Restaurant Review : South Beach Bar and Grill

Inside at South Beach. (All photos by Judi Curry.)

 South Beach Bar & Grill
5059 Newport Avenue
Ocean Beach, CA 92107

 Are there people living in Ocean Beach who do not know about South Beach Bar & Grill? After my daughter and I watched my granddaughter jump off the pier for Junior Life Guards last Wednesday (that story will be written next week) we decided we were hungry and I suggested we go to “South Beach.”

When we walked up the ramp leading to the restaurant and my daughter was told she would have to leave her bottled water outside – she drank it all down – she looked at me incredulously and said, “How do you know about this place? This is not the type of place I think of you going often.” Was it the loud music, I wondered, or the fact that we had to be 21 to be there – we are – the high stools, or is it the laid back atmosphere or just that she was unprepared for my suggestion. I told her I have been there many times primarily because I like the food.

Like most of the restaurants I have reviewed recently, this one also has an extensive menu – Appetizers – TWENTY-FIVE of them. There are several that are my favorites: Peel and Eat Shrimp – half pound for $9.95 and a full pound for $13.95; Octopus Cocktail for $3.95 and Ceviche Cocktail for $7.95. (I always compare my ceviche cocktail that won a first prize many years ago to restaurants offering them on their menu. This one is good; mine is better!)

Their taco menu offers grilled or fried fish, as well as carne asada mini-street taco’s – $3.50 for two or during happy hour, $2.50 for two; and even a veggie taco.

There is a separate listing for “Steamers”, clams, mussels, or mixed; and also offered is “Fresh Shucked Oysters.” As if that isn’t enough, there are a variety of salads, sandwiches, burgers, tostadas, quesadillas, grilled special plates and fried specialty plates and a variety of side items.

The margarita’s are delicious, and the raspberry ice tea is one of the best I have had.

My daughter and I elected to have the carne asada taco’s; they were delicious and brought back fond memories of the 13 years we camped in Mexico and sampled taco’s from the street venders. While waiting for our order, the waitress walked by with the most delicious looking plate that turned out to be a Carne Asada Tostada. It was piled high on the plate, along with beans, red cabbage, salsa fresco, white sauce and cheese. It was only 3:00 in the afternoon, and although tempted, we declined to order it also. Quite frankly, the two taco’s was more than enough and very filling.

My daughter asked if the “green stuff” on the taco was guacamole, but was assured that it was not. (How a daughter of mine does not like avocado is a mystery to me, but the tomatillo sauce was wonderful and we both enjoyed it.)

Where the magic happens – behind the counter for fish tacos.

The first time I went to “South Beach” was on a “Taco Tuesday.” The place was so crowded that people were eating standing up. Today was “Farmer’s Market” and we got the last empty table in the place. No question in our mind as to why it was so crowded: It is good!