Ironside Fish & Oyster — Restaurant in San Diego

Loved my experience. The menu changes every day, sometimes twice a day and they print it out with local catch and dishes of day.. I sat at the side bar, there’s seating at back where you can watch the chefs create. I had the Russian River Blind Pig beer ipa $10 loved it and tasted my friends Bucha Hard Kombucha yum! Mango /dragon fruit 6% $8.. Later I had the Albariño white wine Spain $15 Great as well! (Says on the menu they have happy hour Monday to Friday 3 to 5 PM) but we were there after 6 PM. For our meals that we both split we chose the Mussels Verde $24 and Blue Crab Bucatini Pasta $38. I really really loved that, the mussels were good too. We got the Ironsides Bread (cute loaf soft a little sweet hot out of oven with whipped butter- $7 good) I’ll put in pic of menu up close so you can see ingredients. It was my birthday and they brought me a candle lit big cookie topped with ice cream and whipped cream on side, it was a perfect sweet finish. Service really great, nice people everywhere. The stools were a bit hard and we stayed pretty long so my butt got a bit sore… ha. Oh one thing I saw next to me was a special buffet of a cocktail… the guy to my left ordered. It was incredible with 4 sauces and 2 drinks.. I learned they have another thick book cocktail menu and it was from that he ordered: FANTASTIC. I wish I remembered the name [see below] BUT CHECK OUT THAT BOOK! I certainly will!! I’ve been to Ironsides about 5 times, I always have loved it. “The rising tide lifts all boats”. On the front entrance wall. Great oysters too!

Added after: I called Ironside to find out what that incredible drink oyster combo thing was and it’s called a FOGHORN. It’s a beer, a shot of bourbon and then you can order oyster/ shrimp cocktail or ceviche and it comes with all the standard things they give you for oysters, which is horseradish , a comeback sauce, which is a tomato aïoli and a Granita, which is like a frozen Purée that’s cool and refreshing and their current one is jalapeño so it’s like an icy slushy! So it’s pretty spectacular!! She said you could order any drinks you want. Greatest idea!!! Thank...

My wife and I showed up 10 minutes early for a 7pm reservation, were seated right away. High top table stool was very uncomfortable, especially after leg day. It took a few minutes before the waitress came over, but 15 minutes in, we had our drinks. We originally planned on ordering the bigger platter and a Maine lobster. The waitress informed us the lobsters we 30-40 ounces and good for sharing. We asked for a few minutes to readjust our appetizer choice, thinking the bigger platter plus a lobster would be too much. We came up with a new game plan and waited patiently for 15-20 minutes while our waitress attended to the many other tables under her charge. Eventually, the manager came and took our order. We ordered 12 oysters, the crabcake croquettes, some bread, and a Maine lobster a la plancha. He returned within 2 minutes of us ordering to tell us the last lobster had just been sold. I looked at my watch and it was was 740, which is a little bit early to be running out of anything. I was ready to leave but my wife wanted to stay. I dont even like lobster, but she does and the main reason I chose this place, is because I heard the lobster was good here. He tried to sell us on the fish but we passed and went with the bigger platter and the croquettes. The bigger platter came with 12 oysters, 8 shrimp, aguachiles, ceviche, and .5lbs of cold lobster. The oysters were on point, shrimp was good too. Lobster meh, cold lobster sucks in my opinion, my wife said it was OK. We asked for some warm butter to dip it in and were brought a tiny dish of cold clarified butter, disappointing. The ceviche was just ok and the aguachiles were flavorless. You can get better ceviche and aguachiles at any marisco truck in SD, not exaggerating. 98 bucks for this platter should've just got shrimp and oysters. Really disappointed with the meal but the shrimp and oysters made it bearable. Should've just doubled up on oysters. You live and learn. Probably won't...

Ironside is my absolute favourite restaurant in San Diego and last night's dinner didn't disappoint. Our server was great. Attentive but didn't hover. The food was delicious and perfectly portioned which I love since I don't have a huge appetite I hate a whole family sized serving for one meal. It was pretty busy last night due to a Padres/Dodgers game. I was seated immediately when I checked in. The hostess was so lovely. She saw the notes on my reservation and made sure to switch out seating. I didn't expect it. It's the note I have permanently in my OpenTable preferences. That's just great service! We ordered adult beverages straight away. I was in the mood for an old fashioned which they regularly make with Evan Williams. It was perfect! He started with a favourite beer from Russian River that was on tap. We started with the crab dip which came out with their fresh bread served in a pull apart style. Oh my gosh it was so good! We made sure to swipe up every single morsel of the dip. For my entree I ordered the lobster roll. I wanted the half lobster but all they currently have on their menu is the full lobster which is definitely more than I could eat. Our server said it would comfortably feed three. I was ecstatic with my lobster roll, a usual choice for me when I go for lunch. He ordered the Sea bass with the polenta option. It looked great and it was. Season perfectly but it was cooked just a little bit over but he still cleaned his plate. After a couple rounds of cocktails, an appetizer, and our entrees we were too full for dessert but I always have to look. They had some great options including a churro sundae. I'm not a big dessert or ice cream person but I do love a good churro. It was an excellent date night! Thank you as...