Water Grill San Diego Reviews

The setting is ample, very high ceiling, non bling classy decoration. The staff was friendly. I took the Tuna which was very fresh and good looking. A bit too spicy for my taste though. But perfectly presented. And That was easy to scrap a bit of that “jalapeños light crust”. The rice pudding was very good with the griotte cherries. I chooses the Cloudy Bay sauvignon wine. Known to be expensive, and I found it was not really worth the price. Altogether that was a really nice dinner and I will come back, next time visiting San Diego. Not a cheap place but very good quality sea food.

We had a poor dinner at Water Grill. The service was OK, but the food could be much better. The scallops and Alaskan black cod were disappointing. I wouldn't go back. I felt lousy for the remainder of the evening. Wish we went somewhere else. It was a recommendation from a hotel.

Lovely place* great staff* BEST BAR TENDER, worst brussel sprouts. Sydney makes a mean drink and is helpful w/suggestions and very efficient. Recipe for Brussel sprouts, cut in 1/2 toss in olive oil, salt&peppers bake, sauté or broil til singed. Do not serve dry&uncooked. My boyfriend who doesn’t know how to cook even knows how to make them. Salmon was awesome, scallops were perfect.

Salad really not good Shrimp thawed without any taste 2 shabby eggs mayonnaise Bacon too hard and everything for 30 dollars From the scam

The food was amazing over the top flavors, you could drink the broth of the cioppino. The scallops were perfect and dont forget the amazing desserts. Bread pudding just like grandmom. Staff great. friendly and simple helpful.

We ate there last night and I must say, this was the best seafood I've eaten in a long time! We had Chilean Sea Bass and a platter of iced seafood with various oysters, mussels, shrimp, etc. Just fantastic! Even the bread rolls with Asiago cheese and onions were to die for. Our sides were mac & cheese and Brussels sprouts. I highly recommend this place!

The service was top notch and food while pricey was absolutely amazing. We had Filet mignon and crab and both were great. Our server was very informative and attentive.

Fantastic food, great variety yummy bread. Big place with great ambiance. Yummy appetizers of good size. One of my favorie restaurants in the Gaslamp district.

The bill felt like a shell game. I was presented with an extra plate of food that I didn't order. Server took food away and stated they would remove it from the bill. I was first presented with someone else's bill, then my uncorrected bill, then finally a bill. When I received my credit card statement the amount was $20 more than my receipt. I kept the receipt for a while thinking I would find the time to email management, but it got away from me. That's what they hope for. If that hadn't happened....the food, location, and atmosphere were good.

Centrally located in the Gaslamp District. The restaurant has a great ambiance and really cool architecture with massive open beam structure. We had a private event and used the upstairs Lounge and the East Village Room. A lovely room that does not need any decoration at all. Dinner was delicious. Food was amazing. Great ambiance and wonderful staff. Everyone was pleased and enjoyed their dinner. Especially the Chilean Seabass.

We hosted a group of 50 for a business dinner. Staff was great and easy to deal with. Food was excellent! Great location in the middle of everything.

I ate at the Water Grill the first night I gor into town and had wonderful crab sushi and Wild Mexican Swordfish entree which was fantastic. Coupled with Lobster meat for an appetizer and a few Old Fashions with top-shelf Bourbon. The place was setup open air and was a nice experience, along with great wait service. I'll be back next time I'm in town.

I have to say this is one of the best restaurants that we have visited. The service was outstanding. Our attendant was super. He took care of every item that required attention. His name was Gustavo. I must give him an excellent rating based upon the service he provided. He was an asset to the staff. The food was great. I enjoyed the Salmon dish and my wife had the scallops. They were both fantastic. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone that comes to San Diego. The scallops and the salmon were great.

Located in the Gaslamp District, with a pleasant atmosphere. The food and service were very good but I would have expected more for the price, especially for lunch.

Great atmosphere, hosts were very friendly, waitress was not as much. Sat next to the open windows and had great people watching. Their garlic bread is to die for. Ordered Oysters Rockefeller's and mixed fried seafood. The oysters were a bit different than traditional ones with Hollandaise sauce but this ones were good too.

The restaurant is popular, lots of peoples and guests dinning in. I ordered the Dove fish. It was 48$/pnd. Thin fillet topped with lemony butter sauce. Very light and tasty. My husband had the sea bass. A think fish and also yummy. For desert, we shared the caramel bread pudding with caramel salted ice cream. It's different and very filling. The restaurant is expensive and busy. Our food came somewhat warm we had to return it to be reheated. I gave them 4 stars because of that plus I saw the waitress who cleans the tables wipes the food crumbs down on the floor and never sweeps it off! I didn't like that even though the restaurant considered clean, spacious and nice seating.

I had the king crab roll and it was fantastic. Tasty, soft, and came with a small salad. Very nice place and ambiance.

Very cool venue situated in the Gaslamp district. Sits rigjt on the corner and if you score a window seat it is money. The place has mosy seafood and steaks. We only otdered apps which delicious. I had 2 fish cod tacos which were full of flavor bit also $15. Their prices are very high in my opinion. Cool lounge for drinks.

Good seafood, decent ambience, service and strong wine list. Definitely our best meal in San Diego (oyster selection excellent and lobster with fries and coleslaw was good). Not cheap - but worth a visit!

First off…. It’s a beautiful design. BUT it is extremely overpriced for mass produced food. My Chilean See bass was served cold and very bland. The tuna had some nice flavor but the mushroom that accompanied it and made up over half the meal was smoky and horrible. Our waiter had zero personality, was unwelcoming, unapologetic, and thankless. The wine list is very expensive.

Ever since I remember my trips to San Diego took me this place also ... from 2017 till 2023 (indeed once 1/year typically in January). Located on the J street at the number 615 it is one of the "high end" restaurants of San Diego, there are quite a few, but the Water Grill is one of my favorites. Now in the period when I visit San Diego the place is usually packed so you need to make reservation, otherwise you wait (and it can be a long wait). Food - the menu is extensive, packed with choices of seafood and fish but also with beef for those of you who don't fancy seafood. This time I've chosen a crab cake for starter and a Wild Local Bigeye Tuna (one of my old time favorite dishes, it is spicy but is just great , simple and great - it is just slightly cooked with a crust of chilly , just love this dish). Now what was very nice, as an experience , I will not become a fan , was the "Margarita Verde" - it is with Tequila but with a spicy punch delivered by the Jalapeno pure that is added into a classic Margarita ... it tasted "interesting" but is one of those drinks that you would order only once - usually. Prices - well it was never a cheap restaurant -that did not change , however I still consider the price to quality ration is justifying the prices. And it was no different this time... When you are in San Diego - try the Water Grill - it is really good...

The seafood was awesome - so fresh - I recommend the raw bar. Also so very nice .... I was cold and they moved our table AND brought me a blanket. Very appreciated...

Had three amazing meals at Water Grill during our time in San Diego. Food highlights were the fries and spiny lobster. Service highlights were Tara and Bob! Everyone we interacted with was great, but Bob and Tara gave us the best food recommendations so I wanted to be sure to give them another shout-out. Both my partner and I have been actively building relationships with our SD based clients in hopes that we can return in the near future - ideally before spiny lobster season is over :)

In downtown San Diego. Delicious food in the most beautiful restaurant I have ever seen!! Service great. We will be back! Order the 6th and J. It's fab!!!

Dined at Water Grill with several collegues during a recent conference. The open dining room is dimly lit and stylish. We had a reservation so we were seated promptly. Our server was knowledgable and attentive. She made solid menu recommendations. The menu was featured an extensive raw bar and several grilled/fried seafood options. The food is fresh, simple and expertly cooked.

I raved about this place when I was here 7 years ago, but yesterday's experience was definitely not rave-worthy. We did not have reservations, but the hostess said 15 minute wait. This seemed odd because there were plenty of empty tables. After 25 minutes I went up to her and asked when we were going to be seated. Oopsy, they had dropped the ball. We were seated immediately. The wait service was glacial. That was difficult to understand because the place was not packed at all. Everything was very slow. We had one of the cold seafood platters and, quite frankly, it was underwhelming. All in all, we were there for 2 hours -- that's how slow they were. The parklet seating was nice and it was a nice evening, but we would have appreciated a little more attention and better food.

I was looking for a seafood dinner in San Diego, we usually go to the Fish Market, but this time was packed, so we check TripAdvisor for an alternative and we choose the Water Grill, definitely we did the right thing. The restaurant is in the Gaslamp Quarter area, is very nice, joyful, and the menu is very attractive. We started with the oysters sample which resulted a correct start, followed by a delicious the lobster roll with a very good house french fries. The cocktails are very good and the wine list is acceptable. They have an incredible bar upstairs. The prices are equal to what you get in service and in food. It’s a very goof choice

Couldn't believe how busy this place was - it's huge but there didn't seem to be many empty spaces. We didn't know what to expect here because we have been disappointed with other fish restaurants locally but we quickly warmed to this one. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and helpful but We were pretty certain what we wanted as soon as we saw the menu. Our appetizers were not great but were good - this stopped me from giving a 5 overall. My wife had to play hunt the beets in her beet appetizer and, although my octopus was very well cooked the accompanying sauce was not especially tasty. All was forgiven when our mains arrived - Cod fish and chips for my wife and black cod for me. Both were excellent. We are both Brits originally and we will always take the bread pudding challenge even though we've been disappointed so many times. This time our caramel bread pudding was a real Brit bread pudding and a winner - in taste if not in added weight. Overall the prices were fair given the quality.

We wanted to take some time to highlight what an amazing experience we had. From the food, to the drinks, to the service ... our evening was exceptional. No doubt: the crabcake appetizer was the best we'd ever tasted. We also enjoyed the seabass, the shrimp scampi and the mac and cheese, followed by the chocolate espresso ganash cake and an after dinner drink. Joshua was wonderful. Very friendly, attentive, professional and had a great sense of humor. Our only complaint is that this restaurant isn't closer to Santa Barbara, where we're visiting from. Next time we're in San Diego we'll definitely be back! Thank you again! Kirsty & Josh Santa Barbara, CA

This is a great spot near the convention centre. Lots to choose from and the fresh seafood is very good. Expect to pay for a meal, but it is very good. Can be loud, but adds to the atmosphere. Not a quiet dinner spot.

I have always enjoyed the Water Grill and the King Fish Market restaurants but this evening at Water Grill was a complete fail. My crab was small and served with mayo and a blah red sauce. I asked for fresh horseradish and another sauce and they brought it to me, why did I have to ask? When I complained about the small portion the bartender asked if I wanted another half… $49 plus tip for a beer and a small crab. I won’t be back!!!!

We enjoyed an excellent meal at Water Grill and the waiters were excellent. I had ahi and it was delicious and well prepared

Great local seafood restaurant in the heart of the gas lamp district. Great job creating outdoor dining with fantastic service.

We hosted a business lunch here recently and everything about this place is spot on. Service is impeccable (thank you John and Ashley), food was excellent even with smaller selection for a group business lunch. The place is comfortable, well appointed and fun. We went back later and agree with the other posting from @gypsyjoyce - they make a mean drink and the bar is nice. Wish they were in my neighborhood: I'd be there all the time.

Half dozen assorted oysters, wild Alaskan halibut, and the caramel bread budding. It was a memorable meal. The oysters truly were varied in flavor, the halibut was perfectly cooked, slightly crusty on the outside but very moist on the inside in a wonderful lemon cream sauce. The caramel bread pudding with its dark flavors and crust of sea salt was exactly the right ending. Expensive, but worth every penny.

I had high hopes for this restaurant, but it was a huge letdown. I visited with a colleague—he ordered the swordfish, and I had the sea bass. Both dishes were shockingly dry, especially the sea bass, which was one of the driest I’ve ever had. I was starving, so I powered through, but it was far from enjoyable. The bread was dry, and we shared the Brussels sprouts, which lacked flavor and personality. They tasted undercooked, with limp, overdone bacon bits thrown on top. Service at the bar was curt and unwelcoming, which only added to the disappointment. The only redeeming qualities were the location and the rosé—but even that’s not enough to justify a return visit. Definitely not worth it.

Located in the Gaslamp Quarter, a great restaurant if you love seafood and also enjoy watching what's happening out on the street. The Halibut dish was amazing and the service was great. Looking forward to going back there already.

Staff made guest feel welcome, apps and drinks were good. I went with waitresses recommendation and the sea bass didn't disappointment!

The food was awesome. My wife had the Salmon and I had the crab legs. I felt sorry for the staff since there was not a lot of people downtown.The padres were playing and usually that means the restaurants are full but it was empty for such an excellent restaurant. We would definitely go back next time we are down there.

Went to this restaurant with a group of people in town for a conference. Food and service was good. This restaurant just wasn’t very memorable.

Very nice space...we ate at the bar for a quick bite. Had heard they had the best crab cakes in town and wanted to try them. Our server said the same. We ordered a crab cake and some clam chowder. Service was a tad slow for the small number of patrons at the time...and many servers in sight. Food arrived and was picture perfect. Here was the problem we had. The clam chowder was flavorful but tasted more like bacon than clam. The four open clam shells in the bowl revealed just two pieces of clam. The crab cake was very average but the pepper seasoning overwhelmed the crab. Like the chowder, the creative juices were there but sadly the execution of flavors not necessary left us disappointed.

Last minute reservation, yet they accommodated our request for a booth. Very tasty appetizers plate. Main entrees were well executed. Good variety of drinks and excellent service.

If Mikey had been with us, he would have loved this place. The atmosphere is amazing with hundreds of nautical themed black and white photos on the wall. The whole place has that rustic, nautical flavor. I had the scallops and without a doubt they were the best I ever had. The clam chowder as an appetizer was excellent. For sides, we shared mashed potatoes, lobster macaroni and cheese, and brussel sprouts. Everything was excellent and service was super. I loved this place.

We had reservations for 5:45 but arrived early and the place was packed. The hostess greeting was great and offered us seating at the Oyster bar. We ordered drinks and were served bread and butter. We split 12 on the half shell and they went down tasty and easy. The reason we went was for the Chioppino. A variety of mussels, crab, shrimp, halibut, and squid in a tangy sauce. The atmosphere was lively, the service was excellent and we consider this a go to. Shout out to the shuckers and bar staff as they did not miss a beat.

Nice place with wonderful decoration The service is perfect. Although we had no reservation they found a nice table for us. I highly recommend this place for sushi and seafood. Excellent dishes Mostly sea food

Great experience here. Neat location just blocks from Petco Park. Excellent decor and a super knowledgeable staff. Can’t go wrong on the menu. Oysters, as expected, were amazing. Will be back.

We stopped in for an early dinner before a Padres game. Food and service were excellent. My daughter had the halibut and it was scrumptious. I asked for the tuna to be cooked well done and they delivered. Corner location with outside seating makes for a pleasant stop for meal or drinks.

Again - an year has passed since I've been to the Water Grill, nonetheless when I got to San Diego, got in touch with my buddy and went for some nice seafood and fish. So here it is what we've found at this visit: - first we've made reservations - since the place is on high demand so we wanted to make sure we get a table. - once we arrived we were requested to wait for a little while in order to be seated. - I had a Crab cake starter - fresh and delicious, nicely prepared - seasoning just right and with the celery and pickled onion it was just excellent - for the second dish I went for the Mahi Mahi - really nicely done tone - slightly overcooked just like 1 minute or 2 shy from perfection with some shiitake mushrooms very good ...(hence not the perfect score). - service - very good even that the place was crowded and no empty tables in sight. - menu is as extensive as I was recalling it, chicken and beef also on the menu if you feel like... for me this will remain a prime location for quality fish and seafood. - prices - well is not cheap - but on the other hand is very good value for the money you are paying. Excellent price to quality ratio. Overall - very good meal , excellent service - place is exactly as I remembered and expected it to be when I will be revisiting. If you never been to the Water Grill before I recommend you do - it is a place well worth it. (I'll be back in 2020).

After a Padres game, large group seeking a cocktail and some eats. Beautiful place, lovely atmosphere, terrible food. I have no idea if we ordered the wrong items but nothing was good. Soup was cold bread was lousy calamari was bad I have not experienced this bad of food in a very long time. What a shame:(

Service was ok and food was just average. Had the lobster roll, wife had the breaded fish tacos. Others had just “ok”steaks... Great location but probably won’t go back at those prices and quality....

This place held up to the rating. I had the Spicy Lobster Roll and Black Cod Kabayaki. My wife had the clam chowder and scallops. All were terrific, but needed a long walk after dinner. We were stuffed. Waiter, Garrett, was great.

It is a very nice seafood restaurant. I strongly recomment cold shelfish platter. Also special 3 meals deal is very good. It has a convenient location on gaslamp district

I don't go to San Diego very often, but when I do, I always to Water Grill. My husband and I had a fabulous pre-Elle King 30th anniversary dinner here February 15, 2022. It was as delicious as the pre-covid January 2019 dinner I remembered. The service is beyond compare. Richard G., our server, and Trevor B., the manager on duty, were attentive, knowledgeable, and courteous. They were both really nice, interesting people who made us feel like they were happy we were there. Trevor offered to take out photo together for our anniversary and arranged for a special dessert we unfortunately didn't have time to take him up on. We tried a signature drink, the Sixth & J (also their address). The description - vodka, strawberries, lemon, and tarragon on the rocks - doesn't do justice to the combination of flavors. The strawberry and lemon really pop, and the sweetness is offset by the anise-like tarragon flavor. The food is amazing. We got Kumamoto oysters and Peruvian scallops to start, and they were served quickly on a crushed ice filled pewter tray. It's a bit of an art to serve oysters that fresh and cold with bright mignonettes that complement the briny taste, and they pulled it off like they did before. Smoked hamachi nachos were next, very thin and cruncy yucca chips topped with slices of hamachi and paprika with a bright limey vinaigrette and crunchy Marcona almonds. The only smoky flavor came from the paprika, which also lent a bit of heat that nicely balanced the citrus and richness of the hamachi. I absolutely recommend it and look forward to returning.

Some of the best seafood you will ever have. The grab legs are a must as is the tuna. The softshell grab was excellent. Should add this to a must if you are traveling to San Diego.

Absolutely delicious! Service was great. Would definitely come back. The drinks, the oysters and the main fish. All made to perfection.

Popped in because we say the Oyster Bar sign in the window and had been craving some our entire trip (8 days) through SoCal. The wait was 40 minutes, so we happily opted for 2 seats at the bar.. had a few delicious White Russians and vodka/Crans. At the bar we devoured their sampler of a dozen oysters and then reordered a dozen of our favorites, each tray came with 4 condiments- habanero lime relish, cocktail, mignonette, and horseradish. We also had 2 garden sushi rolls, excellent and all our choices were gluten free! I recommend Water Grill in San Diego and will plan to return to this gem in the Gaslamp Quarter.

In town to visit the family for Christmas week and stay across the street at the Residence Inn in the gaslamp district. We always run over to the WG grab a seat at the bar and have a great time. Josh, the bartender, took great care of us and spent time to chat with us as well on top of mixing some great craft cocktails. We had lots of oysters too! Hope to be back again next year! (or sooner!)

Dined on the patio, prior to a Padres game, while in the midst of a weeks stay in California...visiting from metro Atlanta! "Hands down".... should be at the top of "anyone's" to do list!! "All boxes checked off"!!! Clean! Inviting! Warm reception!!

Love the rustic, nautical look of this restaurant in the Gaslamp district of San Diego. The service was impeccable. I'm glad we chose this for our first meal after arriving in town. They put down the bread, and we were in heaven from the first warm, slightly salty bite. I ordered the Halibut, and it was scrumptious. We also tried the mac and cheese and sea bass. Everyone at the table rated their food 10 out of 10. Finished off the meal with an espresso. Please do yourself a favor if you're in the area, choose this restaurant!

I travelled to SD last week for work, and I decided to try this restaurant as they were close to my hotel. Let me tell you, I don't regret it! The drinks were amazing, the food was really good - I had the shrimp scampi, and it was delicious. Try their Margarita Verde, that thing is amazzzzzing!!! The bartenders were very friendly as well, I sat at the bar and although they were busy - they all checked on me to make sure I was doing good. I would def recommend eating/drinking here!

There were several things we loved about the restaurant. The food is very good and the cocktails were amazing. When you pay this much for a meal you expect everything to be great. The atmosphere is good but a bit loud. Our server lacked knowledge and timing. We sat for a while before anyone came to the table. And there were significant delays in getting drinks and the meal timing was off. The biggest issue is their menu looks like they have lots of items that could be gluten free and dairy free, but they are not willing to work with food allergies. When I informed the server she said she didn’t think they would have much for me. The items she recommended clearly were not right because they contained both ingredients. I made a choice and she said it would work. When they brought it out there was a small piece of fish on a plate with no sides. She informed us the sides wouldn’t work so she didn’t include them. We made it clear that since we were paying for a meal with sides she can’t just remove them. They did provide a side after this but it was very uncomfortable and she was clearly angry we had made this request. If you don’t have food modification needs this place would work. If you have allergies go elsewhere.

Save Your hard earned money folks....Way too expensive for what you get. Not worth the money. Noticed the drinks are watered down.

Sat at the bar for dinner recently. Bartenders were great. Pour a nice drink. I wanted oysters and they recommended a few to try. The oysters they chose were fantastic. very fresh. also got a clam appetizer with chorizo that was excellent. Would definitely stop by again.

What a great restaurant! Everything is done so well. The decor, the ambiance, the menu, the food quality, the service…nothing fell short. Not an inexpensive outing but one of those place where you just forget about the cost and just ENJOY it. Adrian the manager and our server, Savannah were friendly, professional and efficient.

I came to the Water Grill with my family for my dad's birthday. We made reservations, and had no issues with that. The restaurant was lovely, the ambiance was nice with the decorations and dim lights, although it can get loud inside. Service was average, our waitress was friendly but slow. For starters we got a dozen mixed oysters which were wonderful. For entrees we all ordered different plates ranging from a lobster roll to cioppino, to the catch of the day. I ordered the lobster roll it was really good, I love the bread the meat is stuff in, but for $29, ouch! My sister had the fish of the day which was fantastic, but it was a tiny fillet and over $50, not to mention they don't come with sides, that is all extra. Prices aside, the food was amazing and we had a great time here celebrating a birthday.

Great atmosphere. Upstairs is quieter and a little more intimate. Great place to get imported seafood…like dungeonous crabs flow in from Norway. Everything (except 1 item) was flown in from somewhere. This was a little disappointing for a “higher end” restaurant in a coastal town. Seafood towers and fun and should be shared with friends. Tuna was fresh, but the shrimp and the fish (and chips) tasted frozen. I would not recommend this restaurant if you want local seafood.

My first trip to San Diego and we stepped in for lunch. Later that day, we convinced our friends to join us at WG for dinner... next day, we went back for dinner AGAIN. Who goes to a new city and goes to the same restuarant three times in two days? Service for lunch was by Brad (rated 10) and we had clam chowder, their awesome bread and shared a massive and delicious burger. Dinner was by Joey (also 10 and both times). We had the chowder and the tuna poke... both were off the charts. Don't miss this place, it is great.

We were so excited to finally get to San Diego to eat here. My husband loves whole fish, so that’s what he ordered. It was a fillet, not a whole fish. It was ok. The fires were cold, the Mac and cheese dry and old maybe. My sushi was good and the poke was also good.

The setting was great for date night. The service was very attentive. We had amazing Sea Bass! The windows were open and allowed a great breeze.

Great menu paired with a great drink list and a fantastic waiter combined for a wonderful two hours. The Chilean Sea Bass was a show stopper.

This is a noisy bar with delicious food. I had the salmon, which had the crispiest skin ever. It was a little salty for my taste. The hubby had shrimp and grits, which he loved because it wasn’t too spicy. The next night we took friends, one of whom is s very healthy doctor. When I mentioned my salmon being a tad salty he told the waiter to ask the chef to leave out the salt on everyone’s food! I was really, really skeptical, but we didn’t miss it at all. Everything was so tasty that it didn’t need that extra sprinkle of salt on top. The oysters were delicious, too. The waiter was very helpful and cheerful about accommodating our requests.

We were in the mood for something seafood after a Padres day game. Was initially concerned that we might be under-dressed a bit, but through the wide-open windows we could see there were quite a few who also had our idea and were well short of a business casual look. The menu may seem a little on the expensive side...but it is seafood, it is California, and the portions were not skimpy. You get what you pay for...and the food was awesome! I had the Orecchiette and shrimp, my wife had the Mexican swordfish. While mine was great, I was really impressed with the swordfish. I've never been a big swordfish fan, but apparently I haven't been having it prepared correctly, because this was fantastic. All in all, a great time.

Based on reviews on tripadvisor I chose this restaurant for dinner. It is an easy walk from the convention center and area hotels. We enjoy seafood and are at a point in life where we prefer to share an entree rather than gorge ourselves. Portions at this restaurant are so ample that sharing is a smart choice. We began with the crab cake (which we shared). The crab was fresh and the accompanying pickled onions featured a dill pickle, too, which was a surprise. It was really good! Then we shared the cioppino, which was messy (peeling the shrimp and cracking the crab) but worth it. As I was wishing I had a wet nap out came our waiter with fresh lemon, which he squeezed on our hands, and hot, fluffy washcloths. Fantastic. Because we had heard good things about the desserts we had to try the caramel bread pudding (OMG fabulous) and the pot de chocolate. If you are a fan of salted caramel you’ll love the bread pudding, which is served with a scoop of caramel ice cream and topped with a dusting of sea salt. Amazing. Our server was fantastic — outgoing, knowledgeable, and helpful. We really enjoyed him. This is a good choice for seafood (huge selection) and there are other choices for those who would rather have beef or chicken. We enjoyed it.

On the corner of J and Sixth it was easy to find. It was a nice afternoon and they had all of the windows open to accept the warm breeze. I was seated right away for lunch. Dave greeted me at my table and went over the impressive menu. My choice for lunch was the lobster brioche sandwich. It was phenomenal and I ordered it “Connecticut” style (which meant more butter)! I topped off the meal with a nice cup of coffee. I would highly recommend this stop and will be visiting again.

A fish food restaurant with a friendly atmosphere and great service. The ingredients were first class and explanations from the team spot on.

We were recommended by our hotel, for lunch and we were very pleased we took the recommendation. Our waiter was excellent as was our food we had the fish and chips which were amazing. Especially with me coming from the U K. COD was superb. Wish we were staying longer so we could return.

1. After dropping off our appetizer, our server ("Shaun" according to our receipt) basically ignored us. We couldn't even get a wedge of lemon from him for our calamari, so we went up to the bar to get one. Exactly one was given to us. Our server walked by our table several times without looking at us. We had to ask other servers to help us. At one point, I believe it was a manager, had to clear our table for us. Our server was also not well informed of the menu. We showed him a picture of what we wanted from Open Table and he said it was the Bream Fish, but it was not. It didn't look anything like the picture. The person who had to eat the fish had to pick out bones for 10 mins before he could eat it. It was very oily. Further, we were charged $53.20 for the wrong dish and overcharged for weight. Fish was not nearly 1.4lbs. 2. I was overcharged for lobster by approximately $20.00. What I received was barely a pound. There was barely any meat in the shell and the claws had two slivers of meat because it was so small. The head was the largest part of the lobster and of course that contained no meat. The lobster I received was closer to 12 ounces; however, why was I charged for 1.5lbs.? Do they weigh the lobster in the plate after they add the coleslaw? 3. The coleslaw was not fresh - cabbage tasted and looked old, and I did not like all the raisins in it. 4. Lots of flies landing on our food. Potentially being charged 30% or more than the menu price should be explained ahead of time. I feel taken advantage of by this restaurant. No way did the seafood we receive weigh the amount stated on the check. So disappointed, will not be back.

Strolling through the Gaslamp Quarter and came upon Water Grill. Looked like a nice place...open air dining, we were hungry so we went inside. We were not disappointed. The food was only surpassed by the service. Huge menu...lot's of seafood. My better half had a whole Maine lobster and I tried the Halibut. Both were excellent. We will be back next year when the Mariners play the Padres.

I think this restaurant is a great place to have sea food Downtown. It’s a beautiful place and always has the best service. Their menu is delicious!!! I wanted it all. Their oysters are the best!!! They have from many places and the sample is amazing!!! Their bar tender y great. He can do whatever you ask for. Their Negroni is incredible!!! This is a must!!! Not many people know about this place and it really is very good. I thing they have to invest a little more on advertisement.

We were here for a Private event - the room was great with a wall of wine as decor, and the food was excellent. Service was very attentive.

We got this recommendation by the hotel concierge. We were tired from a long flight and somewhat jetlagged. My wife and I needed a nice cocktail and good seafood. The early evening dinner was actually a feast: the maritime mule (vodka-based) was excellent and the oyster sampler was even better. The grilled swordfish was absolutely delicious. And the jewel of the crown was the pudding topped with ice cream. Now, the best part of the whole dinner was our waitress Joey. She was superbly nice. Yes, yes, it's expensive but it is worth it every penny and more.

Great experience and food for a business lunch. The salmon ceases salad was amazing. Our server was great as well. I would come back for sure!

Mathew and Gustavo were great waitstaff. We, three, ordered the halibut, sirloin, and tuna. The person who ordered the halibut said her dish was tasty. My sirloin was grilled only on one side but done to medium-rare perfection. I only wished the other side had the burnt crust too. The person who ordered the tuna said it was too spicy and not cooked to his specification of doneness. The Pinot Noir we ordered went well with all three dishes. Dessert menu didn’t have anything chocolate in terms of cake or brownies but did have a chocolate pot du creme and so we passed on desserts.

This is in the Gaslamp district, about two blocks from Petco Park. Attractive interior, large place on a corner. The exterior windows are moveable, think of a garage door made of attractive windows, that are motorized; when it got cool, they just lowered them and there was a window between your seat and the sidewalk. Appetizers were good: seafood fritters were served over a mildly-spicy orange colored chutney, very nice, with small slices of jalapeno. Also had a tuna poke app, which I found a bit chewy, larger cubes of tuna. They were offering 'first of season halibut' -- my friend got a slice which he liked very much. I got "halibut cheeks" (don't ask me what they are) that were a bit tough and gamey - if fish can be gamey. Would not order again. Side of mashed potatoes was creamy and flavorful, but sopping in a pool of butter, too rich. The beer selection is very strong. I got a Calif Roederer sparkling wine that was really good. Three different people acted as our server, but the service was overall pleasant and quick enough. Good choice if you've not been, but with many other local choices, its above average but barely four stars, and I would not return any time soon.

Beautiful spot for fantastic cocktails, wines and seafood. Dinner inside with big doors fully open to street on a great summer night was hard to beat. The food, service and people-watching was terrific and thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The upstairs bar looks amazing, but was closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Planned on a romantic dinner to celebrate our anniversary...HOWEVER this location was NOT that. We've been to the "original" in LA and loved it. Service lacking and noise level loud. That being said...the food was FANTASTIC! I had the pan roasted halibut cheeks (prepared so perfectly). My husband had scallops which he said were absolutely delicious. Very "hip" area.

Delicious, decadent… we enjoyed a lovely al fresco dinner. Even though we got a few sprinkles, it was pleasant. The seafood was so delicious. We had the platter— oysters, mussels, scallops, lobster and shrimp. The chocolate ganache cake was the perfect topper. We had a platter, two drinks each and dessert and the bill was around $100. Not bad.

I wanted to like the Water Grill, but it didn't happen. I had been sent there when I asked for a top seafood restaurant. I was expecting a glitzy place right on the San Diego waterfront, but Water Grill is in the Gaslamp part of town, and has no ocean views. The hostess and the seating people were rank amateurs, and inappropriately joked while we waited for our table to be prepared. The restaurant is semi-open air - the windows retract mechanically to provide an open setting for the front part of the restaurant. We were given one of those booths, which turned out to be a big mistake: a Padres game has just let out of nearby Petco Park, and the streets were jammed with intoxicated young adults, making a lot of noise and nonsense. OK - the ambiance wasn't great, what about the food? I tried the Pacific Kumamota oysters, which were fine, while my wife had an average wedge salad. Try as we might, we couldn't get our waitress' attention to get a second round of drinks before they brought our entrees. Speaking of which, my wife ordered soft shell crabs, a choice the waitress praised, until she came back and said that they were out of them. She also sold us on the homemade triple-cooked french fries, and then didn't bring them with our entree, because she "forgot" to put in the order. My wife's salmon - her second choice - was also average. I had the black cod entree, which was just as described, and I enjoyed it. In my opinion, this is not the place to go in San Diego for seafood.

Tasty treats and great service but don't go for a romantic meal. Seems like a lot of business dinners going on around so really noisy and boisterous crowd. $200 ticket for 2 people- no alcohol. Just so you know.

We had a very enjoyable meal at the Water Grill. The service was top notch, friendly, well informed and fast enough. We ordered the sample of oysters which came with 4 sauces - vinaigrette, jalapeño (both exceptional), grated wasabi (passable) and a tomato dominated cocktail sauce (not so nice). We also had the small lobster ($19 for a 1/2). It was tiny, really tiny. Very nice and fresh but hardly a meal. We also had the Trojan Roll which was also of a high quality and worth having. Overall an very good dinner and would happily return.

Ate here during a private conference event and was really pleased with the food and service. Great room and decor with a very friendly staff. Well done and a very pleasant bartender while I waited for the event to start!

Sure, this is not easy on the wallet; but the ambiance, location, service, and most importantly food is amazing, it's totally worth it. My first time here we came for dinner, and I was dreaming about the black cod (sable fish) all year knowing that I'd be back... I forced it into our schedule this trip for lunch, and we had the cooked mussels with the spicy sauce as and appetizer, split the black cod with soba noodles, and a side of broccolini with chinese sausage. I love how this place draws influences from different cuisines!! The mussels pack so much flavor, this is the only place I've had them prepared as such and it's so good. The sable fish is one of the most smooth, flaky, melt in your mouth kind of fish, and they prepare it perfectly! With a crisp exterior, and in that light broth; this dish is tremendous!! The broccolini is crunchy and the chinese sausage is flavorful. I almost forgot to mention their wonderful bread!! I would make sure to come here for at least one meal each time I'm back in San Diego. Thank you so much!!

So, 4 of us went to dinner. My portion was $67 and I had one drink that I paid for separately at the bar. Crab cake was good. California roll was not. Mashed potatoes good. Service okay. You heard that right - $67 and no entree!

Super fresh and great selection. They obviously do high volume which is key. Great atmosphere. The bar is well stocked.

We are in town once or twice a year for business and family and always make a point to walk across the street from the Residence Inn. It's dark and cozy and the staff is excellent. Sometimes we just sit at the bar and chill. Last night we had our son and his wife for dinner. Oysters are always super as are the rest of the shellfish. Whoever designs their drinks is a pro. Too many to try. I tried something different last night...the Chilean Seabass and it was one of the best seafood meals I have ever had (we live in Mexico and have our own restaurant serving seafood so I can be critical). Wish I could duplicate it! Wife had the lobster tail and kids had swordfish and we cleaned our plates. Candice was our server and she did a good job and the manager also stopped by to check on us. We'll continue to come back!

I have dinner two years ago and back again for meeting and have dinner again here Great menu and great service Prompt service with a smile All fish dishes are great Good dessert also

We were very hungry and wanted to eat fish in San Diego. We had 3 x fish and chips and it was very delicious. Service very friendly. the windows were open so we felt like sitting outside. I can recommend the place.

Great location and wonderful building. Just the decor and ambience was fantastic. I love when restaurants take the old buildings they are in and highlight the architecture into the design. A beautiful place. Oh, yeah and the food was fantastic as well. After snacking a bit for the day, we shockingly skipped appetizers. Very unlike us. We went straight to the entrees of a steamed lobster and the black cod kobayaki dinner. Cod on its own does not have a lot of flavor so what you do with it is important. Probably one of the best cod dishes I've ever had with an Asian influence that had a ton of flavor. Even the basic sides of brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes had great flavor for what could easily be basic dishes. A very pleasing meal and evening overall.

In addition to a good oyster and standard raw bar selection, Water Grill also has a unique sushi inspired dimension to its menu. Maki and poke options were available. Highlight for me was a terrific tuna tartare with quail egg, featuring sesame oil seasoned nori and sushi rice.

Let me start by saying that our server, Savannah, was fantastic. She was friendly, attentive and informative. Our pre-dinner cocktails were fantastic. Dinner was very good but not up to par with the prices being charged. The odd stand out was the coleslaw and rolls. Not what I would have expected to say in a review for this place! The lobster was very good, filet was a bit overcooked but yummy, broccolini wasn’t anything special, mashed potatoes takes like they were box potatoes covered in butter, mixed salad was delicious. Additionally the bread pudding was amazing. The atmosphere of the restaurant itself was open and lively. The chairs for the tables, although comfortable, are too low though, forcing you to eat at almost chest level. Ask for a booth especially if you are petite! Again, thanks to Savannah for her excellent service.

Visited San Diego last week and we can’t stop talking about our dinner at Water Grill!! Our group of 3 couples collectively enjoyed the best fish we’ve ever eaten…swordfish, sea bass, cod, and shrimp. Our waitress, Donna, saw to our every need. Looking forward to returning to Water Grill when we get back to the Gaslamp District.

My recent dining experience at Water Grill left me thoroughly satisfied and eager to return. From the moment I walked in, I was impressed by the elegant ambiance and attentive service. Outstanding service and the best appetizers in San Diego!

Comprehensive seafood menu. Specialize in fresh and wild seafood. The raw oysters were fantastic. Probably the best swordfish steak I have ever had. Extensive wine and drink menu. Super great service.

Nice oyster selection. And the Baja lobster was a treat with best cole slaw salad I ever had. Good wine and beer list and top notch service on a lovely patio with x-mas music 🎅

OMG, I'm so glad I I was referred to this restaurant. Great atmosphere and foodbis great. The king crab sushi is to die for.

We visited this place three times in our 5 days stay across the street; enjoyed oysters and crab cake twice. Always sat at the bar which was comfortable. Staff was friendly and helpful.

Super pompous menu. Mediocre overpriced food — not bad food, but one expects much better at a restaurant with upscale pretensions. I had the $39 "WILD PACIFIC BIGEYE TUNA, togarashi seared, with grilled maitake mushrooms and sizzling sesame oil". What a load. The dish was 6 small slices of sashimi laid out around a golf ball sized plop of mushrooms. There were a few drops of something on the plate as well. My fellow diners were equally unimpressed with their overhyped, overpriced nothing specials.

The Water Grill in San Diego is one of the those places that I simply can't ignore and I plan to go back every time I'm in the Gaslamp Quarter. So here are the findings (being at this place 3rd time each time 1 year distance between the visits): - location - same that (I already) you know - but keep in mind, even that the seating capacity is very good you still need to wait when you get there - for us waiting time was like 10 min before we got seated. And since is very popular you might want to make a reservation just to be sure. - service - fast and also discrete - but nothing was missing and once you emptied a glass the waitress was there to ask if we care for another 1. - food - an excellent selection of seafood , great raw options if you feel like having oysters. But is not limited to seafood - so if you feel like you can order a steak, great options on the menu. I went for a tuna - prepared semi-raw , I said semi because the fish was "cured" not cooked but with a process that preserved the flavor of the fish and the spices used just brought forward that original tuna flavor. A very good choice indeed . In terms of drinks the menu is also extensive. - prices - well for sure is not a cheap place , but the prices are aligned with the quality of the food you receive - at the end of the day there is not such thing as cheap fine dining - and at this place I consider the quality of the food fine dinning. Overall a great experience - I recommend you try it for yourself. (it is a place that I will revisit for sure when I'm back to San Diego)

Service was excellent and the food was great I had oysters followed by spiny lobster Highly recommended it’s not cheap but worth it

Good option for fresh oysters and lobster. been here several times and no wonder why. right on gaslamp, lots of action around this place.

This place continues to be one of our favorite s for fresh seafood in San Diego. We started with the fabulous octopus appetizer and a beer salad. Our main was the pricey but delicious stone crab. They also have an outstanding raw bar and lots of fresh seafood options. Nice selection of wines as well.

We had a really nice dinner here. We Walked right in and were seated. It has a nice atmosphere for a date night but also good for a group. Our waitress was excellent, making recommendations. We had clam chowder (full of clams) and a green salad to start with a delicious dressing. The bread is amazing - we don’t normally eat the bread but couldn’t resist and it did not disappoint. For entrees we had salmon and scallops with butternut squash to share. It was all prepared so well with unique flavors.

I had a business lunch which was so good I returned a couple of days later for dinner. The seafood is fresh and tasty and the crab cakes are some of the best. I highly recommend the Brussel sprouts so yummy. Great service. Highly recommend.

Had a late night dinner here--great oyster selection on the half shell, king crab legs were delicious and tender, and mac and cheese was delicious. Great beer/wine and cocktail selection. Excellent service. We just walked in and our dinner turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip!

My husband went here for a late lunch during a convention. He raved about it and so I decided to try it. Took my sister and her beau for an early dinner before the Paul McCartney concert. Let's just say they were impressed with my choice of dinner. Aesthetics were very hip and cool, food is superb! We ordered the PEI mussels and crab cake! It was so good. The crab cake was a bit dry but overall, good. Bread was freshly baked! And most of all, they have a full bar. Place was packed that Saturday at 5:15 p.m. Yes! Early birds! It is walking distance to everywhere (Convention center-where we parked, and then Ghirardelli coffee place for dessert!) What more do you need?

Went for lunch and had a very good experience. It is a medium/high end restaurant and I would rate it good value for money, even though not a cheap place. Only a very few tables were occupied at the time of our visit. I had to raise a small complaint about the clam chowder being slightly cold and surprisingly this was taken off the final bill. Hat off!

Save your money there’s nothing special about this place. We both had a lobster roll with tuna poke for appetizer. The lobster roll was absolutely tasteless and had barely any meat in it . My friend wouldn’t even eat his. The bread wasn’t the freshest and had no flavor .The tuna poke was good. The wine was good. The female bartender was excellent. For The price they charge I expect a meal that is excellent every step of the way. Unfortunately this restaurant does not provide that.

The food was very good along with the service however, it was a bit over priced in our opinion. Of course , fine dining come with a cost, but their are reason limits even to fine dining. With that being stated, and if price is not an issue , go for it.

My wife and I enjoyed the swordfish and sea bass - well prepared and presented. The atmosphere is quiet and the service is friendly and efficient. We have eaten here before and continue to recommend this for a nice, relaxed seafood dinner experience.

I took my family to Water Grill San Diego on October 13th to celebrate my daughter's completion of her doctorate. I ordered the halibut and when it arrived, it was so over cooked, sent it back to the kitchen after one bite. After 20 minutes or so, with profuse apologizes from the server, another halibut arrived. This piece was cooked around the edges but the center portion was a big lump of raw fish. Wow, a restaurant with extremely high prices that has a kitchen that puts out garbage, even on the second attempt! Save your money. I have had much better fish in little family restaurants on the Oregon Coast for a fraction of the price. They did comp my meal but it was too late then.

Great atmosphere in the Gaslamp District. Delicious food. The service was excellent. We had a wonderful time.

Our waiter Bob was the best I’ve had in a long time. The food was outstanding and the ambience is outstanding. We enjoyed the whole dining experience, not rushed at all. Will go back every time I visit San Diego

Food was great. Fish and chips were tender yet crispy. Mac N Cheese was super cheesy. Great size for sharing. The Ceasar salad was just average. The calamari was served hot and crispy. The bread was amazing! Get seconds! Lively atmosphere. Would return!

The food was good, service was great. The meal was 100$ (for lunch) with an appertizer, 2 small beers and 2 entrees. The Cioppino was good, not great. My wife had the lobster roll. Neither were superb. You expect top tier for the price point. Not sure I'd go back unless there's a happy hour...

We stopped in for a late bite after a Padre game. We were seated promptly and the restaurant was very nice inside. Our waiter came to take our order but seemed like he really did not want to be there any more that night. Eventually another waitress came over and said the she would be taking over our table as our waiter was leaving to go home. The menu had some good choices but it was pretty pricey for even an appetizer to satisfy. I had the beer battered fish tacos which were decent but the piece of fish was too large for the small corn tortillas they were served on. I think some smaller pieces of fish would work better or larger tortillas. My wife had a burger that she said was good but it started to fall apart in her hands so she really could not put it down. The waitress that took over our table was very nice, the restaurant was nice but expect to pay a little bit more than most places. The food was about as good as you get at other places that serve the same choices.

great location, nice decor, good vibe, very good service and we were a large group. food was good, but not outstanding. Fresh items, big menu, large place.

My wife had halibut and I had salmon. We were both very pleased with our choices and would recommend. For dessert we enjoyed the cheese plate with some port wine. The cheese plate included honey, raisins and some toasted bread. If you are looking for something different for dessert, give this a try - - a nice change of pace. Service and atmosphere were fine as expected based on our prior visits.

One of the most attractive restaurants in downtown San DIego, a spacious, open, fresh place, with a magnificent bar offering original and well prepared cocktails and a truly remarkable sea food menu. The variety of oysters is outstanding, in general the cold sea food and the raw bar are top notch. For dessert I recommend coffee panna cotta. A must.

Great place for oysters! We’ve ordered the sampler for two. Amazing. Friendly staff nice place. Be ware they build in time between your starter and main. Our steak was served when we were half way our oysters.

The service was great, food took a little while longer than usual to arrive due to our group size, but all food was fresh especially the seafood items. I would recommend for couples or group events.

The food was super fresh and fantastic! The service was excellent and the waiter was very entertaining. It was a really great dining experience!

We were beat from first day travel and Water Grill was right across the street from our hotel. Good thing. We had an excellent dinner and a nice bottle of wine and some fantastic take away desserts. My sea bass was perfect, my wife's halibut excellent and our side of broccoli with garlic and Asian sausage was very good. This is not inexpensive but the food substantiate the prices. Service was great, too!

Order and split the deconstructed Prawn Louie. Wow was this delicious or what. Here is a picture of 1/2 the reconstruction. Everything was delicious and we are right at the bar with Carolyn. Friendly service great food and the place was jumping. Excellent experience.

We had a wonderful dinner and the cocktails - cadillac margaritas - were great. Lindsey was our waitress and she was outstanding. I ordered the scallops that were delicious, and my husband ordered the halibut which he said was amazing. They brought us a deep dish cookie to share which was very good. All in all we had a lovely time and recommend this restaurant.

Pros: service, food, atmosphere Cons: pricey, loud dining room We came here for a work dinner and it was phenomenal! We started off with some raw oysters, and everything was super... until we had our real meal and my taste buds were mind-blowingly-spoiled!! The mussel appetizer is tremendous and a unique spin on how mussels can be prepared; the garbanzo beans are a nice twist! I ordered the black cod for my entree and it was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Though this place is pricey, I can see it being a great venue for a special occasion. I did hear that one guy at our table who ordered the tuna was not that impressed; but everyone else really enjoyed their food. I thought it was interesting that there was such Asian influence in many dishes... We had a phenomenal server as well; at this time her name escapes me, but we really appreciated her hospitality!

Great job, safe, clean respectful of Covid protocols. We ate on the patio and our server was awesome. The food was amazing and so were the drinks.

It is our first visit to San Diego so after going to see the Padres we needed dinner so called in here and to be brutally honest our food wasn't that great. We both ordered the charcoal grilled chicken and yes the skin was crispy & flavourful but the closer you cut to the bone it was still pink , ok for steak not for chicken ..... the fries and mac & cheese were fine. Overall disappointing.

One of the great pleasures is to sit at the bar, chat with the bartenders and eat oysters, bread and chowder. Never ever a disappointment. We will keep coming back!

We held a team dinner with 13 guests. Everyone was great to work with. The food was wonderful. The service was good but we were left a few times for too long and guests couldn't get refills, etc.

Recently we were in San Diego for the weekend and were looking for a good seafood place near our hotel in the Gaslamp District. So glad we dined at Water Grill. The food was excellent (my wife had the Alaska black cod over soba noodles and I had fish and chips). So tasty, well plated and great portion sizes. But, as good as the food was (and it was!), we ir server Joshua was simply the best. He went above and beyond, doing much more than just taking our order and serving the food. He took time to explain the extensive menu, made recommendations for us and was attentive without being oppressive. He even wrote down a list of his recommendations for things to do while in San Diego. We entered as hungry diners, left full, satisfied and feeling like family. Thank you Josh and Water Grill!

Had lunch at the Water Grill in San Diego. During this Covid shut down wasn’t sure what I’d find but this was a wonderful restaurant. The service was great and the food was wonderful. Beautiful presentation of food.

The place has a very nice bar and the seafood along with steaks are very good. Naturally being in the city most entree's are pretty over priced but the quality is good. I enjoyed my time there and the bartenders are good but for me personally not worth what is charged!!

Just a few hundred meters from the congress centre is this restaurant on the main street of the Gaslamp District. I just had a quick lunch, and it was fine. I noticed that they have a big oyster bar, and a very nice menu card, so I might come again.

One of our go to spots for fresh sea food & a night out! They offer the best sea food in downtown san diego! Open dining area, lots of activity to watch if you have a street side table. Service is always spectacular.

Atmosphere was incredible. Very cute little dinner place with an amazing bar and great service. I did the Alaskan Black Cod, i was impressed with the presentation. The flavor was okay, i would probably try something different next time. We also had the scallops which were quite good. I’d rate them a 8, and the Mac and cheese was probably the best I’ve had at a restaurant. The drinks were nice too. I’d definitely visit again for the drinks and dessert, but wasn’t as impressed with the food as i had hoped.

I eat out a lot and I can say this is the best bread I have had in a long time, worth the vist for this alone! I sat at the bar and a nice view, good service, did not find it loud, but was there early.

Had a group dinner at the Water Grill. A pre fixed menu of Filet or Salmon - many had to wait and the beef over cooked or the fish under cooked. Many sent their dishes back to the kitchen. The location and atmosphere is lovely but I would stick to just a cocktail. If you have a seafood allergy - not the place to be. Even with precautions - cross contamination can not be ensured . Some folks got sick

Fresh seafood, good cocktails, prompt service. An altogether pleasant evening at Water Grill. The restaurant is pretty, and conveniently located in the middle of downtown. Food wasn't overwhelming, but very good. I had swordfish which was slightly over, but tasty. Others in my party seemed to enjoy.

Always enjoy the chain of Water Grill restaurants. The outlet in San Diego is deep in the Gaslamp Quarter. Totally open with plenty of large open windows makes indoor dining like eating outside. A wonderful location in the heart of the action. Carolyn, our server, was both professional and charming. She made us feel very at home and welcome. Our Kumamoto Oysters were freshly shucked and disappeared quickly! Our mains included Bluefin Toro Tartare and Steamed Mussels with Garbanzos. Both were excellent. Look forward to another visit to the Water Grill San Diego soon!!

We had a great dinner at the Water Grill restaurant. The fish was ever so delicious and they offered a very wide variety of seafood and fresh water choices. JP was our attendant. He made good recommendations and was knowledgeable about the wine list. All the staff were accommodating and friendly.

Had a great time with friends for dinner and drinks. The waitstaff was very nice and helpful with great recommendations.

We didn’t get to eat here but dropped in for drinks after being out for dinner elsewhere. They have an excellent selection of beers and spirits and the bar are is nice to sit at. We found the staff really friendly as well. All in all, a really great place for drinks in the Gaslamp.

We had dinner here and it was superb. We both had seafood and shared wine. Excellent decor, excellent service as well. The food was wonderful and we enjoyed it very much. Prices Ona par with any UK city. We also went to the bar there a few times in the early evening, they do a great range of wine and beer by the glass and wonderful cocktails. Highly recommend.

This is a definitely upscale spot, with great ambiance, seating, wait staff and prices to match. We did a series of rich seafood dishes with starter salads (each big enough for two people) and a wonderful bottle of Russian River Pinot. Desserts of chocolate concoctions and creme brûlée's were exceptional.

The quality is really not worth the price the service was very very long. There was really a lot of noise, we had difficulty hearing each other.

Had high expectations after reading reviews on trusted sites. Busy bistro type atmosphere with seafood and raw bar highlighted. The seafood tray was average. Crab and lobster now well cracked and too much effort required. My swordfish main was a second choice after our waiter raves about the soft shell crab. Then came back to say they were sold out! The swordfish was dry and bland. Over cooked. It was on a bed of cold squash and olive tamponade. Not to my liking. Service was friendly and attentive. Upstairs bar area and dining tables were more appealing. If not recommend

You have to try their great appetizers at Water Grill. Great and FRESH fish, exceptional presentation. Thai location is excellent and right downtown. service was exceptional and the food was great. Thanks

Perfection! The Honeymoon oyster appetizer is any foodies dream. My “spread” further consisted of the Bronzino (grilled), crispy polenta and broccolini with Chinese sausage. OMG. DELISH. I so regret not taking photos. Please, finally, even if you must take it home, complete your experience with the bread pudding accompanied by salted caramel ice cream. My palate (experienced) was oh so satisfied. I will return🙌🏽

I did not have time to research dinner on a quick trip to San Diego, so we gravitated to the most popular spot near our hotel. And I’m glad we did. The indoor bar and dinner seating were all very busy. Too much so for my liking in this time of COVID, so we ate outside on the patio. The service was top-notch. My cocktail was a little small but tasty. The Black cod was a touch salty but beautifully prepared. The broccolini with sausage was also a treat. Bottom line, there is plenty of action at the Water Grill. The good times do not come cheap but we will return.

Incredible atmosphere, food/drinks and service. Very consistent with their OC location and not surprised, this proprietor knows how to make your visit an experience...I highly recommend Water Grill!

Busy place because of the baseball game. Service was really good, but the food was a little disappointing. Octopus appetizer was slightly over cooked, and not hot when served. The Halibut was really well done, and so was the clam chowder.

I sat by myself for 22 minutes and NO waiter, this was 330PM and there was a mild crowd in the dining area. People all around were eating and waiters were darting here and there. Quite interesting,

We went to this restaurant for lunch and had fish and chips and the lobster roll. The bread and butter that they bring to the table before your meal was so delicious we barely had room for lunch. The fish was hot and tasty, the lobster was light and fresh, the roll was tender and buttery. We were so full from the lunch that we decided to come back the next day for dessert and we are glad that we did, the key lime pie was delicious, the crust was like a cookie nice and buttery. The bread pudding came with house made salted caramel ice cream, wow the combination was amazing.

We went to the Water Grill with a group of 9. Service was great and the wine list was very good. Every one had a seafood dinner and the food was excellent. I had the king crab legs. They were sweet and meaty. In a foodie town this place stood out.

Having just dined at the Water Grill in Costa Mesa, it was a great contrast and comparison of what a difference the servers and location make. The San Diego location is near the Gas Lamp District, close to Petco Park. We dined on a night where a lot of baseball fans went after the game for dinner. A louder crowd, open windows to a loud downtown area so it was less as enjoyable as our previous experience. The food was still exceptionally good, but service wasn't as attentive or as friendly. We took friends who had never dined at Water Grill before and they enjoyed their meals and the evening. Would still recommend but now we know what to expect.