San Diego Tap Room

I am making this review on ¼/​16 at 8:45. I have never received such horrible service in my life. I really wanted a beer after a very rough day and my two flights were canceled and the one that I got on was then delayed 2 hours. The hostess was rude. As she sat me at 8:20, she told me I had to order now because the kitchen closed at 9. I had not even taken my seat. I wanted a stout but they were out of the one on their menu. They did have another but the waitress had no idea what it was like or even called. She very obviously rolled her eyes at me for even asking. I asked the bartender who was at least able to show me the bottle in an annoyed manner. After my waitress was done harassing and shaking her finger at another customer, I tried to order through her. (The poor women had been waiting over 20 mins for the check and a box for her childrens’ dinner. The waitress shushed her and belittled her for trying to get her attention because her flight was boarding.) She completely avoided me for the next 15 mins. I tried to order through the bartender but was told I had to order through the waitress. After finally waving her down, she said she was done for the night and walked away. At this point, I was beyond fed up and walked out. I understand this is an airport and there are no other options in the commuter terminal but management should not allow this atrocious «customer service». I was a server in college for over 3 years. There is NO excuse for the way I and other customers were treated. I hope management sees this review and trains their employees better or let’s them go.

This is a little after the event as my experience was on Oct 18. I made reservations for my friends birthday earlier in the week and it all seemed great. The person — Brad I think but I could be wrong — said he would be there. Come Saturday I arrive early and check in. The hostess with a less than desirable attitude explains they don’t have any room for us but expect people to be leaving. I was ok with this as I was early and advised her so. Our time to be seated came and went and then about 15 min after the bouncer type at the door offered for us to go in the outdoor open seating to at least get a drink while we waited. To keep this a reasonable length I will summarize the next 40 min. I checked with the hostess several times on our seating. Her attitude was harsh and she even at one point said «well we don’t actually take reservations on the weekend». I advised her not only had I made the reservation but that the gentleman I made the reservation with advised he would be in house that night. We were eventually seated an hour late with our party split between 2 tables — so not even together to celebrate a birthday. So why the 4 stars. Well our server was great. She was polite and prompt with everything. She took the time to try to get us tables put together so that we could all sit together. When she first came to the table to get drink orders I politely asked to see the manager at some point but that it wasn’t a rush. He came out VERY apologetic and assured he would take good care of us. He did. He checked on is twice more spending 15 – 20 min each time with our table. I didn’t see the itemized bill but I’m pretty certain that the birthday girls flight was comped. He also took 50% off the total bill. This shows that they take their business seriously, and want return visits from their customers. I will definitely go there again. Food was good service ended up being great. Atmosphere is nice.

Quintessential airport restaurant and bar. Expensive, mediocre food and a pretty horrible service. I only received my check after I asked, three times (hastily) since my flight was already boarding.

Lunch service is decent. Employees are very hospitable and tables are cleaned regularly. Adjacent tables are extremely close together and there is absolutely no privacy (typical airport dining experience). Seating is limited, but there seems to be enough space for the lunch crowd. The Tap Room is by no means «fast food» and I wouldn’t have eaten here if I didn’t have 4 hours to kill. The $ 10 «Works» burger is mediocre. The two thin patties are bland, and are smothered with cheese and mushrooms. There is a decent selection of beers, but service at the bar is terrible.

Always PACKED, not much action in Terminal 1 with all of the Southwest gates sans like 2.5 all squashed into such a small area. Their selection of beer is of decent beers but the numbers are not very high. Good luck grabbing a beer during rush hours because it is a very tight fit.
Since their recent relocation to a temp area, it is even smaller and fewer beers. Luckily their beers are of decent quality.

Recently, the Tap Room was relocated to the side, next to a boarding gate, rather than the center of the room. Still, people mill around and crowd the whole area. It’s not an improvement.
I suspect that SDTR and Southwest are in cahoots with each other. More delayed flights lead to more frustrated, bored travelers, which translates into more drinking. Last time I stopped by, there were only about two beers on tap and three cocktails to choose from. $ 10 for a pint? I’m still a sucker.

Crowded. Not staffed very well. Pricey drinks. But, good location.
The bar was just not staffed very well. It took entirely too long to be addressed by a bartender, let alone get our drinks.
The beers were served in giant glasses, but had the price tag to go along with them. 3 beers ran us over $ 20, during happy hour.
They have lots of tasty beers on tap, so if you have the time and can deal with the crowd, it might be a good place to hang and try some local brews.
This place is not on my short list of places to return to.

They charge $ 10 for a draft beer. But, I needed a beer. Very basic bar with little seating — an airport bar of desperation.

Sadly, this is really your only option in terminal 1. Crowded, awkward seating with two tiny TVs. At least they have a couple of respectable local brews on tap.

@Phil O. has it right — this place SUCKS… I’m in and out of this terminal fairly regularly. The gentleman behind the bar (heavy set, balding) is not only inefficient he’s absolutely rude. Perhaps it’s management in that they alwasy seem terribly understaffed… but then I would assume the staff is making some good coin — so they could slap a smile on… Wait til your flight and have a cocktail then.

Man this place was crowded…
You can come here and enjoy a drink between flights. Went up to the bartender to ask him about the local beers. He suggested either an irish red ale called «red trolley» or an IPA, both by Karl Strauss brewing company. I ended up ordering the IPA. Probably should have ordered that irish red ale instead…
They have typical brews but I was hoping that San Diego Tap Room would actually carry more SD craft beers! I was rather disappointed.
Anyway, when I was there, all the seats were taken. You may have to post up somewhere to enjoy your drink. But it’s a great place to rest between flights and just meet new people.
If I am ever back, I will definitely try to stop by the tap room again and hope their tap list improved.

This place sucks. Should have way more than 2 bartenders when a game is on. I just stood next to the bar for 20min just to get a beer. Do better! Just because you are the only option when in terminal1 does not mean you can do whatever you want… well actually, I guess it does, until they finish the complete remodel that is. Looking forward to some healthy competition in here.

The reviews of this place make me smile and reminisce about this very strange place. A place where people get cut-​off after three beers, yet they sell-​up by offering a side-​shot for half price with every beer, with a beer costing more than $ 9! A place where seniors are ID’s. «Sure. if you are serious» replied the 70 year old patron!
I have never had a problem with my passport, but maybe that is because it is a British one and they don’t know what to do?
The barstaff are a strange bunch. As a foreigner, I found it a tad odd that they were all asian. Maybe it is family owned, but they have an odd way of running things. I just wish I was a fly-​on-​the-​wall when they decided this was the business for them?
The bar is cramped. If SD airport wants to be a serious international hub, then they need to get some decent facilities. A bar is a necessity when using airlines like SouthWest. You think I can do this sober? you must be joking.
The beer selection is pretty great, it is just a shame that the prices are ridiculous. I will still buy them though. I have no choice, but you aint getting my stars!
One great thing about being in a cramped place is that you get talking to people. As someone traveling alone a lot, this is something I enjoy.

So once again, my flight is delayed. So I’m given time to do my flight past time of having a drink before getting on the plane. The only bar in Terminal 1 is the Tap Room. The small bar is packed with different types people and different types of drinkers. There’s the beer people and the wine people, but we all get along within the small space. Though, we all get along, there’s much discomfort due to the bar’s confines. Since there were no seats available, I set myself up on the side of the bar. I started off with a tall beer and found out shots are half price if you order a beer. It’s good a deal.
The best part of the Tap Room has to be people you meet. The crowded space encourages interaction with the other individuals that are next to you. Furthermore, most people want to take an edge off before the flight and they’re pretty easy going once they hit the bar. Within the short time there, I had few interesting conversations with a few a people.
The main problem I found is that they cut you off after a few drinks. The somoan guy next to me was cut off after 3 beers and one shot. A funny thing: this cougar tried to buy him another beer and they gave him a water. The lady bartender getting off shift told they count drinks within a hour timeline to each patron. The bartenders are nice people, but they got to do their job.

Well here in the crowded octagon of gates numbered 3 thru 10 at San Diego International Airport, it is a beehive of worker bees lining up in numerical sequence for their Southwest Airlines flights.
If you have a little bit of time, in the center of this beehive is the San Diego Tap Room. Just a watering hole to get a brew before you embark in the sardine can that is a Southwest full flight.
Are you hungry for a Quiznos sandwich, too? (It’s on the other side of the beehive center).
Well here’s a tip: Kill two hungry bees with one sting by ordering your beer here, and your Quiznos here, too!
The bartenders are nice (the middle aged lady was to me) despite the conditions of tired travelers grumping for a drink. They will always card for ID, even if you look like Santa Claus. Fortunately, I told her, I just turned 21 last week. She apologized and smiled.
They are also well trained and obligated to ask you if you want a side shot with that beer for just another $ 3. Can you say Boilermaker?
There are few places to sit, but step around the corner and there is a small hallway with about 5 stools facing the wall with a narrow counter. There is also a free wall outlet opposite the stools, so in 15 minutes you can:
1. Drink a cool adult beverage
2. Wolf down a hot Quiznos sandwich
3. And charge your smart phone.
Then you’ll have to line up numerically like the drone bee that you are here, before moving your personal hive to your next destination.
PS — the other seats by the gates also have outlets under them. Look for the little blue light under the seats to plug in and charge up.
How else are you going to check-​in on Unilocal

Flight Delayed again? Wanting to kick back at Terminal 1? Don’t feel good about flying? Got to the airport too early? missed your flight? bad day?
Why don’t you stop on by the… San… Diego… Tap… Room…
$ 9 for a Stella and all the other beers there too. like 6 – 7 something like that…
Shots? sure… tip the bartender early, she has attitude, but if you leave her a good tip, she’ll pour you a good shot
It was pretty dirty when i got there but like every flight was delayed… the sign says don’t bring drinks away from the bar but i saw a bunch of people doing it and the lady didn’t stop us at the time…
Met some cool interesting people, heard there story, etc… good times and ran into NFL football player so cool things can happen…
price is expensive but worth it for the situation…

Wow, what a clusterf***k.
As the only bar past TSA in Terminal 1, this place is constantly overcrowded… not to mention overpriced.
The small space and its proximity to the Southwest Airlines gates lead to a swelling people, mostly standing in place as the seats are almost always occupied.
If you absolutely have to have a cocktail, this is the place to do it. Actually, strike that. Save your money and have a drink on the plane instead.

This is the only bar offering beyond TSA in terminal 1 at Sand Dawg airport. Beer is over priced due to the airport monopoly. There is not enough seats in the place as customers wind up standing in the neighboring Quiz-​nos and outside of the bar area. Unfortunately due to space constraints the airport bar situation at SAN will never get better.

So on Friday as I’m trying to fly back to SFO I find out that once again… my flight as been delayed. My 3:40pm flight has now been delayed to 5:30pm. Being somewhat dismayed, the helpful lady being the check-​in counter offered to put me on Standby for the 1:35pm flight that is now delayed to 3:20pm. She informed me that since I was on Standby now, she could not guarantee that I would get a seat and I might subsequently get bumped back to the 5:30pm flight. Not to be daunted, I make a quick prayer to whatever almighty entity might be staring down at me, hugged a rabbit’s foot, threw some salt over my shoulders, and rubbed some random passing bald guy’s head for luck while making my way through the Southwest terminal gates. Upon arriving to my destination, I proceed to the customer service counter where I find out that I have been bumped…
…to PRIORITY A SEATING!!! WOOT!!!
Having a good 2hrs to kill however, I head over to the nearby bar where I subsequently downed 2 beers followed by several shots. The bartender Jimmy was very friendly and efficient despite the flood of never ending patrons streaming through the place. Seating was a challenge due to the limited number of stools but because everyone was so squished together, I wound up striking up a conversation with some random ladies standing nearby.
Apparently fatigue mixed with booze equals instant zzzzz’s because as soon as I got on the plane and someone else sat down next to me I passed out. I even missed the free peanuts! =/​
When I finally woke up the plane was already descending so it worked out perfectly.
If I ever find myself stuck in SAN attempting to flying back to SFO (which will most likely happen again next week *sighs*) I’ll definitely make sure to stop by here again!

I hate to be rushed when I travel. I tell people it is because I find it to be stressful dealing with checking in, going through security, and catching your flight if you are pressed for time. Who knows if you are going to have to wait forever in the security line because Homeland Security increased the «threat level» from yellow to orange?
Ok, well that IS what I tell people. But it’s not exactly the truth. The truth is, I like to get my drink on when I fly. So I most definitely want time for at least two rounds before I get on the flight. Thus, I stop by the San Diego Tap Room every chance I get which happens to be every time I fly Southwest out of San Diego.
Normally I love airport bars. Regardless of where I am, the bartenders are almost always friendly, and there is solidarity with your fellow patrons. We are not alcoholics, we are just travelling! In any case, I must say this place leaves a lot to be desired.
Exhibit A:
Me: «Can I have a large beer and a shot?»
Bartender: «Can I see your ID?»
Me: «Sure.» As I hand him my passport…
Bartender: «Sorry, I need to see a Driver’s Licence…»
Me: «I lost mine, here is my passport though.»
Bartender: «We don’t accept passports.»
Me: «So you are telling me I can fly commercial airlines with this, but I can’t order a beer?»
Bartender: «Yes…»
I am sure it was company policy. But there seems to be something wrong, when a passport is good enough to get on a plane but not good enough to get a beer.
Exhibit B:
As one would expect when at a crowded bar, you stand behind the people sitting at the bar, and try to order a drink. After doing this for ten minutes. The bartender decided that was too difficult and asked everyone to form a line at one side. Really? You are a bartender and you can’t deal with a little rush? Simply pathetic.
So as you can see, this airport bar has booze. That’s a huge plus. The bartenders need to up their game. And this whole passport isn’t good enough to drink, but good enough to fly is RIDICULOUS.