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Wet Stone Winebar and Cafe

4 star rating
based on 68 reviews

Category: Wine Bars  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Banker's Hill
1927 4th Ave
(between Fir St & Grape St)
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 255-2856
Price Range:
$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Good for Groups:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Music:
Juke Box
Best Nights:
Tue, Wed, Fri
Happy Hour:
Yes
Alcohol:
Beer & Wine Only
Smoking:
No
Coat Check:
No

68 reviews for Wet Stone Winebar and Cafe

Review Highlights   

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"It's cozy, unpretentious, and has DElicious red sangria." (in 38 reviews)
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"Christian, the owner, was wonderfully accommodating and incredibly warm…" (in 4 reviews)
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"Wet Stone is small and has a great wine selection." (in 6 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Melissa A.

 

6

28

Melissa A.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
11/8/2009

I was recommended to check out Wet Stone from a friend and his description was dead on: intimate, small, cozy setting with nice wine and food.

A friend and I hit the place up, literally knocking down the door at 5pm after another long workday.  We bellied up to the table at the window and enjoyed a great Malbec as well as a variety of food to include a mango salad, bruschetta, and a shrimp dish.  Everything was very good, a small menu but with a lot of care put into each dish.

The owner was also our server and a very sweet, kind gentlemen.  My only minor complaint keeping this from a 5 star review is I thought the wine was a little bit overpriced.

For an intimate setting either cozy or romantic, I highly recommend checking out Wet Stone Winebar and Cafe!

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Photo of Lisa T.

Elite '09

124

92

Lisa T.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
10/14/2009

I met up with a few fellow yelpers for some drinks and eats on a Hump Day. HH is from 5-7 and it's $2-off the small plates (front page of menu) and $2-off the Sangria.

FOOD/DRINKS:
- White Wine Tropical Sangria: Oh man... I love white sangria! And this recipe used lychee, which brought in a refreshing twist. (I'll have to remember that the next time I make sangria.) After 3 glasses, I didn't feel anything, not even the slightest buzz. I guess I was just drinking juice... but it was some mighty good juice!

- Hummus: Thicker than I'm used to, it was more like a paste. I heard it was better last time, and it looked to be freshly made which I'm all for.

- Ciabatta with Chimichurri and Amarillo (not Armadillo) Aioli: The Ciabatta bread was lightly toasted (or "al dente" as Jay called it) with the perfect amount of olive oil. It was my first time having Chimichurri sauce and I loooved it! In fact, I'm making it for a dinner party this weekend! The Amarillo Aioli was a creamy cheese sauce that you could put on just about anything.

- Bruschetta: Again, the ciabatta bread was perfectly crisp while still soft in the center. The tomato and basil toppings were fresh and perfect with our sangria. We had to order a second plate, it was that good!

INTERIOR:
- The lighting was dim, making the setting warm, cozy, and romantic.
- Different types of seating - regular dining, bar height tables, and a lounge seating area where we sat. Our food was placed on a large coffee-like table, which made it a little difficult since we were all sharing.
- The music was a bit loud, but it sure set the mood. (Jennie even gave us a little demonstration!)

SERVICE:
- Our waiter's name was Jonas. He was friendly, but forgot to bring out a glass of wine we had ordered... about 3 times. He made up for it by giving us a carafe of White Wine Sangria for free, but seriously? 3 times? I could understand though, he seemed to be the only waiter and the place was packed!

Overall, Wet Stone is a great place to enjoy some wine, great food, and catch up with friends. I will definitely be back, some items on the menu looked too good to resist!

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Photo of Linda S.

 

13

62

Linda S.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
10/4/2009

The white wine tropical sangria was goooood. It was light and refreshing with melon. The red wine sangria was heavier with a more pronounced cinnamon taste. It was good too.

The hummus was really good but didn't care for the mixed greens, dates, olives, and pomegranate seeds that came with it. I ate the mixed greens because I didn't know what else to eat with the hummus after I ate all the pita bread. I wished there was more pita bread - I'm sure I could have asked for 2 more.

The chicken and chorizo flatbread pizza was good. It was cooked  well and the chicken was moist.

Service was good but a little slow. But I had great company and didn't notice it that much. Decor was pleasant with mismatched chairs at each table but the one with the cushion was super nice. And it wasn't too loud even though there was a good size group behind us.

Happy hour deals were okay. Sangria is $5 and it's $2 off small plates. Hummus, I think, was $7 at HH.

It was a happy happy hour and I had fun.

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Photo of Jennie N.

 

44

18

Jennie N.

Escondido, CA

4 star rating
9/30/2009

It's the happiest hour of my day as I leave work and head to Wet Stone in Banker's Hill. At first, I thought I was in the wrong place because all the buildings nearby were residential. I walked inside, and the first thing I notice were the mismatched chairs. They were all in good shape, but at my table of four, only two of the chairs were the same. It wasn't a big deal, but that was my only complaint (if it really is one) about the decor. Otherwise, it was a clean, cozy place.

My stonefruit sangria was fantastic, but my friend's tropical sangria was even better. We feasted on hummus lying on a bed of lettuce with sprinkled dates and pomegranates. Still hungry, I got the Bok Choy and Escolar (a fish, not snails yay). The portion was on the small side, arriving with only one bok choy and a 4x1x2" serving of escolar. Both were absolutely delicious and I wish there was more on my plate. Our server was also the barkeep and he was very attentive to us, even though the place the understaffed.

As we enjoyed happy hour, the sun disappeared and the waiter/host began lighting candles everywhere. I think it's an ideal date place, very romantic if both you and your date can score equal height chairs. I'd really like to come back here again, at nighttime, with someone special.

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Photo of Valerie O.

 

2

29

Valerie O.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
10/12/2009

Excellent tasting menu of 6 wines and 6 "bites" that were carefully paired for only $12!  You read correctly, $12. Everything was delicious, especially the Fijian escolar. For the first time, I found myself enjoying capers. Not one "course" was rushed. We didn't receive anything prior to being ready.  They even explained each wine.

I can only think of two ideas to have made it a better experience. The first would be to have served water with the pairings.  I was so wrapped up in coversation with my husband and the listening to the food and wine descriptions that I neglected to ask.  The second would be to have a dessert pairing option. I really found that I didn't want the experience to end and a dessert bite would have been perfect.

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Photo of Sara Y.

Elite '09

60

131

Sara Y.

San Diego, CA

5 star rating
8/12/2009

Cosy space, modern decor.
Red Sangria is deadly good.
Fantastic selection of produce and cheeses.
Hummus = perfect.
Good Happy Hour.
Fantastic hospitality.

Bonus points for being walking distance from my house.

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Photo of Heather W.

Elite '09

39

143

Heather W.

San Diego, CA

2 star rating
8/6/2009

Hmmm. I'm a bit conflicted on this place.

I used to live in Banker's Hill, and never realized it was there. It definitely caters to the locals. While the server was really nice, it was just..."off", for lack of a better word.

The red sangria was very good. The white sangria, eh. Wasn't blown away.

I didn't have the food, so can't comment on that.

The place itsself, looked like it was trying to make something new out of something really old. Rather than embracing the age of the building, they stuck a somewhat modern motiff in a NOT modern space. It doesn't work.

I'll stick to Uwine or Sogno Divino, and while I won't avoid this place, I won't go out of my way to revisit either.

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Photo of Jonathan R.

Elite '09

49

132

Jonathan R.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
7/1/2009

The first time that I stopped by Wet Stone was soon after it had opened.  We had gone there with a couple of people and planned to have drinks and something to eat.  It was too packed and they were too overwhelmed to help us.  Plus, they were out of a couple of the best sounding items.

I gave it a try again recently for lunch and I was quite pleased.  I had a chicken and pepper panini and tried some of the mushroom one.  Both were good size and came with a little salad, for $7.  I would say the highlight was the watermelon water.  I was curious but unsure about it but then our waitress brought us a taste and I was sold.  I don't know if they have this all the time because I think the flavors change.  Yes, it sounds a little strange but trust me, it is refreshing, tastes great and they give you a super large glass of it.

I want to come back for dinner sometime although I noticed that most of the offerings are more tapas style than actual entrees.

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Photo of Stephano E.

 

0

29

Stephano E.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
7/18/2009

Wine was fine, food was tasty & fresh, and the service was outstanding.
Keep up the great work guys, SD needs more joints like this.

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Photo of Shane V.

 

0

8

Shane V.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
11/6/2009

What I like about this place is that it is completely unnoticeable from the outside.  Literally, you could walk right past it and not even realize what it was. Once you go inside its a dichotomy of sorts--chic but familiar, cozy yet open.  It was a little warm inside when I was there, but otherwise the atmosphere really worked well for me.  They had an eclectic selection of wines--I had the cabernet sauvignon from Australia which was memorable and the service met my expectations.  I'd recommend to anyone looking for a classy yet relaxed alternative to the more pretentious wine bars elsewhere in town.

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Photo of Allison T.

 

9

55

Allison T.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
7/14/2009

My friend likes to celebrate her birthday over the course of a week. Yeah, she's like that.
So after a week of bbq-ing and bar hopping, I was ready to relax on Sunday. Except it was hard to relax when my apartment was about 80 degrees. After being reminded that I still owe another friend a drink, my thought was a tall glass of sangria.
Wet Stone was my wish fulfillment. The white wine sangria was cool, refreshing, and had an amazing natural sweetness. The spicy alioi was great; not too heavy.
The atmosphere was really inviting and relaxing as well.

There was only one person working there and was a little neglectful with empty glasses and such, but nice overall.

The only thing I have to point out is the random photo in the girl's bathroom of Asian GQ posing on a Vespa. A little strange...

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Photo of Laura A.

 

3

3

Laura A.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
8/1/2009

Just recently went there for a friends b-day, there was about 10 of us!
on a friday nite!! as much as it got busy later in the night the staff still kept a smile  and responded quickly to whatever we needed (multi tasked) for sure!!

the best part....BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE!!   :)

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Photo of Blair W.

 

1

10

Blair W.

San Diego, CA

5 star rating
9/26/2009

I love stopping by here for a nice glass of wine and a bite to eat. Great wine selection and on a hot day (or any day) the Sangria is awsome. I especially love the salads and flat bread pizzas. Great place to meet friends, take out of town visitors to, and hang out in after catching a show downtown.

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Photo of Valerie W.

 

51

12

Valerie W.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
5/8/2009

This is a GREAT little wine bar off of the beaten path (careful... if you drive or walk too fast, you may miss it). The ambience is very chill, the decor is rustic and pleasing to the eye (my eyes kept catching little neat things around the room), and of course the food and wine were YUMMY! I recommend the chicken and chorizo flatbread.

My only complaint is that the music was a tad too loud and there is not enough seating.

I will definately go back!

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Photo of Taylor S.

 

3

21

Taylor S.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
5/10/2009

Finally...A wine bar bar with decent wine below $10 a glass PLUS -  great food selections with protein options for those of us middle aged folks that need to avoid carbs!  

I have been on a wine bar hating binge of late due to over-priced, mediocre selections, but Wet Stone has some great eclectic wines for reasonable prices.  I had the Malbec and at $8 a glass I found it to be very good.  I saw people with the white sangria and I will definitely be trying that some hot afternoon.

The food selection was very good.  I loved the curried shrimp and the escolar special.  I thought the portions were awesome for the price.   We saw multiple other great looking selections at other tables.

The service was good and the staff was friendly and free of bad attitude - unlike Mosaic in North Park.

I will be going back to Wet Stone soon and often!

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Photo of R N.

 

2

4

R N.

San Diego, CA

5 star rating
Updated - 9/13/2009

Best wine bar in San Diego by far!!! Actually has some personality and really good food.

Constant Rotation on the wine listings and very knowledgable staff.
White Sangrita is great

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1 Previous Review:

  • 5 star rating
    8/2/2009

    Very good service and great White Sangria!!!

    Was this review …?

     

Photo of Valerie V.

 

6

31

Valerie V.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
5/18/2009

This place is easy to miss but worth finding. The atmosphere is relaxed and a bit romantic. The Spanish music, the awesome sangria and the yummy food made it a great experience. I definitely suggest trying the White Sangria!

The owner was very nice and made sure everyone was taken care of.

It is a small place and maybe not the best for large groups that want to sit down. It does have a bar which is ideal for happy hour groups that are ok standing.

I will be back for sure.

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Photo of Emily W.

Elite '09

15

167

Emily W.

San Diego, CA

5 star rating
4/4/2009

What a great happy hour place!  There was a good selection of snackies, wines and yummy sangria!  The fruit and cheese plate was a hit as well as the meat plate (snausage, steak & chicken).  This may replace our normal wine/snack venue.  The prices, esp HH prices, were a steal!

One more note, when we left I felt like I smelled like meat.  You know how'd you smell if you stood over the BBQ or a pan while meaty items are cooking????  The kitchen is open and since the place is small, scent travels and permeates!

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Photo of Karl M.

 

7

38

Karl M.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
7/20/2009

Our small group had a very good time at this tiny little place just up the hill from downtown.  One of the Chards I tasted was excellent for the price and a couple of the reds were excellent, too.  The room is pleasantly dark and cool and the service was perfectly chill but efficient.  The small plates were pretty good, although Wet Stone practices a common small cafe technique where many dishes include the same ingredients or garnishes.  i find this kind of irritating, but at this joint at least the common ingredients and garnishes were good.  I am not a huge fan of hummus, but Wet Stone's is outstanding, very creamy and light on the garlic and lemon juice, which often overpowers hummus (in my opinion).  If I worked downtown, I would mix this place in regularly for after work wine . . .

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Photo of Cat G.

 

4

14

Cat G.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
1/17/2009

Great googly moogly....I was so happy when I went to sleep last night.  It was truely a culinary delight with marvelous wine parings.  5 of us went around 6:30 for "a" glass of wine.    

We had the Hummus Plate, Ahi Special (spicy & sweet), Shrimp Ceviche.  We kept ordering wine so we had to get more food.  The next round was a Quesadilla de Guayaba.  3 types of cheese mixed with guava paste.  Oh and we ordered the meat & cheese plate.  

Christian (owner) is very personable.  He greets everyone.  Definitely knows his wines.  I had the Gasconge Blanc (never even heard of the mix before).  He suggested a Moscato from Isreal for my second choice.  He was dead on.  It started out sweet like a moscato but had a refreshing tingle and an earthy finish.

I am not a fan of the long yelp reviews so I am trying to keep mine short and to the point.  

Do not pass up the opportunity to experience Wet Stone's small plates and wines.

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Photo of P B.

Elite '09

44

149

P B.

San Diego, CA

3 star rating
6/18/2009

I have mixed feeling about Wetstone, the first two times I was there it was great and delicious. The cheese plate, hummus, white sangria, red sangria were all very good. The third time around, the flatbread was soggy and I found scallops in my mac and cheese. I asked the waitress if there was supposed to be seafood in there and she said no, so when I mentioned the scallops, she looked at me like I was crazy and said that was impossible. Why would I lie about scallops in my mac? Besides the two scallop surprise the food just wasn't as carefully prepared as before. I haven't gone back since and don't really know if I ever will.

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Photo of DAVID T.

 

9

10

DAVID T.

San Diego, CA

5 star rating
1/31/2009

If you are a fan of wine, then Wet Stone is one of San Diego's great little gems. I'm a bit of a wino, and this place is my favorite wine bar right now. I've noticed that they carry a lot of South American and Spanish wines, and, in general, wines from regions that are under represented.

It turns out that there are some amazing wines coming from these regions right now, and, since Californian, Itallian and French wines are all en vogue at the moment, you can find a lot of these very flavorful, low distribution wines at a great price. This idea rings true with Wet Stone. They carry some of the tastiest  wines that I've ever had (particularly their reds) at a very reasonable price.

Their food is very tasty as well. It's more of a tapas/appetizer place, although their portions are nicely sized. Splitting 3 or 4 dishes between two people should get you full.

Their atmosphere is laid back but upscale. Kind of like hanging out at your rich buddy's place, the one who is a highly paid interior decorator. Some people take issue with the fact that the seating situation can be  unique at times. Just remember this place is very laid back, don't hesitate to sit at the the bar tables next to fellow wine lovers. In fact, our best times are in the back sitting on the couches with friends.

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Photo of Parisa A.

 

0

13

Parisa A.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
7/25/2009

I've walked by this place for months and finally tried it out. I like the vibe. The wait staff is really artsy and cheeky. Their drinks are different and I really enjoyed the white sangria (three times over). Their flatbread pizza was good- different from most. I would recommend a coupon (there's on in the Uptown Reader) cuz it's kinda pricey. It's a small place so it can get crowded- making it hard to hear others. Overall, I dig it.

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Photo of Preem M.

 

2

102

Preem M.

San Diego, CA

3 star rating
Updated - 9/16/2009

i'm ssooo sad to take a star away, but it must be done. :( please bring back the old chicken and chorizo flat bread!!! it was one of my favorite dishes ever in life. there's too much sauce, not enough cheese, and it's not thin enough anymore. soooo bummed. still love the place and the ambiance, so i can't give it less than three stars.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    7/23/2009

    one of my favorite little bars to go to, centrally located but away from it all. definitely better… Read more »

Photo of Faye L.

Elite '09

9

130

Faye L.

San Diego, CA

2 star rating
11/11/2008

The ambiance of this place is cute and cozy. I've been there twice and both times (1) street parking was a breeze - at night at least and (2) it wasn't crowded.

One of my close friends lives a few blocks from this place and likes coming here for the sangria (which she swears by).

I've only had a glass of their house red (or whatever's the cheapest red wine they have). The glass of red has never been amazing. Just simply 'ok'.

The music, at least that night, was strange. They have a a stereo or something behind the bar/cashier that was playing what sounded like Buddhist chanting music but in Italian (if that EVEN makes sense). I kept asking my friends 'shhh- do you hear that - is someone singing or chanting or something??'

Service was nice. The waitress was really cool and even let us know we could have happy hour prices for another 20 min or so (I think HH is until 7p?).

They have I think 2 really high bar tables in the middle of the room that seats about 6 ppl or so. So if you don't have 6 ppl, you'll probably be sitting next to a fellow patron or stranger. Being the conservative quiet person that I can be, I view this issue as a challenge - a way to practice your ppl and social skills :)

But another weird issue i had was that the high bar tables were really odd in relation to the chairs. I could not cross my legs under the table b/c the bottom of the table was too high/low compared to the chair - does that make sense? Ladies, I know you know what I'm talking about. And it makes you feel like a moron trying to cross and uncross your legs when they don't even fit under the table...

We also had the cheese/meat plate - not bad -

The customers there that night seemed to be having a great time though. A few group of friends and what appeared to be a few first dates (possibly blind dates?)...

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Photo of Jen R.

 

40

68

Jen R.

San Diego, CA

2 star rating
10/2/2008

Work put on a mixer and reserved the restaurant for our party. It was a Wednesday and it was a VERY hot day in sunny San Diego.

The restaurant is a cute little place tucked away from the hustle of the downtown scene. There is ample parking on the street, you don't have to pay the meter after 6PM. This is where my hopes were shattered, I walked into a sauna. There is no AC! Everyone had just left  work so we went straight over in our work clothes. We work in a hospital and the temperature is kept on the cooler side. Everyone started rolling up their sleeves and positioning themselves in front of one of the two fans that they had.

Food was very slow at coming out and we were starving. I don't think the place is really set up to accommodate large parties. They need more experience and AC.

I agree with Rainier, the white sangria is amazing! The wine list and the beer was decent. The food selection wasn't too great. We had some  bruschetta which was overwhelmed by the garlic seasoning. A Cheese platter that was okay but the cheese was melting in the heat. Chicken skewers were dry and over cooked.

If I go back it would be just for the Sangria on a cool day.

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Photo of Rainier T.

Elite '09

118

58

Rainier T.

San Diego, CA

2 star rating
Updated - 9/16/2008

Okay, I'm downgrading this to two stars from three, because the second time around you'd think the last dining experience was just a fluke. But no, it really does suck.

Their menu is too sparse and the flavors are uninspiring to disappointing. Their olive plate gave me the willies, their filet mignon skewers were absolutely ruined by the gorgonzola, and their quesadillas were disappointing both times, whether it's got the guava or the shiitake.

It's cute inside, and the white sangria was good. But the overall dining experience was both on the expensive side and unappetizing. Forget the ambiance, rate the food. It's not that good. Bite in Hillcrest totally blows them away. Go there instead.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    6/14/2008

    Lamb skewers: the star of the show. The guava quesadillas: not so good. It was a little too sweet. I… Read more »

Photo of Vanessa W.

 

0

3

Vanessa W.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
7/26/2009

Cute after work or after dinner hangout.  White sangria varies by visit, but can be the best ever.  Very relaxing and chill atmosphere.  Will be going back soon!

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Photo of JoeDiner S.

 

1

12

JoeDiner S.

Las Vegas, NV

5 star rating
11/21/2008

Wow, what a great find! This neighborhood wine bar is a great escape from the corporate swag in downtown and is far above what most locals are used to. Christan (the owner) is a talented and knowledgeable biz owner/chef/sommelier who likes to get down and dirty with his patrons. Wet Stone is more a SanFran/Chicago/NYC kinda place...Boutique wines and tasty food in an urban cozy atmosphere.

Don't be fooled, this place is small and does not have what most restaurants enjoy (a large kitchen, a range, etc), but it makes up for it in its ambiance and charm. If you love wine, something to snack on and great conversation Wet Stone will not disappoint.

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Photo of Tonie T.

Elite '09

148

139

Tonie T.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
6/13/2008

What a fab little spot! Wet Stone is romantic, cute, and serves up some fiiiiine cuisine and drinks. I love the simplicity of it all.

It's a tiny space with some communal bars mixed in with cozy tables for two and even a little couchie area to get cozy on. The lighting and decor are warm. I looooove the basket lamp shades and the open kitchen. They played some mellow and cool music in the background, though the noise level from all the patrons got a little bit too loud at times.

The menu was uncomplicated. A few tapas-style offerings, some salad options, and daily specials as well. We ate the quesadilla guayaba and a special of lamb skewers with yogurt sauce. YUM-O! The lamb was our favorite.

The wine options were equally uncomplicated. We tried the red sangria, which was tasty. But when our server brought us a free sample of the white sangria we regretted our choice. DO NOT FORGET TO ORDER THEIR WHITE SANGRIA ... YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. I PROMISE YOU!!!!

I'm coming back JUST for the white sangria. It had mango, cantaloupe, nectarines, fresh mint, and star anise floating in a honey-like delicious concoction of heaven. Goodness, it was amazing. I will be back just for this alone!!!

Did I mention the great service, too? A wonderful spot!

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Photo of angela t.

 

9

53

angela t.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
8/31/2008

This is a chill neighborhood spot. It's tiny-- but stylish and cozy. You can sit either at communal tables, regular tables or in the sofa area.

The food is fresh and the chef really knows how to use flavors and spices. There's usually a few specials, a well chosen wine list and tasty bites to manage your budget. Try the fruit juices made fresh and often topped with fresh mint. Papaya, blueberry etc. yum, yum.

Christian the owner is super friendly and makes you feel like part of the familia.

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Photo of Lindsay C.

Elite '09

18

76

Lindsay C.

Minneapolis, MN

4 star rating
8/1/2008

Great happy hour specials 5-7!  Happened upon this spot when trying to enjoy a nice happy hour without Comic Con traffic and congestion.  

Most days they have $5 sangria (mmm!), beer, and wine (one selection of a red and one of a white from which to choose)

Also $6 yummy gourmet flat breads.  Food specials too were literally changing by the minute but looked great i.e. filet mingon skewers and prosciutto wrapped shrimp.

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Photo of xoxo j.

 

12

33

xoxo j.

Evanston, IL

5 star rating
5/31/2008

Wet Stone is great ~ perfect for groups smaller than 6... it's romantical enough for a date spot but cool enough to grab a few glasses with friends.  

It's small... can maybe hold up to 30 or 35?  And the acousitics of the space remind me of apertivo - it can sound a little chatty when all the tables are full.  But unlike apertivo, they play music so it's not like you can hear everything that your table neighbor is saying.

Anyways, the service is stellar, the wine selections are solid, and they have daily specials to keep things interesting.  I'm not a beer drinker, but my friend who is was impressed with what they offer.  

And their food - ahhhmazing.  They have typical wine bar bites - hummus, fruit & cheese, meat & cheese, salads, flatbreads, & foccacia.  The flatbread though was something else - the dough tasted homemade, the flavors were perfect, and considering the fact that it took a little while for it to come out... I swear the solo cook in the kitchen made it from scratch.  My friend likes man-food and small plates or anything with more carbs than meat is not his standard choice for sustenance... however, he took one bite of our flatbread and declared - "this is the best thing EVER".  He couldn't even finish it all, so even though the door of Wet Stone says "small bites", don't think that you have to have dinner somewhere else first.  

I heart Wet Stone ~ I just hope that I'll be able to get a table next time I'm there!

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0

8

Jeni K.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
9/10/2009

This place is great!  It's cozy, unpretentious, and has DElicious red sangria!  It's melts in your mouth - love it!!!  The food is amazing too.  Happy hour is a huge perk too.

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Ashley E.

La Jolla, CA

5 star rating
7/20/2008

Really Wish they had a place like this in Birdrock - so PLease open one!!!

Small, intimate, yadida...

I only had their white sangria...and tried the red..where very impressed.  We celebrated a birthday there and they were super accomodating to the group. Kept it open an extra hour which was so nice!

I would def. go there for a group event, date or just to unwind.

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MC B.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
11/13/2008

I went here with a group of 7 other ladies last night. I didn't even know this place existed, even though I think I've driven by it hundreds of times without even seeing it there.

I LOVED everything about the Wet Stone! It was comfortable, cozy, and cute with nice decor, and a great wine selection and good food! It was also affordable, which is important to me and my wallet.

The group consensus at our table was that the Red Sangria was better than the White Sangria, and that the hummus was AMAZING!

The waiter (who I think is also the owner?) was super attentive and accommodating to our group, and we were never left wondering where he was or in need of a refill!!

There is ample parking and despite being only one restroom there was never a wait to use it!!

I'll definitely be going back often!

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26

Jay M.

San Diego, CA

2 star rating
2/6/2009

Ok, gonna go on a bit of a rant. As a confirmed Wineaux I take wine pretty seriously. When I go to a place where there's "Winebar" in their name I have a pretty high expectation that the wine will be pretty good. I was there a few months ago and I'm just getting around to reviewing now, but I can definitely say that they've got some work to do. First off, a common problem most wine bars have. They don't properly store their open bottles, either they're leaving them open too long or they aren't gassing them or taking the air out but when I order wine by the glass I don't want to have to send it back. This is particularly true with the wines by the glass which are a little more exotic and thus less popular. Note to all wine bars if the bottles been open for a while at least pour yourself a tiny bit before serving it to the customer. Secondly I noticed where the red wines are stored looks like a very nice armoire which was in full sunlight and not temperature controlled. No self respecting wine person would practice this sort of wine abuse.

As for the location, and the food they were adequate. The atmosphere was alright. Unfortunately the bad wine experience tainted the rest of my experience though.

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97

Maria I.

San Diego, CA

4 star rating
6/1/2008

Great place for a nice glass of wine and some not so small bites.
Atmosphere:  I loved the location, great parking, and inside it is really cute, good for small groups or just a nice date night.
Wine:  delicious... I had some white wine sangria that was fabulous. When I didn't see bottles in the menu I I asked  the server about it, and she told us that a bottle of wine is = to 3 glasses of wine (the price is).
Food:  very good. But keep in mind that their small is not Quarter Kitchen' s small, it is fairly large.  So our 3 small bites were a ton of food.  I recommend the shitaki mushroom flat bread (fantastic) and their tuna tartar. The cheese platter was just ok...

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Elite '09

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117

lilly g.

San Diego, CA

5 star rating
3/16/2008

My friend and I are on the Wino Tour of San Diego, and we trawled Yelp for reviews of new wine bars to try.  We gave Wet Stone a shot last Thursday, and were thrilled with it.  

Both the wine and food were excellent.  My friend ordered a sangria with strong hints of cinnamon that was delicious (so much so that I swapped her my glass of white wine, which was also wonderful).  

As for food:  The quesadilla with guava sauce was so good that I"ll probably dream about it tonight.   We also rocked the fruit/cheese platter.  And did I mention that the portions were VERY generous?  Hoorah for a wine bar that doesn't assume its patrons drink INSTEAD of eating!

Add to delicious food/drink the fact that parking is a breeze, that the staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, and they have the type of decor that makes you take mental notes on how to accent your own home.  Love this place.  It is a mystery to me how it wasn't packed to the door, but maybe we just went at a weird time.

The fact that it's stumbling distance from home will make it a regular spot, I'm sure.

Note: the lot across the street is park-able after 7pm

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Marion L.

San Diego, CA

5 star rating
9/10/2008

Great place to go have some wine.  Very chill, small little place...Just perfect.  I loved the decor, and the service was great.  Since we got there our server was very helpful recommending wine and welcoming us there.  

Their white sangria is the best! I had never tried white sangria, but I'm definetly going back there just for that.  

One little thing...It was awfully hot in there.  But with that sangria and that service, that was the least of our concerns. I definetly recommend it to everyone!

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