Pricing:
Ridiculously expensive considering what you get for your money. The appetizers alone are going to cost you $10-18 (most of them $15). The cocktails are all $12 and any entree is going to set you back at least $35.
Distance:
On Prospect Street in La Jolla. So if you've ever been to La Jolla, you know what the deal is. If there's no traffic, only takes 20 minutes or so to get there. If there is traffic... Godspeed.
Thoughts:
This was possibly the worst dining experience I have ever had in my entire life. I've been trying really hard to think back on one that could top this but nothing comes to mind.To start with, the service at this place was horrendous. I'm extremely lenient when it comes to service. I totally get if there's one waiter serving the entire place or if it's busy and they are clearly understaffed. But there were... I dunno... maybe fifteen occupied tables in the restaurant when I went. There were also at least seven different waiters walking around (I counted). You do the math.
Upon arriving, we were served water and then proceeded to wait for over a half an hour for someone to come over and take a drink orders from us. Classy. Isn't booze supposed to be a big money maker for restaurants? It then took another forty-five minutes for our drinks and appetizers to come out. Yes, you read that right. So from the time we sat down to the time we received our first anything was about an hour and a half. One person at our table didn't even get his order because they "forgot."
Multiple attempts were made to get the attention of the servers. When I finally flagged one down to ask if they could check on our drinks the man said, and I quote, "Oh you're not my table, so I'll have to find your server." The server never came.
Which leads us to the menu prices. I get that this is a La Jolla restaurant. I've dined many times before in La Jolla. But if you are going to charge me the prices of places like Pamplemousse Grill or Ruth's Chris Steak House, you better sure as heck be giving me a dining experience. This isn't Denny's. If I politely ask why it's taking forty-five minutes to mix a friggin' $12 house cocktail (no special orders), don't tell me this isn't your table.
The food that finally came out was average at best. Perhaps it was the bitter taste in my mouth but nothing was especially flavorful or memorable. Their Kung Pao Calamari had the same texture as a Chicken McNugget (no joke).
So perhaps my experience here was a fluke. But I can say with absolute confidence that it was bad enough to make me never want to go here ever again. With poor service, mediocre food and outrageous prices, I'd much rather spend my money elsewhere.
