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Vessel Restaurant

3.8 (717 reviews)
Open • 7:00 am - 1:00 pm
Updated 1 month ago

Vessel Restaurant Photos

VESSEL RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Live music
Moderate noise
Casual
Intimate

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Recommended Reviews - Vessel Restaurant

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Is it jam or is it ketchup?!?! Same exact texture and color.

We all have that special restaurant that we only go to for special occasions right? This used to be my special place. Now, it is a complete tourist trap and a statement in how successful businesses can be purchased and everything that was good about it gets cheapened by the new owners but prices go up while the quality is abysmal. I've had better brunch buffets at the Hampton inn. Disorganized, very cheap quality, ridiculous prices for drinks. After I talked to my waiter about how disappointed I was he said we'd only be charged for our very weak mimosa and Bloody Mary that took 15 minutes to come. Guess what the bar tab was?!?!?! $48!!! For one dollar's worth of alcohol. So disappointing. Do not go here, we wished we'd have gone to Denny's, it would have been better.

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.

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! :)

Adults only pool bar
Leigh S.

We had lunch at the adults only pool and it was amazing!! Lindsay was our bartender and she was so much fun, I would come back just to hangout at the bar with her. She recommended the fish tacos and they were SO good. The ceviche was also delish!!

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

Nootzy! The bar treated us awesome!

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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).… 

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!

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Island Prime

Island Prime

4.3(3k reviews)
2.7 mi
•$$$

We came with a party of 10 adults and 3 kids and were sat by the windows over looking the beautiful…read moreview of the bay and downtown skyline behind it. I got the Island Prime Filet Trio, cooked medium rare and it was cooked perfectly. Steak was so tender and put on top of delectable mashed potatoes and a thick brown sauce that was just so tasty every bite. Easily 10/10. I also picked the Mac n cheese as my side and I love the pork belly pieces they added to this along with the fried crispy onions on top. This side couldnt be beat! Amazing another 10/10! I chose the Prime Thyme cocktail and it was citrusy, herbal notes from the thyme and overall beautifully came together in this cocktail. No over powering taste just perfect. I tried some oysters as well and they were possibly some of the freshest oysters i've ever had. I wish they had a bit larger oysters but nonetheless I enjoyed every bite. Ambiance was upscale, dimmed lights with a romantic setting and unbeatable view perfect for any special occasion. We celebrated 3 birthdays in out party and they brought out a huge ice cream cake slice and it was more than enough for our table. The "cake" itself was really a huge piece of ice cream in a cake slice form but it was just as tasty as all the dishes I had at Island Prime. You can tell it was good quality ice cream. Our main server was a older gentleman and delivered amazing service, along with all the other servers that helped us out here and there everyone was so friendly and patient with our party having 3 kids. Id recommended Island Prime to anyone wanting to have a delicious dinner with gorgeous views.

I'm sorry to report that my experience ordering the 10 ounce Prime New York Steak on the Restaurant…read moreweek menu was a huge disappointment. The cut of meat they provided with a 1/2 inch thick and very tough almost impossible to cut with a sharp steak knife much less try to chew it. It was extremely chewy full of gristle. The steak was supposed to be a New York steak prime, but it was definitely not prime. It looked and tasted like round steak. It appeared to be below choice, something that was the cheapest kind of meat I've ever had and I couldn't even eat it. I normally don't post negative reviews, but I had to do this. It was huge appointment. We dined with friends which I recommended coming to this restaurant. We've had some good experiences in the past . I really was extremely disappointed. I'm so surprised that the owners would choose a super cheap kind of meat for the Restaurant week menu I'm hoping that the regular menu steaks are of better quality. On the positive side, the service was excellent as was the ambience.

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Island Prime
Island Prime
Island Prime

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Prado at the Airport

Prado at the Airport

2.9(263 reviews)
2.4 mi
•$$

Prado at the Airport is a hidden gem in this airport! Tucked away in the far corner of Terminal 2…read moreWest we came across some of the best airport food we have found in a long time. Prado offers an open seating model with plenty of seating options to include everyone's preferences. They were lit by a mix of artificial and natural light. The music was just loud enough to enjoy, but soft enough to hold a conversation over. At Prado you can order via a QR code or your server. Our server was friendly and checked on us often. To drink I had the Jolly Roger and my husband had the Shipwrecked. Both drinks were visually stunning. The Shipwrecked was decent but the Maker's Mark overpowered the other ingredients. The Jolly Roger was well balanced and refreshing. It brought the tropical island to you with every sip. To eat, I had the bacon cheeseburger without onions and my husband had the steak sandwich. The bacon cheeseburger without onions was perfectly cooked to order (medium rare). I could tell the patty was made to order and was hand formed. The burger was well seasoned and juicy. I will say it was a bit greasy for my liking but the burger was so good it did not deter me one bit. The steak sandwich was cooked well and the balance of meat to veggies was spot on. We were slightly disappointed in the lack of seasoning of the steak. The fries that came with the meals were delicious! They were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and beautifully seasoned. We definitely will be visiting Prado at the Airport again when we fly through the San Diego Airport.

I went to SD twice in literally two weeks, at Prado at the Airport was the closest spot near my…read moregate. Made for an easy decision to come here each time. The first time I just stopped for a quick pre-flight beer. They have solid choices and I was pleasantly surprised that their hazy was delicious. I believe it was a Sierra Nevada beer. Service was great and kind my first visit. The second time I came here I definitely needed a bite to eat after a packed morning and had a hard time choosing what I wanted, but I went with the Tortilla Soup. I gotta say I definitely chose wrong. The flavor was decent, but the soup was incredibly watery and for some reason I expected there to be chicken but it was literally just broth. Thankfully I paid extra for avocado for some added calories, but paying like $15+ for a bowl of just broth is crazy work. Again, it wasn't awful in taste, but the quality of the dish in general could've been much better. Drink choices were still on point and I sat in the same spot as my previous visit which was comfortable and had an outlet for me to charge my phone. For that soup, 5 stars is kind of high. But the saving grace was the bartender/waiter I had the second time. We had great conversation and he was incredibly nice - I think his name was Peter! Halfway through my beer he slid me a notebook and I asked what it was and he told me "whenever I get a cool vibe from someone I offer up this guest notebook for them to share whatever they wanna share." I read through past entries of people sharing where they were coming from, where they were going. Funny entries, sweet entries, you name it. I felt seriously so honored to be "picked" to share something in this fun little journal that connects a lot of strangers. It just goes to show small acts of kindness like that go a long way. Peter deserves a raise, and Prado will always be my stop because of him (and next time I won't get the soup tbh).

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Prado at the Airport - Busy day at Prado in terminal 2

Busy day at Prado in terminal 2

Prado at the Airport - Prado Scrambled Eggs

Prado Scrambled Eggs

Prado at the Airport - Fireball with apple cider chaser

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Fireball with apple cider chaser

Slater’s 50/50 - waiting for the doors to open

Slater’s 50/50

3.8(5.9k reviews)
2.3 mi•Liberty Station, Point Loma
•$$

Is it cliche to say San Diego staple? Slaters 50/50 is unique while still being a chain. So good…read more The 50/50 smash is amazing. The lunch special is a good deal: burger, fries and a drink for $14. Didn't go on a Sunday BUT they have tons of tv's for your NFL team. They are technically a Detroit lions bar, so if you've got grit, this is your place. Family friendly and convenient location in liberty station which used to be the old Navy boot camp back in the day. Maria is attentive and funny. She's the best. Would recommend for anyone visiting.

Came here before a movie to have something to eat and have a few drinks…read more First of all they have MLS games. Serious win when most places don't. This place is stacked with TVs so perfect for football games too. We came on a Saturday and it was a tad busy so should there be games definitely come early. We shared their 50/50 burger. Fries were great and the burger was solid. They have numerous beers on tap. I like ciders and they had some of those too. The real winner looks like their brunch. 1 dollar mimosas with a purchase of an entree. Special shout out to Ryan who was doing double duty by both bartending and serving. He was super attentive to each table and wanted to ensure everyone was having a good time. It's right by a parking lot which is helpful. All in all a solid restaurant/bar to watch the game. Their patio is also dog friendly.

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Slater’s 50/50 - This is how you order

This is how you order

Slater’s 50/50 - Logo

Logo

Slater’s 50/50 - My 1 pound burger!

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My 1 pound burger!

Vessel Restaurant - bars - Updated October 2026

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