My husband and I have been here many many times. We always sit on the back patio and always bring…read moreour dog. Sometimes we go to Giordano's but we do tend to prefer the quaintness of zest back patio. We seem to always get Roberto as our server and we wouldn't have it any other way. He is lovely and a Sommelier and he loves our dog and he lets us taste wine before we commit to a glass or bottle. And he's just wonderful. The food never disappoints. We've ordered many different things off the menu over the years and would highly recommend this place.

I absolutely loved it here and will be back many times. The ambiance was perfect. The zesty hour…read morewas one of the best. I ordered all of the wines -- the lobster bisque was delightful. The service was exemplary.

Amazing ramen! I've been here twice and will continue to return…read more The atmosphere is very zen. The staff are very friendly and the food comes out fairly fast. You order all your food before choosing a seat in their restaurant. They offer bar top and fireplace seating. Everything on the menu is priced affordable. My favorite is the Thai Curry Ramen with extra shrimp

Where do I start?…read more This place is overly hyped all over social media. I had high hopes for this place because friends have raved about it, but I was gravely disappointed. The broth was room temp at best, no flavor. The noodles have an egg-y taste and all clumped up like they were sitting there in the fridge overnight and didn't even bother to untangle them, definitely off-putting. Chashu was not packed with flavor like other places I've been to. The service was great and the ambiance is great as well. But the food is just not good.

Ordered a bunch of shareables and my favorite was definitely the patatas bravas Finca style its…read morecrispy potatoes with the jalapeño crema and it was so flavorful. The barbecued pork with guava bagna càuda was super tender and cooked perfectly, and the truffle braised lamb ossobuco was also really good. The jamón ibérico had an interesting sweet and savory combo with the goat cheese and date jam on a crispy baguette. Service was great our waiter was really attentive as well as the people bringing our plates. Overall, a great place for shareables and dinner with friends.

My best friend and I visited this "wine bar" on Friday night and were honestly disappointed. We sat…read moreat the bar and were given a very limited food and wine menu. When I asked the bartender if that was the full menu, since it seemed odd there wasn't even a charcuterie option, his response was, "which restaurant has two menus?" Not the best start. Shortly after, when we mentioned we wanted to order a bottle, we were then handed a much more extensive wine list...which also included another small bites menu. That alone was confusing and felt inconsistent. We ordered a rosado from Spain, which we did enjoy, but overall the experience didn't match what you'd expect from a wine bar. The bottle wasn't chilled, and we noticed others in the restaurant had the same issue. Service was also lacking. The bartender never checked back on us, despite us sitting right at the bar. Overall, not the experience we were expecting. I'd recommend saving your money and going elsewhere.

The ambience food and service was very good. Jessica the server was on top of everything and very…read morehelp ful.

Quick pre holiday party drinks with coworkers while we waited for our event to start at the…read moreconvention center next door. The bar was busy with hotel guests and our coworkers. The space was very open with ample seating inside and out. The staff was very friendly and our drinks were made super quick. My husband ordered an old fashion and I ordered the passion by. Both drinks were good, a little pricy but typical hotel pricing. We had a good time catching up with friends before making our way to our event.

Needed some adventure and I've been missing Spain, so I leashed up my pup and headed to Little…read moreItaly. It's about as close to Madrid (other than Balboa Park) as you're going to get in the county of San Diego...especially if you sit down at Barra Oliba. I literally felt like I was in a café in Madrid or Barcelona and enjoyed not only the familiar salty flavors that I've missed from Spain, but also the pure, rich, olive oil, and quiet ambiance as this is one block from the busiest part of Little Italy. My server, German, (his name) enjoyed helping me create the ideal light supper and allowed me to try a few Spanish wines (they have so many!). I settled on a Verdejo from Rueda. It was the right balance of fruit, acid, and slight floral to perfectly pair to my meal. I had the seasonal fish meuniere - white fish delicious and crispy on top (my favorite), garnished with capers and roe. It was accompanied with a tender lettuce and heirloom tomato salad with saffron dressing. The leftover dressing for the salad was the most amazing vinegar dip for a couple tater tots when I got home. The dressing was something I will go back for! Thank you, Barra Oliba for the perfect Spanish "girl dinner!" Can't wait to come back and try the Paella!

Went here for the first time with my date this past weekend 4/25. We had a reservation but chose to…read moresit at the bar since there were two great seats available. The night started off really well. The gentleman at the front greeted us, and we instantly connected since we're both from Guadalajara. It felt like the experience was going in a great direction. At the bar, things changed. The bartender was friendly toward me but not toward my Middle Eastern date, which made things uncomfortable. When taking our order, he stayed in the middle of the bar while opening a wine bottle instead of coming over, so we could hear him. When my date asked him to come closer, he seemed visibly annoyed. The food, though, was amazing--delicious and great quality. We'll give it another try, but next time we won't sit at the bar.

I didn't even know this place existed, but I'm glad I found it. The bartenders were great and…read moreattentive. The drinks were excellent as well. I especially loved the two mezcal cocktails! It is a small space, so a reservation is definitely helpful, and there isn't much room to walk around, which can make getting to the bathroom a bit tricky. Overall, though, it's a great spot and I'd definitely come back.

This place is calm, creative, and has the right low lighting without feeling too dark to see. The…read moredrinks are pricy, but very unique, and they have a special emphasis on aesthetic. The bartenders are nice and give good recommendations. It is attached to an art gallery and is supposed to have art displays in the bar area, but unfortunately they were all turned off when we were there.

We hosted our son and daughter-in-law's rehearsal dinner at the Brigantine Portside and it was…read moreamazing. The spectacular sunset views, the food and the staff couldn't have been better. Thanks to the entire team for a memorable evening.

My husband and I had a great early dinner at Brigantine. It was our first visit. We were…read moreimmediately seated on the patio with an amazing view of the port. We were thrilled. Our server, Kate, was super friendly and offered excellent service. We enjoyed the brussels sprouts and oysters appetizers. I ordered the pork chop. It was flavorful and juicy.. My husband ordered the halibut. It had a beautiful presentation. It was flaky and delicious. We decided to have dessert and ordered their bread pudding. OMG... it was warm and perfect amount of sweetness, topped with vanilla ice cream. It was a great ending to a wonderful experience. If you're looking for an oceanic view restaurant, this place is it. However, parking is challenging. We will return during our next visit to San Diego.

Best Sangria and beef empanadas. We had great service and…read moregreat food! Decor and ambiance was fantastic and set the tone. Can't wait to go back. Our new favorite restaurant.

Sevilla Valentine's Day Edition:…read more Pardon the delay, amigos! It's been a lengthy week! But I digress! You're here for the deets! Like every boyfriend who wants to show his adoration for his gorgeous girlfriend, I planned this event a few weeks ago. Commitment & dedication are key. Flamenco Show, 3 course dinner for two, AND dancing after?! Yeah, your amigo has it covered! This package is available on their website, and not only on Valentine's. But this day does make it more romantic! A minor 5-10 minute wait as we stepped out of our Uber to the front entrance of the club adjacent to the restaurant. Our lovely hostess greeted us & escorted us downstairs to pick our table. There were no specific table reservations, but all seats are good, as it's a small venue. The Love Gods smiled upon us and granted a table close to the front with an awesome view of the stage. Perfect table for the perfect date! Starters set the tone. What's this? A Welcome Charcuterie Platter?! It appears out of nowhere as our server takes our drink orders. The service here is impeccable! Impressive spread of cheesy, meaty goodness! The Shaved Jamón Serrano Ensalada Sevillana has a wonderfully zesty citrus vinaigrette that makes you clack your castanets! Ole!! Cocktails for the cute couple! A Oaxacan Flower for my Monterrey Mami! My gal loves her some mezcal! I opted for El Matador Margarita, because I know what I want...tequila! Plus the cucumber counts as healthy! I will die on this hill! The Main Course is the star of the show. And in full diva fashion, the Lobster Paella Valenciana stole the spotlight! A masterfully, monstrous mix of meat & seafood, all on top of some bomb-a** Saffron Bomba Rice! There's even a lobster tail in case you're still hungry! Queue the Flamenco show. The two dancers were elegant, the music was powerful, the singer sublime! Enjoy your dinner to a phenomenal 2 part show put on by very talented artists! We got to meet them after the show, as they personally thanked practically every guest! Elegant as their artform! Lest we forget the dessert! The Flourless Chocolate Cake was just the right amount of sweetness to cap off the dinner & show, as we shared our own sweet nothings. Love & Chocolate, a perfect combo, just like my beloved beauty & her humble narrator. As the performers were packing up & saying their final goodbyes, the staff was clearing the space for the last part of our adventure...dancing! A brief 15ish minute wait back outside & back inside we went! Got a great spot up front by the stage, but be aware the only sitting will be done by the VIP section. I believe it's bottle service only, but you can ask. We didn't, as we did not intend to sit at all! We boogied down, baby! The DJ did a great job keeping the vibe alive. Perfect ending to a perfect night. *Caveat - The dinner menu has other options & several a la carte items, if you so choose. Check their website for specific package info. You cannot go wrong. TL:DR - Never give up on love!

I just had a very nice, quick dinner and Jason was my server tonight…read more I already knew what I wanted to order, a really good beet salad, and he took my order quickly, the food was ready within minutes, and he took care of my bill in a timely manner. Looking forward to bringing friends by.

Both amazing and disappointing!…read more Went for happy hour and it's even available on Saturday too! Parking wasn't super easy but we got lucky pretty close by on the street. It's paid parking so don't forget... Sangrias: Get! A few different flavors and they're all yummy tbh. Burrata: Maybe? This was a little bit too literal. I would imagine it comes with a couple other things, maybe a basil leaf or a little cherry tomatoe on the side would have been better. It was still yummy but it wasnt as fresh or creamy as I hoped. HOWEVER.... if you get the below, then the whole is greater than the sum of its parts Bruschetta: Get So bright and combined with the little pieces of toast they have it's just a burst of flavor and freshness. Definitely recommend. Tiger Prawns: SKIP These were horrendously overcooked. It was like eating a piece of rubber. Not seasoned well either. And you get like 5 for a premium price of 17. Terribly disappointing. Service was so friendly and amazing. Almost the saving grace after the hit and miss from above. Food: 6/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Service: 9/10 Value: 6/10

My wife and I had a wonderful dinner at Juniper and Ivy. Delicious food impeccably presented with…read moreoutstanding service. Truly, our service was what one always hopes for in fine dining for but so rarely receives these days. Our primary did an excellent job helping us select our meal. She was attentive, supportive and a pleasure to talk with, yet also discreet. Plates were well-timed. Our water glasses always seemed to be full although I rarely noticed it happening. All of our entrees were delicious. Favorites? Probably, first, the Hokkaido Scallop starter. The scallops themselves were huge, perfectly cooked with a crusted chili crunch topping and served with a delicious miso butter sauce. Not overly spicy, the flavors meshed perfectly. I also loved the Miso Black Cod (especially because it's a dish one can rarely find near the East Coast where we live.) Any misses? Not really, although the Pâté de Campagne was prepared as very rustic. It was tasty but I found it difficult to eat with the bread, Overall, I recommend Juniper and Ivy as a great place to celebrate an event, enjoy a date, or just have an excellent evening dinner away from the house.

1/2 Juniper & Ivy is…read morethe kind of restaurant that reminds you why you seek out places like this, the food is genuinely exceptional. It's just a shame the experience came with a few caveats. We requested the patio, drawn in by descriptions of a vibrant, lively porch. What we got was four tables, a persistent wind tunnel, and a front-row seat to the San Diego flight path, meaning every few minutes, conversation came to a full stop for a low-flying plane. No warning from the restaurant, which felt like a miss. Inside next time, without question. The menu itself was a little overwhelming at first, but our server stepped in with confident suggestions that completely redeemed the experience. And then the food arrived. The house sourdough with Mikolich Farm honey butter was the kind of bread course that makes you reconsider every other bread course. The shio tang oysters with mojito foam and cucumber relish were playful and precise. The three cheese tortellini, wild porcini, english peas, aged parm brodo, was the standout of the night: rich, deeply layered, and deeply comforting. The saffron bigoli and miso black cod were both beautifully executed. We paired everything with a Russian River Valley Pinot that was an ideal match for the table. Bottom line: the kitchen is firing on all cylinders. Sit inside, trust your server, and order the tortellini. You won't regret it.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​