Celebrated our mother's day here, because they were just doing regular brunch and not charging extreme prices. I made a reservation about 2 weeks out with no issue. Street parking only, but wasn't too hard to find a spot as we came early. The restaurant is very nice and looks new. There is two dining rooms one towards the front near the bar area, and another in the back. We sent in the front for brunch. The menu had a good variety of items, and we decided to go with the chilaquiles and the shrimp and grits. I love Shrimp and grits, and it's not too common on menu's so i has to try it. The dish had pork belly instead of bacon, and shrimp. THe texture of the grits was very good, not too runny or too thick. The shrimp seemed good quality and not chewy or rubbery. I really enjoyed the dish and would order it again. The chilaquiles were an interesting take, not at all what you're normal chilaquiles would be. They come with lamb but we substituted with chicken. They were covered with a type of hollandaise sauce and we both thought they were good. I also ordered a breakfast shot that had bourbon in it, and a piece of pork belly on the top, and a shot of orange juice. It was pretty strong and very good. I would definitely order this one again, and the piece of pork belly they added on top was perfect. I can't wait to go back to check out their happy hour, it looks like they have an awesome menu, and they even do it on the weekends. read more

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So when this place first opened, we were in love. Whenever we went there, it was busy, but service was still attentive and the food is delicious. It's been a little bit of time since we've been there, but this has always been a place on top of our recommendation if somebody is coming to town it's where we would take them to show them a good meal and when other people ask for recommendations for a nice place for dinner, it's what we would tell them fast-forward now I think a couple years later from the initial opening and we don't come quite often just bc we have some new favorites, but it was Sunday night Labor Day weekend and we didn't know where to go so we ended up here. They admitted when we first walked in that they were shortstaffed totally fine and I'm happy to sit in the bar area. Truthfully, we don't come as often because they got rid of my husband's favorite oxtail Birria burger, but we do bring friends here for brunch. Anyway, we were here for dinner on Sunday night. Service was short staffed like they had mentioned and we sat at a high top in the bar area. We started off by ordering a hard seltzer and a carajillo. My seltzer came out rather slow, but it took probably another 10 minutes for my husband to get his drink and when they brought it out, they brought two like they were confused on how many we ordered so we kept the one and then they ended up giving ours I think to what I'm assuming with some friends the owner at the bar not a problem but one thing that I did notice is that there were a lot of "friends at the bar" it definitely gave that kind of vibe they were doing shots with a patron, gave our incorrect food order to another, were testing a new cocktail recipe I think with some. They were sharing drinks with some patrons. It's probably a nice gig if you're friends with these people and I'm not hating on it. Then we ordered our food. I ordered some Mezcal lime wings, and my husband ordered the grits when my food came out the waitress brought a burger and a salad and we had to tell her that wasn't our food. Then we waited another extra five minutes for my husband's food to come out and it did. I will say the quality of the food hasn't changed. The wings were delicious. They were crispy and they were well seasoned, and my husband really enjoyed his food, but it was the lack of service throughout the meal that really hit home for me that we probably won't be coming back as often and maybe just for brunch. It was such a weird experience to feel like because we were paying we were getting worse service than those who were getting free drinks and such but I can't complain because the food was good if the service was bad and the food was bad I'd be leaving a lower review but I can't give any higher than three stars if there was a 3 1/2 I'd leave it, but I almost never write negative reviews for places, but this really struck a nerve for me. I think because we came a little bit before 7 PM. It's not as if they were closing in 20 minutes. I could understand poor service for that, but I didn't really see why the service was so poor looking around. It's just a bit confusing, I guess. read more

Prey Brewing - Smash burger with truffle fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Vista, California

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Was told this is a great happy hour spot! Menu looked great, the service was good and the vibe was fine. My PREGNANT girlfriend ordered a mocktail that was too tart and only drank a couple sips. But not the end of the world. I got the Mexican lager which was fine. Food time! We shared the loaded fries and the smash burger. Everything tasted great until about 10:30-11 pm that night. We both became very ill and had a VERY LONG night. Pretty bummed all things considered. read more

Excellent!!!! We have always gone here for drinks but this was a first for food. Not disappointed, it was really good. The burgers are amazing and had the steak tartare, it was different with chimichurri but delicious. Staff is always friendly and the restaurant has a great vibe. You will not be disappointed. Enjoy!!!! read more

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This is a Vista neighborhood spot in Vista Village and we've been meaning to go forever for a date night. When I tell you - this place had no business being THIS good. My husband and I were consistently blown away throughout the meal. We had a few cocktails (one was the verde) and all of them were exceptionally crafted, balanced and well priced. What really shocked us was how good the food was. These were chef driven dishes with phenomenal flavor profiles and execution. Genuinely was blown away by the charred broccoli and the cabbage dish. I would venture to say I preferred the broccoli dish here than to somewhere like Campfire. On that final note, I'll say we typically go to State street or Encinitas/Solana/Oceanside for our date nights but please, give this place a try. They were so so good! 10/10 from two vegetarians read more

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Overall, a pretty good place. Prey Brewing is decorated nicely and pretty comfortable. I met up with some friends (6 of us in total) from work for a midweek get-together. I parked in the garage that's closest (shared with apartments). Prices were reasonable, food was pretty good, beer tasted like to was supposed to. What could have made it better? The service. It was slow and not super pleasant. It didn't seem too busy anywhere in the place so I'm not sure what the delays were. Maybe the server was new, but she didn't seem too happy and forgot my drink. When she finally came back to check on us she asked if I would like to order a drink (umm, I just want to beer that I ordered ten minutes ago, please). I'd go again if others chose to meet up there... and just hope for the best. read more

Prey Brewing - Salad with the chicken sandwich. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Vista, California

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I took my mom here to celebrate Mother's Day. The food was much better than I expected. I assumed the food was going to be basic bar food but the flavor of everything was so good. I love how modern the restaurant looked inside. Even once it started to get busy we still had good service. I'd definitely go back. read more

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Wonderful! My husband and I came in on a Saturday at 5:30. It was busy, but there was plenty of seating available. The staff were all so attentive and kind. We tried the ceviche, charcuterie, a few margaritas, and a beer. Everything was great. We'll be back! read more

On a recent rainy Saturday afternoon, my fiancé and I decided to brave the treacherous weather and venture out to downtown Vista for Prey's Happy Hour. Take note- they have two happy hours! 3-6 and then 9-close! Glorious! Parking was a breeze right on the side of the brewpub, but I'm sure it wouldn't be that way on a sunny day. We were quickly seated in the bar area- bright and airy. Staff was friendly enough, but Josh stood out- he was the last person who interacted with us. Their happy hour menus differs- and if you ask me, the 3-6pm one is the best! Why? Select Prey brews are 3 dollars at 3pm! Then, the price goes 4 dollars at 4pm, and finally 5 dollars at 5pm. There's something for everyone on the HH menu- whether you want little bites or something more substantial. My fiancé ordered the smash burger, I had baked mussels, and we shared the poutine fries. The poutine fries were outstanding! So, why the 4 stars for this place? Ugh...it's the lack of transparency. There's a 3% surcharge. I get it..it's necessary nowadays. It's not the amount- it's the fact that it's nowhere in the menu in fine print, and since you're paying on a POS system, you don't even know about it until you see your bill. I'm sure we'll be back...but now we know. read more

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Happy Hour 3-6 pm (daily) Smashburger ($8 during Happy Hour) - This smashburger was amazing! The beef was juicy and well cooked and I loved how soft and caramelized the onions were. The American cheese melted nicely between the patties and the garlic aioli was so full of flavor that the burger didn't need additional sauces. Highly recommend! read more

Prey Brewing - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Vista, California

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So delicious! Pork Belly Mac & Charred Broccoliini were sooo good! Service was great too. read more

Prey Brewing - Pork Belly Mac - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Vista, California

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Today my grandson and I had lunch here and it was a good experience. First impressions: parking is a challenge, but once you are inside, it is clean and modern. Service was very good. I love Belgian ales, and have been for years. Their two Belgians were unimpressive; they both could use more yeast. (They both were light yellow and transparent like a light beer; Belgians are not like that.) Their hazy IPA was good but their guest tap of Craft Coast hazy was better (subjective opinion.) The appetizer of broiled broccolini with garlic over red pepper hummus was out of this world! WOW! My grandson had their smash burger and said it was good, as well as their fries. I had their house hamburger and it was spot on perfect! It was accompanied with a side salad with delicious sweet onion dressing! The bottom line: will we return? You betcha! read more

Prey Brewing - House burger with side salad, and the broccolini appetizer over red pepper hummus in foreground. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Vista, California

If you're looking for a place that requires a reservation three weeks in advance, serves dinner with a side of pretense, and is located somewhere west of Vista, Prey Brewing probably isn't for you. Likewise, if you're looking for a place where your children can run laps around strangers while you split an order of Triple-Crunch Southwest Ranch Explosion Bites and wash them down with a neon-blue sugar-bomb margarita served in a glass the size of a birdbath, this may not be your spot either. What Prey is though, quite simply, is the best restaurant in Vista. The food is consistently great. The drinks are thoughtful, balanced, and made for adults. The service is great. But plenty of places can serve you a good meal and a cold beer. What makes Prey special is that it has become Vista's version of Cheers. It is the kind of place where people know your name, remember what you drink, and seem genuinely happy that you walked through the door. It is where my wife and I go for dinner, where I stop in on a Sunday, and where I inevitably run into family, friends, neighbors, or someone who is about to become one of those things. Strangers become regulars, regulars become friends, enemies presumably become friends, and friends occasionally become more. Prey is not just a restaurant people go to. It is a place people come together. A while back, my wife and I participated in a "Dating Game" event here in Vista. One of the questions was: "If your husband disappeared for 12 hours, where would you go looking for him?" Without hesitation, we both answered: "Prey." That probably says more than any review of a burger, cocktail, or plate of wings ever could. Restaurants open and close. Menus change. Trends come and go. But every town needs a place that starts to feel like part of its identity, and part of your own story within it. Prey has become that place for us. Five stars for the food, the drinks, the service, and the people. But mostly for creating the kind of place that feels less like somewhere you decided to go and more like somewhere you belong. read more

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Prey is one of our go-to neighborhood spots and never disappoints. The staff is always awesome -- friendly, welcoming, and consistent. The food is great, the cocktails are excellent, and the overall vibe is casual but lively. They also have one of the best happy hours, with daily happy hour from 3-6 PM plus a late-night happy hour during the last hour of service. We definitely take advantage of both. Some of our favorites: the smash burger, the tallow fries, and the chicken sandwich. Everything we've tried has been solid. Even the kids' chicken fingers are great! On top of that, all of their cocktails are consistently well-made. Whether we're stopping in for a quick happy hour drink or a full meal, Prey always delivers. Highly recommend! read more

This is a review of the Happy Hour only. (I've heard their brunch is amazing.) Pros: Cool ambience Excellent service Delicious fries with dipping sauces Excellent beers Great Happy Hour prices Cons for us: Smash burger tasty, but greasy. Chicken sandwich was deep fried, quite spicy, very greasy. In summary, we're probably not the clientele they're aiming for (seniors), so their happy hour food did not appeal to us. read more

I love the look & feel of the place. I'm a stout lover and they had 2. A coffee and a coconut stout. We sat outside which was very nice. Great frontside outside seating with a view of downtown vista. Took forever to get a server, had to go track one down. We had the beef tallow fries, Belgium waffles and the stouts. Everything was good except the portion of fries was very small for $11. Probably won't go back but we did enjoy the beer and the outdoor seating. read more

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As far as breweries go, this please is pretty awesome. They have excellent beer, attentive service and a full cocktail bar, which is pretty rare for a brewery. An awesome happy hour menu paired with some really good food gives this place a huge thumbs up. read more

Prey Brewing - Oxtail Birria Fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Vista, California

The ambiance and drinks is was makes this place. would come again. The service was excellent and loved the vibe this place was giving. It was such a nice place on the inside and very unique to its character and business name. Would definitely come back to this place soon read more

4 starts for their happy hour deal. I haven't tried anything besides what's in the happy hour menu...yet. Considering the quality of the food providing during HH, I will go back. The staff was always very friendly and helpful (I went there twice), giving good recommendations and letting me try pretty much every beer on the HH menu. Beers: I love their Prairie Wolf and the Japanese rice lager. Both are fantastic. Paired with a $7 smashburger or a $9 Nashville hot chicken sando, you absolutely can't go wrong. Food is delicious, especially at this price. Birria tacos are very juicy, moist and well seasonned/tasty. I have mitigated feelings about the "vibe" and atmosphere, it's slightly too cold in my opinion (lot of metal and concrete) but I have never been there when the place is full and lively. Will definitely go back and try more items from their dinner menu! read more

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My girlfriend and I have drove by this place for about two weeks.... Always said we should go support since we are brewery fans! So here is my official breakdown. The menu looks amazing, prices seem on point. The service from the moment we walked in. The lighting was perfect for this spectacular Wednesday evening. We will be returning!!! read more

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Friendly servers, tasty food, full bar and brewery and great happy hour!!!! Three o'clock happy hour the best! Got the chicken sandwich during happy hour! Would liked to have a little more spice read more

Prey Brewing - Front of place - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Vista, California

Local spot in vista village. Ive been here a few times and usually the service and drinks are good but this time it was not. Drinks were OKAY, we didn't finish them and the service was extremely slow. But, the chicken was very delicious. Props to the chef! read more

Prey Brewing - Cocktails - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Vista, California

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Came in about 45 min before close with my wife on a Saturday. Good vibes, beautiful ambiance, and good food. I didn't get names, but the staff was awesome. The bartender was cranking out delicious drinks, the crowd was happy and the service was top tier. Will def be back to try more stuff! read more

Stopped by Prey Brewing after seeing a movie at nearby Cinépolis. It was happy hour and the deals were flowing. We started with the Tallow Fries and a couple of cocktails. Then we had had one of their smash burgers. Our server was the bar manager and he was fantastic! The orders came out quickly. All looked and tasted fantastic. The drinks were beautiful and refreshing. I can't wait to come back! read more

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Prey is an overpriced brewery serving up old food. While the establishment has a great atmosphere and I enjoyed my cocktail, the overall experience was disappointing hence the 3 Stars. My friend and I ordered the overpriced ceviche appetizer as our main meal. Unfortunately, the dish was overly acidic and most of the tortilla chips provided were both stale and soggy. When I mentioned this to our server and suggested she inform the kitchen, she was dismissive and did not offer an apology or any gesture to rectify the situation. Additionally, my friend was quite unhappy with her cocktail choice as well. read more

I only stayed for a beer and ordered the pork belly starter and holy smokes. The pork belly is PHENOMINAL. Absolutely stop in, support local, and eat some good food! read more

Great beers Nice staff Friendly locals Nice appetizers Smash burgers! Full bar Cocktails Street parking Clean facilities read more

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Loved this place we got the mezcal wings and they were amazingly delicious, we also got to share the broccolini and it as well. I would definitely go back during happy hour times because they had good deals. I went during regular business hours but no complaints paying full price, we got an IPA & I made the mistake of getting a sweet one called birthday cake, it was good but super sweet and I am more into bitter beer taste, however service was great, very clean and cute place from the inside, I do want to return for happy hour and sit in the very aesthetically pleasing bar. Just as a heads up the parking situation is they have NONE :) & you will spend a minute trying to find free parking, I would still however deal with the parking because I did really enjoy the place. read more

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We were driving past and decided to go to Prey Brewing. Wow! What a great choice! We got there at 5:30 and realized they have happy hour from 3-6pm. The hostess quickly acknowledged us right when we walked in and cleaned a table at the bar for us. Our table was right next to a big bright window. They have hanging plants all overhead! The vibe was great! The service was quick and the waitress made sure to ask before 6pm ended if there was anything else we wanted to order for happy hour We ordered the Pork Belly Mac and cheese and Carne Asada Fries. Both were very good and came quickly! The service was so great, all the staff were very friendly and we were checked on constantly. There was never a moment of "where is our server" we will 100% be returning. read more

Prey Brewing - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Vista, California

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The vibes are amazing at Prey. Service was relaxed but attentive, the food is delicious and portions are large. read more

Prey Brewing - The charcuterie was huge and delicious! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Vista, California

I got excited to hear that a new brewery opened up in Downtown Vista that I wanted to check it out. I didn't know that they were on a soft opening since last Saturday so I felt super lucky to try out this place. Parking was pretty easy to find on a Wednesday late afternoon. And this place inside is pretty nice. I didn't know they had some food selections but we decided to get drinks only so I decided to try out a cocktail called the Murder Hornet and I'll say that's one of the best cocktails I've ever had! Definitely a go-to drink if you like "spicy" vodka. The bartenders were really nice and friendly too and they've mentioned that they're adding more beers to the list as they have more taps available but they're still testing to see which is good. Looking forward to see what other drinks that they'll have available. Overall, I definitely want to visit again and try out other cocktails along with their beers and try out their food as their foods sound really good! Definitely love the vibe of this place! read more

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Welcome back & welcome to downtown Vista! So, 1 of my fave tiny breweries, Stave & Nail, hit the pause button & went silent for a while. Whispers were that they were expanding their brewing operations & looking to come back in a big way. But, quite a bit of time went by with no news. & then boom! Right on a busy corner in downtown Vista, they returned as Prey Brewing Co. Sleek, new, modern, brewpub, cocktail bar, wine too. This really is shaping up to be the dining & libation stop with it all. That is the thought process as I type this out during the 1st day of their soft opening. The beers are on point. I always enjoyed Stave & Nail beers before. & that is still true, as Prey Brewing Co. 1st day open to the public, service is good too. You would always expect kinks during a soft opening, but they are doing a great job. & smiling the whole time. For some solid sustenance to absorb my beers, I ordered the Oxtail Birria Fries. My food was up shortly. It's essentially a Mex-poutine fusion of sorts. Tasty. Excellent brewpub fare. I was a big fan of Stave & Nail. I'm already a fan of Prey Brewing Co. I will be back. read more

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It was a highly rated new restaurant, and we were both super excited to visit. There are a lot of seats in the restaurant. There are two dining areas. One side with the bar and a second sitting area with booths and tables with different sitting configurations. It's a beautiful and clean new restaurant. We were attended to and seated almost immediately - after checking to make sure that there was a table available for us. Our server was a very nice lady. And she checked on us after giving us some time to look at the menu. I ordered a lychee guava. Based on the description- it has gin, lychee, guava jam, lemon, and lavender. My hubby ordered a manhattan. - this was good. I liked it. My lychee guava came around. And I tasted it - I didn't taste any lychee nor guava. So I waved her down and asked if I made a mistake. I actually asked if I ordered rhe lychee guava. She said I did, and they remade the drink. This time, it came back with a lemon peel. It still didn't taste like lychee nor guava. Referring back to the website- I realized my drink looked different from the pictures on the website - it was supposed to be garnished with lavender. Maybe it would be prudent to let the customer know that they were out of certain things. Because I was getting gin lemonade instead of the lychee guava. It did take some time for the drinks to come out , but they were relatively busy today. We ordered three appetisers to share 1) oxtail birria fries 2) crispy hot wings - calabrian chilli buffalo 3) bao buns - 2 crispy pork belly and hot nashville karage 4) apple turnover as a dessert Oxtail birria fries. They arrived crispy and hot. I did enjoy the gravy on the fries. But the portions were very large. Couldn't finish it. The crispy wings were ok. The wings were cooked - not over dry nor raw. The sauce was not very spicy. I thought it was just ok for me. The bao buns were super soft. The crispy pork belly blew me away. I loved it. The hot nashville karage was ok. Good but not outstanding We ordered a dessert for a sweet finish. The pastry was crispy. The apples inside tasted ok, but it looked a very weird colour. It was dark in colour. The sauce was a vanilla porter caramel sauce it was actually very bitter, and that part I didn't quite like. I did like the look of the burger for a neighbouring table. And I also have my eyes on other stuff on the menu. Overall, this place has the potential to be wonderful. I would give it some time to stabilise before coming back. read more

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My wife and I excitingly went to lunch at the new Prey Brewing. We ordered calibrian chilli Buffalo wings, oxtail Birria fries and and 3 bao buns. 1 Nashville hot chicken and 2 chrispy pork belly. Paired that with the lychee quava cocktail and a perfect Manhattan. The fries were just weird with the melted processed cheese and the sauce. The boa buns were great. Highly recommend. And the wings. Ooo the wings. They had 0, none, zilch for flavor. Covered in sauce. But had no flavor. The lychee drink tasted like it was spiked lemonade. Didn't taste any lychee and definitely no guava. And we asked to have it redone. The burger the table next to us ordered looked good. read more

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A welcome addition to downtown Vista! We sat at the bar, service was prompt and our bartender was perfectly attentive. The decor is charming with a lot of plants We only had appetizers but it was a great sampling of the the menu. Crudo was our favorite. Looking forward to our next visit! read more

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Hadn't tried out this brewery yet and wanted to give it a go. In the same vicinity as Belching Beaver, Sonic, and where Mother Earth used to be. It's more of a sit down/food place than a microbrewery, so it's an excellent choice to have lunch or dinner with a group. I went for the beers and I was not disappointed! Each one I sampled tasted great. I especially liked the Kairi (Japanese Rice Lager) but the hazy, black rice lager, and mango wheat ale all were pleasant. We only got some happy hour apps and they hit the spot. I first went inside and while there interior has more places to be seated, I preferred the storefront patio to people watch and enjoy the fresh air. Will definitely be returning here. read more

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Have been wanting to check out Prey Brewing for awhile. Every time I walk past it I'm drawn to how cute it is. I especially love the bar area and the outdoor seating with the fire tables. So when it was my turn to choose a restaurant for our girls' night out, I was excited to try Prey. Since we had a group of 8 I made reservations on their website. I received a confirmation email. Then five days before I called the restaurant to confirm the reservation. They had no record of it. This should have been my first sign. Thankfully the guy I spoke with said it was't a big deal and he made another reservation. I received a confirmation via text. On the night of our dinner we arrived and they had no record of our reservation. Fortunately it wasn't busy and we were able to be seated right away. Service was...weird. We were seated in the main dining room where two other parities were dining. The server took our drink order right away. After the drinks were served we didn't see a waiter for more than 20 minutes. I finally found someone behind the bar and she took our orders. After our food was brought out we were never checked on. No one asked if we needed anything. When we finally got help, my friend wanted to order dessert, but the waiter disappeared and never returned. Finally another server came by to collect payment. About 10 minutes later another server came by to collect payment again. We had to tell hi. We had already paid. In total we were helped by four different people. The food was ok. My friend ordered Pork Belly bites, but were later disappointed old they were out. My other friend had the Boa Buns and the chicken was super spicy. The fries were delicious and crispy. The chicken wings were good and the ranch was made in house and delicious. I had a mushroom taco which had way too many beans. The fish taco wasn't crispy and was soggy. The coconut daiquiri was good but I couldn't taste any coconut. They made a good Pisco Sour. Their wine glasses are gigantic. If you go I recommend sitting at the bar so that you're not ignored. read more

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Happy hour was good and atmosphere was great! Haven't had anything else but happy hour items. Great elevated restaurant/bar compared to what is in downtown vista read more

So how hard is it to make a great breakfast sandwich and fantastic potatoes? From many years of brunches I can tell you pretty hard. And not like I want to let out the good word and have a half hour wait but the place is Prey Brewing. Really excellent food. And bonus - great mimosas and bloody Mary's. And hardly anyone is ever there. BTW - dinner is excellent too though they could Have a better Chardonnay. Great job! read more

I had never had a black rice lager before and let me tell you, it was delicious! The food was awesome too - we got the house burger, polenta fritters, and a house salad. Oh my, all of it rocked!!! It's a gorgeous spot too, with friendly and attentive service to boot. read more