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George's at the Cove
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Nightlife Bars Lounges Canadian (New), Lounges [Edit]
1250 Prospect St(between Ivanhoe Ave & Roslyn Ln)
La Jolla, CA 92037
Neighbourhood: La Jolla
(858) 454-4244
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
490 reviews for George's at the Cove
Review Highlights
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"The view from the Ocean Terrace is fantastic." In 59 reviews -
"Delicious food, esp the fish tacos indeed." In 51 reviews -
"Great view, great food, great service." In 29 reviews
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489 reviews in English
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Review from Carol S.
San Diego, CA
I love coming to George's! This has to be my favorite place to eat by the beach!
The top floor lets you see all around the cove. It's definitely the perfect place to eat if you want a great view of the beach.
I always start with the chips and salsa because it's light and tasteful. The guacamole is made to perfection too!
I love the salads here because they're refreshing and light. The portion is pretty good, I can never finish it.
The sandwiches are on point. I've tried just about all of them and I can say they're all good. They come with a side salad so it's pretty filling.
As for the desserts...BOMB! I always try to save room for the browie and ice cream. It's a great way to end my meals here.Listed in: Ladies Brunch/ Dinner
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Review from Brandon H.
San Diego, CA
5/25/2012
Food- Very good food wish they had more choice.
View- Prabably the best view in La Jolla area
Service- Waitress are all very nice and attractive
Good place for romantic dinner to see the sun go down or brunch to enjoy the view and the breeze. The restaurant have 1 side of the restaurant open so you can feel the ocean breeze. -
Review from Sarah V.
San Diego, CA
5/22/2012
We stopped here for lunch when my sister was visiting. There were three adults and my 12 month old daughter.
When we arrived to the ocean terrace and told the waitress we had a baby, her response was "Mmm, sorry, we don't have highchairs.". I can understand why, since the tables are so packed together, but her tone made us feel like we weren't welcome because we had a child. We headed downstairs hoping for better luck and received the same tone (with annoyance this time) from the hostess. I understand that they might deal with some unruly, noisy kids, but our child is well-behaved and quiet, and we remember what it's like to dine as a childless couple. You don't pay to go to a nice place to have some squawky kid ruin it and we wouldn't have brought her if she couldn't behave appropriately. It was embarrassing to bring our company to this "great restaurant" just to be treated poorly the moment we walked in the door.
Okay, now the positive points: our server was fantastic. Really nice, attentive and other than bringing our baby a milk in a cocktail glass, did her very best to take care of us. And the glass I wouldn't even blame her for...it's clear the management intentionally doesn't provide the servers with the tools needed for younger guests. Our server definitely made up for our first impression with the hostess.
The food was good (especially their signature chicken and black bean soup) and the view is breathtaking. -
Review from Ali D.
Los Angeles, CA
5/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Nice bar all the way up on top. The Shrimp cocktail at the bar paired with a Margarita on the rocks on a beautiful sunny day was exactly what the doctor ordered.
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Review from Katherine S.
La Jolla, CA
4/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is super tasty. Good food, and a really nice atmosphere. The service is attentive, and if you sit up top, you get an awesome view of the ocean. Also, the middle restaurant has nice views without being outside and being chilly in the winter :)
The downstairs part is super classy, but much more expensive. I prefer the middle and top levels, because it's casual and you get great scenery and food!
Just went here the other day and got the chicken corn soup, which had a great mexican flavor. Also, got the mahi mahi, which had amazing gnocchi and mushrooms on the side.
Like other reviews have said, great date place. -
Review from Denice Z.
2/23/2012
Magnificent view that captivates and relaxes you ,the view alone could keep you coming back .The location is a direct portal to the charm and seduction of the ocean.
Service was very good during a pretty packed dinner hour ,food came out in a timely manner .
Pepper Vodka Bloody Mary was beyond good ,Marinated roasted beet app with grilled onions was tasty and a unique app in my opinion . The Mahi Mahi with Artichoke and Shitake was to DIE FOR ,i am not a big seafood fan but i do love Mahi Mahi especially when prepared and served very well ,and this was.
My dinner companions had the Spaghetti & clams and the Penne & lamb and as avid cove dinners they of course loved their meals .
Dessert was a decadently delicious Chocolate Raspberry Layer cake slice with hazelnuts FAN-TAB-U-LOUS ! and a delicious White Godiva, Chambord, Frangelico and Cinnamon beverage that was a dessert within itself .
I would love to know when a not so bustling time to eat a cozy romantic meal for two would be as this view alone ignites the love thang !
Stunning View ,Fabulous meal ,great service ,good company ...Good times ,Good times !!!!Listed in: My Cali Picks
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Review from Jessica L.
San Diego, CA
3/16/2012
I ate here for the first time today. We wanted to have lunch on the Terrace but it was PACKED (30 minute wait on Friday at 2pm) so we went to The Cove where we were seated within 5 minutes. Same menu.
The Cove is beautiful, as is the Terrace. They overlook the beach and ocean. Great ambiance, wonderful view, lots of customers - a typical upscale restaurant for such an area. My mom had their special - cioppino, which was very fresh and tasted great. I ordered the fish tacos, which had a mango salsa and slaw on it. The fish was grilled perfectly and the tortilla chips that came with it are great. You should definitely order the fish tacos!
So why am I giving it 3 stars? Their fries were hard to eat, they were way too salty. The fries were sprinkled with large granules of sea salt, it was pretty intrusive on the palette. My throat was a bit sore after lunch. The $13 margarita was tasty, but tiny. It was more expensive than the tacos I had. And I'm sorry to have to say this, and I don't blame the waitresses, but they looked skanky. It was 2 in the afternoon on a nice sunny day by the ocean and they're wearing super tight, super short black skirts, black sheer tights, and black high heeled boots. With a little too much makeup up on and you belong in Vegas. YIKES.
For the neighborhood and overall look of the restaurant, you'd expect their food to be great, which it is. It's a typical upscale restaurant. But factor in the price and overall experience, I wasn't blown away. Let the tourists have it, I won't be back in a hurry. -
Review from Kristen E.
La Jolla, CA
3/23/2012
George's at the Cove is one of the 3 sub restaurants inside George's in La Jolla. This location is on the middle floor and is indoors, although it does open up to the outside on nice days. The view of La Jolla is beautiful. You can't beat it. I would HIGHLY recommend this spot for an upscale lunch. Their food is fantastic and so are their desserts. Their servers are very nice and upscale.
We went here once to celebrate my husband getting his PhD and the manager gave us complimentary glasses of champagne to celebrate, it was VERY nice and very much appreciated. I will definitely be back :) -
Review from Lola G.
Glendale, CA
4/17/2012
I'm giving the food 3 stars but the view bumps this place up to 4 stars because it was BEAUTIFUL!!! We had 1 bowl of the smoked chicken/broccoli/black bean soup (delicious!), 5 spice chicken salad and the blackened fish sandwich and 2 iced teas. The bill was 50 bucks before tip but I guess we were paying for the view which was worth it.
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Review from C. T.
La Jolla, CA
5/16/2012
I've been to George's several times seated both downstairs and on the terrace. Great views, good food, worthy wine selection, attentive service with an enjoyable atmosphere.
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Review from Stella A.
4/18/2012
I appreciate the fine dining experience that Georges has to offer. The waiting staff is superb and the view is breathtaking. The ambiance is one of class and elegance. The food itself is skilfully prepared and plated to look like a work of art. Each time I have been here has been a true delight. I would honestly recommend everything on the menu as each one has been created to be a delectable experience for the diner.
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Review from Michelle L.
Ferndale, MI
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
I am really sad writing this review, because I went to SO many great restaurants in California and this one may have been worst...and this is the place I picked to take my boyfriend for his Birthday! Now, don't get me wrong, this place is beautiful and serves up a decent meal, I've just had better.
We started off with the tuna appetizer with soba noodles. Our server suggested we order it with avocado-he was right! It was very good, especially with the avocado added. Probably the best course of the evening. I decided on the mahi mahi with gnocchi, artichokes, pancetta, and grapes. It was very over seasoned. In fact, everything was over seasoned with pepper. The fish was almost crusted with black pepper and the sauce was super salty. Somebody had a heavy hand back in the kitchen that night. My boyfriend got the steak frites, which were just ok. The red wine sauce they served with it was super sweet, making the steak taste strange. I don't mind a little bit sweet, but it was almost like a syrup it was so sweet. The frites were over seasoned like the rest of the meal, doused with pepper. I don't even really like pepper on fries in the first place. For dinner we split the creme brulee, which was only ok as well. It wasn't as thick as it should be and the flavor was just kind of blah.
I am sure this place has an amazing view (we went at 8:30 so we couldn't see anything) but I'm not so sure about the food. The cocktails looked good, but we didn't drink that night. I'd say go somewhere else if this is for a special occasion. -
Review from Lynne S.
2/29/2012
One of my favorite jokes makes me think of George's at happy hour.
"I hate my job."
"Join the club. It's called everyone. We meet at the bar on Wednesdays at 4."
I love this place because you can sort of rub elbows with regular people, La Jolla moms and housewives, and still-suited-up business men unwinding after a day at work. There is nothing more relaxing after a stressful day than putting back a few drinks here and watching the sun set over a calm ocean.
But back to the real point--yum! The calamari was SO good--light but crispy and using the mantle AND the tentacles of the squid which always makes me happy. The drinks were good for the most part--some places manage to screw up margaritas but I am happy to say that George's does them justice and then some, enough for me to have another! The El Corazon and Black and Stormy are good choices as well, though the margaritas are definitely the strongest of these. The house infused grapefruit vodka on the rocks, however, was not a pleasurable experience. It was, however, just a minor blip in a really wonderful evening. I will be coming back often! -
Review from Carol K.
1/30/2012
Now this is MY kind of place!
You may have to wait an hour to get in, but if you have the choice- sit up top under the open sky and gaze at the Pacific for as far as you can see. Mother Nature does it beautifully and her scenery is a perfect compliment to the tasty food served here as well.
Up top is the more casual eatery while downstairs it is a little fancier but both provide stunning views that make this the perfect place to share a drink and some food with someone.
My friend had been here several times and knew just what to order. Start with the smoked chicken soup with broccoli and black beans (delicious!) and then any one of the entrees, sandwiches or even the burgers! The burgers come on these amazing rolls and are cooked to perfection and served with a large portion of fries.
Plenty of beers on tap and a good selection of wines as well.
I hardly know what we ate as I was so mesmerized by the view . . . . . . .
George's, you made a fan out of me!Listed in: California Dreamin', San Diego "north"
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Review from James C.
Los Angeles, CA
5/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
This being my first experience at this restaurant I found it to be a scene, snobbish and rude. My friend and I were sat at the bar since there was not any patio space when we arrived and was told it would be a 30 minute wait. Guess what????? Within 5 minutes of sitting down and ordering our drinks a table was available on the patio. My friend asked the female host to move..... only be rejected because of its company policy. To add salt to the wound the table sat empty for 20 mins to then have one person sat at a two top. The bar seats are horribly uncomfortable with no support.. not to mention we took up 5 seats because of the spacing not because of my size. There were parties of 4+ waiting to take our seat (how could they ever fit in our space is beyond me) but, we had just been served out food.... So, they had to wait for us to finish. Also, before we left.... of course two other tables on the patio empty. Come on people it wasn't the busiest of days for them. At the end of it all the food was ok. The waitress was great and said she was sorry. When coming here your really paying for the view which was amazing. I ordered a dessert just to see if they would care enough to comp it for us which they did not. The bottom line here is customer is not always right and nor do they care for your comfort. It's all about turnover and how to get your money. At this point table were empty and the people your were serving were not happy.... As far as policies goes....how is this for one.... I will never come back.
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Review from Nils H.
4/12/2012
We were supposed to eat here for lunch on a friend's recommendation, but ended up eating for dinner due to flight schedules. Unfortunately, he failed to explain to us that the view is one of the main reasons for going here, so our experience was dulled a bit. It's standard, American food, priced on the higher end given its location and view. We stuck mostly with the seafood options (fish and other crustaceans) and were pleased, but felt too expensive - especially since we didn't have a nice view. The main dining room downstairs does have rave reviews, so will have to check that one out separately next time.
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Review from Tiffany H.
Columbia, MD
2/14/2012
* Ocean view was amazing, which is the reason for the 5 stars.
* Food was great! Had the burger.
* Service was better than expected. (Sometimes you don't know what to expect when you go into an upscale place like this, but Katrina was pleasant.) -
Review from Alixe M.
Los Angeles, CA
2/10/2012
It was birthday today and we had planned to eat at a nice restaurant, George's will not fulfill your hopes.
Service: the worst I have ever had, this woman asked my boyfriend what he wanted to drink and then left without asking me. She served and took orders for a table that came after us. When she took our order she did not write it down; she had to come back to double check what it was. Then we come to find out the reason she was so careless is because our real waiter was on his break. The only time we saw him was when she introduced him. We asked the busser to get the check and after 15 min. The second waiter comes back and asks if we want desert.
We always eat out. We always tip very well. And spend a decent amount of money. I have never felt so disrespected by a wait staff in my life.
FOOD: the food was ok. They try too hard.
Cesar salad: decent
Seared ahi: amazing
Mahi Mahi: the sides were good
Steak: was very good. Better than a 60 steak I had recently in downtown LA.
I will never go back I do not reccomend this place.
The view is nice ;) -
Review from Amanda N.
1/15/2012 2 photos
This review is for the bistro (I don't know where else to put this review since the bistro/bar area is really neither George's Ocean Terrace nor George's California Modern. I do have a separate review for dinner at the Ocean Terrace). I've been eating at George's for years, and on my most recent visit the food was better than I remembered.
In my opinion, George's is the perfect San Diego lunch spot. The view is amazing and really contributes to the uniquely San Diegan vibe of this restaurant. The lunch menu is limited, but all of their dishes are solid. On my most recent visit, I really enjoyed their Mexican-style shrimp cocktail and the cayenne dusted grilled chicken strips. Surprisingly, the chicken strips were very juicy and flavorful. Their fish & shrimp tacos are also always a good choice; same with the seared ahi and Niman Ranch burger.
Overall, I think the lunch menu at George's is a solid four stars given the price point. Coming to George's on a sunny day really reminds you why it is such a blessing to live in San Diego. -
Review from michael a.
San Diego, CA
1/1/2012 3 photos
Came here on New Years Eve and it was not packed (see photo I posted that shows the table that was empty during our entire meal next to us), service was great, and so was the food. My wife and I looked at the menu (it was a fixed menu and each of the 4 courses had 4 options). My wife and I know what we like and we ordered everything the same. We ate on the roof top terrace, and reservations for 4:30 pm in hopes to watch the sunset. We were seated right on time, and the fog prevented us from viewing the sunset but we still got great views (See my photos). But the place never really filled up even as we left around 6:30p.m. So i'm pretty sure we didn't need reservations.
Course 1: Excellent butternut squash salad! Very unique and tasty!!
Course 2: George's Signature Broccoli and black bean soup! Very tasty, and something I will probably have cravings for from now on.
Course 3: New York Strip (medium rare) and Beef Short Rib, with carrots and mashed potatoes. It was all excellent. Not sure if it was the sauce from the meat mixed with the potatoes or what, but the mashed potatoes had a smoked flavor that was very interesting and subtle. Not bad at all, just the first time I've noticed a smoky flavor in mashed potatoes. Again very unique and tasty.
Course 4: My wife and I debated on 2 orders of creme brulee; or chocolate cake with ice cream and creme brulee. We decided to go with the combo of desserts. Wise choice. The creme brulee was great as expected, and the chocolate cake melted in our mouth. It must have been straight out of the oven. Very surprised that it was still soft in the center like pudding (not undercooked or anything) since we ate outside and it was a little chilly. However, they had the heaters going and even my wife remained warm throughout the night (it's impossible to keep her warm but the heaters somehow managed).
Needless to say, everything was great food wise and service too. With the seals barking on the rocks beneath our table on the ocean, I left the restaurant feeling like I was on vacation! Even with the foggy weather limiting the view (see photo I posted) and preventing us from watching the sunset, we still were able to see the ocean waves crashing on the rocks and stirring up the seals and birds (see other photo I posted).
On a side note, we had some yuppy lady sitting at the table next to us making a scene about everything (not enough forks, taking plates away before she's "done" which was somehow worth of the "F" bomb, etc.). Not sure how someone could find anything to complain about in the environment this restaurant offers. But come to find out, after she ate her food and filled her tummy, she had a complete mood swing and became all cheery with the servers again. I wasn't surprised to hear her say she was from New Jersey!! I felt really bad for her daughter sitting with her. Regardless, it didn't ruin our night at all, and we enjoyed mocking her and trying to come up with all the things we could say to her as we left the place.
The next time I need to get on my wife's good side, I will definitely put this on the top of the list. Oh yea, for a great meal that left us stuffed, on New Years Night and a Saturday, we paid $60/person. (BTW, i'm six foot 1 inch tall, 215 lbs, and very hard to fill up, so leaving the place stuffed was surprising). I find that very reasonably priced considering the environment the restaurant offers, the food, and the service. Plus, I like to sort my restaurants on yelp by "# of reviews" and this place was in the top 5 for the PB/La Jolla area and it just happens to have the great ocean views. -
Review from Thelma N.
Los Angeles, CA
2/7/2012
It's been over a year since I've dined here but I'm on my reviewing spree, so why not! I made reservations for dinner on the ocean terrace for a weeknight, I think. It was quite packed with a heavy after-work crowd.
Atmosphere: Absolutely amazing. I love the breath-taking view from the terrace more than the food, and I'm sure that's why they charge a hefty price on their menu. Perfect to come here to unwind or for a romantic date night. It looks out right over the ocean, and can get pretty darn cold out even with their gaslamps. Even during the summer, don't forget to bring something warm! It's a bit fancier than the usual casual upscale beach place, so please dress appropriately. Great, diverse crowd as well: the young, the old, and the pretties.
Food: Upscale indeed, I ordered the skirt steak and enjoyed it. It was small but delicious. I think this costs around $25. Cocktails and other menu items are on the pricier side, as expected. The salads are small and probably only worth eating if you're hungry or not on a tight budget.
Price: Kinda hefty for the food I'm getting but the ambiance is well worth it.
Service: As any fancy schmancy place, it's great. Hostesses are kind of pretentious. Just smile and act like you don't care.
It's located in downtown La Jolla; so afterward, you can walk around and window shop or go for a cup of ice cream or yogurt nearby, and take in the street scene. -
Review from Lindsy H.
San Diego, CA
4/9/2012
George's at the Cove is one of the only great places with a view left in La Jolla.
I've never actually had dinner on the Terrace at George's but frequent it for an appetizer and drink with friends. I love the feel, the atmosphere and the view is breath-taking. The butternut squash bruchetta is divine, vanilla creme brulee and all the other appetizers and dessert are really super. Their drink list is extensive too.
It's a busy place so expect a to wait for the bar area, or make a reservation for the terrace.
I love George's! It's a great place for everyone; in a suit after work, wearing jeans after a day of errands, shorts from the beach, it all works at George's. The cost is great for everything you get! -
Review from Yvonne T.
San Francisco, CA
1/9/2012
The view is not as visible at night, but still had a good ambiance.
The best dish to get is the lamb shank (huge potion and worth it)! The risotto with the lamb shank does not seem to be fully cooked, but it still tasted great! The whole raisins and sweet potato sauce gave it sweet boost.
Cauliflower soup with crab was okay, but it was definitely rich and packed filled with sodium. The sliced apples in the soup weird me out, but I guess you can say it gives a nice crunch to it.
Roasted Beet Salad: Loved it, but too much cheese for me with the salad, but a great app to order.
Fried Avocado: It might look interesting, but honestly it's not worth it. It was like avocado tempura served with small little round balls of cucumber for $14 or so?---no thank you.
The chocolate tart was amazing- nice warm chocolate with a white chocolate tart frozen yogurt...the chocolate crunch underneath the frozen yogurt was the best!!! My friend said it tasted like a British Chocolate Bar called Flake...it was quite orgasmic!
Now go enlighten your taste buds! :) -
Review from P. S.
San Diego, CA
11/25/2011
The rooftop room is stunning, the food on Thanksgiving Day 2011? - not so much. (The setting is enough to deserve the third star in my review.)
Slices of turkey need to be floppy, not stiff. The taste matched the consistency; rubbery. The stuffing was flavorless and watery (or because it was watery it was tasteless, I don't know - hey, I'm not the high priced chef in what is supposedly one of the best restaurants in San Diego, I can't explain precisely why it sucked so bad) and wasn't graced with the fairly decent gravy which was skimpily poured over the meat. The best thing on the plate, gawd dammit, was the butternut squash, and that was about the size of a half a roll of dimes.
My friend, who everyone believes is so innocent and nobody believes me when I claim otherwise, had the seared ahi, which even I can't f*&k up, ok?
The waiter was a dickhead. For no reason but that he seemed like a dickhead frat-boy who would tell fag jokes and call his ex girlfriends skanks. We all suffer when someone has personality deficiency disorder, but why am I forced to pretend they're normal when all I want is a genuine smile and some non-robotic service with my $50 dinner?
If I drank, the million dollar view would be appreciated. Hell, if I drank, I could even eat their food again after several dirty martinis. Maybe. -
Review from dina s.
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
This review is for the bar, although I have been upstairs to eat as well.
Came here for post-dinner cocktails and dessert while on a weekend trip to SD. We ordered the Berry blast cocktail, a Spanish red wine and the sticky toffee cake. My cocktail was delicious, husband liked his wine and we definitely gobbled up the sticky cake. Our waitress was not the best, she talked over us and forgot to bring the menu when we asked for it.
The atmosphere and view are gorgeous and you are in La Jolla, so can't go wrong there. I would recommend a trip to George's to go to the bar rather than upstairs to eat since the food up there is overpriced. -
Review from Candace H.
Oceanside, CA
5/6/2012
Great view, good food, worth waiting for the right table.
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Review from Amber R.
San Diego, CA
1/31/2012
My boyfriend and I celebrated our 2 months here a long time ago, but at the time this was the fanciest date I ever had, haha. If I remember correctly, it didn't take long for us to get a seat. We sat upstairs and had a decent view of the ocean. We didn't really know what to order, but I remember getting a flattened chicken. The atmosphere reminded us of the show Laguna Beach or The Hills.
I guess this review doesn't help as much as the others, but I just wanted to say I've been there done that, haha. -
Review from Thomas D.
San Francisco, CA
12/29/2011
The views are as gorgeous as La Jolla itself. I ordered a Dewars/soda before lunch and enjoyed the wait for my food while sipping on my drink and looking out at the ocean.
For lunch I had The Cuban. It's a toasted sandwich made with pork, Gruyere cheese, ham, pickles and mustard. It came with a Caesar salad on the side.
Everything was excellent including the service and ambiance. -
Review from Jay S.
San Diego, CA
1/18/2012
Service and seafood are great. The view at sunset on a clear day is unparalleled, even better than at the terrace on L'Auberge on Bertrand at Mister A's. It does get chilly because its outdoors but they hand out blankets if you think you're about to go into hypothermic shock (even with the heater thingies).
I feel like this is a must for anyone visiting San Diego and also very popular for UCSD students graduation dinner with family. Just try to get a reservation the weekend of June 15th-ish.
Their "fish tacos" are amazing (if you are looking for a cheaper not-full-dinner george's experience on tuesday) and they were even featured in food networks "best thing i ever ate" show. Warning: don't come expecting Rubio's standard fish tacos.... -
Review from Kathleen M.
Frankfort, IL
10/13/2011 2 photos
This restaurant came very highly recommended by both our concierge and Yelp friends. The view was spectacular of the ocean but for the sunset, be aware that it's only good for the table along the edge and to the west. We had to get up and move to see it and even then, it is partially blocked by other buildings. Plus, it was super chilly. I just wanted to add that caveat to potential diners.
In addition, there was a small child being given free rein by her idiotic parents right next to our table. ATTENTION NARCISSISTIC PARENTS: THIS IS NOT A PLACE FOR SMALL CHILDREN. Get a sitter or stay home and let the rest of us enjoy. I am sorry that you can't have the date nights you used to have, wait a few years, they will go to college or, in the case of your demon offspring, jail, but either way they will be out of the house.
Phew, I am done with that rant. We were able to move tables as several freed up once the sun went down but some other suckers got placed next to the free range nursery school after we left.
OK, I am done with what could go wrong. Now what was right!
The service is superb, the view of the ocean terrific and the food was really good. We had a really good chicken appetizer and then fish for dinner. We elected not to have dessert or coffee as it was so chilly.
Fun, but I have done it once.Listed in: San Diego experience
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Review from Lynn N.
Houston, TX
9/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
The hubs and I have been here twice and let's just say we will make it a point to have dinner here every time we're in San Diego. Hands down the best "dining by the sea" experience with an amazing view of La Jolla Cove. My husband got the Asian skirt steak with onion rings twice and said it was cook to perfection both times. I have had their yellowtail, mussels, and seared rare tuna - all very flavorful. Our server recommended I add avocado to the tuna and it was a great combination. Overall, great service, great view and great food - what more could you ask for?
*If you're going to have dinner here, make sure it's an early dinner before the sun goes down to really soak in the view* -
Review from Linda G.
San Diego, CA
3/16/2012
My girlfriends and I went to George's for lunch to celebrate my wedding. We had a bridal lunch here, and the view was amazing! I heard great things about this place, so I had to try it for myself. This was the second choice for a dinner proposal from my husband, so I wanted to come here too. Anyway-- George's has strong cocktails and very good lunch. I had the fish tacos. They were delicious! I ate everything =) I'd come here again with my husband, friends, and family. This is a great place to eat with a great view of La Jolla Shores. Perfect =)
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Review from Avantika S.
La Jolla, CA
11/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was expecting a lot from this place because the neighboring restaurants are delightful.
I was severely disappointed. When we were seated no water or bread came. Their champagne selection was small. The spaghetti and clams was very bland and a small portion. Their only redeeming point was the delicious champagne cocktail, that was fruity but at the hefty price of 15 dollars.
I would go to the crab catcher instead. -
Review from Phil W.
Carlsbad, CA
10/22/2011
George's has some fine views of the grubby rooftops between itself and La Jolla Cove. Otherwise, George seems to trade in equal parts of high prices, pretension, and mediocre food in smallish portions.
I continue to loathe tourists, and all that they drag behind them. -
Review from Meghan F.
San Diego, CA
8/20/2011
I used to come to George's every time I wanted to do something a little special or had out of town guests. Normally the service is great and the food is very fresh and yummy. However, when my nana, aunt and mother were in town and we went to George's for a few appetizers after shopping in la jolla we were treated with such disrespect that I never want to come here again. It was around 3:30-4 on a Tuesday and there was one other person in the "George's Bar" area when we went so there were PLENTY of tables open. The girl seating us directed us towards the bar stools (like that would be comfortable for my grandma) and when we requested a table that was close to the windows so my grandma could see the ocean she looked us each up and down and said something in a snotty voice like "Well we are keeping those tables open for our guests that come later. We will probably be getting really busy."
Us: "Well are the tables reserved?"
Server: "No. I guess I could put you at a table but you can't sit by the window."
Us: "Well... ok..."
We were baffled. There were at least 10 tables that would have had great views of the ocean that were COMPLETELY EMPTY. I mean, we were all dressed nice and it's not like we were going to set up camp and stay the whole night or something. Honestly at 3:30 on a Tuesday are they really expecting a swarm of people? And why didn't we deserve to sit at one of the tables with the good view?
Anyway, she put us in the table farthest away from the windows and said our server would be with us in a moment. We waited, and waited, and waited. After about 10 min two ladies were seated by the same server at a table a few away from ours (still not next to the window but closer than ours). I could overhear them talking about how rude the server had been and why they couldn't sit at another table. We waited another 10 minutes or so. Nobody. Finally the other table got up and left. We decided to follow. What a waste of our time. I don't know who they think they are but that is no way to treat customers. Yea they have a nice view but there are tons of places along that strip that do as well that don't treat people like trash. We ended up going to Azul and it was great. -
Review from Mercy B.
1/30/2012
It's true, the ocean view terrace at sundown is stupendous. And I already live at the beach and it still took my breath away, as the expanse of ocean you are able to see is astounding. Great ocean views, don't always equate with great food, but I'm happy to say, these features were a supa dupa match!
We had a party of 8, and they gave us a right up front table. Service was really superb. She paid just the right amount of attention to us, and was really congenial. She made great suggestions, and described the dishes so they made your mouth start to water a bit.
For apps we ordered their fish tacos (only two and they're tiny) with a mango salsa, jalapeno-lime creme fraiche, guacamole and shredded cabbage. I didn't have any, but others said they were good. Their fried calamari was up there with some of the best I've had. Light batter, very fresh fish, served with a fennel, Meyer lemon aioli for dipping, yummy. Their Asian chicken wings with cilantro and peanuts was super tasty. Not sure of the sauce, but it tasted very miso, soy sauce like.
For our main course, I ordered the Sesame Crusted Tombo (lightly seared, sushi grade ahi/tuna) served over baby bok choy, oyster mushrooms, leek fondue, miso-soy vinaigrette. You get two very large pieces for only $25, a great deal. I was able to take one steak home for another meal. When I asked the guy who boxed it up for me to please scrape all the vinaigrette into the box too, he just gave me an extra side of the sauce...nice touch.
Other entrees ordered: Spaghetti with clams toasted garlic, roasted tomatoes,
white wine, and extra virgin olive oil, I didn't try, but she loved it. Mahi Mahi, toasted garlic, roasted tomatoes, white wine, and extra virgin olive oil, and they loved theirs too. A couple of them ordered the Steak Frites which is a hanger steak, served with red wine onions, blue cheese butter and french fries. I tried my son's steak and it was tender and extremely tasty with that decadent blue cheese butter. But the other person who ordered it was chewing, and chewing, and chewing, not nearly as tender. We sent hers back, they were very apologetic, and while she was waiting, they served her a free bowl of their George's Famous Soup, with smoked chicken, broccoli and black beans, a very classy move. She barely had time to savor it, when they brought out a new piece of very tender steak. I guess it just happens sometimes. I believe they took her entree off of the bill...another classy move.
A couple of us ordered their coffee aperitif with white chocolate and I had a couple of sips....wowza! A great finish. I'm kinda laying off the sugar right now, so I didn't order any desserts and neither did anyone else.
With a few glasses of wine, and all that food, and the tip added to the meal automatically with a large party, the bill only came to $300. That is a great deal. I understand the two levels below the terrace, the food has higher prices. But for what we ordered and were very happy with, we thought it was a great deal.
A place I can't wait to return to! -
Review from Amanda L.
San Diego, CA
11/9/2011
My sister and I received a gift card to dine here for $50. It was a great surprise and my sister and I were looking forward to trying the deconstructed fish tacos that we had seen on the Food Network.
We dressed up and headed over to La Jolla. Parking was a little difficult to find but they do have the vallet option. Overall, the ambience is perfect date night atmosphere: low lit candles, tables over-looking the water, etc. The portions are not huge, but the food is tasty and innovative. The fish tacos are definitely worth it... they are tasty and fun to eat!
For the two of us... we got 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, and dessert. We used our $50.00 gift card and had a balance of $30. It's expensive but delicious, and the service was attentive and friendly! -
Review from Jennifer A.
San Diego, CA
2/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Bomb dot com food! The carpachio (sp?) is out of this world yum yum yum
-
Review from Kathryn W.
Chicago, IL
10/3/2011
The fiancee and I went to George's on our recent trip to SD. Our reservations were for 1pm on Thursday. The rooftop was completely full and I am confident that 90% of those people were not from California. I am aware that George's is a tourist trap but I go every time I am in SD for 2 reasons: the views and the soup. The view is 180 degrees on ocean and the soup has huge chunks of chicken broccoli and black beans.
The service is very slow and the rest of our meal (shrimp taco and a chicken sandwich) was nothing to write home about. But we came for the views. Next time, we will eat downstairs which is far less crowded so we don't feel like we are sitting on top of strangers. -
Review from Bella C.
San Diego, CA
5/12/2012
Horrible experience! I'm not a complainer but I felt like I needed to share these bad experiences. My first time was at California Modern. The food took almost ONE HOUR to arrive. No apologies whatsoever! The chef, Trey, was such an unpleasant person, cocky and very unhappy. The server acted very fake and mentioned he had been there for years yet he did not make good wine/food pairing recommendations. There were a couple of baby roaches that ran across my table in the middle of dinner... the bathroom was disgusting! Fine dining?? I think NOT! The second time, I met some friends at Ocean Terrace. They wanted to go there because of the view. The server took forever to come to us. When he came you could see he had bad hygiene. He didn't tell us about specials or anything, when we asked he didn't know about their wines either. The food was very bland. The side salads that came with our food had no dressing for anyone at the table. It was so dry. The greens were not fresh and no one ate it! We told the server and he did not care or offer to correct it. In fact, he gave us an attitude. He obviously didn't care since it was a party of 8 so he knew that the tip would already be included. You have to go 3 levels down just to go to the restroom, again completely filthy. I'm a local and I feel like they make their money from tourists (Tourist trap). You pay for the view. I do not mind spending a lot of money for good food and service but this place has neither! We will not be going back!!!
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