Lighthouse Oyster Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Oceanside

You’re not here to scroll. You’re hungry. You want the move. So here it is. Get to Lighthouse Oyster Bar & Grill in Oceanside, order the fish tacos, and do not skip the lobster bisque. That’s the headline.

We went in with zero expectations and came out questioning every taco I’ve had before. Fried, grilled, blackened. I tried them all.

The fried ones? Insane. Crispy shell, juicy fish, flavor that hits you before you even finish the first bite. The kind of tacos that make you rethink everything you know about beach food.

And the lobster bisque? Look, most places give you three tiny chunks of lobster in a sea of cream and call it a day. Lighthouse said no. We’re giving you a full lobster’s worth in this bowl. It was rich, packed with flavor, and absolutely loaded with meat. Every spoonful was lobster heavy. We went from joking about the soup to practically fighting over it. No exaggeration.

This was a party of 8. Over 15 dishes. Everything landed on the table hot, fresh, and somehow in under 15 minutes. Crab cakes, chowder, Ahi Stack, shrimp tacos, even the Caesar salad. All bangers.

The chowder was thick and comforting without being gloopy. The Ahi Stack? Straight sushi power move. And yes, even the salad had us doing double takes. Who knew romaine could flex like that?

Now layer in the view. Upper deck. Golden hour. Boats cruising by like we were on a movie set. But none of that would matter if the food didn’t back it up. And it absolutely does.

Pro Tips If You Go • Get that bisque. Trust the bowl. • Order all the fish tacos. Especially the fried. • Clam chowder? Mandatory. • Upper deck seating is worth the ask. Sunset hits different up there. • Don’t blink. The food comes fast, and you’ll want time to enjoy every bite.

Final Word

Lighthouse isn’t just another waterfront restaurant riding on its view. It delivers. Fresh seafood, lightning fast service, and dishes that feel like they were made with actual love. This is the kind of place you tell friends about. The kind you come back to. If you’re anywhere near Oceanside and not eating here, you’re...

As Oceanside locals, my fiance and I started going to Lighthouse for their amazing happy hour, food and awesome views. From there, we quickly started to fall in love the vibe and the level of service. We eventually started planning our wedding. Due to the top notch hospitality we received at Lighthouse we decided to have our rehearsal dinner there. It was such an easy decision and we are SO, SO glad we did - Jr (the GM) is so hospitable and easy to work with, he practically became family. From the beginning phases of the planning process to the very end, we were blown away at the level of service. Jr worked with us with all of our dietary restrictions, budget and overall vision we had. The event food was delicious (kudos to the culinary team). We had chicken Alfredo, calamari (crowd pleaser), caprese skewers, macadamia nut mashed potatoes, grilled veggies, grilled potatoes, mixed salad and topped it off with AMAZING creme brulee and cheese cake bites. I have Celiac disease so Jr went out of his way to order GF penne pasta and make majority of the food gluten free. The beverages were also delightful - the restaurant created a craft cocktail (which was a hit!) and provided a great selection of beer and wine. The server (Hannah) and bartender (I forget his name but he was so amazing) who served our event were just as amazing as we could have imagined. Overall, the rehearsal dinner was WAY more than I ever could have anticipated - the food, service and the private outdoor patio were were able to use made an epic start to our wedding weekend. We will forever be lifelong guests at Lighthouse. Thank you to their...

The view was okay, nothing to write home about. I think this must be the old side of Oceanside. I would stick to the pier area and stay clear of this dated area. The date was January 25th of 2023. Super disappointed in my decision to try the happy hour menu. To start the red house wine tasted like it was out of a box. So I ordered another one off the regular menu, still wasn't great. My server asked how I wanted my burger and I said medium well, this was the result. As I was talking to my bestfriend he asked why I was making odd faces while taking a couple of bites of the burger. When I finally looked down I realized it was nearly raw. So I then mentioned the situation to another server and he said that it will be corrected. He then proceeded to go inside as he and the staff were laughing as though my request for what I had originally ordered was a joke, also speaking loudly not realizing I understand their language as well. Extremely unprofessional! Then returns with the same burger, not even a new patty. I then reminded him that I asked to get it to go. He brings back a box and leaves it on the table. As I scoop my redone burger and fries. The most upsetting thing was our original server never came back to our table with an apology of any kind. My friend ordered fish and chips and being from Seattle he said it was one of thee worst he ever had in his life. Wouldn’t recommended. Staff literally laughing should be on probation or a serious warning. Again, stick the Pier area...