My new favorite wine bar. Small nook tucked away in the middle of downtown La Jolla. Wonderful…read moreambiance, lovely staff, nice small food and tapas menu, amazing wine. Also love that they are open until midnight. Perfect late night spot to grab a nice nightcap.

A must go spot that recently opened up in La Jolla! Beautifully decorated inside with wine…read moreartifacts. Features a really nice limited menu of light bites and appetizers! Service was helpful in choosing the right type of wine for your preference and also very attentive to refill water etc. on a side note, they do not offer lemons for your water, unfortunately. Highly recommend a stop. Perfect for a first date, or romantic glass of wine and light bites!

Best Sangria and beef empanadas. We had great service and…read moregreat food! Decor and ambiance was fantastic and set the tone. Can't wait to go back. Our new favorite restaurant.

Sevilla Valentine's Day Edition:…read more Pardon the delay, amigos! It's been a lengthy week! But I digress! You're here for the deets! Like every boyfriend who wants to show his adoration for his gorgeous girlfriend, I planned this event a few weeks ago. Commitment & dedication are key. Flamenco Show, 3 course dinner for two, AND dancing after?! Yeah, your amigo has it covered! This package is available on their website, and not only on Valentine's. But this day does make it more romantic! A minor 5-10 minute wait as we stepped out of our Uber to the front entrance of the club adjacent to the restaurant. Our lovely hostess greeted us & escorted us downstairs to pick our table. There were no specific table reservations, but all seats are good, as it's a small venue. The Love Gods smiled upon us and granted a table close to the front with an awesome view of the stage. Perfect table for the perfect date! Starters set the tone. What's this? A Welcome Charcuterie Platter?! It appears out of nowhere as our server takes our drink orders. The service here is impeccable! Impressive spread of cheesy, meaty goodness! The Shaved Jamón Serrano Ensalada Sevillana has a wonderfully zesty citrus vinaigrette that makes you clack your castanets! Ole!! Cocktails for the cute couple! A Oaxacan Flower for my Monterrey Mami! My gal loves her some mezcal! I opted for El Matador Margarita, because I know what I want...tequila! Plus the cucumber counts as healthy! I will die on this hill! The Main Course is the star of the show. And in full diva fashion, the Lobster Paella Valenciana stole the spotlight! A masterfully, monstrous mix of meat & seafood, all on top of some bomb-a** Saffron Bomba Rice! There's even a lobster tail in case you're still hungry! Queue the Flamenco show. The two dancers were elegant, the music was powerful, the singer sublime! Enjoy your dinner to a phenomenal 2 part show put on by very talented artists! We got to meet them after the show, as they personally thanked practically every guest! Elegant as their artform! Lest we forget the dessert! The Flourless Chocolate Cake was just the right amount of sweetness to cap off the dinner & show, as we shared our own sweet nothings. Love & Chocolate, a perfect combo, just like my beloved beauty & her humble narrator. As the performers were packing up & saying their final goodbyes, the staff was clearing the space for the last part of our adventure...dancing! A brief 15ish minute wait back outside & back inside we went! Got a great spot up front by the stage, but be aware the only sitting will be done by the VIP section. I believe it's bottle service only, but you can ask. We didn't, as we did not intend to sit at all! We boogied down, baby! The DJ did a great job keeping the vibe alive. Perfect ending to a perfect night. *Caveat - The dinner menu has other options & several a la carte items, if you so choose. Check their website for specific package info. You cannot go wrong. TL:DR - Never give up on love!

We tried Tour de Tapas for the first time, and it was such a great experience! We were planning to…read moreeat at a nearby restaurant but saw this one. We took one look at the menu and knew we needed to try it! The service was wonderful! We sat at the bar and the gentleman that served us was friendly, attentive, and welcoming from the moment we sat down. The place itself was very clean and had a really nice atmosphere. The food was delicious, especially the patatas bravas, which were flavorful and perfectly cooked. I also tried both types of sangria, and they were delicious....refreshing, well-balanced, and definitely worth ordering again! Overall, it was a fantastic meal from start to finish. We're already looking forward to coming back and trying more of the menu! I MUST try the paella next time!!!!

Great food, great service. Because of its location, parking can be tough. I met a guy for a…read morebusiness mtg and brought my son. Why -2 star has been a debate in my head ever since that day. Everything started great, they even had my favorite beer Schmidtwick's. The food was delish and presented well. Our server was attentive and kind. The place was neat and clean, great for a mtg... The general manager came over and chitchatted with our table. I was the one who called the meeting, I chose the place via Yelp reviews. However, when the GM found out it was all three of our first time he proceeded to hand out his card. The guy that met me there was handed one, then my son who lives in Irvine was handed one. However, when I reached my hand out, he hesitated. I told him we don't live together (speaking of my son who was sitting next to me) and he started to hand it to me, but then pulled it back. He informed me it's in case we come back... funny, our topic of conversation that day was how hard it was for women growing up in my era and working their way up the ladder... how times have changed. Upon leaving, my guest laughed and said his wife would've gone ballistic at how the only woman at the table was treated. The GM appeared to look like we were the same age. I was quite insulted by his behavior. I hope something can be learned for my honest review. I did get a card, but I don't think I'll be back.

I've been coming here for years to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, and even just the end of a…read morelong work week--and it never disappoints. On this last visit, we had the chance to meet the owner and chef, and they, along with the entire staff, were incredibly kind and attentive. It was my first time dining at the bar counter, and the experience was just as lovely as ever. We ordered some of our go-to favorites, but also tried a few new dishes like the beef tartare, which was fantastic. The chef's special with green mussels and spicy coconut curry both looked amazing and tasted even better. We finished with a dessert that was light and perfectly balanced between tart and sweet. As always, an incredible experience--we'll definitely be back again soon.

Dija Mara is a trendy Indonesian restaurant in downtown Oceanside with a warm, well-designed…read moreinterior and friendly service. Nearly everything we tried was bursting with flavor, well-deserving of the Michelin Bib Gourmand designation the restaurant has earned the past five years. The food is served family style, and the cocktail menu is unique. Conveniently, there is also a good amount of street parking around the restaurant, even on bustling weekends. To start, I had the black rose, an agave wine cocktail with black sesame, rose orgeat, and egg white. I'm not sure the blend of flavors worked, but it was certainly unique. We also tried the gypsy king (their version of a spicy margarita) and the pandan, lime, and coconut mocktail, both of which were decent. For the small plates, we agreed that the charred eggplant and sea bream ceviche were stellar. The sambal shined with the eggplant, and the cassava chips paired perfectly with the makrut lime and coconut cream in the ceviche. The roti was just alright - nothing to write home about. The pork belly skewers were juicy and well-flavored, although we had finished all our small and large plates by the time the skewers came out (we had to ask about them - the waiters/kitchen likely forgot about our skewers, as multiple tables seated after us received theirs before we did). The ayam penyet, nasi goreng, and beef rendang were delicious and well thought-out dishes. We agreed that while the menu is heavily Indonesian-inspired and the food features the flavors of Southeast Asia, the dishes are quite Americanized. Dija Mara shines in presenting a typically uncommon cuisine in the U.S. in an easily accessible manner, which is laudable. Would recommend everyone try at least once.

I didn't even know this place existed, but I'm glad I found it. The bartenders were great and…read moreattentive. The drinks were excellent as well. I especially loved the two mezcal cocktails! It is a small space, so a reservation is definitely helpful, and there isn't much room to walk around, which can make getting to the bathroom a bit tricky. Overall, though, it's a great spot and I'd definitely come back.

This place is calm, creative, and has the right low lighting without feeling too dark to see. The…read moredrinks are pricy, but very unique, and they have a special emphasis on aesthetic. The bartenders are nice and give good recommendations. It is attached to an art gallery and is supposed to have art displays in the bar area, but unfortunately they were all turned off when we were there.

Needed some adventure and I've been missing Spain, so I leashed up my pup and headed to Little…read moreItaly. It's about as close to Madrid (other than Balboa Park) as you're going to get in the county of San Diego...especially if you sit down at Barra Oliba. I literally felt like I was in a café in Madrid or Barcelona and enjoyed not only the familiar salty flavors that I've missed from Spain, but also the pure, rich, olive oil, and quiet ambiance as this is one block from the busiest part of Little Italy. My server, German, (his name) enjoyed helping me create the ideal light supper and allowed me to try a few Spanish wines (they have so many!). I settled on a Verdejo from Rueda. It was the right balance of fruit, acid, and slight floral to perfectly pair to my meal. I had the seasonal fish meuniere - white fish delicious and crispy on top (my favorite), garnished with capers and roe. It was accompanied with a tender lettuce and heirloom tomato salad with saffron dressing. The leftover dressing for the salad was the most amazing vinegar dip for a couple tater tots when I got home. The dressing was something I will go back for! Thank you, Barra Oliba for the perfect Spanish "girl dinner!" Can't wait to come back and try the Paella!

Went here for the first time with my date this past weekend 4/25. We had a reservation but chose to…read moresit at the bar since there were two great seats available. The night started off really well. The gentleman at the front greeted us, and we instantly connected since we're both from Guadalajara. It felt like the experience was going in a great direction. At the bar, things changed. The bartender was friendly toward me but not toward my Middle Eastern date, which made things uncomfortable. When taking our order, he stayed in the middle of the bar while opening a wine bottle instead of coming over, so we could hear him. When my date asked him to come closer, he seemed visibly annoyed. The food, though, was amazing--delicious and great quality. We'll give it another try, but next time we won't sit at the bar.

My kids took me the Mabel's for my 60th birthday. We had the best time. We chose the menu option…read morelike a tasting menu. I can't remember what it's called but the chef chooses the dishes. There were six of us and they took our allergies in mind and separated out things for some of us. Our wait person was awesome. They explained everything to us and did not rush us. We had several cocktails upon recommendation from our server. Nothing was a disappointment. Not going to lie, we spent $900. Parking is on the street if you're lucky or in the structure a block over.

On a casual walk around the neighborhood since I had parking which can be tricky. I found myself on…read morea very important mission: dessert. Mabel's has been on my list for a while I just hadn't made it in yet. The soft, intimate lighting and lively crowd pulled me in like a moth to a very chic flame. The hostess was warm and welcoming, and since the place was buzzing, we opted for the makeshift patio seating prime people watching territory. Inside, I noticed the layout has two distinct rooms, with one acting as a waiting area where guests can mingle and sip a drink before being seated. A nice touch if you enjoy a little pre-dinner social hour. Somewhere between scanning the menu and spotting all the seafood options, dessert quietly exited the chat. We decided to lean into the moment and see what the hype was about. After a quick chat with our waiter, we went with the octopus skewer and grilled swordfish. Now, fun fact I completely missed: it's a gin bar. This realization came after I confidently ordered a dirty martini like I knew what I was doing so I pivoted and reordered a glass of wine. Smooth recovery... mostly. The octopus was nicely cooked tender with a good char and the swordfish was... fine. Not bad, just not something I'll be dreaming about at 2 a.m. Overall, the dishes were executed well, but flavor-wise, they could've used a little more personality. A pinch of salt might've gone a long way. That said, I know their menu changes frequently, so I'd absolutely come back and give it another shot. And next time, I might actually stick to my original plan... you know, dessert.

I have been wanting to come to Trust for so long and when my friends had suggested we had our…read morebrunch date I said yes. We came on Easter Sunday and was a lucky that I live close enough and had my husband drop me and friends off. To start we got their season sticky bun which was their carrot cake and we each ordered a cocktail, we got an order of espresso martinis which were little but mighty, they were so smooth and flavorful too. For my meal, I got the fried pork cutlet, whenever I see a porkchop I always order it. First, the carrot cake sticky bun, is INSANE that was the most delicious sticky bun I have ever eaten and just looking at the photos on my phone I am absolutely craving it. Sharing it between three girls is ideal but I would have definitely ordered my own. My porkchop was perfect, it comes with a sunny side eggs and potatoes. The porkchop was so incredibly tender and flavorful and that gravy is just perfect. I want that for my dinner tonight, I also tried my friends Albacore tartare which was pretty flavorful and was just refreshing for how warm it was. Definitely would like to come here for dinner with my husband!

Late Post.... Went here for brunch…read more The food was really good. Service was good as were the drinks. I recommend

Drove from San Fernando Valley , Los Angeles Best Service…read morein California for high end dining b Creative and amazing foods and wines

My wife and I had a wonderful dinner at Juniper and Ivy. Delicious food impeccably presented with…read moreoutstanding service. Truly, our service was what one always hopes for in fine dining for but so rarely receives these days. Our primary did an excellent job helping us select our meal. She was attentive, supportive and a pleasure to talk with, yet also discreet. Plates were well-timed. Our water glasses always seemed to be full although I rarely noticed it happening. All of our entrees were delicious. Favorites? Probably, first, the Hokkaido Scallop starter. The scallops themselves were huge, perfectly cooked with a crusted chili crunch topping and served with a delicious miso butter sauce. Not overly spicy, the flavors meshed perfectly. I also loved the Miso Black Cod (especially because it's a dish one can rarely find near the East Coast where we live.) Any misses? Not really, although the Pâté de Campagne was prepared as very rustic. It was tasty but I found it difficult to eat with the bread, Overall, I recommend Juniper and Ivy as a great place to celebrate an event, enjoy a date, or just have an excellent evening dinner away from the house.

10/10 Jacky is absolutely amazing! From the moment we sat down she was very very welcoming,…read moreattentive, and made us feel right at home. She gave great recommendations especially for my toddler and made sure everything came out fresh and exactly how we wanted it. Her energy was positive, professional, and she truly went above and beyond to make our experience special. It's rare to find service with patience with a baby and toddler that genuinely stands out, but Jacky definitely was on TOP!!

We decided to stick with the basic Nigiri because the rolls took fusion to a level that just didn't…read moreseem appetizing to us We ordered the albacore and upon biting into it was very tough and impossible to chew, and we brought it to the attention of the sushi chef who promptly replaced it with essentially the same thing. We did a little bit of research on why this may have happened and found that it's either a low quality fish or wasn't cleaned properly. We also had the crispy rice and the rice felt very gluey. We sat inside at the sushi bar and it does have a bit of a stuffy hot feel when you walk in, but the door was left open so it felt a little bit better. With all of this, we decided to cut our losses and move on to somewhere else for dinner.