Came here on a Friday night. We made a reservation and were promptly seated when we arrived. The atmosphere is pretty fancy even though it's in a strip mall. The service was pretty solid throughout the meal. I started off with their Blueberry Fizz Martini. It was really satisfying and a good way to start the meal. I decided on the Maple Rubbed Salmon as my entree even though their eccentric burger peaked my interest. The Salmon was cooked perfectly. The rub on it wasn't too sweet but complimented the fish and the Cajun butter on the side added even more flavor. Overall one of the best places I've eaten in Montgomery. read more

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Great steaks and seafood pasta! Love the atmosphere and the service is always excellent

We absolutely love it, we go there every year of our anniversary and the staff are amazing, the food is wonderful and just the amount of time the staff spend to get to know there guests, I can't say enough about this place. The food is always spot on, never have had a bad dish. The ambiance is beautiful, calming, and we really enjoy how it's a small setting. My husband has Parkinson's, and everyone there is so attentive to what we may need. We will always go there. I give it 10 stars if I could. read more

We were in Montgomery buying a car around dinner time and asked the finance manager of a good restaurant in the area. This place was his recommendation, and it did not disappoint. Typically I would have passed this place up because it's in a strip mall, but that would have completely been a mistake. Can't judge a book by its cover. We got their around 8pm and we're asked if we had reservations. Obviously we didn't, but they accommodated us anyways. The waiter's name was Michael, and probably one of the most personable, professional, and helpful waiters ever. We started off with the Tuna Nachos, and wow, those could've been my whole meal. The tuna was so fresh. I ordered the mahi-mahi that came with some type of corn grits, it was cooked perfectly. This place may just steal the top spot for my favorite restaurant ever. If you are in the Montgomery area, or don't mind taking a road trip for dinner, this place is an absolute must must must!!! read more

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Best place to eat in the Gump. Food is always on par. The hash is amazing! There is t really anywhere you can go and get the same service and quality of food that they offer here. read more

Relaxing, cozy atmosphere. Friendly staff. Delicious food & drinks. Make a reservation!

Excellent! The service and from Lindsey to the chef is top-notch and if by chance there is an issue, it will appropriately addressed. A great place! read more

Best Restaurant in Montgomery! Love the food and the great service!! Enjoy the cocktails as well. Everything is what you expect from a fine dining experience. read more

We didn't have a reservation and I had my 13 and under children. They were reluctant to seat us but said we could eat if we could be done in an hour. Quite a rude hostess. Our waiter was great and treated my daughters like the young ladies they are. He was prompt and courteous. The food was excellent. The service was good but being made to feel sub par by the hostess was odd. My kids are no strangers to fine dining and white tablecloths. We may be back one day. read more

La Jolla - Seared scallops - New American Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

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The food was not bad. The service was slow. The atmosphere was stuffy. I think the place is closed down.

Constant traveler, and this was one of better places I have been. Tried spicy fried rice with kimchi and kale. Light on spice but loaded with flavor. Followed up with grilled red snapper with noodles. One of better fish dishes I have had. Service was great and staff was friendly. Highly recommend. read more

Excellent restaurant tucked away in a strip mall that is a hidden gem! I went for the seafood, but due to Covid, they had a different menu. I ended up getting the "limited" burger that was a mix of beef, elk and duck - absolutely delicious! I would definitely go again! read more

Outstanding food and service. Don't let the strip mall venue fool you...this is a great date night spot in east Montgomery read more

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Stopped by to eat dinner, not allowed in due to having a baby ... serious? Unfortunately, we will not be returning due to this issue / service! read more

We chose this place to eat our Valentine's Day dinner partly because of the reviews but mostly because they did not have the crappy set Valentine's Day menu that many high-end restaurants have on VDay. The restaurant is beautifully designed and decorated. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The wife of the owner came out and spoke to us for a few minutes and she was a delight. We started with a caesar salad that was dressed perfectly and a mild dressing that did not overpower the rest of the salad. For the mains I ordered the lamb with roasted vegetables and spicy collards! The lamb was cooked to a perfect medium rare and the vegetables were flavorful and complimented the lamb well. I am very picky when it comes to greens and I believe I cook some of the best around, but these collards were amazing (I rarely compliment restaurant greens so emphatically). They were just crunchy enough and the use of peppers was enough to give you a good punch in the mouth. They use a bit more of the thicker stem then I prefer, but the flavor allowed me to look beyond that. The smoked cheddar and chorizo mac-n-cheese was also great, not as sharp as I would prefer, but very good. For desert we were talked into getting the carrot cake. It was incredibly rich and crazy delicious! The best carrot cake I have ever eaten and they serve plenty for two to share. Of course, this is the perfect place in Montgomery for dinner. La Jolla is also a great place to impress a date or business client or a wonderful place for drinks with the girls or guys. I wish this place was in Memphis because I would be a regular. I cannot wait to get back to Montgomery to eat at La Jolla! read more

La Jolla - lamb, greens, mac-n-cheese, duck - New American Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

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I have always loved this space. Warm and comfy like a neighborhood restaurant should feel. The food is expertly prepared and the service is always excellent. The only complaint is the the the menu has not changed in years and some of the dishes need to go. If this restaurant is new to you look forward to an excellent, new experience. read more

Mussels are tiny and some had a buzzare briny taste. Ceasar Salad had a bitter tasting dressing.

Oh wow! What a wonderful gem! I'm a big fan of restaurants that can do the basics really well. I came in after a long drive, late on a Friday, not long before the restaurant was due to close. I was swiftly greeted and seated, my server (Mike) was attentive (without being intrusive), knowledgeable, super friendly (in a very genuine way) and swift, and the food was both excellent in quality and served in a timely manner. The ambiance was warm and welcoming without being 'homely' or dated. Just a superb all around experience. I could see myself being a regular here if I was a local. read more

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Really enjoyed my experience here. The ambiance was great and the staff was very helpful. I started with the duck confit potato hash. It sounded really interesting, but honestly I think there was way too much going on with the dish. It's topped with an egg and the fuck, it doesn't really taste like a complete dish just one with random ingredients. I also had the trout, which was very good, but the zucchini and squash noodles I ordered as a side were AMAZING. They come in a Tuscan olive oil thats got a nice little kick to it. read more

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We live across the street from LJ and I truly think it should add to our home value - this place is impeccable!! The food and service is always outstanding, and even with the covid-19 craziness we're once again, amazed! Their take out menus are incredible and the food doesn't skip a beat even in a to go bag! Their dinner for 2 items have all been fabulous and it's become a staple at our house - getting it once or twice every week is the highlight of each week! Not sure if the staff is better or the food - both are top notch. Highly, highly recommend! read more

Best fine dining restaurant in central Alabama. Staff is attentive, personal, sincere, professional and fun. Food is consistently exceptional. Great cocktails and nice wine selection. Make a reservation - even on week nights. read more

Visiting Montgomery on business and was looking for a non-chain restaurant to eat. Saw La Jolla on Yelp and after the pics and reviews had to give it a try. Was not disappointed. Sat at the bar and the bartender/server was Ben. Great guy with a mean martini. Food selection was two "small plates" as dinner. The beef carpaccio with the spicy arugula was very satisfying but had to try one more tasting but was torn between the fried oysters with a jalapeño tartar sauce and the Big Green Egg roasted lamb chops. Decided on the lamb chops and was not disappointed. Tasty, tender and packed with flavor. Very enjoyable for a night on the road. Really recommend this place! read more

La Jolla - New American Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

This is one of my favorite places to eat. The steak and truffle butter are amazing! Service is friendly. Great place to eat your food slow and just enjoy good conversation. read more

Ok this place deserves more than 1 star because of the GREAT food, so I will stop at 2 stars because of the value. It's in a strip mall and will not go back. I'm sorry...you can try to be as fancy and flavorful as you want, but you don't get to charge me $100 for 2 in a strip mall. So in summary, I will not go back to this place because a strip mall restaurant on Vaughn Road in Montgomery is not going to charge me Park Avenue prices. Location location location... But the food is fabulous!!!!!! Awesome steak!!! Fantastic atmosphere!!! read more

The best steak I've had in Montgomery by far!! We even bought a big green egg to try to recreate it. Lovely atmosphere, great drinks and order the steak. You won't be disappointed. read more

This was our first trip to La Jolla and were expecting a great experience based on recommendations from family members. We were there on a Friday night and, like many restaurants, was extremely crowded and LOUD. Our table was a small one for two in between the dining area and abutting the bar, facing the kitchen. Every time someone went into or exited the kitchen, we were blinded by the lighting. We had to shout to hear each other because people were visiting/standing two deep at the bar. There was a lot of table hopping between bar patrons and a party to our right and the "visitors" would bend over, placing their posteriors in our face and others stood directly behind us, visiting. We did enjoy the food which was excellent and our waiter was very good. However, the overall experience was so bad we will never come here again. read more

We stepped into La Jolla for a celebration dinner tonight, 4:30pm. The place was EMPTY. We were dressed for a nice dinner. We waited for someone to greet us, finally, a waiter approached and asked if we'd been helped. We said " no". He asked if we had a reservation to which we did not. "Oh! Well, we are always booked solid. But we have one table available, lucky you". He was condescending and rude. We walked through an empty dining room and sat. We work too hard for our money to be made to feel unwelcomed and unwanted. Ww asked to speak to a manager and the same waiter asked us " Why?" I urged my husband to leave and go where we are appreciated. We enjoy tipping generously and our money was not appreciated tonight. read more

This was honestly the worst meal I've ever had, and it's not an overreaction. To start, it's a tiny but lively atmosphere and seemed classy. We arrived around 6 and were told that no tables would be available until 9. So, we sat at the bar. The bread was a nice appetizer, the Sprite was watery. My $45 steak was not a medium. What aspect of the photo would scream medium? How does one char the entire outside and not even begin to cook the middle. It wasn't just rare it was raw. I was getting physically sick off of the "medium". My mom suggested I call the health department. I do not exaggerate about my stomach getting in knots and the extent of a raw steak instead of a medium. It had a bitter taste to it that was unnatural. The bartender explained it was because they smoke it. No sir, it's because Im tasting uncooked meat to a level I've never experienced. My friend had an absolutely flavorless gumbo. The only positive was one seasoned shrimp. That was an oyster? It didn't taste like one. We walked away dissatisfied. This was to be a meal paid for by my friend's employer as a special treat. We ended up making a quick reservation to nearby Firebirds and it was fantastic! It was a classy establishment with better prices. I still ordered a perfectly cooked medium steak and the mashed potatoes were some of the best, but not quite as good as my grandma's. All-in-all go somewhere with cooked food. Nobody seemed concerned by how grossly unhealthy and detrimental my meal was, so beware. You can read in the response how I was offered a recook. If you were given the most unappetizing steak ever would you? Also, I didn't say it was 'flavorless' they night. I did to my friend. As a True Southerner, I know what gumbo tastes like and I can get better for half the price. Sorry, I didn't tell you it was flavorless, but it was and my friend said. I didn't alter a photo or doctor a photo but showed what it looked like in our meal read more

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Service was great. Good took quite awhile to come out and was not prepared properly even after sending it back. The bartender saved the night. Drinks were amazing read more

I'm always scouring the web for a perfect burger experience and that's why I visited here. MY OH MY! It was simply perfect! The caramelized onions, white cheddar & delicious brioche bun lit my life up during this otherwise boring quarantine! Thank you La Jolla! read more

I tried this place years ago when it opened in Eastchase. I had the roasted duck with a cherry bing sauce...Absolutely DELICIOUS!! Fast forward to the Peppertree location and the food is even better! I had a Ceasar Salad (croutons were so flavorful), Pan Seared Red Snapper over corn risotto and two Pomtini. I also enjoyed the Banana Pudding Tart and it was EVERYTHING! My one and only complaint is that the portions were small and we did feel satisfied. The service gets an A+. read more

I always enjoy myself here. Great food and great drinks. Staff is always pleasant. Lamb chops are the best I have ever had.

Excellent food and atmosphere. This place is a pleasant find for Montgomery. The food is sourced locally and the proximity to the Gulf Coast assures a fresh Catch of the Day. I've yet to be disappointed here. You will not be disappointed. read more

We were driving through Montgomery and wanted to eat something different and nice. This place delivered both!! Had to make reservations but they were able to accommodate us with no problem. The service was excellent. The server, Steve I believe, was GREAT! The food was awesome. We had the tuna nachos for an appetizer, which had enough tuna for a regular meal. The meals we ordered were the burger and gumbo. I will have to say the burger was one of the BEST burgers we both have ever tried. Definitely can't go wrong there. The gumbo was very flavorful and had plenty, plenty, plenty of meat and seafood. We will definitely stop by again when in the area. read more

Sat at the bar. The bartender spent nearly all of her time chatting with her friends at the other end of the bar. Service was slow, and when our credit card statement arrived we discovered that the bartender took it upon herself to increase her tip by $4.00. Will never go back. ***Update*** The GM, Damian, privately contacted me when he saw this review and insisted on making up for our experience. We might give this place another shot based on his classy response. I upgraded this review from one to three stars. read more

Excellent place in the Montgomery area, the location is kind "of different" for the type restaurant...in a strip mall next to a papa Johns, but don't be discouraged by that. The food, drinks and service are excellent. I had the lamb and was perfect, the ingredients are fresh and the flavors outstanding. Craft beer, wine and spirits are excellent match with the food. Save some space for dessert. The only thing I was disappointed were the TV, the place is small and these are distractions. This not the type of place I come to watch a game, this type of place is to enjoy the food, the drinks and good conversations! read more

Delicious lamb chops and atmosphere is laid back and relaxed. Everything else was about average. Give it a shot read more

This is my absolute most favorite place to go in Montgomery if it's just for a few drinks or for a fabulous meal. Ben Sam and Cody are some of the greatest bartenders! Love all the staff here extremely knowledgeable about wines and cuisines. Atmosphere as warm and welcoming frequent this place at least twice a week! We have children but we love the fact that 13 and under is not welcome. It's nice to be in a nice restaurant without screaming kids read more

Food: Without a doubt the best in Montgomery. The charcuterie plate is phenomenal, the steak is divine, the burger will blow your mind, and the salmon is a revelation. You won't believe how perfect the cook is on that salmon. The chef is a wizard and the raw ingredients are thoughtfully sourced and prepared with total respect. However, front of house was terrible and the complete opposite of thoughtful or respectful. Literally every single time we needed a refill on water, or a cocktail, or wanted to place an order for dessert, I mean every single thing you would need from your waiter we had to stop our conversation and look around stupidly for 5 minutes until we could get somebody's attention and wave them over. The service was so bad that the meal was almost completely ruined, and honestly I would give this place 1 star except the cooks clearly work their hearts out and the food itself is amazing. It's a total shame because this is the first really great restaurant I've been to in Montgomery and I will never go here again. read more

Very nice ambience with great tasting food. The staff is very courteous and friendly. Would be great if they can remain open till 10 or 11.