We spent two nights at La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, then remained on the premises a good eight…read morehours after checkout, enjoying another relaxing day on the beach. We went to Club Dining for lunch, and it was so easy and pleasant that we went back again when dinnertime rolled around.
Club Dining is LJBTC's casual restaurant, open only to club members and hotel guests. The set-up is kind of amazing, with the outdoor tables just a few feet from the beach. We claimed the same two patio tables for both lunch and dinner, and even got most of the children to sit at one table while the adults drank wine at our own table with just the one peaceable baby (we drew crayons to determine which adult had to sit with the four boys). Service was friendly, if a little inattentive. We were in no hurry and did not especially mind.
There was food and drink for everyone, with a kid's menu and a broad selection of California fare. Sandwiches and salads, pizzas and pastas, meat and fish and vegetables. We got a bottle of Sancerre at lunch and went lighter at dinner, when we had to face the drive home. I think I drank a moderate glass of Chardonnay.
The food was quite good, certainly better than it had to be given the setting. For lunch, we started with chips with salsa and guacamole, local yellowtail crudo, and roasted broccolini, all solid. The yellowtail came with Fresno chile, housemade ponzu, and red onion; the broccolini with crispy shallots and a creamy sauce gribiche. I went halfsies on the roasted turkey club for my entrée, and it was super satisfying, with turkey, applewood smoked bacon, Swiss cheese, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and dijonnaise on toasted sourdough.
None of the adults were that hungry when it was time for dinner, but we ordered a few things to share. Grilled sourdough was nice, served with cultured butter, Maldon salt, and crunchy raw radishes. Grilled asparagus was a lovely vegetable, with tarragon vinaigrette and herbed breadcrumbs. Club Dining has a pizza oven, and I was impressed with the wood-fired fra diavolo, with Calabrese salami, pickled peppers, scamorza, confit garlic, and hot honey on a charred, pillowy crust. Likewise the one pasta we ordered, a lovely lobster pappardelle with lobster tail, fennel, cherry tomato, Calabrian chili oil, and fresh herbs. The hanger steak frites was a classic plate of medium rare steak and golden French fries, with Bordelaise sauce and and an olive relish.
We loved La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club and plan to come back for another family beach vacation. We'll revisit Club Dining when we do, likely for multiple meals.