Dobson's Bar & Restaurant
Category: Restaurants [Edit]
Neighborhood: Gaslamp956 Broadway Cir
(between 10th Ave & 11th Ave)
San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 231-6771
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Dressy
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Alcohol: Full Bar
16 Reviews for Dobson's Bar & Restaurant
I have only ordered an entree twice. Both were great. I usually order the mussels bisque. You NEED to order the mussels bisque (appetizer)! I love their sourdough bread. They bake it throughout the day and serve it super hot. I like to eat at the gorgeous old wood bar. I order a glass of wine and let the bartender suggest one to compliment my bisque. I always tip him or her very well because I feel guilty about not ordering more.
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Your standard meat & potatoes restaurant & bar, with a few small twists: sure, the servings are large, and the prices are decent given the quality and enormity of the portions, and yes, the service is certainly above average, both from the servers, the bartender, and Paul Dobson, the genial and always helpful owner. But what makes it a bit different is that it's not of its neighborhood - it's wedged into the front of Horton Plaza, but was there many years before the current mall even existed; that out-of-placeness makes it feel like an island in the downtown noise - a little escape, with friendly faces and fantastic food, where you can step out of your office and into something much more comfortable.
On the menu - the specials are always fine, but the house specialty soup - a bisque of mussels served en croute - is probably the single best soup served in any restaurant in the greater San Diego area. It's really that good. Even if you're not an enormous shellfish fan, you will love this soup; it's as good as anything served in the best bistros of Brussels. The pork chop, too, is fantastic; an enormous, 2/3-lb slab of meat, cooked perfectly - just fork tender in the middle without any pinkness or dryness at all - will satisfy anyone's meat-tooth without unnecessary fat. The steaks and seafood are always good. If they had one more vegetarian option other than the (very good) ravioli, that'd be a sixth star, if Yelp allowed it.
Also good for groups - they can put tables together in the cozy upstairs area - and for a bite at the bar, too.
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The bisque, oh the bisque!!! That is what keeps me coming back. The 4 stars are based on this alone. I have tried dinner there at least 5 times, and entrees ALWAYS disappoint. I have finally decided to never order anything else but the bisque and the yummy sourdough bread. The $1 draft beers are nice during happy hour too. So go for the drinks and the hot, fresh bread and bisque but be warned about ordering anything else...even though it all reads deliciously well - it won't be.
Spring training just started for Team Dumbass Drinking All Stars, so last night "Puke and Rally" and I took a couple of new recruits and a player to be named later (all broads) to Dobson's for a little training.
Dobson's is a cranky, stuffy, old joint with a strange vibe. It has a lot of cool potential but last night they missed their mark. The manager might consider using 'personality' as a hiring criteria because the stiff behind the bar had none and that led to an early exit by Team Dumbass and the new recruits.
The only time the bartender even looked slightly interested in anything goin on was 1) when I asked him if he had a various scotches (which he didn't) and 2) when some dude at the end of the bar tried to buy PnR a drink (which she rebuffed with disdain saying, "he's not in my league")* Aside from that, Lurch didn't seem like he could care less that we were there.
As far as the place being haunted, I don't know anything about that but my dreams were haunted last night by a person sitting two chairs down from PnR. I couldn't tell if it was an unattractive girl or a semi-passable tranny, but whatever, the guido she was sittin with was diggin her style. I wasn't diggin either of em and last night I dreamed that the mob hired a tranny hooker to assassinate me.
Anyway, after some bread and drinks we decided to roll to another joint. We made the decision to all go in my truck which prompted this exchange:
(valet) "dude, you came out with a lot more girls than you went in with"
(me) "yeah, dude. when you're a pimp like me that's pretty much the standard, I have a proclivity for hookin up the fine bitches. Let me help you out here, the key to scorin broads is knowin how to..."
(valet pointing at my truck) "dude, you're missin it"
(me turning around) "huh? wtf!!????@?@??!?"
(valet) "i think one of em is topless."
(valet) "hold on, are they makin out? why is that girl climbing into the back?"
(me) "here's-a-$20-i-gotta-go"
Dobson's has a lot of potential, PnR tells me it was an off night with Zombie Bartender. I'm sure they'll get a second chance.
*i made the quote up. i can't actually remember what she slurred
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Dobson's rocks, but I will lend you a word of caution before you go-- if you're not a mobster, lawyer, judge, FBI agent, or San Diego VIP, you may not like it ;)
This bar / restaurant has a great old-school, boys-club vibe. The drinks are delish and the food is better. I love their bread, soups and pate-- slurp!
And while you're eating, sit back and enjoy the best cougar-watching in all of downtown. I don't know why they come here, I rarely see anyone under 40 years old in the place. Must be the super friendly service and cute bartenders.
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Classy join with old world charm, great staff and a mussels bisque to die for, aka food of the gods! Frankly it's the first and only thing I get there, (being a picky pacto-vegetarian)washed down with cognac and good company and I am in heaven.
First time we went we'd gotten tired of waiting at Sushi Deli. The crown is mixed and cosmopolitan, mostly older but not geriatric (not sure about the mobster/cougar comment, being mid-twenties i still like it but I get the "old-boys' club thing, for me a plus being a fan of "old-timey) and the ambiance is most inviting, a bit formal but relaxed.
If you (and your date?) are foodies who like to enjoy a meal and conversation without being rushed you must check out Dobson's. I've gone solo too, again the bisque. I hear the steak is primo too. I'd give them 5 star were it not for the fact that their vegetarian options are slim.
(park in the mall lot and validate so you dont have to worry about parking)
15 years in San Diego, 10 as a (cough) journalist and a few dating a lawyer... and it wasn't until tonight that I went to Dobson's. Sure, I knew its reputation as the hangout for city hall/county courthouse types. That had no appeal. Thanks to Denise, I finally dragged myself inside.
Dobson's is very charming and slightly haunted. Ever been into a place where you can feel the spooky? Not so much at Dobson's when you walk in the door! You have to go upstairs, into the stairwell to get the ickiness. The bartender will gladly overwhelm you with stories of a man in a blue jacket with long hair, walking down the stairs or through walls. Whatever! I refused to go to the bathroom alone. (Good call)
The bartender, Alex, is wonderful and kept our glasses strangely full all night (although our bill showed we payed for only one drink - the bonus of going to a bar with Denise.) We also had mussel bisque comped... it was wonderful. I had three cheese ravioli and it was great! Just the right amount of sauce and cheesy.
Almost as cheesy as the ghost stories...
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This is Old San Diego. Or maybe it should be Olde San Diego. Yeah, that looks better.
The food is very good and the bar is a thing of beauty. Did I mention that the service for meals sucks? Oh, does it suck, let me count the ways. In fact, despite the high food quality here, I recommend eating before you come here. It will take you that long to get your food. Every time. They are very regular that way (not "regular" like an old folk).
So, either just sit at the bar for drinks or eat before you go and make sure you go with someone who you can chat with for 3 hours before getting your food. Otherwise, you may eat the sugar packets.
One of my favorite places to eat, drink and just hang out. Having tried every item on the menu and many things off, everything is simply delicious. If you have never been, you must must must try the mussel bisque. My other favorites are the chicken pate mouse, lamb chop salad, mushroom risotto, double cut lamb chop (prepared "the old way"), and the scallops. After dinner, make sure to ask the bartender for their famous "huevos" which is an espresso drink that comes in an egg shaped glass. It is delicious!
I have always had great service and after going there only twice, the bartenders, servers and owner already knew my name. When I walk inside, I feel like I am walking onto the set of "Cheers."
Overall, a great place.
Californian-European fusion. I tried it because Zagat had it's food rating at 24 out of 30. I didn't have a great experience, technically it's probably a 3.7 or so.
It's a bar downstairs with limited seating with tables and a handful of tables upstairs make up the floor of the restaurant. It has a very homey interior--immediately upon entry you see that the walls are adorned with photos of the owner and an odd assortment of A-list celebrities and politicians from the last few decades. The rest of the place has the oddest antique prints. Drab drab drab. I could easily improve on the decor. As a matter of fact it blows--it's like the parlor of an old folks home from the ??? Idunno 60s?.. Fugly period.
Very attentive service--the piping hot fresh bread is a great start. I took my waiter's recommendations and started with the house specialty, the mussel bisque en croute--FUCKING SCRUMPTIOUS.
The wine list that's supposed to be so amazing is so whatever I just recall being thoroughly disappointed with only one or two bottles by the glass for any given variety. The wine came (I did the Malbec which is usually a safe bet anywhere) and it was ehhhh...
I followed the soup with the scallops. I've had better. The scallops themselves were cooked fine, but the sauce was basically just pesto. LAME. I actually started avoiding the sauce and just appreciating the texture of the scallops--a sad statement.
I think the tab came to 50+ with the tip. Based on how crappy the sauce I had was I don't trust the rest of the menu... I'd spend my money elsewhere as far as the full meal--for what it cost you can do better despite the limited fine dining choices in the immediate area--start with the Grant Grill and yes even Ruths' Chris is a better bet. While the specialty is a keeper, it needs an overhaul from top to bottom including the menu/chef.
**UPDATE: I would have to say it's worth stopping in for drinks just to get their bread and try the bisque. It's that unique and when right (looking at the Sherry incident in other reviews) it's a must have experienced (assuming you're cool enough to appreciate mussels). Make it a scavenger hunt and get your entree elsewhere.
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The muscle bisque is very tasty and extremely rich. The smaller cup-ette is the right size, unless you're going to make an entire meal out of bisque. And it's their signature. So is their sourdough. Make sure you take a piece of it fresh from the oven when it's offered.
The sandwiches are generous, often on their signature crusty sourdough bread. And their fish salad is pretty good too. It leaves an almost caramelized roastedness on the shrimp, scallops, et al.
I have only been to Dobson's on firm-sponsored lunches, so I cannot speak to the dinners. But the lunches are not impossibly expensive, and they're easily the best in the neighborhood. If you go any far south, you'll wind up in the show over substance fantasy-land of Gaslamp dining for tourism. and any farther north and you'll run into the bark, or worse yet, the Yardhouse.
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All around great bar. This is a real bar - you walk into a narrow rectangle of a room and a beautiful wood bar greets you on your right side and a few tables and chairs are on the left hand side.
Grab a seat at the bar and let the bartender regale you with stories of how Dobsons use to be known as the Press Room 70 years ago when the newspaper was still located across the street, all while he pours you a stiff gin and tonic.
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Dobsons is a friendly and classy joint. It is in the old Spreckels building and rumored to be haunted. Oftentimes Dobson (an ex bull fighter) will greet you himself. There is a beautiful wooden bar, crown molding on the ceiling and the tiny white octagon floor tiles are original!!! (early 1900s)
The waiters and bartenders swear the place is haunted and we gladly freak you out with stories. last time at closing... in the bathroom, someone opened the door I lost it and screamed super loud. (I thought I was the only girl there at the time) It turned out to be a server.
The food is pretty good. You just order the mussel bisque with a crote and sherry. This is the best bisque in all of San Diego.
Whats not to like? The ceasar salad I ordered wasn'n't anything too great, kinda plain. I got oysters on the hlaf shell and they weren't served on ice. They were luke warm.
Excellent wine list.
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To be honest, I haven't been to this place in a while. But, I do feel compelled to write a review as it is the first bar I went to when I moved to San Diego.
I was first brought here by my friend Jacques a couple of weeks after I met him and was introduced to Luis the bartender who made me feel as if he had known me all of his life.
I think the food is good, but I haven't explored the menu enough to give a good critique. Mr. Dobson is an excellent host as well.
I hear that Luis has since moved on, and I don't know where he moved to but he is an excellent bar tender and will treat you like a life long friend once he gets to know you.
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All restauranteurs could learn a thing or two from Paul Dobson. There's a reason he's been in business for so long: superior customer service. Paul's the kind of guy that welcome's you in and remembers you when you come back. There are hundreds--maybe thousands--of regulars, and somehow he makes you feel special by pouring your usual drink before your butt hits the barstool.
Besides, Dobson's mussel bisque en crote is one of the best things I've ever eaten.
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when i use to live in San Diego, dobson's was my favorite bar to go to! the owner is usually there, greeting his faithful customers. the people who work there are extremely friendly and professional. i had eaten there a few different times, but it has been a few years since I've been. so on my boyfriends birhtday, i decided that this would be the perfect spot to take him for a romantic dinner since he'd never been.
so being an old frequenter of dobson's, one must order the infamous bisque i raved about to the ends of the world. we got the small size and true to tradition, the sherry was poured into the holes of the en croute. unfortunately, the soup was not as good as i remembered. however, i think that the server put too much sherry in my soup, so that kind of killed it for me. it seemed very rich and i wasn't able to finish it. i wasn't super hungry so i got the mushroom risotto, which was disappointing. it was 3 mushroom risotto with shitake, white buttons, and another type i was unable to identify. the problem was, i couldn't taste any of the mushroom flavors! shitake usually has a very strong flavor to it. i kept putting salt in it too, and didn't seem to help it much either. the boyfriend had the sea bass on roasted corn and peppers. we asked if the dish had mash potatoes or something else that came with it, but there was nothing, i was shocked they were charging $30 for a medium size piece of fish on some vegetables. we asked for mash potatoes also, which they accommodated willingly. his dish was ok, but nothing to write home about. all in all, i was disappointed! what happened?
did it go down hill or was that just the best restaurant that San Diego had at the particular time i was frequenting it?
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