JRDN - Overpriced and Underwhelming
When I called to make a reservation for three at this hotel restaurant (the hotel is Tower 23 in Pacific Beach), I was asked if I was celebrating a special occasion. I responded that yes, in fact I was, and I explained why, after which she said she'd "make a note." I was surprised to find, at the end of our meal, that nothing had been done -- no special dessert or discount -- to mark the special occasion, which made me wonder: Why even ask? But that's just an irritating side issue. The real disappointment was in the food.
First of all, the bill came to about $100 per head (3 cocktails, 1 bottle of wine ($50), 3 apps, 3 entrees, 1 dessert). The cocktails were not special. Watermelon margarita was nearly tasteless, and the 2 mango cocktails were mostly mango juice.
The amuse bouche was duck confit and greens on a spoon, which tasted exactly like tuna salad. Salty and boring. The lobster bisque, a dark, brownish color, tasted mostly of thickeners and salt, and despite the nice chunks of lobster within the thick goo, the flavor of lobster was undetectable. A scallop app (one scallop atop a citrus kumquat spread with a small pile of greens and hearts of palm) was okay, the scallop was tasty enough, but the greens were incredibly bitter. The third app, gnocchi with English peas and prosciutto, was overly salty (more canned ham than aged prosciutto), and the gnocchi fell apart on the fork, more the texture of clumped cheese than pasta. The flavors were not distinct, it was just one greasy, salty bowl of picnic level casserole. On to the entrees:
David (my beloved foodie man) ordered the lobster poached in butter, over butternut squash ravioli in a vanilla sauce. Overall, the combination was too sweet, more like dessert than dinner. The lobster itself ($38 and only half a lobster) could have used a bit of salt. To their credit, it was not overcooked, but it wasn't very flavorful either. The only flavor on the plate was the cloying, heavily sauced ravioli. I ordered the halibut (as did the third diner), which was served with some kind of mush stuffed into squash blossoms and deep fried. The server had said rice was in the blossoms, the menu said sun chokes, but it was more like mashed potatoes. The fish was dry and mealy (one reason I usually avoid ordering seafood on Mondays). The beurre blanc was broken and greasy, and the blossoms were too heavy for the dish.
Our dessert -- a golf-ball sized scoop of blueberry ice cream, a lemon pudding (free-standing, about the size of a compact mirror) covered in blueberries (canned), all of it beneath messy and greasy deep-fried phyllo flakes. David found the lemon pudding part too grainy and not very lemony. I enjoyed the flavors, but thought the presentation was terrible.
Overall, though the view of the ocean is gorgeous, and it's fun to watch the lively hustle and bustle of the boardwalk, this was typical tourist food. Overpriced, and underwhelming.
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I have always thought JRDN in Tower 23 was completely overrated.
This place had so much "hype" when it opened.
Remember a few years ago when every publication in town was claiming San Diego to be the next South Beach?
Thank goodness that ridiculous talk is over.
News just in: We don't have a fashion industry, our bars close at 1:30 and we are not the gateway to Latin America.
The food at JRDN is always underwhelming and seems to cater to provincial locals and unsophisticated tourists.
The bar service, as I have said on here before is the worst I have ever come across in 20 + years of drinking.
Which is pretty impressive.
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re: honkman
"But more importantly restaurants are closing too early in SD."
So true.
I was talking to my little brother the other day and he was at a packed restaurant in DC at 10:30 pm est.
This down economy is making restaurants close even earlier than they already did in San diego.
Starlight serves food till 12am I think still.
I was in there on friday night, and it was super slow.
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re: honkman
Captain Jack
Jul 15, 2009 08:40 AM
I can see the after 10pm in LA on Friday and Saturday. As some examples Lucques bumps service until 11 Th - Sa, at Spago BH they also push until 11, but only on Saturday, and Valentino adds a half hour to bump until 10:30 on Fri, Sa. After 11 though? No, then you are SOL at most LA restaurants and must start looking through a greatly shortened list of places that stay open late, or have limited bar menus. Mid week it is 9:30-10 for most establishments. Caveat: obviously the list of late night spots in LA is far more apealing than the late night list for SD.
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re: Captain Jack
honkman
Jul 15, 2009 10:27 AM
I agree that I don’t have much experience with LA restaurants during weenights but at least there are a number of (higher end) restaurants in LA where you can walk in on Friday, Saturday at 10-11pm and you have no problem to get everything from the regular menu without being rushed (at least that is our experience over the last 2-3 years when we very regularly go to LA on weekends for some restaurant trips). Some of the restaurants which are accepting reservation at 10pm or later:
Pizzeria Mozza
Osteria Mozza
Fraiche
Animal
Spago
Hatfields
Comme Ca
Church and State
Lucques
Grace
Hungry Cat
XIVI think that is not a bad list of good restaurants (and these are just restaurants we know/visited in a very small area in LA – there are definitely more) with all of them better than anything we have in San Diego.
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re: honkman
honkman, great list.
"without being rushed". I think that is a key point. I have been rushed lately in san diego, even when I go to eat at like 9:30.
How did you like Lucques?
I though it was good (certainly better than most in our town) but compared to other great restaurants in other cities it didn't seem to measure up.
It might have been the case of too high expectations.
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re: honkman
Captain Jack
Jul 15, 2009 12:33 PM
I think you missed my point honkman, 10pm - 11pm on Fri,Sa, sure. After 11pm the list shrinks dramatically. You said "it is nice to be able to start eating at great restaurants after 10-11pm." Start eating at great restaurants after 11pm? Very short list as many on your list bear witness to.
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foodiechick
Jul 14, 2009 01:00 PM
Joining the band wagon on all of the welcome wishes, AND shout out welcome to Uptown Dave as well. You two are a great 1-2 punch with your commentary and David's photos.
Re JRDN: We do love to go there for the view and people watching. Having said that, we have learned that dealing with JRDN's service takes patience, and the food never meets high expectation levels. Gave up on dinner many moons ago. We keep it simple, ordering sandwiches, salads or breakfast only at weekend lunch. Grab a raspberry (fresh) mojito at the bar, kick back on the sunny patio to take in the sidewalk show and chill till our food is delivered.
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re: Uptown Dave
Halibut looked dry judging from the looks (flaked down the middle), and one fregg'in scallop? are they kidding? The 4 gnocchis looked pasty (gloppy looking sauce). So, where did you stop to eat after this? Mickey D's?
Check this out for a great dinner for 2 special.
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San Diego (the city) and San Diego (dining) in a nutshell: what looks pretty often isn't. JRDN's strength is its bar, view, and design. The food is an afterthought. Serious food is to be found at serious restaurants born out of passion-- not the San Diego tradition of fleecing people with flimflam.
That said. . . I second Beach Chick's welcome. I welcome your attitude. Bring it on, Diva Barbarella, to Chowhound.
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Beach Chick
Jul 14, 2009 11:33 AM
Welcome to Chowhound Diva!
Great report on JRDN..I like the way you drink and eat..too bad it blows but the view is great..
Love your KUSI reports and sad to see Kristen leaving.. :(
Look forward to more of your chowworthy reporting!
Beach Chick
