This place is pretty great. Highly recommend. Food was absolutely delicious. Winners: Caesar - truly the best thing we ordered and I am pretty sure their top ordered dish (no scientific data here...but it seemed everyone ordered this). Tempura - flakey, light and a winner Beef Tenderloin - amazing. Small portion, so get a couple, especially if you are sharing. Someone was playing the piano, which was so awesome. Very nice. Only slight "negatives", and Im not sure who this falls on...the food took forever. Im talking ordered another drink and still wasnt sure what went wrong. When we brought it up to the waiter, he sent over the manager, who also didnt have an answer or a fix...maybe offer a drink? Something? It was very very long wait. There other knock, its very expensive. I think worth it but be prepared. All in all. I will be back! read more

We recently had the pleasure of dining here and loved it. The trendy and vibrant decor instantly makes you feel like you're in vacation mode. The menu was a mix of "tropical/ summer" vibes fused with classics. We particularly loved the oysters-- fresh and yummy. The real showstoppers were the cocktails. Super creative and funky. I had a couple espresso martinis that had a cinnamon "spin" on them. We also had a really positive experience with the staff, who were super accommodating and attentive. They were more than happy to offer suggestions to us. Overall, this is a fun must-visit! read more

Absolutely delicious! We understand why OpenTable named it. One of the San Diego icon restaurants. Elyse Marie was an excellent server and the food is delicious. We loved the focaccia bread with the melons, and I personally love the steak and frites! We will be back! Yummy!!!! read more

We made reservations for 2 people on a Friday night at Paradisaea. We were seated promptly but not waited on for quite some time. Lindsey D was our server and we must say she was very soft spoken or the restaurant was super loud as she was hard to hear. We asked about different dishes on the menu and her descriptions left a lot to be desired. It's like she expected us to know what the menu was referencing. I guess our expectations for service were set from Aris from a previous visit. She was energetic and offered complete descriptions and recommendations on appetizers and main dishes. Her service was stellar. Anyway, we started with the sourdough bread which is a must. It is so yummy. We ordered the Steak Frites and Half Chicken for dinner. Probably will try something different as the chicken was not as expected with the dark meat being kind of mushy inside of the white meat which was in a roll. Hard to describe. We were not offered dessert so can't comment on that. For the amount of money we spent, we will try other places before coming back. Eddie V's had the best fresh fish and excellent service for roughly the same price a few nights before. read more

I entered the "decade of death" a couple of weeks ago when I turned 80 years old. I grew up as a beach bum playing volleyball and surfing in south Mission Beach. I graduated La Jolla High in 1962, went to college and started my business career in San Francisco, a city famous for it's fabulous restaurants among many other highlights. I founded a sales and marketing company in the consumer electronics business, and one of the perks and necessities of this business was taking important customers and vendors out to dinners and lunches at trendy or popular restaurants in SF, Los Angeles, Chicago and Las Vegas. On one memorable dinner when I was trying to sell the Sharper Image Wolfgang Puck pots and pans. Wolfgang hosted me and the top executives from Sharper Image to dinner with him and his first wife at his very popular restaurant in San Francisco. I retired back to being a beach bum in south Mission Beach 18 years ago. I mention all of this just to validate when it comes to evaluating restaurants, I've got years of experience. Which brings me to Paradisaea which we tried recently for dinner. It is located in Birdrock village in a prime location that used to be 3 stores, one a visually prominent piano store for many years and another part that was a store where I rented my tuxedo for my senior prom. Somehow all of these former stores were exquisitely fashioned into a attractive fine dining restaurant both inside and out which captures a laid back old school life style of La Jolla coastal old money, casual yet trendy appeal. Similar to the original Whaling Bar at the La Valencia hotel, where you went to be seen and recognized as a local or a celebrity. So the look and feel is spot on as is the service and servers, and the food, at least what we had was delicious. Then why only 3 stars? Paradisaea has a coffee and doughnut shop attached to it but not part of the main restaurant. Before our recent dining experience I stopped there for a couple of cake doughnuts with chocolate frosting. Nothing special about them, but they charged me $8 for 2 doughnuts. A bit of a red flag I ignored. The other example is more a reflection of the times as exemplified by real estate prices in San Diego as it is of restaurants. But I ordered a cheeseburger with fries which wasn't on the main menu, but the server told me I could order off the bar menu. It came on a small plate and was the size of a burger on an English muffin. However, it was absolutely delicious with a magical taste I have never experienced in the thousands of burgers I've ingested in my 80 years. The fries were excellent but ordinary. So why the 3 stars. It cost $$$33 dollars! The smallest and most expensive cheeseburger in history. The other two entrées we ordered were a chicken dish $48 dollars for chicken, and a thin piece of Halibut $49 dollars. Both were very tasty but oh so sparce. We had two glasses of wine $36 dollars, and skipped deserts which sounded good but were also a small investment in a bakery. I know rents are high and personnel, and I watch the "Bear" and understand the cost of surviving in the fine dining business. In other words, if money is no object in your dining experience Paradisaea is worth it. But if you are shocked about high real estate prices in La Jolla, you will be shocked about your bill. read more

Beautiful restaurant atmosphere and food options. Came here with my husband for our wedding anniversary and would highly recommend! Our waitress Lindsey was amazing and very kind and attentive during our dinner time! read more

Paradisaea - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

So worth it. What a great spot, and actually feel like authentic San Diego, which is getting harder to define these days. But an honest, well executed, destination restaurant that La Jolla should cherish and embrace. Ok so what did we eat? Apps - [ ] Shrimp; skewered with the heads on. Pull the head off, suck the brains, enjoy meat. Delicious - [ ] Mushroom croquette; more like Marsala gravy and deep fried like a mozzarella stick, really good, served with a green sauce - [ ] Tuna trataré; wow, jaw dropping, excellent little rye toasties - [ ] Crudo; fresh as it comes in SD Entrees - [ ] Pork chop; I love pork chops. This one was elevated. It was so fatty, definitely a chop, but as tender as pork belly. Asked for medium, was medium. Yes you can enjoy pork at medium temp. And I love when a place can serve it medium. They rest it, and cut it so you don't miss any juice. Also give you the rib bone to chow on after you eat the portion with a fork and knife like a civilized person. Come with a shredded power dumpling too which was phenomenal. Special mustard and balsamic. Overall impressive pork chop - [ ] Veal tenderloin; had one bite of my friends's dish but could tell it is superb The menu is unique and has offering that other restaurants don't so it makes it exclusive and a treat. The ambiance would meet anyone's standards. Well though out design, but doesn't rely on this element alone. The food speaks. The service is spot on. They were all so young but authentic and enthused to work there. Future leaders anywhere they choose create a path. Spot on ParadiseaSD. Spot on It has a Michelin rating. 'Nuf said #supportSanDiego read more

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Finally a good restaurant in the neighborhood. PROS: - food was very good, we got the Kumiai oysters, the hamachi crudo and the duck au poivre as main dish, all very very good. - deco is very very nice, i love the style of that place, from the bar, to the dining area, to the bathroom. very very nice style! - service was impeccable - cocktails were a bit expensive but very very good, we got The Jewel, and The Filthy Martini CONS: 7$ for an espresso... that is a pure joke. When i ask how on earth they would charge 7$ for an espresso, the server offered me to refund me for that. I refused because it is not my point. Even if they refund me, the other customers will get charged 7$. My point is someone is making the menu and deciding on the price, and thinks it is fair to charge customers 7$ for an espresso. That s outrageous. That is twice as much as any place, go to Bird Rock Coffee, Wayfarer, Starbucks, or any coffee roaster, it s 2.75$-3.5$ for an espresso. And you know, it s so easy to trick customers with coffee price because by the time they come to you while you order your dessert, you never see the price of the espresso (it is not written on dessert menu), the waiter just asks you if you would like coffee. I hope they will change that, because otherwise i wont come back Mini-cons: No free bread in a restaurant. A recent tendency for some restaurants is to not offer bread. That s like a garage not doing oil change in my opinion.. They suggest you buy their "grilled garlic miso foccacia" for 7$... that s the only way you can have bread... while many places have regular bread for free... the foccacia thing was ok, very very tiny... not worth 7$ in my opinion. read more

Paradisaea - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

O M G! 10/10 and beyond for this fabulous restaurant in Bird Rock. We've been needing a place like this for ever by the beach:) 100% for Food, Drinks, Ambiance, and Customer Service! Can't wait to go back! The design and layout is magnificent. Every inch of this place is beyond beautiful. The food was absolutely delicious. Drinks were Devine and we left excited and anxious to come back. First we started off with Drinks, ordering the Lobster Lounge and Tiger Cruise!! For dinner we went with the Aged burger with garlic fries, fingerling potatoes, scallops and the halibut tempura. All are a must! My mouth is watering while im writing this. Oh and for dessert We had the choc mud pie with Dark Horse coffee ice cream! Thank you Paradisaea for opening up and being amazing! Xoxo read more

Paradisaea - Tiger Cruise - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

The food is stunning to look at and to eat, the drinks are amazing, the staff is attentive, and the decor is fun. Taylor was the first to greet us and to start the beginning of an excellent evening. Can't wait to go again! Still thinking of the halibut appetizer and the most amazing espresso martini I've ever had! An absolute must! read more

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We really enjoyed our dinner at Paradisaea! It was just two of us. We shared two starters (focaccia & heirloom tomatoes), two entrees (gnocchi & beef tenderloin), and dessert (mudpie). Everything was wonderful. It was the perfect amount of food. The dishes aren't super large, but it was all very well presented and tasted great. The atmosphere of the restaurant is super cool. I loved the bright wall paper in the main dining area. Even my cocktail (La reina) was bright pink. If you get there early, you can sit at the bar and have a drink before dinner. Bird Rock typically has street parking available as well. read more

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Fantastic!! Delicious!! Superb!!! We did a company dinner for 15 people. Food was amazing!! Many of the attendees from NYC/Toronto were raving about the food. Drinks were fabulous. Ambience was wonderful!! Service was excellent- though we were a big group. read more

The ambiance is so vibrant and aesthetically pleasing. We chose the chefs tasting menu which includes 3 small bites, 2 entrees and a dessert. I have to say the service is impeccable and I appreciate how they course the dishes. In regards to the food, it started off very mediocre. We received the hummus dish to start and it was a little confusing because the carrots & radishes were so tiny and not the right dipping vessels. The next dish was also carrots. A different preparation but underwhelming. Then we received a dumpling and the two main courses were the branzino and the wagyu. The mains stole the show and were absolutely delicious! Dessert was a chocolate tarte and it was okay. Overall, it was a fun experience and the right amount of food. They also have great cocktails and wine options. read more

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Just had a fantastic dinner at Paradisaea in La Jolla with some girlfriends. Fantastic drinks, food, service, and atmosphere! 10/10 would recommend! For starters we got the Fava bean hummus that comes with delicious focaccia bread. Then got the Chino farms tomatoes that had crispy rice, melons and pesto. It was delicious! Tuna crudo, fish was very fresh and also got their jalapeño Caesar. Best Caesar salad I've had! We then shared the steak au poive, which was delicious! We ended the meal with their milk and honey sundae. It was pretty sweet but very good! Cannot wait to go back here! read more

Hands down THE best restaurant in San Diego. Their food and flavor profiles are like a movie--with a beginning, middle and end. There are so many over-hyped restaurants who charge top dollar for underwhelming and frighteningly under-seasoned food. Not here. Every bite at Paradisaea is an emotional experience--the way good food should be. And the menu is ever-changing with fresh, new ideas. I've had the oysters, the blue fin tuna crudo, beef tartare, the Iberico ham, the lobster spaghetti in the saffron fennel sauce, the kurobuta pork chop, the cheeseburger (best in San Diego, perfectly seasoned and cooked a perfect medium rare as ordered), and, of course the milk and honey ice cream. Not a single element over looked. Not one fraction of a dish failed to be meticulously constructed for the most flavor and visual appeal. Even the plates and utensils are unpretentiously classy. The service? Fantastic. Attentive, knowledgable about the menu (as it should be), quick, and friendly. The whole package. Find yourself a restaurant whose flavors let you time travel. For me, that is Paradisaea. The lineage to Eleven Madison is also not lost on me and what an incredible gift to San Diego that Mark Welker chose to land here. I'll be back many times. Please take my money. read more

Words can't describe the deliciousness.... Our family of 5 basically tried as many dishes as we could. The menu rotates so go soon to enjoy: The Chicken - rolled and roasted - wow!!! Breads- don't miss at least one of the breads! Tagliatelli with caviar. Jalapeno ceaser salad looked like a snowy mountain top. Their drink menu is a work of art in itself. So, yesssss, go to this place. Great service. Michelin Star dinner finished off with an ice cream-toffee amazing burst of flavor. A wonderful Mother's Day evening. Thank you read more

I was shocked to learn this restaurant was in the Michelin guide as it lacked soooo much in the food department. We attended a birthday dinner for a friend and while service was great with attentive servers I cannot and will not go back to a restaurant that over charges for dry over cooked fish, specifically the sea bass cheek. My piece of fish was dry, stringy and chewy, and I wasn't the only one who had this dish and had the same experience. Another friend got the wagyu steak and frites medium RARE and that was also dry and chewy! Overall a huge disappointment and I feel like I spent so much money on something that sucked so bad. The table shared the Caesar salad which was good (not amazing but decent), my wife liked the cabbage app and the Salisbury steak. The wine corkage was ridiculous.. a man who was dining brought us a bottle and not knowing we thought it was from the restaurant, but restaurant confirmed it wasn't from there and wanted to charge a $50 cork fee, insane! I was expecting a different side of potatoes on the sea bass dish like skinny fries since when you Google pommes allumettes that is what pops up but I received small portion of mashed potatoes which wasn't horrible, but to add to that the sea bass cheek was a tiny portion as well. Cocktails were good but that's about it. Will not be returning any time soon. read more

I currently can not make myself think of extraordinary words to use to describe Paradisaea because I am still coming down from natural food heaven high! The atmosphere, decor, food, drinks, chefs, desserts, chairs, plants, silverware, lighting, bartenders, and Stellar team were just marvelous. It has taken a bit of time for my tastebuds to settle down after eating their marine lobster linguini that was smothered in the finest quality butter; that my friends said that I sounded like Julia Child after enjoying every bite. Their signature mocha martini was so remarkable that I simply did not care to utilize my finger to get the last of the sweet cream foam left in the glass. Just make your way to La Jolla, and enjoy this little piece eatery heaven! read more

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The restaurant is gorgeous. The fixtures and the details give it a very elegant look. The staff were very kind and knowledgeable. However, food portions are small and very expensive. The bluefin tuna snack consisted of 4 small pieces and was $28. It was good but it seemed a little excessive. Drinks were good and the cocktail menu is very fun with bird facts. :) read more

I hate to say this but I agree with other 3 star reviews. it is a lovely restaurant and staff was great. But way overpriced and I had high expectations that everything would taste incredible. We just weren't bowled over. I do plan on coming back for happy hour with my girlfriend to see how that is. read more

Amazing flavors and impeccable service! Best to order several plates and share. Some of the dinner portions are on the smaller side but you still feel satiated. Great ambiance ~ Will be back again soon. read more

First impressions set the stage for everything...My wife and I, after having a wonderful dinner at Candor were headed to Beaumont's for a quick nightcap. Along the way we noticed this amazing looking new restaurant with what appeared to be the perfect bar for us to enjoy. So instead of heading to Beaumont's, we decided to hop into Paradisaea. It was about 8:45pm on a Sunday night, so plenty of time before closing for a quick drink. But alas, it was not in the cards. Even though the place was in full swing, the hostess had to check with the bar staff before we could take a seat. We were notified that last call had been announced and we could not sit at the bar for a drink...Talk about disappointing... Naturally we gave out business to Beaumont's instead and clearly it was the better choice. read more

Had a great time here. The oysters are a must and they tip the back of the house and that's a huge W in my book. read more

Paradisaea - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

My husband came here to celebrate our anniversary and had a phenomenal evening. As soon as we walked in we were blown away by the beauty of the restaurant and prime location in Bird Rock, La Jolla. The hosts greets warmly and sat us promptly. We enjoyed some delicious crafted cocktails, my favorite was the Rose de Alcázar, a floral my spin on a margarita. Crafted to perfection! We shared a couple items on the menu: Tuna Crudo, Jalapeño Caesar Salad, and the Halibut Tempura. Everything was so flavorful with stunning presentation. The service was world class from Silvia. We can't wait to come back! read more

Fantastic. Got the chief's menu. All good. This place is fine dining, not a casual neighborhood joint. Excellent.

If you can score a dinner reservation at Paradisaea, grab it! The hype is real and the food is as innovative as it is delicious. Friendly hosts greeted us and took us to a quaint table adorned with tropical details that transported us to Tahiti, all while maintaining the upscale foodie elegance that only places like NYC offer. We started with the jalapeño caesar salad, a game-changing twist on the classic with just the right amount of heat. To balance this, we also tried the beet salad with sheep's milk yogurt and marinated strawberries - a flavor explosion that left us wanting more. Potato gnocchi with black truffles. Need I say more? It was so rich and indulgent, I almost licked my plate. And the pan roasted chicken is a true standout on the menu -- stuffed with a zesty lemon-dijon butter that's perfectly complemented by the buttermilk, fresh seasonal greens, and a side of chimichurri. And lastly, the cocktails... I tend to steer clear of piña coladas as they can taste like a syrupy, slushy sunscreen. However, our knowledgeable server confidently assured me that Paradisaea's version would be different. Served in a majestic bird mug, the cocktail hit all the right notes on my palette and made me realize that I had never truly experienced an authentic piña colada until this moment. Their creamy blend of toasted coconut, fresh pineapple juice, and organic rum made for a new favorite in my book. Needless to say, we will be returning to Paradisaea very soon to indulge in their hamachi crudo, wild mushroom tagliatelle, and black cod - and, of course, another round of their piña coladas. read more

Paradisaea was just that, paradise! The service, ambience, glassware, decor, and of course food, all exceeded our expectations. From walking in the door it was a wonderful experience. The design was beautiful and the service exceptional. We wanted to order more but everything we ate was fantastic! Highly recommend that you don't miss this gem if you're in San Diego! read more

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My husband and I were on a date night and we loved everything about this restaurant. Everything from the details of the silverware, glassware and table were beautiful. The service was impeccable and the food was delicious. We ordered the hamachi crudo, garlic miso focaccia with the fava bean hummus, jalapeño Caesar salad, scallops and lamb loin and for dessert the Strauss soft serve with bee pollen. Everything was delicious, would definitely order everything again. Overall we really enjoyed ourselves and would definitely come back to celebrate another occasion. read more

First want to say that the restaurant has a wonderful vibe and friendly service. That being said, this place needs a new chef. Ok here goes the food review. The tempura halibut you could get better at Trader Joe's, they are literal fish sticks. The focaccia and sauce were a super small portion. The cod wasn't fresh and was extremely disappointing. The runny egg on the pasta made it inedible. Our bill was almost $300. They need to lower their prices. read more

This place is a great location and an interesting vibe. Every dish I've tried was fantastic, however it was the drinks that were absolutely stellar. The bar is more than fully stocked-- they have a variety of different liquors and spirits to choose from. I recently went for a happy hour and was satisfied. You're not really saving too much from the regular menu, but there are still some specials to take advantage of. If you're a people person, definitely sit at the bar. The bartenders are quite friendly (shout out to Demi!) and the seats are pretty incredible; because as a man of the larger variety, it even fit my big boned butt. read more

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We really enjoyed trying a little of everything. Henry our waiter was the best! So nice and helpful with the menu choices. Good atmosphere and quality food. Fun and well thought out decor. Thank you for a great early dinner tonight. read more

We came for cocktails and stayed for a quick dinner seating at the counter. Cocktails are probably better than food here (which I found on the very expensive side) so maybe I would just recommend it for drinks before heading to a restaurant. read more

I recommend the burger and the Caesar salad! Great ambiance, fun drinks and fantastic service. read more

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