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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
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Know before you go: Valet pops up around 11:25. You have to cross the bookstore then hang a left to find the hallway to the restaurant. This has the ambiance of an exclusive country club. They ask if you have a reservation, the staff is very professional and take pride in their service. Music is calm and jazzy or soft italian (frank sinatra-ish). Today I had their buffet, they had a vegetarian option: Butternut squash ravioli which was topped with fresh bits of squash. The garden salad seemed to be missing the candies nuts but the quinoa was not overwhelming. The poached pear had two types of pear and the burrata was like a sauce at the bottom so it a bit hard to grab. The dessert spread looked amazing!! I'm glad they had kiwi and mango on the fruit platter. I didn't care for the cookie, it was more like a crisp but the red velvet cake reminded me of nothing but bundt cakes recipe. The blueberry brulee looked like regular creme brulee with a lighter taste. Overall this was an amazing experience and I hope to return! read more
1 month ago
3 months ago
Always enjoy the wine dinners. Great value and delicious food! Dessert is usually the star of the show. They have an impressive chef. read more
5 months ago
5 months ago
3 years ago
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 read more
2 years ago
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! read more
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. read more
4 months ago
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! read more
11 months ago
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. read more
1 year ago
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. read more
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. read more
2 years ago
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. read more
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 read more
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. read more
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. read more
4 years ago
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. read more
I rounded up to 4 stars. I'd say 3.5 solid The service was great. No problems there. My wagyu beef burger was really good. The homemade chips were perfectly seasoned and cooked. Highly recommend this. The eggplant dumplings I didn't care for. They were more "meatball" than a traditional dumpling and very light. Wouldn't fill someone up with that dish alone. Second time here and must say I'd come back. Nothing over the top to rush back for but definetly not horrible to keep me away either. read more
Went for Restaurant Week, Was just ok .. They didn't seem prepared. They didn't have everything on the menu, and made some substitutions. Lobster Bisque was just ok, lacking flavor.. Steak was ok, but probably the best part of my meal. Dessert was ok, was cold lava cake, could have been heated up... Everything was really just mediocre.. Probably not somewhere i would return to.. The views were nice. It was cool to also be able to check out the campus. read more
3 years ago
As someone who loves and dines out often this was an absolutely incredible experience! The manager Zac was professional, attentive, and extremely hospitable. I loved the view and the delicious food that had a splendid presentation. Zac came by our table numerous times to check in on us and made us feel very welcomed. Thank you to all the dining staff. Thank you again Zac for the wonderful hospitality. read more
I've been to La Gran Terraza three times now. Once while interviewing at the University of San Diego then twice since starting my new position. While I do think the food is pretty good, especially for this to be a restaurant on a college campus, I think my rating of 3 stars is a reflection of a bit of inconsistency in service and the quality of the food. My first time I wound up simply ordering a salad. Those around me ordered other dishes but I was interviewing, so nerves. I'll also admit that having worked on a number of campuses in the past it is sometimes best to exercise caution with campus restaurants. This however would have actually been a good day to take a chance! The dishes that those around me ordered both looked and smelled amazing. The service was also really formal, down to their solicitation of either coffee or desert. I think this experience informed my adventurous approach to the my next round at La Gran Terraza. I wound up ordering the Seared Striped Sea Bass specifically because I wanted the mushroom risotto. That said I will admit that the mushroom risotto, though flavorful, did not taste much like mushrooms. I am actually unsure if there were mushrooms in it at all because I did not see one while eating the risotto. That said again the risotto was still good and the fish was cooked perfectly so all in all this was a positive visit. This last time though was a definite miss. During lunch four of us wound up ordering the same dish, the Steak Frites. Coincidentally we each also ordered a bowl of soup and asked for our steak to be prepared medium. When we got the steaks each of the four were well done as opposed to medium. The garlic fries that came with them were also hard as a rock. Additionally, I can't tell you what the Béarnaise Sauce tasted like because it lacked flavor. I love both steaks and garlic fries but I'm unsure if I'd order that again. Right now La Gran Terraza is about 2 for 3 so I think overall it's worth the visit. I've also heard amazing things in relation to when they do/did buffets. Given that each time I've gone it's been during their lunch rush I think that may be the buffet style is a better venture for them. I'll report back as they tend to have events and I plan to check out one of their buffet events. read more
Business owner information
Carol N.
Thank you for taking a moment to write about our restaurant. We…
The food was delicious but also room temperature like it was pre-prepared. I'm torn between this being a great restaurant and a catered event center - which it kind of is. Located on the University of San Diego campus, La Gran Terraza is usually only open for lunch and offers its space for special evening events. We went for San Diego Restaurant Week, where they offered 3 courses for $40. The portions weren't tiny or gigantic, but still a decent deal for $40 per person. When we were handed the menus, we were also given free hummus and lightly fried pita in the way that restaurants bring bread to the table. This was a pleasant, tasty surprise. The clam chowder, and all of the courses, came quickly. It was oddly thick, like the potatoes were pureed into it, and was a bit lacking in clams, but it was one of the best chowders I've had. We both ordered the short rib, which was tender and meaty. I loved the butternut squash puree which had a perfect texture. The added vegetables were unimpressive, with the carrots being rather undercooked and very crunchy due to their thickness. My friend got the chocolate skillet cookie and I got the pumpkin creme brulee. Both were tasty but nothing to write home about. Overall, it was a very weird experience. We expected a normal restaurant but instead felt like we were in a hotel restaurant attached to a hotel bar. We parked on the street where Google Maps had led us. Street parking on USD's campus was free after 7:00pm. It took us over five minutes to look for the restaurant before we asked a student passing by who directed us into the large lecture building which looked like a nice hotel inside. The courses came quickly, almost too quickly where we had no break in-between. The food was also lukewarm, like it was all prepared the second we ordered or was even sitting prior. It felt like higher-end event-center catering or a delicious hotel banquet meal. I'd definitely eat everything again, but the near empty restaurant made for a super odd ambiance. We were one of three parties in the decently sized dining area. The staff was very attentive, though likely because there was nearly no one to attend to. If the food seemed fresher and it wasn't eerily empty, I'd highly recommend La Gran Terraza. read more
2 years ago
Came in for a quick lunch as I had a proposal on campus. Was very impressed with this hidden spot. Didn't have any alc or couldn't serve it which was a little odd. But the food and service were amazing. Great to entertain guests or for working dinners. Staff and management seemed very pleasant and attentive. Will return soon, thank you Cassidy and Zachary! read more
7 years ago
YELPers, collegial eaters, La Gran Terraza was a quaint, peaceful experience. FIVE stars for Betty, who served attentively, w/a genuine smile. Food was presented picture perfectly but lacked spirit/flavor. The buffet looked appealing for the cold foods but hot items were lackluster (sliced ham, over-mashed potatoes). Disclaimer: I am punctilious re food. Restraunt Week Menu $20.00 for drink, entree & desert! Parking can be tricky but the complimentary valet is a breeze. read more
La Gran Terraza was one of my favorite places to go pre-pandemic. It is located inside the University Center at the University of San Diego. Because I work at the university, I could use my dining dollars at the restaurant. It was a convenient place to go for lunch; it has a great view and a gorgeous patio. The food has always been good. Pre-pandemic they had a buffet each day, which was my favorite. I just got to go back for the first time since March of 2020. And I have to say, I've been disappointed. La Gran no longer takes dining dollars, so staff and students can't pay as easily, which is a bummer. Additionally, there is no more buffet (understandably so) but the menu is pretty limited. The food quality was just fine. The desserts were the best part and they did have a vegan option. Overall, it was just a fine experience, nothing particularly special. If you're not associated with the university, I would pass and go somewhere else. read more
Business owner information
Carol N.
Hi Allie- thank you for taking the time to write a review. We have…
3 years ago
The food here is so elevated and delicious. It is in the beautiful USD campus and has nice views of the canyon and bay. A little pricy but nice every once in a while. read more
5 years ago
3 years ago
Yesterday was my first time going to this place for lunch. It was a new and pleasant discovery The dishes ordered were innovative, delicious beautifully presented and reasonably priced The service was impeccable The ambiance was spectacular with sweeping views of the San Diego canyons in the distance. The dining room was open and spacious with large windows letting in the light. White tablecloths draped the tables and vases of lovely flowers dotted the tables. This is a GREAT place for lunch, happy hour 5-7 pm Mon-Fri and for dinner. As a Gourmet Chef, I highly recommend you give it a try so you can see for yourself. What a lovely experience read more
4 years ago
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8 years ago
We tried this restaurant for the first time for Mother's Day brunch. The brunch was a great value for $45 p/person. It included: - Free Valet parking - A free photo taken by a photographer upon entering the brunch - a rose for moms - a mimosa for moms - Unlimited brunch foods: french toast, eggs benedict, regular eggs, quiche, chicken breast entree dish, salmon entree dish, vegetables, mashred potatoes, waffle station with lots of toppings, kids table with mac and cheese, pepperoni pizza, tater tots, prime rib, pork loin, several salads, tea type sandwiches, dessert table with creme brulee, different miniature pastries, truffles, cookies and many other desserts, different selection of cheeses, and the best for last: king crab legs, shrimp, oysters, smoked salmon, and ceviche. - Beautiful views of the canyon and a panoramic ocean view (You need to sit outside or by the window for best views) The food was very good, my favorites were the eggs benedict, the shrimp, king crab, smoked salmon, the creme brulee and the truffles. We also ordered cappuccino coffee (Those are not included in the buffet), but there were also able to make them with soy milk. Our server was not sure if this could be possible, but they were able to do it so thank you so much for this since my husband cannot drink milk. The restaurant itself is beautiful, with nice Spanish architecture (tile, wrought iron, etc). We were also pleasantly surprised that even though Opentable listed the restaurant as fully booked, the restaurant was not overly full, looks like they estimate a certain amount of time between tables, so the restaurant never felt overly crowded. Service was also very good, with our server (A student at the University) coming to our table several times to see how we were doing, bring hot sauce, serve water multiple times, etc. We are already thinking about coming back for Father's day brunch. I highly recommend it! read more
5 years ago
This place blew me off the whistle and surprised me. We came in for Restaurant week for lunch after Hot yoga. Not only was the service amazing by Jane- a college student there at UCD but the view was amazing. The place was classy and food is delicious. Its on top of a hill so it overlooks the valley. The salmon was scrumptious (see photo) perfectly seared and rare+ inside. Desert was yummmy strawberry fig mess is soo delicious w/ the merengue, sorbet, figs, vanilla creme, and strawberries- it truly is a fig mess of goodness in your mouth. Im coming back here for lunchesss read more
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More info about La Gran Terraza
5998 Alcala Park
Hahn University Center
San Diego, CA 92110
Linda Vista
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(619) 849-8205
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http://www.lagranterraza.com
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Do they serve halal meat?
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