Sound by the Sea — Restaurant in Oceanside

Sound by the Sea is a wonderful concept fusing bites and drinks with hi-fi audio and live DJs. I absolutely love the concept. However a few things in my visit kept me from having the full Five-Star experience. I really would like to see a place like this succeed but I feel as if I should offer some constructive criticism.

Here’s a couple things that are neither a pro nor a con that I would have liked to know:

This establishment does not have a full liquor licence. It’s beer, wine, and soju based cocktails only.

The food is really to be treated as an aperitivo with drinks. Portions are quite small.

Music is the primary focus of this business and audio levels hover around 85-90dB.

Pros of my visit: I love the ambiance and interior design. There are couches and tables for patrons to congregate at, featuring a DJ booth in the centre of the establishment with places to sit 360° around the DJ. The lighting was excellent being dark and cozy, but not so dark you can’t read the menu.

The central theme being HiFi audio is a huge draw. It isn’t every day that we can enjoy vinyl records played off of JBL 4350A monitors. Music is loud enough to enjoy but not so loud you can’t hear the people at your table.

I love what this place stands for as a third space that isn’t a traditional bar but is also open late. As a musician and audio engineer myself the theme is absolutely something I could have only dreamt about.

Food was quite good and seemed to be made with high quality fresh ingredients.

Staff was friendly and answered questions that we had in a very detailed and thorough way.

Now the cons:

The food is outrageously expensive for how small the portions are. We had two empanadas ($13) and the mushroom flatbread ($18). When I say small, I mean the flatbread was about 4x7 inches. Perfectly fine as a snack with a drink, but at $18 this is insane. The empanadas were also disappointingly small for how expensive they were.

The cocktails are very sweet. We didn’t try every drink on the menu, but to my eye based on the ingredients, and the 4 drinks that we did try, everything seems to be much too sweet. There isn’t a balanced array of flavour profiles for the cocktails. I understand mixing without hard liquor makes this harder, but it isn’t impossible. For the price of the drinks I would expect a more varied selection of flavours rather than just sweet. Ingredients on the menu weren’t labeled properly for all the drinks either. One of the drinks we got was a sour style drink with egg whites which wasn’t indicated in any way on the menu.

The service is barely attentive. This isn’t inherently a bad thing, but with the prices this business is charging I would expect it to be better. $15+ cocktails should come with better than dive bar service. The service isn’t bad, everyone we talked to was very friendly and would answer questions, but it was quite difficult to get orders in.

Overall I would rate Sound by the Sea 6/10. I would definitely come back but likely will never get food here again. The vibe of this place is phenomenal, the products they are selling (in particular the prices) tarnish the experience. As a place that seems to be “by artists, for artists” the price bracket that it has placed itself in alienates the clientele that would otherwise be...

If someone asked me to picture the perfect setting for a house party with long-time friends and quality music, Sound By The Sea would be exactly it. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, creating an ideal ambiance for a memorable evening.

The music at Sound By The Sea is simply outstanding. They curate an eclectic and original selection that keeps you engaged and captivated throughout the night. The dynamic sounds create an immersive experience that music lovers will truly appreciate.

Resident DJ Connor is an absolute gem. His warm welcome and impeccable taste in music add an extra layer of enjoyment to the atmosphere. You can feel his passion and dedication shining through his tune selections, making every visit a delightful musical journey.

The bartender, Mark, is a true artist in crafting cocktails. His creations are not only delicious but also showcase his dedication to his craft. Mark brings life to the party, adding an energetic and vibrant touch to the overall experience.

Owner Dominique's passion for music is evident in every aspect of Sound By The Sea. The decor and guest DJ lineup reflect his unwavering dedication to providing an extraordinary musical experience. You can feel the love and care put into creating this haven for music enthusiasts.

Not only is the music remarkable, but the food at Sound By The Sea is also a delight. With a creative spin on Southern California casual dining staples and a few international dishes, they offer a diverse menu that caters to various tastes.

In summary, Sound By The Sea offers an unparalleled experience for music lovers, I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a unique and immersive listening...

Was so excited to finally make it to Sound by the Sea, we were celebrating a birthday party and just got done with dinner and wanted to cap off the night with a few drinks and some good music. Unfortunately didn’t seem like anyone wanted to help us. Walked in with a party of 6 people. Place was maybe a third full but music was playing and sounded great inside. Waited in the doorway as I wasn’t sure if we were able to seat ourselves. Not a single employee looked over or made eye contact, almost like we were purposely being ignored. Walked further in and the table I attempted to grabbed had a reserved sign on it further proving my thought that we should’ve been seat by someone. Said screw it and walked outside and grabbed a table there. Unfortunately fire pits were down so not a great start as the ladies were cold. Still no help from anyone, half of our party got up to go find someone as we were finally able to get menus. Once we got the menus we found out they didn’t have hard liquor, all Soju based. Also had some beer and wine options. At this point we were over it and walked across the street and had a great night at Pacific Coast Spirits. Unfortunate as I wanted to like this place so bad as I love the concept and I’m a five minute walk away. I’d say you’re probably better off going straight to the bar and you may get service...