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    La Bonne Table

    4.6 (393 reviews)
    PriceyFrench
    Closed • 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    La Bonne Table Photos

    Business Info

    LA BONNE TABLE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - La Bonne Table

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    La carte avec mon verre du Bordeaux.
    Luis R P.

    Excellent service, great variety of French dishes presented beautifully and cooked perfectly. The place is small and cozy. Good variety of wines. Really recommend their salmon and their steak. The chef prepared those perfectly. Kudos!

    Michael G.

    My wife chose this French restaurant, it's very small inside but cozy. Had dinner here with my Family, not hard to find the restaurant but it's hard to find a parking spot. We had our Appetizer, main course , and dessert but I'm just gonna review what we had for our main entree since my wife already did a full review of what we had here. So I had the Cassoulet, I always enjoyed this dish because it has Variety of meats on it, taste-wise it's the same as the other Cassoulets I had in French restaurants we've been to, just like ordering this because of the Duck, Sausage and Pork Belly. My Son had a Pork Chop and it's a big one, it has a delicious mushroom sauce. My wife had the Duck Confit, the duck has a nice crispy skin and juicy inside, with delicious creamy sauce. Nice French restaurants to come back to.

    Cote de Proc
    Luis M.

    Brought my girlfriend here in order to celebrate Valentine's Day (though it wasn't exactly on Valentine's Day, neither her nor I are fans of pre-set menus). It's a very small, but intimate restaurant with only a handful of tables. I would definitely recommend making reservations ahead of time. The intimate vibes are definitely heightened by the dim lighting, which as perfect for a Valentine's Day dinner. Overall the waitstaff was attentive but service was on the slower slide. With such a restricted table count one would hope that they would be a little more prompt getting food out. I didn't mind too much since I had the most wonderful company, but with the pace of service we were there for quite a while. It was a celebration so cocktails were in order. My girlfriend got a Kir Royale and I opted for The Saint. Both cocktails subscribed to the less is more philosophy of mixology and were thoroughly enjoyed. No smokes in mirrors needed, just crisp, refreshing and deliciously clean flavors. Now for the food. 1.) We decided on Escargot as our appetizer and they offered very balanced yet rich, garlicky, buttery flavors with some nice texture contrast provided by the puff pastry. This was definitely a 4/5 dish for me. Though it was delicious we did find ourselves wishing for a little more crisp coming from the pastry. 2.) I chose the Confit de Canard for my main. It was my favorite dish of the evening. The duck was perfectly cooked and full of that rich flavor one expects. The brussel sprouts were nicely cooked and made for a fine side dish. I did find that the mustard cream sauce its served with was unnecessary and in my opinion created a sort of disconnect in the dish. I think I would've preferred something a little more subtle to pair with duck so that it would supplement the dish. Instead I felt like the flavors were competing, which may be a positive to some, but I found I could've gone without it. 3.) My girlfriend went with the Cote de Porc and did not enjoy her dish as much as the rest of our meal. I tasted a bit of it and it seemed like the pork got a bit lost between the mushroom cream sauce and the potato gratin. The gratin itself was my favorite component from her dish. All in all we were treated to a good dinner here at La Bonne Table. It's a relatively small table and small restaurant so its something I'd be open to trying in another occasion, for another celebration, but it's not a place I think I would come to with a higher frequency. Overall it was a 4/5 dining experience.

    Grilled porkchop with mushroom and scalloped potatoes. I enjoyed every bite.
    David V.

    We had dinner here last night for our last night here in Hillcrest. We started with the escargot, and it was absolutely delicious. So good, we ordered the French baguette, to sop up the remaining warm butter and garlic. The next course, we shared the salad and it was light and perfectly dressed. I ordered the grilled pork chop with scalloped potatoes and it tasted better than I imagined possible. Also the rainbow trout with grilled asparagus, was prepared to perfection. For dessert we shared the chocolate mousse. Rich Belgium chocolate and then it was time to walk back to the hotel. Everything from start to finish was a wonderful dining experience.

    Rose Petal Martini
    Leslie B.

    I had been wanting to try La Bonne Table for some time now, but each time I had attempted, there were no available reservations. The reason for that is that they are a very small restaurant, and seem to have a regular following in the community. On weekends, reservations fill up quickly, Anyway, I I was able to secure reservations at last and met up with two of my friends on a Friday night in December. It was quite the rainy night. Luckily, I found free parking easily nearby, as perhaps, the rain was keeping the crowds away. Once I stepped inside, the restaurant had a cozy European and vintage feel. The walls had black an white photographs of France, and the bar looks like it was straight out of an old movie. I absolutely loved the decor. I was greeted quickly as I walked in. I was the first or our party to arrive. I was given water and a menu, and the server checked to see if I needed anything else. Once my friends arrived, they were met with the same level of attentive service. With this particular group of friends, we generally share each dish so that we can taste a variety. Here the menu is small. I can appreciate a small menu, as it became apparent that each dish is treated with attention. However, it was a bit challenging to find dishes that we would all enjoy off of the small menu, due to our variety of preferences. We decided to start with the pâte and the rillettes de saumon ( an indulgent salmon spread). Both were served with baguette and butter. For our entrees, we had the truite amandine (almond trout) and the short rib. Honestly, all of the food had so much flavor and was perfectly cooked. I cannot comment on the pâte, as I did not try it. However, it was all I could do not to fill up on the salmon and baguette while trying to save room for the entrees. The trout was delicate and flavorful. The short rib was bold and melted in our mouths. For drinks, I chose the rose petal martini followed by a Cote de Rhone with my dinner. The rose petal martini was good and had fresh pomegranate, but I wish it had a stronger rose water/ rose petal flavor. My friend had a passion fruit spritz. I tasted it and appreciated the abundant fresh passion fruit. I really enjoyed the Cote de Rhone with my dinner. All throughout, the service was excellent. We were always checked upon, but never rushed. Even when we requested our leftovers to go, they held the bag in the kitchen, and gave it to us when we were ready to leave. All in all, this restaurant had great ambiance, excellent service, and delicious food. Make a reservation... if not, you will miss out!

    endive salad
    Leslie C.

    What a lively little french bistro! Yes it's pricey but the ambiance is so cozy and romantic and the service is absolutely top notch! The menu is quite limited and I wish they had a chicks. dish but they prepare their menu items very well and portions are quite generous. We ordered the endive salad to share. This was a fresh and well dressed salad. For our main courses we ordered the steak frites and the mussels. We probably could have shared just one entree. The steak was perfectly cooked, the sauce was to die for and the fries were perfectly crisp and well seasoned. I had asparagus instead of fries and they were delicious as well. The mussels came in a delicious broth and there were plenty of fries to share. Hubby could not finish the mussels. He probably left at least ten mussels in the bowl. If you are looking for a romantic evening this is the place!!

    Confit de canard- duck thighs with Brussel sprouts and mustard cream sauce
    Melissa V.

    We made a reservation for four during restaurant week. The restaurant is very small and intimate. There are only a few tables and you should definitely make a reservation. Food was delicious and so were the drinks. My husband loved their french onion soup. I would come again for a nice date night.

    Creme Brulee
    Alicia J.

    We popped in without a reservation on Friday evening, they were getting busy and stated they had reserved tables, but they made room for two at the bar. I ordered the salad pictured, and the creme brulee. The salad was delicious and the vinaigrette was just tart enough. The creme brulee was good but was lukewarm, and would have been tastier if it came out hot. This restaurant is wholesome, like you're sitting in someone's living room - however it was very warm inside so it was uncomfortable adjusting to the temperature when we first sat down. The staff were kind and helpful when we ordered. Parking in this area is tough so I recommend arriving early.

    Michelle F.

    Finally remembered to visit La Bonne Table in Hillcrest! Traditional French vibes. From the size of the restaurant and the white table cloths, to the waiters dressed in white collar button down shirts to the various photos on the wall. Our waiter was great and patient as we took our time ordering our dinner. We were enjoying the ambiance too much. When we finally made up our minds we had: Cote de Pore- served with potato gratin; absolutely mouth watering. Potato heaven. Moules a la bisque de Homard- Mussels! served with lobster bisque broth and fries. Finger licking good. Both of these entrees were delicious. Our appetizer was the: Rillete de Crabe-shredded crab, lemon juice and creme fraiche. Very tasty and light. Such a great meal, such a beautiful establishment, and what great service!! Thank you La Bonne Table for a delicious dinner. Looking forward to our next visit!

    Katherine K.

    Be warned, service is extremely slow! Even though we put our order in fairly quickly, we were there for just under 2 hours and ended up missing the movie we had planned for after. My guy took me here for Valentine's Day and it is such a lovely, intimate little place. I loved looking at all the decor on the walls. There was plenty, but it wasn't overwhelming. I absolutely adored how simple their cocktails were. Most places nowadays pack in a million ingredients trying to be innovative and "insta-worthy," but it's not necessary. My guy got The Saint and I got Kir Royal. Both were refreshing, simple and delicious! We started with the Escargots (delicious! had a nice amount of garlic butter on each piece, but I wish the puff pastries were crispier). For dinner, my guy got the Confit de Canard (the duck itself was delicious! I didn't like the mustard cream sauce at all. The brussell sprouts were cooked nicely, but I would've preferred a different vegetable that's not as bitter) and I got the Cote de Pore (the best part was the potato gratin. The pork chop was dry and lacked any real flavor. I know you're supposed to use the mushroom cream sauce, but it wasn't good). I would honestly say everything except for my pork chop was good and I would get again. I enjoy the simplicity of the menu and would love to come back again!

    PATE , my COCKTAIL, and complimentary  BREAD
    Marilyn G.

    We always take turns to choose which restaurant to dine at and it was my Son's turn and he chose to dine at this French Restaurant called "THE BONNE TABLE". There wasn't that much space inside, pretty small with an extra outdoor seating. All of the tables were full, so my first impression was that it must be good, and it was actually pretty good. Ordered the following: *PORK CHOP *CASSOULET *CONFIT DUCK *PATE MAISON *DAISY COCKTAIL *DESSERTS , CREME BRULEE & MOUSSE. We had our complimentary bread followed by this delicious appetizer, the PATE MAISON , its a Pork Pate with pistachios and this was delicious, I used my extra bread that I got on the PATE and it was very satisfying, like I felt full already and I hadn't gotten to my main meal yet. My DAISY cocktail was delicious. Our main course came all at the same time and I knew my Son would enjoy his PORK CHOP 'coz he loves pork chop, this PORK CHOP is a Bone-in Pork chop with Mushroom cream sauce, I got a slice of it right away from his plate to taste and it was so tender and juicy, it tasted perfect. My son enjoyed his Pork chop. I got the CONFIT DUCK, it has crispy and tender duck thighs, it's lightly seasoned, and has good portions. Whenever we eat at a French restaurant my husband always gets the CASSOULET, it's a french Casserole with Duck confit, sausage, and pork belly, and as always he liked this dish. For dessert I ordered the MOUSSE CHOCOLAT and CREME BRULEE, the Mousse au chocolat was pretty good and big, so I let my husband and son have it and I secure my favorite dessert, the Creme brulle, just for myself, it was delicious and had a nice crisp caramelized sugar on top. The service was great, I just don't know which one was actually our server, 3 servers were serving our table the whole time we were there ;) Parking is the only issue we encountered, and maybe for me the space was a little issue, it's too small inside, but the food was great!

    New York cut steak.
    Ed B.

    French Onion Soup Salad Fresh Trout New York cut Steak The food was a culinary feast. Prepared by caring hands with pride. The French Onion soup amazing flavor, the salad fresh and plentiful, the fresh Trout delicate flavor with an amazing sauce. The Steak ooo la la. The service timely, polite and attentive . While my wife was savoring every morsel and I gobbling the steak. More clients arrived 4 young women gathered and the wine flowed the conversation delightfully boisterous. I could not help myself while leaving I decided to ask "Have you seen the TV show Emily in Paris" they all laughed and toasted me. Bottom line a must go with your loved one.

    Salmon with asparagus topped with cherry tomatoes
    Robert W.

    Ended up at La Bonne as a walk-in on a first date after our original plan (Devo Diva) was closed. The restaurant appeared mostly empty, but all tables were reserved. The staff accommodated us at the bar with two seats after someone kindly scooted over. Food:The salmon was genuinely delicious - perfectly crispy skin, juicy flavorful tomatoes, and great execution overall. My date enjoyed her salad as well. For dessert, we both had the crème brûlée, which was good but smaller than expected and caramelized almost all the way through, leaving less of the creamy custard I was hoping for. The decaf coffee was excellent. My main complaint is portion size - I left still feeling a bit hungry after a $100+ meal (salmon, salad, two desserts, drinks). Service: The bartender was respectful and patient, clearly trying not to interrupt our conversation. However, this went a bit too far - I had to flag him down each time we needed something, which slowed our meal considerably when I was focused on my date. Atmosphere: Cozy and intimate with a living room vibe that actually worked well for a first date. The downside? It was uncomfortably warm despite the rainy evening outside, and the space is tight enough that you can hear neighboring conversations clearly. Value: At $100 for two people (no alcohol, one salad), it's priced at a premium level. While the food quality was there, the service and portions didn't quite match the price point for me. Would I return? Probably not - there are other restaurants in this price range that deliver more complete experiences. That said, if you don't mind the cost and value intimate ambiance over attentive service, it might work for you.

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    Service was great, cool atmosphere, food was decent. Nice variety of wine, disappointed in the mouse, which was more of a pudding.

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    Page 1 of 10

    Ask the Community - La Bonne Table

    Do they offer gluten free entrees for people with allergies?

    The menu changes regularly but i had no difficulty last night eating around allergies but for avoiding the fabulous loaf of homemade bread whose aroma was hard to resist!! Memorable evening

    Is there a website or menu? We are visiting next week and would like to have some french food. When we came a couple years ago, we went to bleu boheme a couple times, so this time woud like to try some place new.

    No, but you should definitely go! La Bonne Table is much better and much more authentic than Bleu Boheme!

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    Et Voilà French Bistro - Cheese-filled phyllo

    Et Voilà French Bistro

    4.6(935 reviews)
    2.2 mi•University Heights, North Park
    •$$$

    I've been here multiple times before for happy hour & then some. Love it before but LOVE THEM even…read moremore now!! Our gf had her bday celebration here two weeks ago. I was 30mins early with homemade bday cake in hand to surprise the bday girl. Since I was the first one there, Ludo & staff were exceptionally sweet to let me sit & wait even though all parties haven't showed up yet. Exceptional customer service!!! 12 out 10!! Delicious food & pretty big portions. Can't rave enough about this fine establishment!! Btw, there's an extra charge for bringing outside cakes which isn't a problem. In fact!!! They went above & beyond with cutting the cake & decorating each slices with fresh fruit & tasted like a coulis sauce. Gave the restaurant staff the rest of my homemade pandan carrot cake to share. Highly recommend Et Voila to every one!

    Some friends of mine brought me to Et Voila French Bistro for a birthday dinner. I have not been…read morehere since 2016 when they first opened. For my dinner, I had the traditional Boeuf bourguignon with pappardelle pasta. My friends ordered the Steak au Poivre et Frites and Coq au Vin. We also had a great bottle of wine called Lacoste-Borie 2018. The last time I had boeuf bourguigon was about 20 years ago. a rendition of Anthony Bourdain's recipe, but without the pappardelle pasta. Et Voila's version with the pappardelle was outstanding. The freshly made pasta, not only added great texture, but also flavor. It prepared just right, too. The Cabernet sauce was excellent and offered a great depth of flavors. The dish also came with tender carrots, sweet pearl onions, and white mushrooms. All of them were perfect. The beef was rendered down beautifully and had great color and was very tender to the touch. The beef offered exceptional preparation and was an absolute pleasure to eat with the Cabernet sauce. Well done chef. I was treated to a house soufflé which was excellent. It hit all the notes: light, soft, and airy, but packed with flavor. The sauce that came along with it was very good. My friends, who are regulars here, were very pleased with their dishes as well. I have to say, both of their dishes looked amazing. The hospitality at this French Bistro is first rate. All the employees, including the owner, were very amiable and welcoming. They aim to provide an excellent dining experience and that's what they do. This place is perfect for date night, special occasions, or just to simply enjoy a delicious quiet meal.

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    Et Voilà French Bistro - Interior bar

    Interior bar

    Et Voilà French Bistro - Soufflé

    Soufflé

    Et Voilà French Bistro - Dessert (almost finished raspberry lemon drop)

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    Dessert (almost finished raspberry lemon drop)

    Saint James French Diner

    Saint James French Diner

    4.2(350 reviews)
    2.1 mi•Gaslamp
    •$$

    Having eaten here several months ago for dinner, loving it, and forgetting to leave a review; I…read morefigured I'd redeem myself and post my latest lunchtime snack I had here at Saint James a few days ago while waiting for a Swiss watch technician from across the street to come back from lunch himself. French onion soup. Enough said. Deviled eggs rounded out our light snack, and those were freshly prepared. While the expected olive and chive flavor was outstanding, the anchovy was done just right to elevate the dish (my understanding now is that anchovy is usually included in deviled eggs as served in Europe). Our espresso martinis excelled at fronting the coffee taste before the vodka, instead of the usual other way around. This sip was exactly as I remember when I had the same for dinner previously. Service as mentioned, was extremely friendly and more importantly, went beyond service and well into hospitable. Love coming here. So, if you're in the area and just need a light snack (or a hearty dinner), drop on by - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

    Came here for a meetup. Did some research and I guess it has some history. Here was my experience…read more AMBIANCE Parking: Downtown San Diego, parking can get chaotic but doable. But your best with public transportation, rideshare, or carpooling. Seating: It's a smaller, intimate space with a mix of tables, booths, and bar seating. Room for maybe 50 people or so. Vibes: In the heart of Downtown San Diego, there are a lot of eateries and activities. The spot itself, Saint James feels like someone took an old-school American diner, sent it on a trip to Paris, and brought it back to San Diego. You still get the casualness and familiarity of a diner, but with the moodier lighting, décor, bar, and menu of a French bistro. It's stylish without feeling like you need to be overly dressed up. Being tucked into the Palihotel also gives it that cool boutique-hotel energy. FOOD / DRINKS Burger Parisienne (Recommend) A comforting flavor with some simple french influence. At its core, you've got something very American: a juicy cheeseburger. Then the French influence with the caramelized onions and a rich bordelaise (sweet wine) sauce. It's rich, savory, and makes this much more of a fork-and-knife burger than your typical grab-it-and-go situation. French Martini (Recommend) When at a French restaurant, do French things. Fruity, smooth, and easy to drink. You get the sweetness and tartness you'd expect from a French Martini, making it a nice contrast to the richness of the Burger Parisienne. CUSTOMER SERVICE Friendly, attentive, and professional. Can't complain! TL;DR OVERALL 4 Stars. Good food, good drinks, and that balances French flavors with American culture. It's not quite a traditional American diner nor a traditional French bistro. If you're exploring Downtown San Diego and want something a little different without going full fine dining, this is worth checking out. TIPS * Check out their weekday Happy Hour from 3-6 PM

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    Saint James French Diner
    Saint James French Diner
    Saint James French Diner

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    Wormwood - Dessert

    Wormwood

    4.3(500 reviews)
    2.1 mi•University Heights, North Park
    •$$

    Wormwood is an absolute gem with a moody, secret-garden sanctuary that strikes the perfect balance…read morebetween upscale French gastronomy and distinct Baja influences. The ambiance sets the tone for an unforgettable date night, complete with fantastic non-alcoholic mocktail options and an incredible wine list. We did their culinary tour, and every single course was executed with incredible precision and intention: Parker Loaf: Warm and cozy with rosemary and local honey bee. Calafia Oysters: Bright and unique, paired with a fermented spicy kosher granita and citrusy absinthe vinaigrette. Local Yellowtail: Balanced beautifully with a coriander avocado mousse, morita sea pearls, and a fermented spicy ginger sauce. Palate Cleansers: Refreshing watermelon mint and strawberry rosemary sorbets. Taleggio Agnolotti: Creamy and pillowy, served with local pea beurre blanc and grilled yakitori Baja shrimp. Grass-Fed Lamb Rack: Northern California organic lamb cooked to perfection with goat butter. Baja Trout: Ginger-brined with a rich kombu beurre blanc and maple-glazed bok choy. Dessert: A stunning Opera cake and deconstructed crème brûlée to round out the night. Beyond the plate, the service was seamless, warm, and elevated without feeling pretentious. Between the lush patio setting, thoughtful drink pairings, and flawless menu pacing, Wormwood delivers one of the most memorable dining experiences in the city.

    Two stars, one for the bread being fresh and delicous and one for the nice servers. Other than…read morethat, we were deeply disappointed with our experience. We booked a table for Saturday at 630pm for our Wedding Anniversary (noted on the reservation). We were seating fairly quickly in the romantic patio area right next to the piano. Its really cute and looks just like the photos. It cozy spacing, so we were sitting elbow to elbow with our neighboring table. Unfortunately, it was also right next to the fly catcher so every time the breeze came by, we experienced a really bad odor. We recognize we are outdoors and flies are a problem, but maybe dont put a table near the fly catcher or place it somewhere that doesn't catch the breeze. It made for a pretty unpleasant experience and we didnt figure out what the smell was until partway through our meal, so it felt like a big ask to be moved at that point. We ordered the 3 course meal. Service was extremely slow and it ended up taking 2 hours. It seemed like a busy night, so maybe the kitchen may have been backed up or they were short staffed, but a little acknowledgement of the slow service by our waiter would have been appreciated. The drinks were okay, but took 20 minutes to come out. There was a gap of about 40 minutes between appetizer and the main dishes. The wait was not worth it. For appetizers we got the muscles and shrimp. The muscles were tasty and the only item we liked of the night. The shrimp was overcooked. For mains we got the short rib and the chicken. The short rib was not tender, the sauce and sides were fine, but for an $8 uncharge we expected the short ribs to be fork tender. The chicken cordon Bleu was more like a chopped chicken croquet. It was fried nicely, but needed more seasoning and flavor. We did not finish either plate. For dessert we got the creme brulee and the opera cake. The creme brulee was a good size portion and but just tasted like cream. We thought the kiwi did match. The opera cake was decadent and flavorful, but the almond ice cream tasted too much of almond extract. Overall we were underwhelmed with the food. There was no acknowledgement of our anniversary, so we were a little disappointed in that. Unfortunately we will not be returning.

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    Wormwood - Interior

    Interior

    Wormwood - Scallop

    Scallop

    Wormwood - Inside

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    Inside

    Kingfisher - The flan was a great end to the meal

    Kingfisher

    4.3(714 reviews)
    2.3 mi•Golden Hill

    I am so happy I was able to make last minute reservations to Kingfisher for right when they open at…read more5pm on a Saturday! They only had a table for 5 but we ended up having 6 people in our party. They were so kind to be able to accommodate the additional person! They had personalized menus that greeted my party and it wished my friends a happy birthday!! They actually got to take the menus home! This was really a nice touch, I appreciated the details. We family-styled everything which is honestly the way to go so everybody can try a little of everything! It was majority of our party's first time dining there. We started off with some drinks, I got the Non-alcoholic Guava Mocktail and I got to try what was the equivalent to an espresso martini too. Definitely liked the guava drink better because it tasted like guava nectar juice (kind of like Kerns or Jumex). The Expresso Martini had fresh mint in it and it tasted earthy which wasn't my cup of tea. For food we started off with the Heirloom Tomato Salad which was DELICIOUS!! I don't know what they put in the Vietnamese Green Goddess (probably fish sauce since all the dishes basically had this) but it was magnificent and one of my favorite dishes of the night. Then the Scallops and the Black Cod came out. The Scallops came in a set of 3 and we cut them in half so we could all have a taste. The sauce on this was DIVINE!!! It was citrusy but still really flavorful bursting with umami. I'm literally starting to drool reminiscing about it xD We wanted to keep it to use on other dishes because it was so good. The Black Cod was also delicious. It had fried skin attached and a sesame soy glaze. Next up came the Beef Tartare and the Wagyu Steak. The Beef Tartare was probably the least flavorful out of everything we ordered, but it was still well seasoned. My friend said it was really spicy but it might have just been her bite because I didn't think it was spicy at all. I like that the give you the option of leafy greens or shrimp chips to eat it with. The Wagyu though, was an all-star dish. It was the crowd favorite for sure, we all enjoyed not only the steak but the picked baby eggplants that come with it, and the sauce was phenomenal!! Lastly came the Dry Aged Duck which is what they're known for. It was definitely the biggest fish out of all. You were able to eat the duck with two different sauces, one they called a "Fish Sauce Chimichurri" and "Vietnamese XO sauce" which is more so satay. My friends liked the XO sauce but I liked the Chimichurri better. They had actually forgotten about the side of Buttered Rice but I was told it was incredibly flavorful on its own so we still asked for it. It had more than just butter in it, there was dried shrimp and sesame seeds, and it was made with coconut milk or something because it had a sweet but savory taste to it. I saved some of my duck and Wagyu to eat with it which was actually pretty good. Overall I liked that they brought out the dishes from lightest to heaviest and especially after they brought out out 2 sides of Buttered Rice we were all satisfied and full. It was the perfect amount of food. Honestly EVERY dish was different but amazingly dank and I think it's the fish sauce in everything. They were also sweet and kept the cake we brought in the fridge, placed the candles on it for us, and even after we sang they cut the cake for us!! 10/10 would recommend coming here for not only the food but the impeccable service!! Since we had a larger party there's an automatic 20% gratuity already added to the bill, which came out to be $555! (Look at that angel number!)

    We came here during Restaurant Week which was probably our first mistake. For $75, it just wasn't…read moreenough food. Looking at pictures from other nights, most of our food was half the size or missing some major component. For example, the egg noodles had only a few very thin truffle shavings compared to what I saw online. They also lacked the real truffle flavor. The chocolate dessert was half of its normal size. Overall, everything is extremely overpriced and lacks flavor. The food was so bland across the board and it felt like we were being skimped out not on just the size but the flavor too. We eat a lot of Asian food and the taste wasn't even close to matching our expectations. All the workers were very friendly, but the food came out very slow. They also gave us a printed out menu for our anniversary with our last name on it which was spelled wrong. I don't care about that, just thought it was very funny. The restaurant was smaller than we expected, but we did enjoy the colors, the layout and the overall ambiance. Wouldn't go back!

    Photos
    Kingfisher - Interior

    Interior

    Kingfisher - Crispy chicken wings

    Crispy chicken wings

    Kingfisher - Hokkaido scallops $39

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    Hokkaido scallops $39

    Carbon Angela’s Kitchen - Skirt Steak with a Red Bell Pepper Chimichurri Sauce and Mixed Organic Vegetables

    Carbon Angela’s Kitchen

    4.7(288 reviews)
    2.1 mi•South Park, North Park
    Family-owned & operated
    Established in 2023

    The food is delicious here and the place is cute, however, they are consistently understaffed and…read moreit's a problem. If you need a job waiting tables maybe hit them up. If this were the first time, we might understand, things happen and sometimes you have to work shorthanded, but this wasn't the first time, more like 4th or 5th time over a period of several months and every time we come they are clearly understaffed and this place gets packed so it's not like they don't need more people. An entire restaurant is run by 2 servers, seems like maybe the owner and her son, and we could only see 2 kitchen staff working their asses off behind the glassed in kitchen, which likely means no breaks for any staff and everything takes forever. If you don't mind sitting and waiting for your food and drinks, by all means go here. The first time we were almost late for a show because dinner for 4 of us took almost 2 hours. We hope this review might inspire them to expand their staff because the food is delish and we want to keep coming back!

    This is probably the longest overdue review I have ever written, but at this point, not writing it…read morealmost feels selfish because I would very much like to always be able to get a table here. But alas, Carbon Angela's Kitchen deserves every flower, every reservation, every "you have to try this place" text thread, and every bit of love. This place has become one of my absolute favorite hidden gems in San Diego. Easily top five for me, and as someone who dines out a lot for a living, that is not a casual statement. There are places you like, places you recommend, and then there are places that start to feel woven into your actual life. Carbon Angela's Kitchen is that for me. Angela is truly the heart of this place. She has this way of making you feel like you are not just coming in for dinner, but being welcomed into something she deeply cares about. And Emanuele is absolutely part of that magic too. Together, they have built something that feels warm, generous, soulful, and so special. They feel like long-lost friends and family now, and I am honestly just so proud of them and all they are creating. The food is the kind that makes you want to order with the whole table in mind. The griglia mista is hands down one of the best investments you can make if you are dining with a group. It is the meat platter, it is the moment, and it is absolutely worth ordering. Four to five people can split it, especially if you are also doing appetizers, salad, wine, and a few extra things for the table. It is such a perfect nod to what Carbon was before Angela took over, when the space leaned more BBQ, but now it feels beautifully married with Angela's warmth, Italian influence, and the kind of hospitality that makes the whole meal feel like an experience. And please do not sleep on the rest of the menu. The short rib is fire. The arancino trio is always a yes. The eggplant croquette? Obsessed. The crespelle? So good. The Everything Salad is my favorite salad on the menu, and the street corn should never, under any circumstances, be skipped. I said what I said. The wine selection is top tier, the appetizers are memorable, and the whole place has that rare magic of feeling cozy, intentional, and completely unpretentious. You can come for a low-key dinner, a girls' night, a celebration, or one of those "we just need a really good meal and a really good glass of wine" kind of evenings. And the back patio? Perfect for an evening under twinkling lights. It is one of those spaces that just begs for a long table, good conversation, clinking glasses, and the kind of night that accidentally turns into a core memory. They also have catering menus available, which is very important information to keep in your back pocket if you are hosting anything soon. What Angela has built is honestly something to behold. One of the hardest-working restaurateurs doing the dang thing in a city like San Diego, and now opening Bedda across the way too? I am in awe and wonder watching it all unfold. It takes so much courage, grit, taste, excellence, and heart to build what they are building, and you can feel all of it in the room. Carbon Angela's Kitchen is a true labor of love, a hidden gem, and one of those places I will keep cheering for again and again. Go hungry. Order the griglia mista. Get the Everything Salad. Do not skip the street corn. Share Share Share, so you can try a little bit of everything and do a tried and true family style meal, you won't regret it.

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    Carbon Angela’s Kitchen - Arugula Salad

    Arugula Salad

    Carbon Angela’s Kitchen
    Carbon Angela’s Kitchen

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    Wolf in the Woods - Sweet Corn & Piñon Soup (100% -- the famous one)

    Wolf in the Woods

    4.6(551 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    •$$$

    Fantastic plates combining contemporary presentations and combinations across a familiar palette…read more This gem of restaurant sits in a pleasant hilltop neighborhood in San Diego, overlooking a forest, serving great experiences to the locale. Plates like the pisto, tataki, and lamb summarize the restaurant's ability to create once-in-a-lifetime bites in an artistic fashion. The interior ambiance and service staff only help to elevate the occasion.

    I'll start with the service. 10/10 Everyone who we…read moreencountered was very nice and treated us like we were the most important people in the restaurant. Which, I am sure they do for everyone. Which is why the consistency and dedication to their service is so commendable. Top tier from the host, our waiter and some sweet lady wearing nice clothes who spoke with us and provided us with refills. Focaccia Bread - 8.6 Good, hot and fresh. It could have used more herbs and texture on the outside. The bread was good quality and tasted as such. The star though is the balsamic vinegar that it comes with. The balsamic is delicious and tasted like it was high quality. Seared Beef Filet Tataki - 9.2 I haven't had many chilled beef dishes however, this is the best one. The beef was very tender and flavorful. It was cooked to a medium/medium rare. The soy jus the beef was sitting in was really flavorful and delicious. The seasonal citrus was also fresh and very delicious. I would encourage anyone to try this dish at Wolf, especially if you want to try something chilled that typically is served hot. Sweet Corn Soup - 9.9 Yes, a 9.9. I'm not sure soup can get much better. Every aspect and component of this dish is excellent. The depth of the flavor of the corn, the texture and items which accompany the soup are all great. The corn fritters are moist, flavorful and soak up some of the soup. The chile dust adds great seasoning and flavor while the pine nuts add texture. If I were to rank the best 25 bites of good or dishes I ever had, this would probably be top 10-15. Even if you aren't a fan of corn, get this, it'll change your mind. Kolibri Salad - 8.9 The salad contained blue cheese, dried apricots, shaved multicolored carrots, bread crumbs and a mustard vinaigrette. All of the aspects of the salad were very good and played off one another very well. I always say the best salad contain a creamy cheese, fresh fruit (not blueberries or strawberries), nuts and a good vinaigrette. The blue cheese was really creamy and probably the best blue cheese we have had. The mustard vinaigrette was good and paired well with all of the ingredients. Patatas Bravas - 8.2 The potatoes were good but not great. The potatoes were tender but too big imo. If they were cut into smaller pieces they would have better texture post cook. The aioli served with the potatoes was really, really good. I wish I had a jar of it. Skillet Mini Burger - 8.8 You could tell the beef was very high quality and it was cooked to a perfect medium. The beef was very flavorful and juicy. The hatch chile crema was delicious as well. If I had one bad thing to say about this burger it would be that it was hatch chile overload. If the burger just contained the hatch chile crema it would have been perfect. However, they also put cooked down hatch chiles on the burger. It was a bit too much chile and I wanted the beef and white cheddar to shine a little bit more.

    Photos
    Wolf in the Woods - Bar

    Bar

    Wolf in the Woods - Carne adovada

    Carne adovada

    Wolf in the Woods - Kakawa chocolate pot

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    Kakawa chocolate pot

    The Smoking Goat - Rocky Jr Chicken

    The Smoking Goat

    4.1(1.9k reviews)
    1.8 mi•North Park
    •$$$

    The Smoking Goat is a French inspired bistro located in the North Park area of San Diego…read more Reservations can be made on OpenTable. We Ubered everywhere on this evening so I can't comment on the parking situation, but it looked like street parking only. Seating options include the bar half of the restaurant with seats at the bar and cushy looking booths against the wall, or the main dining room. We sat in the main dining room which is quaint, and not necessarily upscale, but it does have a classy feel. The wall is brick, and the space is lit slightly dim. The kitchen is open and can be seen from the dining room. There was a nice mix of music playing in the background. I asked if they offered bread and butter, and they do not. But you can order an off-menu half French baguette for $5, served hot from the oven, with butter. We started by splitting the poached pear salad ($16). This was a delicious salad with local greens, blue cheese, fresh poached pears, and a champagne vinaigrette dressing. It was a pretty big salad, perfect to share between the two of us. For my entrée, I had the pasta seafood special with shrimp, salmon, and mussels in a lemon crème sauce ($42). Everything on the plate was delicious, and it had a generous amount of seafood. The lemon crème sauce had the perfect amount of flavor without overpowering the dish. She had the Scottish Salmon ($39). The salmon is topped with a lemon beurre blanc sauce, and is served on a bed of spinach and lentils, sitting on top of a parsnip puree. She loved it. Our server Ryan was very polite and professional and provided excellent service. We really enjoyed our meal here, and would definitely return.

    Came out for San Diego Restaurant Week and had such a wonderful time trying out the menu. Making a…read morereservation was easy enough through the OpenTable app, and the restaurant itself was cozy and inviting. The escargot and pâté were delicious, but the tartare was definitely something to write home about. I loved the balance of bright flavors with the tender filet mignon. The entrées were all great, and we finished things off with a decadent flourless chocolate cake. Overall, such a lovely meal and a great Restaurant Week experience!

    Photos
    The Smoking Goat - Interior

    Interior

    The Smoking Goat - Wild Mushroom Linguine

    Wild Mushroom Linguine

    The Smoking Goat - Duroc Pork Chop Tasso ham & red pepper Basquaise

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    Duroc Pork Chop Tasso ham & red pepper Basquaise

    The French Gourmet

    The French Gourmet

    4.1(1.1k reviews)
    7.1 mi•Bird Rock, Pacific Beach
    •$$

    Literally, no one makes a croissant as good as this place. Their plain croissants are simply…read moredivine. Flaky buttery soft it's like crunch on the outside. When I eat that, I prefer to takeoff the hard layers and then savor the yummy middle separately. It's a whole experience! Well, I originally came for the croissant. I also ordered some Too Good To Go bags to see about testing other things out. To my surprise, there were some savory croissants bread and Napoleon's. I always assume Napoleon's were overrated and then I got to try this and thought wow I get why they make these now.

    We were excited to use this bakery for our wedding after tasting their sample flavors--they were…read moredelicious, and we left feeling confident in our choice. Unfortunately, the actual wedding cake was a major disappointment. We ordered a classic/simple two-tier cake, but when it was picked up, it arrived disassembled with plastic separating the tiers which clearly showed when it was assembled, making it appear cheap. It didn't feel like the polished presentation we expected for a wedding cake. The venue staff had to place the top tier themselves, and because it wasn't properly secured, it nearly fell off during our cake cutting in front of our guests. We were under the impression that wedding cakes were a standard part of their business, but based on our experience, I wouldn't recommend them for weddings or other special occasions when a polished product is expected. I truly wish our experience had matched how great the tasting was. I haven't gone to this bakery for anything else so based on my experience with this cake I'm giving it 3 stars.

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    The French Gourmet - Tasted okay, but didn't look as expected - fondant was VERY wet-looking (not planned that way), icing was VERY sloppily applied.

    Tasted okay, but didn't look as expected - fondant was VERY wet-looking (not planned that way), icing was VERY sloppily applied.

    The French Gourmet - The French Gourmet in Pacific Beach

    The French Gourmet in Pacific Beach

    The French Gourmet - It's always a delicious day at The French Gourmet

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    It's always a delicious day at The French Gourmet

    La Bonne Table - french - Updated October 2026

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