I chose to have dinner at A.R Valentien. It was an amazing and fantastic experience. The place was very classy and the atmosphere was great with a big tree around the corner and fresh air from the golf course and the ocean. We had citrus salad, steak, and halibut. Everything was so good and the dessert, toasted financier was very delicious. It was so buttery. And of course, I was very satisfied with the customer service. I wanted to give more than 5 stars. I will come back if I visit San Diego again! read more

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Although I have been to Torrey Pines many times, I've never had breakfast there. Everyone knows that breakfast is my favorite meal, and the boyfriend and I go out usually every single weekend. We prefer a brunch bright and early over drinking late at night in general. This is so close to our home, it's actually really surprising to me that we have never gone there to eat before during a weekend morning. A shout out to my fellow Yelp Elites for their reviews, you guys definitely solidified the decision to dine there. When you enter the hotel lobby and you're looking out the beautiful bay windows, take a turn to the right walk through some of the drawing rooms and you'll end up into the restaurant. It's a formal dining room with a very nice patio, and the breakfast menu is delicious! I ordered the lemon ricotta pancakes with raspberry syrup and they melted in my mouth. My boyfriend had a traditional breakfast (he's such an old man inside, no surprise there) and the rest of our table had items ranging from the seasonal scone to the frittata. Coffee service was a delight, as they fill up a silver pot and place it on the table for you (and then come around and fill your glasses as needed.) I do like coffee within my reach at all times, so this was an absolute win for me. Very nice presentation all around, and good service. One of our servers seemed like he was a little bit new and slightly nervous. It is a formal space, so serving there can be there a little nerve-wracking but I'm sure he'll get it eventually. Prices are what you would expect from a property of this caliber. The views are totally worth it, and if you're in for a brunch sometime and looking to take someone somewhere impressive, I would suggest making reservation here. It's a great restaurant to elevate breakfast beyond the normal. read more

Great Valentines Dinner experience. The food and atmosphere was fantastic. The service made it that much better. Definitely recommend.

Lovely setting - 5 Stars We enjoyed our meal seated inside by the window, at a table for two, as the sun set... Wonderful, gracious employees - 5 Stars Truly accommodating in every way... Dinner Biscuits - 5 Stars Warm, tender & delicious Sea Bass - 4 Stars Tasty Filet Steak - 4 Stars Tender & delicious Chocolate torte, with peanut brittle - 5 Stars Rich & delicious Peanut butter ice cream with chocolate that accompanied the Chocolate torte with peanut brittle - 10 Stars ! The very best ice cream we have ever enjoyed! read more

The food was good, but I wasn't blown away. Everything we ate (charcuterie, hanger steak, duck confit) was tasty but very rich. Service was appropriate: not stuffy but professional. It's nice for a special occasion, and the view is pleasant. Overall, the experience was memorable, the food was good (not great) and the view was pleasant. read more

A.R. Valentien - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

Amazing every time we come here! We love staying at the Lodge over Christmas time since it is really festive. This time we went for my birthday and it was delightful. Our server Andy was so helpful, knowledgeable and friendly! The menu changes daily. We had the scallops, duck, heart of palm and we were so impressed yet again. Will be coming back for years to come! read more

Awesome restaurant in Torrey Pines area. The atmosphere, service, and dishes, everything was amazing. We (2 professors and 1 scientist) visited this place for breakfast, and we loved this place a lot. I had muffin and omelet. Oh my, they were FANTASTIC. I definitely repeat this place maybe for dating with my girlfriend next time, and highly recommend to everyone. read more

A.R. Valentien - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

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First time back since they closed for Covid and their breakfast is still the best breakfast in town!! We shared a bull's-eye and their ricotta lemon pancakes were just simply delightful!! read more

Went here for date night on a Tuesday so it was pretty mellow. Very intimate with a vintage almost 30s look to it on the inside but the building itself is not more than 5 years old I think. Really nice attentive staff. The food was delicious and we loved the wine choices. I was interested in getting the prime ribeye because I love ribeye steaks but the waiter said that people always come back for the duck confit and so I went that route. It was perfect! My boyfriend got the swordfish and he loved it. It was nighttime when we went but from the window and patio it looks like the view would be gorgeous during the day. read more

Incredible food, beautiful cozy decor and nice service. Had a delicious vodka, berry, lime and ginger beer cocktail. There were four warm bread options - the biscuits were so flaky - I could have had cocktails and biscuits for dinner. The mussels were in a light garlic wine sauce served with toast. The citrus salad was fresh and light. Roasted free range chicken was so flavorful and moist. The Brussel sprouts were caramely and crisp. The only thing that I didn't love was the chocolate cake dessert with peppercorn flakes - I like the salt and chocolate combo, but the pepper was a little too spicy. Expensive, but such a nice treat for a special occasion. read more

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Wow. First-rate from beginning to end. Impeccably attentive and kind service led by Steve G., superb food (the porcini mushroom-chestnut soup was unbelievably fabulous), exquisite wine pairings. Steve wasn't kidding about how good the duck breast/duck confit entree is. Inventive cuisine served beautifully -- we will treasure this evening! read more

Service - excellent! Food - excellent! Ambiance - excellent! Really enjoyed the fantastic holiday ambiance. Unfortunately, Chef Olivier is no longer here but A.R. Valentien is still a solid five stars. The butter poached lobster was phenomenal and the egg nog creme brulee was the perfect Christmas season dessert. I would defiantly go back, the corkage fee is 25.00 and shout out to Armando who came around with the multi grain bread and sour dough. He really gets hospitality, we were so impressed by him. Self parking is available if you are just going in for lunch, just ask! read more

Amazing and perfect! Our waitress Heather couldn't be any sweeter (or have had better balance) if she tried. We sat on the bar patio at a lovely pool-side table. We had a gorgeous view of the golf course, para-gliders, and the ocean. There was a wait for the restaurant so we just went to the bar and sat a outside. No wait at all and full menus available! We highly-highly recommend! read more

A.R. Valentien - This is the life - fabulous drinks, delicious food, and a gorgeous view! - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

Three stars for value. Maybe four for some of the entrees. I had flat iron -- delicious. Perfectly done. The accompanying asparaguses had woody stalks. The dining partners had filet mignon with truffles. Also very good. The spinach and mushroom side was perfect. Also had tuna, duck and steak. All entrees were very good. The charcuterie platter was a disappointment. Chicken liver was a crowd fave. The beef terrine just ok. The duck pate disappointing. Dessert wise, chocolate pave with passion fruit was really good. The salt Carmel tart was good too. The rose water cake was a different flavor, more mideastern in flavor and still good. Overall service was very competent and friendly. For the price, expected everything to be excellent. The unevenness took a star down for me. Chef sent a complimentary fresh donuts at the end. We were quite stuffed but ate them anyway. read more

went for my wife's 35th birthday and the food was amazing, you need to try the mushroom risotto!. I had the vegetarian option, a grilled romanesco that was soooooo good! the service was on point, shout out to Jose for making sure out night went perfect. read more

My mom and I went to this restaurant last weekend and we had a fantastic time. Our waiter was amazing and the food was absolutely delicious. We had a great view from our table. Even though it is a little on the pricier side, we absolutely enjoyed our time. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone and I will definitely be back for sure! read more

Very Disappointing Service Went to celebrate a 60th birthday with my family and was so disappointed in the service. From beginning to end it was no where near the level you would expect for such an elegant and pricey restaurant. When we arrived right on time for our reservation, we were asked to wait while our table was prepared. Our party of five sat in the lobby for 20 minutes then went back to concierge, who seemed to have forgotten us, but then seated us among many open tables. After being seated, our waitress was nowhere to be found. Bread came from a server, then menus but no wine list. We asked for it and it came after some delay - asked for some suggestions and the waitress had no real knowledge regarding the wines. Where was the sommelier - did they have one? It was getting chilly and we asked for a heater to be turned on and after three requests and our waitress offering some wraps - we finally got the heater on. Most of the meals were fine(not great), but my son ordered the rib eye medium rare and half of it was raw! As we left, I was looking for a toothpick and there were none. We are not ones to complain, and I have never written such a poor review in my life, but I am so disappointed in the service for what is marketed as an elegant and high end dining experience. read more

Somewhat disappointed in the food, excellent service! Food portions have gotten smaller and accompaniments are minimal! Ordered gnocchi for an appetizer and extremely disappointed with portion size for the price-was planning to share but not enough to share! Ordered duck and was expecting confit but was advised that they ran out of confit with the Breeder;s Cup and changed the details of the menu but not the price. Confit is my highlight and very disappointed! Received menu that acknowledged our Anniversary, but did not acknowledge and offer any form of desert or other amenity for the occasion! Too bad, thought it was a place for special occasions, BUT no more! read more

Our family went here for my Birthday celebrate. It is absolutely beautiful. It has the looks of a craftsman style, with a lot wood throughout the restaurant. The food is very good, some of had Swordfish, Chicken , Lamb and Ribeye. We all ordered something different and all were happy with our choices we made. I would highly Reccommend eating here. read more

Ive come here quite a few times for massages and food. Last lunch was less than par esp for a 4 star establishment. I am truly disappointed lack of service. I ordered the fish, some appetizers and soup to start it was a cold day. I was told the soup was vegan I kept eating little pieces what I thought were dried carrots come to find out it was chewier I asked what it was and she replied Chorizo!! She just explained it was vegan?? I would have never ordered it then she goes on to humiliate me if she should take it off the bill I said its not the $ for health reasons i dont eat chorizo. she takes the soup away and charges me despite it. Rather rude and I was so appalled by her actions I never want to go back shame they lost a great customer. read more

Maria was wonderful! Such a warm presence; she really made us feel at home! We have been to this restaurant many times, and the thing that always stands out is the service. Paul was great as well. Thank you for another great experience! read more

amazing! still thinking about this unique meal in such a magical setting. the wine was also superb. had the lingercod--delish!

We had, again, a memorable dinner at the A.R. Valentien! It's "outdoor dining" done right. Sophistication, elegance, great service and the most important, great food. read more

Awesome all around. We sat outside, which was great. It was a chilly evening, but the heaters did a great job keeping us warm. The view is beautiful, overlooking the golf course with the ocean behind. The outdoor patio is surrounded by trees, and it is just lovely. Chairs outside are comfy deck chairs with armrests, very relaxed. Regarding parking, you can park in the garage (free), or use the valet (free). Either is super easy and close. The food was excellent. Before the meal, they brought an outstanding amuse bouche of salmon poke with a wonderful green sauce. The breads (sour dough, wheat, and cornmeal muffin) were also all excellent. We then had the quail and the milk bread with prosciutto appetizers, and both were great. For entrees, we had the duck (perfectly cooked), chicken, and the scallops (seared to perfection), and all were great with wonderful sides. The cocktails were also excellent, as was the wine selection (with glasses ranging from around $12 up to $65 per glass). Desserts were less amazing. We got the coconut cake (which was bland and dry), the mint chocolate cake/mousse (which was okay but not great), and the banana pudding (again, okay but not great). Given how spectacular everything was, I was surprised at how not-great the desserts were. Several of the Yelp reviews mentioned this, and I had hoped they were just being overly critical, however they were not. I would suggest skipping dessert entirely, or getting a nice dessert drink (of which they have a nice selection) instead. They did bring us a complimentary dish of some wonderful beignets and macarons, which were spectacular (not sure if everyone got that, or if we did because we were celebrating a birthday). I wish they added those to the menu, they were great. Honestly, the desserts (those on the menu, not the beignets and macarons) were such a let-down that it would have been a much nicer end to the meal to not get dessert. We had spectacular service. Many of the Yelp reviews comment that the service was slow and/or poor, which was not at all our experience. Some commented that those is casual attire got poor service, however we were dressed rather casually and were treated extremely well. I will note, however, that the service was more European than American, that is, they gave us time to talk, enjoy, and relax. American service tends to be very fast (get to your table to take your order quickly, quickly clear plates, bring you the check before you finish eating so that you can get out as soon as you are done, etc.). European service tends to be different, giving you time to chat with friends/family before you order, allowing the table to relax between courses, and NEVER bringing the check too quickly. (Indeed, in France they generally will not bring you the check until you ask. Bringing you the check implies that they are ready for you to leave so that they can seat another group, which is considered very rude.) If you are expecting typical, rapid-fire American service, the service at A.R. Valentien will seem insanely slow. Plan to spend the evening dining, don't come starving needing to eat something right away, and plan to enjoy the beautiful surroundings talking and laughing with your family or friends. If that is your expectation, you will love this place. read more

We had lunch here yesterday. My corn soup and Turkey sandwich were very nice. My wife's best salad and chicken under brick were quite good. Enjoyable atmosphere and attentive waiters. We'll come back! read more

La Jolla is just beautiful and this restaurant did not disappoint. Nestled in Torrey Pines, the sunset view was breathtaking and the food was as well! We were a little worried about the dress code, business casual can mean different things at different places, but it was such a beautiful and relaxed environment, nice jeans and a top did just as well as a little black dress. The service is top notch. The wait staff are extremely well versed on the menu and were able to offer helpful tips on what dishes to select. I started with the citrus salad, which was refreshing and a wonderfully light way to start the meal. My main was the butter poached lobster with potato gnocchi. That dish was probably one of the best things I've ever eaten. Perfectly cooked lobster over fluffy gnocchi... Yum. For dessert we got the dark chocolate cake, which was extremely rich. It was accented with black peppercorns, which I felt the amount was unbalanced with the sweetness of the cake. The chef gave us some bonus treats (donuts were melt-in-your-mouth amazing), which was such a nice touch. Overall, I would definitely come here again and again. The champagne and wine list was perfect, having a lot of the champagnes and sparkling wines I love (but hard to find in restaurants). Next time, I'll probably eat outside so I can enjoy the view a little better. read more

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Food was decent. The service was really bad, and took forever. There were also a lot of flys and gnats! Pretty disgusting.

A truly excellent and visually attractive experience. One of the most attentive and considerate servers and management we have ever participated and dined. The pate and free range chicken were presented & prepared so well. read more

5 star service, 3 star food. Service was great, when the staff was able to attend. Food was not top notch like i was expecting. New York strip was cooked well, but was not that great, and the potato it came with was also bland, so I was let down. Salads were good. The smoked trout appetizer was exceptional. I think we would have enjoyed The Grill more, and spent 1/4 the cash. read more

Decent but not a 5 star worthy rating. We ordered the local lunch which is $40 a three course meal. Also the duck confit entree at $24. The first course had a fried egg on top of some very tough and hard greens which were hard to eat and digest. We asked them to exchange it and they did with spinach instead and it was improved. The sea bass was decent and grilled nothing special there. It was served with artichokes and other various vegetables. Nothing too exciting but the fish was cooked properly. I think it could have used a more flavorful sauce since the sea bass is a very bland fish to begin with. I was hoping that they had duck breast but apparently it is replaced with duck confit. The confit portion was extremely tiny. Again it was cooked properly with crisp skin and the meat was timed correctly just very small. The fruit compote it came with was good also. The dessert was good and again not great. The cake that came with it was kind of bland and not that moist but the ice cream was good. The bread that one of the servers came around with was so so. Not memorable at all. Spotty service also as the waiter hardly attended to us the entire time we were there. Very uneven on all accounts. Beautiful setting though but overall kind of disappointed at the entire experience. read more

We sat outside on the deck, where the tables still had white tablecloths and a fancy look. I think this place would be more cheerful during the day. I expected more of a golf course view, but it got dark pretty quickly, leading to a stuffy vibe and chilly atmosphere. Their outdoor heaters were on overdrive, and the waiter said they could turn them down, but they didn't. The interior of the Lodge itself is stuffy and dark, which is just such an odd juxtaposition compared to the iconic, oceanfront feel of the golf courses. Service was good, but the prix fixe tasting menu was underwhelming and not particularly memorable for me. It was anticlimactic compared to the thrilling time I had on the Torrey Pines North course just days prior. Next time I would try the The Grill at Torrey Pines, where the patio might have better views. read more

Amongst the best dining experiences in San Diego; I had scarcely heard of this place until I Googled "Best San Diego Restaurants 2017". Although I was aware of the Lodge (researched it while looking for wedding venues), did not know of how great the food/restaurant was. Went here with my fiancee, her dad, and my brother and his family. We had an incredible time. Did I mention that my brother picked up the check? :-) read more

My husband and I went here for his birthday; we were expecting something special. The place is kind of cool, got that cabin/lodge feel, so I recommend getting a drink at the bar before dinner. The food wasn't bad per-say but it certainly wasn't inspiring, nothing memorable, and the entrees were very rich in sauces. I should mention that they allow dogs (these were not service animals) in the dining area, don't get me wrong I love dogs and have my own but a nice dining establishment is not where they should be. The guest had two dogs under the table and we could hear them coughing and choking on the food they were been fed under the table, spoiled the experience for sure as we tried to enjoy our evening. read more

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Excellent service, beautiful views and a great menu including some delicious seafood dishes. I got the local lunch with the swordfish and it was excellent. And this blueberry cheesecake is not too shabby either- beautiful presentation and Lite tasting read more

A.R. Valentien - Blueberry Cheesecake - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

I am not very happy with this place right now. I have gone there twice for dinner with my family, and both times we have had to deal with some sort of caveat because my sister (whose birthday it was both times) has food allergies. While I understand that not all menu items are going to be easily changed, I was very disappointed to learn that they could not accommodate a food allergy to garlic, which is a fairly common intolerance. Our poor waitress couldn't have been more concerned in trying to find solutions, but needed help from the maitre d' who gave the impression that he did not want to be bothered. When he was asked to help in this circumstance because my sister was getting obviously pissed, I found his customer service skills to be elementary at best. He interrupted us in the midst of our conversations, started talking over us without asking permission or saying "excuse me," and curtly told me sister that they could make a piece of chicken without garlic, with a "take it or leave it" attitude. No apology and no other options were offered. To further our dissatisfaction, my mother's steak was brought to the table cold and my husband's pork mimicked a cafeteria/hospital preparation, e.g. no flavor. I honestly wouldn't be surprised to get inconsistent quality and very limited options at a mediocre restaurant, but a restaurant of the self-touted caliber and hefty price tag of A.R. Valentein? After spending $1100 at this establishment for a B- meal and C- service (all demerits on this account because of the maitre d') we will not be returning until they demonstrate considerable changes to their food and folk. I hope the executives of this restaurant consider my critique of their food options and managerial staff. I do see the potential in this restaurant in that some of their dishes were delicious and the waitstaff (minus the maitre d') was terrific, but they have some work ahead of them if they truly are going to live up to the image they are trying to convey to the public. read more

Thanks for your comment, but it doesn't not make us want to "give you another try" as it is too expensive to receive a completely inedible meal. It seems as though the pandemic sadly may have lessened the quality of the food. We will not be back to give it another try as our food was inedible and costly and service lackluster. We have taken it off our recommendation list as well. read more

Charming and elegant. Love the patio dining and their sommelier is legit amazing. Can't recommend this place enough. This is our 3rd or 4th visit and it's always wonderful. read more

Oh My God! I was in town for business and decided to stay at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines because I love looking out over the golf course. Since it was my birthday and I was away from home I decided to treat myself to a nice dinner - a little bit of Yelping turned up this gem right next door to the Hilton. I walked over there and was seated immediately on the patio (I was early - about 5:30 or so) overlooking the golf course. The whole staff was fantastic, from the hostess to my waiter to everyone else - whenever someone walked by and there was an empty plate, glass etc. they took care of it. A real team effort. Dinner was spectacular! From my appetizer (basically a pate of duck with other meats around it - really inventive and tasty) to my entrée to dessert everything was fantastic. I had lamb chops as the entrée who were probably the best and meatiest lamb chops I've had in my life. The only small thing was that they were on the tasting menu - and a la carte they cost over $42... That may be my only downside for this restaurant: my total bill for just myself (with 3 glasses of wine and a port afterwards) was over $170. But then again it's not my birthday every day.... read more

Jodie's review couldn't be more off: Heard so much about the fabulous restaurant at The Lodge at Torrey Pines. I found the dinner menu to be bland, the dining room is very small and filled with tourists and that means kids as well. It thought it used to be darkly lit, but the track lightening was turned way up. Also the inner tables face the outer tables so you are staring at your fellow diners....weird arrangement. The servers are all very young and inexperienced...and the food was lacking any inspiration from the kitchen. I was brought an appetizer of proscuitto wrapped greens on recommendation from the server (which ended up being sour, inedible collard greens). WTF? can't believe this even made it out of the kitchen, obviously no one tasted this crap. When I told our server, she went back and brought back some broccolini that was equally rank and sour...ohh and it was "on the house". The entrees totally sucked (its been a few months--it was a fish dish--totally mediocre). Peoples please don't even bother with this place. Go to Market, Jack's, George's--real restaurants!!!.... read more

To be honest, I was a little worried about dining here for our anniversary after reading some of the Yelp & OpenTable reviews. However, I am super happy to report an incredible experience! What an excellent evening! We specifically chose a Sunday night to have a quiet date (dining room booth). Our server was Brandon and he did an excellent job with suggestions and comments on the evening's menu + perfectly timed service. We brought our own special bottle of wine (there is $25 corkage fee) and the sommelier Paul was very gracious upon visiting our table. He brought a nice taster of one of his favorite varietals. During the meal, the chef sent amuse bouche, side of charred Brussel sprouts, and also added dessert (in addition to the dessert we ordered) with our coffee. The highlight of the night, which sounds lame...but is so worth mentioning is, by far, the best Caesar salad ever. The dressing was flavorful, creamy, and had the best zip. The romaine was appropriately sized (I very much dislike giant leaves to cut) and perfectly dusted with cheese. All of our dishes were spot on: chicken (juices so perfect you could lick the plate), duck breast, and speck. We will definitely return for our next special occasion. We have burned through many special occasion restaurants in SD in 40+ years, and often leave feeling disappointed. Not this time! We cannot afford to go to AR Valentien all the time, but it's worth paying a bit extra for the service and cuisine. read more