Rookies Sports Bar — Restaurant in Oceanside

This review will be two parts. Food/Drinks, Service/Ambiance&Crowd. Food/Drinks: Rookies food is delicious, not just for a sports bar either. I've tried a pretty decent selection across the menu and I have almost no qualms with anything. The meat is always properly cooked, when you get it delivered the food never gets soggy quickly and they do not skimp out on sauces or little extras like cheese. The only things that aren't great is that on the all star sampler platter they sometimes only give you literally 2 or 3 pieces of shrimp which is disappointing but it's still a lot of food for only 15$ and will easily feed 2 very hungry people, my other complaint is more personal preference but I don't like crinkle cut fries especially in carne asada fries but it is a sports bar so you can't really expect perfect quality Mexican food. The drinks are pretty standard. They are made well and average priced. The specials they have for beers are amazing if you like domestic beers, personally I like craft and mexican beers but they are still very good priced during happy hour. Service/Ambiance&Crowd: The servers here are always very friendly and professional. The bartenders are quick and they do not water down drinks. Overall 8/10 when it comes to service, they lost 2 points because they can take a good minute to come clear your table when you're done eating even for the place being packed. My final part for ambiance and crowd is extremely biased. I do not like extremely packed and LOUD places which is how the bar is almost every day past 6 pm. The music and TV's are so loud you have to yell to talk to someone sitting right next to you, I would go so far as to say it is as loud as a club. The live music is good if that's the type of music you like, I personally don't like generic bro rock but if that's your thing you will love it. I am not a sports person nor do I typically like people who are into sports. I'm a goth lady so the crowd that usually frequents here is not my crowd. The groups of straight guys who come in are you stereotypical beer drinking, kind of chauvinistic bros whom I wish did not exist. However, there is usually multiple groups of people from all walks of life. I've seen 2 fights break out and the bouncers handled it quickly, quietly and effectively. It is a huge place which you wouldn't expect from the shopping center it is tucked away in. Definitely a good place for groups of 5+ people. Overall I give this place 4.3/5 stars. If you like sports you will absolutely love this establishment. As for myself I love the food and order it to be picked up every week on my cheat day. If you don't mind loud crowded bars this place is a must try. If that's not your speed it is still a fun place to try and the food makes it worth while for an introvert...

I’ve never been treated this rude in my life by a suspected security (grey outfit at top, not sure exactly what position she was). Other than service, it was pretty good with open pool table and fast and cheap drinks. I was taking herbal vitamin shots (non-alcoholic of course..we literally had just gotten a full drink with tons of alcohol from this place and the drink was right next to us. I very much appreciate, respect, and follow laws so..) to prevent hangover, and suddenly I got a check thrown at me. I understand that restaurants have different policies regarding outside food/drinks and immediately agreed to pay and leave as soon as they told me that nothing’s allowed from outside. Then, I was walking out as I was escorted by the security aggressively (she laughed and screamed at me the whole time). This was strange because usually this only happens in club/party bar scenes unless one is violent or refuses to leave. The scene here was more like a family bar with bright light and kids until 8-9 pm on weekends. Maybe I should’ve drank the hangover cure right before entering the bar, I understand my mistake and will improve upon. However, in a business perspective, it’s really not good to throw people out like it’s a club (worse actually..I never was humiliated like this at a club in my life and I do visit quite often..) even when we immediately agreed to leave. I’m not sure about her position (probably security), but that kind of behavior causes a scene for no reason and no one would come back after that kind of treatment..Just really bad in terms of business..These kind of behaviors are more neccessary at clubs, but imagine getting that treatment with a bar that has a vibe of a family restaurant..I haven’t tried their food, so I just rated 5, but the service or atmosphere was not up to my standard for someone who’s been to many many restaurants and bars around here. I will say though, most of the servers/bartenders here are amazing. Very attentive and kind. I guess it just takes one person to ruin the night for customers. It’s just very sad, because I would’ve loved to return as it’s very close to our place and a good place to...

I felt like a rookie stepping back in here after years. YEARS. Of not coming here. Sure my history with them started as a kid coming here with my parents to do their comedy drivers safety course, then coming here as an underaged adult and then thinking it was all the same to now.

Bravo on the remodel, which probably happened 5 years ago based on general wear. It still has the same layout, but is eerily a lot like The Draft on the upper level. The lower dance floor is filled with line dancing country, latin, top 40, hip hop and live music depending on the night. It’s much brighter and more open. Pool tables up top are given room and the seating areas are only crowded around the big table.

It’s not quite a dive bar anymore, the sports aspect is cool, but I must have come on country night. The smoking area was raging, people coming in and out all night. Blue wrist bands, red wrist bands for of age people. They do their wings night on Tuesday and it’s a steal at $0.50 a wing or 10 for $5. They take some liberty with the flavors, but they also do some customs wet/dry finishes/combos. Margarita Mondays has drinks specials, playing bachata, banda, cumbia, reggeaton, latin. Tuesdays has wings, well specials and country music. Wednesdays is all day HH. $3, $5, $7 menu specials. Thursdays have ½ off food and DJ’s in the evening. Saturday $10 burger and brew special. Basically there is a special every day, super enticing, even industry night.

Burgers are Black Angus Choice, hefty, get the pretzel bun, which I thought was notable. Drinks are basic, nothing craft, but still.

It’s definitely an upgrade and not so bad to lose it’s dive bar image. It’s a place that is sure a hit for...