Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    A.R. Valentien

    4.1 (429 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndNew American, Wine Bars
    Closed 8:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    A.R. Valentien Photos

    A.R. VALENTIEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Classy

    Recommended Reviews - A.R. Valentien

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Swordfish bresoala
    Tracy M.

    The food here is exceptional. The waiters are so sweet. They bring you everything. The ambience is pretty quiet and 1 PM. We are giving them five stars today.

    Model time.
    Mira Y.

    First time We came impromptu on a Saturday at 11:30 AM and wanted to eat with the view of the golf course. We were seated right away. Patio seating is a must. The service is good, there was an issue with the amount that was charged then credited but will have to see what amount ends up being charged on the card. (Mark, we will connect with you in a couple days) We ordered: Mussels Lunch tasting with asparagus, tuna salad, and zucchini chocolate cake. Everything was perfectly seasoned and made with love. We highly recommend coming here for a lunch or dinner date but when you can enjoy the views.

    Chocolate Acai Bowl
    Kay C.

    We visited AR Valentien on a quiet Thursday morning to celebrate a birthday. We were the only ones outside on the covered patio overlooking the hotel pool, golf course, and ocean. It was chilly so they turned on the hearing lamps and offered us blankets. We ordered the acai bowl and fritata, and both were scrumptious. The waiter even brought two chocolate truffle balls on a plate with "Happy Birthday" written in chocolate. Nice touch. It was a fantastic brunch experience.

    Brussel sprouts - deliciously done with no dairy which
    Carolyn K.

    Such an amazing experience to come to this beautiful restaurant at the family owned Lodge at Torrey Pines. The walls are adorned with beautiful painted Landscapes of California by AR valentien the painter and potter who came from Ohio to Calif., who the restaurant is named after. The fine dining restaurant features contemporary California craftsman decor and furnishings, beautiful custom stoneware and ceramic plates, and is the perfect setting for romantic dinners and celebratory birthdays (like mine). The wait staff is superb and friendly. Really appreciated Ryan and Kasha who served us. Both were personable. The prime rib was excellent , the chef made my Brussel sprouts with no dairy which was so delicious and I loved the dairy free grapefruit and anise sorbet. The special quince sorbet was delightfulZ The whole evening and birthday were memorable!!!

    Littorai Pinot noir 2020
    John M.

    Came with a table of 8 for my birthday. Before being seated started at the bar for a cocktail. Whiskey sour was great. After being seated and ordering the amuse bouche was great! A agua chile shrimp on a small salty tostada. Got the burrata as a app. Was not expecting it to be hot... but wow it was soo bomb. Moved into the ribeye as my entree. This is the only thing I could say could've been better. I ordered medium on it. That thing was raw or like a little under medium rare. At least to my standard. And ribeye is fatty as heck which is why I like to cook that thing down a lil more. But it was still boasting amazing flavor, with a truffle after taste. All the sides were money. Especially especially the beets.. very creative flavor combination with the pistachios. All and all an amazing birthday dinner with great service and a great atmosphere. Would recommend for a special occasion!

    Grilled flat iron steak - terrific!

    Friends treated us to lunch - had never even heard of the restaurant, but it was a favorite of theirs. So glad we went! Very upscale, fine dining experience for sure. We went on a Saturday for lunch - reservations at 11:45 a.m. It wasn't busy at all. We were seated right away, and we were given menus and water immediately. Our server also arrived promptly to take our order. We ordered the duck, fettuccine, steak, and the halibut. Also ordered the cheese plate. Also got dessert - creme brûlée, pavlova, and the salted caramel chocolate bombe. Note that these desserts weren't listed on the online menu. Everything was superb!! The fettuccine was mine - and I can say that the flavors were exquisitely balanced - ricotta cheese, fresh tomatoes, great pasta. And, the portion sizes were very good. My husband had the duck and he said the skin was crispy, the meat was tender, and all the accompaniments were terrific. Our friends enjoyed their choices as well. The desserts were also phenomenal. The lodge itself is beautiful - craftsman style, old charm. The restaurant has that same feel, and a beautiful view. Yes, it is pricey, but for a fine dining experience on a special occasion - definitely worth it! In summary, unique and delicious food, attentive service, beautiful location - what's not to like???

    Shirley F.

    Food is amazing well done. Service is excellent and they are very helpful. Ambience is beautiful and quite relaxing. Love the vibe.

    Palms Springs and Cosmopolitan

    The new chefs are so amazing and the food presentation to match. The existing pastry chefs do an amazing job with the desserts! Had the Easter pre set menu and so good!

    Melon and Burrata Salad
    Marcie L.

    This was easily one of the best restaurants I've been to in a long time. When you arrive, valet parking is complimentary. The restaurant offers both indoor seating and a covered patio with a beautiful view of the golf course and hotel pool. We started with an excellent martini, and for my first course I had the melon and burrata salad with pecans. It was hands down the best salad I've ever had, so fresh and flavorful. For my main course, I ordered the grilled coulotte steak, which was phenomenal. It came with a side salad that was simple and not my favorite, but still decent. At the end, they surprised us with a complimentary chocolate treat for dessert. Our server was attentive throughout the meal, gave great recommendations, and made the experience even better. I'd recommend this place 100%.

    Lunch menu
    Jason W.

    This is the nicer of the two restaurants at the lodge at Torrey Pines, which is right on the grounds of the Torrey Pines golf course. Fresh farm to table vegetables feature in salads and entrées. For lunch I had the arugula salad, which had some delicious deep fried artichokes. For my entrée, I had the coulotte steak which was wonderfully tender, deliciously seasoned, and came sliced. It was not the largest portion of protein but came with a heaping serving of sautéed vegetables. Overall, the food was very good. Service was attentive and we were seated at a table on the balcony overlooking the pool.

    Liina V.

    This is French cuisine, quite different from the typical American fare you'd find in a hotel (I've had enough of crab cake and BBQ wings here). I absolutely love the kanpachi and duck. The halibut choy sprouts are also unique. The scallops are also delicious, even presented beautifully. The best part is, the entire table of four came to just $474. What a steal!

    Charlotte B.

    What a beautiful location at Torrey Pines Lodge overlooking the pool, golf course and glimpse of the ocean. Our host pulled the chair out for us and sat us. The grapefruit juice was freshly squeezed and tasted great. The lemon ricotta pancakes are the BEST pancakes I've ordered from a restaurant. The texture and flavor were perfect and cooked very well with a wonderful crisp. The raspberry syrup complimented it very well on the side. The French toast was good as well and had great flavor. I love that the vanilla beans could be seen in the French toast. We ordered bacon on the side and it was perfectly crispy. The ambiance is fantastic and the inside of the restaurant is beautiful. The service was all around good and they checked up on us an appropriate amount of times. I would absolutely recommend coming here for brunch. We parked in the hotel parking area.

    Duck Duck and Pistachio Pâté
    Alexandra S.

    My husband and I came here for lunch for our ten year anniversary and just wow! We ate outside with a view of the golf course and ocean and it was so relaxing. Just what we needed. Everything on the menu tasted amazing, I especially loved the Smoked Trout tartine. The waiter was attentive, I felt very pampered. Absolutely would recommend for anyone looking to relax!

    View of links

    See all

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of M B.
    149
    140
    0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tracy M.
    459
    442
    10725

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Regina L.
    0
    101
    73

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Shirley F.
    297
    441
    3466

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa M.
    0
    38
    25

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Marcie L.
    428
    699
    1629

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ashley E.
    18
    21
    24

    2 months ago

    Always amazing food and service love it there and the view and they always treat us w fantastic quality

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J S.
    0
    61
    211

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 3
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Andy Z.
    40
    18
    0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Wesley C.
    189
    636
    1665

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Extremely slow service. Timid helpers. Terrible food. Not a good value for the price.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tara
    0
    3
    5

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 62
    Thanks 21
    Love this 48
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ryan W.

    Ryan W.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 11

    A.R. Valentien Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - A.R. Valentien

    Are you able to grab drinks and appetizers here without getting a 4 course meal?

    Yes! Executive Chef Jeff Jackson sources only the best local provisions, and the menu changes frequently based on the seasonal fare available. Also, we have live music every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

    Does staff (both public facing and in the back) still wear masks?

    We are in compliance with San Diego County public health order and masks are required for unvaccinated guests and staff.

    I have reservations for a Saturday in July. What is the parking situation? Valet parking, street parking?

    The parking garage belongs to the hotel and is complimentary.

    Do you have to be a guest at the lodge at torrey pines hotel to dine here?

    No. We went for a awesome lunch to celebrate a birthday. We were not staying at the resort. We enjoyed walking around the grounds and the beautiful views.

    Do men have to wear a blazer or dinner jacket?

    While we do not require a dress code, we do recommend guests to dress smart casual!

    View All 7 Questions

    The Amalfi Llama - Truffle & Mushrooms Pizza. The light truffle flavor combined with tender mushrooms & indulgently rich cheese exceeded expectations.

    The Amalfi Llama

    4.3(713 reviews)
    3.0 miUniversity City
    $$$

    Cesar was an amazing server! I would come back specifically because of him! The steak was good but…read morenot perfect, the menu had good options and I would give it another shot. The establishment is gorgeous and the playlist was great!

    Our family had an amazing first experience at Almafi Lamma Restaurant in the UTC Mall in La Jolla,…read moreand a huge part of that was because of Rodrigo. From the moment we sat down, he made us feel welcomed and taken care of like valued guests. Rodrigo took the time to explain the menu in detail and walked us through the different dishes, ingredients, and recommendations. Since it was our first time visiting, his guidance made a huge difference and helped us confidently choose some of the best items on the menu. Every recommendation he made was absolutely outstanding. What truly stood out was his professionalism, patience, and genuine passion for providing excellent service. He checked on us consistently, made sure everything was perfect, and created such a warm and enjoyable atmosphere for our family throughout the meal. The experience was so memorable that even my son wanted to leave Rodrigo a tip from his own piggy bank because he was so impressed with how kind and attentive he was. That alone says everything about the level of service Rodrigo provided. Thank you, Rodrigo, for making our first visit such a fantastic experience. We will absolutely be coming back, and we highly recommend Almafi Lamma Restaurant to anyone looking for incredible food and exceptional customer service.

    Photos
    The Amalfi Llama - View of the kitchen

    View of the kitchen

    The Amalfi Llama - Truffle & Mushroom Flatbread. Love the mushrooms and truffle flavor. Cheese is rich and obviously delicious.

    Truffle & Mushroom Flatbread. Love the mushrooms and truffle flavor. Cheese is rich and obviously delicious.

    The Amalfi Llama - Olive oil with herbs for dipping.

    See all

    Olive oil with herbs for dipping.

    The WineSellar & Brasserie - Grilled lamb rack

    The WineSellar & Brasserie

    4.4(343 reviews)
    3.6 miSorrento Valley
    $$$
    Free parking
    38 years in business

    I couldn't be happier supporting such a cozy and community oriented business…read more My partner visited the evening before with his buddy for happy hour. He brought me back and they immediately remembered him and addressed him by his name. The menu was amazing. We curated our own tasting experience, had wine pairings and tried some of their cocktails too! Vidal - our server was instrumental to our elevated dining experience. We met the head chef Anthony and one of the owners Lisa. Everything was exceptional in taste. I can't wait to bring a friend or two to try more menu items. We signed up for the wine membership too, bc it just made sense.

    The Brasserie is serving a pricy, traditionally French dinner menu in a relaxed, indoor dining area…read moreon the second floor. The first floor is dedicated to their wine collection. SERVICE Service was initially good and got much slower as tables filled. FOOD 5/5 Oysters Rockefeller ($10/2 @happy hour) Spinach, Butter, Cream, Lemon Juice, Breadcrumbs - delicious, small, pricy 3.5/5 PRIME RIB ($49/10 oz) At this price tag, cutting the prime rib to 1/2" thickness is a crime as the tenderness, fat marbling, and juiciness suffered. The edges were seasoned well, although the crispy cap was sparse. Au Jus: provides meat juice, but it does not replace for what should be a juicy/fat-marbled, tender prime rib Horseradish: saves the dish - it's lemon forward, pungent, and has a cold, creamy, thick texture. Mashed potato: watered down Veggies: scant, overcooked except the carrot PARKING There are plenty of compact spaces with two ADA spaces entrance adjacent.

    Photos
    The WineSellar & Brasserie - Wine spectator awards

    Wine spectator awards

    The WineSellar & Brasserie - Ribeye steak. Thumbs up

    Ribeye steak. Thumbs up

    The WineSellar & Brasserie - Bourgogne blanc

    See all

    Bourgogne blanc

    Wine Smarties - I'm playing with the wine.

    Wine Smarties

    4.7(33 reviews)
    3.6 miSorrento Valley

    I'm a beverage geek at heart. Some of my best food and food/travel moments have been when there is…read morea huge educational component to a tasting. However it wasn't until 2020 that I fully embraced my passion in wine - while I have wine tasted in a few places around the world, Paso Robles in particular stressed the importance of education in the wine tasting experience. Many of the tasting room staff and sommeliers have at least a wine certification (usually WSET or CMS) and proudly boast it. So I figured if I'm going to spend quite a bit of time and money on wine, I might as well be an educated consumer in the process. Since I don't work in the industry (I'm actually in healthcare) and I don't want to work in the restaurant biz as a sommelier the Court of Master Sommeliers cert route was a no-go. Plus the CMS route emphasizes self-study and I prefer classroom learning. For a hobbyist who may in the future want to dabble in the industry on the side, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust was the way to go. Being based in SD Wine Smarties with Lindsay was the most practical choice. She offers three levels of the WSET plus the diploma - first level being just a 1-day class followed by the test followed by the 2 and 3 being 4 and 8 1x/weekly classes, respectively, with an in-person as well as an online option. She offers her classes in San Diego as well as Temecula. Having dabbled in wine and tasted wine in parts of CA/Mexico/parts of Europe for at least 5 years my knowledge alone was enough to skip L1 plus for the cost of the class (~$300) I would rather spend on wine club allocations. So I decided to start at L2. If you are not sponsored by your employer the cost is around ~$700 for L2 and ~$1300 for L3 and if you are taking the online portion you'll also have to purchase your wines separately. While you could also skip L2 and go straight to L3 in theory many people have advised to at least take L2 to get used to the WSET testing style and to also get used to the "systematic approach to tasting", which is essential if you want to pass the L3 tasting portion of the exam (L2 is only a 50-question multiple choice exam). Plus Lindsay does have a discount for L3 students who have taken her previously for L2. Lindsay was an awesome instructor who has such passion for wine and has a lot of experience gaining that knowledge from all over the world. She does have a propensity to go slightly off topic to talk about her travels but as a fellow traveler myself I actually enjoyed those anecdotes. But in the end I highly recommend to study off the WSET course material - after all it is the WSET that tests you at the end of the day. Even while handling a full time job and other activities I studied on an average a few hours a week. There was a miscommunication at the end regarding my exam date that I had specifically mentioned a month before in an email starting the class. While the original date wasn't honored she did work with me to schedule an alternate date to take the exam. Turns out that I did pretty well - got a 94% on the L2, which qualifies as a "Pass with Distinction". The best part about taking Lindsay's WSET classes? Getting introduced to wines that I have never heard of or tasted before. I thought I knew a little more about wine than the average consumer but this was before I had ever known about a carménère or tasted a meursault. Because of this class I consider those wines some of my most favorite wines along with the usual Paso or Valle suspects. For this specifically I am super grateful. Looking forward to taking the L3 with Lindsay in 2022 and will update this review as such to detail the L3 experience.

    I've studied with Lindsay and taken many of her classes over the last year or two, including WSET 2…read moreand 3. No matter where you are on your journey to learn about wine, Lindsay always makes you feel great about your level of understanding. Lindsay is so encouraging, and her classes are so enjoyable, that you almost don't realize that you've also learned a ton! She has the highest level of certification available (Master of Wine), and within that certification, received the Bollinger Medal, which is awarded to one person each year for excellence in tasting and outstanding achievement! Lindsay is incredibly gifted at understanding wine, and sharing that knowledge. I'm so glad she is in San Diego.

    Photos
    Wine Smarties - Teaming up with Taste Cheese for a Cheese and Wine pairing at the Andaz Hotel.

    Teaming up with Taste Cheese for a Cheese and Wine pairing at the Andaz Hotel.

    Wine Smarties - Concentrating.

    Concentrating.

    Wine Smarties - Myself and Master Sommelier Joseph Spellman

    See all

    Myself and Master Sommelier Joseph Spellman

    A.R. Valentien - newamerican - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...