Island Prime

American restaurant · San Diego

Island Prime

American restaurant · San Diego

5

880 Harbor Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92101

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Island Prime by Eater
Island Prime by Eater
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null
Island Prime by null

Highlights

Waterfront restaurant with bay views, Californian cuisine  

Featured in Eater
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880 Harbor Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92101 Get directions

islandprime.com
@islandprimeclevel

$100+ · Menu

Reserve

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880 Harbor Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92101 Get directions

+1 619 298 6802
islandprime.com
@islandprimeclevel

$100+ · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 11, 2025

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@eater

Where to Feast on Steak in San Diego | Eater San Diego

"As the only waterfront steakhouse in San Diego, guests get dinner with a view from its Harbor Island location. The traditional steak restaurant, led by chef-partner Deborah Scott and executive Alex Valdez, showcases dishes like the Island Prime filet trio, which features a trio of 3-ounce filet mignons topped with lump crab, wild mushrooms, and red wine demi." - Helen I. Hwang

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/best-steakhouse-restaurants-bar-san-diego
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10 San Diego Spots for a Great Old Fashioned | Eater

"Sit back and sip a classic Old Fashioned while admiring some of the most beautiful views of the San Diego skyline, harbor, and bay in the city. For Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Week, beverage and wine director Grant Olson has created an innovative Old Fashioned using Elijah Craig Small Batch that’s been washed in Snake River Farms ribeye fat. It’s mixed with black walnut bitters he’s house-smoked over mesquite, a spoonful of simple syrup, and a touch of salt, deftly stirred and poured over a large ice cube. As a final flourish, he lightly torches a rosemary sprig to garnish the drink, along with a tangerine peel. Olson recommends pairing it with the Snake River Farms Eye of the Ribeye and madeira-braised mushrooms to enhance the heady smoke and cedar aromas of Elijah Craig Small Batch." - Mary Beth Abate

https://www.eater.com/ad/maps/10-spots-to-drink-a-great-old-fashioned-in-san-diego
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@eater

Thanksgiving Options for Dine-In or Takeout in San Diego | Eater San Diego

"Get your reservations in early for Island Prime’s three-course Thanksgiving meal with service running from 1 pm to 7 pm. The meal ($69) features turkey or center-cut filet mignon. A special children’s menu ($14.95) is also available." - darlene-horn

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/thanksgiving-restaurant-options-for-dine-in-or-takeout-in-san-diego
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@eater

Where to Eat Steak in San Diego

"With tables that look across to the downtown skyline, this bayfront spot wins best steakhouse with a view by a mile. Bonus feature: Their “Dock & Dine” program allows guests to conveniently dock their boats at the adjacent Sunroad Marina and head over to the restaurant to eat." - Jackie Bryant

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/here-are-10-iconic-san-diego-steakhouses-to-try
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@eater

Where to Eat Steak in San Diego

"With tables that look across to the downtown skyline, this bayfront spot wins best steakhouse with a view by a mile. Bonus feature: Their “Dock & Dine” program allows guests to conveniently dock their boats at the adjacent Sunroad Marina and head over to the restaurant to eat." - Jackie Bryant

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/where-to-eat-steak-in-san-diego
View Postcard for Island Prime

Just Me

Google
We started at the bar, try the old fashioned made with wagyu ribeye fat bourbon - sounds strange but it's almost like having a steak with your whiskey! Incredible views from the bar. Our table was a private booth towards the back which I didn't mind but if coming for the views you may require being next to the windows. The food and service I thought were outstanding. Try the prime trio 3oz cuts with Blue cheese/crab/mushrooms, it was cooked perfectly and not rushed out. They waited until we were done with our appetizer, and the crusted brie with honey garlic did not disappoint. I'd probably skip the scampi next time. The jumbo shrimp were good but the sauce was a bit bland compared to the other courses I tried here. Go steak! 2 of us could have easily shared the trio. We couldn't eat it all and ordered 2 much. The bill with drinks was about $150 per person.

Geisiane Lemos

Google
Had an amazing experience at Island Prime! The Tomahawk was perfectly cooked — tender, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The loaded mashed potatoes were absolutely delicious and the perfect side to complement the meal. The staff went above and beyond to make our anniversary extra special with a sweet little celebration that made the night even more memorable. The view was absolutely stunning, with the perfect backdrop for a romantic evening. Our servers were kind, attentive, and prompt throughout the entire night. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience — can’t wait to come back!

Paul Hogan

Google
Island Prime - A Perfect Evening by the Harbor We had an unforgettable dining experience at Island Prime. From the moment we were seated, we were captivated by the stunning view of the harbor—watching the sun dip below the horizon as boats glided by made for a truly magical backdrop. We started with the prawn cocktail, which was fresh, perfectly chilled, and served with a tangy sauce that packed just the right amount of punch. The crab cakes followed and were beautifully crisp on the outside, tender and flavorful on the inside—definitely a standout. The teaser salad was a refreshing palate cleanser before the main event: the tomahawk for two. The tomahawk steak was cooked to perfection—juicy, tender, and full of flavor. It was more than enough for two and worth every bite. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable, enhancing an already stellar evening. Island Prime nails the balance between upscale dining and warm, welcoming vibes. We’ll definitely be back.

Dale Huntington

Google
Got to go here for a gift and loved all the gluten free options. They even made us gluten free toast. The meat was so tender and I loved the 3 different 3 ounce steaks with the different toppings. Especially the crab. If we were to splurge again, we would definitely go back. And of course the view is gorgeous.

Dolly Treinen

Google
Love the View & who doesn't love cloth napkins. We got the "Tomahawk" special for 2 - fantastic price $99 which was 40 oz beautifully seasoned & Fantastic deserts. We did mudslide - which we shared with table of 5. Plus the Creme Brulee Definitely a great place for a special Celebration 🍾

A D

Google
Our best meal in San Diego! It takes some effort to get there, but it was absolutely worth it. The view and food were fantastic! Service was also very friendly and attentive. Highly recommend the octopus! We were surprised to see the place full on a Wednesday night. The noise level was quite high, but we were able to move to a quieter table with a better view.

Frank Mendez

Google
Wow! What an Amazing Experience. My Beautiful Wife and I had dinner with a couple of friends. First the Food here is Amazing. The Service impeccable. Very attentive and friendly. The Views of the Downtown skyline very beautiful. So weather you are celebrating a special occasion. Like an Anniversary, birthday or just want to have a Vvery Romantic Dinner with your Beautiful Wife, I highly recommend Island Prime.

Michael Wied

Google
amazing dinner. Enrique was phenomenal and had a great sense of humor and his recommendations were spot on. Food, staff, and view all 5 star.
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Trenton N.

Yelp
Island Prime was an amazing experience! I have not tried C-Level, so I can't speak much on that. However, Island Prime its self was amazing! The food was phenomenal, the ribeye steak come out hot and perfectly done. It practically melts in your mouth. If you really like fat, then you'd really like it. I'm not a big mash potatoes person, so I wasn't super blown away, but it was still delicious. The asparagus was a big thicker than I personally enjoy, but regardless was still well made. If you like asparagus with a bit of a crunch, then you'd really like these. The Cesar salad was very unique and I never had one like the one given to us. It had an anchovy on top which was very... interesting? But it was not fishy at all and was still very pleasant. The way it's presented made me think it was a wrap for a moment. But it can easily be eaten as a wrap. (If that's your thing.) AND OH MY GOD! The desert was SO GOOD. I have a big sweet tooth so I was all for desert. Let me tell you, that crème brûlée was amazing! Best one I have ever had! The brownie was very thick and sticks to your mouth, so definitely has some water as you eat it. But still really good. The peanut butter ice cream on top is a vanilla ice cream with peanut butter frozen into it. So very different than most peanut butter ice cream. The service was AMAZING. They bring you a complimentary roll than is very light almost like a croissant roll. The server was very police and helped answer any questions we had. As for the scenery; almost most of the restaurant has a view right by the water and you can see downtown perfectly. It can be a bit spooky being over the water, but if you don't mind that it's PERFECT. I would definitely recommend this place for anniversaries, proposals, or trying to impress your mother in law!
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Phuoc L.

Yelp
3.5/5 but rather than rounding up, I'm rounding down for a few reasons below. I went here with my girlfriend for a milestone birthday dinner, the big 5-0 for me. We wanted to catch a view of the sunset so booked a relatively early dinner. And boy were we glad we did as a big crowd showed up after we checked in. Views were nice but really as spectacular as we had hoped. Service was amazing overall as all the servers were really attentive to our needs without being intrusive. A big difference compared to all the fancy dinners we recently had in New York City. The lone exception was the wine person; she was really introduced as the sommelier but as someone involved in managing the wine list. She was decent but struggled to really describe the wines or our questions but passable. Food was very good. We had the Wagyu steak tartare which was excellent though it's American Wagyu and not Japanese Wagyu, which was obvious from the marbling. The steak was chopped coarsely, more so than we're used to, but overall still tasted very good. The octopus was delicious with a nice spicy sauce which we guessed came primarily from the Spanish chorizo. For mains, we both chose the scallops. It was served on risotto cakes with crispy prosciutto chips on a yuzu beurre blanc sauce. Three came on a plate, which was a bit stingy for the price, but overall filling if you also eat the risotto cakes. They were fine but I only ate one. It was interesting but I personally would have just preferred risotto. We considered some of the steaks but the smallest was an 8 oz. filet. Most of the other steaks were 12-16 oz. Some were even bigger. That's just way too much red meat, even if you don't eat it everyday. No wonder Americans have an obesity epidemic. My girlfriend ordered a cappuccino to cap things off. I know, I know... no cappuccinos after noon. It came in a big mug with a generous sprinkle of cinnamon. I mean, WTF right? Cinnamon on a cappuccino? Maybe a sprinkle of cocoa powder but cinnamon was just so wrong for me personally. Overall excellent service and very good food save for that weird decision with the cinnamon on a cappuccino. Would have been a solid 4 but that move knocked it down a bit.
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Edna G.

Yelp
Wow Wow Wow......... what an AMAZING restaurant! One of the best we have ever been! I came here with my daughter and her family 2 weeks ago, while visiting San Diego, on a Friday night for dinner. We met friends over there, so we were 9 people total (included kids). The restaurant was full. It is a beautiful restaurant, right on the beach. The food is DELICIOUS! They have got the most unique and tasty bread you have ever taste. The chicken is the best I have ever had; so juicy and tasty. Every dish we ordered was SO good, so were all the deserts. This is a high-end restaurant, and their prices are accordingly, but to my opinion, worth every penny. We will be back for sure.
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Jobeth E.

Yelp
Amazing view of the city! Beautiful In the day and at night. Have been here several times and truly enjoy the convenient parking space and outside scenery. Went last night for dinner with a group of colleagues and enjoyed the bone in prime rib and Brussels sprouts with a crème brûlée for dessert. Food is absolutely amazing. Bread is to die for with their creamy butter. Presentation and plating is exactly what you pay for. Great place to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or any special occasion. The restaurant was also nicely decorated for the holiday season which was a plus. Servers were very kind and attentive as well
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Kara P.

Yelp
The Twiced baked potato can feed a small village. Holy Toledo, that baked potato arrived & it was larger than my first born that was 2 weeks passed his due date. IT IS HUGE ! There were 4 of us & we still had to take some home & it fed my college son & his roommate. If you order it, you will not need anymore sides.
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Taylor W.

Yelp
We got the island prime filet mignon trio, black and white sesame crusted tuna, and the calamari steak. The calamari steak was extra crispy and we both really enjoyed this appetizer. Personally, I was not a fan of the island prime filet mignon trio. I thought there was too much going on and think I should have ordered a plain steak. Also, the three pieces were cooked to different temperatures rather than out requested medium rare. The black and white sesame crusted tuna was okay. I don't think we would order it again. However, the bread and butter they served was delicious and unfortunately, the best thing we had that night. If I can go back, I would most likely order a simple steak rather any of their special mains. The view here is spectacular and if you can, try to get a spot near the window. The vibes at this place is perfect for date night. Highly recommend making a reservation if you plan on coming since they get quite busy. Overall, staff were nice but seem busy. I don't think they checked on us or asked how our meal was at all throughout our time there.
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Christian G.

Yelp
My favorite restaurant in San Diego! The tuna, prawns pasta, and Mac n cheese are amazing. The view and service is always great. This is always my go-to restaurant for a nice dinner when I'm in the SD area. A must try for all. Sit by the windows and enjoy the SD skyline with an amazing dinner.
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Roly P.

Yelp
This evening we were a group of 10, this is a fantastic place at a great location. Our waitress Courtney was amazing. Everything we had was delicious and definitely a must go to place. Should you be in the area. The only downside is we stayed at a nearby hotel and they provide shuttle service to pick us up, the front staff was supposed to contact the hotel to pick us up and we were told as such. After standing outside for 15 to 20 minutes, we came back in and asked when the shuttle would arrive, at which time we were notified that they were not able to get a hold of the hotel, we were never notified of this and wasted time waiting for a shuttle that was never to arrive, they could've let us know, disappointing at best
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Tom R.

Yelp
Tday dinner was really well done. We chose the traditional turkey meal with all the fixings and a kale salad, with a glass of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Did I mention the popovers?! Such a treat. We ended with Irish Coffees. The only suggestion we would make is to top the Irish coffees with a sweet whipped cream instead of the frothed milk we were served; whipped cream is more traditional and pleasing and richer in flavor. We will be back next year. Might try the fillet mignon next time! The restaurant is beautiful, the service perfect, and the views are spectacular.
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Mike U.

Yelp
I love the atmosphere in a casual setting for lunch and always get the burger - it's delicious!
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Henry T.

Yelp
Tried this place for the first time tonight. We had a birthday dinner for my mom. The casual atmosphere and perfect location on the edge of San Diego Bay are definite highlights. I think the restaurant and probably Coasterra next door have the perfect view of the downtown San Diego skyline. Since my brother set a reservation for all of us, the wait for a table wasn't all that long. As for the food, there are some highlights and some lowlights. I loved the giant popover loaf of bread that was given to each of us. The butter was a kind of soft honey butter that wasn't too sweet, which was nice. Our waiter, who was quite knowledgeable about the menu, told us that the butter was whipped with a kind of jalapeno jelly that pretty much nullified the sweet taste of the honey. We ordered a decent variety of items on the menu. I appreciated that the place had some non-alcoholic drinks and cocktails. I had the Incognito, which didn't have alcohol in it, yet tasted like it was alcoholic. We ordered crab cakes and the shrimp cocktail, both of which were great food items. My brother and his wife ordered a porterhouse and ribeye steak. I ordered a rack of lamb. My mom had the catch of the day, which was halibut tonight. The kids had chicken tenders and a small piece of filet mignon. We had cream of corn and the crispy Brussel sprouts as sides. And honestly, I think the halibut was the best dish. It was tender and tasty. My lamb was pretty tough. I should've ordered it medium well because the medium cook I asked for had more red in the center than I was expecting. And it was overly salty. The steaks were also tough and chewy to me. This is my personal taste. It may have been different with my brother and sister-in-law and my mom. We all tried everything that was ordered. The cream of corn had a little kick to it from the peppers that were in the dish. I don't know how I feel about that. The Brussel sprouts were okay. Brussel sprouts aren't really my thing. My mom wanted to try the key lime pie for her birthday, and it was bigger than I expected. So we took that home. Lots of leftovers because there was a lot of food. I liked the vanilla ice cream ramekin for the kids. I thought the dark chocolate flourless cake was a bit too bitter and dense for my taste (which is surprising because I generally like anything with dark chocolate). The meal could've definitely been better.
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Melissa S.

Yelp
4 stars for food but I'm giving it 5 stars for our exceptional service. We really enjoyed our dinner. The view was beautiful and our server was phenomenal. Courtney was our server and she went above and beyond. We had the ahi stack, and we shared the filet and lobster. We also added sides (mashed potatoes and spinach). The food was above par (we ordered the steak medium rare and it was definitely served rare so they could improve on that). The potatoes were delicious. The ahi presentation was pretty. I would recommend this restaurant. A server can make it or break it and Courtney definitely made our experience so pleasant. We honestly haven't had this experience with another server in a very long time.
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Mark L.

Yelp
Celebrated our wedding anniversary at Island Prime, and it was a really beautiful experience. The ambiance was inviting, cozy, and really went well with a couple of old fashioned's. The food brought out at just the right time to allow for conversation, and time to appreciate the views. We made some really great memories and greatly appreciate made to feel welcome.
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taylor h.

Yelp
Nice atmosphere and great popovers! Hostess was extremely uninviting with a puss face and arms crossed with an attitude. Long wait WITH a reservation and didn't get the table requested!(plenty of tables available and never sat). Two inedible oysters on the $50 appetizer! Dry pork! Inedible risotto cakes!(could have shattered a window because they were hard as a rock, not to mention BLAND) I spoke so highly of this place from a previous experience and looked like a fool to bring friends and clients here after choosing this over other restaurants!
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Jerry H.

Yelp
This well appointed, contemporary steak and seafood restaurant is located over the San Diego Bay with picturesque views. Their prime steak options and seafood dishes are super high quality and made with great care. I highly recommend the filet trio plate with three different prepped filet mignon steaks. Their oysters were very good. The sunset views and city views over the water are perfection. Service here was outstanding and friendly. We absorbed loved this restaurant.
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Deron R.

Yelp
Great location right at the end of harbor Island drive with beautiful views of downtown San Diego and the naval base. The bar is the place to be grear drinks, great priced wine and some delicious food. We had the shrimp ceviche which was very good and a little bit spicy. And then we went with the lobster and white fish BL key. This is a different sandwich in which you had lobster and whitefish salad. If you will put between parmesan cheese sourdough with lettuce, tomato and bacon. It was f****** delicious! And they serve it with a tiny little side cup of lobster bisque which was also amazing. This place is great!
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Joy Z.

Yelp
Amazing view of the city, harbor, Coronado, and Point Loma. Not just a great view and ambiance but very good service and food was excellent too. I had calamari for app and the Waygu burger. The burger was very good. Perfectly cooked medium as requested. Juicy and perfectly seasoned. The seasoned fries were perfectly coated and crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. So yummy! My son's fish was also delicious. The calamari was just ok. Wish I had ordered the Brie instead.
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Christine B.

Yelp
Island Prime is pretty good and a step up of C-Level! I came here on a weekend night, and there was plenty of parking. Though I had a reservation, it took around a 30-40 minute wait until I was seated because they were quite busy. Service was great, as the server was very friendly and attentive! The restaurant is on the quieter side with older guests. I got the pork chop while my boyfriend got the filet mignon. The pork chop was flavorful and cooked well, but some parts were overdone so it was a bit dry. They don't have pre-selected sides for the meat part of the menu, so I was unsure of what to pair with it... I don't think my pairing with the mushrooms really fit the flavor of the meat. If you opt for the pork chop, steak, etc., I would probably suggest for you to ask the waiter for their preferences. I did try my boyfriend's filet mignon, and it was delicious and cooked exactly as requested. The glass of white wine was also divine. Thanks Island Prime!

Wendy A.

Yelp
Food was bland , my old fashioned was batched , server was rude !!!! Very disappointed
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Roel T.

Yelp
It was our 22 year wedding anniversary and I was looking for a nice place to celebrate and found Island Prime on Yelp with great reviews. I decided to make a reservation. We arrived at our reservation time at 6:30 in the evening. There was valet parking service but there was plenty of self parking spaces available. As we walked up, the front was a little confusing. A female employee was standing at a podium so I assumed we should check in with her. She asked me if I was here checking in for Island Prime or Level C which was an adjoining restaurant. I told her we were here for Island Prime and she kindly directed us to go inside to check in for Island Prime' as she was as checking in patrons for Level C only. We checked in inside and after the lady found our reservation she kindly greeted us with "happy anniversary ". We were seated in under 10 minutes and got a very nice table with a window view of the harbor. We were able to see The USS Midway and San Diego downtown skyline from our table. The ambiance inside was very nice. with dim lightning and the talking noise was not very loud at all. Desiree our waiter was very nice. She took our drink order and took our dinner order in a timely manner. We were served with pop up bread and butter while we waited and it was delicious. Our water glasses were always kept full. For appetizers we ordered the katsu calamari and it was fantastic. We never has calamari prepared like Japanese katsu style before! Our dinner orders came and they were delicious. I ordered the bone in 20oz rib eye steak. My wife ordered the seared Atlantic scallops. Our sides were cream of corn and crispy Brussel sprouts any they were also delicious. For our anniversary they gave us a very tasty slice of chocolate cake. Overall we enjoyed our time at Island Prime. We will definitely want to come back here again in the future.
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Sarah A.

Yelp
I'm really on the fence with this place. I want to give a 3.5 star rating, but let's go with 4. It wasn't bad by any means! I'm wishy-washy on this because where one thing was good, another was meh. Came here for a specific event so we had a set course menu. Off the bat, this place is beautiful, how can it not be? A portion of the restaurant is hanging over the water, it has a clear view of the city skyline, and we were there for sunset so of course it was lovely. To begin had a Popover which I immediately was surprised but happy to see. My mom used to make these when I was little so it was a tase of nostalgia. The popovers had the right amount of eggy texture and with the butter it was yummy, I ate it all but noticed a lot of people didn't in the top....sad. Then had the great lobster bisque, 5 STARS. But then the main course....I had the sea bass and hubby had the ribeye. The sea bass was very seafood tasting and yes I know it's a fish, but...I've never had "bad" seabass, I was very disappointment, it's usually always a safe bet. Then the ribeye was grainy. IDK, the main course just wasn't what I was expecting. The desserts were great, my goodness I think they ordered every dessert on the menu. So after typing this out, yes it's a 4-star....but I would recommend going for a drink, app, dessert, watch the sunset, and call it a date.
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Paloma C.

Yelp
Recently tried this place. The food was delicious. One of the best steaks I ever had. However.. Pepita crusted Brie cheese was not a favorite for me. It definitely is an acquired taste. the Mac and cheese was definitely a no go for me. We hardly ate it. It tasted burnt. The crispy fried onions on top were just so oily that every bite tasted of oil, My boyfriend and I were not fans. The mushrooms were the best thing ever ! They were delicious they were creamy they were crunchy. The steak was cooked to perfection. The ambiance was not really what was expected. I felt a little over dressed for the place. The service was not the best which is why i am Only leaving 3 stars. The waiter hardly checked on us. Never refilled our drinks.

D H.

Yelp
My family had xmas eve dinner at Island Prime The food was amazing Highlights were the filet, ahi tuna, wedge salad, lobster bisque But what made this night really special was our server Scotty He was very professional, friendly efficient and he laughed at my dumb jokes. Great guy !!! The supporting staff were also great . I highly recommend Island Prime
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Ian M.

Yelp
We booked a reservation for 28 people on our team to enjoy a nice dinner out together. The ambiance was very elegant with amazing views of San Diego bay and Coronado Island & and an Aircraft Carrier docked up over at Naval Station North Island. There was not a bad dish ordered. The service was amazing, especially so for a party of our size...! Other than a few bites of various apps plus their amazing popover bread, I had a bowl of lobster bisque and their amazing seared Atlantic scallops (both pictured). By the time dessert came, I could not eat another bite...! Some of the younger teammates ordered and then split their huge desserts. It's easy to go crazy ordering apps, plates, and sides but the portions are epic! You'll most-likely walk out with a go container of leftovers...! Looks like a great place to have a romantic date night with someone special. Hope you enjoy!
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Stephanie B.

Yelp
First time dining at Island Prime, as we received a gift card to celebrate our anniversary, and we had a fantastic experience! Ambiance: location is on Harbor Island, right on the water. We weren't seated directly next to a window or with a city view, but had a nice view of the sunset and water. They also have mirrors for people who aren't seated facing the window so they came still see the water, which was a nice touch! White table cloths make it feel fancy. As I would've preferred a table with a water and city view, we still had a nice view of the water. C-level and c-level lounge are also attached in the same building, share the same kitchen, but are more casual options. I would definitely check out C-level because it has fully outdoor seating and faces the city skyline. They have a large parking lot (free self parking) and $11 valet parking. Service: Our server was great, paid special attention to my shellfish allergy, explained all the specials, and provided great recommendations. Food came out timely as well. We never felt rushed and they were busy for a Sunday evening of a holiday weekend. Food: we ordered the calamari katsu to start and it exceeded my expectations. The calamari steak was not tough and it was perfectly crispy with a very light breading. It was topped with the perfect amount of aioli. They serve complimentary popover bread with a delicious whipped butter that was jalapeño something favored. It wasn't spicy and had the perfect hint of flavor. Bread was interesting, but I appreciated that it was different. For entrees, I ordered the center cut filet mignon, which was cooked perfectly to my liking and well seasoned. There was no need for extra sauces. My husband got the prime porterhouse and added prawns to it and absolutely loved everything about it. For sides, we ordered the macaroni and cheese and the crispy brussel sprouts. Both were excellent. The macaroni and cheese was topped with pork belly and crispy fried onions and topped with melted cheese in addition to the creamy sauce the macaroni was in. The brussel sprouts were not really crispy, but were nicely marinated in balsamic and fig jam. They did bring us a complimentary small piece of vanilla layer cake with strawberry filling for our anniversary, which was also very nice. It was the perfect amount after that large meal. The one con for me was the 5% surcharge added to the bill. I think it is a bit much and more than other places, especially when the bill is $$$.
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Jeff L.

Yelp
**Island Prime - 50th Birthday Dinner Review** We celebrated a 50th birthday dinner here, drawn by its location on the water with fantastic views of downtown San Diego. For the views alone, Island Prime is worth a visit. It's reputed to be one of the premiere steakhouses in San Diego, so our expectations were high, especially when comparing restaurant-grade food to the quality of a well-cooked Costco meal at home. We were not disappointed, but we weren't overly impressed either. The food tasted delicious, with filet mignon plates all around. Each bite was tender and flavorful, though a bit one-dimensional for my preference. The filet was good but lacked the additional fat or flavor elements that elevate a steak from good to great. My filet was overcooked, but the server and manager promptly corrected this without any attitude, which I appreciated. Service, however, fell short of the top-tier standards expected from a steakhouse like this. Our table, although providing beautiful water views, was awkwardly located and uncomfortably large for our party of five. The service was adequate but minimal, with our interactions feeling rushed and impersonal. We had more meaningful interaction with the kitchen staff (kitchen deliver server, who shared his tribal tattoo journey us, nice!) than our own waiter, which detracted from the overall experience. The use of OpenTable for our reservation was convenient, but my special requests for the birthday celebration went unanswered, requiring a follow-up call. Although they did add a happy birthday message on our dessert plate, a little more personalization, like writing the celebrant's name in chocolate drizzle, would have been appreciated. This is a top-tier restaurant, right? Leaving Island Prime, I expected a warm farewell from our waiter, but he was nowhere to be found. A bartender coming off break had to step in to take our family picture, highlighting the understaffing issue. In conclusion, Island Prime offers a fantastic location and views, but the food and service, while good, didn't live up to the high-tier steakhouse reputation. I might return for the views and ambiance, but for an exceptional steakhouse experience, I'll look elsewhere. But would happily come back if I was only commandeered a gift card from Cohen Restaurants.
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Jeanette J.

Yelp
STUNNING view. The octopus was okay but we also got the twice baked potato and OMG it's huge! It's shareable for maybe 3 people. The server was amazing and patient. The complimentary bread is amazing and so it the butter.
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Zeinab B.

Yelp
I decided to come here for my birthday and made the horrible mistake of not saving room for dessert, I'm still upset over that... The location couldn't have been any more better,the views are exceptional and so is the staff.My waiter took his time to study the menu and it shows. I was a really big fan of the poke and my drink which I forgot the name of, everything was decent but the view really does add one hell of a touch! I would definitely go back especially if they have a happy hour !
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Maggie J.

Yelp
Wonderful meal at Island Prime. Love the cozy atmosphere on the water. Staff are always friendly each time we visit and offer wonderful suggestions.
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Martin R.

Yelp
This is 10 years after my first review here and it's still 5 stars. Solid! Unchanged! Consistent! The lobster bisque was the best I have had in at least 3 years or more for sure; so perfectly executed with sherry and lobster flavors and meat ... Also, the 38 day dry aged New York steak knocked it out of the ballpark! Great marbeling and practically melted in my mouth. Ambiance is the same as a decade ago, phenomenal view of the San Diego skyline. With top notch service to boot this is practically a 6 star restaurant if Yelp would allow for such exceptional rating!
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Dave F.

Yelp
Came here for dinner in their party room. Nice drink list and very attentive service, though this room has less of an amazing waterfront view than the rest of the main dining room, IMHO. Food wise, the filet Mignon is nice and comes with really tasty mashed potatoes and some okay greens. The Brussels sprouts are pretty good, have a little bit of sweetness. The Mac and Cheese comes with a large amount of fried onion strings and decent amounts of bacon within. Also got an individual key lime pie. Overall, pretty good steakhouse, but nothing food-wise that sets them above and beyond anywhere else I've ever been. I thought the Brussels sprouts were the best dish I had. The main was ok, as was the mac and cheese. The key lime pie was kinda a dud. The filling was ok, but the crust was way too hard to really enjoy. I can see why this spot is popular, but if you're already downtown, you don't need to trek back to the airport for it.
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Mikki W.

Yelp
WOW!! Blown away with everything we ordered, the service team from the hostess to the food delivery team were so friendly and attentive. The view of the harbor was stunning. I didn't get to take too many pictures, which is a true sign of how good the food was. If you're ever in the San Diego area, go check this place out. You won't be disappointed.
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Maria M.

Yelp
Location and views are amazing! Great food and their service never disappoints. Ideal place for big groups.
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Madalyn V.

Yelp
My husband and I went to island prime for our anniversary dinner. The food was absolutely delicious and probably the best potatoes I've ever ever had in my entire life! The filet mignon melted in your mouth. Our server was definitely attentive and recommended great items. The ambience was very moody and romantic. Overall, we had a great time and would definitely come back.

Malissa C.

Yelp
This is my favorite place. Both Island Prime & C-Level. First off- food is delicious and who can beat the gorgeous view of downtown harbor side and the Coronado bridge? I wanted to especially thank Mario and Mindi, (C Level) for making my 50th bday so incredibly special. Thank you Mindi for taking photos for us, which are now such a beautiful memory. You went above & beyond. Thank you so much! Just took my parents last night to Island Prime. This is our favorite rib-eye steak place! My Dad celebrated his bday and I want to especially thank Mario, manager, again for making it so special. Everything was delicious, service great, view spectacular. Island prime and C-level are my go to favorite places. And who can beat that pineapple upside cake? Chef Deborah Scott is a genius and her food tastes like it came from Heaven. Thanks again! Highly recommend it!
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Gemma M.

Yelp
Excellent restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious, starting with the bread and Cesar salad, then the appetizers and finally the entree and sides. We had the octopus and calamari appetizers, both of which were tasty and fresh. We ordered the tomahawk dinner special which consisted of a 40 oz steak, salad, asparagus and mashed potatoes. It fed all 3 of us (2 adults, one child). Everything was tasty. The service was also great. Our server, Tony, was friendly and professional. He was attentive and checked on us periodically. Other staff were great too. Support staff filled our drinks frequently and came to box up our leftovers quickly. It was busy but not crowded, as customers were spaced out appropriately, not too close although we could hear others' conversations. The view of the bay was beautiful. The Disney cruise was on its way out and they sailed slowly by as we were having our meal. I highly recommend Island Prime for any occasion. It's pricey but it's worth every penny.

Natalie S.

Yelp
This is a beautiful place I would recommend it to anyone that has company in town. The food is 5 star the service great! Drinks a bit too much ice- maybe wine instead next time. From the appetizer coconut shrimp to the steak and tiny dessert all delicious! .
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Eric W.

Yelp
One word that says it all...Magnificent! My wife & I Love it! Love it! Love it! The food, the service & the ambiance are all outstanding! Highly recommend checking this restaurant out & seeing for yourself. I am 100% positive that you will not be disappointed that you did.
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Kevin Y.

Yelp
The lobster bisque here is actually really good, lobster is not overcooked and just super solid overall. The patio has a nice view of downtown and for happy hour, it's not too badly priced, but it is still a bit expensive.

Jenny E.

Yelp
I've been at C-Level for work related meetings and events, the food has been solid. For my son's 24th birthday we decided to try out Island Prime (the evening restaurant). Sadly, no one enjoyed their meal. It was mediocre, overworked and too much going on in general. Taking beautiful proteins and saturating them with heavy sauces. It seemed there was more concern with how a dish presented itself than how it actually tasted. Two people had the prawns with linguine (drowned in sauce, mushy), the scallops which were more like an appetizer (pictured 3 of them) and weren't enjoyed, and the "catch of the day" which was Halibut that was passable but way over done with too many components. It completely took away from the fish. I asked the server for recommendations and she said both the scallops and Catch of the Day. When the manager came over he said we must know what's good there. If both the server and manager think these were the best dishes, I can't imagine how the other items were. The bread popovers were great though (the complimentary bread) and the wine. That was it.
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Victor F.

Yelp
Long time customer of Island Prime and back here again to celebrate an anniversary. Epic food, amazing setting and great service. If you're looking to celebrate any special events or just enjoy a great meal, you can't go wrong with Island Prime. Business casual and they also offer a kids menu.
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Joshua D.

Yelp
This was the best dinner of our trip when we visited a few months ago. The view, amazing, the service top tier, some of the best I've seen. They are truly running a fantastic restaurant here. My entire party was blown away with everything we ate or dran. You will enjoy the atmosphere, view, staff, food, and drinks I guarantee it! ENJOY AS MUCH AS WE DID!
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Chad W.

Yelp
So I'm one that likes to eat at different places when I travel. Well, if you didn't know, like non-locals wouldn't, island prime and c-level are the same kitchen. Which I didn't know when I booked island prime because I've already been to c-level when I was here last year. I got their tomahawk special. I asked for it medium plus. Not medium but not medium well but right in between. As you can see by the picture this is medium rare. I paid a significant amount for a meal I took like 5 bites of because I don't send anything back. My waiter was okay but didn't tell me specials until I asked and didn't even ask us about sauces for a tomahawk. I didn't even know they had steak sauces. This whole experience was bad. They sat us at a questionable table. We showed up 10 min early but didn't get seated until 15 min after and they weren't even packed. Maybe I'm spoiled living in Vegas but between my undercooked steak and subpar service, there's no way this is a "prime" steakhouse. Can't believe I'll spend $300 on a meal I took only so many bites of and I'm going to have to get fast food after this to fill me up. I was never told the specials I had to ask for them. I was never asked if I wanted any sauces with my 40 ounce tomahawk. I had to ask for them after the steak came. No drink refills ever came. Nobody ever asked me if I wanted another bourbon. I'll drink three or four if somebody asks, but if you're only gonna ask me one time I'm only gonna drink one. in the fact that my steak was medium rare when I asked for it medium plus still chaps my ass because I just paid $311 for our meal that I only ate about five bites of. People might be able to hang their hat on local restaurants, but your popular local doesn't mean you're actually good and I think that's the thing for this place. When you have two different names that you trick people into coming here again and then you give them subpar service like I got for $300 worth of food. Maybe i'm just used to living in Vegas. I don't know.
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Julianne C.

Yelp
Service and food were very enjoyable here for a nice dinner by the coast. I came with 9 other people and overall everything was perfect. I've been going here with my family for years of birthdays and other events.
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Jessica R.

Yelp
The view and the ambiance is amazing! The food and service was good, but I was expecting great for the prices. It was very thoughtful of them to bring us a free desert for celebrating our anniversary!

David H.

Yelp
Great location, but only ok food . The highlight was the popover bread and butter. Rest of menu not to memorable. Went with salmon and some a trio filet ..sides are extra on most dishes but nothing too outstanding. Aside from location and view not much else going on here.
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Chris U.

Yelp
I know it's our third time giving a review for Island Prime and it's always been positive due to their great customer service and top notch dishes. Reasons why we celebrated my wife's birthday here. We're glad the popovers were free since we asked for seconds, it's so insanely good! I'm curios of their butter spread recipe. First time ordering Chesapeake Bay Style Crab Cakes - well seasoned crab meat. Island Prime ain't joking how much crab meat they put in it with its aioli sauce. Highly recommended! Charred Octopus, same level of taste/tenderness of what we just had in Lisbon. The acidity and spices plus the chorizo make it so good! Perfectly cook, no burning taste that we normally get when eating from different restaurants. It's a Must try when dining here. Also ordered our usual Bone In Ribeye steak but we added Cold Water Lobster Tail. Oh my goodness, that lobster was so tender and delicious. Melted butter comes with it. Since it our first time ordering the octopus and crab cakes and never thought the portion size, it's my first time not finishing up my steak, so it's "to go" and "steak and eggs" for me the next day. Strongly recommended due to fantastic view, superb customer service and delicious food!

Phyllis G.

Yelp
Had a fabulous dinner The service was amazing. Jake went above and beyond the call of duty and the manager. Troy is so personable. He is the reason we go back. I went in August and we went New Year's Day and Troy. The manager remembered us. I thought that was amazing. And the ambience was amazing. Just needs to be a little bit brighter in there more lighting but overall it will be the restaurant that we always go to hard for me to try anything new when you're treated so great and the food is amazing.
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Destiny D.

Yelp
Amazing food! Loved the steak and Caesar salad. Good size portions and gave us a free anniversary dessert