I don't have anything really funny to say about this place; they just have really good food and know how to cook. I had the halibut cheek appetizer and the salad served with it was so good I forgot about the halibut for a minute (I wish more restaurants had this kind of attention to detail). Service was attentive and professional. They also have a drink called the Rick James that'll put a few hairs on your chest. Can't give it 5 stars because the food isn't always great. read more

Poor service. Totally ignored. Had to remind them I was there before anyone took my order. Once food was brought, no one checked on me, no drink refills. I even waited and finally had to go ask for my check. They were not busy, the server was rolling silverware . I probably could have just walked away and not paid and not been noticed. The potatoes were undercooked. read more

Nine-Ten - Two eggs with fixins - Bars Near Me - La Jolla, California

Not a complete embarassment, but nothing to write home about, either. The location is a def. "plus"- probably adds half a star to the final review for the hotel bar/prospect st. vibe. Restaurant design is decent- the place is postage stamp tiny. Did I mention valet parking was 2 bucks? That's pretty good. Ate her for a friends "special occasion" dinner- w/ a party of ten. Ordered the tasting menu with wine pairings. Wine pairings were good w/ generous pours, food was uneven, to say the least. It wasn't bad enough for me to malign it specifically in any way- we're talking standard haute californian type flavor combos & presentations, and that "is what it is." I thought the service was above average. Honestly, when I'm dining at the high end of the price range I want to see at least one of two situations: 1) very high quality ingredients. 2) creativity in flavor combos & presentation. This was a high end restaurant that earned high marks in neither category, so three stars is as high as I'll go. read more

You won't find me complaining about this place, which may or may not have something to do with the two cocktails I had. I went here last Friday with my aunt and managed to get two seats at the bar. After a recommendation from the bartender, we got two champagne/chambord cocktails, complete with raspberries and a twist of lemon--they were absolutely amazing, I thought as I made a mental note to add the ingredients to my own liquor cabinet. We stuck to the bar menu and ordered the cheese platter, which came with four cheeses (brie, bleu, white cheddar, and maybe harvati) accompanied by toasted almonds, honey with the comb, slices of pear and golden raisins. It was a good selection, as I enjoyed the milder cheeses and my aunt liked the others. Then, the chef sent out a tomato salad made with slices and chunks of three different kinds of tomatoes artfully arranged with a few leaves of arugula and a creamy dressing. I didn't see it on the menu, but it was delicious and would be added if I had my way. Then the bartender brought out rose martinis garnished with red rose petals, which at first I thought sounded strange, but after a sip I proclaimed was amaaaazing if a little different. The bartender listed all the ingredients used, but all I remember are rose simple syrup, St-Germain liqueur, and a splash of champagne. Definitely something I would order again given the chance. The cheese and salad were more than enough, but we had already ordered entrees. As I am weird and don't like seafood, I ordered the chicken breast sandwich, which was as good as any other basic chicken sandwich I've had. My aunt had the lamb meatballs and thoroughly enjoyed them. I can't vouch for the restaurant or the main menu, but my experience at the bar couldn't have gone better. Great, friendly service and quality food. If the restaurant itself is a little too pricey for you, you can't go wrong with the bar. read more

Best burger and fries in LaJolla at the bar. Robert bartender was awesome. Great service. Friendly and Inviting. 3rd time visiting. Food is amazing. Great beer, drink and wine list. Can't wait to go back for dinner!! 5 rating for a reason. It's a jewel! read more

Based on an article I read, this is a place where a lot of chefs like to dine- so of course I wanted to check it out! I've passed by this restaurant plenty of times while looking for parking in La Jolla, but never dined here until tonight. Since it's RW right now, we decided to eat here to take advantage of the 3 course prix fixed menu. They had a nice selection of carbs in their bread basket. I ordered the Jamaican Jerk pork belly for my starter- it was delicious! I'm not sure what the clear filmy thing was on top, but I ate the whole thing. Next, I had the braised prime beef short rib. It was very flavorful and small, but filling. The presentation of their food is beautiful. I had also had half of my friend's grilled swordfish- it was very light and citrusy...not as good as my entree though. For dessert I had the half baked chocolate cake. I wasn't sure what to expect. My dessert was the ugliest, but the tastiest! It was like a brownie cake- a little too sweet, so luckily there was some vanilla ice cream to go with it. I think another scoop would be better. hehe...I also tried the caramel apple custard- it was deconstructed and had a weird texture. The coconut cake was pretty good- you need to eat everything together because all the textures and flavors balance this unique dessert. Nine-Ten is located next to a hotel, so you need to go outside the restaurant and down the stairs to get to a restroom. The service was great- the entire staff made my dining experience very enjoyable. They have valet parking and I will never forget their address now LOL. read more

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I'll tell you why I didn't like this place- it was way too fancy. And not fancy in a fun, accessible, "Hey, come see what we're doing here!" kind of way. More in a "waffles with Belgian truffles, served with dinosaur eggs and a kangaroo cheese sauce" (which they don't really serve, but you get the idea). I've only tried to do breakfast there, and it was a bad idea from the get go. I just wanted some fresh, tasty, traditional breakfast dishes, done with a bit of flair. All I saw was the flair, none of which looked tasty. Check out the menu before you go, and if that's your sort of thing, then Godspeed. But if you're looking for a delicious breakfast, there are five other places within a couple blocks that have a better selection of delicious breakfast/brunch options that will leave you far more satisfied than Nine-Ten. read more

Took the lady out on a rare date here last Saturday night. The location is pretty good -- right on the main drag in La Jolla, so the people-watching is decent from inside. They offered us a seat out back if we wanted to eat immediately, but we opted for the 20 minute wait at the small bar. Drinks were small but potent. I had a pear martini, with Saint Germaine and a bunch of other stuff. The bartender didn't cut corners -- he had a little mortar and pestle, and a bunch of fresh stuff on a little counter. Fantastic drink, but a little spendy (it was 12 or 13 bucks). In fairness, there were cheaper options. Once seated, they brought us some good crusty bread and butter, and the waiter gave us the lowdown on specials. Super-knowledgeable on the menu and the wine selections, deftly handling all the obscure questions my wife threw at him, and even offering to bring out some truffle for her to sample. I went with the halibut, cooked medium, which was very good. My wife opted for chicken, something she doesn't typically order at restaurants, solely on the waiter's recommendation, and she was still raving about it the next day. Portion sizes were perfect. The service was top-notch, and the food was damn good, although the drinks were just a tad spendy. I'll eat here again for sure. read more

I made a reservation, valet parked and arrived on time what more should I have done. we arrived 5-8 minutes early but my table wasn't ready (interesting) yet they said no seats where available and referred us to the bar... (ok milk me for a drink) Prices are on average for a hotel. When our table was available it was just feet from our bar seat in a drafty area. nothing the staff could help with. The only thing not giving Nine-Ten is the food was outstanding. Another interesting fact is we had a 3 course gift voucher. I highly recommend this option bottom right side of the menu. read more

Went for brunch on Sunday. I was truly disappointed when I got there. I had called ahead for a reservation and specifically asked if their terrace had ocean view. The hostess said yes. Boy was she lying! You can't see the ocean from ANY table.. and seeing the ocean was the main motivation for my choosing nine ten because my parents were in town. There was a huge confusion between the bus girl and our table. Her english was terrible. WE were given both Sunday Brunch menus and breakfast menus. I asked if we could order off both or what? She said no no and then said breakfast only (even though it was Sunday am). It took 10 minutes of them switching the menus twice to agree that we were to be using the Sunday brunch menu. The food was good but nothing outstanding. The service after the first debacle was good. I would definitely not return to spend major money for dinner because the ambiance is terrible and there's nothing special about the place. Erica read more

This review is for breakfast only. The eggs benedict were okay, but you could tell everything was premade and assembled after you order. The potatoes were cold. The pastries were worst then you would find at a grocery store. I somehow managed to finish my croissant, but my wife did not take a second bite out of her cinnamon roll, and she really loves cinnamon rolls. The service matched the food - very lacking. We waited a long time for the check to come and longer for them to come take the payment. read more

We stopped in for dessert after an average dinner at another restaurant. I was surprised to see that this place is a hotel restaurant. The panna cotta was amazing; everything that I have been craving and more. It was a yogurt panna cotta with slices of peaches and lychee, drizzled with honey?, with small bits of toasted peanuts. Although parking can be quite a bit of a pain, I really enjoy this place and think that paying for or spending an hour trying to find parking would be worth it. They have 1/2 priced wine bottles on Wednesday and a 3 course meal is only $45. I am excited to try both of these deals. read more

Absolutely dreadful, dreadful experience. We have no idea what their food is like and never will know. I made an appointment (through Open Table) early in the day yesterday for a 7 o'clock dinner last night (Friday) at this restaurant in La Jolla. It was a cool and blustery evening with a few threatening clouds around. We valet parked outside (all good so far) and walked into the restaurant at 7.02pm. There were 3 immature girls at the hostess desk, aged early 20's. First question after noting our reservation - "would you like to sit outside on the patio?" Answer from us - "no it's cold and windy outside". Second question "why don't we just show you the patio, not mandatory that you sit there", answer "no thank you". Then one of them takes us out on the patio anyway so now for the third time I had to say - NO we want to sit inside where we reserved. So now she developed some sort of attitude, walks back to her inappropriate buddies and one said - just put them on 22. Now we walk in the restaurant - empty tables in abundance (at least 5 empty ones). We are placed in table 22, high traffic area near the kitchen and puts my wife facing the kitchen door, so we switch seats so that my wife is facing out into the restaurant. So then the $&@€# of a hostess reaches past my wife to give ME the menu first (what ever happened to courtesy, service and ladies first?). Asked to speak to a manager, Chris came after a few minutes, was nice, offered some champagne and explained how the girls are new and inexperienced - really?! And that is our problem?! We suggested they be fired on the spot - and if we were owners they would have been! Totally spoiled our celebratory dinner plans - we left - but not before hearing from another staff member that the girls had been there 2 weeks and MANY customers complained about them. Never again - dreadful, dreadful!!! No excuse for this kind of BS For us more like a one-two than a nine-ten read more

Delicious burgers, salads...bar menu is super yummy ! My husband and I had dinner at Nine-Ten in the bar on Friday night. I loved the food, the ambiance and the prices were awesome. We ate the Tri Tip Panini, Cheese Burger, Fried Cheese (They were like cheese sticks but with a fancy name and a fantastic red marinara sauce) and the Half-Baked Chocolate Cake. With soda for drinks, we ate a delicious meal for 2 for less than $40 in La Jolla. I know that the regular dinner menu is exponentially more expensive, but if the bar food tasted this good, you can guarantee that I will be back for dinner!!! read more

Great service and a wide variety of unique dishes. You must try Jason's(exec chef) Signature dish, The Jamaican Jerk Pork Belly. It is very unique served with a thin spicy jelly coating. Good wine selection and one of the better beer selections in La Jolla. I got the Damnation, and Damn I love a 24 oz beer with a long dinner. I have to honest though, the meat chef is my roommate, Henry. So I went in and got the "Mercy of the Chef with wine pairings". I haven't eaten here before an Henry made my experience amazing. Of all the dishes he sent out, the ones I would recommend heavily are the Himachi. It has marinated shitake mushrooms, and I personally dislike mushrooms altogether. But they compliment the Himachi perfectly. Another dish that I was impressed with was the Short ribs which were extremely tender and the vegetables served with them were tasty. The one thing not to miss is the Nine-Ten signature dessert, the half-baked chocolate cake. Heaven in a bowl! I've always known Henry was a great cook and he sent me dishes that were not even on the menu (fried albacore with diced mango's and a ranchero salsa, mmmmm...). Ask for Crystal as your server as her wine pairings were dead on, even for Henry's dishes that were not on the menu. Now if I can just get Henry to cook for me at home. read more

Pretty easy to read & weed out the less than 4-5 star reviews and figure out the type of person who wrote them. The food and service at Nine-Ten is truly stellar. We tasted quite a few dishes (tasting menu) and everything was perfect temperature, well seasoned, pretty on the plate and delicious. Can't really get easier either-$5 valet right in front of the place-comfortable dining room-fantastic food. Just go and do yourself a favor. read more

Had the tasting menu for restaurant week (reasonable price at $99/person) and loved it. The Cacio e pepe pasta was fantastic- rich and full of flavor. Staff was also very helpful and friendly. Will definitely be back! read more

I really want to like this place, I really do!!! I can't tell you why, but I do. The problem is, both the service and the food is so bad, I just can't recommend it and probably won't ever go back again. My wife and I went there for the first time together on Valentine's Day. It was a prefixed menu and they were very busy, as expected. The food took forever to come out and they took way too long between dishes, but it was reasonably good. Unfortunately half of the food had either pork or shellfish, which my wife doesn't eat, so we had to exchange the dishes. Okay, no problem, this is a dietary issue and we expect this. The long wait was also overlooked because of the date. The service was very good and the Sommelier was very nice. He even brought out an extra glass of wine for me to taste (on the house). At the end of the dinner, I wasn't overly impressed but figured it wasn't the best service because of Valentine's Day. We both decided it was worth coming back another time despite the high price. The second time was much, much worse. We went with my wife's parents on an evening that was not very busy at all. The wait staff started out very nice and accommodating. The appetizers came out at a reasonable time but Amy's soup was prepared wrong so we had to send it back. I got the white asparagus salad. I didn't read that it came with a easy cooked egg. The asparagus and sauce had no flavor and I hate egg so the meal was horrible to me. The sushi was good. After the appetizers, everything else broke down. Maybe 3 more tables were filled by the time we got our main courses. Suddenly no waiters or waitresses could be seen anymore. We couldn't get anyone to fill our water glasses or get more bread. Amy's pasta was horrible. My fish was okay but not what you'd expect at this type of restaurant. This was C-grade food; something you'd expect from a chain restaurant where the food sits under warm red lights!!! The rest of the food was just okay. The sushi was by far the best but we can get good sushi anywhere so I was not as impressed. The flatiron steak was very good but the potatoes that came with it and my fish were horrible!! As the evening continued the service got worse and worse. We ordered dessert and I coffee and it took forever. It was like they decided to forget us the rest of the night. Meanwhile we saw excellent service all around us. The dessert was not worth finishing. How can you fuck up a brownie and ice cream!!!! Maybe the other tables ordered more expensive dishes, or ordered multiple bottles of wine, who knows, but they got better service by far! There is no need for us to go back again. Nine-Ten is not to the level that it should be. You can't be a top-star restaurant and treat your patrons so poorly. At least they treated us like shit with a smile on their face! read more

I am fairly certain this is the best restaurant I have had the pleasure of dining at. For me, so many restaurants in this class fail to stand-out, but I cannot forget Nine-Ten simply because of the food. I've had the five-course tasting menu with wine-pairings twice. It was the ultimate experience for my palette both times. I found the flavors and textures to reach a level of deliciousness I have not experienced elsewhere. Simply fantastic. I am sure there is better out there, but I am yet to find it. The rest of the experience is somewhat forgettable. The service didn't stand out, and the ambiance was simply what you would expect at this price. Is it still worth five stars? Absolutely. As to the comments around price, yes, it is expensive. Food can be ridiculously expensive and terrible at the same time. So while this is expensive, you are getting what I believe to be excellent food. Satisfaction as correlated to price begin to fall-off in the upper-ranges. Food that is twice as expensive as other food is not necessarily twice as good -- something to keep in mind. read more

I'm not usually prone to superlatives, but Nine-Ten is one of the best meals I've had in San Diego. My wife and I were staying at the Colonial, and stopped into the bar for a glass of wine; the atmosphere and service were so welcoming that we ended up staying for the five-course menu with pairings. The chef clearly has technical chops, but allows the ingredients to take center stage. When you're working with produce from Chino Farms and fresh local seafood, simplicity and restraint go a long way. The portions and progression of the meal were smart and calculated. The subtle flavor combinations and thoughtful plays on texture made every dish feel like opening a small but intriguing gift. My only criticism is that the presentations are fussy, but that's par for course at these prices. Personally, I'd rather have more steak and less sizzle, but I can appreciate the effort. read more

Remember San Diego, there is a difference between dining and eating. This is definately run as a dining establishment. My BF and I went there for Christmas day lunch, and had one of the better meals we've had in San Diego. Fig and Argula salad was great, scallops on a tomato risotto were just right, BF's swordfish was a bit too "spa cuisine" (read plain) but done nicely nonetheless. Finished with a couple of cheeses. Super comfortable, modern room, though my BF said something didn't "click" for him. Now my one minor complaint; service. Everyone was super nice, and once we got someone to assist us, it was totally normal pacing. I expected a longer, paced meal, but there seemed to be an initial glitch in getting a waiter to our table (a manager graciously ended up getting us drinks and taking our order). They weren't super busy, but everyone seemed overwhelmed. IBut then again, they all had to work Christmas day...t looked like maybe the computer system is really hard to work with? I just now know that I go when I want to DINE, not just eat. read more

The food is good and the waitress Danielle is very courteous and attentive. I don't know if it is restaurant week menu. The food is just ok. I have the lobster ravioli, duck confit and melting chocolate cake. They are all ok, not excellent, but the service is great that really makes it up. read more

Went here for San Diego restaurant week, the service, food and atmosphere was grand. For the appetizer Grilled Octopus, WOW! So tender and it had bits of chorizo. Entree ordered the roasted Lamb, cooked perfectly, with shaved crunchy okra. Dessert the baked alaska, thai tea ice cream, marmalade, and vanilla sponge...need I say more. read more

Wonderful experience! Chris was very helpful with food and wine selections. Entire staff was friendly and helpful. Salmon was perfectly cooked and tasted great. Jerk chicken was best I've ever had (not only best jerk chicken but best any chicken)! Chris explained how it's made and who it's made by (chef has Jamaican expertise). Must try it. Thank you for a very enjoyable evening! read more

It's a bar in a hotel with some yum eats. Drinks range from $8-15.. happy hour takes a dollar off. The food is freshly made and they use truffle oil and some other organic things to fit into La Jolla, but it tastes mediocre at best. The atmosphere is mature.. mainly 30+ year olds. Staff may look friendly and smile, but never seem to know the right answer.. they always have to check with the bartender for the right thing to say. Why a 1 star rating?? They charged my card the wrong amount of money and have yet to get back to me. That's 40 dollars I'd like to have back minus all the stress and wasted time of contacting them and my bank. Thumbs way down for poor customer service. PS: Bartender Friday night on December 6th.. we didn't tip you $63 on a facking $52 dollar meal, give me my money back!! read more

Voted Best Chef in San Diego! This is one of my favorite fine dining restaurants to go to. Their infamous half-baked chocolate cake is the perfect indulgence after a delicate delicious meal. This time I had the scallops special with a sea foam, our friends had a beef dish and my husband had the vegetarian dish. The scallops were the best scallop dish I've had in several years. Not too rich and cooked perfectly. They also accept the Passport card which is a huge incentive to keep coming back often. Also the service is excellent. I highly recommend this restaurant especially when having guests in town. read more

I can not stop raving about our experience at Nine-Ten during Restaurant Week. Our Anniversary just so happened to fall on this week, and I am so happy it did. There were a couple of restaurants that sounded good but this menu really stuck out to the both of us. My boss who is a complete foodie, claimed this to be her and her husbands FAVORITE restaurant in San Diego ( which in my opinion is a huge statement). Her opinion did not fall short. We were blown away not only by our food but by the service. From the moment we stepped in we felt welcomed and they made us feel very special. We were escorted to a very nice, romantic table on the Terrace. The hostess then gave us a card that was signed by what seemed like the whole staff of the restaurant. We were then greeted by our server, who was very friendly and knowledgable on the foods and wines. We chose to do the Restaurant Week Menu with the wine pairings for $70. Which turned out to be an amazing value for the food and service that was provided. I had read the reviews and everyone I talked to told me I had to get the Pork Belly. I was pleasantly surprised to see this on the menu the night that we went in. I ordered the Pork Belly and My boyfriend ordered the Oxtail and Sunchoke Tortellini. These ended up being our favorite two items of the whole night. The Pork Belly is a bit indescribable. All I can say is it is absolutely amazing. There was just something about the Tortellini and Oxtail that made it the winner of the night. It was so unique, fresh, and mouthwatering. We then went on to the second course. I ordered the Short Rib which was perfectly cooked. I would recommend this to anyone. He ordered the Duck. He was really please with his dish. Our desserts were very impressive. The Half Baked Chocolate Cake I feel doesn't even need a description, other than Mind Blowing!!! Overall, this restaurant was the best choice we could have made for our special night. I would recommend this place to anyone that likes great food, excellent service, and a great experience. Thank you for aiding in such an unforgettable night. We can't wait to come back. read more

Quite good but not great with a few negatives. Brief comments upon dining at Nine-Ten a couple of nights ago. There were a few glitches: 1. Nice room with virtually all hard surfaces so dining there was so loud we could barely carry on a conversation. 2. On a ten scale the waiter was about a seven. He seemed only superficially friendly, and needlessly defined well known dishes and ingredients as if we had never been anywhere before. Also he seemed to encourage the pricier options. 3. All the appetizers and entrees were enjoyed by the four of us, except the hamachi sashimi which was very fishy tasting in spite of ability of vinaigrette to hide off-flavors. It was atypical of mild tasting hamachi so it was either not hamachi or not fresh enough to be eaten raw. Hamachi, a species of tuna, is also called amberjack. or "yellowtail" and is known for its mild, buttery flavor. I am quite familiar with hamachi and have it often, this was very poor quality. I mentioned the very fishy taste to the waiter. I presumed he'd inform the chef and they'd offer something else to me. To their discredit as a supposed fine dining venue, they did not seem to care. By the way, sushi lovers often order hamachi first as a test of a restaurant's sushi. If it has a "fishy" taste, it's not fresh and is a good indication that every other raw fish you order will likewise not be fresh. 4. The cheese course was miniscule being three thin slices, each only being about the size of two postage stamps, plus enough toast for three times that much cheese. Bottom line: Obviously not uniformly the quality of a true fine dining establishment, but a pretty good hotel dining room. read more

We ordered the grilled octopus, Thai lobster salad, Jamaican pork belly, Baja striped sea bass to share for dinner, and had the peaches & cream for dessert. The flavors and textures of all the dishes were very balanced. The service was great. They even split the entree for us to share. We arrived quite a bit early for our reservation and still got seated right away. Overall, it was a great dining experience. read more

A little over a year ago, I was staying in La Jolla Cove for business. In the evening, one of the restaurants I considered dining at was Nine-ten. It looked quite posh from the outside. Nine-ten is located inside the Grand Colonial Hotel. For some reason or another, I opted to eat at Jack's instead. Now I'm kicking myself for my poor judgment because Nine-ten is just so unbelievably good that I can't believe I missed out! I was lured to Nine-ten recently because of San Diego's restaurant week. An excellent deal-- a 3 course prixe-fixe menu for a little more than the cost of an entree. There are many different selections to choose from.. After careful consideration, I decided to order the Hamachi sashimi appetizer, the Sous-vide scottish salmon, and the half-baked chocolate cake with vanilla bean ice-cream. My, oh my... my entire experience was an epicurean wet-dream. Every single thing I ate was exceptionally good. First, the chef presented us with an amuse-bouche of a truffle pastry to whet the appetite. I didn't catch the exact-name of the dish because I had a hard time understanding his thick french accent. Whatever it was, it was tasty -- quite a jump to my palatte. The hamachi sashimi appetizer was just...wow. Fresh, full of flavor, tender on top of the perfect soy-sesame oil dressing. I'm squirming in my panties just thinking about it.. Next was the main-course -- the sous-vide scottish salmon. The dish consisted of a petite pile of light, fresh greens atop the sous-vide style salmon. The salmon rested on a bed of rock-shrimp, fingerling potatoes, and couscous..immersed in a light, moist shrimp broth. There are many restaurants that fail at making good salmon, but here at Nine-ten it was dazzzling...easily one of the better salmon dishes I've ever had. Healthy, yet ohh-so tasty. And lastly, the sinful, naughty, guilty pleasure of the meal..a sweet, temptous, rich, decadent half-baked chocolate cake... to me, it's like the man that you want oh-so-badly that you know is no good for you.. it calls to you like a siren, bewitching with unspoken promises of how good it is.. And it IS goood.. When I first saw the dish, it was not what I had expected. The cake was a dark, rich chocolate.... since it's half-baked, the chocolate was hot, hoooot, oozing with delicious sauce. Right in the middle was a big-"O" scoop of vanilla icecream, surrounded by a thick ganache-like fudge sauce. It was not something a person with a sweet tooth and an attraction for chocolate can resist. *Le sighhh* Other notable dishes here are the short-ribs -- so tender, it flakes so easily that you can do without a knife. The beet salad was refreshingly fresh, seasonal, and delicious. The lemon cake light, and lemon sauce tasty. The service -- impeccable. Our waiter was prompt, and swift at refills. When we wanted the check, he was quick to bring it. We lingered a little while and basked in the pleasant afterglow of satiation and engaged in some light conversation. We felt no rush to leave from the staff whatsoever. Nine-ten... It's a perfect 10 in my book! read more

This review is based on the happy hour menu. We went with some people here on Friday night for the happy hour (which last until 7 pm M-F). Apparently, they only allow you to sit in the bar area during HH. We wanted to sit down outside and all of tables were empty. They agreed to allow us to have HH outside which was very nice of them, although I don't know if they usually honor it there or not. The HH was quite large and we were happy with all of the options, some more so than others. The short-rib panini sandwich was good, with a sweet aftertaste to it but could have used some more shortrib in it. The lamb meatballs were tasty although I couldn't taste much of the lamb flavor in the sauce it was served with. The curry goat was quite good and I would suggest trying it. The burger was good and well cooked but nothing special. We also had the pork belly appetizer off the regular menu which was very well done. Both of the desserts we tried were well presented and had some unique flavor combinations. They were a fig napoleon and a coffee custard that was surrounded in a chocolate casing. I would definitely go back for happy hour, especially if we can sit outside. read more

For lunch! The 3 course meal is the deal. If they didn't have the weird vegetable figure thing displayed I'd give five stars. Their decor became :) to ? after i saw the vegetable statue(i don't know how u'd call them i have low vocabulary) Especially I sat where i can see them the whole time I was there,,,it took one star off,,,really. But maybe that's just me. One time we went there in summer,,,,(everything was yummy) and they had "Cantaloupe Shake"(or something like that) for dessert. AND,,,,It was the best dessert I've ever had in the US-it still holds the first place. It was perfect for the summer. It was just delicious. Really, really, perfect. And we went there in winter one time, this time we sat on the patio (very very nice. u can feel the breeze-remember it's SD- it's not facing the street but facing their courtyard garden and very comfy) I didn't have to look at the vegetables this time,,, and we had a very nice lunch again. Never went there for dinner (personally, I like going to La Jolla in day time) but I'll go back for lunch when I'm in SD. read more

I wanted to like this restaurant. I really did. I always pass by it while walking from my car to grab a drink at the Living room, and so today my friend and I went and tried their happy hour. Apart from the nice decor (loved the hanging lights over the bar and the comfy bar stools), this was definitely a let down. Service: I can't really blame the service for being slow, seeing how the server was also the bartender, who was pretty much the only person working the restaurant area. I could tell that he was really busy, but it meant we didn't get served until 5 minutes after we were seated, at least another 5 before he took down our orders, and forever to get our check. Oh, and no refills on waters, which proved to be NOT the best thing after eating the food we ordered (See below) Food: My friend and I ordered the tuna tartare, the Nineten burger with truffle fries, and the rock shrimp with grits. Side note: I enjoyed the plating for the tuna tartare and rock shrimp with grits, as they both gave my friend and I plating ideas for when we cook dinners for our friends. The tuna tartare was pretty good, and my friend and I were trying to figure out what kind of herbs they put in the sauce which made it yummy. Other than that...it pretty much went DOWNHILL from there... Nineten burger w/ truffle fries: We ordered it medium rare and the burger came with lettuce, a couple slices of tomato, a pickle, a wedge of onion, a slice of carrot, and half a jalapeno. Let me say, I really like pickled things. Actually, to rephrase that more accurately, I really like things that are pickled WELL. The pickle, onion, carrot, and jalapeno were all pickled in the same brine, and OH MY GOODNESS, all I could taste was VINEGAR. It was pretty bad, and no, it did not complement the meatiness of the burger (though you'd think it would). The truffle fries were mehhh. I've had better. Rock shrimp with grits: You know the feeling of eating comfort food, how your mouth feels like it's in heaven and at home at the same time? Well, picture the exact opposite of that and dump a fist full of salt into whatever you're eating. The grits were GLUEY GLUEY GLUEY (no grittiness at all), and when I tried to see whether it was the shrimp or grits that were oversalted, it turned out that it was both. Bleccchh I'm sure dinner would be great at this place, but for the bar food, stay away from the shrimp and grits and the pickled vegetables that come along with the burger. read more

Ordered the Cesar salad at lunch. The serving was on an 8" plate, a few forks full of greens and a sprinkle of Kraft parmesan cheese. I wouldn't even call this a decent side salad and at $17 I wouldn't bother ever seating myself at their restaurant again! read more

Terrible service. The food wasn't bad. I went for breakfast and the manager was extremely rude. The service was very slow. And I noticed the manager talking down to one of the employees in the middle of the restaurant. Definitely disrespectful and even more ridiculous when I'm waiting on my drink and food. I tried asking for another manager but no one else was there however I did ask the hostess and his name was Terry. I don't recommend going here in the morning if this rude and disrespectful manager is working. You could tell by his demeaning French accent. Shouldn't the customer always be right? Update 7/14/2014: I know this is a little dated but I was noticing the comment back from a manager named "Terrence" explaining that they don't have a manager named Terry. Your name is Terrence, you go by Terry. YOU are the rude manager I was talking about. You even signed your name "Terry" in a Yelp message to me. read more

I had been home taking care of our infant and toddler, which meant I needed some adult time. My husband had heard wonderful things about this restaurant and surprised me with an evening out. Everything was delicious and just perfect! From the food to drinks and dessert. We will be coming back again, I've been craving that chocolate dessert! I'll get my own next time. Update: Came back again for my birthday last week and my husband and I both enjoyed the "mercy of the chef" 6 course plus I did the wine pairing. Our waiter was knowledgeable and picked out lovely wines. Our food was out of this world. We will be bringing our parents soon so they can understand what we have been talking about. Our new favorite place for special occasions. read more

Before I get any further, you need to make a reservation. Like, call right now before you read on. Just do it. Nine-Ten is small and books fast. On my most recent visit to SD my sister kept telling me she wanted to being me here, but every night they were sold out (why we didn't book a couple days in advance I'm not sure). Finally on my last night in town we just decided to hit the bar. While the bar area is a little louder and more crowded than the dining room we still had EXCELLENT service there. I mean really great. Brendan the bartender took great care of us, even going so far as to rest our silverware on folded napkins because there were no placemats at our table. I started with the Persimmon and Fennel Salad and it was fantastic. This is where I first noticed that the portions were perfect. Just enough to really enjoy the flavors but still have room for the main course. For my main I had the duck breast. I happen to love duck and it was cooked perfectly. It came with tiny turnips, faro and swiss chard and a huckleberry puree. The duck went so well with that puree. I had to get a dessert and I am so glad that I chose the Yogurt Panna Cotta. The consistency was perfect and I loved that it had a nice yogurt flavor. I didn't have any cocktails, but Brendan was happy to give me a ginger beer that they use in making their version of a dark and stormy. It was sooooo gingery! This place was fantastic. I really loved everything there and will for sure make my reservation in advance next trip :) read more

Great location. Went for Mother's Day. Food was great. I had the shrimp and grits and my mother had the lobster hollandaise. Both a very good choice. Valet helps because parking can be tough on that street, $10. Will be back. read more

Nine-Ten - Bars Near Me - La Jolla, California

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My boyfriend took me here for my birthday, and I was impressed! Before we got our salmon belly sashimi appetizer, we were treated to a amuse bouche, which was a nice start to the meal. The salmon belly was delicious, and the presentation was supurb. For our main course, I got the peking pan roasted duck, and my boyfriend got the flat iron steak. My duck was to die for!!! Hands down the best duck I've ever tasted. The bf loved the steak as well. We got the apple crisp for dessert- again, impressive. It had some tart yogurt to go with the sweet cinnamon apples, and I just loved the combination of flavors. I cannot wait to come back here for more great food! read more

Nine-Ten is one of the better restaurants in San Diego. The service was top-notch and the food was prepared just the way I like it. We ended up sitting out on the small, heated patio area and it was very private and nice. We started with the lamb and tagliatelle pasta appetizer and also the lobster and dungeness crab salad with horseradish aioli. Both were good, but my boyfriend was licking his plate after the lamb and I ate every morsel of morel mushroom that was perfectly seasoned and paired with fava beans and peas. Amazing... I could have done without the tangerine/yuzu gelee on the lobster salad, but overall, great starters. I ordered the halibut with cauliflower puree and pine nuts, yellow raisins, and spinach- it was out of this world. Not the saltiest of dishes and somewhat bland but such great mellow flavors. I personally enjoy the "wow" factor and just a couple more of the capers would have put it over the top for me. My boy ordered the chicken dish with Robuchon potatoes and wild mushrooms and it was perfectly prepared. For dessert, the apple crumb cake with mascarpone cream and little balls of carmelized apple did NOT disappoint. What a great mid-week treat :) Will definitely be back! read more