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George's California Modern
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
1250 Prospect StLa Jolla, CA 92039
Neighbourhood: La Jolla
(858) 454-4244
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
Karen C. said: "Food 4* Wine list 5* Ambiance 4* Parking 3* (downtown La Jolla) Service 4* Two words: BONE MARROW. Anthony Bourdain would never leave this place! I could have just eaten that all night, but not with the heavily buttered texas toast it…" read more »
206 reviews for George's California Modern
Review Highlights
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"We capped off our meal with a warm chocolate tart." In 8 reviews -
"The ocean terrace of George's offers an exceptional view." In 14 reviews -
"Also, the fish tacos are amazing." In 28 reviews
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206 reviews in English
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Review from Donna A.
As the Duchess of George's California modern this is definitely my favorite spot in all of San Diego. Come during the day for a gorgeous Ocean view or at night for a modern hip relaxing by. George's California modern takes pride in what they do serving California coastal at its BEST.
Keep in mind they have a seasonal menu and they change what on the menu . Our favorite dish when we go is the beef carpaccio, it is pure meat HEAVEN.
They also have an amazing array of cocktails to enjoy it. I have ALWAYS have a culinary and heavenly experience. -
Review from Tim C.
Palmdale, CA
4/16/2012
Unique place...a tad off the beaten path but hey, what do you expect when the place in @ a cove.
All n all, La Jolla is a wonderful place to visit, I had never been before so it was nice to get to finally get a chance to stop in and have a delicious dinner to top it off.
Parking is a little tough since their downtown is pretty much only 3 streets, and it caters to all of the residents in La Jolla, not to mention the tourists and all those staying in hotels in the area. I had to park a few blocks away and walk but they do have valet parking if their are any valets available at the time. They did not when I arrived.
Their was also a waiting list of 3 HOURS to get into this place for dinner but I managed to sneak up to the bar when a couple had left....score. This place is super pricey for the tiny portions that they give you but the food is A plus.
Another thing I should mention is that California Modern is downstairs, the George's @ the cove Ocean terrace and bar take up the ground floor and the floor above that, California Modern is underneath them both. I was fairly confused initially.
Ok, now that is over, now for the positive.
To start off, they bring you bread and butter which I always find to be a plus, and I ordered a Pisco Sour since it is rarely on cocktail lists, but is one of my favorite drinks, just tough to make at home with the egg whites and what not so they do the hard part for you and even take it up a notch with the Morrocan bitters and citrus. Though it was interesting as well that they bring you a plate of salt, pepper and what I think was paprika salt or something for your bread and entree. Gave everything that I put it on a very well balanced flavor.
The first thing I got was a half dozen oysters. Awesome, crisp and clean...just what I would expect from a place like this that is right on the ocean.
Next up, Foie Gras two ways. This was a very interesting dish so of course I had to get it. The smoked torchon is the manner in which they poach the foie gras and I had only had foie gras prepared this way before this dish. Very bold flavors, with crumbled walnut and pear to cut down on the gamey flavor, I just wish I had ordered a glass of wine to accompany it. Then I gave the second half of this dish a go....Better than the first half!!! I mixed a little more walnut crumble, put a piece of puntarella(similar to chicory) on each bite which gave it a much different flavor and dabbed it in the black truffle puree and words cannot describe my satisfaction at this point.
My main course was the restaurants version of fish tacos.
****These are a must have****
They are not fish tacos at all, just like their menu says. Instead, it is a couple pieces of yellowfin tuna, fried avocado to give it the feel of a real fish taco, corn nuts for crunch, jalepeno aioli and the rest of the veggies you would expect on a fish taco.
Fantastic reinvented classic dish
Finally I come to the end of my meal. I take a little time to look over the dessert menu and noticed goat cheese panna cotta. I mean shoot, I love goat cheese and panna cotta is one of my favorite desserts so it was a no brainer. It was a good panna cotta but lacked a really rich, succulent flavor that I look for in a good panna cotta. It also lacked a little bit of the texture that I associate panna cotta with but it was still a very good dessert. -
Review from Young C.
San Diego, CA
3/10/2012
I came here for the Valentine's day special menu, and I must say, I was not disappointed. The atmosphere is very nice: dim ambient lighting, very modern feel, and the arrangements make the place a very nice romantic spot to go. However, the service was a tad slow, but that was probably because it was one of the most busiest days of the year.
My order consisted of the fish taco, the Maine lobster, and for dessert, the carrot cake (they did not have any more of the cheesecake souffle). The fish taco was something I did not expect (I'll leave it as a surprise to the people considering it) - highly recommended. The Maine lobster was a bit pricey and not as good as I thought it would be. Also, the amount of lobster I received was definitely not worth it. The garnish was a bit funky (giant steamed half-carrot with puree - not the best presentation). Finally, the carrot cake dessert was great. It was quite delicate and had that real carrot taste while preserving the cake essence..great choice!
Overall, the experience was nice..environment was great, food was good, service was nice but could have been a tad bit faster. -
Review from Phyllis S.
San Diego, CA
5/14/2012
I came here for Valentine's Day with my husband and had a lovely meal...the food and drink were definitely on point and if not for a few quibbles, this probably would have been a four star experience.
Anyway, to start, the food and drink. For my drink, I had a Xolo, which was delicious and balanced...I'm not fond of alcoholic drinks but I would absolutely go back just for drinks. We split an appetizer of fish tacos...definitely lived up to all the hype and buzz. It was certainly one of the night's most sublime bites of food. My husband had a steak, I think it was hangar...very tasty though not quite as tender as a more expensive cut, but that's to be expected. I enjoyed a very generously portioned pork chop, which nearly conquered my appetite for dessert...nearly. We split a dessert of donuts with different dipping sauces. Absolutely marvelous. Their maple custard should be bottled up and sold in stores. Or else used as filling for their donuts...then I would have died and gone to heaven :).
Service was perfectly acceptable. Nothing incredibly special, but nothing that put a damper on the evening either. The ambiance was alright, nice low lighting which is nice for those who desire something that feels intimate, but we were next to a very animated table celebrating a birthday and because the tables are pretty close, it felt like we were getting interrupted a lot by their celebrating.
Like I said, these are quibbles. We would certainly return for another special occasion, or just for some fabulous drinks! -
Review from M R.
Manhattan, NY
4/22/2012
Was in La Jolla on business and had a dinner meeting here. The group ordered appetizers which were just ok. The calamari was somewhat tough. I had the short ribs for dinner which were fatty. Nothing special - would not return.
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Review from Meg K.
San Diego, CA
3/8/2012
After reading the reviews, I felt pretty good about making the reservations at George's California Modern..... and so let the disappointment begin....
I was shocked by the service and food. In a nut shell... One glass of red wine (came back with white), steamed vegtables (had oil), filet mignon.. waiter ran off (not joking, literally ran off)..not asking how I wanted the filet mignon cooked..only to reappear less then 5 minutes later with a almost raw steak.. To cut the waiter some slack.. he was doing the best he could, since I'm certain he was stoned. (Again, not joking..stoned.)
My husband ordered the Seared Yellowtail...it was pan fried.. when he pressed his fork on it.. oil poured out.
Shockingly bad.
TWO PEOPLE: $115 (excluding tip) -
Review from C H.
Castle Rock, CO
5/6/2012
We dined downstairs for dinner. Very bad experience for the price we paid. We were ignored when we entered the restaurant. The hostess finally returned to her post and said she would be with us in a few minutes. She proceeded to answer the telephone and take a detailed reservation... continuing to ignore us. Our waiter approached and seated us without realizing he was seating us in his area. His waiting abilities were fine, a bit snobbish, until he took our dinner order. I ordered salmon. He asked how I wanted it cooked - medium rare or medium. Since I don't know the chef's definitions of these two terms, I told him I wanted it cooked perfectly ... just flaky and moist. I thought he would be able to translate this to the kitchen. I was wrong - he wanted the order in his terms of medium or medium rare and would not accept any other method of ordering. Needless to say, my same was tasteless and poorly cooked. After we ordered dinner, the waiter basically ignored us. We were so frustrated with the restaurant's inability to make a customer feel welcomed or appreciated that we did not make a stink, but quietly paid our bill and left - poor tip of course. We do NOT recommend eating downstairs for dinner!
When we returned, the lady that gave us the recommendation to George's informed us that she has never eaten there for dinner. She has only eaten lunch upstairs for the view.
Save your money. I was told that Eddie V's is the new restaurant that knows how to cook fish. Our second night out we ate at the Marine Room. Now THIS is a five star restaurant that knows how to treat their customers!!! -
Review from Margaret L.
South San Francisco, CA
2/12/2012
Went to George's California Modern. A bunch of us from work were visiting SD for a conference. The restaurant is well decorated and the entrance is very modern looking. The wine was good: Calera Mt. Harlan Ryan Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008. The travel channel was visiting while we were there and comped us another bottle of wine while they filmed our food/table. (very nice!)
To start, we had the deconstructed fish tacos- very tasty and not at all like a regular fish taco. I had the soup du juor- vegetables and rooster meat stuffed with truffles (thumbs up)
For dinner I had the swordfish. It was well seasoned and flavorful. Others had the Loch Duart Salmon and Roasted Squab.
For dessert, we shared the Doughnuts & Dips, Soufflé Cheesecake, Chino Farms Carrot Cake, Goat Cheese panna Cotta. It was just ok.
Our server was friendly and the conversations were lively. We were dressed a bit casual for the restaurant but it didn't stop us from having a great time. -
Review from Nicole D.
Monterey, CA
1/20/2012
Beautiful modern American restaurant with many layers. At the bottom level is the more upscale George's California Modern; the mid-level is George's Bar with it's more relaxed atmosphere; the top level is George's Casual Ocean Terrace. So there's a perfect spot to match your mood, budget or agenda. With the sparkling La Jolla Cove as your backdrop, beautiful dishes and elite service, you can't go wrong here.
We dined at California Modern. It was very intimate and cozy; such a great escape from all the hustle and bustle. Classy modern decor punctuated with neon accents create a warm and fresh ambiance. We settled into a nice leather booth with overhead tranquil track lighting, tableside candles and fresh flowers.
For starters, we shared the Ricotta Ravioli. The housemade ravioli was fresh with a unique blend of sweet potato, parmesan cheese and organic truffles.
For entrees, I had the Pacific Albacore and my boyfriend had the Niman Ranch Pork Chop. I was little suprised (pleasant surprise though) when my albacore came out lightly seared with a raw center. I thought it was going to be grilled or lightly battered but I took a liking to the seared texture with a panalopy of flavors. My albacore was served with pancetta-wrapped salsify (vegetable in the same grouping as the sunflower), a butternut puree and some brocollini.
The Niman Ranch Pork Chop was very tender and full-flavored. Despite my boyfriend being a little under the weather, he still enjoyed the flavors and said he would definitely order this dish again.
A day at George's will tantalize all your senses. The energy is great and the food is truly unique.Listed in: Drink It In
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Review from Jackie C.
Irvine, CA
1/29/2012
This will always and forever be my favorite place to eat steak.
I've been fortunate enough to have dined at many fine dining restaurants all around the United States, and George's at the Cove has always remained my favorite. If you can try and get a table by the large windows, that way you can see the ocean outside and it is just so beautiful and romantic!
Their menu changes all the time. Normally this would scare me as I hate change and unpredictability, but their filet mignon (no matter how they prepare it) is always delicious and on point. Highly recommended, and I can't wait to come back again soon :)
This restaurant would be five stars but In my effusive praise for them I just remembered something:
One time I did get a jerk of a racist server. I brought my mother here for Mother's day a few years ago and we were BLOWN AWAY by all the whispered comments under his breath and rude faces that he'd make at us. I've never ever experienced that kind of service anywhere else, let alone a fine dining restaurant. I'm always courteous to servers and my family is the same way, so to have him sneer and ignore us the whole day was a huge slap in the face. However it's my own fault for not complaining and asking for a new server, but after that trip it took me a few years to go back. Thankfully i've never ran in to him again -
Review from Jhoana C.
San Diego, CA
5/4/2012
Gorgeous view, but the food doesn't live up to the location. It's overpriced and overrated. Last time I went, we tried a new appetizer of bone marrow because I love bone marrow. What arrived looked a lot like an experiment on a plate. We weren't even sure how to eat it, and it was nothing like what I expected. The service was good as the waiter realized our distaste and took it off the check without us saying anything. The rest of the meal was average. Nothing terribly memorable other than the view.
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Review from Annie T.
2/11/2012
Could not be more disappointed with the food especially because we paid so much for dinner. Usually I don't mind parting with money if its for good food however in this instance we kinda regretted parting with our cash for such mediocre food.
We got a last min reservation here on a Friday night around 7 (that should've raised some warning signs). We were grateful at first because we read some really awesome reviews and didn't have any plans for dinner that night.
The appetizers that we started with her not impressive at all. We tried the deconstructed fish tacos with fried avocados which to me were flavorless. Tasted exactly like fish and fried avocados with no seasoning. I ordered the Fried Avocados from the veggie section. Also not a memorable dish.
For the main course I ordered Pacific Swordfish however they didn't have any Swordfish so they would substitute with locally caught seabass. The waiter promised
that it was one of their most popular dishes so I ordered it. If I didn't know any better, I would've said they lied to me...the seabass was terrible. It was very meaty and terribly dry because it was overcooked. The highlight of the dish was the chanterelles. Bf ordered the braised lamb shank and he enjoyed his dish thoroughly. So the meal wasn't a complete fail. Based on the app + entrees, we decided to skip dessert!
Tips:
Make reservations early to get street parking; otherwise you'll have to pay for their valet parking ($8). -
Review from Mitch K.
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
One of my favorite places in La Jolla. In the past I have had many 5 star meals at George's. And watching the sunset table side on a date is always a winner. The minimalist modern decor is great. I love the well cellar wall!
My recent trip to George's last Tuesday for Restaurant Week, was not as good as I remember this place to be. I started with the Fois app, which was pretty tasty the brioche served with it was fantastic. The app was really good actually.
But the prime hangar steak, while it did have good flavor, was so chewy. It wouldn't expect that from prime beef. The mash potatoes were also very bland. This dish I feel was a bad representation of the food that comes out of this restaurant normally.
One dish I had a year or so ago was a prime tomahawk ribeye for two, that was one of the best beef dishes I've had. Items like that are why I love George's. Also the use of Chino farm veggies is fantastic. Chino has the some of the best produce you can buy.
All in all a great restaurant and will come again, perhaps not for restaurant week though. -
Review from Ss S.
Redmond, WA
2/24/2012
Chef Inspired , Modern , Tasty Californian Cusine . Dined there 3 time and all the time the food and the experience was really memorable.
Must Try - Fish Tacos , Pisco Sour , Doughnuts ..
Ambience , Service and ofcourse the food is really top class. Menu is limited but the execution is excellent. -
Review from Frankie v.
Los Angeles, CA
12/13/2011 1 photo
Should I have been REFUNDED or NOT?
Who do YOU agree with?
Ok, the smell of sea life was pungent when we visited, but this is obviously not their fault with their proximity to ocean... and we did get used to it after about 6 minutes, so no biggie.
So we started by visiting their bar upstairs while waiting for the modern restaurant downstairs to open, despite it not being busy, the service was pretty slow... and well, just.. whatever.
After being seated by a nice window side table, my friend and I decided to share the "Cote de Boeuf for two" .. of course we were told how its aged for 28 days, and all about the preparation.. not to mention the $100 price tag. So, price not being a detractor and in the mood for something fantastic we ordered it prepared medium.
While eagerly awaiting our Boeuf for Two, we snacked on an order of Fish Tacos and Date Salad.. both were wonderfully presented, and though the Tacos were reminiscent of what Baja Fresh serves up, I must say the Date Salad was delicious.
Usually food taste better when I'm hungry,.. but that night was NOT the case. Despite salivating at the presentation of the Boeuf for Two,. everybody who tried it was of like mind and agreed that it was just a FAT RIDDEN PIECE OF OVER PRI$ED MEAT!
Being with new friends I didn't want to cause a stink about it. After returning about 90% of the dish, it was very obvious to our server that we were not happy with it. He offered to order something else, which we declined,.. he then brought the bill which to my surprise still had the Boeuf for Two! Granted they discounted that single item by 50%... but $50 bucks for something we clearly did NOT like and returned within 3 or 4 minutes of it being placed on the table!?!?!?
Should They have taken the entire DISH off the Bill, what do you think? I think they should have! -
Review from aliza c.
San Diego, CA
12/30/2011
My husband and I had our Christmas dinner here and it was a fabulous idea. There were so many families doing the same thing and that was cool to see- it's good to know that kids are also welcome to this restaurant and there are choices for them.
I haven't been to George's in a while and I was pleasantly surprised with the updates they've made to the decor. The food was tasty and well presented. I tried one of their signature cocktails-reaaly nice.
When you make a reservation, ask to be seated as close to the water...great views and you'll get the full experience they have to offer. Parking is street or valet. George's is right in the heart of the Prospect shopping area in La Jolla. -
Review from Jasmine M.
San Diego, CA
10/30/2011
I visited George's this past week with my father. He was visiting from out of town and wanted to take me somewhere nice to eat that had vegetarian options. This is how we ended up at George's...
From the minute we walked in, it was clearly very fancy. We've eaten at some fantastic restaurants together, so we're both pretty accustomed to the shmoozing which typically goes on. STRANGELY, however.... the woman who greeted us upon our entry at George's seemed afraid to make eye contact with me, or even acknowledge my existence. Sorry I'm under 50 yrs old, lady, but you could manage a hello?? Meanwhile my dad got the full treatment "welcome sir!!!!" etc. etc.
We were seated at a very nice table and I had high hopes. We looked over the vegetarian menu and decided on a few starters and two entrees to share. ALL were very disappointing.
The minestrone soup was nothing but veg broth and boiled vegetables. Nothing exciting. No flavor. $11.
The egg ravioli was actually horrible. The pasta was old, hard, and rubbery.... the egg inside was gooey and tasteless. This was by far the most disappointing plate of our meal. One of the worst pasta dishes I've ever tried. about 5 quarter sized pieces of ravioli for something like $16.
The veggie lasagna looked promising when placed on our table, and I was actually really happy with it in the first few bites...until I smelled cigarettes. Confused, I asked my dad, "Why does this lasagna smell like my uncle?" (who smokes). Upon further inspection, we discovered a jet black sauce that was sitting underneath the piece of lasagna. I kid you not, IT SMELLS LIKE BLENDED CIGARETTES. I'm not exaggerating, I'm not speaking as a young, unrefined patron who can't appreciate gourmet artistry. It honestly smells like a puree of lucky strikes. We asked the waitress, and she informed us it was a "charred eggplant puree." aka Cigarette gunk. It was gross. $26
The last entree we ordered was the beet falafel. It was great. I really liked it because I really like beets and falafel. Could have been just as satisfied with some cheap greek from the mall food court though.... $26 for 5 pieces of falafel.
So in the end our meal was nearly $100 and was mostly TERRIBLE. I'm not in the business of writing bad reviews, I'm not a very snobby restaurant patron, and I ALMOST feel bad about posting my experience at George's. But it was JUST THAT BAD. It's possible that the vegetarian menu doesn't get the attention that it deserves in the kitchen... and that the meat dishes are simply spectacular, but for the money we paid, and the experience we were promised, George's was thoroughly disappointing. I'll never go back. Our waitress was nice though. -
Review from Ash M.
Moreno Valley, CA
1/29/2012
So I ended up here after a friend of mine tmade reservations at a different restaurant around the corner, wont mention any names, but their menu pretty much bit the dust. So we traveled along up to california modern and surprisingly enough we were seated rather quickly.
Ok so upon entrance I knew wed be spending big bucks here, but let me tell you it was worth every penny! we ordered swordfish and salmon with all the fixings! Dee -freaking-Lish us! the fish and veggies practically melted in your mouth into this insanely good combo of sweet, salty, eclectic and intense flavor! The pan sear on the salmon was PERFECT! and the swordfish was surprisingly flaky good. I also ordered a virgin xolo since im not a drinker, but cant help but be intrigued by new blends. it was really good and had this great zing to it between the grapefruit and agave blend.
The place is definitely what is claims to be, modern and very chic'. its mellow but still has a good energy surrounding it considereing the rooftop bar is upstairs.
we ended up paying around 85ish for the two of us which was not bad at all considering the service, ambiance, and amazing food & drink. -
Review from MICHAEL P.
Houston, TX
2/7/2012
My girlfriend and I had a so-so time at George's.
The good: Our server was courteous, and the gentlemen refilling our water, noticed a crack in my gf's water glass, and immediately changed it out with a new glass.
The bad: Food was dissatisfying for a $100+ bill; now that I've read other reviews, maybe I should have ordered the steak.
-Fish tacos: Unique, different, fish was fresh. Plating includes fried avocado. I still like Rubio's fish taco's better.
-Fried avocado appetizer (from vegan side of menu): Wished the server would have mentioned that there was redundancy in our appetizers. The fish tacos came with 3, so in total, my gf and I shared 9 fried avocados. They were good, but that's a lot of avocado, and it ain't cheap.
-Pacific swordfish entree substituted with local seabass: They were out of swordfish so we tried the local seabass preparation. The GF thought it was OK. The fish was too meaty for her taste. Brussel sprouts are OK, as well.
-Lamb shank: Awesome. Meat fell right off the bone. The risotto was awesome too.
No alcohol, and no seat with a view, unfortunately.
Parking is tough and valet is $8 - gratuity appreciated.
It's pricey and inconvenient to get to. The food is prepared correctly.
3-star = "A-OK." -
Review from Katie E.
La Jolla, CA
2/27/2012
Great location and you can't beat the food. We didn't have reservations the first time we went here so we sat at the bar and the bartender was awesome! We were visiting before we moved to La Jolla and the bartender gave us a bottle of olive oil. Very cool. We went back with our family and it was great. My only negative was that we brought our infant and they do not have high chairs (I'm sure this is to dissuade people bringing their kids) so it was a bit of an issue wheeling the stroller around to our table. But we have a very well behaved baby so it was no issue. Very awesome place and a definite must if you are visiting.
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Review from Joe F.
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
1/7/2012
Not worth all the hoopla. Upon seating there was a significant wait to be served our drinks.
The fish taco appetizers were the highlight and are as savory as they are touted to be. Very nice.
I had the Pork chops and they were still oinking on my plate. Yucko.
My wife is British and was looking forward to the Lamb. It came out dry and cold. So as not to disappoint our hosts that took us there based upon our recommendation she did not send it back as she normally would. (we had based our recommendation on the reputation of this place solely)
It was a year end/Christmas meal so at 7pm there is no ocean view to compensate for such disappointments. I suppose the view can justify the higher pricing but once nightfall hits the food is what matters.
All in all maybe it was an off night but it seems like a case of style over substance. -
Review from Matt C.
Quite possibility one of the best dining experiences I have ever had.
Restaurant is set up very nicely. Bar / waiting area in the front, dining area in the back. Some of the tables have terrific ocean views. We had a middle table which was fine. Even the chairs were super comfortable. Right as we sat down the place gives off an aura that you are in for something special.
I started off with a Churchill Downs and it was awesome, I had a Night Light after dinner also, and that was awesome. The drink menu here is spectacular.
Our waiter could have been a professional comedian or actor. When we asked him to describe the difference between a couple appetizers he was like a sports commentator for the main event of an ultimate fighting event... great enthusiasm and described the advantages (no disadvantages) of each appetizer. Really kept the listeners attention. I don't know if I've ever had a server so enthused about entertaining questions about the menu.
The service was simply impeccable. Really made you feel like you were a rock star.
Everything from start to finish was a winner... The drinks, the ceviche, the lobster stew, the hanger steak, the deserts...
A top notch restaurant. -
Review from Lee Ann M.
San Diego, CA
1/1/2012
My boyfriend made a reservation for the New Year's eve 6-course dinner last night. It's one of the best dining experiences we've had in awhile especially when he was diagnosed with Celiac's disease about 3 years ago. We were both very excited because he was told that the whole menu is gluten free except for the dessert and the first course which they could easily substitute. I love dining out and I'm glad he found a place where we could both enjoy a 6-course dinner.
When we arrived we were promptly seated. The overall ambience was very nice and cozy. Our server Diego was very pleasant and down to earth. He made sure we enjoyed each course through the night. I was in heaven with the 2nd course and it just kept getting better with the next courses. We both loved the duck and foie gras, which is one of my favorites. The steak was perfectly cooked and the flavor was just fantastic! The steak was my boyfriend's favorite course of the night. The concern they placed to make sure that my boyfriend's dessert was gluten free is very much appreciated, 3 servers checked on it.
We would definitely go back to dine here. We'd like to try lunch and perhaps be able to have the water view next time. I highly recommend this place especially for those who also need gluten free meals.
Thanks to our server Diego and the chefs at George's for a fabulous New Year's eve dinner last night! :) -
Review from Jema P.
San Diego, CA
2/26/2012
I love going to their bar downstairs and ordering Xilo. It's fresh squeezed grapefruit juice with tequila and agave...the only problem is the cost $14.00.
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Review from Ann T.
10/30/2011
Love, love, love this place.
We sat outside for lunch on the Ocean Terrace and had amazing food. Highly recommend the shrimp taco, blackened fish sandwich and Cuban sandwich. Most especially recommend the pumpkin bread pudding with salted caramel ice cream. So yummy. Wish I lived closer cause I would come here all the time. -
Review from Sam S.
1/16/2012
I always do the tasting menu here b/c it is fantastic and promises a couple of great surprises. Any evening you spend will be great. House made doughnuts and lamb were the standouts this night, but the grilled sardine was a tasty surprise too.
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Review from Su C.
San Diego, CA
12/6/2011
Superb food, superb quality of service!
Went with a party of 5 during restaurant week. Each of us ordered a different appetizer, entree, and dessert, and they were pretty much all extraordinary. Presentation, and food were all amazing. Not over the top amazing, but pretty nice none the less.
Prepare to dish out a hefty amount as this place isnt cheap, but well worth it!
Definitely must try is the fish taco's... as this was featured on "best thing I ever ate".
Trio Sorbet was amazing and a must try as well!
Will go back sooner or later. -
Review from Hellen D.
Santa Clara, CA
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
LOVE this place!!!!!
My boyfriend and I were recommended by one of his best buds. We came down to San Diego for our 2 year anniversary. We made reservations and said the special occasion was for our anniversary.
They had incredible customer service and everyone, I mean EVERYONE congratulated us on our anniversary. The hostess who greeted us said "happy anniversary" the host who seated us, our server, the manager, the chef sent over a complimentary tasting on behalf of our anniversary, and at the end we were given a gift for celebrating our anniversary there. I have never been to a place where the restaurant gave you a gift to take home.
The food was delicious and the mixed drinks were tasty. If I lived in La Jolla I would definitely come here more often! -
Review from K C.
Cambridge, MA
9/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
George's has a beautiful view of the ocean! (disclaimer on this next note: I am a happily married woman:)) The bartender there is some darn nice eye candy! He looks like McDreamy from Grey's Anatomy, but with bright blue eyes. Okay, I realize i'm getting off the point of writing a "restaurant" review, but hey, he's a part of the "atmosphere" so I am including it!
We had the 5-spice chicken salad, a california burger, and a shrimp appie (similar to a ceviche preparation). They were all good! The bloody mary's were superb as well - their mix is definitely unique and tasty!
Be prepared to wait for a good 30-45mins for a table! The place is rather small (even including the main level and upstairs), and everyone wants to get in there! Luckily, the high bar counters were just fine for us, so we were able to walk right in. All in all, a great experience! -
Review from Michael H.
Milwaukee, WI
7/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's expensive...sure.
But frankly speaking, if you came here to eat, it's almost expected that it would be. The money that is spent is for the amazing views of the ocean and the hype over the "fish taco" that Aaron Sanchez raved about on the Food Network. LOL.
Couple of suggestions/observations:
1) Consider reserving your table thru Opentable. It's free, painless, and you can make a special request for a table (not always foolproof) and allows for the wait staff to prepare for special occasions. For example, mention that its your spouse's birthday in the free text area and you could see a free dessert at the end of your meal.
2) Booth seating is along the wall and further back from the large windows that overlook the Pacific. Almost all the free-standing tables are placed closer to the window with a decent view.
3) The infusion vodkas are delicious. Recommend the Ginger infusion. Good by itself (with a nice lemon wedge) and of course in a cocktail.
4) Come with an appetite. It's a foodie treat. Ordering 3 courses is recommended as it allows you to explore different tastes. Portions are reasonably sized for this type of dining. Main entrees are pretty good in terms of portion size.
5) The dry aged steaks have a little chew to it...not as tender as a tenderloin, but the dry aging makes the steak really flavorful. The waiter mentioned that they tend to undercook the steaks, but I found it was the opposite. A medium rare was in fact medium.
6) If you came here because of the "fish taco", its worth sharing with the table, but I found it was more interesting from an artistic point of view.
The fried avocado resembling a beer battered fish is amusing, but avocado in this presentation is pretty mild in flavor. Make sure when you dive into it, get a bit of the "tortilla", the tuna carpaccio, the creamy dressing and the fried avocado in one bite.
7) The cardamom donuts with 4 different dipping sauces is great for sharing. The Pineapple Curry Chutney and Vanilla Rose water were the standouts in terms of flavor. Really worked well.
Impressive both in ambiance and food quality. Worth it for a special occasion. -
Review from Mac C.
La Jolla, CA
10/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I wanted to put 4 stars, but when weighing my expectations after reading article after article about this institution, and then actually eating there... Could only muster a 3.
Food was good but overall bland. $18 for a half dozen pretty good Washington oysters? Eeks...
The highly touted reverse Fish Tacos were ok, but expected more. Fried avocado was tasteless, how is this possible?!
Wine list was great. Service was top notch, view was expansive, the decor was also impressive.
I guess it just comes down to when you spend $100 on dinner for two, you want to be wowed. At least, I do... And wasn't. -
Review from Deborah L.
San Diego, CA
8/11/2011
I came here with my bf to celebrate our anniversary and boy, does this restaurant really know how to make us feel special!
The ambiance of the restaurant is superb with dim lighting and free throw pillows on the couch seats. Our waiter, Rob, was extremely informative in describing each entree.
The fish here is usually cooked medium rare so if you don't like that texture, be sure to notify them of your preference. I must admit that serving size isn't incredibly generous, but you mostly pay for the experience of coming here.
They gave us free ciders to toast our anniversary along with a plate of chocolate souffle w/ ginger-flavored ice cream (it was very ..different..but neat to try!) to celebrate. I was very impressed with their service in this aspect. It made our night so much more enjoyable and I can't thank our waiter enough for providing such stellar service!
P.S. Their sourdough bread was so yummy! -
Review from Daniel Y.
Poway, CA
2/9/2012
This place is amazing! We came in around 6:30pm on a weekday and was seated right away. Our server was extremely polite and made great recommendations for food and drinks. The food tasted amazing. We had the beef carpaccio to start off and it was so good! I got the Swordfish entree and it was the best tasting fish entree I have ever had. My girlfriend had the lamb shank but it was kind of dry. The place is kind of pricey but you get what you pay for. Overall though, it was a great experience and will definitely come back.
-
Review from Julia P.
7/11/2011
While the food and service here is excellent, I do think it's a little overrated and it's hard for me to understand how this is the BEST restaurant in La Jolla. I've had better restaurants, in my hometown Austin, so I was more than a little disappointed.
My fiance and I started off with the Pacific oysters and they were really good but really small and expensive. As an entree, I had ordered the fresh yellowtail but that probably wasn't the best choice because it was dry and I only finished about 1/4 of it even though I was starving. My fiance had the lamb shank and I'm sure it was good but I didn't hear anything from him that made it seem like it was out of this world. Like I said, I expected a lot more from this place especially for how expensive it is.
One thing to note is that it t was my fiance's birthday so they were nice enough to give us a free bottle of olive oil as a gift but I would probably liked a free dessert instead and I'm surprised that they charged us for the sorbet we ordered.... -
Review from Rodzilla G.
San Diego, CA
7/13/2011 9 photos
Full Review with pictures on my site
Perhaps the most innovative dishes are seen at an exclusive Chef's table (and I do hope to get there) but ordering a la carte is an experience in itself, and one I highly recommended. -
Review from Kathy L.
My family came here for my mom's birthday / parent's 30th anniversary dinner. We were deciding between this and Eddie V.'s, and though I haven't been to Eddie's yet, I'm so glad we came here! Sometimes I go to fancy restaurants and they just don't live up to the hype and cost, but that was not the case here at George's. Everything we ordered was delicious and filling, but I would definitely recommend the meat dishes over the seafood (dad's swordfish was good but nothing compared to the rest of ours!). My mom's 21 day dry aged strip steak was one of the best steaks I've ever had, no joke. So juicy and flavorful, and perfect with the mashed potatoes that come with. My sister had the squab, and I honestly might order that one just for the foie gras that it comes with. Seriously melt in your mouth delicioso. My braised lamb shank was flavorful and fell off the bone. Not to mention, HUGE! Came with butternut squash risotto that was - yes, I'll use the word again - delicious. It came with just one little piece of feta cheese that complemented the rich flavor amazingly. I just wish there had been more pieces!
For dessert, we had carrot cake and the doughnuts & dips. The cake came with salty sunflower seeds on top that created that lovely sweet and salty effect. The doughnuts were fun to eat and came with 4 different dips.
Seriously, what a great experience. Perfect for a special occasion, date, or when you just want to treat yourself to something nice! And it's not so over-the-top ridiculously expensive that it will break the bank. Love love love. -
Review from Blondie E.
San Francisco, CA
6/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Husband and I had a delightful dinner at George's tonight. I've been to the Ocean Terrace numerous times, and love it, so I was fairly confident that California Modern would be good. But wow, was it ever.
We started off with the Fish Tacos. Saw them on the Food Network and have been craving them ever since. They were not even one bit overrated. So creative and so delicious. I can't describe them, just go, and try immediately.
We also tried the romaine and celery heart salad (topped with a fried poached egg - yes, seriously), the lamb shank, and the lobster seafood stew. Perfection.
And let's not even talk about the red-bell pepper thyme infused Belvedere martini with a goat cheese stuffed black olive. Or the ginger vodka kumquat cocktail. Or the Wisconsin cheese for dessert.
It was a fantastic dinner, and our server Pat was excellent. We can't wait to go back! -
Review from Ace M.
San Diego, CA
10/18/2011
This place gets a lot of positive reviews. Maybe I caught them on an off day.
The food was alright, the drinks should have been better. The hostess and server had a 'It is what it is" attitude for service.
I think the place could be better but the location and view are amazing. Not sure if that is enough to bring me back though. -
Review from Heather R.
La Jolla, CA
7/26/2011
I've lived here most of my adult like and i just assumed that this place was a total tourist trap. My bad. I was so wrong. You know what they say about assuming...
We've been here three times thus far. The first time we were treated to dinner by some friends, the second time was to celebrate our 22nd wedding anniversary, the third time was when we took another couple to dinner to celebrate the closing of a new house.
The first and third visits were wonderful. We had great service, amazing food, wonderful wine, great view, we were not rushed etc. The second time we had an awful waiter but everything else was great. From what I understand our 'bad' waiter is no longer working here.
George's is our new favorite place to go for a special occasion. What impressed me the most was that I realized I can dine here and pay $30 for an amazing entree, killer view, great service and ambiance etc. OR I can go to Beaumonts which is down the street from my house where they want to to charge me the same amount for a tiny piece of fish that comes with rushed/crappy servers, shitty drinks, no view and screaming kids at the next table. Uhhh, no thanks.
Honey, let's go to Georges instead. -
Review from Kristin M.
San Diego, CA
5/11/2011
Okay, after seeing everyone else's reviews, it kind of makes me feel like a jerk for giving this place 3 stars. Let me take a minute to justify myself. When I pay this kind of money for food (which I loathe doing, btw), I expect it to be amazing...and it just wasn't. I took my girlfriend here for her birthday because she heard is was good from a couple of her bosses (they own Donovan's, so this type of food is right up their ally).
When we arrived for our reservation, the hostesses were accommodating enough, although they seemed to have a bit a of a snooty attitude and of course they gave us looks. We're GAY people...get over it. It's not the last time you'll see a girl in a tie. Anyway, to start let me say that our server was absolutely excellent. He was very on top of everything and I appreciated it.
We ordered appetizers and settled in. We had to wait....for quite a while for them to come out. To the waiter's credit, he did offer us complementary date salads, although I don't care for dates, I appreciated the gesture. We made our way through the rest of the dinner and dessert.
My complaints: One...the view here at night is non-existent. You have to come during the day or you can't see anything. Two...and most importantly...the portions are ridiculously small. I've become accustomed to this at upscale eating establishments, but it still kills me. My girlfriend ordered the scallops which were around $35 if I remember correctly and there were 3...count'em 3 and no sides. That's almost $12 a scallop. Maybe being a country bumpkin, I lack the refinement to fully appreciate these scallops for what they're worth, but when I asked my OC girlfriend if she liked them, she said "I've had better". No one wants to hear these words come out of their girlfriend's mouth for any reason, EVER.
Feeling completely defeated I payed the check, the total of which was ungodly, and I don't even want to discuss and as we're about to leave the gf says, "I'm still hungry. Can we go to McDonald's?"......and we did....cause we're classy like that.
