Cafe la Rue - La Valencia Hotel - Permanently Closed

Sort by

Filters

1. SB

   StuartB

   Minneapolis

   14 reviews

   3.0

   14 reviews

   Dined on January 1, 2020

   overall3food1service4ambience4

   A group of 10 of us reserved a table at Cafe La Rue last New Years Eve and we had an excellent time. A group of 8 of us reserved a table again this year for New Years Eve. The staff and service were good. All of the meals were poorly prepared. Several of us ordered a steak salad. The steak was tough and flavorless. An order of flat bread was cold as was the chicken breast in another meal. Our group was in La Jolla for five days of vacation and Cafe La Rue was the worst food we had by far. Extremely disappointed. We will not go to Cafe La Rue again.

   Report
2. J

   Jack

   San Diego

   23 reviews

   vip
   4.0

   23 reviews

   Dined on January 1, 2020

   overall4food5service4ambience5

   This old LaJollan not the least upset with the redo of the old tired Whaling Bar. Love Cafe LaRue and wish more people would accept it.

   Report
3. CR

   CherylR

   Baja California Sur

   7 reviews

   2.0

   7 reviews

   Dined on December 19, 2019

   overall2food2service3ambience3

   We arrived at 5:30 and there were no other people in the restaurant. Since it was happy hour that was not a good sign. While wine and beer was $10 and good quality we ordered off main menu for dinner. The menu consists of mostly sandwiches and similar light fare. When it arrived we were shocked at how small the portions were. For a turkey burger that was priced over $20 it was tiny. I ordered a $17 Caesar salad and it barely covered 1/2 the salad plate. All in all, service was friendly and La Valencia is always beautiful but don’t go for the food. Apparently more people knew this than me because even by time we left, place was still mostly empty.

   Report
4. c

   carrie

   San Diego

   113 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   113 reviews

   Dined on December 15, 2019

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Always nice - we bring our friends.... too bad it’s almost empty....

   Report
5. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Austin

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 3, 2019

   overall1food1service1ambience1

   Made a reservation for 8pm on a Monday and got there and the restaurant was closed!

   Report
6. L

   Lynda

   San Diego

   4 reviews

   vip
   4.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on October 12, 2019

   overall4food3service5ambience4

   Staff is very kind.

   Report
7. JK

   JK123

   Phoenix

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on September 14, 2019

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Fantastic food and service- beautiful atmosphere - we loved it!!

   Report
8. K

   Kary993

   Orange County

   20 reviews

   vip
   2.0

   20 reviews

   Dined on August 11, 2019

   overall2food3service1ambience3

   We normally go here but this night was particularly slow and food not good nor service.

   Report
9. C

   Chane1957

   Montreal

   12 reviews

   4.0

   12 reviews

   Dined on July 6, 2019

   overall4food4service4ambience4

   Jarrod was our server and he was great. Very friendly and informative. We needed to move our table and it was not a problem . The fish n chips and black bean burger were perfectly cooked. Fun dining experience.

   Report
10. CY

    ChristineY

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 27, 2019

    overall5food5service4ambience4

    Server Jarred was wonderful very patient and attentive. Made the evening a real treat for the 4 of us.

    Report
11. KW

    KenW

    San Diego

    36 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    36 reviews

    Dined on May 17, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We love the atmosphere dining outside with our dog, Millie. Jared is our regular server and he is very personable

    Report
12. w

    worldtraveler

    Phoenix

    12 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on April 18, 2019

    overall3food1service5ambience3

    Went there for the oysters and champagne Wednesday and had oysters that are nonexistent. A dozen of their oysters don’t even add up to one real oyster. What a waste of money!

    Report
13. IM

    IndiaM

    San Diego

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on February 7, 2019

    overall4food3service4ambience4

    Cafe la Rue at Hotel la Valencia is a lovely place and a wonderful stop to show off beautiful La Jolla to guests. Service is excellent but the food is hit & miss. This time I had the cheese and meat plate. Very expensive for the tiny amount of food on the enormous plate that took up our entire table. I also ordered the ceviche which was basically inedible. I have had wonderful food there but this visit was a disappointment.

    Report
14. SB

    StuartB

    Minneapolis

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on January 1, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Reserved a table for 10 people on New Years Eve. Upon our arrival we were greeted by our server Cassidy who was a fantastic server and an excellent representative for the restaurant, our table was spacious and extremely comfortable in a lovely location we all had a fabulous time.

    Report
15. RA

    RALPH

    Orange County

    10 reviews

    3.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2018

    overall3food2service4ambience3

    had turkey dinner cold. sliver of pie for ten dollars. coffee cold not good at all

    Report
16. DM

    DavidM

    Las Vegas

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 21, 2018

    overall2food3service4ambience2

    Local resident. Inside seating atmosphere zero. Sevice and food was fine. Bring back the Whaling Bar!

    Report
17. c

    carrie

    San Diego

    113 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    113 reviews

    Dined on October 9, 2018

    overall5food3service5ambience5

    what has happened to the Happy Hour offerings???? They were once VERY GOOD and ABUNDANT

    Report
18. s

    segolen

    San Diego

    10 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on October 8, 2018

    overall3food3service5ambience3

    Waitress was so nice and helpful!

    Report
19. DM

    DaveM

    San Diego

    71 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    71 reviews

    Dined on August 12, 2018

    overall4food5service4ambience5

    Food was great. Best French Dip I've had in a long time. Good wine-by-the-glass selection.

    Report
20. JA

    JerryA

    Los Angeles

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 5, 2018

    overall3food4service5ambience3

    With only one waiter to handle a full room she did a great job.

    Report
21. A

    Ambrosia

    San Diego

    8 reviews

    2.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on August 3, 2018

    overall2food2service3ambience1

    I went with two friends for Thursday Night Prime Rib at 6:00 o'clock and we could not hear ourselves talk. Earplugs should be at every table. The music was waaaayy too loud for dining. The room apparently has absolutely no sound absorbing materials so the Cafe was loud enough to cause me to want a decibel meter. We could not carry on much of a conversation and had to often repeat what had been said. One waiter actually stood near our table and shouted several times diagonally across the bar to get the attention of another waiter who was maybe eight to ten feet away. The food was okay but who cares when the dining experience was so horrible? If I were at the bar and slamming shots, the evening might have been enjoyable. Sadly, I was trying to have a nice dinner in a place that has such a nice history in La Jolla. La V can no longer bask in its former glory; it seems those days are GONE. No reason to go back to this dud of a place.

    Report
22. AB

    AnaB

    Los Angeles

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 30, 2018

    overall3food2service4ambience5

    Service was good, both hostess and server were on point. Food was a bit pretentious, very little portions and pretty much tasteless. Desserts on the other hand were delicious but nothing that you cannot find somewhere else for half the price. Price was excesive. The ambiance was quiet and the view over la Joya Cove was gorgeous. If not for the view there is probably nothing that would bring me back to this restaurant.

    Report
23. CI

    CharlesInCharge

    Los Angeles

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 26, 2018

    overall3food2service2ambience4

    Pretty mediocre food. Pizza was kinda lame, as was the salad. Server didn’t really understand what vegetarianism was. Beautiful building though! Solid oysters.

    Report
24. h

    historicdine

    Los Angeles

    22 reviews

    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on June 22, 2018

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Delicious food, excellent service, nice location. I will visit there again!

    Report
25. J

    Jf2018

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 17, 2018

    overall4food5service3ambience4

    Great food and ambiance! Would definitely recommend and come back!

    Report
26. CT

    CatherineT

    Chicago

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on June 15, 2018

    overall2food1service2ambience2

    Mediocre food - veggie dip was block of cream cheese with arugula and pasta dish was nothing like proposed on the menu. The place would need a little updating and upgrading

    Report
27. AC

    AlanC

    San Diego

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on June 8, 2018

    overall4food5service4ambience3

    We wanted a good meal for a reasonable price and found this place had a Thur. special Prime Rib dinner for $19.95. The food was very good along with drinks and service. They also had live entertainment in the lounge which was good. We returned the following evening for live entertainment on the courtyard patio which was just fantastic. Drinks are a little pricey but,after all , this is La Jolla !

    Report
28. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on May 14, 2018

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Wonderful food and fun atmosphere

    Report
29. x

    xteaguy

    Phoenix

    46 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    46 reviews

    Dined on April 9, 2018

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Comfortable with good service and food

    Report
30. DW

    DawnaW

    San Diego

    5 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on April 1, 2018

    overall3food2service3ambience4

    Great location but food was mediocre. Crab cake sandwich had to be returned because it was burnt! French Dip sandwich was ok but nothing special. Ceviche was good but not a standard ceviche with a tomato base.

    Report
31. TL

    TishL

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 23, 2018

    overall5food4service5ambience4

    Went for Prime rib/martini special on a Thursday night. Cool vibe, great food, terrific service.

    Report
32. B

    Buntz

    Philadelphia

    821 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    821 reviews

    Dined on February 22, 2018

    overall4food4service4ambience3

    Had nice, very casual meal in hotel bar setting. 6 oysters for $9 were a bargain appetizer. Fish and chips and 1/2 chicken were quite good entrees. Enjoyed the lounge pianist.

    Report
33. C

    Carl

    Orange County

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 30, 2017

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    The dining was great once we got seated, but the reservation experience was not so good. They had never heard of us. In fact, they don't take reservations. I'm not sure what this place is doing on Open Table. You should either get this sorted out with the restaurant or remove them from Open Table.

    Report
34. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 26, 2017

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    It was closed even though we had reservation Via Open table ...... the hours are wrong on his AP And trying to find a place to eat while on Vacation is Not Fun

    Report
35. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 24, 2017

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Enjoyable meal on Black Friday. A good escape from shopping just to people watch and have a wonderful lunch. Beet salad was great!

    Report
36. DJ

    DianeJ

    New York Area

    42 reviews

    5.0

    42 reviews

    Dined on November 5, 2017

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We enjoyed the food, service and atmosphere at Cafe le Rue. Limited menu but we liked all the choices. Our server was great and the food was delicious.

    Report
37. DO

    DORIS

    San Diego

    20 reviews

    3.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on October 31, 2017

    overall3food3service2ambience4

    The service was very poor. Our food did not come out for over 1/2 hour. Our salad came first, then the entree and then the appetizer. The waiter never asked us if we wanted more wine. There only maybe 2 other tables with costumers. So it wasn’t because they were busy. Very disappointed.

    Report
38. GA

    GinaA

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on October 15, 2017

    overall4food5service3ambience4

    My friend’s Mother was here visiting from out of town. I only see her every 2 years, so I wanted her to experience the La Valencia.

    Report
39. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    25 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined on September 23, 2017

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Wonderful and delicious. Service was great.

    Report
40. LS

    LindaS

    San Diego

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 5, 2017

    overall1food1service1ambience5

    They claimed they did not have a reservation for me even after I showed them my email confirmation. There were plenty of empty tables but that's not the point. Service was slow - waitrress disappeared for long periods of time. Disappointed in food. Too bad as the ambiance is very nice.

    Report