Tomcat Bar & Grill

Very much a locals hangout and divey bar. Felt very welcome though. The drinks are what you'd expect. Strong and cheap. The food is what blew me away. Definitely get the wings. The cha cha and the Tom Cat were just phenomenal. I'd come back just for these delicious wings. Just beware, and I'm not sure this is the case all the time, but the kitchen closed at 8:45 when we went. Not a problem cause we got our order in by 8:30 but that was something we were not anticipating.

Such a great spot! Really enjoyed the food. I had the Country Chicken fried steak, with mashed potatoes and broccoli. Everything was perfect!

Very delicious food, very nice atmosphere, fun, but a bartender woman, who is very rude.

I’m so happy I found this place. The wings are outstanding! I don’t know what type of flavoring they put in there, but they are awesome! I had an incredibly good experience with the food and the service at this place. Pricing was pretty good based on the amount of food that they gave me. The atmosphere was very nice. I definitely would come here again!

Thank you to Christian and Danny for great service.

Excellent ... especially if you love "hot" wings. Not you're smothered in gooey sauce type, these are a rub, and they do the job. Daily specials that are always awesome. I have had pretty much everything on the menu and highly recommend all of it!!! From simple appetizers all the way to a delicious steak dinner, amazing!!! Great selection of beer, if you're into that, as well as a fully stocked liquor selection... even soft drinks for those who do not partake. Stop by, if ya haven't already done so and enjoy some delightful banter with one of the wonderful, most fantastic bartenders, you will enjoy yourself.

Easily the best bar in the area. Excellent food and great service.

Love this place! People are always friendly and drinks are always full! Their wings are to die for and you can't beat the prices!

When I was in the Marines, I would come in here every Saturday for a out 2 years, have two beers and a burger. It was friendly, affordable, and delicious. This was over 15 years ago now and I still tell everyone this is my favorite bar of all time.

I love this place. Sort of dive bar atmosphere, so don't go here if you're looking to impress your date with posh presentation of overpriced food. But if you want to relax, have great food, and feel like the wait staff is genuinely invested in you... this is your place. Pretty good tap selection. Great wings- among San Diego's best.

Hands down, my favorite wings in San Diego. Be sure to get the Tom Cat wings with the sauteed onions and jalapenos. They also gave great beers, arcades and pool. Lots of parking. My favorite spot in Mira Mesa.

No more pool tables as of May 2024. 😢 But the food menu has improved and the Tom Cat wings are always a HIT! Good drinks, cute bartender named Ryan, staff is attentive but be patient on packed nights. Jukebox is AMI. Liquor store and 24/hr Jack in the Box next door.

Perfect spot to feed my dive bar needs. As always in a new town I ordered with surprise me with your signature. I was surprised when I got a basket of wings with some kind of jalapeño and chive mix atop fried wings. But let me tell you…… the flavor was something I’ve never experienced on a wing. Make sure you order the Tom cat wings and add a little of that salty green mix on every bite! The service was excellent and the fellow patrons were as you would expect from what I call a “local dive”, and I say that with no disrespect but with the utmost respect as I love these local gems. Definitely will be back during my stay in San Diego.

Honestly we stumble upon this spot on instagram. We love our wing to be extra crispy and with these Sauces it did not disappoint. No phone orders, so we ordered in person. The waitress was so friendly and had great customer service (wish I remembered her name) I definitely recommend the lemon pepper wings! Can’t wait to come back and try different things on their menu.

We ordered three different steaks here. My kid ordered the "Country Chicken Fried Stack" and he said it was delicious. He loved the mashed potatoes and vegetables that came with it. My wife and I ordered "New York Steak", which I thought was delicious with just the right flavor and doneness. The salad here is very fresh and has a natural and refreshing taste, I love it! The service staff remained very friendly despite being busy, and came to ask about our needs from time to time. I am not a local, but I like this kind of local experience.

1st time trying, ordered to go. It was the closest wings place to where I was that was open. Did not disappoint. Very good. Though Buffalo mild was definitely buffalo hot for me. Still had me salivating🤤

Came here just for the lemon pepper wings. Lived up to the hype. Must try if you're in the area and crave some wings.

Typical neighborhood dive bar. Been going for many years. Love it!

First time at tomcats- great crowd and the five bar feels welcoming. We ordered several types of wings that were delicious. My buddy and I had a great time and you never would know about this place unless you are from the area. I will def be back, it would be a lot of fun to watch a game there !

Well I finally had the infamous wings... 🤌🏼😘😋 Yummy. Great local hang out spot, lots of tvs, friendly staff, #wings. Will have to come back and see what else is good. Neighborhood gem✅️

We are so happy they're open again. The team here is phenomenal and I appreciate their efforts to keep things safe. The back patio is a nice addition! Happy to see Eddie here since we remember him from the bar at Mira Mesa lanes. The wings are perfect (our favorites are the garlic parmesan and the smoked), and the drinks are heavy pours. This is absolutely a gem.

Excellent service and atmosphere, good food in general terms, I expected more from the hamburger that has the name of the restaurant, 4 out of 5 stars

Very delicious wings and calamari! One of a kind! You got to try Tom's signature wings! The ambience was great. And the servers were very friendly. The owner is very kind and goes out of his way for his customers to have a great experience as well as his staff. Definitely recommended!!

Hilse Juarez

Honestly we stumble upon this spot on instagram. We love our wing to be extra crispy and with these Sauces it did not disappoint. No phone orders, so we ordered in person. The waitress was so friendly and had great customer service (wish I remembered her name) I definitely recommend the lemon pepper wings! Can’t wait to come back and try different things on their menu.

Juiwen Hsu (levenshe)

We ordered three different steaks here. My kid ordered the "Country Chicken Fried Stack" and he said it was delicious. He loved the mashed potatoes and vegetables that came with it. My wife and I ordered "New York Steak", which I thought was delicious with just the right flavor and doneness. The salad here is very fresh and has a natural and refreshing taste, I love it! The service staff remained very friendly despite being busy, and came to ask about our needs from time to time. I am not a local, but I like this kind of local experience.

Nancy Gonzalez

1st time trying, ordered to go. It was the closest wings place to where I was that was open. Did not disappoint. Very good. Though Buffalo mild was definitely buffalo hot for me. Still had me salivating🤤

Tonio

Came here just for the lemon pepper wings. Lived up to the hype. Must try if you're in the area and crave some wings.

Thomas Sitterly

First time at tomcats- great crowd and the five bar feels welcoming. We ordered several types of wings that were delicious. My buddy and I had a great time and you never would know about this place unless you are from the area. I will def be back, it would be a lot of fun to watch a game there !

Michelle

Well I finally had the infamous wings... 🤌🏼😘😋 Yummy. Great local hang out spot, lots of tvs, friendly staff, #wings. Will have to come back and see what else is good. Neighborhood gem✅️

Holliday Noelle

We are so happy they're open again. The team here is phenomenal and I appreciate their efforts to keep things safe. The back patio is a nice addition! Happy to see Eddie here since we remember him from the bar at Mira Mesa lanes. The wings are perfect (our favorites are the garlic parmesan and the smoked), and the drinks are heavy pours. This is absolutely a gem.

javi arenilla

Excellent service and atmosphere, good food in general terms, I expected more from the hamburger that has the name of the restaurant, 4 out of 5 stars

Ruth Martinez

Very delicious wings and calamari! One of a kind! You got to try Tom's signature wings! The ambience was great. And the servers were very friendly. The owner is very kind and goes out of his way for his customers to have a great experience as well as his staff. Definitely recommended!!

Brooke S

OMG the wings are delicious! The drinks are great! I went around lunch time and it was pretty empty except a few regulars which was fine with me, but the smoked wings are everything!

The cha cha wings are so good that my husband and I drove an hour and a half just to get some, because I was craving them. Saucy, hot and fresh.

Love the local vibe here. Wings are awesome. Staff are very friendly. I enjoy the Trivia nights in the 1st & 3rd Monday of each month. Plenty of parking. Stop by and check it out!

I stepped in here looking for a friend, and the place was packed. It was loud and there was a happy vibe. Lots of folks having a good time and more people showing up as I left. I've never been here before, but the crowd suggests they're doing something well.

The bartenders were busy but attentive, every pass they made they checked in to see how we liked our nachos and how we were on drinks. We were definitely reminded how old we were by the music from our generation played which made it easy to feel right at home and relaxed

This bar is great. It has a laid back atmosphere and the Tom Cat signature wings are amazing.

The BEST kept secret. "Tom Cat style" is everything! I wish they sold it in jars. My favorite local bar, and it will continue to be even if I'm not local anymore. For anyone reading reviews and worried about service.... this place has excellent service, but remember you're going to a dive bar, the whole "wait on you hand and foot" method isn't a normal practice at those establishments. The staff is working at the bar and on the tables, closing tickets, and when it's packed that takes time. There is no hostess, seat yourself, wave them over, but also just walk up to the bar and ask for what you want. Everyone is very nice and doing a great job. It might be frustrating when it's busy, but that's what happens at 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, burgers, it's all very good and consistently yummy!

Cheyenne Isom

The bartenders were busy but attentive, every pass they made they checked in to see how we liked our nachos and how we were on drinks. We were definitely reminded how old we were by the music from our generation played which made it easy to feel right at home and relaxed

Nick G

Easily the best bar in the area. Excellent food and great service.

Ruth Peterson

The cha cha wings are so good that my husband and I drove an hour and a half just to get some, because I was craving them. Saucy, hot and fresh.

Paula Allison

Love this place! People are always friendly and drinks are always full! Their wings are to die for and you can't beat the prices!

Kerry S

The BEST kept secret. "Tom Cat style" is everything! I wish they sold it in jars. My favorite local bar, and it will continue to be even if I'm not local anymore. For anyone reading reviews and worried about service.... this place has excellent service, but remember you're going to a dive bar, the whole "wait on you hand and foot" method isn't a normal practice at those establishments. The staff is working at the bar and on the tables, closing tickets, and when it's packed that takes time. There is no hostess, seat yourself, wave them over, but also just walk up to the bar and ask for what you want. Everyone is very nice and doing a great job. It might be frustrating when it's busy, but that's what happens at 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, burgers, it's all very good and consistently yummy!

KenNer - If It's KenNer, It's Fun

Excellent ... especially if you love "hot" wings. Not you're smothered in gooey sauce type, these are a rub, and they do the job. Daily specials that are always awesome. I have had pretty much everything on the menu and highly recommend all of it!!! From simple appetizers all the way to a delicious steak dinner, amazing!!! Great selection of beer, if you're into that, as well as a fully stocked liquor selection... even soft drinks for those who do not partake. Stop by, if ya haven't already done so and enjoy some delightful banter with one of the wonderful, most fantastic bartenders, you will enjoy yourself.

Great little dive bar complete with pool tables and a juke box. Good food and spirits.

This bar was a recommendation from my son while visiting San Diego CA. The Hot Wings were great! All the sauces were excellent. Wine selection could use some expansion. The staff is very welcoming and eager to help and made the environment comfortable. We were a party of 5.

This place was more like a sports bar. If you're looking to get a bloody Mary at 11:00 in the morning this is your go-to place. If you're looking for someplace to have a business meeting or lunch not your place. The place was dark and not lit up very well however for a bar / sports bar it would probably be okay. Was not what I expected.

Neighborhood dive bar that's always busy when we've gone there. Seat yourself and best to order at the bar. You can wait for a wait staff to come to your table but they are usually very busy and you might end up waiting for awhile. It can be hard to find a table available at game time, especially if you have more than 4 people. The price for drinks and food are still reasonable here so I think that's why it's a popular spot. Plus food aren't bad bar food either. I do like their wings and fries.

If you’re looking for a hole in the wall dive bar in the area, then this is your place. I ended up here with a group after bar hopping. We ordered some drinks and food. Their chicken wings were soooo tasty! I also had fries and tater tots and they were very good as well. It was close to midnight and the bar was still very full on a Friday night. It’s a very lively bar. I would come back for some more“comfort food” and drinks soon!

Sharon B

Neighborhood dive bar that's always busy when we've gone there. Seat yourself and best to order at the bar. You can wait for a wait staff to come to your table but they are usually very busy and you might end up waiting for awhile. It can be hard to find a table available at game time, especially if you have more than 4 people. The price for drinks and food are still reasonable here so I think that's why it's a popular spot. Plus food aren't bad bar food either. I do like their wings and fries.

Bonnie Ye

If you’re looking for a hole in the wall dive bar in the area, then this is your place. I ended up here with a group after bar hopping. We ordered some drinks and food. Their chicken wings were soooo tasty! I also had fries and tater tots and they were very good as well. It was close to midnight and the bar was still very full on a Friday night. It’s a very lively bar. I would come back for some more“comfort food” and drinks soon!

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!

First experience, so I give 4+.... will be back to go full 5. We came to try the wings, lemon pepper was yummy. Chicken strips were amazing... tempura fried, like a fish n chips style. Lots of TVs, kids allowed. Wi fi. Sports bar dive bar vibes, nice staff. Good aura.

Monica Ferguson

First experience, so I give 4+.... will be back to go full 5. We came to try the wings, lemon pepper was yummy. Chicken strips were amazing... tempura fried, like a fish n chips style. Lots of TVs, kids allowed. Wi fi. Sports bar dive bar vibes, nice staff. Good aura.

Derrick Hayness

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!

The food is great, but the service is absolutely horrible! The bartender spilt my drink on me. They said they were sorry, would bring me napkins, but never did. They did come around again to see if we needed anything. My husband ordered another beer and same bartender spilt the beer on him! This time they did not even acknowledge it. We had to ask for napkins... we have been here multiple time. The bad service is getting old. Despite the food being good, we are feeling like we need to find another place for wings.

Just because a person walks in and asks if it's happy hour and asks if there's a beer menu with prices on it doesn't mean the bartender should automatically assume and suggest the lowest three priced beers possible definitely out of touch with the customer not a very good bartender offering the wrong suggestions instead of asking more questions. 5 minutes I was there looking around real quick seems like there's only seats for maybe 12 people. everything is bulky and places hard to get around. Seems like there's a bunch of stuff in there go away like cabinet-bench-shelf-walls structural trash that's just taking up space really weighed on my brain.A good interior designer could bring new business in here but it doesn't look like anyone making money from this establishment is prepared ready or willing to put anything back into it. surprised it still stands. literally a hole in the wall. There is no disclosure here. there are no prices on the wall for beer and there is not a beer menu. I have to listen to a bartender tell me all the different beers and their prices before I can get a freaking beer this is ridiculous since they can essentially say whatever a beer price is whatever they want it to be instantly kind of shady if you ask me. I didn't even stay to order one just too much hassle. The bartender told me essentially Google was a liar that there was no such thing as $3 well drinks or whatever the heck Google was offering it doesn't exis during happy hourt. What Google says online is truly a lie I have confirmed. Happy hour is between 4:00 and 7:00 with a 10% discount on a couple items only. there is nothing half off here or even 30% off here for that matter. I had an in and out experience I wasn't there longer than 5 minutes I went in there with an urge to drink and left there with an urge to get away as fast as possible. There were only men there and they instantly sized me up as soon as I walked through the door. I guess that's to be expected for a place called top cat or Alley cat or strat cat or whatever the heck it's called. Time for bar makeover.

Update your listing. You dont have pool tables. Mira mesa suks

Went in during a Padres game. Wasn't exactly the most welcoming, despite not wearing anything sports related. Was ignored by the bartender, and sideways glances from everyone else. Ended up leaving after 10 minutes of just kinda awkwardly sitting there. Wouldn't recommend to any out of towners