Tom Cat - Reviews

My experience at the restaurant was very positive. The bartenders were incredibly attentive, consistently checking in on our table to see how we enjoyed our nachos and drinks. The music played, which was from my generation, created a wonderfully relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, making me feel right at home.

My experience at this neighborhood dive bar was that it's always busy when we've gone there. It's a seat yourself establishment, and it's best to order at the bar. While you can wait for waitstaff, they are usually very busy, and you might end up waiting for a while. Finding a table can be hard at game time, especially for groups larger than four. However, the price for drinks and food are still reasonable, which I believe contributes to its popularity. The bar food isn't bad either; I particularly like their wings and fries.

My experience at the restaurant was driven by a craving for their Cha Cha wings. My husband and I traveled an hour and a half specifically for them, and they did not disappoint. The wings were described as saucy, hot, and fresh. The food received a perfect score of 5, while the service also scored a 5. The atmosphere was rated a 3, with a moderate noise level.

This was my first experience at the restaurant, and I'm giving it a 4+ rating. I'll definitely be back to give it a full 5 stars. We came to try the wings, and the lemon pepper ones were yummy. The chicken strips were amazing, tempura fried in a fish and chips style. The place has lots of TVs, is kid-friendly, and offers Wi-Fi. It has a sports bar/dive bar vibe with nice staff and a good aura. The kid-friendliness aspect was noted with working Wi-Fi, plenty of TVs, and a noise level that ensures no one will be bothered. The chicken strips and wavy fries were great.

My experience at this restaurant was a mix of delightful and frustrating. The food was very delicious, and the atmosphere was very nice and fun. However, the experience was marred by a bartender woman who was very rude.

My experience at this place was fantastic! The people were always friendly, and my drinks were always full. Their wings are truly to die for, and you absolutely can't beat the prices!

This place is the BEST kept secret! The "Tom Cat style" is absolutely everything, and I wish they sold it in jars. It's my favorite local bar, and it will remain so even if I'm not local anymore. For anyone worried about service, this place has excellent service. Remember, it's a dive bar, so don't expect to be waited on hand and foot. The staff is busy working the bar and tables, closing tickets, and it takes time when it's packed. There's no hostess; you seat yourself and wave them over, or you can walk up to the bar and order. Everyone is very nice and doing a great job. It might be frustrating when busy, but that's typical for any busy restaurant. The cooks are magicians! On top of the wings being some of the best in SD, I've never had anything bad here. Try the fried mushrooms, turkey or pastrami sandwich, quesadilla, and burgers – it's all very good and consistently yummy!

I visited this bar on a whim after dinner and ended up having one of the best nights out in a while. The vibe is energetic but not overwhelming, and the crowd is a great mix of locals and tourists. The bartenders are friendly and make excellent recommendations — I tried a mezcal cocktail that was smoky and perfectly balanced. The music was a good blend of indie and classic hits, making it easy to relax or dance a little. Definitely adding this place to my favorites list!

My experience at this establishment was quite disappointing. Upon entering, I inquired about happy hour and the beer menu with prices. Instead of providing clear information, the bartender made assumptions and suggested the lowest-priced beers, which felt out of touch with what I was looking for. The space itself is very cramped, with seating for only about 12 people. The interior feels cluttered with bulky elements like cabinets, benches, and shelves that seem to take up unnecessary space and make it difficult to navigate. It feels like the establishment is not being invested in, and it's surprising it's still operational. There were no prices displayed for beer, and no beer menu was available. I had to listen to the bartender describe each beer and its price, which felt inconvenient and somewhat shady, as prices could be arbitrarily set. This hassle led me to leave without ordering. The bartender also contradicted online information about happy hour deals, stating that $3 well drinks or other advertised discounts were not available, and that Google was incorrect. I confirmed that happy hour runs from 4: 00 to 7: 00 PM with only a 10% discount on a few items, not the advertised half-off or 30% off. My visit was very brief, less than 5 minutes, and I left feeling the urge to get away quickly. Additionally, I felt uncomfortable as the only men present seemed to size me up upon arrival, which I found to be an unwelcome aspect of the experience. The place is in need of a significant makeover.

My experience at this restaurant was marked by excellent service and a wonderful atmosphere. The food was generally good, though I had higher expectations for the hamburger that bears the restaurant's name. Overall, a solid 4 out of 5 stars.