Bronze Bird — Restaurant in San Diego

Previously I rated my travel and dining experiences drawing on my family owned restaurant experiences but it has been a while. I had to speak on this dining experience because it was off nominal in service and food quality. I was in San Diego California and are at the Bronze Bird restaurant in the Westin Hotel, gaslamp area. I did not stay there but chose the US Grant instead. We entered the restaurant for a late lunch and it had the perfect illumination for dining. The above head concave and convex ceiling art was relaxing. Great spacing between tables to accommodate those less ambulatory. They offered upscale day based meal selections as well as intriguing "sharables" which by the way ARE sharable, enough for 2 to 3. We were seated by Cynthia who was professional, personable and joyous and tended to our pre meal drink orders. She returned in less than average time and offered dining selections for each of us as she handed us off to Ruben. She checked on us throughout the meal but was not too ever present. Ruben continued the professional, joyous service and took our orders after selection distillation. "E", who rates such foods, had the personal oven fired pepperoni pizza and fries that he rated as a 10. The cookery of that pizza wes excellent and fries chispy. "N" had a speciality salad with salmon and the delicious brussel sprouts also a 10. I loved the freshness of the chilled fruit and greens of the salad. Great seasoning on the salmon. We ordered a sharable of honey hot wings and they lived up to the name! The were lip burning hot yet flavorable- not just punishing hot. I ordered the the short rib queso tacos and OMG they were the absolute best dish of the day!! From experience with this cut of meat i could taste the low and slow 8 plus hours of cooking on that pull apart short rib. The flavor was spot on and the pickled red (sweet, not tart) onion and queso were a winning combination. "N", who is also skilled with "big meats" sampled them and had the same wonderful reaction as myself. I highly recommend you try them if in the area. We topped our entrees with desserts suggested by Cynthia of churros for "E", red berry mascapone for "N" and the skillet chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream for myself. "N" and I added an oat milk latte hand crafted by Rubin which was spectacular in presentation and flavor. The deserts were also overall terrific in flavor, presentation and serving size. Sampling the 3, we all agreed the skillet cookie was tops as it was warm, gooey andscrumptious and overall yummy!. 'E", "N" and I give the Bronze Bird our highest recommendation for lunch or possibly a great casual meal with family or friends. If you find yourself in San Diego's gaslamp district, I strongly suggest you make the Bronze Bird a foodie stop - you won't be disappointed!...

Husband and I went for the NYE $59 a person dinner. Our reservation was at 6pm. We were seated and waited 20 minutes for water to come to the table. 10 minutes after our waitress (one of four different staff who served us) took our order where I ordered the lobster bisque. I’m a HUGE bisque fan. This bisque reeked of seafood (not normal if the seafood is fresh or not previously frozen). It had a thin film of cooled cream on top, letting me know that the bisque was sitting at the pass for more than a few minutes before my husbands salad ( _) was ready. It was not good to be honest.

Then the main courses which were also disappointing. My husband ordered their wagyu prime roast and I the chilean sea bass. The wagyu was a sloppy serving of two slices slathered in its our juices and sauce, not seasoned well. The seabass was actually fine! a tiny bit under done but totally edible and the best part, but still a solid 6/10. The dessert was a cute “Happy New Year” message written in chocolate. It was a mousse coated piece of brownie. Totally fine.

Overall, for $135 for less than mediocre food it was disappointing. We were thrilled to leave but bereaved that our last meal of 2023 was spent at Bronze Bird.

I attribute all of these mishaps to lack of staff, as we watched three staff members rush around the restaurant all night. I also credit the new menu against the mainstream menu being pushed out of the kitchen. Maybe stick to the regular menu and plan for a holiday a tad better.

would recommend...

San Diego’s Bronze Bird located in The Westin on Broadway offers a comforting yet refined dining experience, and after enjoying breakfast there, we couldn’t resist returning for lunch. With its inviting atmosphere and well-crafted dishes, this spot delivers on both morning indulgence and midday satisfaction.

The French Toast was a standout dish with its perfect balance of crisp and fluffy textures. The almond crust added a delightful crunch, while the fruit and Chantilly cream provided just the right touch of sweetness.

The Breakfast Sandwich- A well-executed combination of flavors and textures. The scrambled eggs were perfectly cooked, nestled between layers of creamy aioli and fresh guacamole that added richness and depth. The smoky bacon and toasted bread rounded out the sandwich, making for a satisfying morning bite.

Lunch we ordered the Sopressata Pizza-Bold flavors made this pizza memorable. The slight spice of the sopressata and the Italian sausage paired beautifully with the well-crafted crust—crispy on the outside, soft inside—creating a perfect bite each time.

The warm, attentive service only enhanced the experience, making Bronze Bird a spot worth revisiting. Whether starting your day or taking a midday break, this restaurant delivers flavorful, thoughtfully prepared dishes that leave a...