Boat Dock Access At Tom Ham's Lighthouse Restaurant?

Tom Ham's Lighthouse Restaurant is a unique dining experience with spectacular views of San Diego Bay. It has been one of San Diego's best-known landmark restaurants since 1971. The restaurant is located on the western tip of Harbor Island, where it boasts a Coast Guard-approved beacon, making it the only documented restaurant in the continental United States that is also a working, navigational lighthouse. With breathtaking views of the downtown skyline and the Coronado Bridge, Tom Ham's Lighthouse is the perfect spot for a romantic dinner or a special celebration. The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor dining options, with private spaces available for couples and larger groups of up to 50 people.

The restaurant's location and history

Tom Ham's Lighthouse Restaurant is a unique dining experience with spectacular views of San Diego Bay. It is located on the western tip of Harbor Island in San Diego, California, and boasts a Coast Guard-approved beacon, which is Beacon 9 on the nautical map. This makes it the only documented restaurant in the continental United States that is also a working, navigational lighthouse. The restaurant has been a San Diego landmark since it was built in 1971 by Tom Ham, a man who was not afraid to put his name on his product.

The restaurant's history is rooted in warm welcomes and excellent food, as Tom Ham made his lifelong dream a reality. The dining room is purposely shaped like the state of California and offers magnificent views of the Downtown City Skyline, Coronado, and San Diego Bay. Tom Ham's Lighthouse is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to indulge in delicious seafood and breathtaking views.

The restaurant's menu features a diverse array of options, including seafood, Californian cuisine, and steak. Executive Chef Kyle Kovar crafts delicious seafood entrées with care, including their signature shrimp diablo—four stuffed jumbo Gulf shrimp wrapped in bacon and served with risotto and a medley of vegetables. The restaurant also offers a signature flashing cocktail appropriately named "Beacon #9" to commemorate its unique status as a working lighthouse.

In addition to its stunning views and exceptional cuisine, Tom Ham's Lighthouse Restaurant has also been recognised for its excellence by the San Diego Restaurant Association. It was the winner of the Gold Medallion Award for "Best Sunday Brunch Restaurant" in 2006, 2007, and 2008. The restaurant is easily accessible, with plenty of free parking available in its private lot.

The dining experience

Upon arrival, guests are greeted by the host and seated at their table, where they can enjoy the panoramic views of the bay and city skyline. The restaurant's manager, David Wilson, is described as an accomplished host who ensures his employees provide the best possible service.

The menu at Tom Ham's Lighthouse offers a variety of dishes, including seafood, steak, and Californian cuisine. The restaurant is known for its award-winning Sunday Champagne Brunch, and the executive chef, Kyle Kovar, creates delectable dishes using fresh and seasonal ingredients.

To start, guests can choose from a variety of appetizers, such as oysters on the half shell, shrimp ceviche, or a build-your-own platter with items like mussels, scallops, and shrimp. The main course offers a range of options, including seafood dishes like the pan-seared Maine diver scallops or the beer-braised beef short ribs. For dessert, guests can indulge in one of Chef Goldie's decadent creations, such as the thick slice of New York cheesecake topped with raspberry sauce.

The restaurant also offers outdoor dining and private party accommodations for groups of various sizes. It is a popular choice for special occasions and has been a longstanding landmark in San Diego, known for its unique combination of fine dining and a working, navigational lighthouse.

Overall, the dining experience at Tom Ham's Lighthouse is one of indulgence, with exquisite food, impeccable service, and breathtaking views, creating lasting memories for its guests.

The menu and food

Tom Ham's Lighthouse offers a 100% responsibly sourced seafood menu and award-winning Sunday Champagne Brunch. The restaurant serves brunch, lunch, and dinner, with a menu that changes regularly due to fresh and seasonal ingredients. The dining room, shaped like the state of California, can accommodate groups of up to 50 people while still offering privacy for couples.

Brunch

The Sunday Champagne Brunch is a highlight, with one review describing it as "one of the most delectable and reasonably priced" brunch buffets in San Diego. The menu includes:

• Seafood Newburg: scallops, shrimp, lobster, and swordfish in a creamy sauce, served with risotto and broccoli with orange hollandaise sauce.
• Tigers Brochette: grilled tiger prawns, swordfish, and scallops in lemon butter sauce, served with rice, carrots, and squash.
• Spinach Salad: spinach with warm bacon dressing served in a crispy baked Parmesan basket.
• Granny Smith Apple Salad: mixed greens, walnuts, crumbled blue cheese, and apple dressing.
• Meatloaf: made with ground-up steak and rib meat.
• Coconut Shrimp: served with pineapple chutney.
• Crab Cakes
• Calamari

Lunch

Lunch is served from Monday to Saturday, 11:30 am to 3:00 pm, and includes a variety of options such as:

• Oysters on the Half Shell: featuring options from Baja California, Martha's Vineyard, Central Puget Sound, and Cortes Island.
• House Shrimp Ceviche: served with avocado, lime, cilantro, and corn tortilla chips.
• Build Your Own Platters: including options like Prince Edward Island mussels and bay scallops on the half shell.
• Salads: such as the Roasted Corn and Asparagus Salad and the Chopped Caesar Salad.
• Sandwiches: including the Blackened Salmon BLT and the BBQ Beef Sandwich.
• Entrees: like the Pan-Seared New York Steak and the Beer-Braised Beef Short Ribs.

Dinner

Dinner is served Monday to Thursday, 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, and Friday to Sunday, 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The dinner menu includes:

• Iced Shellfish Platters: featuring lobster, oysters, and scallops.
• Fresh Pan-Seared Maine Diver Scallops: served over guajillo spiced grits, andouille sausage, melted leeks, and crispy artichokes.
• Slow-Roasted Beef Brisket: served on a jalapeño cheddar sourdough bun with house-smoked BBQ sauce and creamy slaw.
• Saffron Rice: covered in a medley of fish, shrimp, chicken, chorizo, mussels, clams, peas, and peppers.
• Verlasoo Seared Salmon: pan-seared skin-on salmon with pea puree, potato hash, and baby squash.
• Clams: prepared with Spanish chorizo, shallots, cherry tomatoes, and creamy white wine butter sauce.
• Jidori Half Brick Chicken: served with preserved Meyer lemon couscous, crispy Dijon Brussels sprouts, and pomegranate mint gastrique.

Drinks

Tom Ham's Lighthouse also offers a range of cocktails, such as the Bali Hai Mai Tai and the Tom Ham's Rumhattan, as well as a selection of wines and proseccos.

Reviews of the restaurant

Tom Ham's Lighthouse is a restaurant in San Diego, California, with a rich history and an even richer menu. The restaurant is built on the vision of its namesake, Tom Ham, who walked along Shelter Island and foresaw a booming future for the city. He envisioned a restaurant that would savour the view for years to come, and that's exactly what he created.

The restaurant is known for its breathtaking views of the downtown city skyline, Coronado, and San Diego Bay. Diners can enjoy a panoramic view of the shimmering bay and downtown lights while indulging in a variety of culinary delights. The dining room is purposely shaped like the state of California, accommodating groups of up to 50 while still offering privacy for couples.

The menu features a 100% responsibly sourced seafood selection, including oysters, scallops, and shrimp, as well as award-winning Sunday Champagne Brunch. The food has received mixed reviews, with some praising the diverse menu and others suggesting improvements in quality and value. However, the views and service are consistently highlighted as exceptional.

One diner praised the "spectacular views" and "wonderful food", calling it a "wonderful romantic little spot". Another reviewer complimented the "spectacular views from everywhere in the restaurant" and the "friendly staff", recommending it as a "must-visit" in San Diego. The restaurant's new Executive Chef, Tom Goldie, has transformed the menu, offering a mix of newly created dishes and time-tested favourites.

The restaurant also boasts an impressive brunch menu, with one reviewer stating that they ""enjoyed the food and excellent service" and that their "birthday brunch was fantastic". The lunch buffet has been described as "one of the best in town", with homemade food and a welcoming atmosphere.

Tom Ham's Lighthouse is more than just a restaurant; it's a San Diego tradition. With its stunning views, attentive service, and delectable dishes, it continues to be a favourite for special occasions and romantic dinners.

Contact information

Tom Ham's Lighthouse is located at 2150 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego, California, 92101.

You can contact the restaurant by phone on (+1) 619-291-9110.

For catering inquiries, you can contact Laugan Miller via email at [email protected].

For private party inquiries, you can contact Brooke Otto by phone on (855) 510-8333.

Frequently asked questions