The LAB Collaborative

My friends and I had such a fabulous experience at the lab. Reserving a table for our party of 8 was easy. The ambiance is really nice, super open, airy and friendly. They had a baseball game playing on one side of the restaurant, so sports aficionados were happy. Our server was super sweet. The food and drinks were delicious – flavorful, fresh, and priced at a fair market rate. I ordered a caprese salad and added chicken and avocado to up the protein game and it was delicious. The burrata was the star of the show, and the dressing was perfect. My husband got a jerk chicken sandwich with tater tots and it was huge, he could only eat half of it. He said his cocktails were fabulous. The rest of our party also loved their food. It was a perfect dinner experience, and their indoor dining option was as lovely as the outdoor patio, with fresh seabreeze wafting in. I will definitely go back when my family and I visit Oceanside again!

“ THE LAB” Collaborative So I went to the “LAB-Collaborative” restaurant today located in Oceanside on the corner of Cleveland Avenue and Mission. The hostess (Camron) is perfect in her position (her People Skills are impeccable). I explained to her that I wanted a corner- table so I could read a magazine during my lunch. Cameron and the manager (Brian) ensured that I was accommodated very well. I ordered the “Citrus Cilantro Halibut” for lunch. It came with roasted potatoes and a vegetable salad of: shredded carrots onions cabbage , seasoned with a cilantro sauce. The seasoning of this meal was awesome. I totally enjoyed myself, I just wanted to have time to catch up on a fav mag and novel during lunch. The waiter from the bar (Ray) didn’t miss a beat… his service was awesome but not intrusive. Prior to my departure, I introduced my self to Nikki (A Bar Manager) who share how much she enjoyed working with this group. In my opinion, this team will make this venue sail fabulously. Each person I met seems to bring their own magic to make this venue memorable. I have added this location as a favorite go to for the weekend.

Great meal with nice outdoor dinning. Our first round of drinks were on happy hour and we both had the surf and turf. The steak was cooked perfectly and the shrimp had a ton of flavor. The flourless chocolate cake was the perfect dessert for our anniversary dinner.

Honestly the worst food we’ve had in Oceanside ☹️ I really hate to write a bad review, but if I can help someone from spending how much we did on food that tasted like fast food, I felt like I needed to. I ordered the hot honey pizza which sounds good, but was executed terribly, the sausage tasted like totinos and my Fiancé ordered a jerk chicken sandwich. They both tasted like they were from McDonald’s. The restaurant couldn’t figure out the music and played the same song multiple times, the lighting was bad, overall vibe off. I do NOT recommend.

This spot has quickly become a favorite, especially with its giant TV and comfortable outdoor seating. It's the perfect place to catch a game or just enjoy the ocean breeze. The real star of the show, though, is the food. I had the Philly cheesesteak which was seasoned and very filling. Whether you're looking for a lively atmosphere, delicious food, or potent drinks, The Lab definitely delivers

We split a delicious breakfast burrito and the mimosa flight. We like to sit at the bar...comfortable bar stools! The bartender, Randy, and Brian, the manager, were very efficient, friendly & entertaining. We had a delightful brunch! Great way to begin celebrating the Summer Solstice!

I had dropped in for a quick sandwich and a salad. Parking is on the street so it can be hot or miss but there is plenty of free parking one block away at Cleveland and Seagaze. The venue is open and airy with excellent light and outdoor seating. Place is ideal for a business lunch. My server Maddi (hope I spelled that right) was friendly, helpful and smiled a lot. I had a pleasurable lunch and I am sure you will too.

Food was mediocre. I ordered fish tacos and it was too greasy. Kalamari was bland. I would like a little spice and salt in it. Wine seemed oxidized and tasted from an old opened bottle. I also ordered a chocolate lava cake but lava was solid! Price was high for this mediocre food and service.

This place is fantastic! Although it doesn't have an ocean view, there's a fantastic bar area and a nice outdoor space, too. The drink selection is great and the food is delicious! I love to enjoy a good old fashioned with dinner. Be sure to order the brussels sprouts. They've got bacon, blue cheese, sunflower seeds...they're excellent!

We have been here twice already; once for brunch and once for dinner (and we will be back as we forgot to bring a gift card we received haha). We shared the biscuits and gravy with a side of bacon; my only complaint is that I wish the biscuits were split or there was more gravy as the dish was a bit dry. The flavor of the gravy was fantastic! Our friend ordered a mimosa flight, and the bottle of bubbly wasn't chilled down properly- the waitress did run by and say they didn't have any ready... on a Saturday... yet they still served him smh. Anyway, we came back for dinner and we both ordered the surf and turf, and shared a creme brûlée. The steaks were cooked perfectly; albeit a bit spicy for his midwestern palate (we didn't know the heat level of the chimichurri until we got our plates). The dessert was delicious; I love coffee after dinner and this sated my desire as it had espresso dust. The ambience is confusing; it has a classy-meets-sports bar vibe. I liked everything but the large televisions on the wall (they have had basketball and football on, we'd prefer some sort of racing). Our servers have been friendly and attentive. We look forward to trying more of the menu! Pros: - always friendly - reasonable brunch prices - staff is familiar with the menu - bar, table and al fresco dining options - food presentation Cons: - parking sucks (park at the transit center) - low quality brunch juices

Back here again for the wings and this time, those elote butter lettuce cups and their flatbread. Services was always on point, Caroline was our server and she was our server last time. We got here around 1:30pm, wasn't too busy yet since today is Super Bowl Sunday, got our same table as last time and wasn't too crowded. This time I tried their Thai Glaze and Sirachia sauce for the wings, sauce on the side of course and it was tasty. Not too spicy, just a bit of a kick, more sweet notes but felt like if they chopped up some thai chili in there, would totally top it off. Pepperoni flatbread was alright, I did asked for a side of hot honey and that made it taste a bit better. I felt like if they use cupped pepperoni would have more flavor. That pool of oil is where it's at. I would rate the pepperoni flatbread like a 5.6/10, point six since the hot honey helped. Elote butter lettuce cups were good, it wasn't on the menu but we asked to make sure it's not just for only happy hour. I would get that again, great for sharing. Overall, this is my second time coming here, I feel like I'm always to get their wings but we asked one of the other server what's their signature dish and he stated their burgers, so I have to get that next time. Yes, there WILL be a next time, my bestie loves coming here and maybe next time I'll get a drink.

We arrived around 7:30pm on Wednesday evening, Feb. 5th. The posted closing time was at 9:00pm. I called beforehand to check if we needed a reservation to which I was told that it was probably going to be a slow night and that we would not need one. FYI: Reservations are only made for parties of 5 or more. This night was supposed to be a special night, because we were celebrating my 45th birthday. We are not local to this area and were staying in our timeshare in O'side for a few days. As I'll explain in detail later, it turned out to be a very lackluster celebration. We were seated promptly, our server was Ashley and she took our drink and appetizer orders first. Our wait was minimal from being seated to when Ashley introduced herself. Menu: We noticed right away that the menu that is advertised on their website and also the most recent menus shown on Yelp were different than the menu they placed in front of us. Items that drew us to this restaurant were not on the new menu, such as the Creamy Potato and Burnt Leek Soup and the Elote Lettuce Wrap. The fish of the day for the fish tacos we found out were swordfish, which we could not eat due to religious reasons. Sadly, we were a little disappointed straight out the gate. Drinks: I ordered the mocktail, Equinox, which was a blackberry, lemon sparkling drink. Very tasty, I would order it again. Appetizers: Bourbon Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts (minus the bacon)...this was our favorite of the night. Cauliflower with Agave Ponzu Sauce...wow! Our table's second favorite dish of the night. So many levels of deliciousness that fire up your tastebuds and explodes into a whirlwind of flavors in your mouth. Biscuits...4 crunchy, dense, dry biscuits. Not fluffy and delicious. Came with whipped salted butter and whipped cinnamon? salted butter. Would never EVER order again. Food: Fried Chicken...after ordering was told that they were out of mashed potatoes and that they would sub tater tots and comp the meal, to which I accepted. Also, the gravy contains pork sausage and since I don't eat pork, Ashley was very accommodating and offered to bring a side of their cheese sauce instead. The batter on the chicken was pleasantly very light and not over battered, but it could have used more seasoning. The chicken was pounded thin and still had a lot of moisture. The tater tots were seasoned well and were perfectly crunchy. Loaded Baked Potato Soup...asked if there was bacon inside the soup and was told no that it was only on top as garnish, so my family member ordered it without bacon, but there was definitely bacon inside. This was the same person who wanted the Creamy potato and leek soup, so now their second choice of soup was unavailable. What a disappointment. They decided on just getting another order of the Fried Cauliflower appetizer for their dinner. Fried Cauliflower Sandwich (vegan)...Person eating this said that it was good until they got to the middle of the sandwich and the cauliflower got hard to bite into (assumed that it was the stem that wasn't fully cooked). Another disappointing dish. Would have been good if executed properly. Chicken Tortilla Soup...average broth soup with vegetables, shredded chicken, and fried tortilla strips. Person eating this said that they liked it. Dessert: Crème Brûlée...This was made with jet fuel coffee and it was so creamy, lightly sweetened, and delicious. He really liked it. There were so many vanilla bean flecks inside, we were amazed. It was very tasty. Would order it again. Carrot Cake...not what the person who ordered it expected. There were no nuts and tasted more like a spice cake than a carrot cake. Cheesecake with Berries...the cheesecake was also very creamy, a little denser than Cheesecake Factory, but just as flavorful if not more. The berries on top were a nice addition and the graham cracker crust was light and soft and complemented the filling very well. So, my birthday dinner did not go as well as we had hoped. There were some mishaps on the restaurant's part, but our server was quick to remedy the situation and made up for them well. Unfortunately, although we informed our server Ashley that we were celebrating a birthday, there was no birthday song and dance. I wasn't offered a dessert, ice cream sundae, nor a slice of cake. Nothing. At the least, they could have placed a candle on any one of the three desserts we ordered ourselves. My thoughts for the owner/restaurant manager, please make sure to update your website with the most current menu being offered at the time. It was very disappointing to find that the dishes that we wanted, which was our reason for selecting this restaurant, were not available. We would have definitely walked out and ate at another restaurant if it hadn't already been so late in the evening.

This is a fun place in coastal Oceanside. Have been a few times, usually for birthday celebrations, and never disappointed with my visits. Pros: the food is good. I had their poke bowl and it was very filling, fresh, and at a good price. Not pictured is their margherita pizza which we had as a starter appetizer, which was also very good. Cons: we did come in on a Friday night, so the staff was busy in the restaurant the entire time, and this lead to our table having to consistently flag down someone for drinks. Someone in our party had to send their food back because it wasn't prepared fully and wasn't edible, however, the waitress was very understanding and took his replacement order without issue and got it out right away. Their menu is not overly complicated, however, their drinks menu doesn't really match the design and could be mistaken for part of the decor. Not really my thing, but not a complaint either. They were dog friendly for someone at the bar with their small lap dog, which can be a plus if you have one. Happy with my visit and will be back.

By the looks of the food served to everyone else around is, I could tell the food was going to be good. It looked awesome! Party of 4 and it was all of ours first time here. My bf and I are the locals and we'll certainly come back. My bf ordered a caprese salad and added halibut. He enjoyed it very much. The fish was well cooked, nice and buttery. I ordered the Thai salmon without coconut rice, extra Asian veggies. The veggie slaw (shredded veggies) was not what I ended expecting, but it still tasted good. What else could "Asian veggies" be except stir fried bok choy, shiitake mushrooms, maybe some green beans.. the shredded veggies were cooked and paired nicely with the salmon. My in-laws got a chicken sandwich and gnocci and they cleaned it up! We got seated pretty quickly. The front entrance is a bit awkward because you step into a walkway. There's no real waiting area so you feel like you're in the way. The fire pit tables outside look like a nice spot to eat next time.

Our server was very friendly and informed us we had only a few minutes to get our lunch order in before they switched to the dinner menu. The fried cheese curds were delicious. I was a little disappointed by the flavors in the salad with the green goddess dressing. But it was a nice outdoor patio area for a beautiful late lunch on a relaxed Sunday afternoon.

Came on a Friday evening dinner for 2.5. Was able to be seated outside only but the patio had heaters and cozy fire pits to keep us warm. Inside is a sports bar/pub vibe. Parking that I know of is street. Close to the pier. Tried 2 soups- the turkey chili was a tad spicy but my favorite of the two with the leak- portion sizes were large! Also tried elote lettuce wraps- cool spin healthy spin on a classic dish and the beef cheek which was a comforting, tad salty reminder of a dish my mom makes. The five stars is for the manager he was incredibly friendly to us and our one year old! Can't wait to come try more of the menu.

Had the Oside or No Side battered chicken sandwich. Sandwich was huge and presents well! Could use a little flavor on the batter but the sauce saves the sandwich. Also had the creamy potato and burnt leek soup. That was good! Service was good at the bar. Slow to start but the food came pretty fast so well balanced service. Ambiance was nice and big with bar seating too! Also part of the seating was outdoors. Verdict - try it at least once.

the idea of the space is great, but idk about the execution. i get a bit confused if it's trying to be a nicer restraint collective or a nicer sports bar. Have come here twice now l and am never thrilled by what we get. stopped here after dinner just for dessert seeing they had a brownie sundae, which was just alright considering for $15 i expected a nicer brownies. we described the texture as more like "cosmic brownie" being dense and chewy. the ice cream seemed very generic so we were a bit underwhelmed. getting to the bathroom is also super awkward as you have to walk in front of the large tv screen where everyone is watching and weave through everyone's tables. the bathroom has a shared sink area that nobody seems to clean very often. service wise everything was okay. the hostess was sitting on her phone and looked a little lost when we walked in. Our server was also kind of short spoken especially after we mentioned we would only be getting dessert.

You HAVE to try The Lab Collaborative! Soooo good!! Great outdoor atmosphere, quieter than the inside. Really enjoyed our dinner. Our waitress Alisha was very nice and very knowledgeable when we asked her about the menu and she gave us excellent recommendations! The Jerk chicken sandwich, Thai flavored wings, and the pineapple glazed pork chops were all very flavorful and delicious! Out drinks were also great! Can't say enough good things about this place! We'll be back!

Enjoying a nice weekday meal, I ventured out around the ever growing Oceanside. A once sleepy town is now filled with foodie delights up and down the coast. The lab is a great place to watch sports and get your grub on. With a fully stocked bar not only for alcoholic drinks they have a selection of mocktails as well no matter the weather they have an abundance of indoor and outdoor seating. While up in Oceanside you can't shy away from the sunshine and ocean breeze. Located a block away from the beach you get the best of both worlds. There is only metered parking so be prepared. As you enter one wall is complete with multiple tv screens to enjoy a game while also keeping an eye out for other games or your any of your fantasy football desires. They have placed a large window to also watch the magic in the kitchen. The owner was so thoughtful with multiple outlets and purse hooks under the entire bar. The lovely bartender Kari was so attentive ensuring our service was above and beyond. To eat we shared a the shrimp and apple salad. 9 was shocked with how large it was. We split it and they didn't skimp on any of the ingredients. The flavor of the pickled onions, granny apples, mixed greens was so balanced with the blue cheese. The shrimp were perfectly cooked and placed delicately on top. The one thing we didn't like was the large granny apple wedges were too large for the salad so we did need a knife to cut it up. I would get the salad again it was so well balanced and absolutely delicious. For the entire we shared the Thai baked salmon with coconut cilantro rice and Asian style veggies. This has a slight kick (spice kick not hot sauce) the salmon was cooked perfect but a touch of citrus on the veggies would have brighten the dish. Last, we also ordered the surf and turf skirt steak with shrimp, yellow squash on a bed of mashed potatoes. The chimichurri sauce was a great balance and we loved this dish! There are so many choices on the menu which I would have loved to try but sadly my stomach was stuffed. Until my next road trip!

A place you should love. But last night we felt like uninvited guests and were not welcomed at all. Let me set the scene... Our friends 40th birthday. The event begins at 615. We could not get there until 730 due to another commitment. We sat down, the other 5 people were still eating , granted almost finished, but dinner was still a thing. After several minutes we were able to get the servers attention, Chris S., and he came over and (no exaggeration here) he said, "You're late. What do you want." My dining partner tried to make light of this rudeness by saying, " a little hello, maybe?" What we got back was, "I'm busy, what are you ordering?" We both had questions on the menu but were now afraid to ask anything as it was clear we were not wanted, nor were we cared about at all, but due to the birthday antes to just move on. If you read my reviews you will see we are pretty easy going, but this treatment ruined the evening. We. Were. Not. Wanted. How would you feel? I had the chicken breast salad and it was magnificent. Top marks. My friend had the pizza flat bread and it was also superb. But... the pizza was not cut (or at least all the way through) and my chicken while tasty came in very long strips. We needed knives and there were none provided so we had to go hunt them down at a side station ourselves. All in all really dissappointed. Knowing we were not welcome we still spent $100 with tip. Hard to think we will go back unless something changes or we are Shown that The Lab cares about us. I wish this review were more positive but I am hard pressed to find in my memory a time when we felt hated for showing up to a restaurant.

I'm obsessed with their Wedge Salad! It comes with iceberg lettuce, bacon, bleu cheese, tomato, pickled onion, white wine vinegar, and bleu cheese dressing. I crave this salad all the time. It's packed with flavor and better than any other Wedge Salad I've had before. Service has always been good for me. They have indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant has a modern vibe. There is only street parking.

First time at this Oceanside gem and enjoyed it! It was a cold night, and they only offered us a seat on the patio (no inside without reservation). We took it as they did have propane heaters which made the chilly air a bit more palatable. The service was fantastic and everyone who came by was really hospitable. I started with the leek/potato soup, which was a huge portion for the bowl. It was slightly on the saltier side, but overall still delicious. We had the elote lettuce wraps as an appetizer and shared the beef cheek stew for the entree. Food was hearty and delicious and our waiter was super sweet with our 15 month old. Recommend this spot: I'd definitely come back again!

The girls and I were trying to find a restaurant to have dinner at. The lab collaborative came up and looked good to us so we headed over. There is a parking structure where you can park and they validate. It was a Saturday night so we waited about 15 minutes for a table to be available. We got outside seating and it was cold, but the service was awesome; they brought us a heat lamp. We ordered a couple of things to share. We got the cauliflower with agave ponzu sauce, chicken salad with honey mustard, beef cheeks, and the chimichurri marinated surf and turf. I enjoyed the salad and the surf and turf. I love the fried leeks on top of the salad. The surf and turf, the whole dish was a hit. I saw that a lot of people did order this dish. The cauliflower with agave was cooked nicely but it had too much sauce. While the beef cheeks, I didn't enjoy the flavors. I did like the homemade buttermilk biscuit that came with the dish. The location was great and they can host large parties. Overall, a good place for dinner if you're in Oceanside.

My bf and I walked here before checking out of the weekend stay in the area. The space was very trendy with high ceiling, plenty of TVs and a huge screen for any sport fans on any game occasion, great place to come enjoy. Our waiter was a nice gentlemen, he seemed to be one of the few waiters that Sunday so he was pretty turned around but always made sure to take care of us. Food was good and decent. I would come again for service and atmosphere and try their other items.

Tried this spot out since I was in the area. Dined for dinner with my wife. We ordered the wedge salad and split it. The vinaigrette they did with it was actually really nice. Different touch. We got the Jerk wings, it was 7/10. Service was good. They were decently busy so I was satisfied with it all. Not too sure if I'd come back, lots of spots to try.

Got some take out from The Lab to bring back to our hotel at the Seabird. It was conveniently located 5 minutes away (walk). Easy online ordering. Food was solid. Brussels sprouts salad was a favorite and so were the elote wraps. The flatbreads were decent. Big portions.

The location is fantastic just a few short blocks from the pier and the ambience of the restaurant is very nice. Ample outside seating with a few small fire pits. I found the portion sizes to be huge but the actual food was not great. My ribeye steak was very chewy and lacked flavor. The potato leek soup was alright but had a strange texture. The iceberg wedge salad had a very watery blue cheese dressing that did not add anything to the dish. It is usually a creamy dressing on a wedge. I might have ordered the wrong things on the menu or maybe it was an off day?! Service was overall good and everyone was very friendly. I would say great spot to come grab a drink and some appetizers. Wouldn't necessarily recommend dinner.

Absolutely perfect location and their lunch menu during the week is amazing! Great food, prices, and service and a beachy vibe atmosphere. I prefer outdoor seating but inside has a great feel too. The cheeseburger was delicious and loved their margarita, too. Would definitely recommend when visiting the area.

The food & service were great. My wedge salad was unbelievably delicious. However the lighting is so bad! It's too bright...it's literally like a lab lol They've got to turn the lights down or something. It's not relaxing and made us want to leave. It was like 'last call' lighting the entire time. Ambience is so important. Unless you need to take out your spleen nobody needs lights this bright.

The vegan pasta is so flavorful but only at night. The day staff does not make it well. The staff is very friendly and accommodating

It was my first time here. I can say it's worth the try. Parking isn't difficult. Everything we ate and drank was delicious especially the cheesecake. So good! The service was good. The wait time wasn't that long. I will definitely be back.

First time dining here....met a client and we both really enjoyed it. We ordered the poke bowl and jerk chicken sandwich....both were great. The service was really good and the restaurant was super clean. The decor is nice...really nice indoor and outdoor seating. Plenty of parking options...lot across the street and a parking garage right next door.

First time coming here. Nice and chill atmosphere. Exactly what I was looking for on a lazy Sunday. The brussels sprouts were really good. The burger and birria sandwich had so much flavor. And my hibiscus margarita had a nice balance of tequila and wasn't overly sweet. I would recommend this restaurant to my family and friends.

Eat, drink, space yourself out and repeat. Great food, drinks, customer service. My favourite restaurant in OC.

I went to The Lab with a big party for dinner on a Friday night. The server was really great, she took our drink and food orders quickly, checked on our table, even offered to split the bill per person for a large table. The restaurant itself is really cute and we loved how the lab theme carried through on the menu and wallpaper. I think they could have even taken it a bit further the theme. I ordered the oaxacan sunset (mezcal cocktail) and fish tacos for dinner. I thought they both were good but not the best I've ever had. I tried some of the brussel sprouts and thought those were delicious, I'd definitely recommend the brussel sprouts!

Sunday brunch: Friends visited me this Sunday and we went to The Lab for brunch. We were five but only chose two different dishes, , the avocado toast, and the everything bagel. We were very pleased. I loved my avocado toast. The pickled onions and splash of balsamic vinegar, made an unbelievable difference in this simple dish. I took half home. Those who chose the bagel were equally as happy as me, but, finished every bite there. Our waitress was very attentive and served us with a smile.

The atmosphere was great on the patio. Our drinks were tasty and our server was attentive. I could have eaten the cauliflower again and again. The flavor was amazing!

Perfect location in the heart of the revitalized Downtown Oceanside. Pet friendly patio. Large platters, a few options could easily feed two people (for example the friend chicken platter). I thought the chicken could add another condiment or sauce to give it more of a kick. Sort of bland but still delicious. Friendly, quick service.

Food (5/5 stars): The Lab Collective in Oceanside is a hip spot with delicious food! All of their dishes are beautiful and thankfully they taste as good as they look. Their fried chicken sandwich, the #1 seller "Oside or No Side" was a hefty meal! It came with two very well seasoned pieces of chicken, bourbon-habanero sauce, and coleslaw. Each component complemented each other so well. I just wished the chicken was a little juicer and the sauce was spicier. It's all about the appetizers here though. Their Brussels Sprouts are the best ones I've ever had because each bite was jam packed with flavor. I'm also not big on lettuce wraps but their Elote Lettuce Wraps got me craving more! Highly recommend this place for their science-y atmosphere and creative dishes! Experience (4/5 stars): * Price: it's quite expensive, but still worth trying * Wait Time: we made a reservation * Service: very good and friendly. Great recommendations! * Parking: street parking in downtown Oceanside can be tough * Ambiance: they do an amazing job with the ambiance here. Science is everywhere in the restaurant in such a subtle, elegant way. I love how the lights are shaped like molecules!

Granted, we only ordered two dishes out of a wide variety on the menu, but we figured we'd stick with the simple pub-style foods - you know, the type that are hard to f up. With that said, while the burnt leek soup was comforting and outstanding in flavor, the pretzel was simultaneously somewhat dry and flavorless. We walked over to TLC because of the rave reviews, but I think my ultimate verdict is 3-4 stars.

The Lab is right off Mission Avenue in Cleveland. It is very close to Mission Pacific Hotel where I am staying. I saw this place on Yelp. It looks modern and hip on the outside and inside. The place was busy, not full around 530p.m. on a Saturday. We wanted the outside tables with the fire pit, but she said it was a hot commodity. We opted to sit inside so that we didn't have to wait. Our waitress was fantastic. I forgot her name. She gave some great suggestions. Beef cheeks was one of them, but I didn't want beef tonight. She was helpful and suggested other things. I went with the poke bowl, pretzel and sausage, and lettuce wrap elotes. The lettuce wraps were very good. The corn, black beans, cilantro with cotija cheese and crema worked together. Even better was the avocado slices. 9/10. The pretzel and sausage is something I've never had before. The pretzel was so big. It came with 3 different sauces. I'm not sure they were but I loved them all. The pretzel was crunchy on the outside and soft inside. It was served warm. Yum. 9/10. The poke bowl was my favorite of all the dishes that I had. The chunks of tuna were plenty and fresh. There were fresh avocado and edamame. My favorite was the jasmine rice with coconut and cilantro was amazing! It beats boring plain jasmine rice. 10/10.

Don't drink alcohol, but their food is great, unique, fresh, and was served amazingly fast. Our server was great and provided good tips on food choices. There were many different places to sit. Inside, outside in a patio area, and outside with a fire pit. We would have to be on a waiting list for the fire pit so we chose a table inside. The pretzel sausage platter was great with great dipping sauces. The Elotes wraps were unique, served cold, and tasted great. My wife really liked the poke bowl with the rice quite flavorful.

The Lab Collaborative has it all: ambiance, delicious menu, full bar, and tasty food. As a bonus, it's in a great location. It checks all the boxes for an enjoyable experience of laying back and enjoying a tasty cocktail and/or drinks. With plenty of seating options ranging from the high top bar, indoor seating or outdoor seating, there's an available option for everyone. The food was enjoyable. The Lab Burger was recommended by the server and she did well with that recommendation. A hefty, juicy patty, crispy bacon, cheesy goodness....all ingredients for a fantastic burger! The battered fries were also cooked perfection. As for the Jamaican Jerk Chicken Sandwich, the flavors weren't as hearty and abundant but it was a good change in flavor profile. Subtle savoriness and sweetness along with a generous piece of chicken, I think it was a good change-up from the flavors of the glutinous burger. The tots though, gotta always love some crispy tots to complement any meal. Water was always topped off, frequent check-ins, and a friendly attitude...service was great. The remarkable location of this venue being by the ocean/pier and the Top Gun house makes it an ideal place to walk off the food coma =)

I came here with a friend who's been here before and has a varied experience. This time our experience was good overall. I recommend sitting at the bar if you are a small group as we initially sat at a table and service was slower there. For two fairly small girls, we ordered a lot of food and drinks. We started with the Mexican Mule and the Lilikoi Mojito. I didn't like the Mule because it was more cranberry and chili than ginger beer and vodka. In hindsight, I should've stuck to my Moscow Mule. My friend's Mojito was good but very passion fruit heavy. For appetizers, we ordered the Cauliflower with Agave Ponzu Sauce and the Pretzel and Sausage Plate. I loved both. I am obsessed with cauliflower so I am a little more biased towards that dish. It was tart, spicy, soft, fried and delicious. The leeks on the plate were delicious. The Sausage and onions in the Pretzel plate were top class. I'm not a big fan of Pretzels but my friend enjoyed it a lot. The sauces that came with the Pretzel plate were delicious. I highly recommend getting both. The portions are huge so we only managed to finish one app and my friend took the leftovers from the other one home. For the mains (because we over ordered), we got the jerk chicken sandwich and the birria sandwich to share. Jerk chicken came with tots and the Birria came with salad. Between the two, the Birria won hands down. The shredded beef with peppers onions and cheese with the spicy side sauce was mouthwatering. The hoagie was soft and perfect. On the other hand, I expect jerk chicken to burst with flavor and take me back to the Caribbean. I expect vibrant colors, a flowing gravy, just a lot of abundance. This sandwich was not that. It did not have the color and vibrancy. On taste, it was definitely bland with no hard hitting flavors. The chicken itself was good but it could've been called a grilled chicken sandwich, which felt more apt. We ended the meal with two more drinks, this time from their Mixologist menu. I got the Summer Rehab with vodka (the original has gin). My friend got the Oaxacan Sunset. These drinks were delicious and exactly what we wanted. We spent almost 5 hours at the restaurant and nobody kicked us out. All in all, the experience was good and we will be back.

Finally got around to trying this place out and it did not disappoint! We arrived without a reservation a little after 7 and were seated immediately at a table outside. It wasn't too loud or chilly which was nice! Our server was super friendly and everything came out quickly. We ordered the Lab Cadillac and the Water My Garden cocktails, which were refreshing. We then tried the Elote Lettuce Wraps for an appetizer, which were yummy! Our entrees were the Lab Poke Bowl and the Citrus Cilantro Halibut, both tasty with a decent serving of fish. The coconut cilantro jasmine rice in the poke bowl and the cilantro butter on the halibut were the standout components that we wish we had more of. As a local, I'd come back!

Food service atmosphere top notch. Had wedge salad was over the top and poke bowl was definitely not blah.

Honestly can't believe this was our first time here. Super rad spot in downtown O'side. The vibe is chill. The service is great (great drink recs too!) and the food is gooood. Looking forward to coming back soon!

When I think lab, the first thing that comes to mind is experiment. My dish was lacking, but not just the protein, and served cold. I don't believe that was the intent. Staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The dining area has a nice layout, especially the outdoor seating, which is where I chose to sit. They share the coffee pot(s) with the coffee shop next door, so I didn't get another cup of coffee.

This is one of those places where they keep bringing out the food and you keep expecting one of the dishes just isn't going to be as good as the others because, well, that usually happens, right? At some point there is something that is a bit of a let down. Not here. Dish after dish was absolutely fantastic. The appetizers, the entrees. All super. And when people at the table start commenting on how great it is then it validates how much I enjoyed it. And there are places with really good servers. It isn't often you get one of those who also has the perfect personality, laid back and fun, yet very much on top of everything. In addition to the amazing food she was really perfect in this setting. All around, a wonderful experience I wouldn't mind having again.

First and last time coming here!! Long wait for food with totally disorganized staff. The bald dude who I assume was in charge of the chaos was the most erratic out of the bunch. Not my vibe. It honestly feels like a tourist trap, I'd rather go somewhere with quicker service and friendlier staff

I came here while i was on a business trip last summer and loved the atmosphere here and the service was amazing and very attentive i couldn't wait to come back. When I decided to come back with my work colleagues again and this place has completely flopped during that time period. The service was so slow, our food took forever, the chicken sandwich had no flavor, every mixed drink we had either tasted watered down or way too sweet. I don't think I will be back if this is their new standard.

I love everything about this restaurant - the service and food are outstanding, but my favorite part is being able to bring my Lab here, (no pun intended) and she gets so much love. Thanks ,Jeff, for the wonderful hospitality!

I like this place pretty well! I appreciate the menu being labeled with gluten free options, and the staff is overall pretty knowledgeable and friendly. They handle the pacing well during the tourist season and keep things moving. The poke bowl is fantastic, it's my favorite thing. Biggest thing I wish they'd do is cut the veggies finer, the cucumbers are super chunky and I like the shaved veggies better. The flavor is great and they have gluten free tamari (but it doesn't need it). I've had the skirt steak before and was underwhelmed. It was just ok, pretty tough but the flavor was good. The location is right downtown Oceanside by the new hotels. The decor is super nice and their drinks are fantastic. I go here frequently.

Indoor and outdoor seating; spacious. We were a party of 10 seated outdoor. I had a feeling of spaciousness . Service was very good. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable . Serving size was generous and enough for leftovers. I had the wedge salad with shrimp . This was delicious !! And filling . Having the shrimp was a nice add-on for protein. Delicious food, good service and a great place to dine especially with large groups!

I've passed by this place several times, always admiring the beautiful succulents on display. Finally stepping inside, I was greeted warmly by the staff who promptly seated my family and me. The ambiance was enhanced by a large screen perfect for watching sports. We kicked things off with a pretzel accompanied by beer, cheese, and mustard. It surpassed my expectations, with a slightly sweeter dough and a crispy exterior reminiscent of a donut but with pretzel flavor. The beer cheese complemented it perfectly. Our main courses, the lab burger and jerk chicken sandwich, were equally satisfying, although we couldn't finish them due to our eyes being bigger than our stomachs. However, our daughter thoroughly enjoyed the ice cream sundae, and the brownie was delightfully fudgy.

I like The Lab Collaborative. The menu was good and offered items for both meat eaters and vegans. The atmosphere is really nice and the outdoor seating is very convenient. During the cooler months, they keep it toasty with outdoor heaters.