Pokez is a mouth-watering, delectable eatery that's taken it's place as an institution among other…read moreSan Diego culinary greats. Half sit-down, half taco shop, the restaurant features a fun and accessible menu of tasty standard, vegetarian, and vegan options. A few of my favorites include the tofu burrito, potato taco, chicken enchiladas, and machaca. They also serve beer, seltzer, and soda. One of my favorite parts of Pokez is that it looks almost like a music venue and had a down-to-earth DIY vibe. Enjoy the atmosphere and your yummy Mexican food!

A little hole in the wall. The communication and customer service - top notch! The food - hit or…read moremiss. I would totally return!

Been meaning to try this place when income to town and finally did. I ordered from DoorDash to my…read morehotel and went to pick it up. It was ready before I left the hotel. I had a 15 minute walk. Was greeted by a smile and a hello. I was given my food and left. Got the side of eggs w a waffle and chicken and everything was amazing especially the coconut syrup. It was filling , a good deal and the eggs reminded me of my when my dad used to cook for me as a kid. I will be back but I wouldn't eat there bc the area on C street was very sketchy w the ppl that were around. It's close to public transportation and a kinkos and Ross so you could kill two birds but just be mindful of that.

High quality ingredients, Meh Tastefulness…read more I always check Yelp and Google before trying a new place, so seeing consistent 4.4+ ratings definitely had me excited. While my experience didn't quite match the hype, I can absolutely understand why this family-owned restaurant has built such a loyal following. Let me preface this by saying I consider myself a bit of a waffle connoisseur...and a fried chicken connoisseur. First, customer service was gracious and excellent. "C" street downtown stinks. But business is business. The eatery is clean, tidy and simplistic decor. I ordered the chicken and waffle sandwich, fries, greens, and the coconut syrup. The flavor is not better than Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. But the quality of food is. Halal. Enough said. The waffle: I liked how one side was flattened while the other kept the classic waffle pockets. It was soft, moist, lightly crisp, and not as sweet as most waffles. I added delicious old-fashioned maple syrup from home. The chicken: The chicken had a beautiful golden crust, and the white meat was juicy. My only suggestion would be to marinate the chicken itself before it gets breaded. A flavorful coating can only do so much, and I think that one small change would take it to another level. The fries? They were fantastic. No notes. The greens: I also ordered the greens. I haven't eaten pork with greens in probably 20 years, so I'm used to greens with smoked turkey or no meat at all. These were made with halal bacon, which I appreciate, but they were a little too salty, rich, and fatty for my taste. They only had one serving left, so I may have gotten the bottom of the pan where all the flavorful bits settled. I'd be willing to give them another try. The syrup: Then there was the coconut syrup. The only coconut I usually use is on my hair and skin...okay, and occasionally in a really good coconut margarita. So this one just wasn't my jam. That said, a family member loved it. If coconut is your thing, I think you'll really enjoy it because it's unique and well executed. I could tell this food is made with care, and that matters. This just wasn't the flavor profile I personally look for in chicken and waffles. If I were already downtown and someone said, "Let's eat here," I would choose something. Would I put it in my personal top five chicken-and-waffle spots in San Diego? Probably not. But I would absolutely recommend giving this local family business a try and deciding for yourself. "Supporting good people who care about what they serve is always worth it."

Highly recommend stopping by this spot. I had no intentions on walking in, but I'm glad I did! I…read morewas greeted quickly by a server named Nani who recommended a few items to try. I went with the Baja Beef sandwich and was FAR from disappointed. I also appreciated how Nani was attentive and very outgoing. She used her down time to keep the area clean and kept good energy at my table. I will be hanging back around this place!

They just had their grand opening last week and I had their sandwich for the first time, it was so…read morefresh and delicious! The bread was very soft and fresh! I ordered California delight and chicken club with special sauce on the side. Their special sauce is delicious, you must get it! Perfect location right on the waterfront, also has outdoor seating and they serve alcohol! Perfect refreshing sandwich for a warm day. There is a unisex bathroom. Make sure you don't stand in front of the restroom door while you wait for your food; you will get hit. I didn't notice the door there to the right of the front entrance (it happened to me hahaha)

Everything was excellent from the food to the service and the owner was so delightful! Highly…read morerecommend! Merci beaucoup Bon appetite!

Overall very nice. Finished a meeting next door and de owed to drop by for a bite. They were not…read morebusy but had a few large tables so it took some time to get our order taken. Pablo was great. The Brussels were really good. The pear flatbread was way overloaded with arugula and was a bit burnt on the edge. They seems to have a real vibe going and we will give it another try.

The ambiance of the restaurant was very nice. There were tablecloths on the tables. It was a quiet…read morenight, so the servers were very attentive. The food was very disappointing. I had the Avgolemeno soup which was very good, but it was not hot. My husband started with the Horiatiki Village salad which he enjoyed. The salad was good. For my entree, I chose the Athens Market Special. It was a combination of Greek specialties. I thought I was going to need a togo box. But the portions of each item were very small. The Dolmathes was one small stuffed grape leaf. It wasn't very tender and it was very bland. The portion of the Moussaka and Pastititsii were tiny. The loin lamb chop was overcooked and also small. Nothing was hot and I am sure that it would have tasted better if it came out right away. My husband had the wild Alaskan Cod. It was not what he thought he was getting for the price. We expected an excellent restaurant because of the rating. We were extremely disappointed.

Tuesday night birthday dinner for two. I made reservations through their website. I got a…read moreconfirmation email for the date and time requested. I arrived early. Brian opened the door, greeted me and sat me on the quiet side by the window. I popped into the ladies room. Upon returning, Brian asked if I wanted water with or without ice and shared Greek wine recommendations. I had a chance to look over the menu. They offered all the classic favorites. What I was really looking forward to enjoying was the char boiled octopus. I like to order dishes I wouldn't typically cook at home. We also ordered the Pastisio and Lamb chops. We were given the option of bread or pita. We choose bread, it came out hot with butter. The presentation of the octopus made it even more mouth watering. It was swimming in garlicky goodness, warm Kalamata olives all dressed in olive oil. Oh so yummy! Our entrees followed shortly after. Portions were generous, all the food seasoned well and served hot! Though tasty, the Haricot verts were cooked too well for me. I like my veggies more green and still crisp. We had plenty of leftovers to box up. Brian brought out a special birthday dessert with a candle and the other patrons joined in with singing. It was a sweet moment. I got a little rice pudding too! Overall our dining experience was exceptional due to the attentiveness of Brian. He was friendly, very knowledgeable with a splash of humor. I already bookmarked it to return with all my friends. It's not everyday that you find a spot with great food and great service.

AWOL is one of my go-to bars in Hillcrest. It's a no-frills dive bar which is refreshing for the…read morehigh paced environment of University Avenue. Though it is a military themed leather bar, their team makes sure that everyone feels welcomed and cared for. I will admit that I spend more time consuming beer than I do having their food, but the few times that I have ate there, it was super delicious. Alex, Ali, Eli, Keith, Nick, and Sal are such an awesome team and genuinely great people. Best night: Karaoke every second and fourth Thursday of each month.

One of our favorite local bars. My partner and I love AWOL and the super friendly staff who have…read morebecome friends. The food is delicious and you can order either in the beautiful outdoor tropical backyard patio or at the front of house bar. The bar is super lowkey, approachable, and you'll always meet someone interesting there. Fun sci-fi, action, and fantasy movies are often playing on multiple screens. The AWOL bartenders are amazing and can make great drinks beyond the simple go-to. Pro tip: there are a lot of fun, different kinds of fruit puree mixers not on display so don't be shy about asking for something special and have fun trying out their great liquor selection. Special shout out to Nick, often there on Fridays/Saturdays, who gives strong bear hugs and generously stronger drinks!

Okay so Betty's is one of my San Diego homes-away-from-home. I've been a lover and patron of this…read moreestablishment for almost the entire 22 years they've been open. What's not to love? The service is fun and no matter how packed it is they are always on top of their orders and their customers. The bartenders are fast and make a great strong cocktail. Betty's is a restaurant first and foremost so don't be shocked to see families dining here. The food is always yummy and well-portioned. The Mexican Pizza is my regular go-to with my bestie. He and I are absolutely creatures of habit. In fact we just visited for our regular order. There's always music bumping in the venue. During the day the ambiance is pretty mellow but happy hour definitely gets rowdy and loud and so much fun. Love you to bits, BBs!!!

Visited over a week ago for dinner. Ordered a carne asada burrito …read more I was so sick from my stomach . I def got some kinda food poisoning . I knew walking in I shouldn't have ate here . Sorry guys , but I wouldn't recommend eating here

Fantastic food, great atmosphere, and most importantly, friendly welcoming service. Enjoyed the…read morechicken shawarma and hummus. Down the hatch with a cold brew and everything was perfect. Thanks much for the hospitality!

Ambiance Kitchen + Lounge is a new Mediterranean restaurant and hookah bar in the East Village…read moresection of downtown. The interior was nicely furnished with various colors of velvet lined furniture. Light bulb fixtures of all shapes and sizes hung from the ceiling. A stage area was set in front of a large projection screen. The bar was situated in the back right corner of the room. Hookah pipes were offered if you were into vaping. I visited recently on the same evening as a FIFA World Cup match so most of the customers were present to watch the Morocco game on the giant screen. I sat at a sofa in the back with a coffee table in front of it. The one-page menu featured salads, soups, and hot/cold appetizers on the upper half. The lower half listed the saj wraps, entrees, featured items, combos, and desserts. Each entree was served with rice and pickles. There were 11 choices, and I picked the Shrimp Skewers. Six pieces of grilled shrimp seasoned with Mediterranean spices were served on top of orange-colored rice. A cup of tzatziki sauce and a cup of hot sauce were provided on the side for dipping. For a reasonable price of $22, the portion size was decent. The shrimp was cooked to the right degree, and the sauces helped moisten the rice. I did want a cup of Lentil Soup before the main dish, however I was informed that the kitchen didn't have any prepared. That was strange because such an item is ubiquitous and always available at any Middle Eastern eatery. Also of note was that if you wanted water, then there was a charge for a bottle of still or sparkling. Complimentary regular filtered tap water was not offered. Overall, I gave a four star rating for my dinner at Ambiance.