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Best Restaurants for Special Occasions in Shelter Island / San Diego Bay

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103 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Tom Hams Lighthouse restaurant
4.6
Exceptional(6666)
Price: Expensive
• Seafood • Downtown
Booked 45 times today
Tom Ham’s Lighthouse was built in 1971 by a man who was not afraid to put his name on his product. Rooted in warm welcomes & excellent food, Tom Ham made his lifelong dream a reality. Tom Ham’s Lighthouse is the only restaurant in the US to have a USCG operated & maintained Lighthouse attached to it. You can locate us on any modern nautical map as Beacon #9. Featuring a 100% responsibly resourced seafood menu & award winning Sunday Champagne Brunch, we are a must when it comes to the San Diego food scene. The dining room, purposely shaped like the state of California, allows for groups as grand as 50 yet private enough for a couple’s night out. Holiday brunches have been long time family traditions for many San Diegans. Start your family’s tradition this next holiday. With the best views of the Downtown City Skyline, Coronado & San Diego Bay, Tom Ham's is & remains a San Diego tradition in dining excellence since 1971.
A photo of Coasterra restaurant
4.6
Exceptional(7563)
Price: Moderate
• Mexican • Harbor Island
Booked 95 times today
Coasterra is San Diego's premier bay front dining destination! We are an innovative and modern restaurant, lounge and floating event center, featuring Mexican cuisine.
A photo of Cesarina restaurant
4.9
Exceptional(5506)
Price: Moderate
• Italian • Ocean Beach
Booked 159 times today
Cesarina is a grandmother, a mother, a daughter—our personification of a nurturer who feeds and cares for her community. From meticulous attention to detail and fresh ingredients to the warm and inviting atmosphere, this restaurant is a celebration of the power of food and family.
A photo of Juniper & Ivy restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(8040)
Price: Expensive
• Unspecified • Little Italy
Booked 69 times today
Juniper & Ivy is a go-to place for special occasions. With its unique, creative, and delicious menu, it's a perfect spot for birthdays, anniversaries, and any other celebrations. The reviews are glowing with praises for the outstanding service, wonderful ambiance, and unforgettable dining experience. One reviewer even mentioned a special menu for their anniversary and a champagne toast. With its top-notch service, locally sourced food, and award-winning wine list, Juniper & Ivy makes any celebration truly memorable.
A photo of Island Prime restaurant
4.6
Exceptional(8358)
Price: Moderate
• Steakhouse • Downtown
Booked 61 times today
Island Prime is a go-to spot for special occasions, as it provides a unique and exceptional dining experience. The stunning views of San Diego Bay and Coronado, along with its excellent food and service, make it an ideal place for birthday celebrations, anniversaries, and other special events. Many reviewers noted the exceptional attention to detail and the staff's superb customer service. Whether you're looking for a fine dining experience or an intimate setting to make a special day even more memorable, Island Prime is highly recommended.
A photo of Mister A's restaurant
4.9
Exceptional(8667)
Price: Very Expensive
• Contemporary French / American • Downtown
Booked 41 times today
Mister A's is the penthouse, fine-dining destination of San Diego, and has been for over 50 years. Located just a few minutes from downtown, you will take the elevator to the top floor and look back out over jetliners sweeping past at eye level, the San Diego skyline, bay and Pacific, while enjoying Modern American cuisine, hand-crafted cocktails, and one of Wine Spectator's top-rated wine lists in the country. The culinary staff hand-selects local farm produce and the highest quality ingredients in every category to offer you selections that are made from scratch in house for brunch, lunch, dinner.. or simply the finest rooftop drinks and appetizers in town.Please visit our website for specific dress code guidelines: https://www.asrestaurant.com/contact/(Guests not in dress code will be turned away)
A photo of Herb & Wood restaurant
4.7
Exceptional(6462)
Price: Expensive
• Californian • Little Italy
Booked 66 times today
A timeless, sought-after dining escape, celebrated Chef Brian Malarkey opened Herb & Wood to instant acclaim over four years ago. In that time, the restaurant has become an icon, a dining destination that has helped to propel San Diego's culinary reputation to new heights. By focusing on rustic, wood-fired dishes, Chef Malarkey's menu elevates humble ingredients such as carrots, beets, and chicken, incorporating Mediterranean flavors and a California ethos of seasonality and sustainability.
A photo of Callie Restaurant restaurant
4.8
Exceptional(230)
Price: Very Expensive
• Mediterranean • Downtown
Booked 49 times today
Callie represents Chef Travis Swikard's debut solo project after spending a decade working alongside the esteemed Chef Daniel Boulud in New York City. The restaurant’s name, "Callie," comes from the Greek word "kallos," meaning "the most beautiful," and embodies its blend of Mediterranean cuisine with local ingredients and terroir, from sea to land from San Diego, Swikard's hometown. In 2022, Callie was acclaimed as one of America's top new restaurants by Esquire and Robb Report, and received both a Bib Gourmand and a Plate from the Michelin Guide. Callie is a dedicated supporter of Feeding San Diego, having contributed over 1 million meals to those in need in San Diego since its launch. Swikard is set to open his second restaurant in La Jolla in 2025.
A photo of Barbusa restaurant
4.6
Exceptional(4305)
Price: Moderate
• Italian • Little Italy
Booked 81 times today
Barbusa is a lively, modern Sicilian restaurant in Little Italy, San Diego. Known for its authentic Italian dishes, craft cocktails, and stone-fired pizza, it's a favorite for celebrating special occasions. Reviews highlight the 'authentic, delicious' food, 'fast service', and 'great atmosphere'. Whether it's for business, family, or a romantic evening, Barbusa delivers an 'exquisite dining experience' with 'outstanding service' and a 'fun atmosphere'.
A photo of Cowboy Star restaurant
4.9
Exceptional(4752)
Price: Very Expensive
• Steakhouse • Downtown
Booked 41 times today
Located in the heart of the East Village neighborhood of San Diego, Cowboy Star is dedicated to providing an unmatched attention to detail and a level of service that immediately sets us apart. Cowboy Star guests are the number one priority and guest satisfaction is the base upon which our entire concept is built. Our level of service is only matched by our celebration of regional American heirloom recipes offered with genuine neighborly hospitality. We are committed to supporting local and regional farmers, fishers and producers by cooking food that recaptures the simple and pure tastes found in locally grown, natural and organic ingredients. We strive to raise awareness of a more sustainable food future, while helping to restore a sense of community that brings us back to a more homegrown time.The Cowboy Star Menu features the finest in select natural products including Niman Ranch all natural beef from the nation's leading Certified Humane Angus herd.
‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you
From verified diners like you
  • Davi
    Coastal North Carolina •1 review
    5.0
    Dined 2 days ago
    I had a phenomenal experience at Juniper and Ivy. I made a reservation for my wife’s birthday and once I got there they had valet service for 15$ which for Downtown SD isn’t bad at all. Upon arriving we waited at a very nice, comfortable lounge area by the bar while our table got ready. Once we were seated the server Andrew gave us greeted us phenomenally, remembered the request I made upon making the reservation and fulfilled it expertly. I had initially checked the restaurant’s menu online to have what I wanted to order planned and my only critique is that there was a good amount of menu items in the website that either weren’t available or had different prices however I still rated them 5 stars because all the issues I had related to the website were smoothly resolved by both the manager and the server which easily removed all potential problems both regarding price and the availability of menu items. The food was just as good as the service and I would highly recommend anyone visiting San Diego or looking for a quality dining experience. The price is on the high side but I refuse to call it expensive because the amount you pay is on par with the experience you receive and I will absolutely be dining there again in the future. In conclusion 10/10 to Juniper and Ivy and a special shoutout to the server Andrew and to Whatever manager was on the floor the night of 20Dec2024.
    More info
    Juniper & IvyPrice: Expensive• Unspecified• Little Italy
    4.7
  • Chanh
    San Diego •1 review
    5.0
    Dined 4 days ago
    Excellent service food was fabulous and yummy . We were so close to catching our flight but got so hungry so decided to dine in island prime. We asked the host if he could bring everything we order all at once because we were in a hurry and he did what he was told. We were touched and loved how fast the services were. thank you we will definitely be back🥰
    More info
    Island PrimePrice: Moderate• Steakhouse• Downtown
    4.6
  • Tascha
    San Diego •3 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 4 days ago
    Everything was perfect- the food, the service, even the beautifully decorated patio. It was a chilly night and we were concerned we would be cool dinning outdoors, but the heat lamps did the trick. They also offered throw blankets, but they were not needed. We enjoyed several different dishes, but the octopus and lasagna were my favorite!
    More info
    CesarinaPrice: Moderate• Italian• Ocean Beach
    4.9
  • LizaVIP
    San Diego •21 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 5 days ago
    Great service and deliscious food A favorite of ours for over 40 years We come back when ever we need to pick up friends from the airport in the evening as well as for special occasions
    More info
    Tom Hams LighthousePrice: Expensive• Seafood• Downtown
    4.6
  • Brynn
    San Diego •1 review
    5.0
    Dined 5 days ago
    We had a wonderful early evening dinner. Our waiter was kind, informative, courteous and timely. The fajitas, mahi tacos, carne asada nachos, and Tres Leches Cake and margaritas were delicious. Parking was plenty and free. The views of the city at night with the Christmas lights was stunning.
    More info
    CoasterraPrice: Moderate• Mexican• Harbor Island
    4.6
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