The Red Fox Steakhouse and Piano Bar

Ordered the Shrimp Louie Salad to go. The portion was huge! Fresh crunchy lettuce, perfectly bloodied eggs and good portion of chilled shrimp. Would recommend to everyone!

We come here whenever we are in town – this place is awesome! Great food, great drinks – the piano’s are awesome. The wait staff and bartenders are always amazing and super nice. And as a side note the best ranch dressing I’ve ever had! A true San Diego gem!

Love the jazzy piano bar! I got here just before closing so I’ll have to come back. Looks like people had a great time.

Well im an outsider and there 50^th was fantastic congratulations to all staff great job.

UPDATE:
Although this is not a high end steakhouse, the food is alright. I’d say the salad is the best dish because of the ranch dressing. Delicious!
The steak is alright and nothing to really give props to. I had to ask for A1.
Our server this time around was very nice and kind, also funny. She called us «shugah»… LOL.
I’d like to visit again and possibly try a different cut of meat.

I’m in love. This is definitely my kind of place. Dark bar area retro from the 50s. We sat at the bar so we could listen to the piano. I seriously thought I had gone back in time and was hanging with the Rat Pack. The waitresses are even reminiscent of another time.
My husband ordered the New York and it was perfectly cooked medium rare. Very flavorful and it came with garlic bread, celery, carrots, olives and RANCH!!! The best ranch. I could have eaten my feet with that ranch slathered all over them.
Yes the steak was a little on the pricey side but it was pretty good and I feel the ambiance of the place and the piano entertainment definitely added to the value.

I simply have to give a review, not just because it’s long overdue, but because I’ll probably be there again this weekend, and so will you.
Red Fox is in the front /​basement of the Lafayette Hotel, where I, and probably you, will be staying for Unilocal Spring Break tomorrow through Sunday. Many times I’ve holed up at the Lafayette — and always because there was a party nearby that made a 35 miles trek back to Carlsbad not advised. And many times my evenings have started and ended at the Red Fox.
*** The Starting The Evening Part ***
You need a steak. And Red Fox serves a damn good filet that’s especially awesome for the price.
The accompanying salad is cafeteria-​dreary, the bread is OK, but the baked potato with full set of accoutrements like cheese, butter, sour cream, and chives is enough alone to prepare you for the upcoming night of heavy pours and heavier poor decisions. There’s something about chives that causes livers to gain powers of regeneration. Consult a medical textbook. It’s in there.
And you need a martini. My Red Fox bartenders have always whipped up my Grey Goose with just the right & slight amount of vermouth, serving it up with that thin layer of tiny ice crystals on top. And those crystals give you power. Consult a medical textbook.
Total old-​school vibe in there, which is best experienced when eating at the bar. Stare at the old and old-​school-​sexy-​yet-​sexist Michelob sign while you wonder why you have to get two separate checks, one for the food and another for the booze.
*** And the Ending The Evening Part ***
You’ve arrived at one-​something-​AM, just in time for the last couple songs on the piano, sometimes accompanied by a guest vocalist, sometimes accompanied by a few uninvited guest vocalists, several of whom probably came in the door with you. And oh those puritanical CA licensing laws — time to get a drink, fast! Manhattan, that is, my friends. The Michelob sign begs you to grab a Michelob, but nay, we haven’t seen that kind of malty, once-​premiumish brew since the turn of the century, and no, you really don’t want an Ultra.
I’ll be back. Possibly even tomorrow.

I ordered the ground sirloin steak and it was horrible. Worst steak ever. I didnt even need to use a knife. I used my fork to scoop it and it crumbles. It was so bland. First time in my life i didn’t finish a steak. At least the salad and rice was good. Should have spent a couple more bucks for an actual steak.

Great food choices, from appetizers to Steaks. My go-​to is the grilled cheese with tomato and avocado. My favorite part is the piano bar. Any given night you’ll find great neighborhood singers singing along with the musicians. And it’s open mike to sing. Great place to hang, for sure.

I’ve been to the Red Fox many times over the years. Total old school gangster vibe in here that has stood the test of time.
The prices have increased over the years but I still feel like you get a quality meal and are stuffed after leaving.
My most recent trip in was last Friday evening. My date and I shared a bottle of Cabernet. We didn’t finish it and they straight bagged it To Go. I had the double lobster tails and he had the filet. The meals come with an appetizer salad with your choice of dressing as well as a side option, we went with baked potatoes. They also serve a small relish plate to snack on before the salads come out that contains some celery & carrot sticks, black olives, and ranch dip. Super crisp and refreshing.
Our bill came out to about $ 80. It’s not absolute fine dining, but we were taken care of by Cynthia, didn’t have to wait, and had a good filling meal with some wine.
We missed the nightly piano entertainment because we got there early. I think they play most nights from 9:30pm-1am or so.
As long as the Red Fox is around, i’m sure I’ll make my way back at some point.

Unbelievable! The food was out of this world! Steak and lobster tail for under $ 35, and the drinks stiff! Walked out with paying $ 100 for dinner and drinks. Not including the big tip we left. It’s a hole in the wall, old school chop place. Definitely making this our go to place for dinner and drinks. Had a nice comfortable booth and our waiter was super attentive even though it was busy as heck.

Good steak prepared exactly as I asked. Live piano player. Good drinks at a reasonable price. I’d recommend it if you’re looking for a sit down restaurant with old fashioned atmosphere.

I told my boyfriend that it I must be spoiled because I should be able to enjoy a $ 35 plate of steak and fried scallops like a normal person who goes to an expensive restaurant and I DIDN’T.
–The salad was practically iceberg lettuce.
–Crab cakes were absolutely tiny.
–Medium rare steak was charred on the outside.
–Tasted like a cheap cut of meat and not the melt in your mouth filet I was expecting.
–Steak comes UNSEASONED unless you specifically ask. (Server did not ask us if we wanted it seasoned. Though we heard the waitress for the next table ask her customers if they wanted it.)
–Fried scallops was something I could pick up in the frozen section of the supermarket.
–Pianist apparently doesn’t start till 9. On sundays, our waitress said «They’re supposed to be here at 730, but they get here when they get here.»
This place got 2 stars instead of 1 for the Irish Cream cheesecake alone.

Visited this place on 1÷29÷16 and had a nice time there. My boyfriend and I were looking for a place to have a late dinner and found this place on Unilocal and decided to give it a try. The ambiance was great, the vibe was good and the food was pretty good as well. There was someone at the piano and that was really nice. The waitress we got was super cool, I don’t remember her name, but she had an accent and was pretty tall. She kept coming by to see how we were doing every few minutes and attended to our needs extremely well. The food was pretty good as I mentioned and the price wasn’t too expensive either. My only complaint would be the steak was undercooked, but other than that, everything was enjoyable. We will definitely visit again when we’re in the area.

This steakhouse came highly recommended from a friend. And he was right! The food was excellent, the service great, the atmosphere was nice and relaxed. I would definitely recommend this place and will be returning for sure!

Great place to hang out! The people watching is amazing.
The piano player and singers just added to the eclectic environment. I’ve only been here for drinks, but the food smelled pretty good.

I flipping love this place!!!
So I ended up meeting someone and wanted to grab a night cap. I told her let’s try this place. She laughed and said if she saw any rodents we leave and I have to take her to brunch in the am. Agreed. Worst case scenario I live across the street and have a full bar in my apartment.
We walk in to a 1960s time warp with a 85+ year old man playing the piano and they had the sounds of other instruments but no band. Nice comfy booths and a bar top. Seriously I felt like I died and went back a few decades.
Overall the staff is awesome, drinks are strong and the food looked killer. Beats out most places and is a funny story and without a doubt snapchat gold.

Let’s begin with the atmosphere which I loved loved loved! This place reminds me of Bugsy Seagal times were the restaurant has really dim lighting with a live band and a big grand piano in the middle of it all! It was so old timey with big old fashioned very comfortable booths. And their fox mascot which is printed everywhere in the restaurant is so classy.
The drinks were very stiff, normally I can down 3 glasses of chardonnay before I start getting buzzed but these were pretty strong. Upon a glass and a half I was feeling it. For an appetizer I proceeded with the jumbo cocktail shrimp and for my dinner i proceeded with the filet mignon medium rare with fries. The steak was cooked to perfection. I didn’t even need A1. And the vegetables you get at the table are quiet unique. It was a plate of ranch dip, whole black olives, stalks of green onions, carrots and celery. I’ve never imagined biting into a stalk of green onion like it was a celery stick but with the ranch it was actually really good.

First timer tonight. Our server was wonderful. Shame on me for not getting her name. We were quickly greeted and got a booth seat. We were brought olives, celery and carrots. I had the Petite Filet rare. A salad and bread were brought out first then the Filet. I was worried i didnt order enough food but i ended up taking more than half home. Dark place. Super cozy.

First and foremost– don’t let the ambiance or the neighborhood turn you away. This is an old school steakhouse. The service is impeccable. The waitress was overly polite and gave incredible service. The food was very good. I had their sirloin burger and was impressed. Overall a good experience.

What a great place. Here with my son and his girlfriend from college. The food is excellent and the staff is very friendly. First time here and i will be back.

I would talk about how good the food is here. I would talk about how good the drinks are here but… it’s been 20 mins and still no menu. No hostess or waiter stoped and ask us if we needed anything. I live about half a block away from here and it really never seemed appealing, a friend recommended it and guess what, I’m never going to listening to that fool again. Btw I went here with my gf and I saw another couple leave before us

My sweetness brought me here for my birthday. I liked the décor, especially the red paint. It didn’t phase me that it was originally intended to cover the years of cigarette smoke stained into the walls, I thought it was rather charming. I like restaurants like these with the circular leather-​like booths and wood paneling. They remind me of places my grandparents took me to as a child.
We had a reservation and when we initially arrived I noticed that there were quite a few empty tables. As we were being seated, I saw that almost every table had a reserved sign on it. Before our food arrived all of those tables were filled. I was amazed at how quickly it happened.
Service was great. Our server was friendly and attentive. I seriously dug her fishnet stockings too. Parking is not ideal with it being in North Park, but we were able to snag a spot about a block away. It’s super easy to find as it’s adjacent to the Lafayette Hotel.
The menu for the restaurant is two pages. If you’re sitting at the bar, I’m told there is a separate menu. I like a simple two page menu, seriously. I mean do you really need eight pages of choices to sift through to make a decision on what to eat? I don’t. I didn’t bother looking at the right side of the menu because I wasn’t there for seafood or chicken. I came for steak. That being said I went with the steak kabob, medium rare on a bed of rice. I also had an excellent Manhattan. My guy is great at ordering cocktails. I always let him do all the ordering. Then I try his drinks too, best of both worlds. Since I didn’t get a choice of side, I had to try his baked potato haha. It’s that Irish in me. I only managed to eat half of my entrée, so no dessert. Everything was really good though.
This place makes me nostalgic for my childhood and my grandpa with his pipe, man did that smell good :). There just aren’t enough restaurants with character like this anymore. Come check it out for yourself. It’s a throwback to a time when people weren’t «brands» and everything wasn’t trendy, on point, bomb, or foodie.

Came in with my close friends & Enjoyed an excellent Filet mignon with a baked potato, best filet I have had in ages cooked perfectly to order, we all really enjoyed our steak & the atmosphere. The size of the restaurant is wonderfully petite and the noise level fluctuated but never got too loud or very quiet. The service was perfect.
The only thing I disliked was spending that much on a wonderful meal, and eating it with cheap stamped out metal forks that hurt my hands & cheapened the experience.
They should invest in nicer flatware.
A++ highly recommended for meat eaters.

I went here about a week or so ago by myself… although this would be a great place to take a date!
I came here because I had a Navy PRT (Physical Readiness Test) he next day and having learned from my sister who is an advent runner and always goes out for steak before her Marathons, I decided to follow her example and treat myself to lean meat protein and baked potato carbs!
I think they were a bit surprised when I asked for my steak well done (for personal reasons I can no longer tolerate seeing blood in my food). The waitress informed me that the meat would be thick and needed to be cut in half like a «butterfly» to cook through. I said it was OK.
My meal came with garlic bread (though only two slices must be per person or something), a salad with choice of dressing, and finally the main course of a Baked Potato and of course the steak itself with a bottle of AI Steak Sauce. Mind you I have been to Argentina and no steak in the US can compare to their portion and taste. The steak here wasn’t bad, I was expecting it to be bigger but it was definitely cooked through as requested.
So for $ 33 overall it was great experience… although I did keep getting weird looks from everyone else… probably because I’m eating by myself in a decent or «nice» restaurant. I would definitely recommend this place and I may come again before next PRT as they are conveniently close to my apartment. Who knows I may bring someone just so people don’t look at me funny. A guy can’t enjoy food by himself anymore I guess!

My husband and I went here on Sunday night after I spent the better part of an hour trying to find a restaurant that wasn’t oppressively hip or yuppyfied.
Getting inside you can immediately feel the old English pub vibe, because that’s exactly what it is. The food was decent, but nothing to write home about. The drinks were strong which is always a plus. It was very warm inside, bordering on uncomfortable, but the patrons were entertaining enough to not give it too much thought.
The band playing consisted of much older gents, but it was enjoyable if you could hear them over the sound of a very obviously old, burned out hooker trying to wrangle in her next fare.
I imagine my husband and I will be back for some more stories to share with our friends.

So, I found this place on Unilocal and decided to go with my boyfriend for a nice dinner.
The place itself is great (but very hot during the summer), the music is nice and the clientele is mostly 50+.
I ordered a Martini and the glass had a lipstick smudge on it. One of the waitresses quickly got me a new one.
We then ordered our food (20mins after we sat down), Steak/​Lobster Tail for me $ 33, and steak for my bf.
The order took almost an hour to come out, by that point out waitress told us we would be getting our dessert for free. I thought that was sweet of her.
I truly wasn’t upset that it was taking so long but I did finally get upset when our food came out. The portion was a joke. My steak was the size of half of my palm. Not $ 33 worth!
The total bill was $ 75! Not worth it, even with a free dessert!
I will say this though: the waitresses were very sweet.

Wasn’t a fan of the quality of food. I mean it was good — but for the prices it should have been better. I ordered a 23 dollar plate that had a medium sized steak and a baked potato. That’s it. You also get a salad of your choice at the beginning which is pretty good.
3 stars because the service is great and our waitress was friendly, attentive, on top of refills and super nice! She needs a raise/​promotion. I wish I remembered her name!

Really cool space, especially if you look into the history of it. There’s live music and an eerie (in a good way) ambiance to the room. I think it’s the dark and red lighting/​décor that makes the place excitingly spooky to me.
I came here for a Valentine’s Day dinner with a reservation for around 9pm. We were seated in one of the corner booths that normally could probably fit at least 5 people. It was more than enough space for the two of us! I’m not sure if on a ‘normal’ day if a reservation is required, but that night every table was taken. I found it calming that the place was busy and yet it was quiet and hushed in the dining room.
There was a veggie platter to enjoy before the food came out. I ordered the chicken breast and the boyfriend got the pork chops. Flavorful, filling and plentiful — we were able to take some leftovers home to enjoy the next day. Everything is priced accordingly, I think. Steak will always be priced at steak prices — but there are other more affordable items on the menu. Also, I think I got a cocktail that night but don’t remember which one, so can’t comment on that now. :(
Nice, intimate space that’s perfect for a date night.

I’m a huge fan of old school steakhouses as they are a dying breed. Sometimes you just want a dark, relaxing, non pretentious environment that serves good steaks and other foods. These types of restaurants cater to both young and old.
I came here on my 2^nd night in town since I was craving some beef after gorging myself on seafood every chance I could the previous few meals. Thanks to local Unilocalers, I was able to find this gem of a place.
A few minutes after I arrived, the piano player and the sax player started playing music to give the place the perfect ambiance. I ordered the dirty shirlely cocktail while I waited for my filet mignon. A simple salad will come out with garlic bread before the main course. Once I bit into my steak, I could see why people love this dish. It was a huge cut, I went with the large, which was 11 oz of beef. Most steakhouses will only serve 4-​, 6-​, or 8-​oz portions of this steak. There was a significant charbroiled flavor to the steak as well, which was great. It was cooked to perfection. Service was very attentative.

This hurts… oh boy does it hurt. My former favorite hang has slowly transitioned into an overpriced haunt with little to no change apparent to justify it.
You see, Red Fox was never great. It was kind of pricey and you’d pay the price for vibe. Well, it had been a while since I walked through the dark doors of the Fox and it felt as if I was right back at home. Familiar faces, the same dusty bar and a menu that seemingly hasn’t changed since day one — so I thought!
What was once an expensive but decent steak dinner is now an INCREDIBLY expensive and very mediocre meal. Seriously, I’m going out on a limb here but based on memory, prices of the plates have increased between $ 8.00 — $ 9.00 each! The quality hasn’t changed one bit and every bite made me spite my meal more and more.
On the plus side, it appears that the «bar menu» remains the same and you can get that bitchin’ grilled cheese and tomato sandwich served with a side of ranch for the same price it’s always been and that, my friends, is one delicious sandwich at a great price!