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August 04, 2020

Brigantine Portside Pier - is now open

It’s been years in the coming, but the Brigantine Portside Pier opened near the end of July.


The July-Fry heat wave was still going strong when it opened, which definitely made the opportunity to enjoy a new restaurant on the waterfront a big draw.


Being Covid Cautious we waited a bit and picked a weekday in early Fog-ust when it was cooler to ride our bikes down to the waterfront and check it out.  


We unloaded the bikes at Liberty Station and picked up the Bayshore Bikeway.  We rode the complete bikeway's 24 mile loop couple years ago, that blog is HERE.  A virtual ride of the bikeway can be found on YouTube HERE.


However, today we rode over the pedestrian bridge and caught the bikeway at Spanish Landing.  Following the Spanish Landing Trail from there it is an easy level ride to the waterfront.

The Brigantine family of restaurants includes Miguel’s Cocina and Ketch Brewing in addition to The Brigantine, all with multiple locations within the San Diego area.  All are present at Portside Pier in the one location.

The complex occupies the old Anthony’s Fish Grotto location just south of the Star of India.


We immediately notice there is no longer any bicycle racks, and lock ours to the new fencing, along with several others.

Public access to the upper deck is via stairs at either side of the complex or an elevator.  The folks in the background are dining on The Brigantine's deck.


 We entered the main lobby at The Brigantine to check things out.  The dining room is not as large as the old Anthony's dining area.  But it does have a large Oyster Bar that Anthony's did not, and shares the main floor with Miguel's Cocina.


The upper deck, The Top Sail, is open to the public with no obligation nor expectation of making a purchase.  It would be a good place on a clear day to enjoy views of the harbor.

USS Theodore Roosevelt 
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San Diego Maritime Museum Exhibits
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Waterfront Park

There's ample room on the Top Sail deck to sit or be social distant, enjoy a drink from the bar or a flight from Ketch Brewing.

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Back on the main level is Miguel's with it's deck seating on the opposite side of the complex from Brigantine's deck.


Fran and I each had a delicious grilled Mahi-Mahi taco on the lower deck before we began our ride back.

Our take on the Brigantine Portside Pier?  This is just our initial take way ... It appears to be more for the younger upward mobile Millennial and tourists, than the local geriatric crowd (us).  We will want to return and check it out again when San Diego is finally Covid free.

The ride back to Liberty Station would not be worth mentioning except for three young kids jumping off the Nimitz bridge.  


The food court at Liberty Station is located within Liberty Station Market.  It's been closed then open a couple times during the Covid era.  It's been open now for awhile and we decided to walk through.

Hand washing stations are placed at all entrances and within the market.

It was nice to see a number of vendors open.  Social distancing is difficult to maintain in the maze and we paused to look at the various offerings.  But everybody was masked and all dining is at outdoor tables appropriately distanced.


It was nice to be out without the crowds normally found along the waterfront.  I'm sure it'll be a lot different as San Diego continues to open up.

My BLM NewsBytes (issue 912) contained a link to the alternatives under consideration for the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area - HERE.  The proposals all have camping and use limits, but no final decisions.

!!! LAVES SUS MANOS !!!

 

16 comments:

  1. It all looks so appealing...and so devoid of people!! It's surreal...we have family in San Diego and have spent a lot of time there, but always in a crowd, lol. This looks like the kind of adventure we would love, biking to the Brigantine!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. The bike ride is not a challenge, but a lot of fun along the waterfront. The only 'hill' is the Nimitz bridge - Please do not jump!
      Your family may want to enjoy the ride now before it again becomes a congested tourist trap :))

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  2. The last time we stayed in SD the Brigantine-Portside-Pier was underconstruction. Nice to see things are finshed and open. Hopefully, this virus will be under better control for our January visit. We have two weeks booked along the bay at Mission Bay RV. We so enjoy riding our bikes to all the various beach areas.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. San Diego is so looking forward to hosting your visit again next January! The construction barriers are now down, with the whole waterfront again open for bike rides.
      Hope our schedules will cross next year for a happy hour.

      Delete
  3. Thanks for the info on the Alabama Hills proposed changes. Sounds like some great ideas to control the crazies that are ruining it for everyone.

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    1. I'll keep a curious eye on the BLM NewsBytes, but have no real stake in their final decision. I did request a Federal (aka Geezer Pass) campground, which is in the latest options.

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  4. Oh, to be able to sit at a nice restaurant and have a nice meal and not have to worry about crazy viruses.... While I agree, that place looks like it's geared toward the tourist/millenial crowd, it sure looks like a nice place to spend a sunny afternoon. We'll definitely want to check it out next visit. It's good to hear people are at least wearing masks and complying with social distancing stuff. Makes me hopeful you all will have things under control sooner rather than later.

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    1. We will return for a sit down meal when we feel it is safe to do so. They have Wine Wednesday where a bottle is 1/2 price ... guess we'll return on a Wednesday :))

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  5. I wonder about the future of such places in this time. Such a big investment of time and money when the expected revenue just won't be there for quite awhile. Finger's crossed for them, it looks like an interesting place! As you are "in the know" we love to hear your updates on the Mission Bay RV Park situation!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I'm sure Portside will do well as the cruise ships and tourists are well represented on the waterfront. That is once the ships and tourists return!
      No new progress on the Mission Bay RV Park redevelopment process. The permits were filed 9/19 but the pandemic shut the city down with issuing approvals. The park remains open and is being maintained by Campland, but the derelict trailers have yet to be removed

      Delete
  6. Nice to see them open, would love to check out that brewery if we ever make it back to SD...

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    1. There are other locations for Ketch Brewing, but the location and view at Portside will not be beat. I could see sharing a flight there.

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  7. Thanks for all the information and great pictures. My wife and I look forward to trying it out once the pandemic is under control. Every time relatives or friends flew into town, our first stop from the airport would be at Anthony's. It was a great way to show off the ambiance that SD has to offer. Hopefully Brigantine will be just as special.

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    1. Thanks Jeff, My first take it will lack the relaxing conversational atmosphere that we all miss from Anthony's. We now treat guests to Point Loma Seafoods. i'd very much like to hear your opinion when you have the chance to check it out

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  8. A good day out. I am reminded of living aboard Lake Union in Seattle. Love the sail boats.

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    Replies
    1. Gaelyn as 'Sleepless in Seattle'! Working in West Seattle and living in Kirkland I drove past those 'live aboards' twice a day, with a bit of jealous envy.

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