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The Kitchen MCASD

4.1 (84 reviews)
Closed Closed
Updated a few days ago

The Kitchen MCASD Photos

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THE KITCHEN MCASD ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - The Kitchen MCASD

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Gail C.

A pleasant restaurant for lunch, food and fine ambiance. The hamburger was slightly over cooked and the Artichoke and Chicken Salad is a misnomer. It was very good, but you needed a microscope to find the itsy bitsy artichoke pieces. It should be called Chicken salad lightly tossed with a few artichoke pieces.

Panisse
Demi N.

Is this a hidden gem??? Friday morning I really wanted to have a nice dinner somewhere in La Jolla. But my problem was that any good place in La Jolla will either have a long wait for walk-ins or have no reservations available on the day of. But then I discovered The Kitchen MCASD, and they had dinner reservations available for the same day!! We arrived around 6:30pm for our dinner reservation, and it was the perfect time of the day to see an amazing view of the ocean. We sat outside, and they offered blankets in addition to heat lamps! We were very comfy. Panisse -- 8/10 We ordered the panisse because I've never heard of this dish before. From my internet search, panisse is a dish from Italy/France that is mash chickpeas that are fried. Imagine if you shaped mashed potatoes into a square and then deep fried it so that the outside is nice and crispy, and the inside is soft and mushy. So the chickpeas in the panisse were enjoyable because they remind me of mash potatoes, while the outside was nice and crispy. I loved it!! Definitely a fun and enjoyable dish. Chicken schnitzel - 8/10 A good portion of chicken with a refreshing salad Salmon - 7/10 - a standard salmon dish Overall, this place is great for that seaside ambiance. Any other location that has this kind of view of the ocean would be BOOKED or very expensive. I don't know why this place isn't more crowded!

Selection of salads at a party they catered, from grilled eggplant to nectarine and burrata
Alyssa S.

Came to a party at the museum which was catered on the patio by the kitchen. I can't speak to the price value proposition for catering or for the menu prices in the restaurant, but I loved the selection of vegetarian and pescatarian salads. Really delicious grilled eggplant, quinoa salad, nectarine and burrata, and salmon in lettuce cups. The only note would be that the nectarines needed to be a little riper. But everything was delicious and beautifully presented. They also had four mini desserts, of which the best was the chocolate cookie. Definitely a great venue for a party with a great in-house caterer.

patio
kira l.

I really enjoyed a nice dinner here at the Kitchen. the view is just stunning, and the service was very kind. the burger was pretty good in my opinion, and massive!! There was a 3% service fee on the burger which I thought was interesting. overall a nice place to eat if you are going for a nicer dinner.

Churro French toast - 5 stars
Colby D.

I hesitate to write this review because I don't want this place to get any more crowded than it is currently, but I also want to recognize this restaurant as being one of my favorites in San Diego. This restaurant is perfect for a La Jolla art museum. The architecture and layout blends nature with industry, and with the retracting window doors and almost universal natural lighting, begs the question, "Where does the beach end and the restaurant begin?" Just kidding, but it does work really well in this area. We first came here for brunch earlier this year, as it's become my partner's and my mission to try all the brunch spots in La Jolla. For brunch, this spot is my #1 in San Diego. We ordered their salmon Benedict and churro French toast, and tried a latte and a cocktail. If I had to describe everything we've tried here in one word, it would be fresh. The hot food is piping, the fruits and vegetables are bright and crisp, the dressings and sauces are light and complement the dishes well, and even the cocktails feel...somehow healthy? I especially want to highlight their churro French toast, which is one of the best dishes I had in 2024. Cinnamon sugar bread topped with mandarin oranges and mint is a combination I never knew I needed. Sweet, tart, and herbal, both crunchy and juicy, it satisfied most of my brunch cravings. So we've been back a couple times, once for brunch with friends and another time more recently for their happy hour menu, where we ordered one of everything. Although I was impressed with their happy hour items and found them all to be delicious and satisfying, I do still prefer this place for brunch (though the sunset views were choice). I love that their menu changes frequently, and that they periodically have special menu nights where they highlight an ingredient to be used in every dish. Recently they had a squash night, and a few months ago they had a tomato night. I can't wait to go to one!

Artichoke chicken salad sandwich
Zana K.

This spot has a beautiful patio outlooking la jolla shores. It was a bit gloomy when we arrived but on a sunny day this would be killer. The staff is friendly but not very attentive. I ordered the artichoke chicken salad with side salad. I requested sourdough as a substitution but was sadly given the multigrain which didnt settle with my stomach. Otherwise, this sandwich was good but bread was far too thick for my liking. My friend had the breakfast sandwich which had good flavors (in her words). Overall , i would come back and probably try other items. Took off a star because it wasnt amazing (the food) but other items looked a lot better.

Hamachi crudo Corn Fritters
Jeff L.

A hidden gem that most people won't find without looking hard.... I only discovered this place thanks to our CM Hannah! I plan on taking my parents here one day for breakfast/sunset. The views and ambiance are very "San Diego" for those looking to experience the city if you really enjoy La Jolla. (do expect La Jolla pricing !) Service was prompt and our waitress was courteous and timely in checking in. The recently starting serving breakfast though I haven't been here for that yet and am looking forward to what they do with the place!

Panissa - so delish!!
Nikita P.

Dinner here did not disappoint! I had a hard time selecting a starter, but decided to order the Panissa after the waiter's recommendation. It was so delicious! I'm already wondering when I can go back to have it again =P. For my entree I had the lamb burger. It was good, but a little less amazing - probably because I messed with it by removing the olive relish (I don't like olives). It probably needed the olive relish to add a bit of zing in each bite. I still enjoyed it though and would recommend the burger. Service was wonderful. I sat outside at sunset and was worried it would be too cold, but they seated me next to a heat lamp and also gave me a small blanket for my lap. It was perfect.

We also met Gary!

The flavors of my chicken baby kale salad were amazing. The service was super friendly and warm and the views were beautiful.

The basic.
Cat N.

An incredible restaurant. The food was so good as was the atmosphere depending on where you sat you had a beautiful view of the ocean. The people that work there are splendid. I got the avocado bowl and I couldn't have been happier. Well maybe if I've gotten some of those potatoes that my friend had in her the basic, luckily she shared. I highly recommend going. My latte was pretty good also.

Chicken Kebab
Anna N.

If you are expecting to come here on a weekend, I recommend making a reservation beforehand. We had to wait ~20min because tables were booked up. The food here is pretty and fresh. We got the chicken kebab and a breakfast sandwich. The chicken kebab was with cous cous and tasted really healthy. I kinda of wished I got something else since I like my Mediterranean food with more sauces. The dish was a bit dry for me. The breakfast sandwich was yummy! This is an outdoor restaurant or the inside portion is still open air. There is a nice view of the beach but you can probably only see it sitting down if you are by the overlooking wall.

Chicken Cobb
Desiree D.

So many different online forums recommended this restaurant as one with good food and a great ocean view. We were luckily to get a table. It was packed for lunch on a weekday. My soup and salad were both so full of flavor and delicious. I'm so glad we stopped in. This place did not disappoint.

Lamb burger
Nick C.

This place has it all - delicious food, beautiful, scenery and friendly service. In addition to the sit down cafe style restaurant there is also a place to grab food to go on the other side of the building. I was pleasantly surprised with how good the food was. I had the lamb burger and it was so juicy and full amazing flavors that elevated the burger. The salad was also fresh and light, which wonderfully complemented the burger. I sat on the patio and although it was windy and cold that day, the staff made sure everyone was warm. They even brought around blankets for anyone who wanted them, so we could enjoy the food outside with a peaceful view of the ocean. I won't hesitate to come back next time and try more of their flavorful food.

Saturday meal

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Ask the Community - The Kitchen MCASD

Is the sea view terrace the best seats?

It depends on what you're looking for--the ocean view dining room provides roof cover with two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows, one wall being fully retractable, and you get a ~135° view of the water from an elevated position. The terrace is… Read more

Do you access the restaurant via the front doors of the museum (Prospect Street) or through the back of the building? (ocean side) Thanks in advance!

You can find the restaurant on Prospect St. The entrance to the cafe is to the right of the front door (you will see the cafe patio to the right of the museum entrance), and if you walk around to the back side of the cafe you will find the… Read more

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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Where do I start? This place was superb. I had a party of seven from work. Reservation experience…read morewas great. We called to add a couple extra people, and then those people didn't show; they rolled with the punches. The table was set when we got there. Service throughout was friendly, prompt, over and above. Ambiance was great, in a very important way: There was nice music, but you could hear yourself think! Nobody had to repeat themselves a million times. Perfect sound level for a group our size. But the food was the absolute star of the show. Literally everything was perfect. For shareable appetizers, we got both the trio and the mezze plate. It was basically hummus flights, with pita triangles and multicolored carrots. All the hummus types were delicious. But a special shout-out to the truffle hummus--it was divine. It was very truffle-y, but it was also very light and creamy. Somehow that's not a combo I expected. Next, I'm already a falafel fan, but good *Lord* their falafel was unreal. Some kind of perfect crispiness on the outside and soft flakiness inside that I've never experienced before in falafel. I asked the server what he'd recommend, and he said beef kebab. I got the beef kebab. He was not wrong. The meat itself was sumptuous. And I just moved from Texas, where every other backyard BBQ has someone smoking their brisket for 18 hours. This was the kind of cook where even the marbling melts in your mouth. Even the carrots were good, I don't know what to tell ya. 10/10.

Not sure what race is all about with this place. Waited to…read moreget seated while this other customer came in and started talking to one of the staff and the others didn't pay attention. Food - blah. Spicy Caesar not spicy at all. Falafel - not good. Overall I didn't care for it

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Pamir Kabob House

Pamir Kabob House

4.7
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0.4 mi
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The best lunch ever. I had the Zardaloo chalow with the lamb. It was stewed in fresh apricots and…read moreserved next to fluffy basmati rice. It felt very fancy and was one of the most exotic things I have eaten in a long time. We also got the dolmas (grapes leaves) and the Bolani (turnover stuffed with leek and potatoes) as an appetizer. The dolmas were ok, but the bolani was exceptional, like a leek and potato quesadilla but lighter. It was hard to put into words. Just order it and enjoy! Lastly, for drinks we got a Cherry Blossom Tea (Sheer Chai). Again, it tasted like nothing I have ever ordered before, which is hard to do because we are adventurous eaters. It tasted like cream straight from the cow mixed with a cherry blossom-y and strawberry-ish Chai flavor+ black tea flavor. One of the best drinks that I have experienced in 2025 by far. For the La Jolla neighborhood and how fancy the inside feels, the prices were similar to any regular sit down restaurant. Quite the bargain for the bouquet of flavors and beautifully executed dishes that we had. I would definitely recommend them.

Beautiful hospitality. Eating inside is a wonderful…read moreexperience. The food is rich, fresh and flavorful. I would recommend this place to anyone who would like to try authentic Afghan food. Try everything on the menu at least once and pick your favorites.

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The seating and the view is so beautiful  Open windows and amazing breeze.
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Micheline's Pita House La Jolla

Micheline's Pita House La Jolla

4.4
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Vegetarian friendly
Grab-and-go

This review is long overdue! We've been coming here for years. This place is fueled by a love for…read moreauthentic Mediterranean cuisine and a desire to create a warm, welcoming space for everyone. Service is always on point! They're quick to serve and attentive to customers! The quality of ingredients are fresh, authentic, and portions are generous! I ordered the Greek fries with steak! And my wife ordered the Greek fries without protein! These fries are served golden and crispy, topped with savory, aromatic ingredients. The yellow Greek sauce is fire!!! I always ask for extra sauce- it definitely complements the fries with a zesty flavor profile! I can literally put that sauce on everything!!! It's that delish!!! Prices are reasonable! Limited seating areas indoors. However, they do have a few round tables outside to sit and eat. Overall, this place is a great spot to enjoy some lunch or dinner. You won't leave disappointed! And you'll be back sooner than later for more Mediterranean comfort food!

The area is very clean, there is limited seating inside but there is more seating outside shared…read morewith regents pizzeria, this was great so we could get multiple things from each. We got the rice bowl and it came with the pitas, the sauce is like this savory kinda zesty sauce and the falafel is crispy, there is something else crispy in it, the pickle and the onion and the rice all pair for a great taste, no complaints at all. We also got the lentil quinoa bowl, but there was barely any quinoa in it, but the chicken was very flavorful and there was good pairing with the lettuce tomato's and onions. If I had to choose I would definitely get the rice bowl again! No complaints on service, very quick as they have everything right there

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Amardeen Cafe

4.3
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Oh my gosh. This place is so good, I highly recommend checking this place out…read more I had the Moussaka (Lebanese eggplant stew) and I throughly enjoyed it. It was so flavorful and the portions were pretty big. I also got to try the cheese fatayer, I loved the pastry it came it, it was great. This place has great vegetarian and vegan options along with some gluten free options. The menu is marked very well and they make it easy to navigate. The staff were friendly and the food came out fairly quick. The restaurant is on the smaller side. There was seating available for large and smaller parties. From the dinning area, they had a window into the kitchen so it was fun to be able to see the cooks make the food. They also had cute decor that added to the ambiance of the restaurant. There is plenty of parking available in the plaza that it is in.

The food was actually really good, but the service was terrible…read more The staff seemed condescending and like they didn't want to be there at all. Not attentive, not friendly, just kind of dismissive the whole time. We ordered a bunch of dishes and to be fair, everything we tried tasted great and was flavorful so you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The cheese knefe was a bit disappointing though. It's supposed to be crispy, but it came out mushy and kind of fell apart. The rose water reduction also made it way too sweet for my taste. Still decent overall, just not what I expected. But honestly, the service alone ruined the experience for me. I wouldn't come back. Food: 8.5/10 Service: 0/10

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3.7
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I was in Coronado with my Mom and sister to support my Dad getting hip surgery at Sharp Coronado…read more Because it was going to be a long wait, we all decided to grab lunch at Spiro's Greek cuisine. I ordered a chicken Greek salad with pita bread, my Mom ordered Lemon soup and a small salad, and my sister ordered a Gyro sandwich. We all really enjoyed our food. My salad tasted fresh and delicious. The chicken was grilled to perfection juicy bursting with flavor. I also enjoyed the dressing on my salad as well . I noticed they had cookies and brownies so my weakness is a delicious chocolate brownie, but I shared with my Mom and sister. The service was also great as the girls behind the counter were friendly and professional. I really appreciated the experiencing the renovation because I had not been here for so long. It was very impressive, a large area that reminded me of being in a restaurant instead of a cafe. If you are a tourist or local San Diegan, Spiro's Greek Cafe is mandatory for great Greek food, ambiance, and friendly/professional service .

I could give this place zero stars, I would. Now I understand why the restaurant wasn't packed in…read moreLa Jolla. The shrimp smelled extremely fishy, which is never a good sign with seafood. The gyro was dry and lacked flavor, the rice was bland, and the salad barely had any dressing on it. I literally did not eat my meal at all. My boyfriend only finished his because he was starving. On top of the food being terrible, the service left a lot to be desired- she was there by herself though so I can't really blame her. Hands down one of the worst Mediterranean restaurants I've ever been to. Extremely disappointing. I didn't even touch it this was at the end of the meal.

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Inside!
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Beeside Balcony

3.9
(214 reviews)
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Come for the happy hour if you love oysters! $1! Such a steal. We had a great experience with…read morefriendly, attentive service. While the regular menu is on the pricier side, it's absolutely worth stopping by for their daily happy hour specials. The location is another bonus, it's right by the beach, making it the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxing stroll along the water after your meal.

On July 9th my husband, a few friends of mine & I had reservations at Beeside Balcony for a Table…read moreof 4. Right off top, the server/hostess who checked for our reservations said the reservation wasn't booked. We were bummed out & headed to eat elsewhere, but we ended up getting an alert on our phone that we had placed. We thought score! $1 oysters here we come! After we sat down our server Lucy "F" had taken our cocktails & HH menu order. Immediately, Lucy began rubbing us wrong with her attitude and side eye. BUT as servers ourselves, we thought she could be having a bad day.. we let that slide. Mind you, the restaurant WAS NOT busy!! We began to try to enjoy our cocktails & oysters that we were initially there for. Being servers, we didn't want to order just from the HH menu, we wanted to spend a good amount, so we can tip 20-30% . We get it, we understand, we are in the industry. Unfortunately, the service was horrible!! The oysters were below sub par (haha! Getting what we paid for) We had to call for Lucy a few times, since she was not attentive. She did not refill our waters, our food took longer than the other tables that got there later than us. Finally, we drew the line.. we called her over to ask her what the looks were for & if she had a problem with us (because we were the only Asians there) She expressed that we had called her too many times & began raising her voice. The other customers began to stare at the unnecessary commotion. As we were still in the middle of our meals, we loss our appetite & wanted our check. We felt belittled, disrespected, mostly embarrassed. If she had taken care of our table, honestly we would've spent at least $400+ given her 20%-30%. We wanted to order more food & drinks. We will not be returning to that restaurant with mediocre oysters. She ended up with $0 tip, they added an automatic surcharge. Lucy, her initial sums it all up.. "F" for service. 0 stars , Yelp forced that 1 star to be posted.

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The Kitchen MCASD - cafes - Updated June 2026

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