So So yummy! Went here for my 17th birthday! Requested outside seats, but it felt more like indoors since we did not get seats right on the balcony by the water. However, servers were super nice and food was amazing. I recommend getting the Ribs & Chicken Plate Lunch because it is so filling and worth your buck! Burger is also super filling and delicious. They gave us free dessert on the house because of the food delay, sooo kind and generous people. read more

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Disappointing service and missed expectations, especially for families I chose Duke's hoping for a kid-friendly spot with the winning trio of good food, ocean views, and an easygoing vibe. Unfortunately, from the moment we checked in, almost everything fell short. Reservation confusion despite empty tables We booked ahead and arrived to see walk-ins being quoted a 45-minute wait, even though there were more than enough empty tables. At check-in I confirmed we'd reserved an outdoor table with ocean views, but the host asked us to "wait in the hallway" until our exact reservation time. When the confirmation text finally came, the same host, visibly irritated, told us to go upstairs and "ask the other host" if our table was ready. Upstairs there was no host. When he appeared, he asked my name, and guided us to a table wedged between the interior and patio with only a sliver of the ocean in sight, hardly what we'd requested. Basic family touches were missing. No crayons were available anywhere, and no one offered to look. The kids' menu lists "cheddar" but arrives with a white cheese that most picky eaters won't touch. Small detail, big headache. Staff interactions ranged from curt to openly annoyed. Our server took 20 minutes just to bring water and then vanished. Throughout the meal, neighboring tables voiced similar frustrations. Thursday's advertised surf-and-turf special didn't match what the kitchen was willing to serve, and the suggested "substitution" conveniently cost more. Between that and the kids' cheese swap, it felt like accuracy, and value, weren't priorities. If you want genuine hospitality, reliable menu descriptions, and the ocean view La Jolla is famous for, spend a little more and head to Eddie V's. Duke's has potential, but until the hosting, service, and menu honesty improve, it's not worth the hassle, especially with kids. read more

Restaurants very trendy and had that positive vibe. Service was very attentive, and food was good.

We came on a Sunday around noon time and there was no wait upstairs. They have a bottom patio and an upstairs patio both with spectacular views of the ocean. The servers were very nice and answered any questions we had. They do had great recommendations as well. We got the omelette, the burrito, the breakfast burger. The omelette was okay and wasn't any spectacular, honestly when coming here you're coming for the view. read more

Duke's La Jolla - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

Had an absolutely amazing time at Dukes. 10/10 recommend the chicken and rib plate and the chocolate pie. I called to make a reservation and Cameron/Kamryn was so nice over the phone. We got amazing service from our phenomenal waiter Joey and when we arrived we were seated at an amazing table with breathtaking view by the manager Taylor. It was my lady's birthday so she had a wonderful time and I recommend if you are anywhere local to Southern California to come check out this location. You will not regret it. Great food. Great service. Great atmosphere. Do not pass this one up. The best service I have had at any restaurant in my life. Thank you Dukes team. read more

This is an ADA recommendation. We've always been fans of Duke's, but never been to the La Jolla location. We were between lunch and dinner hours. If you've seen this layout, it's in a multistory complex, with he main entrance going down steps and into the main dining area. I went ahead to see how to bring a wheelchair in - and the servers were super helpful, and had a ramp that goes upstairs to their outdoor patio. It was real easy to wheel in, without having to deal with one of those ADA elevators. All the staff were incredibly kind and made our late lunch thoroughly enjoyable. Drinks and food as always - top notch! We will be back! read more

Good food good prices and nice view but the only thing was that I made a reservation and once we arrived we still had to wait. So kinda useless to make a reservation. read more

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The view here is great and if you just came for that, then you'd like it. The coffee is too dark and bitter, service is okay, not great, we had empty coffee cups for a bit. Their food is mediocre, does the job. The only reason I even come here is because my aunt loves the view, otherwise, I'd rather go to Cody's across the way. read more

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This was underwhelming. Perhaps because the great views they are known for was covered in vinyl in anticipation for rain that came hours later, or because the mai tais were devoid of rum. They were weak. The fried calamari may actually be cuttlefish, I am not positive. It was good, but the texture and cut was not of squid. The rest of our meal was very average. It was good. I would go again. La Jolla is just amazing and this restaurant is located in the heart of awesomeness. The service was stellar which made the experience very nice. Try it. Prices and service are worth the trip. read more

Duke's La Jolla - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

The food was all really good and it had an overall nice ambience. The waiters were attentive and did a good job even with being very busy for dinner time. read more

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Nice view with good food and service. I do wish it was possible to request specific table locations when reserving.

We sat down and asked politely if we could move to a table with a better view. The answer we got was: "Once you've ordered, you can't change tables." But... we hadn't ordered yet. There were at least two empty tables in the scenic area the entire time, and before our food even came out, I explained to Samantha that we had come a long way and chosen this restaurant specifically for the view. Her response was: "That's the hostess's decision, not mine. Once you've placed your order, you can't switch." It was really disappointing. Honestly, we felt like leaving before the food arrived. We still gave a normal tip, but we left with a bad feeling. Tip for future diners: Make sure you're seated in the spot you really want before sitting down. Apparently, once you're seated, they treat it like you've already ordered. read more

Hmmmm definitely do not come here for just the food. I made a reservation so we could get a guaranteed ocean view, and I definitely wouldn't recommend this place if that's not available. The restaurant definitely feels pretty tourist-trappy, and the food tasted the same. I got a burger and it hardly had any flavor. Not bad, just not good. Definitely would only come here for the views and maybe a drink or two. read more

Duke's La Jolla - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

Stopped here for brunch and were able to get in earlier than our original reservation which was great. We sat inside since it was a bit chilly, but the outdoor patio offers a wonderful view of La Jolla. Drinks were delicious, my group ordered the Lavender Colada, Duke's Cove Lemonade and Duke's Mai Tai. Any of these are perfect to sip on, any day of the week. Easily could have a second round- or come in just for drinks. As for food, started with the coconut shrimp and I picked the pork sandwich for lunch. Poke bowl and fish and chips were also selections were also forgot to photo). Overall, good drinks and service would easily have me return for another visit! read more

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If you are looking for a great lunch place overlooking the water, this is it! The views were beautiful, and I really liked eating out on the patio since it was a nice day. The server was nice and attentive. I ordered the mango pork ribs, and the ribs were super tender and the sauce was tasty. The macaroni salad was not bad, but I did not like the bok chow slaw that much. Overall, I would definitely recommend this place for lunch, especially if you are looking for a place with good views! read more

Duke's La Jolla - Mango Pork Ribs, Rib & Chicken Plate, and Seared Ahi Tuna - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Excellent food, attentive service, and very nice ambiance. We was just walking by and got caught by the nice interior wall inside. Yelp reviews looked promising so we gave this place a try. It was beyond expectations! Everything we ordered was fresh and delicious with gorgeous presentation. The drinks were great as well. Our server was quick and very attentive. It was quite crowded so we settled for an inside table. Turned out, the lighting and Hawaiian decor inside made the experience much more memorable. They also have a famous hula pie, but we were too full for dessert. Parking is either street or valet ($5). It's La Jolla so street parking can be a pain. Overall, it was a great experience. Highly recommend this restaurant if you visit La Jolla read more

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We live in San Diego but this was our first time dining at Dukes!!! Such a great experience. It started off with the friendliest greeting by Melissa. She guided us to the best table in the house where we had a front row view of a beautiful sunset. Our server was Bobby made such great food recommendations - the seared ahi and macadamia crusted fish are a must. We will definitely be back!!! read more

Sorry - after all the years of going to Duke's, I'm sad to say the the quality of food and service was disappointing. Not sure we are willing to try it again, but looking back at some of the not so disappointing visits, perhaps we will. read more

The food was okay, a bit overly seasoned in my opinion (the ribs). My friend ordered the Mac Nut Crusted fish and that was actually good. Our server was very nice and on top of things. There is a nice view here though we were tucked back and it was dark so we couldn't see anything. read more

Duke's La Jolla - Korean Rib - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Exceeded our expectations in every way. Ordered up some take out as a last minute thing and really there's no reason our meal should have been as perfect it was. You know-take out is a tough test run... Teriyaki steak was EXCEPTIONAL and it still had the hot crispy char and beautiful center when we plated it. The temp held and all the textures mysteriously made the trip!!! Yes-it was all that. Steak was top quality too. We also enjoyed the sides and sauces and an order of shrimp which had the perfect amount of sneaky heat and crunch. Take out doesn't always capture the kitchens skills-but Duke's pulled it off and made it a delicious and appealing meal. Not a small feat with a take out box! Highly recommended and it's also a beautiful restaurant BTW. read more

Great service, great view, and great food. I ordered the dike burger medium rare with a side of fries. The burger was cooked to perfection and tasted great. Heather ordered the Hulu chicken plate and we both thought it was delicious. The char on the chicken was the perfect amount and really wen well with the sweet glaze. This is a great place to enjoy a stunning view while enjoying some great food. read more

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Love love love! From the view to the service! I will be back. Thank you Abigail! FOOD WAS EXCELLENT read more

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We came here to celebrate our anniversary. We had the warmest reception from the staff. When we were seated there was a a folded card on the table. At first we assumed it was just marketing stuff. I moved it aside only to find out that it had a handwritten note wishing us a happy anniversary. Our server was SKY, he went above and beyond what we expected. The food was delicious. We had herb crusted fish, fish tacos, and poke tacos. Everything tasted great and made to perfection. The ambiance was awesome. Perfect view of the ocean. Make sure if you are reserving a spot for a special occasion you ask for a table in the balcony with the ocean view. Thank you SKY! And Dukes! We will be seeing you guys more often. Any single ladies that happen to go to dukes please stop by and say hello to SKY! He is a good fella! read more

Duke's La Jolla - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

Every visits to each Duke's has been an excellent experience! Nice people, good food, great selection, pleasant environment and friendly and knowledgeable staff! read more

Duke's La Jolla - I have now been to every one of the Duke's! - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

We had a wonderful brunch with Grant!! He was so funny and fantastic. We were celebrating a bride to be and had such a fun time.

Great spot for lunch sitting on the back deck after walking around town. The fish tacos and the shrimp were both very tasty!

If you've been to La Jolla and haven't been to Duke's, you are seriously missing out. First thing is first, DO NOT underestimate Kimo's Hula Pie. It may look small in pictures (which I totally thought it was for one person) but it's MASSIVE. I had three other people with me and we couldn't even finish it. Not only was it big, but it was amazingly delicious and if I had to pick one dessert to eat for the rest of my life, it'd be the Hula Pie. I was NEVER a calamari fan until I tried it here. It was cooked perfectly. So crispy on the outside. The service was fairly quick. Our waitress was on top of our orders and always made sure we were good despite it being busy. The view is beautiful. it doesn't get any better than atmosphere and good vibes. read more

Duke's La Jolla - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

The last time we went to a Duke's was in Waikiki back in 2009 and it was great! We recall enjoying amazing local fish, so when booking a trip to LaJolla, we reserved lunch here, hoping for some great fish again! When making the reservation, I requested the patio, overlooking the ocean and the staff didn't disappoint when we got there... the views were beautiful on the sunny day we visited for lunch! The place quickly packs up and the deck is the first to get booked, so make reservations! (Don't be like these two young girls we watched move from the back to the rail area to have the best view, when they didn't reserved it and then argue with staff when they got caught... the actually argued in front of the customers who were about to be seated there as they stood there refusing to move! RIDICULOUS!) The menu for lunch is nice... they offer normal seafood dishes you'd expect, plus many Hawaiian dishes, which all sounded so great, it was hard to decide. We opted for their grilled swordfish and fish tacos. The swordfish was perfectly prepared (tho the sauce was slightly salty) and the pasta salad that came with it was great! The tacos were mahi and they tasted soooo good! Nice, fresh fish with an amazing slaw - yum! Our drink simply consisted of their ice tea, which they put a hint of mashed passion fruit in and it tasted sooo good! Clarissa was our server and she was attentive, friendly, and helpful! Definitely would suggest coming here! But please make reservations! read more

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Hermoso lugar muy buena vista su comida muy rica y Fresca y muy amables lo recomiendo 100 %

We had a wonderful time Good and drinks were delicious and our host was really took care of us and good suggestions on what to order We will be back We requested a table outside Beautiful day light sprinkle but was nice read more

I have never seen worse service from an apparently "very customer friendly" restaurant. We had made anniversary reservations for dining on their patio two weeks in advance, and specified in the reservation notes that we will have a small dog accompanying us. They called us a few hours before our scheduled reservation saying that they do not allow pets, even on their patio, and said "we do not check our reservations and requests in advance". Thank you, Duke's La Jolla, for ruining our anniversary plans at very short notice because you have a complete lack of attention to detail. We will be taking our business elsewhere even when we don't have our pet with us, going forward, and tell our friends to do the same as well. read more

This restaurant has a spectacular view if seated outside, good food, and good service. Unfortunately, we had a party of 15 people which had grown since the time of the reservation. Although the tables were available (we came early to be sure) the staff was terribly inflexible and refused to put the tables together (even without impeding passage) and forced the birthday party celebration to be split across 2 tables unable to share the moment in any way. We certainly should have left and would have had it not been because most people had already paid their parking. VERY DISAPPOINTED at the sub-standard customer service and unwillingness to accommodate and think! read more

We love the view from this restaurant. They have balcony seats with view of the ocean and indoor seating which is pleasant as well. The staffs are welcoming and attentive. We loved the vibe here. On a saturday afternoon around 1pm, the wait for balcony seating was 40 minutes, but indoor seating was instant. Upon searching on yelp for dog-friendly restaurants, this is the first to appear. But they are NOT dog friendly business. We were seated indoors and placed our orders. Nachos with chicken (add-on additional) was great appetizer for a group of 4. Kids menu were not that great. If you have kids who are almost 9 or 10 and have a good appetite I suggest checking the regular menu. We got their pineapple beer, fried chicken from kids menu with a side of rice (not worth it), cheeseburger with fries and fish n chips. The coleslaw that came with the fish n chips were the best. I wish they served it as a salad by itself. Clean restrooms. Overall we enjoyed dining here. We will come back again. read more

Always a great meal at Duke's! Took my family who's visiting from the east coast and they were blown away by the food and views. Joey was an excellent waiter, everyone had such a great time and will definitely be a repeat trip when they're back in town! read more

Dukes has a fantastic indoor outdoor space to enjoy the ocean views and exceptionally friendly service. The choice of cocktails and mocktails alike were fantastic, taking advantage of the many fruits from the islands. I highly recommend the (virgin) lavender colada! I enjoyed the crab wontons appetizer better than my main. It had a thin fried wonton skin and the interior had a nice creamy texture and flavor. The seafood hot pot was impressive in it's presentation with fish, clams, and lobster. Some were a bit overcooked but nice flavor in the broth. read more

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I had an important lunch meeting at the Dukes in La Jolla, and Malia and Robyn helped make the experience work flawlessly. Thank you for a comfortable environment, fast service, and good food. I will be coming back as often as I can! read more

OMG!!! Run, do not walk to this gem in La Jolla!!! Everything was awesome, customer service to every last morsel. Ammmmmazing!! We started with panko crusted calamari, calamari was crunchy and pieces were huge! Hubby had ribs and chicken plate, portions are just right and the BBQ sauce was really good. Meat came right off the bone, chicken was juicy and we both really loved the pasta salad. I had the Hurricane Chicken, sauce was perfectly spiced, nice little kick but not overwhelming. Chicken was also juicy and cooked to perfection, sides that came with complimented it perfectly. I seriously wish I lived nearby to have this every week!! read more

Duke's La Jolla - Ribs and Chicken Plate - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Food great, drinks great, service is wonderful and view beautiful! Would highly recommend for adults that would enjoy lunch or dinner together on the coast! read more

We came in on a weekday for lunch and sat at the barefoot bar/the outdoor patio area. It was very cute, overlooking the ocean, so beautiful! The atmosphere was super fun, beachy, chill vibes. The service was great overall. We started with cocktails, and I was super excited to see they have POG on the menu. POG/passion orange guava is my favorite Hawaiian drink/flavor, and I love guava. The POG cocktail was AMAZING, not too sweet, perfectly fruity and tangy. We all just sharped some appetizers and entrees. - Fish tacos (3.5/5) - these were pretty basic fish tacos. They were flavorful but nothing special. The guac on the side was really tasty though! Chips also tasted fresh. - Fish and chips (4/5) - these were lightly fried and had a good amount of breading. Didn't taste too greasy. Tartar sauce was good. Fries were just average - Seared ahi bowl (4.5/5) - the ahi was incredible! So yummy and fresh. Smaller portion of fish, but it came with various sides including Kim chi, edamame, seaweed salad - Waikiki chicken plate lunch (4/5) - the chicken was tasty. with a crispy breading. Almost like a chicken katsu. The sauce was tangy and delicious Definitely a great experience and food was really good! read more

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We arrived for lunch upstairs and the host Brandon went above and beyond in customer services for us! Besides being very personable and professional he seated us at an outstanding table on the deck overlooking the ocean. Service and food were also very good! Brandon deserves a Shout Out:) read more