582992 Fri Dec 26 19:13:30 -0800 2008 35 65 San Diego 0 4274997 We are visiting 2 days to La jolla and have reservations at Georges at the cove for one dinner. Is there menu items that you could recommend ? Also going earlier to dine should this be okey for young children? We are looking at Alfonso's for another dinner. We like italian, mexican. seafood. and fun atmosphere places.. I see alot of pizza and burger joints recommended on Trip advisor but I didnt want to go all the way to California to try out burgers/pizza LOL.. We will be need 2 lunch recommendations as well. Fri Dec 26 19:13:30 -0800 2008 251660 palmtree38 1 4275281 George's California Modern might be a bit fancy for young children - it's definitely fine dining, but you know your kids. Maybe they can handle it. La Jolla isn't really known for adventurous dining options. 910, Whisknladle, and Jacks are all good spots to try for fancier meals. Burger Lounge, El Pescador, Rimel's Rotisserie, Porkyland and Girard Gourmet are good for more casual meals or snacks. Alfonso's is ok - I haven't been there in a while but I don't think it's changed much - I used to get the nachos there when I was in high school. ;-) Try Brockton Villa or Mission Coffee Cup for breakfast and pop by the Pannikin for coffee if you're on the upper end of Girard. Fri Dec 26 23:32:59 -0800 2008 4274997 11803 Alice Q 2 4275433 Our hotel includes complimentary breakfast so we are okey for breakies.. What about this crab catcher or this waterfront or cheese shop?? I have both of my kids carry ons full of crafts and toys that are good for planes and restaurants to keep them buisy.. My focus for xmas shopping this year was items for our trip that would keep them occupied. My kids are nearly 3 and 4 1/2 and know they need to put a napkin on their lap LOL.... HAve to train them young :O) WE are going in 2 weeks I hope the rain subsides as we would love to dine out on the rooftop at georges. Sat Dec 27 05:50:47 -0800 2008 4275281 251660 palmtree38 3 4286507 My last meal at Crab Catcher was very boring. The view is amazing though. Wed Dec 31 14:54:56 -0800 2008 4275433 10809 Josh 2 4276938 Mission Coffee Cup also has good, cheap lunches and is very kid-friendly. I'd also avoid Brockton Villa unless you are only getting their Coast Toast. Piatti's would be kid-friendly, esp on the outdoor patio. Roppongi's outdoor patio during their 4-6 pm "50% off all tapas" special is quite kid-friendly. I've seen high chairs there, despite the more formal inside dining area. Sammy's Woodfired Pizza, despite the "pizza" thing, has a decent menu and is kid-friendly. Dooney and Bourke--there is an outlet in the Carlsbad Premium Outlets, about 45 min north of La Jolla. There may be one in the Las Americas Plaza Outlets in San Ysidro. Other than that, you're limited to the department stores--Nordstrom, Macy's. Sat Dec 27 20:35:22 -0800 2008 4275281 10853 daantaat 1 4275432 Going early would be better at George's, Alfonso's is fun, relaxed and good for kids, OK food. For fish tacos try El Pescador on Pearl St., for an old fashioned breakfast place there's Harry's on Girard. If you have a car, I'd suggest Broken Yolk in Pacific Beach, for brakfast, on Garnet. Stay away from Brockton Villa, way over priced and meh food and cold inside this time of year. Enjoy your stay. Sat Dec 27 05:48:49 -0800 2008 4274997 149836 cstr 1 4275991 I would go to the Shores restaurant at the Hotel LJ Shores.. oceanfront..kid friendly and decent food. Alfonso's is good Mex and I always get the nachos to split and a marg. Crab Catcher is good but can be pricey at dinner..they do have a kids menu..maybe lunch. The Cottage for lunch. Tapenade is quite good and they have a sunset menu. Harry's Coffee Shop is a classic and one of my fav's...lunch is excellent Trattoria Acqua next door to Crab is great for Italian or Piatti's. Cheese Shop is a deli..great sandwiches..Jeff's burgers too. George's, don't see many kids at the fine dining..maybe upstairs..more casual Sat Dec 27 11:08:08 -0800 2008 4274997 97452 Beach Chick 2 4276499 thanks beach chick! WE made reservations on the roof top early to avoid interupting the romantic crowds lol. plus lots of crafts to keep them buisy.! I was thinking margaritas and natchos would be lovely during the afternoon especially since we will not be driving :O). Sometimes I prefer appys rather then a big meal/.. I have heard a few times about the cottage.. glad ot hear its not just breakfast items as i would like to try them for lunch. I noticed the tratoria acqua is on the san diego dining week. Any good food items to recommend at georges? Sat Dec 27 15:36:25 -0800 2008 4275991 251660 palmtree38 3 4276730 You're welcome palmtree! Crab Catcher has some of the best app's..Mussels, crab bisque, calamari and with the kids menu and a couple of drinks on the heated patio overlooking the ocean is a great time and go for happy hour if you can.. I get the fish tacos for lunch at George's..the soup..ahi..or the specials..food is good and the view is awesome. Best sundae that the kids will love is at Sammy's Wood Fired Pizza.. Trattoria Acqua is excellent and have always had good times and good food. Have a great time and report back! Sat Dec 27 18:22:32 -0800 2008 4276499 97452 Beach Chick 4 4276880 ymmm will check into crab catchers happy hour.. do most places allow kids in happy hour times? Hey beach chick are you a dooney and bourke fan in purses? if so whate the best place to get a nice one with reasonable prices?? Will take a look at crab catchers menu now.. do we need reservations for a friday night? Sat Dec 27 20:01:08 -0800 2008 4276730 251660 palmtree38 5 4278493 I emailed crab catcher to see if they allow kids in for the happy hour area.. Thanks for the sundae tip for the kids at sammys wood fire.) Sun Dec 28 17:22:51 -0800 2008 4276880 251660 palmtree38 3 4283962 if you're doing the rooftop - make sure you dress the kids warmly - it will be chilly in the evening in the winter! You can do your margs and nachos at Alfonsos - it's good for that, and also consider Whisknladle, and even Tapenade - early with well behaved kids it will be fine. Personally I'm not a fan of Acqua - would def. go to Piatti or Sante (where we had an excellent xmas eve dinner this year) instead. I've eaten there many times and find it inconsistent and pretty pricey. If you really like appetizers - Roppongi is the place for you - an entire menu of tapas. Sammy's also has some similar items and is very kid friendly - they're owned by the same company. Also highly recommend the Cheese Shop - fun to take it down to the beach. Enjoy! Tue Dec 30 15:11:31 -0800 2008 4276499 11803 Alice Q 2 4277173 Are you suggesting taking 3 & 4 year olds to Tapenade? Sun Dec 28 00:48:48 -0800 2008 4275991 168597 The Old Man 3 4281096 Crab catcher welcomes kiddies to happy hour and have a chidlrens menu to boot! they said the happy hour is from 3-9pm on a fri/sat night.. sounds like one long happy hour LMAO.. Is there a better time to go to these? Is it half price drinks and food or something of this nature? Mon Dec 29 15:30:35 -0800 2008 4277173 251660 palmtree38 1 4281315 The food at Georges is appalling. They've got a nice view, and I would definitely take someone there for drinks, but don't go there to eat. I think it's kid-friendly, but it's not tastebud-friendly. Mon Dec 29 16:51:13 -0800 2008 4274997 111371 greglor 2 4281405 'The food at Georges is appalling'....appalling...a little harsh of a word..don't you think? didn't you just move here a couple months ago? Mon Dec 29 17:25:15 -0800 2008 4281315 97452 Beach Chick 3 4281475 Yep, moved here in the summer. I think appalling is about the right word (I'm sorry if I've offended, but the food was truly awful dreck - 2 appetizers and 2 main courses for my wife and I - not our worst meal of 2008, but certainly in the bottom 3). As best as I could tell from my visit, the price of entry is to pay for the truly stunning view, not for the cafeteria-quality food. I have tended to think of George's as a tourist-trap (and being new here, we fell for it). Am I the only one here who feels that way? Sorry to the OP that I can't offer alternatives in the La Jolla area - haven't had anything memorable there besides George's - but I can say that I would steer way clear of the menu at George's - if you must go, stick to the drinks and the view. Mon Dec 29 17:48:44 -0800 2008 4281405 111371 greglor 4 4281530 hmmm sounds appealing! I think it all depends on what you order . tastebuds of the sampler. and how buisy a location may be and the expectations. is there certain menu items that gegores on the cove for the roof top is a good pick. Mon Dec 29 18:11:23 -0800 2008 4281475 251660 palmtree38 5 4284342 Also is la jolla a ghost town this time of year? Meaning is it okey to walk around there in the early evening stopping for a bite and people watching?? Or is it quiet in the village. Tue Dec 30 17:46:41 -0800 2008 4281530 251660 palmtree38 6 4284677 It's not a ghost town in the sense that like Cape Cod or a seaport village in Maine would be. There's still going to be quite a few people, just not as busy as the summer. Tue Dec 30 20:37:36 -0800 2008 4284342 72231 DougOLis 7 4285053 Thanks for the info.. ok la jolla itinary yes or no??? Arrive early and go to Alfonsos for a bite to eat for lunch walk around the beach area and evening 5-8 do the crab catcher for happy hour appys. next day breakfast at hotel beach. browsing beach sea shell collecting somewhere picking up a sundae at sammys wood fire pizza place and dinner reservations for Geoges at the cove and leave the following morning up to Disney. (leaving a lunch place still to decide on.. anthonys fish grotto??? and would Georges be a must do for first time san diego visitors for view and food???? Or is this place over advertised.. thanks chows Wed Dec 31 05:20:42 -0800 2008 4284677 251660 palmtree38 8 4286190 George's is generally considered a must do for most visitors, but mainly for the view. You mentioned reservations for dinner...the downstairs restaurant "Georges California Modern" is fine dining and really not appropriate for young children unless they are very well behaved. Upstairs at "George's Ocean Terrace" is the most breathtaking view, with more casual and less expensive food, and very kiddo friendly. But keep in mind that if you go at night, you really don't have much of a view of anything because of darkness. My rec for your family is Ocean Terrace for lunch - they do take reservations. RE: Anthony's Seafood Grotto - it is verrrrry touristy, kid friendly, but all the way Downtown. Fairly out of your way, really mediocre. Stay with the Mariscos German for your fish taco selection. And they are great for kids, I see little ones there scarfing down all the time. Like eating the best, fresh fish stick wrapped in tortillas - sort of a fish stick hot dog is how I would explain it to them. No beer, and may have to eat in the car as the table and chairs are not always put out, but still well worth the effort. I live a block from Alfonso's in La Jolla. It is very kid friendly: quesadillas, nachos, bean burritos and kid's plates. We eat there just because it's our neighborhood joint, Casa Guadalajara has a little better quality food and a wonderful, festive, fun atmosphere. Neither would be considered "authentic" Mexican by the tough standards on this board, but they will serve a vacationing young family quite well. Wed Dec 31 12:42:45 -0800 2008 4285053 180283 foodiechick 9 4286301 Thanks foodiechick! I have reservations for 5pm at Georges Ocean Terrace up top.. They have heaters apparently and would this time still be scenic? This is their first seating for dinner. I guess I should of mentioned after two nights in La jolla we are going to Disney but coming back for 3 nights before leaving and staying in liberty station. On our last days we will be doing san diego zoo and going to marisco's german maybe once or twice :O).. On our way back from disney we will stop in carlsbad for shopping and drive down the coast line towards liberty station. We cant even get much in the way of tex mex non authentic mexican where I live most close down. WE just have natcho platters at your regular pubs/restaurants with chicken wings being the highlight lol.. Casa guadalajara I read on TA has mariachi.. Not sure if this place or miguels cocina , Ortego, would be fun and festive.. Also going to fit in point loma seafood and try out their smoked fish that someone mentioned on here was tasty. Is geoges and ocean terrace on par with quality and pricewise? Wed Dec 31 13:35:37 -0800 2008 4286190 251660 palmtree38 10 4286496 5pm is dark nighttime, no view at George's. Forget Miguels, to be painfully clear - it is awful. Wed Dec 31 14:49:22 -0800 2008 4286301 180283 foodiechick 11 4287328 well glad we are going to georges for the view LMAO.. I hope the food is decent.. Should we book lunch here instead if they are open for lunch? Most people recommend it for the breathtaking views and finer dining but if its dark out were not going to see anything. Thu Jan 01 07:12:41 -0800 2009 4286496 251660 palmtree38 12 4287984 http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=770 got a post on sunsets for travellers going to restaurants for dinner views. It apparears that sunsets are lovely to see but at 4:48pm and dinners dont start seating until 5pm.. I think we will cancel our reservations for Georges for dinner then. Doesnt sound like everyone is thrilled with food and go for the view and drinks instead on the ocean terrace. Maybe we could do lunch here and dinner at alfonsos' instead and still have crab catcher our first night for appys on friday night. and t ry the cheese restaurant for take out to the beach like you mentioned. Will look into Roppongi.too. Thu Jan 01 12:57:50 -0800 2009 4287328 251660 palmtree38 11 4288200 5pm could make a nice sunset; it won't be pitch black at that time or anything. Thu Jan 01 14:56:02 -0800 2009 4286496 72231 DougOLis 12 4288386 doug would lunch time on the terrace be better for view then? this is for a full dinner and it appears maybe the food isnt what people go for on the terrace more drinks and view.., Thu Jan 01 16:25:11 -0800 2009 4288200 251660 palmtree38 13 4288951 In my opinion, you are too stuck on the view aspect. You can always take a stroll in Scripps Park before and/or after you eat lunch. Do not compromise on the food just because the view is nice. Thu Jan 01 21:06:53 -0800 2009 4288386 10969 RB Hound 13 4289188 maybe, lunch is probably a safer bet and you would get the lit view for a longer period of time but depending on the day you could have an awesome view at sunset as well. Fri Jan 02 04:00:29 -0800 2009 4288386 72231 DougOLis 1 4288975 OP has only 2 days in LJ..has 2 small kids and she is from Canada.. George's upstairs would be the perfect venue for she and her family, whether it be lunch or dinner..I think lunch would be better..this is one of the most famous restaurants in town! Tourists and locals alike love this place..great view and good food.. Some on this board will send you to a taco truck 30 miles..each way from your hotel, and for one you just don't have the time and you are a tourist..enjoy the great restaurants in SD that have great views and are perfectly suited for your family. BTW..I do love Mariscos German but come on people.. Thu Jan 01 21:26:39 -0800 2009 4274997 97452 Beach Chick 2 4289001 OP will also be staying at Liberty Station and MG is closer to that area than LJ. OP has posted on nine different threads, asking about things she has read/researched and asked specifically about MG. She knows it is a truck in a liquor store parking lot and has zero atmosphere...she has eaten from trucks by the roadside in Mexico. We are just telling her our opinions about things she is asking. We all do love MG... Thu Jan 01 21:47:47 -0800 2009 4288975 12123 Cathy 3 4289216 Yes we will be going to MG when we come back from disney to have lunch here. In la jolla we will need 2 lunches and 2 dinners in the village. Crab catcher, for happy hour for one evening for sure. Alfonsos for either lunch or dinner for sure.. and Sammy's pizza for sundaes somewhere during stay for a treat for the kids. We may do a breakfast at the cottage as well if our hotels morning comp breakfast is blahzaaa.. My big question is if georges is expensive and some people in threads said food isnt that hot there but paying more for view then by going in evening with no view why pay the higher prices for dinner. We then would be better off with lunches being less $$ and having a good view during day. When i booked this reservation 3 weeks ago for dinner it was on the assumption the food was GREAT. and was the VIEW.. Beach chick you seem to have similiar tastes on food/atmosphere reading your posts as me. If we go here for lunch we ware guaranteed to see a view and might be warmer also this time of the year with the kids. ?? Does the crab catcher have a view as well? I knolw the happy hour is in the oyster room i believe. Fri Jan 02 05:08:08 -0800 2009 4289001 251660 palmtree38 4 4291346 My take on George's is that the best food is downstairs in the formal dining room. Some of the tables have really nice water views in the formal dining room. I have not eaten at the rooftop for many years b/c every time I went, the food was "eh," nothing to write home about and it was all about the view. When I eat downstairs, I'm very happy with my meal, view or no view. Weather wise, it's been more hit and miss this year. Today was absolutely freezing (I realize this is relative, but it was cold for SD) with a nice heavy fog that would obliterate any "view" you'd hope to get off George's rooftop. Fri Jan 02 19:49:29 -0800 2009 4289216 10853 daantaat 5 4293046 thanks daantaat.. We did switch our reservations for lunchtime where it would be a bit warmer as well. If its a foggy rainy day we can always go somewhere else.. Thanks everyone for all your help. 6 more days here we come!!! Sat Jan 03 14:09:48 -0800 2009 4291346 251660 palmtree38 6 4799242 I just thought I would come back here and post that I did go for lunch at Geroges. We had the best table of viewing the ocean. Food was fabulous. The kids were given wikki stix to play with (great passtime at the table) we also went to Alfonso's for dinner and had a great dinner. My husbands favorite meal was had here and the owner even emailed his mothers secret recipe for it which we made at home. (fish dish) We had a Sammys Sundae wow they are large! Ropongo we went for happy hour and enjoyed our dinner here as well. I got to say I really loved BEV and Mo sampling hour. $2 for 6 samples of wine and cheese and crackers was a good laugh! Tue Jun 23 14:13:03 -0700 2009 4293046 251660 palmtree38