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La Gran Terraza

3.8 (169 reviews)
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LA GRAN TERRAZA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Quiet
Happy hour specials
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - La Gran Terraza

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Reviews With Photos

Burrata salad
Scott A.

La Gran Terraza never disappoints. Every course was good. The bourbon butter was awesome. The dark chocolate cake was somehow vegan. Don't even understand how that was possible it was so good

Aimee I.

LGT has always been my 'go to' venue for holiday occasions, special events and celebrations! I've been taking family, friends, and colleagues for many years now, and this spot holds a special place in my heart. I love that it is in USD campus and only a 5 min walk to get to Immaculata. Parking is FREE on the weekends. The grounds are lovely, and perfect for portraits / groups photos! Just recently I've had my award celebration here with about 30 guests. I am very detailed when planning my events & had specific instructions for the staff and also some last minute requests/changes. I visited a few days before the event to see how the layout will be, the colors and the type of flowers they will have at the tables. A speaker is available if you wanted music (to connect to an iPod), or bring a mini speaker (as long as you do not blast the sound!). Microphones and podiums are also available, if your event requires it. I LOVED CHERYL, the Hospitality Mangr, bcoz she was very quick in responding to my email (I had LOTS of Qs!) and Rose met me in person to ensure that we were on the same page and was very attentive; both of them were very helpful, patient, and accommodating. We had 3 wonderful servers for our 3 tables, and just impressed with LGT! You do not ned to bring anything else, the restaurant is lovely with its big windows that brought in natural sunlight, the view was incredible, and tables had cream colored/red/pink roses, and some petals on the tables! Rose even arranged to have pink ribbons tied on the napkin to match my theme and all these are such special touches! I chose to have two appetizers (caesar salad which they upgraded to mixed greens, with tomatoes and shaved parmesan), and individual cheeseboards per guest. I decided to have my menu printed so it was personalized (welcoming guests, adding some notes / special announcement). I also pre selected my entree, giving each guest the option to choose one from four main dishes: CHICKEN, SALMON, STEAK FRITES, and WAGYU BURGER (each came with a side of either french fries, mashed potatoes, veggies, etc). The service was fantastic, the food presentation impressive, staff were attentive, ensuring drinks were refilled, and everyone is happy. It was wonderful! The event was from 12-230 and we were allowed to linger a bit to take more photos, to open presents, and just enjoy the beautiful SD day. THANK YOU, CHERYL and ROSE, and the staff @ LGT! I am already thinking of what celebration I can host next @ the beautiful La Gran Terraza!

Seared Salmon over Mushroom Risotto
Kathy B.

They do a nice job with their special event dining experiences, especially the Christmas lunch buffet. The presentation of the market fish entree/cod on their regular menu is pleasing but it surprisingly lacked in flavor. The salmon selection was better received by others in my party. Their desserts on the other hand are excellent and innovative and worth ordering multiples to share, as no one will be disappointed.

Lavender mock-tail
Jiansen W.

La Gran Terraza in San Diego, nestled within the University of San Diego campus, is a Mediterranean restaurant that combines exquisite cuisine with a view of Mission Bay. AMBIANCE Upscale and relaxed rustic, for both casual dining and special occasions. The outdoor terrace provides a serene backdrop for enjoying meal. SERVICE Staff were very friendly and helpful in answering my million questions about the menu. DRINK 5/5 LAVENDER ROSEMARY MOCK-TAIL: subtlety sweet, floral, and bubbly FOOD The food menu is from San Diego Restaurant Week and features this restaurant's top eats. 3/5 SEAFOOD BISQUE Savory and briny 5/5 MOZZARELLA SALAD Charred Buffalo Mozzarella, Crisp Shaved Fennel, Sweet and Tart Local Citrus, Candied Kalamata, Baby Arugula and Honey Vinaigrette 4/5 DUKKAH CRUSTED MARKET FISH Cauliflower Purée, Smoky Delectable Broccolini, Tomato and Saffron Sauce 4/5 SQUID INK PASTA Tender Mussels, mildly Spicy Tomato, Shaved Parmesan, Basil and Grilled Lemon DESSERT 5/5 BAKED ALASKA: vanilla sponge cake, blue chip creamery ice cream, and meringue, torched with a fiery liquid rum anglaise spectacle - an unforgettable treat. PARKING $1.25/hour at the main lot Or free after 7pm at adjacent lot

Bobby D.

I'm sure I'm like many San Diegans who were not aware that there is a sit down restaurant with an amazing view, quality customer service, and mouthwatering food on the University of San Diego (USD) campus that's open to the general public. My daughter attended USD and I regret not dining here the many times I visited her because I didn't realize how terrific the experience would be. If you're visiting San Diego, taking a tour of the beyond beautiful campus, or you're just wanting a nice sit down meal, I recommend you consider stopping by at La Gran Terraza (LGT). LGT is located on the USD campus, which probably deters diners from visiting the restaurant because it's not the easiest place to get to unless you're familiar with the university. Please don't allow that to prevent you from eating here. In front of the building where the restaurant is situated, there is paid parking. There is also a parking structure northeast of LGT where it's also inexpensive paid parking and a short walk to the building. LGT is located in the same area where the USD Bookstore is found; it's in the same hallway where you can find O'Tooles, Frank Warren Lounge, and Tu Mercado; and it's across the street from the USD Legal Research Center building. Prior to entering the restaurant, you'll see the USD letters in front of the entrance to LGT. They recommend that you make reservations if you're going to dine here. The decor is fine dining with classy white cloth table tops, brown and yellow accents, decorative light fixtures, and the entire restaurant is clean. LGT is spacious with a lot of indoor seating and there's also outdoor seating, which I overheard you can request to eat outside when you make your reservation. The allure of dining at LGT is the beautiful view of Mission Bay. I received memorable and outstanding customer service from my waiter Richie and the other young man who bussed my table. Richie was professional, friendly, and attentive during my entire sitting. The main reason I decided to try out LGT was because of their Restaurant Week special, which goes from September 23rd through September 27th. This was my first time dining here at LGT and was looking forward to eating a 3-course meal for a reasonable price. For $45, you get to chow down on an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert. You order everything at once, so I chose the Crab Cake Salad for my 1st Course, the Short Rib for my 2nd Course, and the Chocolate Decadence Bombe for my 3rd Course. Before the appetizer was brought out, there was complimentary bread with a dipping sauce. I wished the bread was warm and baked fresh, but it paired well with the dipping sauce. My favorite dish was the Crab Cake Salad, which comes with a crab cake, arugula, frisée, avocado, mango, chipotle dressing, and orange aioli. It was fresh, the crab cake was addicting, and I really wish there was more of that salad. I love the sweet and savory contrast. The Short Rib had sautéed gnocchi, green peas, leeks, cherry tomatoes, and watermelon radish. The short rib was juicy, tender and combined with the sauce, I savored every bite. I would have been satisfied with just those two dishes, but there's more. The Chocolate Decadence Bombe is a buttermilk chocolate cake, mocha almond fudge ice cream, and hot fudge sauce. I'm a chocolate and almond fan, so if you are too, you will love this dessert. The cake was pillowy, the combo of the cake and ice cream was divine, and it truly was decadence in a bowl. Please check out my vid for what you'll get if you order this dessert. All 3 dishes warrant my 4.5 star rating. What a bummer that I didn't dine at La Gran Terraza with my daughter while she was at USD. Now that I know how delightful the dining experience is here, I plan to visit the restaurant for their other special events. Kudos to the savory Chefs, the patisserie Chefs, and the wait staff!

Duck and potatoes with beat puree

We went for a Morlet wine dinner. The whole experience was amazing. I have a food allergy that I included in the reservation on Open Table and the chef had planned my entire food service to accommodate it. The food and wine pairing were amazing.

Steven H.

Went to La Gran Terraza for a business lunch and it was outstanding. It's located on the University of San Diego campus within the University Center and they typically offer valet parking but during the summer parking isn't as difficult to find if you don't want to utilize their service. We were served by Nicole (trainee) and April at our lunch today and they started us with a complimentary plate of multigrain bread with olive oil side. For the meal two of us ordered Chell's Shrimp and Crab Louie and one of us had the Red and Green Caesar with Airline Chicken Breast. Both salads were attractively presented and tasted fantastic. They both featured ingredients perfectly chilled and the chicken was cooked perfectly. This restaurant always does a great job with their food no matter what you order. We come here pretty often both for the food as well as to be on the University of San Diego's beautiful campus and have never had a bad food experience. Nicole and April were both friendly and attentive in their service. I highly recommend giving LGT a try.

Lobster salad
Katy B.

My husband and I ate here recently for the first time for their lobster dinner. We were both very excited to have a nice sit down meal so close to home. The restaurant was beautiful and was exquisitely decorated for the holidays. The servers were friendly and the timing for the multi course meal was perfect. Most of the dishes were just ok, but the main course lobster tail was excellent. We also did the wine pairing which did have very tasty wines. We are hopeful to give this restaurant another try at one of their upcoming events.

Front of the restaurant
Cat N.

Wow, this is one amazing restaurant located at the University of San Diego. We went for lunch and all of us had our socks knocked off by the amazing menu and the desserts. At the table, people had ordered Steak Frites, butternut squash, raviolis, French dip, fisherman stew, and I got the crab cake salad. All of them were amazing. I got an oat milk. The latte was just so good! Now let's talk about the desserts which were unbelievable. The s'mores that I got was outstanding. My friend got the Anniversary Baked Alaska and it was really good. Another friend got the chocolate bombe and that one was the bomb! It was beyond amazing! At the restaurant so we had great service except they didn't fill the water but that's OK. The view is incredible and you can sit inside or outside highly recommended. I heard that they have a Sunday brunch buffet, which I would like to check out. Check out my video on YouTube for the full experience. https://youtu.be/DyuOK0ERekw

Lobster and shrimp salad - like ceviche, but too salty and too much Mayo
Amber E.

Beautiful setting and views, but have to say, the food (at least for me, today), was just ok. I ordered a cup of the Lobster Bisque - served piping hot and topped with a drizzle of basil oil and micro greens; not nearly as good as Dobson's famous mussel bisque, but all right, and the cup was a generous portion for $5. The Gazpacho might be better; would try that next time. Then, (since you can never have too much lobster), had the Lobster and Shrimp Salad; kind of like a ceviche, but way too much Mayo in it, and too salty; also served with Old Bay chips, which made it even saltier. Didn't love what I ordered, but might try the Cobb Salad next time. Also, took half an hour to get my check after I finished eating, and had to ask 4 times; sigh.

Tartare Salad Red & Green Caesar
Felina V.

I'll start by saying that the food was delicious. My dad and I had a lunch date for restaurant week. I had the tartare salad and the salmon. Dad had the Caesar and the steak frites. All delicious. (NOTE: there was quite a bit of soil atop my tartare salad. Thick, moist soil. Assuming it was from the micro greens on top. Mentioned it to our server and the gal who took the plates - she said she would mention it to the chef, but nothing was done. Fair enough, I still ate every bite and it was delicious once I plucked out the soil. I left it on the edge of the plate to be seen.) Our waitress was pleasant. The hostesses were pleasant. When I left, the valet attendant (AND the entire valet booth) were GONE. I asked the hostesses where I could find him, they told me to check the other side of the building. Hiked over there, nothing. Then they gave me a phone number they said was the valet guy. It was not; it was a shuttle driver, who also didn't know where the valet was. Went back to restaurant again, asked for the manager (Mary? Carol?) She came out and told me they were looking for him. Each time she walked past me, she wouldn't even make eye contact or give me any updates. She spoke aggressively to the hostesses, asking, "are you sure nobody dropped any keys off here?" as she rummaged through the host stand. I assured her my keychain was large and full of keys and other things, and they would be difficult to misplace. She finally came back and said, "the valet has been outside waiting for you this whole time." UMMM excuse me? I can assure you, he was not. I don't know what in the world was going on, but after nearly an hour of searching for my car and my keys, I was finally able to leave. I told the manager the food was great but that this completely sullied my experience. She simply huffed and snarkily said, "oh, well, sorry." I don't blame the valet guy. Looked like they had him running around. I blame the terrible management. How do you not know where a customer's CAR is? This massive delay kept me from work and made me miss a meeting. I would've come back for the food, but I'd rather stay far away now.

This was supposed to be my well done steak. You can see it burnt on the outside and medium/medium well on the inside.
Darreca L.

Let's start with the best part of the experience, our server. She was so sweet and polite. She checked on us the perfect amount of times, and we were able to get out today during lunch easily because she was so on it. The dessert was delicious. Tart but delicious. But my well done steak was burt on the outside and undercooked on the inside. It had zerooooooooo seasoning and was a poor cut of steak all together. I clearly came for the convo with my friend and the service because it wasn't for lunch. I don't know if students are also the cooks or chef in the back, but whoever was doing expo should have caught that it was burnt and undercooked. I don't think I would spend money to go back. I really just ate fries for lunch. Although they needed salt they were delicious also.

Arnold T.

I like the ambience in this place. It would a nice place for a party. It's huge and they have outdoor seating areas. Service is good but the food is about average. Still looking for a wow dish that make this place busy & popular. The $16 wagyu burger is good - could use some cheese. My boyfriend said he could tell it's wagyu but I can't. Chips were yummy My eggplant dumpling was ok. The fried scoop of babaganoush is their dumpling. I liked it but the heirloom tomato sauce needs something called flavor. In my opinion, it could use something like a Mezetta brand jar of tomato sauce (it happens to be my favorite). Something to perk up the dish. Before the pandemic, we tried this place and they had the black spaghetti. While it looks gross it wasn't bad.

Inside

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Super duper good yummy yummy food!! Wait took a little while but that's okay! We enjoyed our great food and the music rocked!

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La Gran Terraza Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - La Gran Terraza

Do they serve halal meat?

Hello Ridita, We do not serve Halal meat. Thank you for reaching out.

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Tahini - The Esquire Pita Sandwich with chicken Sriracha Tahini, French fries and mango lemonade.

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4.6(1.4k reviews)
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We've been to Tahini before but decided to make a special trip to Tahini to support them after…read morehearing they've been constantly harassed with hate messages/crimes -- which is so horrible and sad. The food is was great and one of my favorite spots when I'm craving middle eastern wraps- I did built your own pita so of course I like the ingredients. I loved my pita bread (it's much different from the Greek style if you haven't tried it before!) and the enjoyed the steak in particular. It had a lot of warming spices (nutmeg and cinnamon maybe?) and the flavor is pretty unique! I added bell peppers, pickled cucumbers, lettuce, tomato, red onion, tahini sauce, and garlic sauce. I also got a piece of falafel - I always gotta judge a place by their falafel and this one was crispy on the outside and soft in the inside which was perfect. Next time I need to try the halloumi cheese stix with fig jam! Place was very clean and the decor was nice. I also love the Finjan coffee spot next door.

The food here is genuinely outstanding - fresh, colorful, flavorful, and made with care. Every time…read moreI eat here I'm reminded why I keep coming back. The staff is also consistently warm and kind, which makes the whole experience feel good from the moment you walk in. My only real frustration is with the wait times on online orders, and it's significant enough that I have to mention it. I work 10 min away and only get a 35-40 minute break. The app consistently quotes around 20 minutes- but honestly, 20 minutes shouldn't even be necessary. I've stood there and watched them make a bowl. It takes about two minutes. Other similar restaurants have my order ready in five minutes, consistently. So when the app quotes 20 and then I still end up waiting at the 20 minute mark on top of that - in a nearly empty restaurant - something is off. Today this happened (I hit the 20 min mark with no food), and I had to go up and ask them to make my order. This isn't a one-time thing either. It's happened enough times over the years that it genuinely deters me from coming here on my break. To their credit, there was a stretch where it seemed like they had it figured out, so I know they can do it. I just wish that consistency would stick. If you're not on a time crunch, absolutely go. The food alone is worth it. But if you're relying on a quoted pickup time, build in a buffer- a bigger one than you'd think you'd need.

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Tahini - Interior of the restaurant

Interior of the restaurant

Tahini - Close up of the OG Pita. Packed will delicious meat!

Close up of the OG Pita. Packed will delicious meat!

Tahini - Interior

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Interior

Shawarma Guys - Chicken California Shawarma Wrap

Shawarma Guys

4.7(1.1k reviews)
10.4 mi
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Kid friendly
Casual dining

I decided to visit this location for a late lunch during the week. I was so busy at work that I had…read moreto not had an opportunity to get lunch. I was able to sign off at 330p and head over to this location. The place was empty and there were clean tables and floors when I walked in. I was greeted by the lady behind the counter, and she had a smile on her face. I ordered the beef & chicken shawarma plate, Wagyu Beef eggrolls, and a bottled drink. My food was freshly prepared. I received my order in 7-10 minutes. It smelled wonderful. I paid for extra yogurt sauce and left to take my food to-go. When I arrived home, I enjoyed a delicious meal. Everything was prepared with great flavor, portions, and care. I had the garlic sauce and the yogurt sauce with my meal. This place is one of my favorites. I have been eating their food since the Southpark Truck days, phenomenally delicious. Thanks!

Ordered their Beef Wagu Cheesesteak and was not a fan. There were some pretty gristly pieces of…read moresteak, and whatever they marinated the meat in was not my favorite. I did eat the entire thing but definitely wont order it again. I did not like the seasonings that are used. The bread was perfect. I have had their shawarma in the past, and enjoyed that, but the cheesesteak (IMO) was not something I enjoyed.

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Shawarma Guys - Ordering counter

Ordering counter

Shawarma Guys - Wagyu beef and chicken shawarma plate, hummus and pita bread. All tasted so good!

Wagyu beef and chicken shawarma plate, hummus and pita bread. All tasted so good!

Shawarma Guys - The combo wagyu beef & chicken shawarma !

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Alforon

Alforon

4.6(1.9k reviews)
7.4 miRolando
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I have eaten there so many times I can't even count. Their food and their restaurant is my favorite…read moreplace to eat in San Diego. George and Samia are the most wonderful people in the world. George will come out of the kitchen and explain, in detail, every item on the menu. I laugh when I read or even see a subpar review of Alforon. Those people are either high on drugs or never experienced excellent food before. Chicken Tawook, Tabouli salad, house pickles, everything is off the chart and that's just the for starters. You can close your eyes, point to a menu item and have the best meal of your life. Explore their whole menu, you can't go wrong with a single item. Hands down off the chart and excellent food by two of the nicest people you will ever meet in your life.

First of all let me say that the love dessert has me hooked. Best thing here! One of the most…read moreunique and tasty things I've tried in a while, and that's saying a lot w my sweet tooth. I love the floral and pistachio taste, and it doesn't leave you feeling heavy afterwards. The mint lemonade is also a must have- tastes like it came from the garden in the best way possible. For savories, I had the spinach and cheese bajeen, baba gannouj, and the lamb fatteh - all had a lot of flavor and tasted homemade. I love trying new foods so will have to come back with more friends and try other things on the menu. The downside of this place was being seated on the right side of the restaurant near the carry out section. This was the pit of despair. I noticed that most of the staff goes to the other end first, and as a result 4 tables got seated after us and all of them had food on their table before we managed to flag one of the staff. It was definitely busy in there but he replied that he was simply going in order, but apparently order or left side to right side instead of arrival. I recommend trying to get seated on the side w the stained glass windows for better service. Other than that, the experience overall was pleasant.

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Alforon - Inside seating

Inside seating

Alforon - Ouzi Lamb Special

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Lamb fatteh

La Gran Terraza - mediterranean - Updated May 2026

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