My husband and I got to True Food Kitchen. We usually go to the one in Fashion Valley but we were near this one in La Jolla Village Dr. First I ordered water with no ice. It came with ice. The waitress apologized after I reminded her and she changed it graciously. We both ordered the Grass Fed Burger with gluten free buns. The buns were burnt. The waitress came later and asked if all was fine. My husband mentioned the buns were burnt. She concurred with us. But we didn't pursue it. He ate the whole thing. I was hungry but left the most burnt piece of bun out. We ordered desert and a cappuccino. The service was rather slow. The restaurant wasn't full. We tipped the waitress 20%. Next time we will just go to our usual True Food Kitchen. read more

I had a gift card for True Foods and knew I wanted to get the spinach and mushroom vegan pizza. I love their pizza because it's sourdough crust and the vegan ricotta is amazing. Super fluffy and delicious. I ordered take out and the server successfully helped me with the gift card. It was easy ordering and waiting at the bar counter with tv on and it wasn't crowded so I could sit and wait. The order was perfect and exactly what I wanted. read more

True Food Kitchen - Spinach and mushroom vegan pizza - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

Okay this is my first time in True Food Kitchen . Let's be honest, my boss had takeout from this place the last year. Saying that, he can afford to do this. Front of the house, friendly and expeditious. Service was great but server is pretty busy with multiple tables so when you are ready for the check, it might take a while. Normally if I wasn't in a hurry, this is not a problem. The ambiance is designed for families, I thought it was fairly busy. The young ones have their menu (ask for it if you have lots of kids, you'll know why). The menu is interesting with gluten free, vegan, vegetarian and mostly healthy choices. If you need protein with your salad, it can be added. Lots of choices for drinks from alcoholic to non-alcoholic. Now to my order. It was an All-American burger well done with a side choice of sweet potato chips. For my drink, Spritzer with Pineapple. The food was good, I ate my burger, all of it. Beef tasted fresh. Sweet potato chips were nice, crispy with a hint of salt. Spritzer was not really commendable, the blend didn't exactly taste pineapple unless you count the slice with skin as the flavor. I bit into it and it was mainly decor. The verdict is that the meal I had cost plus tip was $35. Now this is a restaurant so the service cost is factored in your meal cost. But I probably will not return for several reasons. The cost is not for a working man like me. The amount of food is no Cheesecake Factory portions. I was disappointed with the sweet potato hips because they were really small, something you can buy at the supermarket, I prefer chips at restaurants to be unique at least for the price. The burger was the size of a quarter pounder in Mcds. Overall, I probably will not choose this next time from the various choices, available at UTC mall. No pics to document the meal, I was trying to enjoy my meal not make it a star! read more

Genuinely mean this when I say it: one of the worst service experiences I've ever had. My group of 4 came in at 8:45 on a Friday night. I understand that they close at 9 but they still had parties in the restaurant, so we weren't the outliers at all. I also made a reservation for this time, too. We were sat and our server took our drink orders and didn't come back for a while...he eventually brought one of our people's refreshers but not our waters. A little odd, but okay. We were brought our drinks after a bit and then our orders were taken. We waited a bit longer and then were served. Then we ate and were checked on maybe once at the beginning when we got our food and then we were basically forgotten about. We kept waiting and waiting and tried to get our servers attention but they were preoccupied in the back most likely trying to close (I later was told they were eating and talking to their co-worker) (again, I get it, I've worked food service before, but wouldn't you want to check in on your table and get them out so you can close quicker?) We eventually had to flag down an entirely different server who helped us check out. Then our server finally came back to get our card and he seemed extremely unenthusiastic. It was just kind of uncomfortable. The food was fine, albeit a bit pricey, but the service really dampened our experience. read more

Stopped in for a late dinner, and while it took an unexpectedly long time to be seated despite plenty of available tables, our party of 6 enjoyed the clean interior and even cleaner menu. My picks: CHARRED CAULIFLOWER (V, GF) medjool dates, harissa tahini, dill, mint, pistachio (8g protein | 340 cal) TUNA POKE BOWL (GF) regenerative black rice, avocado, roasted wild mushrooms, cucumber, jalapeño, edamame, pickled ginger, citrus ponzu (32g protein | 500 cal) Good eats that are good for you! read more

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We are regulars at true foods and go frequently to many locations in many cities. Unfortunately, this location has really fallen short the last several months. They have hired servers that do not know the menu, poor customer service, and frequently miss requests (having to ask multiple times for condiments, cutlery, etc). However, today our experience was very disappointing. My husband ordered a kale Caesar for lunch with shrimp and there was 2 hairs on his shrimp. When we told our server, he could not be more unbothered - and acted as if this happens all the time. No manager every came to our table. No huge comp was made. No real apology. They simply took the price of the salad off our bill. WHAT. It was a bare minimum effort for a disgusting mistake. There are so many excellent food options at UTC - don't come here and spend $100 on a meal for two only to have a side of facial hair. read more

Still a great place to come for Brunch. Got their delicious Ranchers Hash again. Along with their Matcha Latte and Cafe Latte. Tried their Jambalaya and it's pretty good. Good portions of sausage and shrimp. Good spicy kick. Services is always great here. Rafaella is very nice and attentive. We just love sitting this huge, open restaurant. They don't currently validate parking. Which is fine with use. Just FYI. See you next time True Food :) read more

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True Food Kitchen in San Diego was just okay. This is my second time dining at this national chain, and this time, the food was incredibly bland and lacked any seasoning. I understand that they make everything in-house from scratch, but the True Food Kitchen in Austin was far superior. I was also surprised when I ordered some ranch dressing and requested a small portion on the side. They gave me a tiny cup and later charged me a dollar for it. I found this to be a bit excessive. Our server was friendly and young, but they lacked the conversational skills to answer our questions about the menu. Based on my experience, I can't really recommend this causal dining and open airy place, and I'm not sure I'll be giving them a third try. read more

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OMGOODNESS! As always, True Food Kitchen delivers excellent food quality and consistently on point! The Spicy Panang Curry Bowl is delicious bursting in flavor with every bite! The base is the vegetables. You can add a protein with an additional fee. We absolutely love this dish. The Rancher's Hash was also delicious. It consists of red bell peppers, grilled onions, cherry tomatoes, scallions, avocados, sweet potatoes, white cheddar cheese, sunny side eggs, salsa, sourdough bread, and tender grass fed beef. The server was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant is tastefully decorated and clean. Great bathroom as well. Bar area with football games on. Love it! read more

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I stopped in for some dessert with a friend and we sat at the bar because the restaurant was busy. The service was great and fast. I had the chocolate cake with ice cream and it was very rich and delicious. The environment is lively and fun. I would definitely come back for dinner! read more

True Food Kitchen - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

Wow. That was expensive. I tried the ancient bowl with chicken and edamame dumpling. Edamame dumpling was sort of good with a twist in the traditional flavor with truffle oil and basil. But like $15 before taxes and tip. Ancient bowl was extremely well designed, I admit. There was entertainment value to each items they decided to add there. And each bite was a different experience. But it was like $25. Overall, I am not sure about paying this much for this level of experience. read more

Pretty decent overall! Very clean & open & good vibes! The sourdough pizza was quite good! They have limited options on the menu, but the quality is definitely there! Can get quite busy & lively, so depending on when you're going, opt for a reservation! read more

First time here with the hubby and it was a great experience! We opted for the dinner duo. For the appetizer we chose the edamame dumplings and for our entree we got the Chinese chicken salad and an all American burger. The salad tasted so fresh. A burst of flavors in your mouth with ginger overpowering the dish- which was not a bad thing because I love ginger! The burger was juicy and came in a soft bun. Didn't think I would like the edamame dumpling, but it was amazing! Melt in your mouth and was so delicious in the flavorful broth. Our server Sofia (sp?) was so nice and patient with us. She accommodated all our needs. Lastly the dessert was just so amazing. A cake with caramel, some nuts topped with ice cream. Excited to try more menu items here next time. read more

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Friendly fast service and delicious healthy food! The dining area is open and bright with a view of the kitchen as well as a large patio area. I have the ancient grains bowl- I added chicken( although it would have been great and 12gm protein without that). The sweet potato was cooked perfectly and has a sweet and spicy seasoning the snap peas were fresh crunchy and lightly cold with sesame seeds added the avocado was great as was the pesto- a lot of different flavors going on, but if all tied together well. I would describe it as warm and cozy comfort food that tastes good and makes you feel good too! I wish there was a location near me ( Ventura) but will return here in my next visit to San Diego read more

True Food Kitchen - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

went to lunch here today with my sweet friend JiYoung, who is moving back to korea THIS WEEK....ugghhhh! REALLY gonna miss her! No one as kind as JiYoung and her family! True foods is one of these places where you can go, get a really good meal and feel great bc they don't use seed oils! The food is really goodi had the Watermelon Haloumi salad and 1/2 of protein style burger - gluten free of course) and JiYoung had a chicken wrap and watermelon Haloumi salad. We had a long two hour lunch which was the perfect amount of time to say goodbye and catch up before she leaves! now i'm on the hook to go visit Korea too! Fun times! def recommend true foods! read more

True Food Kitchen - JiYoung saying bye. miss her already! - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here for a company dinner, got to try a good amount of appetizers and dishes here. I found the food overall to be a bit hit or miss. I tried the edamame dumplings, humus and pita chips, Brussels sprouts, pink lemonade, jambalaya pasta, and chocolate chip ice cream with cookies. The best appetizer was the Brussels sprouts, which was made pretty well, and had good spicy seasoning on it! The edamame dumplings were a bit interesting, they kind of had a ravioli texture to them and did not have that much flavor or seasoning. The humus was also just okay, would've liked more flavor/spice on it, and the chips it came with were huge...probably 3x the size of a normal chip. An interesting choice, and a bit difficult to eat it as a result. The jambalaya pasta was pretty good. I did like that it came with a generous amount of chicken, shrimp and sausage but again the flavor was a bit bland and it could have used more sauce. This was a consistent theme across most of their dishes, I understand they're more of a healthy restaurant but just a bit more flavor would be nice. My colleague had to ask for extra teriyaki sauce on his dish. As for the drinks, normally I love pink lemonade but struggled to finish my drink. Ironically, the best thing by far was their chocolate chip cookie and ice cream! The cookie was cooked just right and melted in your mouth, and being paired with good ice cream was a bonus. Overall, this is a decent restaurant with the potential to be good if they just added more flavor and sauce! The restaurant is pretty nice and service was good throughout with our large party. read more

True Food Kitchen - Jambalaya Pasta - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

Not sure what the heck happened here, but I had my husband pick up food for me... right at opening, and the food was cooked (or not) cooked well. The chicken tenders were dry, and the shrimp was rubbery yet tasted undercooked at the same time... gross. read more

True Food Kitchen - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

This was by far a superior health food experience! Gigi & Maddie made the dining experience even better with their outgoing and welcoming personalities. I was especially impressed by the tag team effort including expos and other staff who were at our service. The Edemame Dumplings with chili oil were a healthy appetizer that set the night in motion. They were delicious, and the chili oil provided some heat to the palate. The Ancient Grains Bowl was a great mix of healthy ingredients and protein. The ranch dressing is a vegan based ranch that was surprisingly tasty. The TFK Burger was on a buttered brioche seeded bun and came with a side of parmesan fries and peri-peri ketchup. Overall, the food was delicious! The ambiance was very open with soft lighting in the evening. Thank you to True Food Kitchen and their staff for such a great experience! read more

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Met up with collegas for happy hour. Apps, drinks, and food were good. Service was good as well, until someone took my glass of wine that was half the serving left. My friend went to the bar and complained, the bartender gave him another glass of wine to make up for the one that was taken. Overall happy hour was good. 7/10 maybe wouldn't recommend but would go back if invited. read more

We love coming to True Food! The cocktails are fantastic. I had an espresso martini that was perfectly made and strong--exactly how it should be. Great drinks and a spot we're always happy to return to. read more

True Food Kitchen - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

We are here for the 1st time the other day, just walk in no reservations. The burgers were delicious! The fries were crispy! The ambiance was modern. The service was great. We also enjoyed the drinks! Check out my photos for more info! read more

True Food Kitchen - Green juice - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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I visited this place for the first time this past weekend when out shopping with my best friend. It was Super Bowl Sunday, so I'm not at all surprised that it wasn't very busy. We ordered the brussels sprouts as an appetizer, and it was plenty for the two of us. Delicious. I ended up getting a ginger and orange margarita, which was actually delightful - you can definitely taste the ginger, but it wasn't overpowering. It almost tasted like if a wellness shot and a margarita had a baby. I loved the fact that they used crushed ice instead of just cubes or making it a slushy. It was actually the perfect consistency and very easy to sip. My best friend and I shared the Chinese chicken salad and ordered extra chicken so we each had a decent portion of protein. The dressing was pretty good, but if I'm being honest, I've had better Chinese chicken salads. It's not bad for what it was by any means. We sat at the bar, so our bartender was also our server, and she was very nice. The restaurant seemed very clean, and we appreciated them having the Super Bowl up on the screens. I would probably go back to try some other items, or at the very least to get my hands on another one of those ginger and orange margaritas. read more

True Food Kitchen - Chinese chicken salad, ginger and orange margarita - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Had my first True Food experience and I was pretty impressed. The food was excellent and the staff were very knowledgeable and specific about dietary restrictions and food allergies. The patio was lovely and it felt casual fun and easy. I enjoyed all of our food and cocktails and they had some good specials. I'll be back! read more

True Food Kitchen - Cocktails Lasagna yum - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

I've walked past True Food Kitchen several times during shopping trips and finally decided to give it a try. My wife and I started with the cauliflower and it was really good. Incredible flavor and texture. We were very excited for our entrees, which unfortunately did not meet our expectations. For our entrees I got the jambalaya pasta and my wife got the butternut squash pizza. Both tasted under seasoned and and didn't have great flavor. There was also a long gap in between receiving our appetizers and entrees. Not sure what happened, but it wasn't very busy the night we went. Our server was very friendly and apologized for the delay. With so many good dining options in UTC, I probably won't be back. read more

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Yummy takeout tonight. The butternut squash soup was good, and I always enjoy the seasonal butternut squash vegan pizza. The cauliflower portion looked a little smaller than usual but is always tasty. read more

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Haven't been back to True Food Kitchen in some time but was looking for something healthy and quick so my co-worker and I journeyed into True Food. He got the tuna bowl and I got the chopped greens with grilled chicken. Both our dishes were delicious and plentiful. I would say my salad was just the right amount that I was looking for with the flavor combinations that tasted really vibrant. The sweetness of the dates was contrasted to the salty flavor of the cheese and the sweet apples that were all in my salad. The grilled chicken was a bit tougher than I would have liked but I can't drop a star just because of that because overall the flavor was good. Service was good and on a weekday with not too many people it was not that bad. We were able to get a seat quickly. The restaurant was clean and you could tell it was well kept. read more

True Food Kitchen - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Disappointing. I've heard many good things about True Food Kitchen and had high expectations coming in. Perhaps I went to a wrong location at the wrong time? Who knows. Our group came on a weekday lunch time and there was not many patrons. It was a slow day. Our server came over, introduced himself and asked if we needed a minute to order our drinks, we did -- most of us have never been here before. He came back a short while later to take our drink orders and we also put in an order for a few appetizers to start with. It started pretty well. The appetizers came out great and they were tasty. We ordered edamame dumplings (yummy!), guacamole (ok. not great, not bad.) and charred cauliflower (fantastic!) , but our drinks never came. After about half hour, one drink showed up. What happened to the rest? No idea. Our waiter said they are still working on them. Okaaaay... there are only fewer than 5 other tables in the restaurant, but sure. Perhaps they ordered a couple of drinks each and there is only one bartender and each drink has 30 ingredients. In any case, we were starting to get hungry, so we put in our orders for mains. About 15 minutes later... where's the drinks again? It's been roughly 45 min and no drinks except our one lucky friend who got their drink earlier. We asked our waiter and he said he would check on it and we also asked to get our water refilled. He went to some other tables, to the kitchen and completely forgot to get our water or check on our drinks. Oh wait. Look! Looks like he's heading to the bar now, please, please remember to check. Oh awesome. Now we see some actions happening. Our drinks finally came out. But no water. Don't worry, we just reminded him again. At least we have our drinks now. We saw him wandered off again, seemingly to have forgotten that we wanted a water refill. Appetizers were long gone. We put in our food orders a while back and hanger is oncoming. Approximately 35 min after we put in our food orders, they came out. I got the buffalo chicken sandwich with carrots and the carrots were really good. The main star (the chicken sandwich) was blah. It tasted like heated-up frozen chicken patty with a smear of Frank's buffalo sauce (it probably wasn't, but tasted like it) between pre-frozen buns. It was edible, but "edible" should not be an adjective used to describe restaurant food. My friends weren't too impressed with their food too (they said it was meh and I also tried their pizza and agreed). Do you still remember water? Yep. He forgot but we didn't because we're still thirsty. Let's try again and hope that this time he would actually remember. Yes! This time he immediately got the water jug and refilled it. Third time is a charm! With such underwhelming food and slow service, I'm sure we could have a better experience elsewhere. read more

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True food is a decent pick for the area if you're looking for healthy and VG/GF options. I've been here a few times and have had mixed experiences. Usually the Kale Tuscan salad is pretty good, but this time around it lacked any flavor and didn't have enough breadcrumbs. Mostly just had the kale taste. The tofu was cooked well, the guacamole was pretty good. I've also enjoyed the glass noodles last time I got them. We paid about $60 for everything which isn't too bad for La Jolla. Overall I think there are better options in UTC. read more

True Food Kitchen - Kale salad, guacamole, chinese chicken salad - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Really wanted to love this place, it's a great concept. Staff members were nice. Ordered a takeout poke bowl and waited inside the restaurant. Was told it would take 20 minutes. 40 minutes later I asked if they could check on my food. It had been sitting at the bar for who knows how long. Got back to my hotel and realized they hadn't included utensils or napkins. The bowl itself was marginal. An adequate portion but relatively flavorless. Super bummed. read more

Just dined here with a few friends. I made a reservation online and my party was seated right away. I got the ancient grain bowl and added salmon. It was so tasty! We also got the Brussels sprouts starter to share. The Brussels sprouts were spicier than I'm used to but really tasty! Can't wait to go back again. I'd probably order the same thing it was so good. read more

True Food Kitchen - Ancient grain bowl - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when we decided to come to True Food Kitchen. I thought we will be mostly eating salad. I am surprised by how many Asian flavors that's on the menu here. Although it's healthy, the food here is delicious. They have a really great dinner duo menu, which has a shared appetizer, two entrees, and a dessert, on the weekdays evening. Hummus is absolutely amazing! Honestly one of the best in San Diego! I would come back again just for the hummus. Their Teriyaki tofu quinoa tastes similar to Thai food Pad See Ew. It's pretty delicious. The quinoa and rice combination was really good. The tofu was delicious. Tuna poke bowl was really good too. The flavor was very balanced with just a slight spicy. Even the dessert was delicious. I was very impressed and would totally come back again! read more

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Wonderful Experience!! Been to the True Food Kitchen in my hometown of Houston many times. This one hit different....not because of the food...we know that's gonna be on point. What made this so memorable was the AMAZING service provided by Gio and Amber. Genuine peeps who represent the True Food Kitchen brand exceptionally well. Dad/Daughter weekend in San Diego. First stop and off to a great start because of these two fine individuals. Well done TFK! read more

Food was great, but service was even better. Dylan was our server, and from the time we sat down until the time we left, he was on top of every single thing we needed. We were a pretty large party, and he was extremely attentive. He knew the menu, made excellent recommendations, let us know what items were sold out, and quickly suggested alternatives. The best part is that we never had to flag him down for anything because he frequently checked in. It was our first time at True Food and we will definitely be back. read more

This was my first time trying sourdough pizza and I was really impressed. The crust had a great balance, not too thick and not too thin, with just the right amount of chew. I got the mushroom, spinach, and cheese combo and it was packed with flavor without being greasy. I ordered to go, but noticed the place had a really relaxed and welcoming vibe. It looks really nice and clean inside.The service is standard and helpful. read more

True Food Kitchen - spinach & mushroom sourdough pizza - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

What a gem of a spot with a cute and inviting interior. After walking the mall and working up an appetite, we are happy we tried this spot out. The edamame dumplings were my FAVORITE of all--the perfect amount of truffle flavor, the dumpling wrapper thin and perfectly chewy, and a delicious umami broth to top it off. I would come back just for these. The ancient grain bowl was also really yummy, especially adding the hot sauce they had. Added tofu and it was a generous amount of food, but ~$23 felt a bit much for it. My boyfriend got the burger and rated it 7/10, could've had a little more flavor, but it was juicy and overall satisfying. The espresso martinis were meh, we wouldn't order those again. Overall I would absolutely come back for the edamame dumplings and try a few other menu items, especially the air fried chicken (their air fryer was down). Our waiter was super nice. read more

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WE LOVE GG!!! we come to this location because of her!!! We LOVE her friendly and attentive service. Food is great but service is ON POINT with GG. read more

We were the last walk ins they allowed on nye. Everywhere else was packed as well. We ordered: Margherita pizza: 4/5 good! Chicken parm: parents liked this Salmon Tuscan kale salad: 5/5 salmon was cooked well and the salad was fresh and tasty Butternut squash pizza: 5/5 amazing! Love this place! read more

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Came here with high expectations based on the reviews however felt a little disappointed and not impressed. True Food Kitchen is located at a far corner of UTC and has a lot of indoor and outdoor seating. I like that they use seasonal items on their menu and everything is really fresh, however the day I came, which was a Wednesday at lunch, they didn't have their seasonal butternut squash soup or lasagna available. I opted to get their weekday lunch special which included a drink, entree, and half of a salad. I got the lemon oregano chicken wrap and the seasonal market salad. The salad was good but very overdressed and came only with one piece of cauliflower. I think I only saw one slice of a date as well. The wrap had good flavors but the chicken was very dry and the wrap in general needed more of the vinaigrette. Maybe I should've taken part of the salad and put it in the wrap instead. My meal came out to over $20 for a weekday lunch not including tax and tip. And I left hungry and unsatisfied. For a bit more I could've gone to an Ayce place for a lunch special. The service was okay. My table was checked on a few times during our meal but nothing great. With all the amazing other restaurants at UTC I unfortunately will likely not be returning to True Food read more

True Food Kitchen - Tri - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

I came here on a Sunday evening and there was not much of a crowd at the bar. I chose this place after checking out Yelp for a place that had healthy options. The Kale Salad with Salmon caught my eye when I checked out the menu. The salad had a citrus dressing and the salmon was paired perfectly with the salad. The salmon was cooked medium and came out nice and moist. The bartender was friendly and made sure my drink was filled. He was also considerate in asking if I wanted to turn on another football game besides the Detroit Lions' game. I would definitely come back to try the other menu items or their happy hour! read more

True Food Kitchen - Kale Salad w/ Salmon - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

My notes from my visit read: bougie, expensive, worth it I think that pretty much sums it up. Everyone loved their fresh/fancy style dinner and drinks here, and everyone wish a couple dollars could've been shaved off of each. True to the name, this food is probably a bit more healthy than most places like this, and definitely caters to those with specific dietary needs. Definitely give 'em a shot! read more