Dobson's Bar Restaurant - S San Diego

I was surprised that they served us instant coffee instead of brewed coffee!! It was bitter and grainy shocked that a restaurant of this caliber does not have brewed coffee or did not want to brew a new pot for 2 late lunch customers?

Great calm and collected place. Good for business and also just eating alone. Food is excellent and service impeccable.

This was the perfect location for our birthday group celebration of 8. We were there on a Saturday so there was a live singer who was great. She sang happy birthday to our guest of honor which was such an awesome bonus. Food was all delicious and just as described on the menu. We will definitely be coming back to Dobson's and regret not visiting this SD gem sooner!

We had a bit of a disappointing experience which I hope is the exception and not the rule. Obviously we had reservations, however; when we arrived at the restaurant, the hostess told us there were no good tables left and that we'd have to sit in the bar. The bar was crowded, and our table was thin in width. There were three tables, and they were placed very close together. People would actually brush into our feet as they walked by which was not a good experience. One good thing was the table was a half booth, so we were able to sit against the wall together. This is a pleasant experience if you are with a significant other. The service was good with one exception. When we finished our drinks, one was not ever refilled. Apart from that, there were no issues. The food overall was good. We split a beet salad, and we also ordered bread. Both were good. One of us had the Chicken Marsala which was extremely good and of a good value. The other had the stroganoff. This dish consisted of noodles which were more like spaghetti (can't remember the actual Italian name) vice the standard wide and short stroganoff noodles. This made the dish somewhat difficult to eat, however; the flavor was good. We finished the meal with the tiramisu and cappuccinos, both of which were very good. When it came time to pay, we were running short of time as we had to make it to the opera which is only three blocks away. Also, along these lines, there are two parking areas. I am uncertain of the cost, but the parking area directly beside the restaurant closes at 9:30 pm. There is another parking area beneath the building across the street which was only $10 and was open until 2 am. Back to our bill...we didn't take the time to review the itemized costs. We were charged $139, and in doing the math today, we believe this is much more than the actual cost, so there was most likely an error. Ensure you double check your bill! Overall, decent, but we are in no hurry to return.

Dobson’s is my favorite pre-theatre stop. The food is amazing, the atmosphere, perfect. Friendly atmosphere and attentive staff. Vegetarian options: The wild mushroom ravioli is fantastic! Parking: Dobson’s is right next to Horton Plaza in the heart of downtown. There are plenty of paid lots and garages, but street parking is at a premium. Kid-friendliness: This is an adult pub-style bistro. Not really suited for children.