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Delicious food inspired by daring nostalgia - Books + Records, San Diego, CA

Books + Records

4.7
4.7
379 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 64 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Charming
Global inspired American cuisine, craft cocktails, and weekend brunch in an upbeat atmosphere, with live music.

Chef Ryan Stickel is serving up San Diego's freshest food takes in an art deco meets mid-century mod warehouse space. With a tenured run on both Eater's Heat Map and list of San Diego's Hottest Cocktail Bars, the food and drinks are both guaranteed to delight your senses.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Cocktail Bar, Californian
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Wed, Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (619) 795-1000
  • Website
    http://booksandrecordsbar.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Sam Deckman
  • Catering
    For information regarding PRIVATE EVENTS & CATERING visit BooksAndRecordsBar.com and select the "Private Dining" Tab.
  • Private party facilities
    For information regarding PRIVATE EVENTS & CATERING visit BooksAndRecordsBar.com and select the "Private Dining" Tab.
  • Location
    2202 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
  • Area
    Banker's Hill
  • Cross Street
    Ivy St & Fourth Ave in Bankers Hill
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • NYE Mirror-Ball-Drop Party

    USD 45.25 per person

    Prepaid

    31 Dec 2024 only
    Celebrate the new year with us in true Studio 54 fashion at the Mirror-Ball-Drop Party at Books and Records! Dance into 2025 with a live DJ spinning disco hits, savor passed hors d’oeuvres, and enjoy a complimentary sparkling midnight toast! The party starts at 10PM! Dress in disco chic or 1970s cocktail attire—sequins, shimmer, and bold looks encouraged—for a glamorous finish to your night. Please note purchases are non-refundable with less than 48 hours notice of cancellation. Come join the party and ring in the new year with style!

  • NYE "Studio 54" Dinner + Mirror-Ball-Drop Party

    USD 25.00 per person

    Prepaid

    31 Dec 2024 only
    Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Studio 54 style at Books & Records! Step into the glitz and glam of the disco era with an elegant four-course dinner ($75) featuring bold, modern flavors inspired by the 1970s, as you groove to a live three-piece band. Dress in disco chic or 1970s cocktail attire. Enhance your evening with Disco Sips ($50), a curated pairing perfectly matched to each course. Your night also includes access to the Mirror-Ball-Drop Party for $25 ($10 below door price) featuring a live DJ, passed hors d'oeuvres, and a complimentary midnight toast! Party starts at 10PM. A $25 deposit secures your reservation, refundable with 48 hours’ notice. A 20% gratuity will be added for a seamless experience. Don’t miss this night—book now!

  • New Year's Eve "Studio 54" Dinner

    USD 25.00 per person

    Prepaid

    31 Dec 2024 only
    Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Studio 54 style at Books & Records! Step into the glitz and glam of the disco era with an elegant four-course dinner ($75) featuring bold, modern flavors inspired by the 1970s, as you groove to a live three-piece band. Dress in disco chic or 1970s cocktail attire. Enhance your evening with Disco Sips ($50), a curated pairing perfectly matched to each course. A $25 deposit secures your reservation, refundable with 48 hours’ notice. A 20% gratuity will be added for a seamless experience. Don’t miss this night—book now!

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 379 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • San Diego

    American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Books + Records in San Diego is a vibrant culinary destination offering inventive dishes and creative cocktails. Guests rave about the "exceptional service" and lively atmosphere, often featuring live music. Signature dishes like the duck Benedict and short rib hash shine, while the ambience is described as "wonderful" and "fabulous." Perfect for brunch or a special dinner, this spot is a must-visit.

379 Reviews

  1. ileana

    VIP

    Baja California

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I came here for a romantic date and it was so amazing! We booked a reservation right away and that’s hard to find on a Saturday night. Parking was super easy and service is very friendly and fast. The food is 10/10 as well as drinks ! The music is great quality and I’ll come back pretty soon to try more of the cocktails.
    Books + RecordsResponded 3 days ago
    Ileana, Thanks for spending date night with us :) I'm glad you were able to book right away and I'm pleased service, food and drink were all 10/10's! See you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  2. Kim

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 21 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a lovely time. The service was top notch as everyone was friendly and attentive. The local sea-bass was amazing! The drinks were creative and stiff! Would definitely go back again!
    Books + RecordsResponded 3 days ago
    Hi Kim! So pleased you had such lovely time! I can't wait to pass this along to the bar team, they are so dedicated to their craft so this will be an exciting thing to hear. Can't wait to welcome you back into the space :)

    Is this helpful?

  3. Natalia

    Las Vegas

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 21 December 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The pasta sauce was too heavy for me. Also, we ordered the arugula salad, but it way too much apples and raisins not enough arugula. The calamari was delicious. Service was good.
    Books + RecordsResponded 3 days ago
    Hi there Natalia, Thanks for this valuable feedback! Will absolutely pass it along to our Chef. I'm sorry the pasta and salad did not meet expectations, but I'm happy to hear service was good! Would love to invite you back into the space and ensure a dining experience worth your while. Please feel free to reach out to me directly! Brooke Chief of Staff

    Is this helpful?

  4. Leslie

    Phoenix

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on 21 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Enjoyed our dinner. Wish we would have booked closer to the live music. Really nice decor and vibe.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Bernardo

    VIP

    Dallas

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 19 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    2nd time here, still awesome. Burger is incredible and drinks top notch!
    Books + RecordsResponded on 20 December 2024
    Hi! Thanks so much for such kind review. We can't wait to see you again soon, please do say hello next time you join us. Brooke Chief of Staff :)

    Is this helpful?

  6. nichole

    VIP

    San Diego

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 12 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I love this place! Service is always amazing. Went for brunch for the first time and will for sure be back. The Turkish eggs and short rib hash were awesome. A nice difference from the typical brunch items. Joey took great care of us! Was also here for dinner earlier in the week with friends and as always, it was amazing. I love sharing all of the different plates. Alex was as always the best!
    Books + RecordsResponded on 20 December 2024
    Nichole, Thanks for taking the time to leave this wonderful review! Joey and Alex are both incredible and key parts of our team so hearing this makes me so happy. I'm glad you were able to swing by for both our Brunch and Dinner offerings. You'll just have to try our Happy Hour and $9 after 9PM menu next. Please say hello when you're here again :)

    Is this helpful?

  7. Angela

    Los Angeles

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 8 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service, wonderful and creative food, bottomless mimosas

    Is this helpful?

  8. Shez

    Atlanta Metro

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 6 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Ryan served an amazing tasting menu. 10/10 would come back

    Is this helpful?

  9. Daniel

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 6 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Chef's Tasting Experience was one of the best dining experiences we've had. There was so much thought and creativity put into each dish, and the drink pairing was a solid 10/10. Our favorite was the Beef Carpaccio paired with a Davis Bynum wine, it was simply remarkable ! Food aside, the staff here are very personable and give a lot of attention to detail. Brooke was very welcoming at the front and set a tone of hospitality that would continue to grow throughout the night. Our server Dalton was friendly and passionate about the menu, even giving us a bit if background about our favorite drink, the Tea's Knees. Chef Ryan also came by to ask about our experience at the end, where we had nothing but compliments to give. And if you ever get the chance to talk with the owner, Anderson, you'll find he has a wealth of knowledge on anything you would want to know about your dish !

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  10. Ana Paula

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 5 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My server was super friendly and totally in top of it! She let us talk when we were talking and offered amazing recommendations! I’ve been wanting to try Books and Records in a long time and had a lot of expectations built up! Guess what! Above and beyond! Loved my server, the food and ambiance! Last, but not the least, loved the playlist it was in tonight! Easy listening, 2000’s fun jams. I will definitely return for more ❤️

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Books + Records is rated 4.7 stars by 379 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 64 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Books + Records

2202 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Ivy St & Fourth Ave in Bankers Hill
  • Area
    Banker's Hill
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Wed, Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Cocktail Bar, Californian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Sam Deckman
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://booksandrecordsbar.com/
  • Phone number
    (619) 795-1000
  • Catering
    For information regarding PRIVATE EVENTS & CATERING visit BooksAndRecordsBar.com and select the "Private Dining" Tab.
  • Private party facilities
    For information regarding PRIVATE EVENTS & CATERING visit BooksAndRecordsBar.com and select the "Private Dining" Tab.
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