SEA180 Coastal Tavern

I have visited this restaurant several times and it has always been good. Last night I went back, and it was not good, it was EXCELLENT! I had the mushroom ravioly and it was delicious! I don’t get amused easily when I go to a restaurant, I know a lot about food an it isn’t easy to please me, but this time I was very happy. My complements to the cheff! The service was also first class!

Wow is what I get when I walk in to this beautiful Restaraunt… I can’t believe I never been here before, it’s been open for over 2 years, this place is part of the Cohn restaurant group and I am a fan of island prime, c level, and vintana. I was meeting my relatives from Australia at the San Ysidro outlet, so I wanted to take them somewhere special, sea180 came to mind… The location is beautiful, off the imperial beach u can step into the sand to the ocean, beautiful view of the beach and the pier, I felt my relatives prolly thought they were back in Australia, we ordered the beet salad, poke salad, lobster roll, wagyu burger, and funny they ordered the fish and chips… Oh yeah the brussel sprouts as well… Everything was really delicious, for dessert they gave a dessert a moist chocolate cake saying welcome… What a nice touch… Check this place out if in South Bay… It’s like a hidden gem

Sea180 is a nice upscale joint in the back of Imperial Beach newest hotel.
I’ve eaten here about ½ Dozen times. I’ll post up the good, bad, and ugly.
The good:
The food is stellar.
The bartenders know how to mix a drink.
The staff is crazy friendly.
The panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean
Slightly understated décor.
Very relaxed atmospheres.
The Bad:
Small portions
The price. (Except happy hour)
The Ugly:
This place is too beautiful for Imperial Beach. It’s spearheading the over development of the last classic beach town in California.
Has anyone been to OB, PB, Mission Bay? It’s so overbuilt that the beauty is no longer there.
Enough for that rant.
If you want to do upscale IB this is by far the best spot to eat and drink. I’ll personally prefer the Forum. But this place have a better bloody Mary.

No January would be complete without a night on the town for Restaurant Week!
Let me begin by saying I’m STILL thinking about those brussels sprouts! The glaze was incredible! The portion size of the appetizer was very filling. I’m a big eater, but by the time I powered through those puppies, I was pretty full.
The King Salmon and risotto were good, but could have used a little more pizzaz. I feel like the sauce needed to be a little more «avant grade”– something weird, like «cinnamon-​blueberry asparagus cream sauce» or a «Chipotle pear reduction.»… something that makes you go «gross!» but you still end up ordering it and loving it. The portion size was also very filling.
Overall, I had a great meal. The service was very good and timely, the view was amazing, and the restaurant/​hotel itself was very modern and beautiful. Will definitely come back for another dinner, or brunch.

Well My friend and I had the most amazing dinner at this restaurant tonight! We hv both been a few times before however… There is a new chef and some new menu items that are taking this restaurant to a new level! Our dinner was outstanding, both presentation and taste were equally perfect. We shared the Oysters Rockefeller that were served hot, creamy with just the right amount of zing from a splash of jalepeno tequila!
We shared two entrees, grilled scallops over the most perfect parsnip purée with baked crispy kale chips and a piece of Wild Salmon topped with a dab of smoked chile butter, served over a delicious risotto with some perfectly blistered shishito peppers. Every bite of our dinner was perfect!!! We love the new Chef and cant wait to go back‼‼

From the moment I walked in I could tell it was going to great experience. Went for the Restaurant Week special. Greeted by the friendliest hostess ever. Asked her recommendation. She was very pleasant while seating us. We sat on the patio looking at the fantastic view of ocean and pier. Our waitress was Rachel. You will not find a better server anywhere. She was very attentive and answered all our questions. I too asked her for recommendation and she made the exact same statement as the hostess. «I am not really a burger person but the burger is to die for.» Really? What exactly makes it so good? She went onto explain the bacon jelly it was topped with… Stop… Hold the presses! Bacon jelly… Did I just die and go to heaven? I must say it was even better than I could imagine! The chef that thought this up is my new BFF! I honestly cannot wait to go back here. The friendly staff, amazing food and the view. So worth the effort to drive to Imperial Beach for the experience. I put this place in my top 5 in San Diego for price to value and friendliness.
Going on Sunday for Brunch so will update soon.

Came here for restaurant week and I must say, the huli-​huli chicken was amazing! Loved the calm atmosphere, offered blankets when it was a bit chilly outside, and the food was great! Will definitely come back again for dinner sometime.

Hidden Gem in IB
Very friendly staff. Incredible views of the pier and ocean. Inside seating vibe is cool too.
Green flash had good heat. But it was missing something… maybe something to make it a little thicker (like a purée of cucumber or something???)
Good selection of on-​tap (quality)beers
Tuna tacos were ok: Great crunch but the tuna felt like it had been thawed out recently and was cold/​still almost frozen.
Stuff pork chop was sensational!!!

Had Christmas dinner here with my BFF and it was very nice. Beautiful view of the sunset at the beach and very classy atmosphere. I hadn’t tried this style of food before and although it was not what I normally prefer, the presentation was beautiful and the staff was very attentive. Our drinks took longer than normal and they addressed it before we even had a chance to complain by comping them for us. This is a very classy establishment and I would definitely recommend it for a romantic outing.

I came in with my sister and her family on a Sunday. This restaurant is located in a hotel on the beach. We made it in time for the Social Hour and I ordered the Kobe TJ dog and Brussel sprouts. My sister ordered the risotto that was not on the Social Hour menu. Her hubby ordered the garlic herb fries and Kobe TJ dogs as well.
The Kobe TJ dogs were cooked with house bacon and kimchee. I felt like the bacon was not thoroughly cooked all the way. Some pieces were soft and raw tasting while the other sections were nice and crisp. It would have been nicer if the bacon was fully cooked all around. The kimchee on the TJ dogs were not flavorful at all. They just tasted like cabbage. I know kimchee is cabbage but there was no flavor whatsoever so I picked these off my hotdogs.
The fire roasted Brussel sprouts were cooked in a balsamic glaze and house-​smoked crispy ham. These were one of the best tasting Brussel sprouts I have ever tasted. The balsamic glaze gave the Brussel sprouts a lot of flavor and the ham was the icing to the cake. If I knew how to cook Brussel sprouts like that, I’d have it every day.
Sadly, the Brussel sprouts were the only thing I enjoyed at the restaurants. My sister’s shrimp and risotto did not taste good at all. The risotto tasted like undercooked brown rice. The dish itself was also bland but the shrimp was pretty big. She ended up taking most of the food home and leaving it in my parents’ fridge.
Not sure if I’ll return to this establishment. The restaurant has an awesome view but there is rarely any parking and the food did not impress me.
Marco, our server, was pleasant. I enjoyed his service.

YOU MUST COME IN this ocean view restaurant. We are staying at this gorgeous Pier south Resort and everything is breathtaking. Great drink selections, beers and mock cocktails.
We ordered the crab cakes and flatbread and drinks, and everything is great!!! Sitting by the fire and watching the waves roll through is amazing. Servers are very friendly and happy employees! We are only here for 2 days but we will be back for lunch.

I was shocked to find this great Cohn restaurant ocean front in Imperial Beach. Pricey for IB but it was well worth it. Being ocean front with the waves crashing and the Pelicans flying overhead made you feel like you were in LaJolla or Del Mar.
Food was good but we should have eaten inside. Cold wind brought the food temp down quickly.
I will definitely come again. Especially to have a drink and have an ocean side view of the surf and a winter sunset.

My husband had the day off for his birthday, it was a beautifully sunny day, with a northwest swell leaving perfect waves as an unreal cardboard cut out picturesque view… of course Sea 180 Coastal Tavern would be the perfect place to celebrate during lunch time.
It’s December and the Lobby of the hotel and inside the restaurant both had beautiful Christmas trees and décor all set up with a beach theme. No one was dining inside. Believe it or not everyone was outside in the 70 degree weather.
Sokol was our fantastic server. He was full of life, described the specials, cocktails, his favorites, the popular menu items, told us what we couldn’t miss out on, and is wonderful with children.
My mom usually goes here for happy hour with friends and she always tells me to get the Brussels Sprouts. I was very excited to try these and they did not disappoint. I was digging for more smoked ham and that balsamic glaze was like nothing I’ve ever had, what a combination. We love fresh poke so we ordered the Seared Albacore Poke. It looked more like a salad with pineapple, macadamia nuts, sea beans, cilantro, and vinaigrette. Eating this next to the ocean brings back memories of living in Hawaii. Our son ate the Mac N Cheese with truffled cheese sauce and slightly browned crisp on the top but creamy and rich in the inside. We shared the appetizers and it was filling.
The cocktail menu looked very appealing. My husband tried the Jalabisco which was sweet with a hint of spice. I had the Spiced Watermelon Drop with a spicy sugar rim. It was sweet with a lingering spice kick to it. Our son had a cute cup of water with a kids placemat and crayons.
Sokol remembered it was my husbands birthday and brought out a complimentary chocolate lava cake with a whipped cream and chocolate chips on top with a candle on the plate. We sang him happy birthday because our son gets a kick out of it and claps. Sokol was such a good sport. My husband also ordered a beautiful cappuccino with 2 sugar cubes.
The scenery, that view, the peaceful laid back beach ambiance, the open air dining, fire pits on during the daytime, all painted a perfect spot to celebrate. The only caveat were the multiple birds flying around the tables looking for food. This is expected since we are dining in open air on the beach. Others may find this as a negative, however it was very entertaining to our son so that’s why I didn’t knock off a star. After dining, make sure you take a walk on the beach. We can’t wait to come back for social hour with those unbeatable prices and sunset views.

Typical Cohn restaurant group location– Clean, well-​presented and well-​served, by a trained staff. What’s not typical about this location IS its location– IB. Now listen, folks, before you get your pitchforks and cans of IB Whoop Ass, I really do enjoy living in the IB area. It’s just that… Well, there just haven’t been a lot of NICER restaurants in the area… But that’s changed.
The wife and I enjoyed an early dinner here, just before the rush, and while we weren’t attended to immediately (we WERE pretty early, and staff was just getting up to speed for the night), the rest of the service was excellent and friendly. Our salads were very nicely garnished and obviously assembled by someone who took some pride in it, and our entrees were excellent. I enjoyed some very tender and nicely braised short ribs, and the wife had an excellent stuffed pork chop. The food was made to order, and was plated with a good deal of care– The kitchen staff looks to have an actual Executive Chef running things. Prices are quite steep for IB, though– But in the end, you’ll find them worth it for what you get.
Our cocktails (Vodka Tonics and Mojitos) were well made and kept fresh by an attentive and attractive waitress. Overall this is a great spot with an outstanding view of the ocean, with really the only point deduction for price /​location. Check it out!

This has got to be one of Imperial Beach’s hidden gems. Sea180 Coastal Tavern is a unique restaurant located in the Pier South Resort. The best thing about this place, it has oceanfront dining! Seriously, you are just steps away from the sand and have front view of the Imperial Beach Pier.
This is an ideal place for morning breakfast, brunches or lunches on a sunny day. Even a romantic dinner under the stars so that you can take a stroll on the beach underneath the moonlight.
What i havent mentioned yet was that the food is amazing! Why? Its actually a Cohn group restaurant. You know? The same ones that own the famous Prado, Corvette Diner, Analog, or the Melting Pot (just to name a few). So anything you order, is and will be quality.
My recommendations:
Fish and Chips
Garlic Herb Fries
Bajaja Calamari
Sea 180 Cheeseburger

Came here for happy hour with one of my BFF’s. She is leaving for New York for good and leaving San Diego, so we decided to get together and have dinner.
We walk in the hotel and Sea180 is at the back of the hotel. This place is so fancy. I have never been inside the hotel until now. We were quickly seated near the beach side as we had an awesome view of the beach. My BFF and I order a pineapple vodka drink with a cherry that was placed in the middle. It was fruity and delicious. The waiter also brings us out a couple of waters. We order three appetizers for happy hour. The first one we get is the hummus with bread type sticks. The hummus was great in flavor. The bread sticks were flavorful. The next one we get is the sausage plate. It comes with sliced up cooked sausage with thinly sliced up pickles and a pickled cabbage. The sausage was good in flavor. Underneath the sausage was a sauce that gave it flavor. The pickled cabbage and slices were good in flavor. Great combination to eat with the sausage. I wasn’t sure about the last one. It tasted like deep fried hummus. Very good in flavor. It came with a spicy ketchup. Delicious!
The best part was the chocolate bacon dessert with whipped cream. It was a chocolate brownie topped with bacon bits and on the side was a rich whipped cream. So decadent and rich! It was the best part of the meal.
Service was excellent by our waiter. He kept coming by to check up on us. What amazed me the most was the beautiful view which was relaxing. I absolutely enjoyed my conversation with my BFF. As for parking, there is street parking on the street. Luckily we found a spots block away. I will definitely have to bring my husband and daughter here. I had such a great experience! Highly recommend if you are in Imperial Beach!

I was sooooo excited to try this restaurant. But I was soooo disappointed.
The hubs and I were lucky enough to grab a spot on the patio. I just moved from the East Coast, so it would be my first time seeing the sunset over water. Our view was subsequently ruined as the staff started taking down umbrellas and put ALL of them in between our table and the view.
We started off with the garlic fries, which were really good. Seemed promising… until we got our main dishes. I had the Shrimp & Farro Risotto. The risotto was dry and really chewy. It needed a LOT more sauce. Parts of the roasted fennel was so hard it almost cut my lip. The description said there would be crispy shallots. What I got was uncooked French’s fried onions. The only saving grace of the dish was the well cooked shrimp.
The hubs had a braised short rib with a red wine based sauce over pasta. There wasn’t much braised short rib and the sauce was thick and grainy. It almost tasted like there was a bunch of Old Bay in it. It was pretty terrible, but he muscled through it.
Service was slow. Our server was pleasant but he took forever for just about anything, including the check. Speaking of the check, after an almost $ 80 dinner for mediocre food, plus valet, I doubt we’ll be back.

Ask to sit in their patio area. This is the best place to see the sunset. They have tables lined up specifically for it. Excellent views of the beach as the restaurant is situated behind Imperial Beach. There were more patrons in the patio area than inside which is understandable because the ambience of the place was extremely nice due to the ocean being right there & the outside lighting was cute.
Started with the Shrimp Ceviche that came with «masa crackers (~$ 13)» That app was great, tasted better ceviche, but the masa crackers made it better. Enough to share, too. Ordered the «Macadamia Nut Crusted Catch of the Day» (~$ 29) which happened to be Yellow tail. Yumm! So good! It was accompanied by what seemed to be pureed sweet yams (it was purple & was very hesitant to try it) which complimented the fish very well. Also got a taste of the Huli-​Huli chicken w/​bamboo rice & veggies (~$ 19). Also a very good dish! Got a glass of their «German Over the Moon Rose» for about $ 8.00, well worth it, as the rose enhanced the flavors of the fish. Also got the Vanilla Crème Brulee (~$ 9) & that didn’t disappoint either.
Excellent experience at Sea180, the only downside to it was that it was a bit dark outside even with the cute patio lighting. Maybe put some candles on the table? There were a couple of fire pits folks can sit around. Staff was perfectly nice from beginning to end. Overall, I’d come here again to watch the sunset & try some more of their menu.

For my mom and sister’s birthday celebration, we went to SEA180 for the restaurant week’s lunch ($ 15 per person). Don’t get me wrong, it was a beautiful restaurant and I definitely want to come back with my boyfriend, but some things were not up to par.
Apparently, SEA180 is also a hotel, which is pretty cool. I didn’t know that until we got to the restaurant. It’s right next to the beach (not a total surprise), so you can’t go wrong with the view. There’s indoor and outdoor seating, too! A+ location – though parking is very limited because it’s either valet or street. The restaurant/​hotel is modern and beautiful and definitely a different vibe from the rest of the surrounding area.
Pretty much everything off the restaurant week menu was delicious. Our food took a pretty long time to get to us… It was probably around 30 – 45 minutes. I have to point out one specific entrée: the Wagyu burger. It was cooked to perfection, and the sauce that it came with made it even better. The calamari (not on the SDRW menu) was a big portion in comparison to other calamari appetizers at typical restaurants. The dish that I ordered, the shrimp and farro «risotto», was – to be nice – not very appealing. I didn’t like it much. The butterscotch pot de crème was amazing!
The service wasn’t spectacular. My family’s waiter was very nice, and he would check up on us every once in a while. I felt as if he was very passive. There was one person that stood out – he was just one of the persons who passed out the food – but he had a spunky and fun attitude.
My other sister had mentioned how it was my mom/sister’s birthday, and we had presents and «happy birthday» balloons flying around, yet there was no singing or free dessert or any sort of warm welcome. Therefore, my sister wasn’t that pleased about that.

Random stop by after dinning at another establishment. Regardless of having dinner, I had to try their Brussel Sprouts as I was told that it was yummy. I’ve been here before for a Unilocal Elite party on the lanai and I will tell you that the view of the ocean is breathtaking while the sunsets.
I sat at the bar and had the Brussel sprouts along with a cocktail. I’ll say that it’s one of my best Brussels I’ve ever had. DELICIOUS. So the tasting flavor that made it so good, ANCHOVY sauce. Yup, I said oh «bagaoong-​filipino brown sauce.».
Very nice restaurant and beautiful outside patio seating. I glanced at the menu and I will definitely return to try the market fish and huli huli chicken (Hawaii style).