insideOUT image

insideOUT

Restaurant Bar Mediterranean restaurant Lounge

A menu featuring California & Mediterranean-inspired dishes & drinks in a lively space with a pool. People often mention drinks, great, good, amazing, brunch, staff, time, friendly, experience, decor,


Address

1642 University Ave #100, San Diego, CA 92103

Website

insideoutsd.com

Contact

(619) 888-8623

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (1.1K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Friday: 4 PM to 12 AM
  • Saturday: 10 AM to 12 AM
  • Sunday: (Easter), 10 AM to 5 PM, Hours might differ
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 4 to 10 PM
  • Wednesday: 4 to 10 PM
  • Thursday: 4 to 11 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: drinks (26) great (23) good (22) amazing (17) brunch (16) staff (15) time (15) friendly (12) experience (11) decor (9)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Amanda L. 1 year ago on Google
    My friend and I came here on a Sunday just for drinks. Definitely make a reservation as it’s such a busy group brunch place. We opted just for drinks since we arrived towards the end of brunch, but the drinks + service did not disappoint! Cocktail wise - Raspberry kiss is definitely my favorite and it’s so dangerously sweet. Blush and Bashful had that perfect sweetness with a kick. Do yourself a favor and try both (yes, I know that’s mixing but have another friend order it and steal a sip if you don’t want to commit). All the staff we interacted with were super kind and funny. At one point, it started lightly sprinkling so the staff ran out and set up umbrellas for us. The vibes here are incredible and the food looked amazing. I’ll definitely return next time for food! I also think dinner here would be so romantic with the decor and lighting. Gosh I already have two return trips planned already!
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Johan C. 2 years ago on Google
    The ambience is great and interesting. It's both indoor and outdoors, like the name suggests. And it's inside the apartment/business complex, which for me was pretty unique. I loved the drinks. Food was good and had good portions. Definitely come dressed for the cold in the winter. If you sit in the top section with the propane fire tanks, they don't heat quite as good, but they will give you blankets!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Simon V. 1 year ago on Google
    Recommend for a nice Date night. Great ambiance, friendly staff. Service was good. I tried their steak and it was amazing! Definitely recommend this place if you’re looking for something different in San Diego.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Danielle M. 1 year ago on Google
    This review is just for drinks and their wonderland make over for October. I love the really beautiful themed drinks. The whole restaurant looks like a fantasy land so you should definitely check it out while it's going on.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Teri F. 7 months ago on Google
    LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT! The food was good, I order the loco moco, my husband ordered the steak filet and our friend ordered the French toast. We also had the peach, blossom picture. The atmosphere is amazing, the servers made us feel welcomed. Definitely will come again.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Samantha M. 9 months ago on Google
    Atmosphere is so cute! The servers are friendly. The drinks were fun and good. We ordered the chips and dip, which served 6 pretty well. I got the cheeseburger with sweet potato fries, it was pretty big. Definitely a cute place for a date or drinks with friends.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 William Kucmierowski (. 9 months ago on Google
    Honestly - this spot isn't good... it's great! The overall ambiance is astounding. The outdoor, tree house, rain forest vibe worked well, with a man made pond, waterfall and loads of greenery. The servers were all pleasant and helpful - they even grabbed two umbrellas to cover our 4 person party when it started to drizzle. Food was incredible. We had brunch and everything was insane. I really loved everything; but personally had the Loco Moco with a side of potatoes and bacon... WINNING - highly recommended.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Gabe B. 2 years ago on Google
    One of my favorite places, the whole esthetics and environment Is a whole new state of mind. It's one of my top hot spots to go to. It's my secret getaway place. Staff is always friendly and on top of their game. Drinks and food are always to perfection. What really intrigues me the most is the design and architecture of the restrooms.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Diana G. 1 year ago on Google
    Everything about insideOUT is amazing, from the moment you arrive and they greet you, walk you to your table... then you see the decor, WOW!!! (They constantly change their themes) here i got to see their Spring Oasis- Gorgeous! They always have a nice selection of cocktails and the food is delicious! You must check it out 😎
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Haylee Jane M. 1 year ago on Google
    I will greet this at 10 out of 5 if I could! Ambiance and food quality and portion size is all amazing. One of the best restaurants I've been to in San Diego for sure. Amazing vibe, anesthetic and just such a great place to spend a very long time eating a meal. Husband and I went here for Valentine's Day and the vibe was so good! Everything was decorated so perfectly and very pretty for pictures as well. Get the Mussels appetizer! It's a giant dish full of mussels topped with toasted buttery bread Flavor was really nice. The mussels with the slight amount of creamy sauce in there went well together. I wouldn't have the sauce plain because it was a little tangy on its own. Crispy skin Barramundi was right amount of flavorful. That light neutral flavor off the fish went perfectly well with the coconut curry sauce, rice and veggies on the plate. Not a giant portion of rice either. It was mostly the fillet of fish on there. Fish was also perfectly cooked. Murgh Makhni (Indian Butter Chicken) was beyond beautiful! Perfect tender, cooked chicken. And so so much on the plate! What are generous portion of the chicken on their. Saffron rice on the side? Had some currents in them and also some nuts and it was really nice on the side of that chicken. Even the Raita went perfectly well with everything else on the plate. For dessert, we had the Hazelnut Torte : so so good! Soft sponge cake layers with the hazelnut cream and chocolate something.. such a good dessert. So smooth and perfect flavor and texture. Not super sweet either and the hazelnut flavor comes through very well. It comes with tiramisu gelato on the side which was so good even on its own. Gelato was soft and creamy and great. Just an amazing food experience. Still blown away by the large portion sizes here. Definitely worth the cost!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Jerome C. 2 years ago on Google
    I visited this place with a group of friends for brunch. The food was solid and the drinks were great. It was fairly busy but the service was great. There’s a lot of other venues nearby so it’s good for food and drinks and good walkability.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Rob S. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful interior! They were all set up for a romantic Valentine date. Loved the food and the wait staff were awesome. I would highly recommend trying this place. I would have given them a 5 star rating but, we had some issues with the host while trying to get seated.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 David K. 2 years ago on Google
    This place is a great spot to experience the indoor outdoor life that defines California. The building, designed by Foundation For Form does an excellent job of blurring the lines of what’s inside and what’s out, as one should infer (along with a healthy dose of pride life) from the name of this excellent bar/lounge. Order anything from the menu and expect it to be great, but def don’t miss the tiki drink that comes in the parrot glass. I’d name it for you but after two of them I can recall what the names were. Uodate - since returning home I long for the rum drink made in the macaw glass. It calls to me. I can’t wait to be back in SD just to have this drink.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Hailey 7 months ago on Google
    Beautiful fun experience. We went for their Enchanted experience. The decor is gorgeous! We shared the cauliflower and salmon and both were very good. We ordered their special dessert which was my favorite thing we got. The drinks we ordered were beautiful but only ok in flavor. Surprisingly The drink me shot was the best of the enchanted drinks. Definitely worth going for the experience!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Alicia V. 6 months ago on Google
    Fabulous! This is my second time here, first time there was no theme but the food was amazing, this second time I came for the Enchanted theme and it was great! Loved the decor and once again the food was AMAAZING! I split the beef birria and the pork chops and tried their special enchanted butterfly drink. Yum to all!!! First time I came I had the bolognese and the butter chicken, also *chefs kiss*! To add, the staff are always very friendly and helpful. The drinks are also great, I love that they have Mocktail options as well, that’s always a plus!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Milla A. 1 year ago on Google
    One of the coolest dining experiences!! Food was good, drinks were too! Service was great! Atmosphere was 10 ⭐... The lights change color which changes the visual details as you look around. There's great music playing too. Water/trees/fire... Just an all around fun cool vibe the whole way through! Whoever designed this restaurant is a genius! Went again in December... It's like a winter wonderland. Apparently they change things up depending on the month.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Briana B. 5 months ago on Google
    Always a pleasant place to stop by and get food or drinks. Service here is always on point. Everyone who works here seems like they enjoy the team and environment. I love that they always have the place decorated according to a holiday. They also add new drinks to their menus to fit the theme. Also, the resteraunt was featured on love is blind. I'm really happy that all their hard work paid off, well deserved! The only thing I wish they improved is the options for breakfast. I feel like it is limited.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Matt C. 1 year ago on Google
    This place has a very nice aesthetic and energy, especially the outdoors area where we sat. I loved the pink trees and the pond that the tables are placed around. I thought it was interesting that there are apartments right above the restaurant. We came here as a large group of about 15 people, which I understand is an extremely large group, however the sofa and chairs we had around our table were not the most appropriate height-wise. Many of us had to hunch down and the sofa cushions were sunk down unevenly. The smaller tables looked more comfortable. I ordered the braised beef short ribs and the arancini. The arancini was hot and fresh and came with some tangy red sauce. Good appetizer. The braised beef short ribs was also solid. The beef was a touch dry, but soft and packed with plenty of flavor. The mashed potatoes were nicely done, absorbs the sauce well and has a good creamy texture. This is a cool place to come for drinks, food, and especially for special occasions. Although the prices are a bit expensive, I would come again once in awhile.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Reggie W. 1 year ago on Google
    Name a brunch spot with better vibes, nicer staff and more delicious food? I'll wait. InsideOut is a whimsical queer friendly bar that has top notch staff. Highly recommend for anyone wanting a fun meal experience with chill yet captivating vibes.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Aaron B. 10 months ago on Google
    Amazing atmosphere, great food and very good customer service! Went for brunch and recommend the Loco Moco for breakfast and any of the brunch pitchers!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Michael W. 1 year ago on Google
    One of the best brunch spots! Amazing staff! Great decor, wonderful drinks. It's like being in Alice in Wonderland. Corky patrons with fun attire. Great food and atmosphere. ❤️ 😍 💖 this place!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Marc-Kristopher E. 5 months ago on Google
    Inside out changes their interior decor with each season. Saturday Nov 4th was the last day to catch the superbloom with giant butterflies and flamingoes. The flowers smelled wonderful, we couldnt get enough of it! The mushrooms are not edible and the flamingoes seemed to mind their own business. Other than the amazing ambiance and seasonal decor, Inside Out is a must see at night. Their food and drink are absolutely amazing. The prices are fair for the quality. I wouldnt say it is my favorite, but at least the description and quality/price is accurate. Last time we were here, I had the Loco Moco. Not exactly a traditional hawaiian style but korean style in flavor. I can attest all the of the korean'esque flavor was there. Tons of it, with bits of chopped garlic. The beef patty was thick juicy and well flavored. The eggs with drippy but not overcooked or crispy. serving size is fair but not overwhelming. Good for one person. Either way, youll enjoy the food and the ambiance. Its nice to check out the changes they make every season. Make sure to bring your camera for cute photos :)
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Humberto A. 1 year ago on Google
    Ariel was the host who greeted us at the door and Tyler was our server. From the moment we entered to the whole dining experience, every was welcoming and warm. Even the food runner was great (sorry, didn't catch their name). I've heard so much about the decorations and have seen it from the outside while passing, but it is amazing to look at and dine in. The food itself was alright. It wasn't bad, it just didn't match the place if that makes sense. Would still go back to try other food on their menu.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 James C. 1 year ago on Google
    I have been wanting to visit Inside Out for a while and I was finally able to come by for a visit. I was in for a treat, as they have a special theme for October: Alice in Wonderland. The food was delicious! It’s more about quality than quantity at this place. I ordered the Spanish scramble accompanied by some seasoned home potatoes. Everything was seasoned well and tasted fresh. The ambience here was next level. It is just a calm, inviting, and whimsical dining area outside. The customer service was top notch as well. Our server was friendly and polite. I would highly recommend Inside Out for brunch, dinner, or any other intimate occasion. I will be back. Eat up!!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Scotty2Salty 2 years ago on Google
    Absolutely the most unique dining experience I've ever had. The tiered outdoor dining terraces were so fun. The craft cocktails were excellent, the food delish and the staff were all very friendly and accommodating. I would highly suggest this Hidden Gem to anyone looking for something the remember! 💯
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Sarah C. 2 years ago on Google
    I’ve visited InsideOut for dinner and brunch and the one thing that will get you, the parking. The area is bustling and parking is often limited so arrive earlier to find a spot. InsideOut is uniquely laid out. The tiered seating and lush decor makes dining feel more private. It’s trendy but comfortable. The staff is efficient and possesses exact timing. They all are such beautiful people, literally. The food was amazing. The dishes were well seasoned and flavor balanced. I’ve had the chorizo spiced jumbo prawns with crispy polenta, truffle Brussel sprouts, herb fingerling potatoes and pork chile verde chilaquiles. Highly recommend all of these dishes. Their cocktails are a must. They have a variety to satisfy any palette. I really enjoyed their Empress 75 with dinner and their horchata brew for brunch is great but, strong!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Marwan K. 2 years ago on Google
    You can’t go wrong with this place, I’ve been for brunch, just a drink, and for dinner and always leave with a smile. You can’t find anything negative at this place, any time of the day and no matter if you sit outdoors or indoors. ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. Food and drinks are top notch, great food and drinks menu selection food presentation and taste is great. Love the atmosphere, the service, managers and everyone.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Aaron K. 2 years ago on Google
    A huge shout out from Chicago! First time in San Diego and my partner found this gem! We didn't have a reservation on a Saturday night, but with magic the host sat us right away in the perfect spot. The ambiance was amazing, and our server Tyler was too. We enjoyed the craft cocktails, wine and food. Working in the hospitality industy, I enjoy staff members that take a moment and get to know their guests. As it was our first time visiting San Diego and first time at insideOUT, Tyler chatted with us a bit and presented us with complimentary shots midway through our meal and dessert too! I always appreciate this from a business...assuring guests are taken care of and have a memorable experience, complimentary items or not. Now, to appreciate this business even more, after returning to Chicago, we noticed on our account that we were charged more than the original bill. We reached out and called to follow up on this issue and chatted with Paris. Paris was amazing giving us the information we needed and I had shared with them that we thoroughly enjoyed our drinks so much that at the end we were both a little... well, you know...that when the bill came my partner ended up paying for it and I told him that I would personally give the tip in cash. I shared again with Tyler when he swung by one last time before we headed out, that everything was amazing and handed him his cash. We shared with Paris that the communication my partner and I had that night (due to the amazing drinks) things might have gotten messed up where he tipped on the credit card and misunderstood me that I handed Tyler cash. Overall, Paris handled the situation and it was rectified. What an amazing team! Keep up the great work! Will highly recommend insideOUT to friends and family here in Chicago!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ju Y. 3 years ago on Google
    I went during the pandemic for their Sunday brunch in Feb 2021; it was Superbowl Sunday before the big game. They had all the tables set up for safety, and every table had its own hand sanitizer. They have an outdoor section, but even their indoor section is still very open on the sides. The bar and indoor tables had dividers between them. I sat outside in the middle of a very pretty and cool atrium. It was a little cold at the time, but we had a outdoor propane heater that was turned on. The food and drink selection was wonderful! I loved the music they were playing. The visual atmosphere of the restaurant was gorgeous. The staff was attentive and helpful. 100% recommend. ... I want to mention the bathrooms are interesting; you can see the inside of the bathrooms where the sinks are from the street. Also, there's only street parking, so make sure you go early to find a spot. It's not a showstopper but if it's a busy night probably non-pandemic it'll probably be difficult to find parking, but I did not take away a star because of it at this time. I will definitely be back.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Jun 2 years ago on Google
    great service! lovely outdoor seating area. the charcuterie board was a hit, honey was prob the best part. the mussels were a big miss, sauce was good but the meat was tiny. friends’ gin drinks were pretty & tasty, my heated fruitcake was lacking some heat/spice.

  • 5/5 Ralf W. 2 years ago on Google
    It's an amazing place with friendly and courteous staff. Very interesting setup across multiple levels. Open and inviting. Well worth a visit.

  • 5/5 Tim M. 2 years ago on Google
    Very unique environment! Half the restaurant is open to the outside on multiple levels. Fun fun fun wait staff!! Menu is limited but what they do is done very well!

  • 5/5 VW. R. 6 months ago on Google
    What a fun idea! Service is impeccable! Michael was our server, he was great. We started off drinks, sparkling water & blackberry mojito mocktail. Appetizers we had BBQ Garlic Prawns and the Arancini. Both were very good. Dinner I had the Double Cut Pork Chop, the caramelized peaches were a nice touch, pork Chop was good, not great. Also had the braided beef barria, also good but not great. The idea of this place is really clever, refreshing and fun.

  • 5/5 Abby G. 2 years ago on Google
    Brunch was epic. Highly recommend the quinoa hash. The avo toast was delicious. They serve bottles of champagne with 2 types of juices. Service was great- Tyler smashed it. Everyone was so friendly and brunch was affordable.

  • 5/5 Chris D. 2 years ago on Google
    Delicious food, friendly servers, awesome drinks. All served in a really cool graded courtyard with a water feature and plants. Music from the bar is a but loud, so unless you're having a raucous night, ask for a table away from the bar. Reservations are a must.

  • 5/5 Kelli G. 1 year ago on Google
    I am surprised this place only has 4.6 stars. We stumbled upon it as we were just walking around the Hillcrest neighborhood. Even though it was the busy brunch time of day on a Sunday, they fit us in. The staff were so friendly, the food was OUTSTANDING! I had the Loco Moco Korean style beef (which I forgot to get a pic of) and my daughter in law had the avocado toast. It was fresh, delicious and completely unlike any brunch item I've ever had. The cocktails were also yummy. The place has so much diversity that everyone is welcome and fits in. The decor is absolutely beautiful. We just walked around after just to take it all in. I can't wait to come back!

  • 5/5 Scott W. 1 year ago on Google
    What a beautiful concept! You go IN and suddenly you are OUT! Insideout is a beautiful tropical San Diego bar but mostly restaurant to experience the ambiance. We sat close to the pond and enjoyed the courtyard. A great place for intimate date nights. Make reservations for the best experience so you get a good table.

  • 5/5 Melissa G. 2 years ago on Google
    Service was awesome, Julian was so attentive and prepared for our questions and the food was prompt. I had the salmon and it was perfectly cooked and plated, my boyfriend had the chicken and it was equally tasty. We had the date night dinner for two and it was an absolute bargain! Starter (the soup we had was on point! It was the bean soup), entree and a bottle of wine for $60. Even after a cocktail, it was under $100 for 2. We'll definitely come here again, even just for that! Ambiance was exactly what you would expect from a trendy spot. Though I didn't take a picture, do yourself a favor and check it out on your own. Won't be sorry

  • 5/5 Julie 1 year ago on Google
    visited insideOUT from out of town after seeing people rave about it on social media and let me tell you…it was worth all of the hype. The inside was beautifully decorated with an Alice in wonderland theme. The drinks and food were delicious and all of the waiters were exceptionally friendly and helpful. We hope to come back soon one day!


Call (619) 888-8623 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free street parking
    • ✓️ Paid street parking
    • ✓️ Somewhat difficult to find a space
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Hard liquor
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Organic dishes
    • ✓️ Happy hour food
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Late-night food
    • ✓️ Happy hour drinks
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeout
    • ✗ Delivery
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating
  • From the business
    • ✓️ Identifies as LGBTQ+ owned

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