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Dobson's Bar & Restaurant, San Diego, CA

Dobson's Bar & Restaurant

4.4 (1483)
$30 and under
Californian
956 Broadway Circle, San Diego, CA 92101

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 23 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
Dobson's Bar and Restaurant is a hidden treasure in the heart of Downtown San Diego/Gaslamp Quarter. For the last 40 years, this has been the hot spot for business lunches and frequented by many local and nationwide celebrities. Paul Dobson, the namesake for Dobson's bar and restaurant, is one of America's few professional Bullfighters. The food is California cuisine with a touch of Italian, French, Spanish and Asian cuisine. One thing that both local San Diegans and Zagat can agree on is that this is one of the top restaurants in San Diego. Due to the limited seating and popularity, reservations are highly recommended. Owner Paul Dobson "works a room better than Sinatra", which explains why this "local tradition" downtown remains, "after all these years", a "high-powered, hobnob spot"; the Cal kitchen "serves up delicious, innovative food, along with old standbys" ("have the mussel bisque and think of heaven").

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Californian, French, Seafood
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 3:00 pm–9:00 pm Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Martin San Roman
  • Catering
    We offer catering for private events. Please call the restaurant to inquire about details.
  • Private party facilities
    Dobson's proudly introduces our new Private Dining Planning Department! Your ideas and our expertise will create just the right menu. You can even rent the whole restaurant for your private event!!! For more information please contact us directly.
  • Private party contact
    Marcos Luciano: (619) 231-6771
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Cross street
    Broadway
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Wine

Experiences

  • Filet & Lobster Mondays at Dobson's!

    $59.95 per person

    Multiple dates available
    Join us every Monday night 4 to 9 pm. 8 oz Filet Migñon and 4 oz Wild Lobster Tail Au Gratin Mashed Potatoes Fresh Vegetables Bordelaise Sauce Butter and the Choice of Dobsons Famous Mussel Bisque or Caesar Salad for only $ 59.95 plus tax
    Filet & Lobster Mondays at Dobson's! Photo

Private dining

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What 1,483 people are saying

Dobson's Bar & Restaurant reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Dobson's Bar & Restaurant offers a charming, European pub-like ambiance near major theaters, making it "perfect pre-show place for dinner." Guests rave about the "fabulous French onion soup" and renowned mussel bisque. Service is often "excellent," with standout servers like Jose enhancing the experience. Patrons love the historic setting and "excellent location."
1,483 Reviews
  1. Jennifer

    San Diego1 review

    3.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was meh for such a pricy steak. It was overcooked and tasteless. The drinks from the bar were good. It’s close to the theater which is why we went there but I don’t think we will be back.

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  2. Ashlea VIP

    San Diego12 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Dobsons has long been our go-to restaurant before heading to the San Diego Civic, and we typically visit 6-8 times a year. However, our most recent experience was far from what we've come to expect. We’ve always loved their mussel appetizer and the incredible bread, but sadly, both were subpar this time. The mussels were dry and lacked their usual flavor, so we decided to send them back. Rather than offering us another batch, the staff suggested we choose a different appetizer, which made us feel like they were aware something was off. The bread, which is usually a highlight, arrived cold, though the second round was warm and delicious—thankfully, that was a redeeming moment. As for our entrees—duck, scallops, and chicken—each dish was dry and lacked the quality we’ve come to expect from this historic San Diego institution. On a positive note, the salad was fresh and flavorful, and the brie cheese appetizer was excellent. Unfortunately, the service also fell short. We’ve always enjoyed the attentive, professional service from Jose, our regular waiter, but he wasn’t working during our visit. The replacement staff was rushed and disorganized, which detracted from the overall experience. Dobsons has long been a staple in San Diego’s dining scene, and I truly hope management addresses these issues. We’ll continue to return, but we’re hoping this was just an off night and that they return to the quality we’ve come to love.

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  3. Gloria

    San Diego3 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    My husband and I had a show scheduled at the Civic Center. Dobson’s Bar is closed to the venue , so we thought it was going to be a good restaurant. My husband had gone to this Restaurant in the past and had a good opinion about it. It was a great disappointment. Food was mediocre, nothing remarkable. Service was poor. The servers looked unprepared. Not going back !

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  4. Perla

    San Diego10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service, Food and drinks top of the line. Our waiter was professional and explained the menu. Love to go to Dobson's for a quick bite and drink.

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  5. Nancy

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing spot before a show!!!!!!! Hidden gem 💎 must try

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  6. Michael VIP

    Los Angeles3 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on June 18, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    Won’t be back - took forever for service and drinks, which were made wrong, gin instead of vodka. Appetizer was not cooked through, when we said it was cold, they took it back and burned it, and served us the burned dish. Shrimp were not cleaned still had veins and ruined the dish, chicken overcooked. “Famous” sourdough was burned….. not a single thing went well. Loud inside - Not worth it at all….

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  7. Dru VIP

    San Diego45 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    French onion soup was fabulous. Felt like we were in Paris. Se a bass and stroganoff were delicious. Our waiter was informative and charming. Feels like you are in a European pub! Close to all the major theaters. Lots of parking available!

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  8. Eustratia

    San Diego4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Perfect pre show place for dinner. Must do bread service. Highly recommend mussels and burger. Get you out in time for walk to theater

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  9. Paula VIP

    San Diego5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent service and very tasty food, reasonably priced wine by the glass. We enjoy the really lovely and historic ambiance at Dobsons.

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  10. Harry VIP

    San Diego47 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on June 1, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    It had for a long time been one our favorites when going to event at Civic Theater or Balboa Theater; however, do to the few times a year we do not seemed to be preferred clientele. Move us in minimal service and move us out for net setting. True shame use to be so good!

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FAQs

Dobson's Bar & Restaurant offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (619) 231-6771.

Dobson's Bar & Restaurant is rated 4.4 stars by 1483 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Diego
  4. San Diego
  5. Downtown

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 23 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Dobson's Bar & Restaurant

956 Broadway Circle, San Diego, CA 92101

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Broadway
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 3:00 pm–9:00 pm Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Californian, French, Seafood
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Martin San Roman
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    We offer catering for private events. Please call the restaurant to inquire about details.
  • Private party facilities
    Dobson's proudly introduces our new Private Dining Planning Department! Your ideas and our expertise will create just the right menu. You can even rent the whole restaurant for your private event!!! For more information please contact us directly.
  • Private party contact
    Marcos Luciano: (619) 231-6771
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