Vivien Shi
If you’re looking for an intimate ambiance + fresh oysters 🦪🤍
Loved the dining space and little attention to details. Their bar has a lighting fixture which I think is inspired by octopus tentacles. There is also an artsy octopus on the ceiling- fun atmosphere to eat & also admire the space :^)
Oysters were fresh and tasty. Comes with lemon slices, vinegar, horseradish, & various hot sauces. I recommend trying two different types of oysters. You can ask the waiter to do half of each. Our whole table ordered the octopus buccatini which was delicious + the perfect portion for 1 person and to also have enough room for dessert after. Flavorful without being too salty 🍅💛 Also loved the design of the plates. It’s little details like this that make eating out an experience in addition to the food.
Our waiter was amazing and gave us great recommendations. Genuine and attentive sum it up perfectly.
Thank you Ironside :^)
Wesley Lo (Sweetnlo)
Right in the center of Little Italy in San Diego. The food was good with a great selection of seafood. The portion size is on the smaller size so it is a great opportunity to get a few and share. The chowder was nice and buttery. Location and atmosphere is excellent for a fun meal with friends or family. Good for special occasions.
Tiffany Klopp
We had the best time! Saw the most beautiful drink being made and asked our bartender and he was kind enough to make them for us and tell us all about what was in them! Croquettes were amazing and my halibut was like butter! This place has all the sexy vibes!
Ron
This place rocks! Beautifully cleaned ultra fresh oysters,clam chowder better than the stuff you could get back in the day on fisherman's wharf,crab and artichoke dip that was mind blowing and the 2lb. Maine whole lobster was perfectly cooked succulent and tender. The restaurant is gorgeous and was packed on a Wednesday night but we were sat fairly quick. The staff are friendly and professional. I will be back!
David Stuart
Rarities are hard to find, but this gem of a neighborhood eatery was not just found, but delighted in. $1 oysters did not disappoint. Clam chowder was plenty filled with clams, fish tacos FULL of yummy fish and extras, and our party of three was delighted with additional menu choices. Loved the ambiance and people watching. Service was outstanding. Price very reasonable. So great to see restaurants like this thriving close to the bay in the Village.
Michael R
Recently dined at Ironsides Fish & Oyster which is located in Little Italy.
Great atmosphere and decor as you can see in the photos.
Excellent cocktail menu with unique takes on many classic cocktails. All the options we had were excellent.
We opted for the Lobster Roll, was a little cumbersome to eat as the majority of the lobster meat was sitting on top of the roll rather than in it but it was very nice. Chips were also excellent.
For dessert we had the lemon tart and strawberry berry pavlova, both were also very good.
Overall I’d highly recommend.
Christopher Albers
Definitely a cool vibe for the interior. Had some kumiai oysters and the steamed clams, which were excellent all around. People with me had the lobster roll, and mushroom campanelle which they also said were great.
Tables were cozy but around 5:30 on a Tuesday night we didn't have any wait for a party of four which was nice. Parking was a bit of a pain in the area but that's expected, at least the area was easily walkable.
Rachel Iverson
This is such a cool stop, you can look at the decor forever. The tables were quite small and it was hard to fit everything, I may have dropped my phone 2x, that’s probably a me issue, but if you’re clumsy this might not be the best first date spot. The drinks were strong and traditional. The food was well done normal to small portions for the price.
Aaron Grant III GRE_Group_Broker
Chef selection of oysters from Canada to Baja California, were fresh and delicious. Grilled polpo alla plancia tasted good with unctuous butternut squash purée with roasted pepitas and super crispy thinly sliced chorizo. Ambiance on the sidewalk with banquettes laced in tile was dope.
Ana Tapia
Great quality seafood and service! Perfect for sharing and ordering family style! Everything we ordered was incredible! The place is also great for drinks
Jeramie OK
Very busy place! Cheap oysters at happy hour and good drinks.
If you are roaming around looking for a busy place to hang out, check this one out. Good location and the entire street Is hopping with activity.
Fun place!
Tawny Valdez
With the help of Chef Jason Mcleod who once held 2 Michelin stars from RIA in Chicago’s 5-star Elysian Hotel emerged Ironside but after his departure last year, Chef Danielle Van Steen has kept the classics on the menu such as; lobster roll and Octopus a la Plancha but also incorporating new locally sourced seafood, produce and ingredients to bring out the highest quality flavors in each dish.
With a whooping 5k+ reviews on Yelp, 3.8k on Google Review and 1K on Trip Advisor, you know I had to give them a visit! Although some may say this Maritime themed restaurant does not belong in Little Italy, I beg to differ and feel that Ironside adds class, fun and an ocean feel! (You can literally see the ocean from the side walk)
Ordered
Octopus a la Plancha – The octopus was very tender, the chorizo and olives brought a nice saltiness, the arugula mild pepper flavor added freshness to the dish
Rockfish Ceviche – I enjoyed this dish but it was a typical ceviche, didn’t expect it to have so much liquid, thought maybe the chef wanted to display the fish better
Oyster’s – The three that we tried were Shooting point, Phantom Creek and Sapphire. The petite plump meat , mild flavor and clean finish made Phantom Creek our favorite.
Steamed Clams – This was by far our favorite dish, the lemon grass coconut broth was sooo good and not overly cream. Fresno chilis and chive oil paired well when dipped in broth w focaccia bread!
L p
Food was very good and it was a beautiful San Diego day to sit outside and enjoy but minus a star for the unnecessary 4% "service charge" (yes it is annotated on the menu) when they seem to write a new menu every day. Just integrate it in the price please.
The fish, tacos, and oysters were all of great quality.
Vincent Tan
amazing happy hour oyster deal. Great atmosphere and interior design. comfort of the chairs and tables leaves a bit to be desired though. clam chowder was above average. expect a long wait during peak hours.
Christian Carlucci
You could tell the moment you walked in this place served up some fresh seafood. We were not disappointed. The oysters were fantastic, lobster roll - rich and buttery on home made brioche. The octopus was also prepared to perfection. Staff were kind, attentive, and very helpful to navigate the menu. 5 stars.
Lan O
I had great time at Ironside with my mom and daughter.
We ordered oyster, shrimp, fish, and Clam chowder. These are all delicious.
The service was ok, We wanted to order more drinks and dessert however the server just gave us check. I understand There was busy at that time and the server looked tired and he was running all over the restaurant. So maybe that's why we didn't get full service. But it is ok. We will come back because food is great.
Yi
Octopus was delicious, bread was delicious, and the happy hour oysters were glorious. Service is great there and also the management team! We appreciate your hospitality!
Y. R.
Amazing food, really cool ambiance and awesome staff! Strongly recommended! Loved our salad (the best salad for me in a long while) and the octopus! The lobster roll was too heavy/oily, we didn’t finish. The bonus was the manager: I thought I lost my purse there and he asked me to leave my number and name. Within an hour, he already checked his cameras and confirmed that I didn’t go in with my purse (I left it in a park prior). Was very impressed and grateful!
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