Message from Marine Room Restaurant
For more than five and a half decades, celebrities, world figures, residents and visitors have made it a habit to come to the Marine Room to enjoy its spectacular seaside panorama and exquisite meals. Voted "Best of the Best", "Best Dining with a View", "Best Service" and "Most Romantic Dining" in San Diego, The Marine Room provides a tradition of sophisticated dining that has flourished for more than half a century on the sands of La Jolla Shores. Allow Chef Bernard Guillas and our award-winning service team to cater to your every need, while you relax and absorb the many sights and exhilarating flavors that the Marine Room has to offer. The Marine Room offers diners global cuisine rooted in the French classics. Its spectacular views, exemplary service and outstanding wine list make it San Diego's premier dining destination.
Editorial by
The ScenePerched out beyond the sand line on La Jolla Shores, waves often splash against the floor-to-ceiling dining room windows, which are the only thing separating you from the ocean at this classy, coastal establishment. It's won nearly ever local and culinary award in the book--from service to best chef--and it's all for good reason. This quiet, romantic destination defines San Diego's fine dining scene.
The Food
Nearly every dish that lands on the table is overwhelming, considering the view in the backdrop, but a few standout starters include roasted forest mushrooms with 20-year-old Ambroshante sherry, the Maine lobster bisque and the classic Caesar salad prepared fresh for two tableside. For the main course, fennel-butter basted lobster tail melts away and fresh, flavorful fishes like Alaskan halibut or macadamia-coated organic salmon will not disappoint the most discerning seafood connoisseur.
Key Points
- Oceanfront views
- Global cuisine
- Extensive wine list
The Inside Scoop
- Where to Sit - See the waves crash againts the windows during summer high tide dinners. Call for exact high tide dates and to reserve a guaranteed window table.
Reviews for Marine Room Restaurant
The marine room was on our list of fine dining in La Jolla, we were visiting form Phoenix Az, and my sister and her husband visiting from Kansas City. We had reserved a table by the window 2 weeks prior. Upon arriving at our reserved time, we were kinda met by 2 very lack luster ladies in black....stated no available window dinning, those were only for parties of 2, we were not told that when the reservation was made....left to find our own, table with NO APOLOGIES! Found a table, and our order was taken by the same snooty waiter we had on our visit 6 years ago....food was OK, nothing spectacular for our fine dining experience. Way overpriced, will we be back....not on your life!
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The Marine Room is one of the most beautiful experiences of fine dining in all of La Jolla. Resting right along side the beach the sun sets a gorgous shine on the water and the sound of the waves hitting against the side of the rocks sets a relaxing atmosphere to just enjoy a great meal with your friends and family. This sounds nice and innocent right? The Marine room tries to claim the beach in front of their restaurant as theirs. They claim it by putting their beach chairs and umbrellas for their guests on the beach and asking any local who sits there to move. While their service is great their hospitality to the locals are not and they need to learn that the money is not always everything!
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We loved this restaurant for it's unique location (almost IN the ocean) and would go there to watch the surf crash against the glass. The food used to be mediocre but they got a new chef
and now you get a great meal and an incredible view.
Best time to go is when there is a high tide and big waves.
Warning-- it can be expensive. We save the Marine Room for out of town company or special brunches.
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I will agree with the previous review.. this is a definite special occasion restaurant... It's situated right in the heart of La Jolla Cove... the restuarant has the most beautiful view of the Pacific along with cliffs... it is absolutely amazing.... that being said, I would have to say the the food was mediocre (nothing special if you ask me), but the service is good and the view makes it perfect.
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This classy restaurant is one of my favorites. The location is breathtaking right on the shores of La Jolla, request to be seated by the large windows that overlook the ocean. The food is superb and the menu offers the chef's specials. Definately a special ocassion restaurant.
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Last September my family traveled to San Diego for my son's graduation from Marine Corp boot camp. The night of his graduation we went to the Marine Room in La Jolla to celebrate. This restaurant was recommended by our insurance agent, of all people.
I have a hard time deciding what I like the most about the Marine Room. The setting was great. It is right on the ocean with large windows all the way around three sides of the restaurant. We had a corner table with a view over the ocean, and looking down the beach where a wedding reception was going on. What a terrific view! Unfortunately we weren't there at high tide when the waves actually crash against the windows.
But on the other hand the food was also terrific, and offered some innovative combinations and good presentation. The Caesar salad was made at the table. Ahi Tuna sushi with Thai peanut sauce. And seafood that would melt in your mouth. And since I have a real sweet tooth I really enjoyed the Creme Brule for dessert.
The service was also great. As we were leaving the host told us that we had the best table in the place, and if we came back to ask for table 25.
My other son will be going to boot camp next year, and we will surely go to the Marine Room again.
The dinner was rather expensive, but at least in my opinion worth it.
One thing to remember if you ever go to the Marine Room is that if you all of a sudden find yourself in a residential area you may not be lost. The restaurant is a little out of the way.
PROS: Great Service and food
CONS: hard to find at first: location wise
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Latest reviews from Citysearch.
I've eaten here maybe half a dozen times. Here are the constants: Great food, great view, great wine.
We've gone for holidays twice for the prix fixe menus which have all been excellent. We've been lucky to get a table by the window everytime despite it being packed. Highly recommended.
Pros: Food, wine, special menus
Cons: Staring enviously at the people who got the good tables
The Marine Room is one of the most beautiful experiences of fine dining in all of La Jolla. Resting right along side the beach the sun sets a gorgous shine on the water and the sound of the waves hitting against the side of the rocks sets a relaxing atmosphere to just enjoy a great meal with your friends and family. This sounds nice and innocent right? The Marine room tries to claim the beach in front of their restaurant as theirs. They claim it by putting their beach chairs and umbrellas for their guests on the beach and asking any local who sits there to move. While their service is great their hospitality to the locals are not and they need to learn that the money is not always everything!
love everything about this place. my family usually come at least once a year for 4th of july. you can see fireworks while you're dining here and the view of the ocean frm the window is amazing. very romantic and family friendly. this one time we had went, my sister requested some disney songs and the man was so nice to play all of them. good steak, good dessert, highly recommend.
Pros: everything =)
Cons: they used to make salad right in front of you but now they don't =(
We went there on a weekend which was very busy. We waited an hour to get our table even though we had reservations for a specific time. Almost everyone there were waiting that long to be seated. The worst was the hostess who could care less about the wait and was extremely rude and nonchalant. For such an expensive and high end restaurant, we were surprised by her attitude and service. When asked to speak with the manager though, he was very pleasant and tried to make up for the wait. Our waiter was also very kind and thoughtful. The food was very average, definately not worth the amount it cost but the view is very nice, especially if you have a window table, which is also very hard to get.
Pros: Service. Ambience.
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