Party of two came for something to eat after celebrating a friends birthday. We got seats at the bar on a Saturday night. This was my first time going ever especially since it's been renamed to SoCal. All of the staff were so friendly and nice. We chose our drinks and some starters to share. The potato bread was recommended to us and it was so good, especially with the sour cream butter. We also shared the chopped salad and dynamite rolls. The rolls were very big so great to share. I would come back in order to come for a sit down dinner and to try the main courses. I really enjoyed the style of the interior! read more

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Fantastic. Started off with the mussels. I was tempted to get another serving - it was so good. Onto the salmon for the main course. This is easily my favorite restaurant in the Columbus area. The staff was exceptional. read more

SoCal Kitchen + Bar - Mussels - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Wow. My brunch experience here was the definition of 5 stars! First of the the atmosphere is incredible from the decor to background music and service. It's elevated but relaxed. We started out with mimosas which had fresh squeezed juice and a nice Prosecco. The mimosas were $11 each which is my only qualm with this place- a little pricey for a tiny drink. We went on a Saturday but apparently on Sunday they have a mimosa deal so I'll be coming back for this next time! The food was SO tasty. I chose the smoked chicken hash after the server recommended it. It came with way more ingredients than listed on the minimalist menu but they all complimented each other perfectly. It was served in a hot pan and topped with a corn salsa, pickled onions, and cilantro. Whatever sauce was used gave it the perfect amount of taste and texture. I am a tough brunch critic but was so impressed with this meal! I can't wait to bring all my visiting friends here for Sunday brunch or hit up happy hour. read more

SoCal Kitchen + Bar - A couple breakfast club sandwiches and my smoked chicken hash - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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I dined here with a 6-person group post-COVID, and with everything going on this place is doing a great job with the keeping things sanitary. Tables are appropriately spaced out, servers are wearing masks, and masks are required until you get to your table. Happy hour is Tuesday-Saturday 4-6pm, and what my group went after were the $7 cocktails and half off starters. Really good deal for what you get. The drinks were not watered down and the apps were large enough to share amongst the group. Out of all the apps we got, I would recommend the curry mussels, potato bread, Brussels sprouts, and fried oysters. All of them were well-cooked and had that extra flavor you would expect from a great restaurant. The mussels were notably large rather than shriveled up. The fried oysters had a tempura-like outer layer, but had enough of an oyster inside. Pro tip -- The curry from the mussels can be used as a sauce for the potato bread to marinate in. Would come back again! read more

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Cameron Mitchell has a monopoly on upper-middle class dining in central Ohio and Del Mar in the Short North is their answer to California-Italian cuisine. The stylish restaurant offers happy hour from 4-6 on weekdays and 3-5 on weekends, and they offer half priced appetizers and cocktails. I tried their flatbread - it was more of a thin crust pizza, but it was solid without being spectacular. The Brussels sprouts and potato bread were also decent, though neither blew me away. I tried the shishito peppers, and they were dressed with an Asian glaze, a pretty good dish. Service was decent, though it took a while for drinks to arrive and we struggled to get plates cleared, and we only had our menus cleared after flagging down a hostess. Overall, Del Mar is an interesting spot for happy hour. read more

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We brunched at Del Mar on Sunday. They have tables by windows that open up. So while there isn't a patio the open air seating is a bonus. I prefer al fresco dining so Del Mar for those like me is a solid choice. My shrimp with pasta in red sauce was right on. It was a little spicy and very good. For a starter we ordered the friend oysters which were equally tasty. I'd definitely tell my friends to try Del Mar. read more

SoCal Kitchen + Bar - Shrimp pasta with a little kick like this - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Babeh! Del Mar owes me NOTHING! Great atmosphere, friendly staff, amazing food.... My eyes were waaaaayyyyyy bigger than my stomach because when I put this delicious thing together, I still had to cut it into 4 pieces to eat it...lol! And it was DELISH! Cooked the way I liked it - juicy and complete...Plus it's not expensive. I'm definitely visiting again.. read more

SoCal Kitchen + Bar - Del Mar Burger w/an egg - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Amazing wait service and great bang for your buck. Our waiter Charles was extremely attentive and we had a great time. Very healthy portions- had a few burritos on the table that weren't finished. Definitely recommend the cinnamon roll, Guac, and table mimosas for a Saturday brunch! Not on the menu, but our group had a few wonderful espresso martinis as well. Definitely recommend stopping by Del Mar to add a little cheer to your weekend! read more

SoCal Kitchen + Bar - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

My husband and I made reservations for Saturday night. I chose here because of the rave reviews, and on Saturday because it was our night out in order to stay in for NYE. We started with a salad for my husband, and roasted veggies for me. I knew I wanted the lobster roll and the olive oil cake, per other reviews. I was disappointed. I felt the lobster roll, served with slaw, was completely overpriced. They charge $28.99 for one roll and a large portion of slaw. The slaw was great, and the best thing I had that night. The roll was mostly roll. It was buttered and grilled, and the lobster was a very small portion. I left a lot of the bun on my plate. My husband was excited about getting swordfish. It came with sweet potato puree, and brussels sprout slaw, for $25.99. He enjoyed, but felt it wasn't great. We shared the olive oil cake and the orange flavor was really good although the cake texture was heavy. The place is very nice inside, similiar to The Avenue. Our service was fine. It definitely wasn't 5 stars and I have no desire to return. We honestly don't mind dropping a bundle for a special occasion if the meal exceeds (or even meets) our expectations. This did not. I felt it is overrated. Tip: Cameron's in Linworth always exceeds. read more

A step above the rest! Had a great time at Del Mar. Service: Ally was my waiter. She was awesome. Very attentive, accommodating, and she recommended favorite dishes. Decor: Modern, upscale, classy. Food: Arrived during happy hour; all cocktails were $5 and appetizers were half off. I had to take advantage of this. I ordered the Beach Party (I think that's the name of the drink); it was just ok. I would not get it again. I ordered happy hour oysters ($2/oyster). The selection I had were from the Chesapeake - not too much brine, but still good. I also ordered the Curry Mussels and the Fisherman's Stew. The Curry Mussels were great! Imagine a bit curry spice with a slight hint of sweet broth and two slices of toasted bread to sop up the broth. Absolutely delicious and I would get it again. - 5 Stars The Fisherman's Stew was the star of all the dishes. A healthy offering of shrimp, lobster tails, scallops, clams, and mussels in a tomato broth - what was impressive was that everything was cooked perfectly. Nothing was chewy or rubbery. I could eat this over and over again. It comes out piping hot, so you may have to wait a bit to enjoy. - 5 stars For dessert, I ordered "chocolate." It's a warm chocolate cake, with brown sugar ice cream and toasted nuts with caramel. Nothing short of amazing. - 5 stars Bottom line: Del Mar is a winner, and if you're looking for a good time with delicious food, then put Del Mar on your list! read more

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I came here for my Birthday and out of all the places I picked I surly regretted coming here. I came during lunch and Veronica our waitress treated my guest and I as if we were a bother even being there. My favorite fish Fisherman's stew was way to salty and didn't have that rich buttery taste as usual and I did not get a lobster tail in my dish. Now they may not include that anymore I dunno? I will say everything else was pretty good. read more

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I'm giving this 4 stars only because our server, Pastel, was absolutely fabulous! We started with the guacamole. The chips were seasoned, if you call it that, and almost tasted stale. I had the skate, which was very delicious. Tasty potatoes and served with a creamy sauce. My friend had a salad, which had large parts of stem in it. She also ordered the flat bread pizza which came out burnt. Now, they did turn a new one around very quickly. The saving grace to the meal was the dessert...now that I'd order again. Delicious warm chocolate cake served with ice cream. read more

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Great ambiance and service but food isnt so great. Too salty for my taste. Highly recommend the coconut sorbet if you like tropical taste. read more

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The food here was delicious and they had a great variety too so everyone should be able to find something they like. The service was great and not too crowded (it was a Tuesday). And the ambience is 10/10. I love the decoration, the lighting, and the open windows. Will definitely be coming here again. read more

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Visiting friends in Columbus, Ohio, they took us here and highly recommended it. Very crowded place, and there was no enforcement of mask-wearing even though they had a sign that said mask is required. Starting with the cocktail, the beach party taste like strawberry açaí from Starbucks but with vodka. It was pretty good. The appetizer was just okay, nothing to rave about. Their ceviche lacked the lime flavor that would make your mouth watery, but it did not lack salt. The ceviche + their dipping chip was super salty. I also had their crab dip, which was pretty good. The entree is saving them in this review. It was a Tiger shrimp pasta with a tomato sauce that was spicy. They used what looked like ramen noodles rather than traditional spaghetti, and it tasted pretty good overall. The spiciness is there. I would recommend this dish if they have it. It's a place where you go and try it out because it's popular and it's your first time. read more

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Jess was a GREAT server, super friendly and on top of it! The foods were all delicious too!

Del Mar is yet another restaurant by Cameron Mitchell. Already this made me want to hate it. His restaurants have a reputation for being overly fussy and overpriced. It turned out better than expected. The food was good of course and price wasn't extremely ridiculous. It has a Southern California theme apparently. Not sure exactly what this was referring to. This just seemed like any other Cameron Mitchell restaurant. It didn't make me think of California. The best time here is happy hour. Drinks are much cheaper. They also have discounts on food. I liked the Flavor Savor. It's $7 which made it one of the cheaper specialty cocktails. This is made with amaro, Old Forester, and vermouth. Food is good and not as expensive when you order off the happy hour menu. I had the Seven Vegetable Fried Rice. This is $8 for happy hour, which was about half the normal price, so quite a big savings. It makes good use of local businesses, like how there's candles from the Candle Lab in the bathrooms. Speaking of the bathrooms, these are nice. They even have complimentary mouthwash, and luckily there's no one at the door looking for a tip. read more

SoCal Kitchen + Bar - Flavor Savor And Seven Vegetable Fried Rice - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Roast chicken was dry and tough, roasted potatos so overcooked that they were mush and then when you get the bill they tell you they added a 20 % service charge that is not listed on the menu. Only good thing was the server was excellent so she deserved a good tip. A $30 piece of dry chicken just is not worth it! read more

Great food and vibes. Everyone will find something they like here. Service was good, will be back.

Great happy hour with affordable oysters! The cocktails are different than you'll find at other restaurants nearby, too! read more

SoCal Kitchen + Bar - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Been four times and I'm just not impressed. Had spoiled oysters on two visits. Told staff both times & no correction was made-- was offered another oyster but I was grossed out. I've not eaten oysters since. Great deserts on three visits. Like notably good. Excellent non-alcoholic drinks. Love having those choices in the menu. It's one of the loudest restaurants in town. Beautiful. Loud. Mixed bag on food. Service is unremarkable. read more

Wouldn't recommend SoCal for family dining with young children. They got both meals for the kids incorrect. One wanted a burger with just cheese and ketchup, received one with pickles and other items on it so we sent it back and it was remade. The other wanted the kids' salmon; we were told that they accidentally entered it as an adult order and they were remaking it, her food came out long after everyone else's and with the wrong side. When I received the bill, it came to about $115, with the 25% tip that I added it should have come to just under $145. Saw the charge on my card tonight for $189.50. Checked the copy of my receipt and they charged us $39 for the adult salmon, instead of the $10 for the kids' salmon. After another review I read, I've come to the conclusion that this was their passive aggressive way of letting people know children aren't welcome. In which case, don't have a kids' menu. When I made the reservation, I checked for a kids' menu, thought you'd be child friendly when I saw that you had one. I was wrong! The fact that they gave me a bill for $115 and then changed it to $142.50 without telling me when the mistakes were theirs is ridiculous. If you go here, immediately check your printed receipt when it's given to you. read more

We enjoyed our evening at Del Mar. The restaurant is quite lively and has a fun ambience -- I love the high ceilings and the ship decor with the luggage on the top. We had made reservations for 8:15 and arrived a few mins early but were seated right away -- good start to the night and it continued this way. The service was excellent. Both my wife and I enjoyed our cocktails very much -- mine was the Tropicalia which was an avocado infused vodka cocktail with mint--delicious. We shared the shishito peppers appetizers (very good) and one of their salads (outstanding). So, after enjoying both the drinks and the appetizer and salad we were looking forward to a great dinner. And here I must say we were a bit disappointed. My halibut was definitely over cooked -- pity because the reduction was excellent. My wife got the red snapper sandwich. The sandwich was good but the fries were cold and the snapper was a bit overcooked too. Overall a great night out and would have been an easy 5 stars if not for the miscues on dinner. We will definitely be repeat customers. read more

Del Mar is a favorite of my friends and I for good reason- the interior is beautiful, the drinks are one of a kind, and the food is spectacular. I recommend getting the potato bread and shishito peppers as the appetizers. (We came for happy hour which is Monday-Friday 4-6pm so apps were only $5 each.) The peppers are great, but the bread is truly the star of the show. It is flavorful and rich beyond explanation. When I say this is some of the best bread I have ever eaten, I'm not joking. You have to get it lol. To drink, I got the Instafamous. It's strong but refreshing, and I love the combination of flavors. I especially love aperol, so I like to order anything with that included. For my main course I got the tagliatelle which I always enjoy. I also like the beef chow fun, but be warned it is a bit spicy. read more

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This is one of my favorite restaurants. The ambiance and lighting is awesome and the service was very fast. We got the fisherman stew which was incredible and the beef bowl which was great but very rich. The shishito peppers were overdone and tasted old so wouldn't recommend that appetizer. I also thought the fried oysters needed salt. Other than that it's a fun place to have dinner with great drinks and food! read more

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Great service, great location, and great vibe inside. That said, the food was just fine for $140 ($115+tip) for two people. This included 2 entrees, 1 appetizer, and 1 cocktail. For prices that steep the food better be next level but it wasn't really. It was still good mind you but the same quality I could likely get for half the price. I got the carne asada. Tasty and perfectly medium and I liked the sweet potatoes with it. I did wish the whole blistered vegetables would have been cut up as some kind of relish to eat with the chimichurri sauce on the steak. My wife got the scallops and she said she liked them but was equally whelmed. We got the ceviche for the appetizer. It was good but the chips were kind of bland and didn't seem house made despite the menu saying they were. I've had freshly fried tortillas chips at restaurants and these weren't that. Also the shrimp had been slightly cooked and not simply acid cooked as is typical of ceviche. Great service, great waitress, nice vibe but for trying a place and splurging while in town this place didn't quite cut it. I'm ok with a high price tag when the food is worth it but I've definitely had better food at $50-60/person and even had better for less. read more

Still stand by 5 star review--went back last week and it was as great as ever. Highly recommend if in Columbus.

Brunch on Sunday. Must try restaurant in the short north district/ campus area. Great prices: $$ - starters : Brussels sprouts and Curry mussels. Brunch:- eggs your way, and chicken hash. The energy is perfect. We'll lit but not to bright. The music was perfect and versatile but went with the vibe of the restaurant. By far the curry mussels were my favorite dish. The sauce and bread was a perfect combination. The Brussels sprouts were decent . The eggs your way is a perfect safe dish to order. Can't go wrong with scrambled eggs, bacon and potatoes, also toast. My friend had the The chicken hash which is pictured with a side of Brussels sprouts. She wasn't a fan of the chorizo but said everything else was good. Overall a great restaurant, I would definitely go again but for the dinner menu and iam ordering the mussels again as a starter! read more

SoCal Kitchen + Bar - Eggs your way - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Had a nice Father's Day brunch at Del Mar. There were not a lot of choices for brunch but a steak and egg special was available in addition to half a dozen or so choices apart from Starters. Our food was very good and the portions were above average for brunch. Even a 2 egg side was a half a large plateful. Won't see that at Bob Evans. Good execution, good enough service and a unique setting and atmosphere. Very nice all around. Would definitely return. read more

Beautiful restaurant, good happy hour. Josi my bartender was lovely and recommended great happy hour food and cocktails. Solo diner trying to eat at all the great Cbus spots after work and this one is on the list solo or with company. Can't wait to try again read more

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So good! I loved this place and their sushi was amazing. Their olive oil cake is so good too worth a try!!

Del Mar will be my GO TO spot for seafood! I can't stress enough how amazing this restaurant. I have walked by many times and finally decided to make a reservation with a girlfriend. I LOVED the decor and vibe of the restaurant. It was fun and refreshing. The hostess was very sweet and accommodating to allow us to sit near the open windows. It was a beautiful sunny evening! Our waiter was friendly and walked us both through the menu and recommended a few dishes. For starters, we shared the Brussels Sprouts and Citrus Burrata. The kitchen split the salad between us two and it was the perfect portion for a starter salad! Burrata is is one my favorite cheeses and I never would think it would go well with a citrus flavor. Del Mar blew my mind with this salad! Our waiter recommend the scallops, which were the BEST scallops I have ever been served at a restaurant. All the flavors of the dish together fit so well - yellow squash, asparagus, kale, etc. Representation was beautiful, so many colors! Del Mar does their portions very well and at a fair price too. My friend and I both ordered the beach party cocktail, which was fruity and fresh. Perfect for the hot weather we were experiencing! I will definitely be back again. Del Mar would be a great place for a girls night or a date night! I can only imagine how good their brunch is with how much I enjoyed dinner. Highly recommend to all seafood lovers! Even if you aren't a seafood lover, there are plenty of dishes to choose from. Also! Don't forget to end your meal with chocolate from the sweet menu. Warm brownie with ice cream on top, who wouldn't love that! read more

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I'm reviewing my second visit to Del Mar; both times have been comparable. The atmosphere is great; the decor is interesting and eye catching (like the wall murals upon entrance and the vintage suitcases above the kitchen area). We ordered cocktails to start, both of which were served in coupe glasses and were quite strong. We also had the fried oyster appetizer (only comes with 3 but since there were two of us dining they suggested adding a 4th), which was delicious. We split two poke bowls (salmon and tuna) and the burger; the poke bowls are truly just fish (very fresh!) with diced avocado and fruit, seaweed salad, and dressing-- no rice etc. as in a typical "full" poke bowl, though they are served with chips, so it's almost like a dip. I don't think one would be satisfying as a single meal, but two were good to share (it was also the Seafood Sunday special, where you could get two for $20). The burger was delicious, juicy, and and flavorful. We also got the chocolate dessert, the best part of which was the salty nut topping which broke up the rich sweetness. Service was a tad on the slow side, but we didn't mind. We enjoyed Del Mar and while I find the menu slightly limited, I've enjoyed our visits overall and would definitely go back with friends. read more

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Cameron Mitchell restaurants have always stood out to me for having top tier menus and service at their restaurants. Del Mar was no exception. Hearing the name "Del Mar" of course you might think it's solely a seafood restaurant, but there are many other great choices on their menu for those who do not love seafood. For this trip to Del Mar, we went during their brunch hour which is available on the weekends from 11-3. I was pleasantly surprised to see how many choices there were for brunch because dinner is their specialty. Their menu ranged from tacos to poke to eggs. I was in a breakfast mood that morning, so I ordered the breakfast burrito. As you can see this wasn't any ordinary burrito, but full of toppings and sauces. It packed a wonderful punch of flavor and the sweet potatoes were just as tasty. I could possibly even label it as the best breakfast burrito in Columbus. On top of that, I always need my morning coffee, and thanks to our great waitress, I can tell you that my mug was never empty! There was also the option to get brunch cocktails, but maybe I will try them my next trip back. This was most definitely a satisfying meal, so come hungry! read more

SoCal Kitchen + Bar - Breakfast Burrito with Sweet Potatoes - New American Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

The ambiance! The decor! The vibes! I love, love, love Del Mar. Particularly during the summer when you can sit by the window and enjoy the California flavors in the heat. My first visit to Del Mar was for Brunch. We enjoyed delicious cocktails and plates filled with food made from ingredients that were fresh and flavorful. My second visit was a birthday dinner where my friends and I split a bunch of different things- all equally delicious. The salmon poke was super tasty, the gem lettuce salad was incredibly refreshing, the crab was DELISH, and finally the potato bread was to die for. If you go to Del Mar for dinner, make sure to order the potato bread appetizer as it is amazing. Do note- many of the dishes are a small sharing size, so order a bunch! read more

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The 4 stars are for ambiance and friendly staff. I ordered a cocktail and it was pretty unimpressive for $14 plus tax/tip. Really no standout flavors. I did not order food. I can update if I eat there in the future. read more

We stopped here for a conference dinner. Wish they sat us in the front area but they put us in the back which was a bit dark and less lively atmosphere. It was half price wine on Tuesday so we ordered a bottle which was excellent. The ceviche app was good as well as the salmon and sushi rolls. The spicy tuna roll was extremely spicy so beware! read more

Visited SoCal on a date night and loved everything about it. MJ was our server and she was fun and attentive. The sushi, ceviche and swordfish were all delicious and the atmosphere was perfect for a night out. The drinks, an "Instafamous", and "For the Win" were wondeful and the bourbon selection was decent as well. A great place that we'll add to the rotation. read more

Overall highly recommend this place specifically during happy hours. The vibe is very casual, low-key. For appetizers, we got the guacamole and Shishido peppers Shishido peppers for three spicy so be careful. Prior entrées, we got the chicken and pizza both highly recommend! This place is great for a large group get together or an intimate date night. read more

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Cameron Mitchell always impressing in Columbus! Great deals on drinks and appetizers during the happy hour 4-6pm. Oysters were *chef's-kiss*, as par for the course at the Mitchell restaurants. The prime beef burger and special chefs handheld sandwich (fried chicken that day) were fantastic. The iconic potato bread was well worth the visit. Happy hour drinks "instafamous" and "for the win" 10/10 would recommend. The service was superb and the waiter included a chocolate velrhona brownie for our Anniversary which was equally as superb. My only reservation from the 5 stars was the beef chow mein -- looks are deceiving, as it was overly salted to the point that it was not edible. read more

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