Johnston's

Awesome to have another option for great food and drinks in the neighborhood. The decor is gorgeous and the entire staff has been friendly both times I’ve visited. For food, so far my favorite items are the Buddha Bowl (super healthy and somehow still amazing). They give the ability to add skewers as a protein if you want. I got the Maitaki Mushroom Skewers on the side and loved them. Also a huge fan of the Fish & Chips. The batter on the fish is crispy without the fish being over cooked. The chips (fries) are also not like any fries I’ve had in San Diego. Sort of like a spiral wedge, they’ve got a semi-crispy outside and a super fluffy inside. If you’re just coming for apps, see if you can grab a side of fries with the garlic aioli. As far as drinks, my top picks are the MC Marg, the Trolley Barn, and the Alonzo Horton. The MC Marg has ube tequila in it. I was a little nervous bc I didn’t want it to be too sweet. It’s the perfect amount of sweetness (and color) from the ube and sour from the marg. It’s also gorgeous. Oh - and the bloody! They’ve got a great mix and the drink comes with a spicy pickle. I’m not a huge beer or wine guy, but the menu is full of local breweries and the wine list offers a good variety of flavors. Was SUPER happy to see Sagamore Rye on the back shelf all the way from the East Coast, among other items (Milam & Greene, Mr. Blacks). I love Sagamore and will definitely see if I can possibly grab some sort of dealers choice from the bar staff while I’m trying out the Old Fashioned and the rest of the menu, assuming the aren’t too slammed. Can’t wait till the brunch menu drops and while everyone is focused on mimosas, I can have a few Sugar Kings, their version of the Mai Tai with house made grenadine and pineapple foam.

Really enjoyed their burger, wings and fried cheese. Wasn’t too busy on a Sunday afternoon, service was really good, our waitress was super friendly and knowledgeable.

GREAT FOOD AND SERVICE! Yet another amazing place to open up on Park Blvd! I was able to walk here in 3 minutes which is just brownie points on brownie points. Something about being able to enjoy a bar without having to deal with ubers makes the experience more enjoyable . Love the floral bar and vibe inside this place, they also have outdoor seating for any cold lovers like myself. We ordered the Jamaican jerk wings and the Fish and Chip Tray (not shown). An app and 1 tray will easily feed 2 people and both were extremely delicious. After eating these items I'm excited to come back and try the sticks and sandwiches. 2 drinks shown are JD's Old Fashioned and the Alonzo Horton (Gf loved this one) . If you like sweet and refreshing in your cocktails the Clare Rose WILL NOT DISAPPOINT! I've had so many cocktails at so many places and the Clare Rose was really special and unique, don't think I could compare this to anything else. All the cocktails were $13 which is a solid price that I was happy to pay for. Can't wait to come back :) ONLY THING: It is first come first serve and the place, just like all the others on park, are fun sized :D We went at 6pm on a Thursday with 2 people and had no issue, there was a line about 10 minutes after until we left but it seemed to be moving quickly!

Best Brunch in San Diego. From the food to the service and atmosphere, we highly recommend it!!

We came here for happy hour in the afternoon and really enjoyed it. Service was great and fast. We had several different types of cocktails, all of which were delicious and also reasonably priced. The HH bites are a great deal if you aren't looking for a lot of food which we weren't. Their mozzarella sticks are amazing!

The interior is aesthetically pleasing and clean. The cocktails are delicious! The pretzel is HUGE & freshly made to order while the dips are phenomenal. Also, the Cubano is amazing! In my opinion, they are the perfect addition to the University Heights neighborhood. They are more of a bar first, and sit down restaurant second, so bear that in mind when walking in with a larger party during a busier time. Finally, the staff are all very helpful and friendly!

The good: great service! Adam was helpful and told me cool information about the place and the updates to the neighborhood. The food tastes delish! The smash burger was delightfully messy and the curled fries were as everyone else has written. So good! The televisions were a good size and nicely placed so I could see one well to watch the Padres game. The bad: the sound is fairly loud. I get that it is to drown out the neighboring music. But, it’s a bit louder than I’d prefer. I also would prefer there be at least one hook in the restroom for a woman’s purse. There was no clear spot to put my things and I didn’t want to leave them outside- so what do I do? There’s no doorknob. The back of the toilet has the hand bars. The sink is all wet. I ended up hanging it from the metal door closer on top of the door which sticks out a bit. Simple fix would be just to have a hook. Otherwise, I’d give 5 stars.

Service was absolutely the best, the girls were friendly, engaging and on top of their game. The "special" food items for 10 $ are somehow advertised as the normal items but are specifically prepared for the deal - less meat, different bun and stale taste. I dont know HOW someone can cook a burger to taste like nothing paired with old bread ... the chef did it ! On top the owners seem to browse arround in the Bar but instead of engaging with the guests and learn about service / food deficencies are just in the way of the servers. Will not do this again mainly due to the very short engagement with one of the owners / investors.

I first came here for a Yelp event and had a great time, so I came back to try more of their food! The second time around we shared the fried chicken sandwich, Buddha bowl, pork belly sticks, and chicken sticks. The chicken sticks were not fully cooked, so they refired that dish. The sandwich was huge and came with thick fries. The Buddha bowl was really healthy! My favorites were the sticks though. They were fun to eat and very tasty and flavorful. For drinks, we ordered the MC Gardens Marg, Alonzo Horton, and a mocktail for me. The drinks were so pretty and refreshing. I had the Marg as a mocktail last time and it's an ube infused Tequila, with ube agave syrup, lemon, and lime. It's unique, but the ube was was faint in flavor. We chose SunDre for dessert and it was good, but a bit sweet for me. Service was very friendly and attentive! Too bad they are no longer in operation though.

Service at the bar was fast and it was great watching the bartender make the drinks. Cocktails: Sugar King is on the sweeter side but definitely felt that rum. MC Garden Marg was a good margarita but didn't get any ube notes from the tequila or agave syrup. Tried the coffee cocktail on another visit and it was ok. A little too sweet for me. They also have a diverse beer list too. Very cute decor with lots of TVs to watch the game. Some outdoor seating as well. Didn't get food but what we saw coming from the kitchen looked good. Would come back to try other drinks and food. Parking can be tricky if you're going during prime time.

Super cute lunch spot with a bar & indoor and outdoor seating. I came on a Sunday afternoon and was seated immediately. I ordered the burger with fries and asked for it lettuce wrapped. The fries were amazing!! Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The burger was also delicious. I would definitely come back to try the cocktails and other menu items

The former space for Small Bar was transformed into Johnston's with a grand opening that occurred in early February. The business has been named in honor of an old five-and-dime variety store from a hundred years ago. The owner is the same as Park & Rec which is just a couple of doors over on this busy stretch of Park Blvd in University Heights. There was some outdoor seating on a front sidewalk patio and a parklet. The entrance to the interior was down a narrow path on the left (south) side of the building. I visited on a rainy weeknight which not only kept the customers away but created lots of empty nearby curbside parking which is abnormal for this block. The two-page food menu was rather simple. The first contained five 'Shares' and five 'Trays' while the second listed three 'Greens', three 'Sticks', and two 'Sweets'. The sticks were skewers grilled over binchotan charcoal which you rarely find at a bar/pub (think Asian barbecue). I chose the Black Garlic Flat Iron 'Stick' as an appetizer and the Cubano from the 'Trays' as an entree. There were two skewers of marinated beef covered with crispy shallots and chives. It was expensive at $13, but the meat was flavorful. The sandwich featured ciabatta bread containing braised mojo pork, smoked ham, swiss cheese, pickles, and dijon aioli. The tray came with a serving of french fries that were oddly shaped yet deliciously seasoned. I was more impressed with the fried potatoes than the Cubano.

The old small bar location in university heights. Nicely renovated with a cute patio, and single person bathroom. Open seating, it was raining so we sat inside. Super friendly all female staff from what we saw. Was just here for a drink, our two cocktails were ok - wanted to like the Ube marg more but the Clare Rose was a bit better. Didn't try the food but would come back to. Had a decent crowd for just opening recently. Also 4-5 rotating beers on tap. The music was definitely not my personal style, couple of other reviews noted that also...especially for the happy hour time with a padres game on (on mute). It was also a bit warm inside.

Checked out this new spot in university heights and will definitely be back. I'd describe them as a craft cocktail and food spot with a Hawaiian flare. I'm a sucker for pretty drinks, so I had to try the MC Gardens Marg. It did not disappoint. I would also recommend their house chips - it comes w a very tasty cheese dip. I can't wait to return again soon!

Previously Small Bar, Johnston's opened up as an upscale sort of dive bar? Good selection of beer, a few good cocktails including the Ube Margarita, which is the first of its kind that I've seen. Have yet to try their food and wish they'd change the playlist. It's sort of very turn-down. Smack-dab between Parc & Rec and Madison. Entrance is through the left side, like Small Bar, and friendly staff. 4 big screens to watch the Padres game.

We walked in thinking it was Madison but we're mistaken when there was no back patio. These places look so similar and are right next to each other. The drinks here are solid. Wife loves tequila and got the mezcal tahoma cocktail. It was Smokey, slightly fruity - nice. I stick to wine during the week so got the house Chardonnay. It was perfect, not bitter, not fruity, perfect summer wine. Bartender and bar top are excellent. Nice wood features, lighting is mellow and soft. The food here - big room for improvement. The wagyu burger looked ok on the menu but once it landed I was so disappointed. That patty looks store bought versus hand formed and it was so burnt and over cooked as if it were deep fried. The chips were very good though. Very delicate, they break easily when dipped in the cream. Overall it's ok, the vibe and neighborhood feel is so great. I'd probably come here after work for chips and a drink then indulge in Thai food next door.

Went on a Friday around 4:30. It was already pretty busy, but still had a couple open tables and bar seats. They had the Padres' game on, which we were happy about. Sat at the bar and were greeted right away. Happy hour was still going for a bit. They have a nice variety of drinks on special and a couple snacks. I started with the house Chardonnay, which was pretty good for a house pour. We also ordered the chips to snack on. Like the variety of potatoes, but they were a little thinner than I prefer - more like original Lays. Ordered some other food items after awhile. Got chicken skewers and the Cubano with a salad for the side. With the sandwich tray, the salad was great for a side salad. It's actually a small version of their market salad, which was a pleasant surprise. The meat on the sandwich was nice and tender - it just maybe needed a little more dijon kick for a cubano. The chicken skewers were delicious. Nice and tender, and the flavor from the coals was really good. If they had the steak skewers that day, we would have gotten those also, but it was changed to pork belly. We were so happy with our service though. The bartender was great. He was always there when our glasses were getting close to empty, and was patient as we decided what we wanted to eat. Hopefully he is there next time! It's very pretty inside, and I love they kept the old sign on the building. Will definitely return to try more food and check out some cocktails!

stumbled upon this gem while around the neighborhood and it hit the spot! there is truly nothing i love more than elevated bar food and good cocktails! we came in for happy hour and the vibes were 10/10! we got ube marg and slid in the chips which were so light and tasty along with the happy hour slider aka smashburger! Might I say the best slider ive ever had and to note i am doing a burger crawl bucketlist in san diego and this made the list! we also got a caesar salad with the perfect amount of anchovies and pork skewers on a stick! would come back for the sliders alone! also our bartender was the sweetest and they were bumping rihanna i cannot complain

TLDR: Too salty, not fresh, and service was slow and felt like they forgot about me. I've had johnston 2 times. One being a yelp elite only event where all portions were smaller. At that the time they served Wagyu sliders, wings, mushroom and chicken skewers which were absolutely amazing. Going here a second time I tried the Wagyu burger, fries, Buffalo chicken wings, and pork belly skewers. Unfortunately everything we had was way too salty the second time. The Wagyu burger was tasty but made me feel lethargic with how greasy the burger and fries were. The Buffalo chicken wings tasted odd to me and could have had a stronger Buffalo flavor. The pork belly had too much yuzu and felt like the skewers were not fresh and had more of a spongy texture to each bite. The weirdest tasting thing we had was the ranch because of how odd and slightly sour it was, definitely a distasteful flavor in my mouth. The drinks however were quite delicious. The service could have been a bit more attentive, I was sitting at the outside patio and felt like the server forgot silverware, water, and to check on how the meal and drinks were tasting.

The MC margarita was really good. Sweet and tarty, not too strong. Wagyu burger was really flavorful but greasy and messy. I liked the melted cheese on top tho. Ate half of the burger which was already filling for me. The fries were perfect! Light and crispy with just enough potato meat inside. Pork belly skewers were decent. Had a char grilled taste but it didn't seem fresh to me. Almost like it was old and reheated. Has hints of yuzu on it but it was too charcoally for me. (Not pictured) was the wings that I could have passed on ordering. Very bland and dry. It came with a side of ranch that was disgusting, I'm sorry. I love ranch too but this ranch tasted weird. I can't even pinpoint the flavors in it but I was disappointed on the wings and ranch. Cute place in North Park for quick drinks and appetizers. Would probably come again but only for drinks and maybe the fries.

A brand new cocktail bar in University Heights brought to you by the same owners of Parks & Rec and the former Waypoint Republic. Parking A smaller restaurant next to Madison, blink and you might miss it. The parking is awful- be prepared to look for street parking for some time. Service They were doing seat yourself style but at 7 PM on a Friday night, when I arrived all tables were filled outside,inside, and at the bar. They then had a queue of people waiting for a table, but no host stand or time limit for tables that had been seated so people were literally just sitting there who were done with food and drinks just talking. I really hope they can fix this organizational piece, but I get it it's opening weekend (2/10/23) so they have time! Wait Time We ended up waiting in the line for about 20-30 minutes which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and ended up sitting at the bar. The bartender was really friendly and drinks and food came out fast. Drink/food I got the gin drink and it was tasty! The cocktails are fairly priced at ($13). I also had a single Smashburger for $10 which was a special for their opening, and my husband had the regular Smashburger, a double patty for $17. The burger was good- definitely high quality wagyu patties and the fries were really good but I wish they had a bigger portion. Overall, I would recommend Johnston's for drinks if you're in the University Heights area but be prepared to potentially wait.

I can't say enough good things about Johnston's! This place has quickly become my favorite spot in University Heights. From the moment you step in, the ambiance is welcoming and vibrant, making you feel right at home. Let's talk about the food - oh my goodness! The skewers are absolutely amazing. Each bite is bursting with flavor and perfectly cooked to perfection. Whether it's the succulent chicken or the savory beef, you won't be disappointed. And their fried chicken sandwich? It's a heavenly delight! The crispy coating with the tender, juicy chicken inside creates a divine combination that keeps me coming back for more. Now, let's talk cocktails - and the Sugar King is a true masterpiece! It's my go-to drink every time I visit. The blend of flavors in this cocktail is simply magical. Every sip is a delightful experience that complements the delicious food perfectly. The staff at Johnston's is top-notch as well. They are friendly, attentive, and always ready to make your dining experience exceptional. Whether you're looking for a great place to enjoy a delicious meal or a fabulous cocktail, Johnston's is the place to be. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an unforgettable dining experience in San Diego. I'll definitely be returning soon!

Decent place for happy hour with pretty drinks. Only a few vegetarian options on the menu, but the drinks aren't bad to relax in the afternoon. Small tables and bar seating inside, but there's larger tables on the patio for larger groups. Street parking is available and staff is friendly.

I absolutely love this bar! The food here was great, I particularly enjoyed the Buffalo wings and the chicken skewers in particular. The chicken is super juicy and the spice wasn't too bad on the wings. I got the MC gardens marg as my drink which was with tequila and ube flavoring. The ube was a bit light, I thought it would have more flavor. However I really liked the black salt rim! Overall the wait staff were great to talk too and very helpful. The bartenders walked me through their cocktail menu. The place has very chill vibes, and there are even TVs if you want to come watch the game!

I'm giving this place a 4/5 due to the service, it took awhile to get menus and our table cleaned. I came here Friday evening with two friends and we grabbed the first empty table available, but still needed to be cleared. We asked someone to clear the dirty plates and cups but there was water all over the table. Our amazing Liset helped us and got our table wiped down and got us some waters. She was literally the only person who helped us. She was the sweetest and the reason why I'm not giving this review a 3/5. I felt bad for her because it looked like she was the only server in our area and had to take care of 5+ tables. She was very attentive and did an amazing job, she noticed my friend didn't really like her drink and got another one made for her. I hope in the future this establishment gets more staff so their employees aren't running around like crazy. Food was delicious, we really enjoyed the cheese burger and the pretzel with beer cheese. Ambiance was a chill vibe, I would come back in the future for another bite to eat.

Alright. (Revised because I was pleasantly distracted at the time) Great story, I got the Yelp Elite invite email while working and I thought today was the day! Nope! Next week. Goodness! Ended up blessed making the incorrect assumption. My wanderlust had me aimlessly soaking in the beautiful and little chilly afternoon. So, when I stumbled upon the outdoor seating, I accidentally went in where they would like you to exit. So welcoming was there staff, I didn't even feel like I made a mistake. "It's okay," (this is not relevant, but hard to miss) a cute young waitress gently instructed, "we ask if you will go around the side next time." I beamed a smile and promised to comply. I must re-iterate, I thought today was going to be my first SD Yelp Elite event. This is why that's important, I bravely approached a diner and asked, "hey, you wouldn't happen to be a a Yelp Elite?" And embarrassingly he asked me what that was... Hmm.. maybe I am early... Starting to feel that fear associated with something is wrong. So, to avoid any other misunderstandings I asked two of the best Host and Hostess I have had the pleasure to experience on Park Blvd. Chris and Sunny, super-hero and heroine nice and didn't make me feel bad about my misread. We all did a double take, because circumstances made me reveal I was a avid Yelper. Trust me when I say, I am glad Chris and Sunny were the ones that apologetically pointed out it's next week. Instantly wanted to give this place 100 stars! Stop by! I am going to say this two more times! This place is and will be a place to dress up or come in to unwind after work (even you haven't noticed, I was all kinds of confusingly over the place). Uplifted and ready to melt into the background this place made me feel like I didn't have too. Seating myself at the bar, Chris established a rapport born of soul that knows himself and loves what he is doing. Handed me a menu quickly, patiently erased my embarrassment with laughter and politely laughed at my jokes. Handled my curve ball and presumptuous request of an on the spot similar spirit to Glenlivet 12 with 3 ice cubes. Bruh, I ended up having a expertly carved orange peel brushed along the edge of the glass with 3 ice cubes of a bourbon that starts with Buffalo. Gonna have that again. Stop by! Chris definitely closed the deal and made me a fan with Buffalo Bourbon. But honestly Sunny, the name should describes her character aptly, was ready to knock it out of the park too with any of the signature drinks. Welcoming and demure, friendly and down to Earth, great conversationalist. I was going to watch the LA game, but actually ended up reminiscing our love for Hockey. By then I was really really hungry and ordered Johnston's burger. It's like he made it from his house and brought it too me to enjoy. Stop by! I'll be back, well this time on the correct date, invitations were finite, 60 person capacity. I want to come back to because I anticipate my Johnston's overall experience will only get better. The elevated burger I chose was the Johnsotn's Burger; puffy warm buns hugging a Waygu compressed beef (felt like they put two together it was mind-bogglingly juice-laden), I cut in the middle because I wanted to see how they prepared and cooked it, and it came out the way I would have requested. The fries, Bruh, aside from the artistically pleasing wave shapes (beach advocate), they use season salt and sea salt I think, such a great compliment to my orange accents bourbon and the gentle mouthfeel of each burger bite. I kept sipping water and drinking my bourbon and then sipping water to get that first bite again working my way through the meal. Definitely the way to enjoy this meal. Ended up having to push the rich food away otherwise I would have asked if they had a canopy I could utilize for 30 minutes. (They don't though, that would have been weird) I was fortunate to find parking and arrived a little after 17:30, they already had an amazing turn out on a sleepy Wednesday! That should speak for itself, if my review didn't already convince you to try this place. Johnston burger all day! And yet there's still so much more to try. Buddah Salad sounds healthily delicious and I will try one of their mixed specials drinks for sure. The week cannot end fast enough! (Florida was winning and the Lakers were starting to remember their defense while trailing at about 10 points. Yeuah, two TVs, that just demands 5-stars with ergonomics and dinning experience, hehehe, thanks for reading!)

Completely revamped and updated from old remains of Small Bar! Johnston's takes a different direction that Small Bar fulfilled by being a typical dive bar to a more upscale character that matches the neighboring Madison and Park & Rec. The food menu is a lot simpler and I imagine it will change over time to accommodate consumer tastes but the stars so far are the Chicken Skewers for me! The fries are cut in a unique way that is almost like fingerling potatoes but with a more fingerlike appearance (if that makes sense..) Ambiance wise I'm not entirely sure if it's going for the super casual quiet bar space or something just slightly more casual than Madison. I was there one night when they had the Lakers/Warriors game on and the audio never came on for it. Whether it takes the direction of the previously mentioned types or goes full on Sports bar I am not sure... but I believe the potential is there to shape it into something that fulfills a niche in the University Heights neighborhood!

We went the first Saturday they were open! They were SLAMMED immediately at 4:00pm. They were running an old fashioned and burger deal for $15 so of course I got that! My wife got the drink with a blackberry garnish (forget the name) that was tasty. We also tried the chips and beer dip which were also really good bar snacks. The sad part was our drinks came out after we were totally done eating! We were both kinda annoyed but it wasn't that big of a deal. The owner John came over, apologized, and comped our drinks which was very nice of him. Considering how slammed they were, I was surprised it wasn't the other way around but our food came out pretty quick! Because we had to wait so long for our drinks we ended up getting the salt and pepper chicken skewers to split and hoo boy, those are GOOD. Hard to beat a nicely grilled meat! The only negative was honestly the music they had going. I assume it was Black Keys Spotify because in the couple hours we were there it was nothing but Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, and Kings of Leon on repeat. I don't dislike any of those bands persé, but it was weird that it literally was like, just those 4 bands on repeat the whole time we were there.

Exceeded expectations! Smaller and more casual than Madison nextdoor, but with the same architecture and simple appealing menu. We started with the jerk wings which were tasty and a good value at $10 for 6, with homemade ranch. We shared the smash burger and Cubano. I'd order both again - the burger was crispy and the thick potato cut curly fries tasted housemade and fresh. The cubano was also delicious, a little "secret saucy" for my personal preference but full of flavor and texture. Next time I'd ask them to add Dijon mustard for more kick. Overall a very nice surprise if you are looking for upscale pub type food with an appealing atmosphere and good service! We will be back.

Chill spot to catch a game and dinner. Food menu is above average bar food. We did enjoy all of them. I'm all about welcoming environment, and this place hit the spot. It reminds me a little bit of a neighborhood dive bar, except it is fancier and doesn't smell like bleach. They've got multiple 75 or 60 inch TVs. Already a big plus! We enjoyed the hummus the most.

I've been here twice since the opening and the drinks are absolutely delicious! Service and ambiance are 10/10, everyone is always super friendly and warm. It's clean and not too crowded ( at least when I went!). I tried the fish and chips, the potatoes were good, the fish was okay. Definitely will come back especially for happy hour!

tried this spot for brunch and was so pleasantly surprised!!! the brunch food was so yummy; good portions and decent prices. Allison was our server and she was so kind, helpful, and attentive!!! we live in the are so we will definitely be back. also Allison brought my dog a water bowl so 10/10

Great Brunch Vibe! First visit for 11am Sunday Brunch was a really good surprise. Fresh, spacious, & friendly open-concept street-side place. Server Allison was friendly & attentive. Menu had lots to choose from. We chose the Classic (eggs, sausage, hash browns) & Croissant Breakfast Sandwich and we added the Dulce de Leche Waffle. Classic was outstanding with avocado added & the hash browns were homemade & perfect. Waffle was really light with grilled bananas. Large cups of fresh hot strong coffee. Fun throwback 80s music kept the vibe positive. Three large screen TVs had World Cup games going (USA USA). We met John (owner) who's a local wearing a Padres cap & clearly has a great thing going on at Johnston's! We will be back for Happy Hour drinks.

Avocado Caprese Sandwich was so good! if you don't feel like eating the whole sandwich, really good for sharing. I liked Trolley Barn too!!

Lets talk about my new favorite spot! Johnston's is one of the newest bars and restaurants in the University Heights neighborhood and everything about it is phenomenal. First off the drinks, I am typically a go to wine girl but at this spot the cocktail menu is too good to pass up on. My two favorites that I have tried are the Clare Rose and the Garden Margarita. Both are super refreshing and don't taste too alcohol forward and not to mention they are both very pretty drinks. Again I don't know how I didn't get any photos but I was so excited to come back I just went for it. The food, the menu has a lot of great options and the big stand outs to me so far (because I have literally been 4 times since they opened) are the fried cheese it comes with a house made marinara and pesto for dipping along with a bed of arugula, the burger which in my opinion was super juicy and had great flavor but the star of the show for me are the chicken sticks/ skewers. I don't know what the chef is doing with this chicken but it is the best chicken I have ever had. It has great flavor and not to mention SOO juicy. Normally I don't have high standards for chicken as it can get dry really easily but this does not at all. It all comes with 2 skewers so I always end up ordering more because they are that good! Last but certainly not least, the staff. It means so much as a customer to be treated by staff as if you are family and that's what Johnston's really does. Every time I have been in they are busy but the staff is so welcoming and helpful and always checking in on you and not to mention the owner John is absolutely amazing and the nicest man you'll ever meet! I will be back soon as I have already been multiple times.

Visited Johnstons for the first time and I was pleasantly surprised! Tried the avocado toast, the avocado caprese sandwhich and the hash brown. Hash brown was crispy and full of flavor. Avocado toast was divine and refreshing. Caprese sandwhich had just the right amount of flavor and those fries were bomb!!! Definitely recommend this place! Staff was friendly. Super cute spot!

Alright first, small bar was terrible and I have no idea what people liked about it. This place is so superior. To those who are trying to compare these place, what?! First, one of my favorite San Diego bartenders, Alex, now works here and I had no idea until I showed up for happy hour today. The food was SO good. Happy hour menu is basically a sampling of full menu items. We ordered one of each and they were all great. Drinks are all delicious. Service was fantastic. The place is beautiful too.

I've known Johnston's as a great neighborhood bar with delicious bites, but I just tried their brunch and can say it was *fantastic*! No reservation needed and we were seated immediately. Service was super fast and really friendly. Of course the food was the fantastic, with tons of different options. I got the scrambled egg bowl, but others in my group got the chicken fried steak, waffles, and avocado toast. This is now my #1 go-to spot for brunch when friends are in town - you can't go wrong!!

Tasty drinks, great service, cute spot. We came for brunch and it was great. One improvement would be to have items marked as vegan or can be vegan on the menu. I don't love interrogating the waiter about whether things are vegan. I loved the hash browns!!! I thought the avocado toast would have benefitted from fresh avocado rather than the avocado spread. We will definitely be back!

Best Brunch in San Diego!! Amazing Ambiance and super helpful and attentive service.

Amazing menu, great people great vibe. Absolutely order the hash brown when you are here, crispy on the outside, soft on the side

THE BRUNCH!!!! I love this bar for the ambiance and the cocktails. I finally tried the brunch and it blew my mind. This is one of the best I've had. The hash browns and croissant breakfast sandwich are a MUST! Bottle of champagne for 20 bucks and the bloody is loaded with a piece of bacon. This is a seat yourself establishment so no long waiting lines and the staff is so nice and accommodating.

What a great new addition to the neighborhood! We were able to get a table for 6 as soon as we walked in. The service was super attentive and on point. The space is nice and open and the seating is comfortable. The food was delicious too. We had a wide array of appetizers including the wings, hummus and pretzel. We ordered the Caesar salad and the fish chips. Everything came out quickly, was well plated and the portions were spot on. I highly recommend checking out this neighborhood spot!

The food and drinks are delicious.We really enjoy the chicken skewers ,sweet chili wings and the maitake mushrooms.The drinks here are amazing I had the Mc Gardens Marg and it tasted so good.The service was super nice also.I love the vibe here it's pretty casual and chill.

Cutest little tucked in neighborhood spot. Great vibes. Welcoming staff. Came for a drink, will definitely come back for a bite to eat as well next time. Small menu, but honestly, everything sounds great!

Great drinks great atmosphere. The interior is beautiful, bright and airy. We went on a Sunday afternoon for some drinks and they were super well balanced and delicious! Our bartender was very friendly and made great recommendations to us. We didn't order any food but I would come back to try and definitely going back for the drinks!

Found this place on Instagram and had to stop by. Very well decorated, modern and chic. We sat at the bar and ordered two rounds. Clare Rose was by far the best of the four we tried, definitely a big favorite of mine. The Ube margarita, sugar king and normal school were the others we had - all really good tasting and looking. Service was so nice and friendly. We ordered the Cubano with fries and it was one of the best we've had. Fries were delicious and the sandwich was perfect. Will definitely be coming again and so excited this place is here. For four drinks and the sandwich the total was about $70.

No longer open!!!! Officially closed according to sister restaurant and neighbor parks & rec

What the hell happened to this place? So disappointing. They had a great menu and happy hour.

University Height's much needed addition !! The food was delicious, service was wonderful, and the drinks were spot on. I can't wait to go back !

Fun atmosphere and great service team. Perfect light apps to accompany your drink of choice

New favorite brunch spot! Service and atmosphere were excellent! Had chicken fried steak and eggs. Hash brown is amazing! Loved the drinks, and the friendly neighborhood spot!

First time in and it was really good! Scott was my bartender and he made me a tasty cocktail that I requested. I will go back here for the service, the drinks and the atmosphere. I ate the fish and chips. The chips were really good but the fish was just ok. I guess it was that I didn't like the batter. The place is super well designed with nice large screened tvs. I really liked that they had a college softball game on.

I was a huge fan of Small Bar and was enticed to see what the replacement was. I ordered the waygu burger and my friend ordered one of the veggie bowls. The burger was too big, greasy, and unwieldy to eat. Didn't even taste good. Not worth $17. The bowl was soupy and kinda gross. Our server spaced out on bringing water several times and we got it ourselves at the bar. The space is really nice but you go to a restaurant for food, so we won't be back. RIP SMALL BAR.

WOW, So nice to try something new and be impressed with literally everything we ordered!! The chips and beer cheese, amazing (hint get a bigger ramekin for cheese), the fried cheese was so tasty, hard to choose between the pesto and marinara! the Cesar was excellent, different and spicy and even the croutons were unique! The avocado caprese was amazing and the fries are so unique and tasty (hint get them well for optimal crunch). We are anxiously looking forward to happy hour next time! One suggestion, add the steak sticks back, they look amazing and i am sure as delicious as everything else! Great job!

This place just opened about a month ago in University Heights in the old Small Bar space. It's pretty nice, has relaxing atmosphere and friendly staff. Specialty drinks a pretty steep at $13 for a rather small drink. I will say though that the Ube infused margarita I had was pretty good. I also had the Fish n Chips tray, which quite honestly I didn't find anything to rave about. The people next to me got the hummus plate, which was also pretty small and was $14, meh. I'll go back since I live right around the corner and try some other dishes as see what else is good.

The whole night was such a great experience. We had the pleasure of having Sophia as our server. Her recommendations were spot on. Everything we tried was great! Thank you for a great experience.

Not a big menu, I came here looking for brunch & was sadly disappointed to find out they didn't offer it, but it's a new place so maybe that will change! The drinks & service were excellent!! I got a couple things to eat, homemade chips & cheese were great & the chicken sandwich was too, but the fries are AMAZING!!! They're like wedges, but curled! So good!