Truluck's Seafood, Steak and Crab House - La JollaFantasticExceptional service, great food! Looking forward to heading back!5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMWe visited Trulucks for Mother'sWe visited Trulucks for Mother's Day dinner. It was our first visit to this establishment and I'm happy to say that it did not disappoint. Every aspect of the evening was excellent - food, ambiance, and, especially, the service from "Chick"! Thanks for making this special occasion one that we will always remember!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMTRULY AN OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT!TRULY AN OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT! WE NEED MORE LIKE TRULUCK'S IN THE AEA5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMBirthday DinnerFood was impeccable! The staff really go out of their way to make sure you are satisfied. I even got two birthday cakes!!!5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMBest service and great foodLoved, loved, loved our service. We had a very friendly waiter named Kris that knew his food and was helpful in suggesting food and wine. The best cioppino I have had in a long time. My mother was ecstaticly happy with Truluck's overall experience to make her birthday extra special.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways outstandingTruluck's is THE place for fresh seafood and amazing service that starts as soon as you walk in the door. The staff make a point of recognizing special occasions with greeting cards and a decadent dessert. We usually go for the Florida stone crabs but everything from the salads to the fresh fish is always spectacular. This is the only restaurant that we've ever been to that personally calls you the next day to thank you for your patronage and to make sure the evening exceeded your expectations. It's a nice touch that makes you feel like a valued guest. The fresh seafood is pricey but both the quality, portion size and presentation is worth every cent.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMHappy HourThis is the best happy hour we have been to. We originally had plans for dinner, but decided to go to happy hour. We were able to order off the happy hour menu as well as the dinner menu. Our favorite is the crab mac and cheese.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMA memorable eveningWhat can I say, the service was outstanding. Ivan, our waiter was not only attentive and thorough, but extremely knowledgable with the menu and provided excellent recommendations. Ambience was great with live piano music at e bar, large comfortable booths, dim lighting and stylish decor. The wine list was extensive leaving nothing to be desired, the food, wow! I had an unbelievable seared ahi tuna entree, melt in your mouth good.The timing for all service components was superb. A beautiful evening. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who truly wished to experience 5 star wine and dining.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMBest FL Stone Crabs ; comingBest FL Stone Crabs ; coming from a former Miami girl5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMSurpriseFar better food than expected,with a varied menu and great deserts,will be going back soon5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experienceHad a pleasant dining experience at our first visit. The service was outstanding and will definitely dine again if we visit the city again.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Birthday GiftMy wife took me to Truluck's for my birthday - wow! What a great present. The food was excellent from the Stone Crab Claws all the way through to the surprise Birthday dessert at the end. Although we ordered one of our favorite white wines, the list was impressive just to read. It was Monday so the piano at the bar was going strong making the ambience very energetic. That level of noise is usually not to my taste but for this special occasion, it seemed to fit and my the occasion perfect.
I highly recommend going to Truluck's for the fresh seafood - it was fabulous!4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Best of the Best!My husband and I woke up the next morning talking about Truluck's. The seafood was the best I believe I have ever had. Perfect blends of spices, cooked to perfection, presentation was beautiful, and when you finally put that first bite in your mouth, heaven. The calamari was so tender, it just melted in your mouth. The crab legs, I really don't have words to describe how wonderful they were. Our server was fun, there when we needed him, without being intrusive. And to top it off, we received a phone call the next day from the manager asking about our experience. Class act!
Truluck's truly has it going on!
Dedra Finninger4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMThe server (Matt) providedThe server (Matt) provided outstanding service while the food and wine was fantastic. This was a special dinner for us in that we were celebrating my son's 23rd birthday. They provided an AMAZING chocolate lava cake with cherry's jubilee set afire poured on top. Further, the restaurant gave him a birthday card with the staff's signatures. Very personalized and classy.
The next day I received a message on my cell phone that was short, friendly and extremely professional from the manager of the restaurant. The call was to ensure that I had enjoyed our visit and to thank us for the business.
This place is fabulous!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMTrulucks cant be missedI have eaten at 100's of restaurants and most of the top rated steak and seafood restaurants in the US and I can honestly say the food and dining experience i had at trulucks was the best. Everyone in the restaurant had a friendly attitute and the waiter was excellent with a great combination of service, fun and wanting to ensure we had a great experience.
The food was fantastic. The shrimp cocktail was some of the best i ever had and the steak and crab meal was perfect. I love carrot cake and the carrot cake dessert with carmel was the best i ever had.
I also could not believe the next day when the manager called me just to ask if I had a enjoyable experience at the restaurant. This is now my favorite restaurant in all of the US.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing SeafoodThe Alaskan crab leg is awesome and the steak is great. Had the salmon before and is was really good as well.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMCheck out the happiest HappyCheck out the happiest Happy Hour ! Chock full of crab cakes! All yummy!
Stone crab was so delicious and fresh! The side dishes had wonderful variety such as sweet potato fries, crab fried rice, and Sichuan green beans.
Well worth the dining experience!4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMBest seafood and service in S.D.Great service and Great food , The best calamari I have ever had tender not chewy and the sweat chill sauce topped it off, great crab legs and very tasty blue crab grits. The lobster tail was in the top 3 I have ever had and I have tried it at many places in the world.
A note on service we were there this past Monday 4/22/13 for our 1st Anniversary , we mention it while our waitress was at the table just in passing , well at the end of out meal she came out with a chocolate cherry jubilee bread pudding with Happy Anniversary wrote in chocolate on the plate and a signed card from the staff, WOW thats old school stellar service. We have found our new favorite place to eat when visiting S.D.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMHad a swell time, serviceHad a swell time, service superb and food was great except parmeson mashed potatoes which were "gummy". The $8 valet was uncalled for with the below restaurant parking available.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThe bar at Trulucks is oneThe bar at Trulucks is one of the most comfortably appointed, and visually appealing in San Diego. The agate bar surface has lighting under it so it gives off a warm glow with pleasant pattersn. The Piano player serenades with enjoyable songs but does not drown converstion. Perfect combination of entertainment and ambience. Then when your booth is ready, a couple is escorted to a private, romantic seating situation devoid of another conversation happening in close proximity, like so many "urban" eateries seem to favor. So whether romance, or conversation, or peaceful uninterrupted dining is your goal, Trulucks provides it in spades.
The service is impeccable, prompt, and knowledgable about both the food and the wine. Stone crab cl4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMOverall 8 out of 10 on a busy nightloved call day after to see if we enjoyed it! Ambiance: dark & lively, open bar with ample tables. Lighting: subdued with lamps directed onto your table. Tables: comfortable circular booths and tables. Waiter: attentive & great. Critiques: stone crab medium claws too 'small', food brought out with the temperature stick still in fish & repeated request for straws (should have on them). Food: lobster bisque - smooth & tasty, cioppino: flavorful broth (too many mussels), miso chilean seabass: nice flavor (but if piece too fat, parts are possibly undercooked & slimy inside.) Asparagus: crispy & perfect. Slaw on top: not very tasty or visually pretty. Would order both meals again as quality & flavors were top. Give it an 8 out of 10 overall4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat stone crab clawsOn business in La Jolla. Saw ad on TV for stone crab claws here, so it drew me. Ate at bar, great batenderess. Crab grits, 6 oysters on half shell, and 3 very large stone crab claws. Perfect after my 10 mi run. I'll come back. The stone crabs were seemingly fresh. Had to ask for warmed drawn butter which they happily provided. Should have asked for horseradish for oysters but the frozen champagne sauce was quite good.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMWe celebrated our anniversaryWe celebrated our anniversary at Trulucks with all you could eat Stone crabs and deliciously fresh Chilean Sea Bass and great desert. Loved it and we were excited to see the location in La Jolla.4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMKid-FriendlyLove everything about Truluck's. Even Kid-Friendly. Amazingly kid-friendly. My children are well behaved so that helps but the wonderful people taking care of us made a point to speak directly to the kids, ask them questions and compliment them. It is my 9 year olds favorite restaurant!!4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMHad a very nice and romanticHad a very nice and romantic dinner with my wife. The food was great and cooked to perfection. I will be back.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMThis classy restaurant isThis classy restaurant is nothing short of amazing! From the top notch staff, to fantastic cocktails( lemon drop martini and raspberry martini) and food( lobster bisque soup, pan-seared sea scallops,cioppino and chocolate malt cake). Matt was our waiter and he was wonderful. The pianist was very good and had a nice selection of songs. Another thing that really made this place stand out was getting a phone call the day after, to follow up! I will definitely be a repeat customer!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMUnbelievable Experience!Unbelievable experience! Our server, Sammy, had an extensive palette and was a sommelier, as well. The service was exceptional, the food was served timely, and everything was cooked exactly as asked. I would highly recommend this restaurant all!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst timers @ Truluck'sFirst time there. My wife and I are not really drinkers so we passed on the wine list. Our waiter, David, was on his game. It is refreshing to see a person take pride in their craft.
The food was excellent. I enjoyed a crab and bernaise covered salmon and my wife had the seabass. Both cooked well and presented nicely. One tip on the crab claws is that over cracking them means you get a bit of shell in every bite no matter what you do. I would pare that down a bit.
As someone who grew up in the bay area and went to SF restaurants his whole life, I think the prices were a bit on the excessive side. I get it. LaJolla and all. That aside, a nice dining experience.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMwonderful dining experienceThis is a beautiful restaurant! We had cocktails and appetizers outside on the patio prior to dinner... delicious!
Our dinner was lovely and the wine was fabulous.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMPrivate Room and Heavenly Bisque!We booked for a group of 10, 8 showed up and Trulucks gave us a private room. We were treated like royalty and fed like kings! Try the lobster bisque-that alone was worth going for. We loved the crab cakes also.
While the restaurant was full and there was some noise, our room was cozy and quiet.
Our server Vladmir was efficient and professional. He recommended an excellent wine. He really knows his menu. I'm sure he has a degree in Marine Biology with his extensive knowledge of crab varieties, preperation and fishery locations.
I enjoyed the surf and turf. My steak was perfectly grilled.
The gluten free menu was also quite nice.
Try the carrot cake, but plan to share it.
We will be back next time we visit San Diego hungry for more!3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat atmosphere! Great food!Great atmosphere! Great food! Great service! We had a wonderful dining experience!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMBay Area San Diego LoverVery Very impressed with this place. I took my wife there for her birthday. Food was more than excellent. I had a the chilean sea bass, which was meaty, seasoned, fresh and totally delicious . I'm not from the area but I will make sure when I come back to stop by here and grab a bite. If you ever have plans to go out, and get a well prepared meal, this is your place.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWe have been to Truluck severalWe have been to Truluck several times and have referred friends there as well. The food is terrific and the atmosphere is great. We usually go there as a family and always enjoy the experience with 2 teenage daughters. It is on the pricey side, but well worth it for special occasion. The waiter made a great wine recommendation and helped with food decisions as well. The service was great and our waiter was very attentive without being too attentive.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThe wait staff is exceptional,The wait staff is exceptional, the food good, and lovely atmosphere3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMExceptional food and service...My wife and I recently tried Truluck's for an anniversary dinner. Both the service and food were excellent. We enjoyed some of the better seafood we've ever had in San Diego. We'll definitely be going back.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMYou'll Be Happy You CameWent there for our anniversary. There was a little wait on our table we had reserved, but the manager was fantastic by offering us some drinks while we waited. The server was great, she explained everything well and helped guide us on our menu selections. We had a nice table that was appropriately romantic. The food was amazing. The menu had the typical steak and seafood items, but provided a selection of higher quality ingredients. The tuna tartare was above average because it incorporated some japanese sushi ingredients like yellowtail, sriracha, and spicy aioli rather than an ordinary hawaiian style. Our steaks were cooked properly, which is amazingly hard to come by these days. We loved this place and would definitely recommend it.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMCelebrating 65What a delight it was to be escorted to our table to piano melodies that I knew the words to! Our "table" was a booth, high backed, well padded, comfortable and easy to get in and out of. As a diner I was able to observe five other parties enjoying their evening without being intrusive. Service was impeccable, from hostess, to assistants, to wait people--each appeared to enjoy being a part of a customer oriented team which provided efficient and personalized to those dining at the restaurant. All questions were answered professionally and completely and, actually most of my questions were anticipated and answered without having to ask. The final touch was dessert on a personalized plate presented with a card signed by several staff members.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful Date NightThe service and food were splendid. My wife and I both enjoyed the Shrimp Cocktail, Wedge Salad, and Filet Mignon--very flavorful! Service was perfect in both the bar and the restaurant--friendly and timely. The only negative was the noise level. I have trouble hearing, in general, and the restaurant was a little more loud than I would have expected. It was difficult to hear my wife speak--again, I do have trouble hearing to begin with, so take that for what it's worth.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMExceptional dining!We have eaten at several Trulucks around the country and always enjoy this quality restaurant. We ave never been disappointed. We only wish we had one near our home to visit more often. Our work travel though continues to give us the opportunity3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMThey take great care to ensureThey take great care to ensure that the dining experience is excellent in all ways and they succeed!3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMCan't wait to go backWhat an amazing restaurant. Everything about it was fantastic and I can't wait to go back. Highly recommended.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWe came to Truluck's to celebrateWe came to Truluck's to celebrate my sister's Bday, since she was craving seafood. What a wonderful selection of seafood and great treat on Wed to have half off wine night. All of our meals was excellent!!! Our waiter was awesome too, David. We highly recommend this restaurant and we will be back for sure.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMMy fish was overcooked. IMy fish was overcooked. I had the Sea Bass, flavor was decent but it was overcooked and tough. As a starter I had the rainbow fish tartar, which was excellent.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is my favorite, go toThis is my favorite, go to spot. I have nver been disappointed with the food and service. Excellent food and wine list.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMI have always liked diningI have always liked dining at Trulucks specially for the Florida Stone Claws except for this past experience, the waiter told us that they were not very good right now and told us that the Pacific claws were better so my friend ordered the Pacific but since I am from Florida and know they are much better I ordered them and although the claws were the worst I have ever had there they were still better then the pacific claws.
My other complaint is with the price for the all you can eat Mondays which I have been going to for many years now, 3 years ago it was $49.95 then it went to $59.95 and without ever being told it went to $69.95 which is way to much specially for bad claws, it should be posted on their website. I'm not happy!3/11/2013 12:00:00 AMMy Favorite San Diego Restaurant.My Favorite San Diego Restaurant. Came for the Stone Crab .. ate, and enjoyed.3/11/2013 12:00:00 AMBest Seafood and Best Service.Best Seafood and Best Service. Food was excellent and served when needed. Waiters and other staff were extremely friendly and remembered us from previous visit 6 months ago. Definately a place to go in the San Diego area. I am from the Napa Valley and it beat just about every fine dining place in Napa, Yountville and Saint Helena.3/11/2013 12:00:00 AMNot being there before requiredNot being there before required adjustment. Parking was only at the neighboring hotel and that was a chore. Valadation was apprieciated, but required a good hike or a hefty valet fee. The food and service were very good and the server Danny was a real pro. The noice overwelled the piano player and required a loud voice to converse. This restaurant is very nice but at 150 dollars for me was overpriced. Give me Black Angus at 1/3 the price even with the lower food and service value.3/11/2013 12:00:00 AMNo luck needed!Not a single complaint. OK. There is one. I knocked a glass of Sea Smoke over and I think the whole place noticed. It really is one of the cities top places for eating.3/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWe loved this restaurant.We loved this restaurant. The calamari was the best we have had. Martini's were served cold and were great.
The salads were fresh and crisp. One of us had the simple wedge salad and loved it. It was full of blue cheese.
The cajun swordfish was very fresh and the sauce was outstanding. The King Crab legs could not be found better anywhere!!!
We were too full for dessert and got it to go. We had the carrot cake. It was huge even when split in half to share. The first bite was very sweet and we thought we would not eat another bite - however we could not stop eating it!!!! Their signature chocolate bag was enjoyed as well.
The service is informative, fun and attentive. I wish they had more Truluck's. Please open one in Boston!!!3/5/2013 12:00:00 AM