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    Vessel Restaurant

    3.8 (707 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 11:00 AM, 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Vessel Restaurant Photos

    VESSEL RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Romantic
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Vessel Restaurant

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    Inside vibe
    Amanda C.

    This is a really cool waterfront restaurant that's tucked away inside the Kona Kai hotel. It's perfect for a nice date night out if you're wanting something upscale and sleek. I thought the vibe was super trendy and cool and even the water glasses we drank out of were artsy and beautiful. Every detail and finish of this place was gorgeous. I really enjoyed my Parmesan truffle fries and love that they came in a big bowl. I gobbled them up. I was sad to realize the bar menu food items were different than the regular menu. I would have liked the mahi tacos or the sliders but I just thought they were seasonal or something when I didn't see them on the menu. By the time I realized they were on someone else's plate we had already ordered all the food and were full but I would have liked to know from the start that these options were available. I also didn't like how small the portions were for the yellowtail and the ahi tuna tacos though. I saw pictures on Yelp and was surprised they were even smaller in person. The yellowtail was also too lemony for my taste and I couldn't appreciate the fish as much as I wanted to. I also very much did not like that a benefit surcharge was added to our bill. I have noticed more and more restaurants doing this and I always dock a star on my reviews for any establishment that does this. It's extremely tacky to do, especially at a sophisticated place like this one. Benefits for employees should be paid by the employer, not by those dining at the restaurant in my opinion. I would say if you're looking for a sleek place to grab a drink in this area it could be a cool spot but I wasn't as impressed as I hoped for with the rest of the food menu.

    Oysters and Parmesan-Truffle French Fries
    Jeff L.

    Tucked away in a spot on Shelter Island, you have to go out of your way a bit to make it out to this quiet and serene restaurant by the Point Loma boat harbor but it is definitely worth the trip! We arrived around 6:30pm on a weekday and it wasn't super busy and we were able to promptly get seated. However, it did take a while for us to get our order but it looked like the restaurant was running on skeleton staff so I think its more that they were strained with the resources they had. To cut to the point, the lobster carbonara was the star of our night as there was ample lobster in the pasta. Unlike other joints where you order and get a sliver of meat and get charged an arm and a leg... Vessel makes sure you get healthy portions of lobster meat. The only downside was that the pasta was a tad bland and tasted better when we brought the leftovers home and salted it just a tad more. Likely unknown to most locals, this appears to be a spot that likely caters to out of towners and is a good place to escape to if you're looking for that vacation/staycation vibe without having to go too far.

    Dinner menu
    Adriana R.

    This place is amazing. Ambience is great, we got there and it wasn't too busy. Staff members were great, friendly, attentive give and shout out to the manager for being amazing and sharing his knowledge of the menu with us! Food was amazing, you get what you pay for delicious, savory, oh too good food! For sure recommend this place...

    Michelle Y.

    We stayed at the hotel which was wonderful so we decided to have brunch here on Sunday before going back home. We were both excited and hungry. Upon our arrival we were greeted by the sweet hostess. Restaurant was empty had about a couple people sitting inside. We opt to sit outside. This was for the Sunday brunch buffet they have here. Brunch was very limited and cold. Pretty basic breakfast dishes nothing spectacular. I was disappointed because everything was cold. The fruits they had were good and sweet especially the honeydew. The view was beautiful which sorta made up for the brunch. Our cups for our water were both dirty had lipstick stained on it. Coffee was just okay, if you're starving and looking for good tasty warm food I would skip this place. It was a bit pricey for what they served.

    Steak
    Jay L.

    We dined at Vessel a couple of times during our stay at Kona Kai, once for dinner and again for brunch and overall had a great experience! The staff was super friendly and even remembered us from our previous visit, which was such a nice touch. Service throughout was attentive and welcoming without feeling overbearing. The ambiance is definitely one of the highlights beautiful views of the marina, breezy outdoor seating, and a relaxed coastal vibe that made every meal feel like a mini escape. The only downside was the price point. While the food was tasty, the portions didn't quite match the cost especially at brunch. We tried the eggs Benedict and steak medium rare. That said, you're paying a bit for the setting and experience, which we did enjoy. Perfect spot if you're staying at Kona Kai and want to dine close by with a view. Just know you're treating yourself when you go!

    Tableside Affogato
    Shirley S.

    It's been a minute since I last visited this restaurant We ordered the #ParmesanTruffleFries as a starter but it came after our main entrees ‍ It was enjoyed as I helped finish this item The #LobsterCarbonara came with lots of lobster but overall the dish lacked flavor. I am hoping like most pasta dishes in the U.S. it tastes more flavorful the next day. I had the #TablesideAffogoto for dessert and I should have had the expresso separate. It came paired with a biscotti that was harder than usual and I couldn't get it soften. I tried the #KeyLime and #BruleeBananaSplit and both were yummy The service was friendly and most of the entrees came out promptly except my starter and entree but worked out fine as I was busy taking photos. We were a party of 10 and everyone seemed to enjoy their meal and the ambience was great for our group. We didn't have the oceanside view but it was evening and the larger parties were against the wall. We didn't feel rushed and enjoyed our visit

    Menu
    Marci T.

    After struggling to find parking downtown and canceling our original reservation, we decided to try The Vessel since they had availability. Unfortunately, our experience was mixed. To start, we ordered the fritto misto, Brussels sprouts, and fries. The fritto misto was just okay--it didn't meet our expectations. The Brussels sprouts, however, were a hit, while the fries arrived lukewarm, which made us question their freshness. For entrees, my friends each ordered a burger and salmon, which they both enjoyed. I went with the lobster carbonara and specifically requested no poached egg, yet it arrived with the egg anyway. This was frustrating, and to add to it, I found the lobster overcooked and the snow peas had a taste that reminded me of frozen, thawed-out vegetables. For dessert, we ordered the sundae and I asked for it to come out with a candle, but the request was overlooked. Since it was night and raining, we couldn't appreciate what I imagine is a lovely marina view during the day. Overall, the service and a few kitchen errors kept our experience from being great, though my friends enjoyed their meals.

    Breakfast buffet receipt.
    Shannon B.

    Dinner was delicious! I recommend the Mediterranean Platter if you're open to an appetizer. The babaganoush is served with feta, so if you're dairy-free, make sure you mention it to your server when ordering. I had the Eggplant Jalfretzi for my main entree, and it was far tastier than I even expected: dairy-free, and delicious. I also highly recommend the glazed carrots; however, they are served over cream cheese, another thing to bring up if you've got dairy concerns. The Banana Old-Fashioned was a very unique and tasty twist on the classic cocktail. The view was beautiful at night, looking out in the marina. At breakfast, the hostess was very chipper and welcoming. They serve a breakfast buffet, which included various pastries and bagels, oatmeal, fruit, eggs, bacon, pancakes, and chicken apple sausage. The one thing I recommend you do t pass up is their muesli. I have never tasted such delicious muesli in my life! My only qualm with breakfast was that gratuity was automatically added--which is perfectly fine, except there were two separate gratuities: one for the server and one for the buffet. This was an unexpected extra charge. Not terrible, but as a whole, the Kona Kai resort does seem to seek out ways to nickel and dime you to death. I wouldn't let that small detail deter you, though. Worth it for the muesli alone! :)

    Eva G.

    Made reservations even though I didn't have to during the time we arrived. It wasn't crowded or busy at all. Located at the beautiful property of the Kona Kai resort. We started with an appetizer Fritto Misto - calamari, jicama, red cabbage, peanut, togarishi, yuzu aioli Since it was happy hour, we chose the shrimp and some adult beverages for the table FYI the shrimp is not sharable ( 5 pieces) lol For our entrees we ordered the Maryland-Style Crab Cake Sandwich - butter lettuce, tomato, pickled fresno chilis, creamy mustard sauce, brioche bun, house-made old bay kettle chips Mahi Tacos - cucumber pico de gallo, pickled red cabbage, cilantro lime crema, chips & house-made salsa Vessel Burger - beef, gruyere cheese, bacon jam, arugula, tomato, pickles, pommery mustard aioli, brioche bun The food was good but a little on the pricey side. The view was nice too.

    Robert H.

    So I was trying to make a memorable brunch experience with my gf and this was a swing and a miss. The view and ambiance are great, but it stops there. The service was a bit inconsistent as the servers were all over the place. The appetizers was delicious and the presentation was excellent. Our entrees however were a let down. My steak has a very gamey taste to me. The fries were crisp and flavorful though. My gf did not enjoy her fish and chips as the batter lacked a crisp texture and the dish as a whole lacked flavor. Great view, but that menu needs some love.

    Ahi Tuna Tacos
    Sheila C.

    When they say the appetizer is small, they do mean small. We laughed at the appetizer because we could not believe how little it actually was. It was the Ahi Tuna Tacos and it comes out with a slot for three tacos, they only serve two, with a little lime to fill in the third slot. Look at picture, ridiculous! For us being the almost the only ones in the restaurant, the service was pretty slow. The sandwich we had, hame and brie melt was pretty good and we split it and they did a great job splitting it in the kitchen. The view is amazing, but not sure if it makes up for the expense and lack of food.

    Lobster Carbonara*

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    Page 1 of 18

    Vessel Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Vessel Restaurant

    Where to park if going to vessei restaurant?

    There is a parking lot with a self-serve ticket station on the Kona Kai property....on the right as you enter the property....very convenient!

    Are there bottomless mimosas here?

    Good afternoon, Isis! Thank you for your question. At this time we do not offer bottomless mimosas, but we love getting ideas from our guests and will look at doing this in the near future. Thank you.

    What's parking like here?

    Vallet parking from hotel takes your car.

    Who do I need to contact about playing live music there?

    Hi Daniel, You can reach-out to Amanda Bilbro (abilbro@noblehousehotels.com).… Read more

    How dio you make reservations?

    I used OpenTable and reserved what I needed.

    Are you dog friendly at the restaurant?

    They allowed my pup when we at outside on the patio area. Water dish included!

    View All 7 Questions

    Jimmy's Famous American Tavern

    Jimmy's Famous American Tavern

    4.1(2k reviews)
    1.2 miFleetridge, Point Loma
    $$

    We'd come here at the recommendation of our friend to celebrate her birthday. We loved it. Great…read morefamily friendly vibes, very accommodating even though we didn't have a reservation. The hostess and servers were great. Bethany gave us top-notch service- quickly accommodating our individual requests for adjustments to our menu items. She was a delightful personality - helping us celebrate our friend's birthday, checking in on us, communicating our comments to management, vivacious and efficient. It was fun. We loved the fries, street corn, burgers, the tasty salad, and definitely the loaded chips. To our delight, the manager already knew we were celebrating our friend's birthday and he added to the celebration in a very sweet way. We will definitely come back.

    There was a mix of clientele. Probably 60% locals and 40% tourists. Everyone was chill. The best…read morepart? No kids running around! And we are toddler parent locals. The view is identical to Point Loma seafood but the menus is more diverse and well rounded, and much tidier dining are though each of these restaurants serves different customers. Food here is very very solid. Better than The Brigantine and the Fish Shop. Its quality is relative to Bankers Hill. Muscles -not overly salty or buttery. Sauce could be thicker. The muscle quality was up there. Fish sandwich, fresh, but huge. The poke bowl is large and incredible. The fish is maybe too marinated but the quality is a 10/10. Similar to El Pescadar or even It's Raw. It's not a date spot but a small group spot. Double date or family spot.

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    Jimmy's Famous American Tavern
    Jimmy's Famous American Tavern
    Jimmy's Famous American Tavern

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    The Good Egg

    The Good Egg

    4.0(221 reviews)
    1.5 miLiberty Station, Point Loma
    $$

    Got an eggs benedict with fruit. Everything here feels very.....standard? It's a simple and…read moreunassuming breakfast place. Great texture on both the poached eggs and the English muffin. It's maybe just a tad on the smaller end, but it's relatively affordable. Coffee had a light, even taste. Fruits were fine.

    I agree with a few of the other reviews that that service is lacking and the food is just OK…read more Notably, it is not that flavorful. Which is fascinating, because The Good Egg has this very visible sign right when you walk in praising their 2023 Beacon Readers Choice Awards for the area's best breakfast. This is not an award-winning restaurant or experience. The first feeling I had was that the Good Egg reminded me of a hotel restaurant. The ambiance and decor are generic and stale. The team barely gave a good morning when I walked in, and I noticed they had the same nonchalant attitude toward other guests. I will say that that I was impressed with the cleanliness, and the menu is extensive. with breakfast and brunch served daily. The menu features lighter options, like yogurt parfaits and avocado toast, a variety of Eggs Benedict, hearty skillets, classic breakfast plates, omelettes and Southwestern-inspired dishes, such as chilaquiles and huevos rancheros. They also have pancakes, a Belgian waffle and French toast on the menu. It seems the stuffed French toast is popular. There are also sandwiches, wraps, melts and salads. They also seem vegetarian and kid-friendly. But, goodness, the food is quite bland. It has no soul in it. I will say that the bacon is outstanding. But all else -- underwhelming.

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    The Good Egg
    The Good Egg
    The Good Egg

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    Fig Tree Cafe - Fig & Ricotta Stuffed French Toast

    Fig Tree Cafe

    4.1(2.4k reviews)
    2.0 miLiberty Station, Point Loma
    $$

    Excited to come back down for breakfast this morning and enjoy a wonderful meal ~ Jerry ordered the…read moreSalmon Bennie Focaccia and I ordered the Berry Sweet French Toast! So yummy!!! Also... The Manager Ben ... wonderful young man, he's amazing... seating his customers, checking on them to make sure they're happy and interacting with everyone!!! It was a full house in there!!!! Also~ THANK YOU So much for supporting our community... we appreciate the two gift cards for our upcoming events! Our waitress Brittany was wonderful, very attentive and friendly!!! 5 Stars plus!!! Actually 16 Stars!

    I was a little underwhelmed with this place, and maybe I ordered the wrong things…read more I got the short rib Benedict and it was honestly soggy and flavorless. It tasted more like water and oil than anything else, really bummed out. The man candy was good, but I expected it to be crispy, mine was super soggy and floppy. My Mexican mocha was frickin fantastic, it's the perfect sugary sweet morning drink, not very coffee strong. My friend got an espresso martini that was also super good. The service was alright, we were seated right away, but every time we needed something or were ready to order or pay the waiter went to everyone but us, it was like he was avoiding us. Not the biggest deal, but it got to be a bit frustrating. The place itself is actually really cute, the liberty station one is outdoor, with big open window areas, great on a super nice day, shaded so you aren't in direct sun, but then allowing airflow and you feel like you are outside. I am going to go again, I have heard their French toast and pancakes are awesome, just feel like I ordered the wrong things.

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    Fig Tree Cafe - Love the decor

    Love the decor

    Fig Tree Cafe - Fig & Ricotta Stuffed French Toast

    Fig & Ricotta Stuffed French Toast

    Fig Tree Cafe - Cup of cold water

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    Cup of cold water

    Tom Ham's Lighthouse

    Tom Ham's Lighthouse

    4.0(3.1k reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$$

    What do you do when you have to get to the San Diego airport at 4am for a flight but want a good…read moremeal before turning in early? 1. You stay close to the airport. 2. You find a local joint with a happy hour and good food. 3. You don't expect excellence. I came here tonight with that in mind and got more than I hoped for. $1.50 oysters anywhere are great and these were a joy. While the menu suggested small or medium they were bigger, flavorful and fresh west coasts you'd pay triple for. Discounted California wines didn't hurt either. Then there was poorly described "herbed gnocchi in cheese sauce with bread crumbs". The author of the menu should be disciplined. This is the equivalent of describing the Sistine Chapel as "colored painting on wall, some nudes". This dish was so much more than that. Sliced Serrano peppers and greens topped off one of the best gnocchi dishes i may have ever had stateside or in Italy. Really. Rewrite that. Consider starting with the statement "this small dish may sexually arouse you". All for a happy hour in desperation of a good nights sleep, red-eyed rise and a longing to return. Then there's the service. Eduardo. Perfectly responsive, friendly as all get out and whatever his base salary is he deserves more. But maybe the place is dirty. Or boring. Or not worth looking at. Nope. From the nautical decor to the California topography inspired floor plan to the darn view of sail ships and helicopters. It's a sight to behold. But it's not all happy. Upon leaving I noticed the tribute wall. The genius who started this treasure DIED 2 years after opening it. Managed by his family. The whole experience started with a need, continued to a surprising joy and ended in sadness. I hope he knew what a joy he built and what a joy it is today.

    Superb seafood brunch buffet, with enough choices that even your land-lubbers will enjoy it. There…read moreis a huge selection of crab, and shellfish. As well as a beef carvery, lots of breakfast choices, an omelette and a pasta station. Our service was relaxed and unrushed and very friendly. The dining room is a bit noisy, but the outdoor deck is quieter and there's an amazing view of the harbor. My only complaint is that they had their dessert station stocked with nasty-assed Hershey's chocolate syrup. For what they are charging per person they could afford to put out something nicer like Lyon's chocolate sauce. I realize this seems nit-picky, but Hersheys truly is the bottom of the barrel, crap quality stuff. I did have an amazing meal. The hubby and I will be back again soon, and often!

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    Tom Ham's Lighthouse
    Tom Ham's Lighthouse - Bayside wedding venue. (ceremony site and 3 reception rooms available)

    Bayside wedding venue. (ceremony site and 3 reception rooms available)

    Tom Ham's Lighthouse

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    Vessel Restaurant - bars - Updated May 2026

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