The Deck at Moonshine Flats

***REVIEW IS FOR THE FOOD***
Maybe I should’ve researched the place a bit more. I came into this bar for restaurant week and expected decent food, ended up being VERY disappointed.
I’m with my date trying to find a place to sit down and eat on Saturday at 6pm, no luck. That’s fine because we got friendly and found a group of girls who were willing to share a table with us. Ordered smoked salmon salad and chili for appetizer. The salad came on a sliver tray, haphazardly tossed together. I felt like I was eating on an airplane that just undergone turbulence. Chili was cold, like it’s been out waiting for someone to order it so they can get it out of the kitchen.
Then service went downhill. Possibly 30 minutes in, I flagged down a server for a glass of water that was forgotten and was informed our normal server would be with us shortly. Upon discussion, we realized our normal server disappeared and nobody had any idea what we ordered or where she went. We eventually were able to explain the process before we got the order down again and possibly the manager came and delivered our food to us.
Pulled pork and ribs were not too shabby. The pulled pork had some tough parts that I had trouble separating but the ribs were tasty. The sandwich was. a. disaster! Smoked portobello was ONE dried mushroom cap the size of a half dollar on a pathetic bed of arugula, blanketed by cold, dried ciabatta buns. The whole sandwich was bland, bland, bland and dry.
We finished off with apple crumble and sweet potato. I’m also unsure whether the sweet potato was suppose to be half the slice of apple crumble but if you look through my picture posted of this place you’ll see the discrepancy. Our server finally showed up near the end and asked us about our pie. By then I’m over the place. Definitely not coming back for the food.
Come for the drink and the games because I see the potential of a good time. Just make sure to eat elsewhere.

Fun place to grab a drink and meet up with friends. Yes we had a shot of moonshine. It was good. Bartender game us some good intel on the local area. It worth a stop in.

The customer service and barbecue meat were awesome here. A group of us came here for restaurant week and to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Not our usual scene — we’re getting older, you know? This is a bar that attracts a younger crowd. Anyhoo, we had a fun time and really enjoyed the bbq. It is a bar more than a restaurant, so it is loud, but we made the best of it. Overall i was just really impressed with the service.. The staff went the extra mile for our picky group, and I appreciated that.

When you are looking for fun Sports Bar in Gaslamp, check out The Deck. Fun vibe and great customer service. Ask for Robbie, he always works the back bar area.
Great place for games and food!!!

We were denied service (and entry) because I was wearing an older model camelback (I took out the water system to fit water bottles, keys etc). The door guy and his manager or supervisor said the owner doesn’t want anyone with backpacks in the restaurant. Never mind we had bags from purchases at the auto show that would have been ok or the camelbak would have fit into. Maybe they just don’t like desert camo or military people in their restaurant. Doesn’t matter, went to blind burro instead for lunch and drinks. Don’t recommend this establishment at all for awful customer relations.

Don’t know anything about the quality of the food because we were told we weren’t allowed in solely because my boyfriend had a small military-​issued camelback. They gave some lame reason about having problems in the past with backpacks, but seemed to have no problem with the tote bag I was carrying from the auto show. We had come in for the day on a lift to go to the auto show. So we did not have a car or any place to put the bag in order to eat there. They were very unsympathetic and made no alternative suggestions, such as perhaps they could hold onto the bag in the back while we ate. I guess if you’re staying at a hotel and don’t want to carry anything with you, feel free to attempt to eat here. But do so at your own risk. They were rude and frankly, that was the dumbest excuse I’ve ever heard for denying service to any potential customers.

The manager is very attentive and detail-​oriented. He doesn’t overlook the needs and requests (no matter how small) of his patrons. That really shows through in his actions and he genuinely makes you feel like you’re his número uno priority!

Decent BBQ and good drinks. This place gets super packed during any sporting event so come early for a seat! Their BBQ was good but was a little dissapointed with the mac n cheese. I would come back for the drinks and sporting events for sure!

Came here to catch a morning chargers game and they still had quite a bit of seating available whereas every other bar nearby was crammed to the rim with football enthusiastics!
They had a limited brunch menu but they all looked promising. I ordered the tri tip biscuits and gravy and I was not disappointed! The tri tip was smokey and juicy. Gravy was thick and flavorful and the biscuits that went with the dish was still crunchy even though it was smothered in the gravy! And then they threw some over medium eggs on top for the perfect balance to complete the dish! Superb.
The only downside to the bar is the lack of air condition so we were only able to last through one football game before we had to bounce for a place that was cooler.

Went here for Sunday funday for NFL football. Solid set up of TV’s with almost every game on and a lot of space so you’re not crowded into the bar on top of people like most bars during an NFL Sunday. They have a good brunch menu. Ordered the tri tip biscuits and gravy. It was delicious. Side of mac and cheese wasn’t bad either. Deals on Jack Daniels drinks. Only bad side would be no air conditioning and it was pretty warm in there. Think I was cheering for random wind gusts more then the football game.

As my husband and I were looking for a fun upbeat place to have dinner and drinks we ran across this place on Unilocal.I will have to admit the set and games were really cool.
But the food was the absolute worst BBQ I ever had, brisket was dry and flavorless. They had Burnt kielbasa. Gross! The BBQ sauce was hot and probably had been sitting out all day! And who wants to pieces of dried White bread! (no butter) the best thing on the tailgate was the French fries.
We ordered a rum bucket, it tasted like all sprite with a little Malibu. Not worth $ 10
The waitresses we’re really slow and it wasn’t even busy. We had to ask for our check a couple times to finally receive it.
If your going to play a few games and drink a beer this place is average. But steer clear of anything else.

Here’s the short:
-$ 10 cover on Friday and Saturday nights after 10pm
–Line is usually shorter on the Deck side, but you can access both the Deck and Moonshine Flats because they’re connected
–Rum buckets are a must! They’re ten dollars for a bucket full of rum punch that’s sure to get the job done.
I love coming to Moonshine Flats. The Deck itself is a great casual option to a night out downtown. There’s lots of fun patio games like corn hole and usually the vibe is pretty chill. Lots of space to hang out with friends. Music on this side isn’t too loud either, so it really seems like you’re just hanging out outside with friends.
I like that the Deck is connected to Moonshine Flats, because they have such different vibes! You can have a place to talk and catch up with friends on the Deck, but can also line dance and listen to a live band in Moonshine Flats.
Great option for a night out downtown!

I really dig The Deck. It isn’t country, so don’t come here expecting a honky tonk with some Alan Jackson playing. This is more like your Florida Georgia line mixed by a hip hop DJ with a few cowboy boots intermingled in the crowd. Why do I keep coming back? great BBQ, good drinks and corn hole. I am a corn hole addict; throw a dozen beers in me and I become sincerely invested.
If you can avoid the military guys and find a local duo that want to throw down on a corn hole game, you will usually find some good company. After a Padres game, this place will turn into a haven for men and women looking to hook up, this is good for some and obnoxious for others… but then again, what bar isn’t.
They recently launched a new BBQ menu that is as good as I’ve had anywhere in town. They truly did a bang up job bringing the south to San Diego. The ribs are some of the best I’ve ever had, and with 5 – 6 sauces to choose from, you can’t go wrong. Just don’t order too much, it’ll fill you up quick. Till we meet again Deck.

AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME!
The Gaslamp was in dire need of a place like this! With all of the other clubs downtown none of them actually catered to country music and people who know how to dance instead of them just grinding their junk against you!
I came here Saturday night after a Padres baseball game and it’s located right across the street from the park! It was still relatively early for a Saturday night, but my friend and I got there before the crowds. Not sure if there’s cover because we got there early, however there’s an ATM right outside the front entrance if you have card only and need cash.
There’s a main stage, balcony, and room off to the side for pool. There’s only one bar but with multiple bartenders and instead of getting a usual Vodka Cran, we got one of their signature drinks, Ginger Peach Moscow Mule! I’m not a big fan of Moscow Mules, but these ones are beyond delicious! They give them to you in a regular-​sized Mason jar, but those went down super fast as we ended up getting 3 Mules a piece that night.
After we got our drinks, they teach you simple line dancing numbers, so that everyone can try and get their country on! However since everyone wanted to learn, there wasn’t too much room, but it only made it that much more hilarious as everyone was trying to follow the MC’s steps while bumping into each other. They only teach for about 30 mins and then the rest of the night is followed by expert line dancers and two steppers.
I’ve been to Incahoots and Stampede in SD County, but none of them have the atmosphere Moonshine Flats has! Super mellow, low-​key, and friendly. Definitely in my top 10 places to go in Downtown SD!

This place is amazing! Great atmosphere has an open air ceiling that has a fiberglass closure that can be closed for in-​climate weather but let’s face it when does it rain in San Diego?!
This establishment has a foosball table, shuffleboard table, beer pong table, pool table and a ping pong table. Lots of fun things to do with your inebriated friends!
The service is swell the drinks are strong and a great atmosphere what else do you need?!
If you’re in the Gas Lamp District I highly recommend visiting The Deck at Moonshine Flats!

I am by no means an expert on BBQ. In fact, I rarely eat barbecue food because the sauces seem to always be slopped on everything and they are almost always way too sweet for me (I hate sweet sauces on my meat). At the Deck, however, this isn’t an issue because you can choose which style BBQ sauce you want and any staff member is happy to explain to you whether they are sweet, savory, tangy or any combination of the three.
I ordered the brisket which was SO good! I went with my server’s suggestion of the Carolina sauce, which is mustard based and not sweet at all — it was perfect. For my sides I ordered the Mac N’ Cheese and the grilled corn on the cob. The corn was so sweet and delicious but my mac n’ cheese was a bit lacking. I wish the sauce were a bit creamier and the noodles were a bit smaller.
Overall, this place had great service and a really cool ambience. It really feels like you are out hanging out on someone’s (very large) deck!

Smoked BBQ? YES PLEASE! I see all the reviews ordered their smoked chicken wings and not their other meats. While I did like the smokiness of their wings and I offered some to others, and we all really liked them, their meats are what really stood out.
It should be stated that this was their first night serving food. It was for a Unilocal event on June 23. Good job Chef Todd and crew! Aaaaaand I guess I should also have full disclosure here. I’m a certified BBQ judge, so I had to try everything!
I ordered their combo plate which had 4 meats and two sides for $ 23. Nice and filling.
I’m a rib girl and I really loved the depth of flavor of their ribs. The flavor was smokey, sweet, had layers of tastiness, they were quite tender and came off the bone easily without totally falling off which I don’t care for. That means they’re overcooked in competition rules.
I thought the pulled pork was a bit dry and when I told the server that, she told the chef and he sent out a bit more which was definitely more juicy.
The brisket also had great flavor, but was a bit overcooked. Again, better than under cooked. Tri tip was a bit tough for me and not a cut of meat that is a favorite of mine. I sat with Lyndsi and her bf Tony and he loved their tri tip.
Sausage was the bomb, nice and tasty with just the right amount of spice and smoke.
Thankfully, they didn’t smother the meats with any sauce, but served it on the side. I liked their sauce, if a bit sweet for me. I like a bit more molasses flavor.
For sides I had their BBQ beans, really good and had bacon in it! Their corn pudding blew me away. I’ve had it before, but this was one of the best I’ve had. Flavorful, crusty and great texture.
Chef came out and wanted to know what I thought and I was honest about it all. I also met assistant GM, Jack and when I told him what I thought and how I loved the ribs, he insisted I take home rack of them! Then I also got to order their cole slaw and their potato salad. Loved the flavor of both, but like my pieces of potato a bit smaller. Minor complaint.
Since I took a LOT home, the servers need to learn to include everything that was on my plates into my to go boxes. She forgot the celery, carrots and ranch dressing with my wings and didn’t include the chef’s spicy sauerkraut with my combo plate. She probably didn’t because I told her I didn’t try the kraut because I’m not a fan, but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t include it in my to go box. Just a heads up. At least all the meat was there!
I think if they work with everything a bit more, they are going to shine with their Q. BBQ is so big right now. 6 new BBQ places just opened in SD and I can’t wait to try them all.
Moonshine Flats is putting in their take on BBQ and if they promote it right, it’s going to be BIG!

Wow! What a fun little bar that has cool games and friendly staff! I stopped by tonight for a fundraiser and was completely surprised as to how nice the place is!
You can tell a lot about a bar by its bathrooms and the women’s bathroom was quite nice! There were cool pictures of celebs on the doors that made the bathroom perfect for a selfie (yes, it sounds weird, but you just have to trust me with this one).
This is smack dab in the middle of downtown near Petco Park so I can see that this place can get pretty popular and busy.
The drinks I had here were delish and the food was decent. I really like their mustard that they serve with their kielbasa and highly recommend it!
I normally do not frequent bars but I would totally come back with some friends and play cornhole (can someone please tell me why it’s called cornhole? There’s no corn involved).

This is by far my favorite bar of all time. Moonshine Flats has two sides to it. One side of the bar is a night club that is only open in the evening, and The Deck is a day drinking, country themed bar with different games like corn hole, beer pong and other games. Even though you are inside a bar, it feels like you are outside at a party drinking and playing games with friends because a huge opening in the roof that lets the sun in and the doors near the street are rustic gates that let the ocean breeze in.
We were there during the Padres game and it was a little slow but we were able to watch the game on the 12 big screens and 4 regular sized screens which makes it a great place to come and watch any sports games. They played mainly country an threw in the occasional alternative rock or 90’s hits which made it fun for even the country hatin’ folk. After the Padres game it got a little busier but the people coming in were friendly and it started to feel like we were all tailgating somewhere at a country concert, but were actually in a bar!
We all ordered food, I ordered the Frito Pie fire dog hot dog. The fire dog sounds spicy, but it is actually 50% pork and 50% beef. The hot dog was covered in chili and fritos, usually it comes also with onions but I passed on them. The fries are absolutely delicious and were still amazing cold. Definitely a great place to come for outdoor BBQ style food and a beer.
My group spent over 5 hours there and I know I cant wait to come back the next time we are down in San Diego. So if you like country music, country games, sports and to drink give it a try!

I come here all the time. I like the casual atmosphere and the drinks.
The games are super fun to have going while having a beer or a snack. I have had work farewell happy hours here, gone here for the super bowl, Sunday fun days as well as just a random night of the week or weekend for fun.
My biggest dislike about this place is that they charge cover on weekends. I don’t want to pay to get into a place I’m going to buy drinks and food in. I live in the area and will gladly spend my weekend going out dollars elsewhere if there is a cover. That makes me sad when we try to come here and they have started cover, but my friends and I just head about a block away to one of the other spots.