Wonderful service all the time! Thanks Joey & Macael afor being such an excellent servers for my cousin's wedding party, Oct. 3rd. Duke's La Jolla never fails to disappoint. At this location, they have live music, Tuesdays & Fridays from 3- 6 PM. I've been a fan of their restaurant since 2005 when I first visited their Waikiki location!! From tonight's dinner, I enjoyed the first round of ahi tacos although the second round was a tad too salty. I've indulged in the mahi mahi, mashed potatoes and Korean sticky ribs!! read more

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This was another great rooftop restaurant in La Jolla, overlooking the La Jolla Cove! We lucked into a great seat near the rails...but a bit of problem as it turned out. SO many folks came to take pictures right in front of our table...so it turned out to be a bit of nuisance. In any case, this restaurant was bustling with people...very high in energy! Quite casual, but very nice nevertheless. This restaurant also turned out to specialize in Hawaiian food...something I haven't had since our 2nd honeymoon to Maui decades ago!! We started with Crispy Coconut Shrimp, which was delish! Then shared this huge Rib & Chicken plate and this Vegan Ravioli dish. We were stuffed by the end of it. But then, given that they knew that this was our anniversary trip, the restaurant treated us to this amazing dessert (huge serving of ice cream with fudge etc.etc.)...and WOW! We really appreciated this generosity!! Also enjoyed their Margarita (Boomers, I think?). Service was good, but a tad slow...given how bustling the crowd was. Overall, we had a great time here (minus all the touristy picture-taking in front of us lol!). read more

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Worth the 30 min wait on a Friday afternoon for the outside view! The live music is great too. Hurricane Chicken, 5/5: Huge portion of chicken and the salad and sauce were so good! It's slightly sweet, almost like Korean fried chicken. Highly recommend. Beef Skewers, 5/5: Small portion but very good. Beef was soft and slightly sweet. The salad was good. Mai Tai, 5/5: Only $10 and very good. Lighter on alcohol side but it's not juice. Everyone else liked their food. The Huli Chicken was a smaller portion than the Hurricane. Fries were crispy and perfectly salted. read more

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Duke's was a must-visit during my recent trip to San Diego, and it did not disappoint! I had heard the food was great, but the views might have been the biggest standout. If you go, definitely sit on the rooftop...the views overlooking La Jolla Cove are spectacular, and you really can't beat the vibe. We came with a large group and ordered a little bit of everything, so it's impossible to name all of our favorites, but the ribs were absolutely divine. And you're seriously missing out if you don't get the Hula Pie for dessert! The Ahi tuna plate was good, but I preferred the chicken plate. The taco appetizers were tasty, though pretty small, while the nachos were a generous size and loaded up with toppings. The cocktail menu was also fun & creative. Everyone in our group seemed to love what they ordered: the Kiwi Mojito was a surprise favorite, with several people ordering a second. The Mai Tai & Honi Honi were also delicious. It's definitely on the pricier side and very popular with tourists, but I think the views, vibe, and overall experience make it worth it. Service is quick and friendly, but do beware of seagull attacks-they're vultures!!!!! A beautiful spot that I'd happily visit again! read more

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We had a reservation for 5 people at Duke's La Jolla for Sunday brunch. The restaurant is located on Prospect street, right next to a parking garage. The parking garage was $35, but street parking is also available if you can find it. It was a beautiful day, and we had a lovely ocean view of the La Jolla Cove. Our server was Jake, who took great care of us. Service was very efficient. We were seated promptly at our reservation time. Food came out very quickly. I had the Duke's Mai Tai, which came in a cool Tiki glass. Although the presentation was nice, I thought that the actual cocktail was a bit too sweet and watered down.  Per Jake's recommendation, I had the Sauteed Mac Nut and Herb-Crusted Fresh Fish. The fish of the day was a locally caught white sea bass. The fish was delicious. I liked the pesto-esque flavor and light crisp from the herb crust. The caper sauce was also very good. The dish also comes with a side of mac salad and some greens. Overall, I had a good experience at Duke's. read more

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Omg this place is my absolute favourite from Hawaii to mainland .... This place never disappoints you... The food is amazing and views are mesmerizing I am in love with place specially La Jolla location! Staff was amazing & welcoming Easy to access the La Jolla beach area and suburbs ! Highly recommended guys Do go without thinking ! read more

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I always believe that seaside restaurants are a scam, so I never go after them. Nonetheless, I am still a tourist... so your girl still wants some ocean views and semi-descent food LMFAO. The food was all right, nothing really special. The chicken salad was good but I'm not dying for it again, to be honest, I didn't taste much mango for a mango barbecue salad. The coconut shrimp was also... probably one of my least favorites I've had. I couldn't really taste the coconut plus it wasn't as crispy as I would've liked. The food was still fresh at the end of the day and the service was wonderful... ... and since it was my birthday, they brought out THIS GIGANTIC HOOPLA OF AN ICE CREAM SCOOP-- SLICE-- IDEK. JUST GET THE HULA PIE TRUST ME. IF U GOT KIDS TRUST ME LMAO. read more

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I enjoyed my Seafood Pot -- it was like an Hawaiian cioppino, with coconut milk broth instead of a tomato-based broth. The jasmine rice soaked up the coconut milk broth nicely, but I did wish there were more pieces of seafood. I was not a fan of the Macadamia Nut Hummus. It did not have the creaminess of most hummus. Rather, it was like a bad hummus topped with chopped macadamia nuts. For dessert, the hula pie was like a tall cookie-n-cream ice cream cake...it was okay. It was served straight out of the freezer, so it was rock-hard to spoon through. It also did not taste fresh, as if it had been in the freezer for weeks. When I received my check, their credit card machine automatically suggested to tip 20%, 25%, or 30%. Service was fine, but I don't like restaurants that pressure customers to automatically tip a minimum of 20%. It's restaurants like this that do not pay their servers a decent wage and expect customers to chip in for the difference. The outdoor tables had nice ocean views, for what it's worth. read more

Freaking religious experience. You'll want to set aside a couple hours for dinner at Duke's. Not because it's outdoors and has a great vibe, and helpful, friendly servers, which make you want to stay there for hours with your family, friends, or coworkers--although all of that is true. Not because it has a gorgeous view of the Pacific--which it does. Not even because of their piña coladas! No, my friend. It's because their sautéed Mac nut & herb-crusted fresh fish with mac salad is just *so good* but if you have any reverence for all that is good and true in this world, you'll have to stop every few bites, let your eyes roll back into your head a little, and enjoy it. It's just... slow. Now. First things first. Mac nut, mac salad. One is Macadamia nuts; one is macaroni. Hopefully my team member who raved about the mac salad does not read this and realize that I thought it was a salad of Macadamia nuts. I was like OK, that sounds weird, but I do love Macadamia nuts, so let's try it. She was right to rave. It was *delicious*. In fact, I think the fish and the salad kind of ran together a bit and made each other even more delicious. Look, I'm not sure how it worked, I just know it worked. Apparently for the dinner menu it only shows rice with the fish; ignore that. Just ask them to swap it out. Speaking of lunch, I did also have lunch at Duke's once. Got fish and chips. And let me tell you, the weirdest thing: Their *tartar sauce* was off the charts. I know. Who nails the tartar sauce? But it had this perfect zing to it, as though they got an idea from the usual malt vinegar and mixed it all in there. Given the quality of what I've had do far, you probably can't go wrong at Duke's. Get a reservation, ask for an ocean view--and give yourself plenty of time. read more

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We went to Duke's for an anniversary dinner and it was an excellent choice. The restaurant is beautiful and we were seated overlooking La Jolla Cove. My wife ordered coconut shrimp with a wedge salad and I had the seared scallops. Sarah Beth was our server and did an outstanding job. Food was so tasty and we had signed up for Duke's Insider Club and received a slice of Hula Pie free since it was our anniversary. Duke's did a wonderful job making our anniversary a special occasion. read more

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Came here for Sunday brunch with some friends. We didn't have a reservation. But we were seated without a wait. We never been to Duke's since we are not from California. Ambience was very vibrant and fun. Definitely the place was busy. The view was amazing, definitely enjoyed the view. Service was nice and friendly. Food was decently priced for the area, since everything is much more expensive, compare to other places Duke's was deftly priced. We had some crab wontons (they are deep fried) so I don't try them because I don't eat deep fried food. We had some sashimi that was pretty good. Also we had macadamia nut hummus that was great. I think was my favorite dish. For the main I had tuna bowl which was very good, definitely a large portion. I had a mocktail that was made with passion fruit juice and it was very good. Overall very good experience. read more

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This place has amazing views! The staff we interacted with were all so friendly. Our food was delicious. We will definitely be back. read more

Duke's La Jolla - View from counter at Dukes - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

Finally got to try Duke's in La Jolla and I was pleasantly surprised. These establishments by the water like George's at the Cove (vomit) don't even try anymore. The service was great and we had Joey to thank for that. We came during lunch for a corporate event for a colleagues baby shower and the crab ragoons were the best I've ever had not to mention their other apps. I ordered one of their plate specials and I was impressed with their bok choy side and Mac salad. Nothing was bland and the chicken breast was great. My dirty martini was as it should and the desserts were fabulous. There's no diversity there but that's La Jolla for you. Be prepared for ladies clutching their purses as you walk by. *rolls eyes Great ocean view and plenty of nice seating everywhere. Arrive before the lunch to dinner rush if you can! read more

Duke's La Jolla - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

Stunning location. Tons of families with young children. I have my own kiddo and wow was it loud - even outside. I sat outside with a lovely view of the sunset. I had the macadamia crusted White Sea bass. It is a yellow on seafood watch if you care about those things like I do. They were out of the ahi sashimi. The veggies were fresh and yummy. The fish was perfectly done. It was a small piece of fish which was fine as I wasn't very hungry but boy was that expensive. Nice wine selection. Service was friendly. Seagulls were even friendlier and very bold trying to steal food. Giving it 3 stars because the price wasn't worth it. I agree with previous reviewers. read more

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* catching up on old backlogged drafts so this review may be a bit out of date After our morning dive we wanted to spend the day at La Jolla so we stopped by Duke's before our beach day to grab a bite to eat! The restaurant was big and we were seated right away. We got drinks and food to share. We got the fish tacos, coconut shrimp, and Korean sticky ribs. They were all yummy but the coconut shrimp was my favorite! The restaurant is located in a nice area walking distance to more shops and the beach! read more

Duke's La Jolla - Fish Tacos, Crispy Coconut Shrimp, Korean Sticky Ribs - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Having visited Dukes in Hawaii and Malibu, my expectations were not too high given the off street location of the entrance. Boy was I surprised! A fantastic view overlooking LaJolla cove and the BEST SERVICE with the spirit of Aloha from each employee we met! It was just before 4pm and we popped in after shopping on our first day visiting from Phoenix. Because the dining room doesn't open until 4:30, we went upstairs to the bar area. There were PLENTY of seating options both inside and on the outside patio. There was ample shade outside but we opted for the high tops at the bar. The bartender Shaun/Shawn served us and was super professional! We shared a Cesar salad with Chicken (thank you for the info on the proteins Shaun!)- and the all-famous coconut shrimp which did not disappoint. All in all this is a great location, with a fabulous view and outstanding service and I highly recommend for drinks and appetizers if you're in the area! PRO TIP: go ahead and spring for the $35 12-hour ACE parking just around the corner- it's worth your sanity rather than driving around like the Griswalds in London looking for a parking space. Don't be cheap- that's a great rate for LaJolla! read more

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We came from out of town and went on a detour to Dukes based on a recommendation Food: came out fast and fresh and clean Service: very sweet and helpful checked on us frequently Ambiance: you can't beat the view !! read more

Duke's La Jolla - Steak & Eggs - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Update We returned on a packed house night. The teriyaki steak was great again and i had the fish of the day. Swordfish. Excellent Ambience. Total Surf Vibe. read more

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Dukes was stop one on our 24 hour whirl wind anniversary trip. Right on the main strip in La Jolla and unbelievable ocean views made even better by great service from Gracie. We've been to I think every Dukes on the planet and we love this one. So you have to start with their famous mai tai. That drink combined with the view is just the perfect start to a great 24 hours. We had the pork wontons delicious. My wife had a crab and shrimp salad equally delicious and I had the Famous Dukes burger, which I loved so is the perfect first stop on this crazy 24 hours. read more

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Visited La Jolla cove and wanted a light dinner and a drink. Our friend had recommended this place so we made reservations on a Sunday at 5ish and had no problem. They have a bar upstairs that had a burger special, but we sat downstairs and had a nice view of the ocean. We were well taken care of by our waiter, Jacob. I ordered a mojito which was so good and refreshing, and ordered the crab cakes which were also very good. They had an amazing meyer lemon remoulade sauce and pickled seaweed on the side which was amazing. My friend and I split the rocket salad with beets and goat cheese, and it was good as well. Our whole group split a hula pie for dessert. Very yummy with extra chocolate sauce and macadamia nuts. I would definitely go here again!! read more

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I've been to the Duke location in Malibu and since visiting SD was able to snag a day of dinner reservation. Quickly sat once arrived and got a beautiful view overlooking the water. It was a chilly night but nearby heaters kept us cozy. I tried the lavender pina colada - tasty and refreshing, we all shared the crispy coconut shrimp and crab wontons. I ordered the roasted lobsters - I can never say no to a lobster. And for dessert the three of us shared a slice of hula pie - perfect end to the night. A great meal at Dukes! read more

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We were able to walk in and get seated with a great view of the ocean. We ordered a cocktail and tasted great! We got the banana pancakes and the fish tacos for brunch and they did not dissppont. Calamari appetizer was great too! Highly recommend this place for great food and great views read more

Duke's La Jolla - Fish tacos and banana pancakes - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Beautiful outdoor patio! We've tried another location in Hawaii and stopped by and got the same plate here and loved it! We tried the tuna tacos as an appetizer- delicious! We shared the rib and chicken plate for lunch and it is a great portion - comes with sides too - great deal and super good! Service was great - also tried the mocktail with ginger beer and loved it! read more

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Full of promise but short on flavor. The bar is set pretty high when entering Duke's, from outside you can feel the cool tropical vibe and this is mirrored when entering the lobby and bar areas. If you are fortunate to get a seat without an obstruction, the ocean view is truly nice. The service was friendly but still a bit mechanical. The food was the failure point. Especially the moco loco. The hamburger patty was a nice size but lacking in the all important flavor category. The same can be said for the mushroom gravy, it had the taste and consistency of something off the grocery store shelf than restaurant made. read more

Visiting from Houston and this was OUR MOST FAVORITE meal while here! LOVED IT! The location is cute, quaint and scenic. Our brunch was breezy, right on the water, but the heaters helped. The hummus appetizer was DELICIOUS! We had the avocado toast, crab cake eggs Benedict and coconut crust french toast. Not a single bad choice. And of course adult beverages to start the day. Although stuffed...we shared the fudgy ice cream and key like pie. Our waiter, Nathan, was fun! He wasn't expecting us...and we hope we made his day. read more

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It's hard to beat a meal with a view like this. The outdoor patio overlooking La Jolla Cove is absolutely spectacular and easily one of the biggest reasons to dine here. While the prices definitely lean toward the higher end, the portions are generous and the food was delicious, so it felt like a worthwhile splurge. The service was a little inconsistent during our visit, with longer stretches between check-ins than I would have preferred, but whenever our server stopped by, they were genuinely friendly and attentive. Between the beautiful setting, great food, and the location in the heart of La Jolla's shopping district, I really enjoyed the experience. It's the kind of place that's as much about the atmosphere as it is the meal, and I'd happily come back for both. read more

Duke's La Jolla - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

We went to SD for a weekend trip with friends and Duke's was our first stop of the trip for lunch. We made reservations ahead of time but still had to wait a little bit but wasn't too big of a deal because we did have friends running late. We were seated out on the patio and got to enjoy the absolutely stunning views and even got to see some sea lions and tons of birds! The view was seriously so stunning, sit outside if you can. I unfortunately forgot our waiter's name but he was so nice! Seriously so sweet and was on top of it in terms of service. We started with the Coconut Shrimp as our app and those were amazing. The coconut flavor was there but it wasn't overpowering which I appreciated - love the sauce they served with it too. For the entree, we went with the Fish Tacos. In all honesty I think the fish was a little under seasoned, but the slaw and sauce pulled it all together and still made it really enjoyable. The guac that they serve alongside the tacos is also phenomenal! On the side I also ordered some mac salad because I can't resist it and it was delicious. Definitely glad that we decided to come here and highly recommend for a delicious lunch! read more

5-star for the view, our food and the service. I wasn't impressed by the cocktails unfortunately (tried both the hibiscus Paloma and margarita) but overall it was a good experience. My seared ahi tuna bowl was delicious and the view over the ocean was fantastic! read more

Duke's La Jolla - Seared ahi tuna bowl - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

Always love a visit to Dukes! On this visit we enjoyed the upper deck which was a first for us and loved the spectacular views! Began with a Lychee martini and enjoyed their great food - the macadamia hummus which is always delicious as was the ceviche, coconut shrimp and poke tacos ! Loved every bite! Ended with the Hulu pie and a local IPA and full bellies, having enjoyed the service, views and La Jolla sun! read more

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We made a last minute reservation for lunch on my sons birthday, and I'm so glad that we did! They were so accommodating for a last minute request, they even had a birthday card for my son! The view on the patio is worth a visit, even though we didn't have a sunny day it was still so beautiful. We ordered the Poke Tacos which were my fav, all fresh ingredients, Korean Sticky Ribs had great flavor and tenderness , Crispy Coconut Shrimp just so yummy right amount of crunch, Crab Wontons we all agreed this was a crowd favorite, Caesar Salad, and Fish Tacos were really good too. read more

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Ambiance 5 stars Food 3 stars Gorgeous location, and I can see why everyone wants to eat here. But the food is supremely OK, possibly underwhelming. So much so that I didn't even take a photo. Service was standard, our waiter was quite busy during lunch and I had to go up to the prep counter get a receipt. The location is also a little tucked away so I'm sharing a photo for easier recognition. read more

Duke's La Jolla - Front - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

Visited Duke's for Father's Day. The service was excellent. Our server gave great recommendations. The mai tai/lychee martini were top notch, I loved the coconut shrimp, my husband really enjoyed his fish and chips, and the pie was excellent. The view is so pretty. Just a really great time all around. read more

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Duke is the most famous Hawaiian and this restaurant is a great representation of him. The location is amazing overlooking the beach. They have a huge location with lots of seating in a beautiful setting and chill vibe. The food is fantastic, very fresh and delicious. Staff are very friendly and helpful. The hula pie is their signature dessert and is huge, enough for at least 3-4 people. All of the dishes were well presented and made with quality ingredients. read more

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One of the best nachos i've ever had! very cheesy. The view was amazing. Everyone was very nice. read more

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We came for Restaurant Week tonight. We had a nice table on the patio overlooking the ocean. I chose the Korean sticky ribs for my appetizer, filet mignon for my entree, and the key lime pie for dessert. Everything was delicious. I especially liked the corn served with the filet. The key lime pie was so tasty, I especially liked the crust. Our server was great and attentive. We will be back for the burger and beer Monday special soon! read more

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I made a reservation through OpenTable in advance and requested a table near the ocean/glass, and they delivered! Our server was wonderful. The kids enjoyed their kids activity booklets (this is a very kid and adult friendly restaurant, which was perfect for us). We loved being outside near the water, watching the seals from afar, enjoying our drinks and food. I ordered the kiwi mojito and it was delicious! We had the coconut shrimp appetizer, the poke bowl, fried chicken bowl, and 2 kids meals (fish and chips and the chicken fingers), ending our meal with a slice of their famous hula pie! read more

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Shawn is awesome I love aloha fridays There's live music upstairs with a gorgeous view of the water (La Jolla cove ) Parking is a bit challenging but there's valet and a parking garage nearby if you don't want to circle around for street parking Aloha fridays offer $10 mai tais and small bites including $12 Thai chicken skewers $14 lemongrass poached shrimp cocktail And $10 chilled edamame I really enjoy the overall vibe of this place it always feels relaxed and chill The view and live music is a bonus and the mai tai are so cute but also delicious Although seating at or near the bar isn't the full service you'd get at a table You can easily walk to the bar to order and the food comes out at a reasonable time I love that you can even sit outside on the side for a better view of the water in a more intimate setting for yourself or small group and still hear the music The food is great Vibe is nice and drinks are even better read more

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We stopped into Dukes for a taste of Hawaii while visiting La Jolla. The food was tasty. We got poke tacos to start which were pretty good. Kalua pork burger was reminiscent of that from the island. My daughter inhaled her fish & chips, which is always a good sign. The ambience was lovely with open air, views of the ocean, and live music. Service was friendly and quick. read more

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Ambiance is casual outdoor by the ocean view of La Jolla Shores. On a hot humid day a little smell of sea lions is in the air. The service was great and fast on my birthday celebration with my son treating me. The waitress was so kind and quick. Our calamari appetizers were delicious. Tender chew and crispy outside with its panko. Our fish dishes were made fresh and tasty. Overall excellent experience. The key lime pie was refreshing and tasty. Perfect way to end a nice celebration dinner with my son. read more

Duke's La Jolla - Sauteed Macnut and Herb Crusted Fresh Fish - New American Near Me - La Jolla, California

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We made reservations at this restaurant but traffic made us 15 minutes late. They still honored the reservation. Inside was indoor and outdoor seating. They sat us outside with a nice view of the water and mountains. For drinks we ordered the lavender pina colada, hot earl grey tea, and seltzer. The drinks came pretty quickly. The food a little slower. I got the farmer's omelet with bacon. My husband got the coconut French Toast, my mother-in-law got the burger with avocado but no sauce or buns. My son got the eggs benedict, and my daughter got the burger with no pickles or sauce. I really enjoyed my omelet. It had kale, pepper, mushrooms, cheese, avocado and I asked for bacon which they cooked into the omelet. It was soft, fluffy, and well seasoned. The only disappointment was the home fries were not crispy. My daughter thought her burger was only ok and her fries were not very crunchy. My son liked his eggs benedict. The eggs were perfectly runny. My husband liked his French Toast. My mother-in-law liked her burger but she asked for no bun. However, there was a bun which is why we didn't recognize the order at first. She just removed the bun. We enjoyed the meal with great views. read more

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