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Hours
Sun
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Mon
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Tue
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Wed
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Thu
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Fri
5:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Sat
4:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Reserve a table
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, Steakhouse, Bar, Seafood, Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options
Special Occasion Dining, Romantic, View, Groups, Bar Scene, Business meetings
Menu
STARTERS
Dozen Oysters On The Half Shell
black pepper mignonette gf
USD51.00
Ahi, Crab & Avocado Stack
fresh crab, avocado, tomato, papaya-mango salsa, taro chips, sweet chili sauce gf
USD29.00
Prawn Cocktail
fire-roasted cocktail sauce, lemon gf
USD28.00
Wagyu Ribeye Tartare
charred scallion dressing, avocado mousse, salt & pepper potato chips
USD28.00
Island Prime’s Seafood Tower
black pepper mignonette, lemon, fire-roasted cocktail sauce gf. 1/2 dozen oysters, lobster tail, chilled prawns, blackened ahi tuna sashimi, salmon tartare. serves 3-4
USD131.00
Chesapeake Bay Style Crab Cakes
chicory, granny smith apples, orange segments, pickled fresno pepper, old bay aioli
USD28.00
Does this restaurant serve Bar / Pub food?
Details
About
Resting on stilts atop San Diego Bay, Island Prime overlooks the San Diego city skyline and Coronado.
PRICE RANGE
$24.00 – $63.00
CUISINES
Steakhouse, Bar, Seafood
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Valet Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Free Wifi, Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Waterfront
Contribute
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4.5
1,084 reviews
Excellent
687
Very good
264
Average
92
Poor
26
Terrible
15
Journey537821
Dallas7 contributions
Mar 2020 • none
We ate dinner at Island Prime / C-Level Lounge while in San Diego for Spring Break. I definitely recommend sitting on the patio, as it offers unobstructed views of the harbor and the heaters make it more comfortable if there is a slight cool breeze. We split some calimari and the seared ahi stack (blue crab/avocado) for starters and followed it with steaks (filet was good, not great) and king crab (very good). I also did the Sommelier's Selected Wine Flights, which was a great option b/c my wife does not care for red wine. It was comprised of 3 oz each - Panther Creek Pinot Noir (Willamette), Mount Veeder Cab (Napa) and Lancaster Estate Cab (Alexander Valley) and all three were a good value for the $35 price in my opinion. We decided to forego dessert, but the table adjacent to us ordered the Retro Island Prime Mud Pie, which was easily 2 lbs of cake and they had the waitress cut it in half for our kids to share, which was very nice of them. I had a bite and it was amazing! Even though this was a trip with family, I'll certainly be back with my wife or clients next time I'm in town for business.
Written 12 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Staidthere
Jakarta2611 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
We walked in without a reservation at 4:30 pm and were given a table for 3 with a dramatic view of the San Diego skyline as the sun went down and the city lights came on. The lobster bisque was delicious. We had 3 kinds of crème Brule for dessert. Island Prime combines reliably delicious food with an spectacular view of the San Diego skyline.
Written 25 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
parkinsd
216 contributions
Aug 2020 • none
WE arrived at 6:30pm as a Saturday Night, beautiful sunset, sailboats passing by.
As always the service was excellent. The Seabass tartar was delicious, my wife's scallops were cooked perfectly and my filet was juicy and tender. I enjoyed a new Chardonay,, the Snitch. If you are unable to eat on the Venice, Italy, Bay, then Island Prime is the restaurant to enjoy.
Written 9 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chgmeister
Reno213 contributions
Aug 2020 • couples
We arrived at 11:30am for lunch on a Wednesday, and there was already a long line outside. Fortunately, the line moved fast, and we were seated within 10 or so minutes. I’m pretty sure that folks that arrived right after us, were told that there was a 45 to 60 minute wait. Reservations highly recommended! We LOVED everything...the food, drinks, service and the atmosphere. It’s a bit pricey, but we felt it was well worth it.
Written 26 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cyberdiver2018
Banff National Park50 contributions
Mar 2020 • family
A top pick restaurant in San Diego. Exemplary service, food, and drink with a beautiful view. You’re on Harbor Island so the full downtown skyline is before you. The city lights in the evening provide a stunning background to the waterfront. Couples, family, and friends will all enjoy the great menu selections full of Prime five star dishes. Reservations are suggested for this popular eatery.
Written 5 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lucsimsthomas
San Antonio370 contributions
July 2021 • none
We had lunch at this restaurant on a Tuesday and waited about 30 minutes for a table for 5. It was well worth the wait. The food was delicious. I had the Lobster Bisque and the bowl was huge. It was delicious. My husband and cousin had the Lobster and Fontina BLT and both said it was very, very good. Another family member had the fish and chips and also said it was very good. We were inside but still had a gorgeous view of the harbor and all of the activity that was occurring. My husband and I both had ice tea and it too was quite good.
It is a little on the pricey side but well worth it.
Written 20 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Russ P
Phoenix10 contributions
Feb 2020 • family
My wife and I went there on a Thursday night. The good part was the restaurant itself. Upscale place with a stunning view. The service was great and the cocktails were well done. The not so good part was the food. I’d only give it a B- at best, which when you consider the price, isn’t so great. My wife had the Sea Bass which was supposed to be a filet but was absolutely full of bones. So many bones that she gave up trying to eat it. I had the surf-and-turf which was filet mignon and lobster tail. It was just okay. The lobster was decent but the filet was just not very flavorful. I don’t mind paying top dollar for an upscale dining experience. This place missed the mark.
Written 2 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susanna W
San Diego8 contributions
June 2020 • none
We had dinner at Island Prime to celebrate our daughter’s graduation.
Normally when eating out in a restaurant that offers such an amazing view and ambience, I don’t expect the food to be great, but Island Prime prove me wrong. We had a party of 7 and we all agreed that the food was very good. Our server was very attentive and took care of us very well which contributed to a fantastic ambience.
This was my first dine-in outing since the pandemic and was a bit nervous. As soon as I walked in, I felt comfortable, Island Prime did a good got in providing distance between the tables.
Written 12 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
martyrtatman
Washington DC29 contributions
July 2021 • none
I recently took a group here and only have amazing things to say about the food, service and experience. Jon Boyle was outstanding helping to get the reservation made and was so pleased that, upon arrival, they were able to merge our two tables into one bigger one. The service was on point and attentive. Our reservation was later in the evening and the restaurant had run out of the special for the day, but the chef quickly created a new one for us that was so, so tasty. To top it all off, the view of the city is breathtaking. If you are looking for a nice steak dinner when in San Diego, you need to come to Island Prime. You won't be disappointed.
Written 27 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donald H
Reno3419 contributions
Aug 2020 • couples
Island Prime is a staple of San Diego restaurants. When Covid put them down, their team decided to use the floating barge next to Coasterra as a pop up restaurant. This facility has been used in the past as a banquet and wedding facility. It has turned into a wonderful dining experience.
All Covid protocols are being followed. Justin, our server, was both professional and attentive.
Our meal consisted of White Shrimp with Avocado, Hearts of Palm and Russian dressing, along with a Stone Fruit and Burrata salad.
Our mains were Nordic Blu Salmon and Snake Farms Wagyu Eye of the Rib-eye. Both were cooked perfectly and served piping hot. A nice dessert of Strawberries Romanoff and a fresh Peach tart with Guava.
Highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for a wonderful dinner and stunning views of the San Diego skyline
Written 20 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg S
Chandler108 contributions
Oct 2021 • none
Chose Island Prime for a birthday celebration. Excellent choice. Jeremy was our waiter and he was outstanding. We had the Calamari Katsu for an appetizer which was delicious. My only negative comment was the small portion size vs the price. My wife had the Island Prime Filet Trio and I had the 8 oz center cut filet which were both good choices. The restaurant was also able to accommodate our request for a table next to a window to enjoy the view and constant parade of boats passing by. Great experience.
Written 10 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amazon53
San Diego177 contributions
Apr 2021 • family
This is one of my favorite go-to harbor island restaurants. The staff and especially our waiter, Jeremy was very attentive, knowledgeable and a great personality. He had great recommendations about the food and bar menu.
It was my husbands 60th birthday and it didn’t disappoint us. We started off with salt and pepper calamari. Jeremy recommend a great cocktail that paired perfectly with the calamari. My husband and his son had the Pork loin chop Tomahawk and rack of lamb. They both topped it off with a broiled lobster tail. I tasted both dishes and both were tender and juicy. The lamb had a great sear which made it even better. It was accompanied by a red wine reduction sauce which was earthy and rich.
I had the Mahi Mahi with a beurre blanc sauce(which was light, creamy and didn’t overwhelm the fish) and grilled asparagus. The fish was tender and cooked perfectly. The asparagus was one of the best I’ve had in a while. A lot of places have a woody taste to it.
Overall, we couldn’t have asked for a better evening. We watched the harbor cruise boats and private fishing charters stop by to wave hello.
Thanks to Jeremy and all the staff for making this our “Break Free From Covid” place!!😊
Written 17 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dalane B
San Diego18 contributions
Feb 2022 • family
I loved ,and truly enjoyed my dinner at Island Prime the location is beautiful you can see the Coronado Bridge and San Diego amazing skyline. For the appetizer I had the Dozen Oysters on the Half Shell which had three different types of oysters delicious! For dinner the Australian Rack of Lamb oh my was this a gorgeous and Amazing !!! It was cooked to perfection the dinner roll was very delicious ummm..can I have the recipe LOL…For my Libations l had The Desi Arnaz
cruzan mango rum, papaya nectar, mint, fresh lime, soda
I will most definitely be coming back again!
Written 20 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katie G
Naperville25 contributions
Oct 2022 • none
Food was good. Ordered crab cakes and I've had better these seemed dry and small for what you pay for. Ordered the Tomahawk steak meal for two and asked to change the a side to the brussel sprouts, but they didn't end up being great. The steak and the mashed potatoes were WONDERFUL! so was the caesar salad. The view was beautiful and the restaurant was clean and service was good.
Written 12 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liz D
10 contributions
Aug 2023 • friends
We started at the bar with drinks and an appetizer before our reservation. The ambience was great. The views were spectacular.
We had the artichoke appetizer and even though it was fried it wasn’t too greasy. The bartender was very attentive and her drinks were delicious.
Once at our dinner table our waiter continued with excellent service. We had the chopped salad . The fillet trio and the ribeye. The meats were tender and flavorful. Worth every penny. We had a potato side dish and the mushrooms. All in all delicious and we will be back on our next trip to the area.
Written 6 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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