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The Cottage La Jolla

4.2 (5.3k reviews)
Open • 7:30 am - 3:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

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THE COTTAGE LA JOLLA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for kids
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - The Cottage La Jolla

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Reviews With Photos

Nydia S.

When visiting my family and I chose this spot due to convenance. Staff were super helpful and nice! Our server was amazing! The food was mid, I think there was no seasoning on the food but the stuffed mascarpone French toast made up for it 100% We subbed the compote for fresh fruit, the kids French toast was huge. Drinks were also good, we enjoyed the different variety. The place itself is so warm and welcoming!

Georgiana F.

Great spot in La Jolla. I had the mushrooms and spinach scramble with chicken sausage and my husband had the egg sandwich. The egg sandwich was next level- I wish I ordered that!!

Evan K.

My new favorite brunch spot in La Jolla! We came here on a Saturday morning and it was so good, definitely a one up on Sugar and Scribe across the street in my opinion if you are going head to head. We waited about 30 minutes to be seated outside. Got their Eggs La Jolla Benedict which was a unique tasting benedict with their balsamic mushrooms and roasted tomatoes on top. The balsamic gave the benedict a unique taste that I can't really describe, almost reminded me of a pizza. The potatoes weren't too crispy but good enough. What made the breakfast special was we all split their stuffed french toast! It was so fluffy and their strawberry compete hit the spot with a sweet touch. I could have finished all three of them but it was too much food, I was stuffed. Will definitely come back!

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
Gary M.

Very laid back breakfast spot on the corner. Thank goodness for outdoor seating with kids. The lemon ricotta pancakes were highlighted in previous reviews so we had to order it and it didn't disappoint. I would say my brioche French toast was even better than the pancakes. It was also plenty as I couldn't finish it. Prices are consistent with other brunch establishments around and service was attentive.

Milanese Chicken Sandwich   Pork Belly Benedict Salad with steak
Skyeler F.

This restaurant was very very busy. There were already a lot of reviews and while I was in San Diego, I knew I had to try it. The weight staff was very friendly and attentive, even though it was very busy. All food items on the menu looked fantastic. I decided to get the Mexican style salad with prime rib. It was good, but I wish I would've ordered the Milanese chicken sandwich instead like my sister did. That was fire literally 10 out of 10 on the menu. It's listed as employee favorite. My husband got the pork belly Benedict and he loved it as well. I will definitely be back the next time I'm in town

Classic All American Breakfast and Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
Ryan C.

Got seated right away on a Sunday at 10:30am. We sat outside. The coffee was essentially bottomless which is great. I loved my green juice. Lemon ricotta pancakes were so delicious. I hit the classic American and I wish there was more fruit, but the scone made up for everything.

Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes
Ash V.

We are on a holiday in Southern California and went to this spot for a late lunch and boy was it good. The ambiance was quaint and the service was awesome. Food: - Wagyu Burger and Fries: My 10 year old got this and it was so good he said. He finished it. - Cinamon swirl pancakes: My 16 year old had this and I tried it and it was SOOOO GOOD. I couldn't eat it as I don't like sugary brunch food but it was so tasty and he loved it. - Pastrami: My wife and I shared it and we had it with the garden salad. The balsamic vinaigrette they have is so tasty. I'll go here again.

Stuffed French toast.
William K.

Friday brunch was great. Had a bit of a wait at 11:20 on a Friday. Ordered the lemon, ricotta, pancake, stuffed French toast, and crab Benedict. Loved all of it.

Pork Belly Benedict, Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes
Earn D.

I love giving restaurants 5 stars when the food is good. I'll give this place 5 stars just for this cinnamon swirl pancake. The most beautifully crafted pancake. No need for syrup, no butter, no problem I'm into it. I prefer my pork belly a little more crispy and seasoned but that's me. Atmosphere was cool has outside seating, we sat inside and even though the servers were in the middle of shift change they were on it. Thank you for the experience. Definite must try!!

Vegan hash
Michael S.

A La Jolla classic! My wife grew up in San Diego and has been coming here for over 30 years! Jason, the owner, is incredibly friendly and goes out his way to make a great dining experience. He's been there for over 20 years and does an amazing job running the restaurant!!! We went on a Monday around noon and it was crowded, but our wait time was 10-15 minutes. Service was incredible. I had the pastrami sandwich and it was 10/10. Toasted but soft marbled rye, a generous amount of meat, coleslaw... my mouth waters just thinking about it! My wife had a vegan hash (she loved it), kids had burgers (they were huge), and my grandmother in law had a Milanese sandwich (massive and great). It's a little tight on space and the interior is dated, but that doesn't detract from the experience. You can also dine outside on the massive front patio. I highly recommend making a visit if you need a casual brunch in the La Jolla area!

Chicken Sausage Breakfast plate
Ivonne C.

The service from the waiters was incredible, the host kept walking away and had a long line waiting to get their names on the list for a table. When the host came back she seated a woman that just arrived and skipped over the long line of people that have been waiting for a seat for over an hour. When we pointed this out to another employee we were seated right away. The food was great. The ambiance is loud.

Suzy N.

Came here for Saturday brunch with two friends and had such a good experience! The wait was about 30 minutes, which honestly wasn't bad and gave us some time to just hang out and enjoy the morning. I ordered the Mexican Mocha and the Eggs La Jolla Benedict. The mocha was perfect with the right balance of chocolate and coffee. Not too sweet, just really smooth and comforting. The benedict was exactly the kind of savory breakfast I was craving. It didn't feel heavy at all. The balsamic mushrooms, spinach, roasted tomato, and poached egg all worked together so well, and the potatoes on the side were seasoned really nicely. My friend devoured the Morning Glory Sandwich within minutes and my other friend really enjoyed her Antojito Benedict. Service was friendly, the food came out hot, and the whole atmosphere was really relaxed. I definitely plan on coming back here to try their sweeter brunch dishes!

Mexican mocha
KayAnna S.

Giving 5 stars alone for the wait time since we were seated in under 10 minutes on a Saturday without needing a reservation like many other popular brunch spots. As soon as we were seated and greeted, we placed our orders and within a few minutes our drinks arrived. My husband did order a refill on his coffee, but he did not receive one until we asked again at the status of it towards the end of our meal. Our server was very kind and offered a refill in a to-go cup which we happily accepted. He really did enjoy his Mexican mochas! I had an iced matcha and honestly was so happy with it. Great matcha! Our food came out pretty quickly as well and i absolutely loved my avocado smash on rosemary bread. I had the cucumber, olive, onion, tomato, feta, and oregano version and I did add a fried egg on top. Everything was fresh and the flavors just melded together wonderfully. I could really tell the tomatoes and avocado were fresh. The rosemary bread was a great addition of flavor to the bunch. My husband enjoyed his Southern CA Omelette too. I was lucky to try any. I think the best part was the amount of fresh guac in the omelette. Overall we had a delicious meal, with attentive and kind service. We were sat outside and their umbrellas provided the perfect amount of shade. With the ocean breeze, it's pleasant to sit on the patio!

Stuffed French Toast

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1 month ago

Best Breakfast in La Jolla! Awesome Staff and EVERYTHING on the menu is ! Don't waist your time anywhere else! They are great people!

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The Cottage La Jolla Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - The Cottage La Jolla

Do they accept reservations or is it a first come first serve?

They do not accept reservations for breakfast or lunch. You can download the app No Wait, put your name on the wait list through the app, and monitor your status.

What is the parking situation like?

Street parking, there is a parking garage for a nearby bank in walking distance, but it's $$ No validation.

What is the name of the hot sauce they currently have on all the tables? Any idea where to purchase it?

It was Don Wapo the last time I was there. I haven't looked into purchasing, but I know they have IG

Do you accept reservations for Valentine's Day brunch?

The Cottage typically does not take brunch reservations. I suggest calling them 858-454-8409.

Do they accept reservations?

We haven't been since Feb but at that time they could put you on the waitlist. We stopped in at 7am and wanted to go back at 10 - when we arrived at 10 we only waited a few minutes to be seated. It wasn't a reservation but best effort. Worth the… Read more

Is breakfast served all day?

It is! But place closes at 3.

Is the patio doggie friendly?

Best to call them. When we were there we didn't have a dog but somehow remember one of the diners did.

Are you pet friendly?

Yes!

Do they take reservations?

They are a 'first-come-first-served' restaurant. No reservati0ons accepted. As of Saturday Nov 14 at 12:00am, San Diego County is now at tier level 1 or purple for the… Read more

Are you guys open for dine in?

As of Saturday Nov 14 at 12:00am, San Diego County is now at tier level 1 or purple for the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Outdoor or take-away only

What vegan options are available?

Mushroom Tacos!!

Are you selling muffins again? A few months ago, I stopped by to grab a King Kong muffin and a Pumpkin muffin, but the server informed me that the muffin recipe was in the process of being re-vamped and muffins weren't being sold for the time being.

Hi Janet! For the time being we have both our King Kong and our Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry muffins. Our other muffins just didn't seem to sell quite as much.… Read more

Is there gluten free brunch options?

Yes.

Is the outside patio area dog friendly?

Hi Ryan! Thanks for your question. Unfortunately our patio seating space is not pet-friendly. Some guests will choose to sit on the edge of the patio with their dogs just on the outside of the fence :) We do, however, allow service animals as… Read more

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Georges at the Cove

3.9(4.7k reviews)
0.4 mi•La Jolla
•$$$
Established in 1984
Rooftop seating

We had our rehearsal dinner at George's in June of last year and it was the most perfect place to…read morecelebrate! The entire process leading up to the event as far as coordination goes, was very seamless when working with Jessae, we can't thank them enough! All of our guests loved the food and drinks. We had about 50 people and it was the perfect space. I wish I had more pictures of the food because it was delicious. Everything was very fresh and our guests were extremely satisfied with the options and quality. If you're considering using them for any event I highly recommend. The views were unbeatable. We'll be going back on our anniversary to eat here again and can't wait!

We attended a private wedding rehearsal dinner cocktail hour this weekend at George's at the Cove…read moreand had such a nice experience overall. The setting alone is hard to beat -- the sunset view was absolutely beautiful and made the evening feel really special. I even got a great selfie with the bride with the ocean in the background! The event itself was very entertaining, the food was good, and the drinks were also good. There were a couple little hiccups with the drinks during the evening, but honestly nothing major enough to take away from the experience. My only real criticism was with the hors d'oeuvres service. They kept bringing the appetizers to the same table instead of circulating to the different spots where our group was seated, which created a bit of a bottleneck at times. I think it would have flowed much more smoothly if the servers had distributed the food more evenly around each corner of the event space. That said, between the atmosphere, the views, and the overall vibe, it was still a really memorable evening in a gorgeous location.

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Bernini's Bistro & Bar - View of Restaurant

Bernini's Bistro & Bar

4.3(690 reviews)
0.2 mi•La Jolla
•$$

This was our first visit and it certainly was memorable. We were seated in a quiet little table…read morethat was private and perfect for us. Our waiter came over and welcomed us and set down a bottle of cold water and asked if we wanted anything else to drink. The evening was underway without a hitch. We asked a few questions and then we reviewed the menu. When Robert came back with the glass of wine, we were ready to order and the process was easy. We shared the fried calamari which had two shrimp and several different kinds of vegetables. It was served with two kinds of sauces. It was very good. My husband ordered the Salmon a la Griglia and he really enjoyed it with the risotto. I had the Seafood Cioppino. It had a great deal of seafood including really big mussels, shrimp and salmon. The broth was great too. The service was great and the meal was terrific. It has a nice variety on the menu. It seems to be a popular neighborhood place. we will be back to try some of the other treasures.

I dined here over the weekend for a special occasion and was hoping to love this spot based on a…read morefriend's recommendation. Overall, the food and experience felt average to me, which is why I landed at 3 stars. Not bad, just okay. I had no prior knowledge of the restaurant, their brand, popular menu items, or social media presence. To be fair, doing a bit more research beforehand might have helped me get more out of the experience and try what they're best known for. This is a casual neighborhood spot, so there's no need to dress up. Their tagline, "Where the locals eat," fits the vibe well. The staff are friendly. An older woman was kind and social. She showered me in compliments and the spent some time chatting with the table next to us. It gave the place a neighborhood, familial feel where the staff seem comfortable engaging with guests. Our server was polite, though a bit rushed. He would check in, start a conversation, and then quickly move on mid-sentence. I ordered the Malbec, Antigal (Argentina). It's a $15 bottle retail and priced at $15 per glass. We ordered the Mussels and Focaccia bread as an appetizer. The broth was a bit on the salty side, though the fries on top were cooked well. The bread felt a little firm and could have been fresher. If you're seated at a 2-person table, space can be tight once both appetizers and entrees arrive. We ended up moving to a larger table to accommodate everything. The portion sizes and plates are large and can be shared among 2-3 people. I ordered the Rigatoni Bolognese, which was underwhelming for me. My husband ordered the 24-Hour Braised Beef Short Ribs and really enjoyed them. He said they were tender and flavorful. For our special occasion, we were treated to their homemade mud pie dessert. It's a coffee flavored ice cream with an Oreo crumb crust topped with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. The portion was very HUGE and more than we could finish. It became a bit repetitive after a few bites. The slice portion can be shared up to 3-4 people, in my opinion. If I were to return, I'd be interested in trying some of the dishes they highlight on social media rather than sticking to the more standard Italian options.

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Shorehouse Kitchen

4.3(2.4k reviews)
1.4 mi•La Jolla, La Jolla Shores
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Food was amazing. Nice robust flavor from the béarnaise…read moresauce on the Salmon Benedict. Waiter was very pleasant. He asked what kind of side of toast did I want with my Benedict, I responded with "oh? There's toast included? Maybe Rye?" And he said "oh no, my apologies, it doesn't come with toast". I must have had a really sad look on my face when I said "oh ok". because he said "you know what, I'll throw in a side of complimentary toast". Anyways, great little niche close to the ocean. Nice light cool breeze. Street Parking was easy to find

This place is really very cool. They had some service issues when I sat out on the sidewalk but…read morewhen I was in the patio inside the restaurant, it was all sorted. My daughter loves their waffles which is great and all but...for $15, you get one waffle. Its a thin one. With a teaspoon of powdered sugar on top. Want another even on the same plate? Also $15. Order 2 at the same time? $30. All the dishes were very good and they have coffee out for you so if you arrive and there's a wait, you can have some free caffeine. All the dishes and the coffee seemed better than what I would have expected in a super touristy area. If its windy out, don't sit outside because the umbrellas blow over even with sand bags on them and I saw one nearly take an old guy's eye out.

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Nine-Ten - Mercy of the Chef

Nine-Ten

4.2(861 reviews)
0.3 mi•La Jolla
•$$$

Fabulous visit to Nine-Ten, which reminded me why it has been one of our favorites since it opened…read more It blows my mind also that Chef Jason Knibb has now been here for 23 years. It says something about the owners that there is been no turnover and he's been able to keep innovating with Chef Jose Alonzo now as the long-term pastry chef. All right - to our meal! PATIO: remains great. It's covered, which is great on a rainy night, heaters work well. The wind from the ocean can still be a lot, so bring layers anyway. SERVICE: We had Quinn this visit. He was terrific! Really great recommendations. COCKTAIL: I have often found the cocktail menus here boring compared to other places in town. This month, there were so many choices that looked really innovative and up my alley. I was deciding between Lion's Tail (Bourbon, Allspice Dram, Lime, Angostura), Trinidad Sour (Angostura Bitters, Rye Whiskey, Orgeat, Lemon), and Crescent City (Smith + Cross Jamaican Rum, Sweet Vermouth, Lime, Angostura). Quinn suggested that the TRINIDAD SOUR was the most interesting given how I described my cocktail preferences - he explained that it was made with a full ounce of angostura bitters, whereas most cocktails have only a dash. It came in a super cute up glass, and was really delightful. Didn't know my socks off but it was fun & tasty and innovative. Yum! 9/10 BREAD: I'm trying to go lower carb, but their sourdough country bread was warm and hearty. I had a teeny piece and spouse enjoyed the rest. APPETIZERS: Spouse got an off-menu item, the simple green salad with champagne vinaigrette you can always ask for her. I got the current incarnation of the TUNA CRUDO (Charred brassicas relish, currants, lime segments, aleppo, radish flowers, fresno chile, kombu oil). It was beautifully presented and fun to eat; healthy and light. The brassico relish and currants on the tuna were a really nice combination. I approve! 9/10 ENTREES: I got the current halibut preparation (they always have halibut on the menu but they mix up how they do it): Yu choy, black trumpet mushroom, spring onions, date puree, buddhas hand marmalade, sumac, sunflower, green garlic dashi emulsion. Gorgeous, and who needs carbs! The fish was perfectly cooked and the other things worked really well with it: 9/10 WINE PAIRING: I decided to get a glass to drink with the halibut. Quinn suggested pairing it with a gruner veltliner - he said they had been playing around with pairings and this was a surprising match. It was a super fun food wine (also one of the cheaper wines by the glass, $15) and worked really well. I sipped it without the halibut, meh, not my kind of wine - but as soon as I was drinking it with the halibut (and then with my dessert), it was super delish and paired well. 10/10 here on the pairing. DESSERT: I love Chef Jose Alonzo's more fanciful creations, but we went old school & got the half baked chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, which is a classic here for the reason. It's not like you never had this dessert before - but it is *perfection* here. The chocolate was really rich - and the ice cream is just the ideal texture and flavor. The vanilla bean comes through strongly and it's perfectly smooth. 10/10 to end the meal. Valets and hostess were nice too. We'll be back again, of course, even if it takes us a few months to put it back in the rotation!

Nine-Ten's once innovative menu has comfortably settled into a list of old-school favorites, but…read morethat's not necessarily a bad thing! IMHO, consistent execution of classic dishes is often underrated, making me appreciate it all the more when it's there and a bit more critical when it isn't. I recently attended a private event here, complete with an excellently staffed open bar. While my Grilled Filet with Cabernet Reduction was prepared as requested (medium rare) but not visually appealing as the juices made a rather large mess on the plate, the mini version of Nine-Ten's signature Half-Baked Chocolate Cake with Whipped Cream looked great but suffered from its size as it was slightly overcooked.

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The Cottage La Jolla - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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