with pepperoni, provolone, and mozzerella) Also a great slice. The provolone was a game changer and the sauce was delectable. excellent pizza! Carly, 5-stars! :-) Pizza, 5-stars! :-) Service at the counter, 5-stars! :-) Vibe indoors and outside, 5-stars! :-) No seltzer, 3- stars. :-( Uncomfortable Barstools, 2-stars. :-( Best Pizza and Brews Cardiff - get some!

    Photos
    Best Pizza & Brew Cardiff By The Sea
    Best Pizza & Brew Cardiff By The Sea
    Best Pizza & Brew Cardiff By The Sea

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    Viewpoint Brewing

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    This is probably my favorite brewery in all of San Diego as the views here are pretty sick and you…read morecan spot some cool birds while enjoying a beer and some food. I wonder if this is a location on eBird. Yes, I am a dork. I came here years ago while on a business trip and randomly found this place and loved it here. So when a date suggested we come here, I took a look at the venue and remembered what an awesome brewery this is! Date gets some brownie points for chosing this spot, maybe this could go somewhere haha. Parking is a situation here. But if you go past the restaurant, there is some parking on the road and in small lot meant for those enjoying nature. I felt bad taking one of these spots. There is paid public parking on the corner before the restaurant and valet is available at this brewery. I need to figure out another way to get here... On a Sunday afternoon, place had people but it wasnt mobbed. Baseball game and Del Mar horse races were showing on the TVs. But, don't come here to watch TV, look outside! I saw some very good bird action, including an egret doing some weird strutting in the lush greenery. I am bummed I forgot to bring my binoculars but I will be back here again soon with binocs ready! I started off with a hefeweisen and that was good, date had a Mexican lager x 2. I had the ceviche (pretty good) and had the aioli on the side. Date had a sandwich of some kind and copious amounts of fries. It took a lot of will power for me to not have any of those fries, they looked so yummy! I also had a watermelon beer, this had hints of watermelon flavor and I enjoyed it. Great spot for large groups too as there were a few large parties sitting in the "outside" space. Hostess initially asked if we wanted to sit "inside" or "outside," and I was confused as it all looked like outside to me haha. I guess this is SoCal, everything is open air. This is a nice spot to have convo, very spacious, lots of nice tables, we sat at a high top. I love perching higher up, kinda of like a bird haha! Waitresses here were all very good, some very cute too (eye candy is always appreciated). Overall, a really fun way to spend a Sunday summer afternoon! I'll be back!

    Seven of us had dinner at Viewpoint last night, reservations for a table right by the lagoon, and…read morethe view was really pretty. Valet parking for $6 on site was easy and smooth. The restaurant is really loud when crowded and you can only talk to the person right next to you, but that worked ok in a group of 7 anyway--we just had multiple mini conversations. If you're planning a large group gathering, you might have to play musical chairs to catch up with everyone, unless everyone has naturally loud voices that carry. Most of the people in our group ordered beers, but I ordered a nonalcoholic prickly pear hibiscus ginger beer which was ok--pretty subtle, but it quenches the thirst all the same. I ordered the Farmer's burger (black bean) with added avocado and a side salad which comes with a lemon vinaigrette. I had to eat it with a knife and fork after removing the top bun. Very tasty. My daughter ordered crispy shrimp tacos which she really enjoyed. Most people ordered the backyard burger which looked pretty good--choice of fries or side salad. Freddy our server was friendly and helpful. Overall a good dining experience!

    Photos
    The bar area with the TV
    The bar area with the TV
    Burger - came with their homemade sauce that has mayonnaise so we had it on the side.
    Burger - came with their homemade sauce that has mayonnaise so we had it on the side.
    Outdoor seating with heaters

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    Outdoor seating with heaters

    Pillbox Tavern - tradamerican - Updated August 2026

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