Tom Cat Bar & Grill — Restaurant in San Diego

Just because a person walks in and asks if it's happy hour and asks if there's a beer menu with prices on it doesn't mean the bartender should automatically assume and suggest the lowest three priced beers possible definitely out of touch with the customer not a very good bartender offering the wrong suggestions instead of asking more questions.

5 minutes I was there looking around real quick seems like there's only seats for maybe 12 people. everything is bulky and places hard to get around. Seems like there's a bunch of stuff in there go away like cabinet-bench-shelf-walls structural trash that's just taking up space really weighed on my brain.A good interior designer could bring new business in here but it doesn't look like anyone making money from this establishment is prepared ready or willing to put anything back into it. surprised it still stands. literally a hole in the wall.

There is no disclosure here. there are no prices on the wall for beer and there is not a beer menu. I have to listen to a bartender tell me all the different beers and their prices before I can get a freaking beer this is ridiculous since they can essentially say whatever a beer price is whatever they want it to be instantly kind of shady if you ask me. I didn't even stay to order one just too much hassle.

The bartender told me essentially Google was a liar that there was no such thing as $3 well drinks or whatever the heck Google was offering it doesn't exis during happy hourt. What Google says online is truly a lie I have confirmed. Happy hour is between 4:00 and 7:00 with a 10% discount on a couple items only. there is nothing half off here or even 30% off here for that matter.

I had an in and out experience I wasn't there longer than 5 minutes I went in there with an urge to drink and left there with an urge to get away as fast as possible. There were only men there and they instantly sized me up as soon as I walked through the door. I guess that's to be expected for a place called top cat or Alley cat or strat cat or whatever the heck it's called. Time for...

Having just moved to Mira Mesa I was excited to see that there is a bar in the neighborhood which has NFL Sunday Ticket. I love to be at a place surrounded by eight or nine different games going on at once every Sunday morning.

I'd read reviews that this is a dive bar, and indeed that's quite the accurate description. That's cool for me, I like an informal place or I can just watch the games.

The problem is, there was complete disorganization around having the games on the televisions. I walked in at about 9:50, 10 minutes before games start. They were only about two customers in there, and friendly enough bartender asked me which game I would like to see. "Well, all of them" I explained. She seemed confused by this. She asked me again which team I was a fan of, and I re-explained that while I'm a Patriots fan, I came to watch all of the games. I mean, if I only want to watch one game I can stay home. She then proceeded to give me this whole explanation of how they put all the games on but they let customers come in and sit down and choose which one they wanted which TV...um, ok I guess, as long as the net result is the games being on.

So for the next 10 minutes only one additional customer comes in and he also wants to watch the Patriots game. 10:00 arrives, the games are kicking off and literally every single TV in the place is on the Patriots game. The staff demonstrated no urgency and no interest in looking around and getting different games on the different televisions. At about 10:10 I decided this place sucks for watching NFL, and got myself on the road to find somewhere else.

Two stars because the bartender was nice and friendly and I'm sure the place is fine as a hangout joint. I just have to strongly recommend against it as a place to go enjoy...

The BEST kept secret. "Tom Cat style" is everything! I wish they sold it in jars. My favorite local bar, and it will continue to be even if I'm not local anymore.

For anyone reading reviews and worried about service.... this place has excellent service, but remember you're going to a dive bar, the whole "wait on you hand and foot" method isn't a normal practice at those establishments. The staff is working at the bar and on the tables, closing tickets, and when it's packed that takes time. There is no hostess, seat yourself, wave them over, but also just walk up to the bar and ask for what you want. Everyone is very nice and doing a great job. It might be frustrating when it's busy, but that's what happens at any busy restaurant.

The cooks are magicians! On top of the wings being some of the best in SD, I've never had anything bad here. Try the fried mushrooms, turkey or pastrami sandwich, quesadilla, burgers, it's all very good and...