My family and I went to San Diego for a short getaway and my husband recommended jake’s for lunch and we made a good choice! The restaurant is located right in front of the beach therefore the view is amazing! The food was very awesome too although the portion is a little small for the fish. We had the salmon and shrimp, and the Cajun fish burger. Both were very good! And of course we had the hula pie for dessert, soooo good! Definitely recommended!
Thedis M.
Tu valoración: 5 San Diego, CA
Every year we celebrate our anniversary at Jakes. The food, the ambiance and now Daniel. He was the best server we have ever met. He was attentive, timely and took time to interact. He really wanted to make sure we were happy and full! We really enjoyed our meals and the service Daniel provided!
D'Andrea W.
Tu valoración: 3 Tucson, AZ
Stopped here for lunch while visiting Del Mar. The food was okay nothing spectacular. It’s right on the beach. I had chowder which was ok and spouse had the burger which was just okay.
Lim K.
Tu valoración: 5 Urbandale, IA
Jake’s was one of our favorite Sunday brunch place for many years when we lived in San Diego. We went back for dinner recently and noticed the dining area has been remodeled. It looked great! We shared fried calamari strips, Brussels sprouts, and King salmon. I have to say that Jake’s has the best calamari. All the food was delicious and the view was amazing. Our server, Adam, was excellent.
Anna M.
Tu valoración: 5 Sunnyvale, CA
Ugh, the wait here is so long without a reservation! YOUMUSTMAKEONE! Minus the wait, everything from the food to the service to the view was just PERFECT. Luckily we got seated near the open window overlooking the beach :0) I ordered the herb garlic grilled salmon w/roasted red pepper grits, grilled corn & mango relish. YUMMMYYYYY. Everything about this dish was SOOO goood and bursting with flavor! I don’t think they serve this anymore, but they should really think about putting it back on the menu… maybe it was seasonal? Perfect lunch/dinner spot and a great place to walk along the beach afterwards.
Giovanna M.
Tu valoración: 5 San Diego, CA
I’m really glad to say that this is great food, great service, and has an amazing ambiance. My daughter graduated High School yesterday and so we came here for her celebratory dinner. FOOD: My husband and I both got the Rib-Eye Special — mine was seared rare and his was medium. Perfect heat on those steaks. Man, that was good! Buttery tender. Had great flavor. Veggies were good too. My daughter ordered the Shrimp Scampi over a bed of pasta. She ate the shrimp and some of her pasta before she was full. My mom ordered the Scallops. She had 3 on her plate, so was sorely disappointed in how little she got whilst the rest of us were gobbling up mucho food on our end of the table. But they were good scallops she said. My daughter’s BF got the burger and ate all of it. Loved it. My son got the app that’s a mac & cheese stuffed meatball and hated it. I tasted it. There was something on it that gave it an undesirable flavor. Something sweetish. Maybe teriyaki or something. I didn’t like it. Neither did he. He also got the kids’ sized burger(the other is huge) and said it tasted like charcoal. I didn’t taste that. It didn’t look like charcoal. Not sure what to say about the 10 year old’s choices of food. I know I won’t be ordering mac and cheese stuffed meatballs(anywhere, let alone a lavish place like this) and I also wouldn’t get a burger at a place like this. Burgers are a dime a dozen all over the place. Get something you normally wouldn’t if you come here. The photos here on Unilocal don’t do the food justice. Looks so good in person, and more importantly — tastes so good. SERVICE: Our server was fantastic. She was perfect on timing, check-ins, friendliness, and helpful. She thanked us at the end for making her night extra good. So that was nice too. AMBIANCE: The woody interior, somewhat rustic, wasn’t overdone in western décor as some places do. It was warm and inviting. There were high beamed ceilings, large open windows that open right onto Jake’s Beach. It was a comfortable noise level. Lighting was perfect; not too bright, not too dim. Ladies restroom was clean. The price point is high. But on that note, I must say, I’ve been to super high end places before, but usually they don’t deserve to ask that kind of money. Jake’s can. The food warranted a high price. Delicious, indeed! For 6 of us dining, with modest drinking, the bill was $ 350 — and worth every penny. DRINKS: Although I’d suggest a few more beer options, to include at least a good stout, the mixed drinks were good. I especially liked their adult version of blueberry lemonade. Overall, I look forward to coming again!
Jennifer T.
Tu valoración: 4 Berkeley, CA
Came here to celebrate my little brother’s graduation and had such a great dining experience. Can’t wait to find an excuse to come back here again :) This place has a surprisingly casual atmosphere for a higher end restaurant, but it’s still really classy and has a very Hawaiian/tropical vibe to it. Also, I really love how this place is right on the beach and has like a wall of windows… definitely request a booth or table overlooking the beach if you can! For the starter we ordered the crispy calamari to share, and it was pretty different from other fried calamari I’ve tried! There was A LOT of meat on the calamari and it came with an Asian-tasting, sweet and sour dipping sauce. We were also served complimentary hot bread & butter which was super good — I definitely ate too much bread before our other food came lol For the main course, I ordered the seafood stew which was very flavorful and came with an arrangement of shrimp, scallops, fish, and lobster in a tomato-y stew. So yum! And probably one of the larger-sized meals. My dad and brother both ordered the surfing steak, which was amazingly juicy and tender but unfortunately small(it came with a strip of steak and one prawn). Of course, small-sized meals are to be expected in restaurants like this haha but I’d recommend steering away from this option if you have a bigger appetite! All the reviews on here rave about the hula pie, so of course we had to order that for dessert! It was massive and definitely satisfied my family of 5. At first glance, the hula pie just looks like a heaping amount of ice cream, but the fudge, macadamia nuts, and thin oreo pie crust really bring this pile of ice cream to a whole new level. Would definitely order again! TIP: Parking is hard to find around this area — it’s definitely worth it to pay for the $ 5 valet.
Tom H.
Tu valoración: 4 Butler, NJ
Was looking for a place near the ocean for dinner for myself and some colleagues and found Jakes. Not sure if they have patio seating but we were sat at a table for 7 in the main area. View of the ocean blocked by the bar so could have been downtown for all we knew. Service was very good. I ordered the«pot» which was similar to a seafood stew. Shrimp, lobster, scallops and others in a lite red sauce. Was outstanding, fresh and very tasty served in a metal pot. Great dish Parking is right across the street, pull in at first entrance before Jakes and can pay at the meter. They have valet parking but it’s a s* show so pull into the public lot instead. Make sure to call for a reservation, gets busy and last time couldn’t get in. Nice place but jeans and a tshirt were fine the night we went. Great place and a great location
Karen B.
Tu valoración: 5 New Orleans, LA
We ate at Duke’s in Kauai on our honeymoon in 2005 and were so excited to find Jake’s(same people) out here while while visiting relatives. We ate here in 2008, 2009 and again today(when we get out to visit family… We have two kids now if you are wondering what happened to the last five years of our life… And my hips). Though I do not remember what we got last times, today we got the brussel sprouts, gnocchi, steak and wedge, and Panko crusted fish for the kids. Food, drinks and service are always great. That said, regardless of what I thought of everything else, here’s why you go here: 1. BEAUTIFUL view of Del Mar beach right there. Nothing better than jumping in those cold waves… Other than watching other people do it while you sit inside with a cocktail. 2. HULAPIE! I still remember this from my honeymoon 11 years ago(we ended up eating there I think 3 separate times). This is like a half inch of crust that tastes like smooshed Oreo cookies, piled like 8″ high with macadamia nut ice cream, chocolate sauce, more chopped nuts, whipped cream. It is SO good. Definitely bring 2 – 3 people to help split it or your hips too can look like you’ve had two kids!(Or just eat it and go work out for like 6 days straight). All good!
Leanna W.
Tu valoración: 4 VALLEY VILLAGE, CA
One of the best eateries in the San Diego area! On so many levels, so much happiness. Firstly, of the TS brand of restaurants does an outstanding job with ambiance at all their establishments, but this is one of my favorites. Beautiful lighting and of course gorgeous massive west-facing windows that look out over the ocean. Classic and so Southern Californian in their décor, plating, and ambiance — casually natural and seaside-y, but by no means overly cutesy or cliché. Also, this is random, but I love their plates, esp. the side plates. We’ve been there several times, and have never been disappointed by our meals — seafood is flavorful and moist, greens and sides are fresh and perfectly paired to the main course, and drinks are stiff and tasty. Service is fast, very cheery usually, and quite accommodating. One star docked because last time we went, there was a strangely limited menu in my opinion — less fresh fish than usual. Surprised, still found a great meal regardless, but far few options than prior visits.
Dustin B.
Tu valoración: 5 National City, CA
Live this place. Wonderful view of the water and great items on the menu. They have a killer happy hour. My favorite thing here is the calamari. Get a few orders it is amazing. Also, the beet salad is killer and pretty healthy.
Melanie R.
Tu valoración: 5 Roseville, CA
This place is outstanding. It’s my go-to fancy restaurant in San Diego, and never disappoints. I’ve been here maybe 5 times, and every time I leave thinking about when I get to come back. I’ve never had anything less than delicious, and the service is always on point. They make a fantastic steak, and the appetizers are also delicious(I particularly love the Calamari). They also have custom cocktails that hit the spot. The most spectacular thing about this restaurant is the view. Whenever I come here, I’ll make a reservation, and when I arrive, ask if we can have a window table. We will wait 15 – 30 minutes after our scheduled reservation time just to get a window seat, and its absolutely worth it, especially with a nice cocktail in your hand! They also have lights on the beach at night, so you can still see the ocean after the sun sets. If you’re looking for a romantic or fancy restaurant to celebrate something, or just a delicious meal, then this is your place!
Jennifer S.
Tu valoración: 3 Rancho Bernardo, San Diego, CA
I was sure I would rate this place 5 stars after reading the stellar reviews, but alas, such was not the case. I made dinner reservations a week in advance for my husband’s birthday, which fell on a Wednesday. Even though it was a weeknight, the place was crowded. Glad I made the reservation because we had no wait time. When making the reservation, I had asked for a table with a view, preferably by the window. They were able to provide a table with a view; it wasn’t right next to the window, but I was ok with that. Hubby was really loving it. Jake’s staff also put out a Birthday card on the table for him, a nice touch. I know Jake’s is known for their seafood. We aren’t huge on seafood but I knew their menu had other items. To start, we had their seafood chowder, which was creamy and delicious. For dinner, he ordered the Roasted Jidori Chicken and I had the Chef’s Burger. The presentation was nice but unfortunately, the taste was only so-so. The chicken, a large boneless breast, was mostly dry and unseasoned. We ate the grilled veggies and pierogi it came with but the chicken itself was disappointing. We mainly ate the burger and fries, which were also average at best. Perhaps it’s the seafood that people rave about but I believe a restaurant should put as much effort into their«land» options as they do their seafood ones. In the end, it appeared we were paying more for the view/location of this place, and not so much the food. And the food doesn’t come cheap here. They did bring out a complimentary plate of hula pie for my hubby which was extremely kind and it was yummy with all its vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup and oreo crust topped with macadamia nuts. We appreciated the good service and pie along with the gorgeous view, but a restaurant needs to have consistently good food options across the menu.
Mitch B.
Tu valoración: 5 San Diego, CA
My go-to special occasion dinner spot! The service, the food and the view could each rate 5 stars as a stand alone. Put them all together and you have a San Diego institution IMHO. This place is all San Diego– you’ll feel as comfortable in shorts and flip flops as you will in a suit. That’s why I love this town! WHENYOUGO– parking is all Valet. I can’t think of a better Über destination for that reason. The dining area is also not huge but they have a big bar area and lots of visual distractions to keep you busy while you wait on your table(reservations are a must). While the steaks and seafood are amazing, they are not stratospheric prices; 14oz NY runs $ 44, double Kettle on the rocks $ 15. Ask for and wait for table #33. It’s on the glass in southern corner with the best views in the joint. Ask for my friend Adam as your sever(he’s the best) and you absolutely, without fail, MUST have the Hula Pie for desert. Go there ASAP and thank me for an amazing experience after!
Michelle S.
Tu valoración: 5 Fairfield, CA
Fantastic upscale restaurant. Right on the beach and super easy parking nearby. I ordered the pecan crusted swordfish. It was outstanding. It was served with this beet infused sauce and greens. Our service was perfect, very attentive and provides great suggestions. Their happy hour was also awesome. A cab or a white is 6 $ a glass and their calamari was $ 6 off and excellent. I would love to come back here soon when I am visiting the city. Beautiful view of the ocean and just overall a very classy experience.
Ceara L.
Tu valoración: 4 San Diego, CA
Visited Jake’s recently on Easter Sunday and really enjoyed the food and service! The host seated us at a crescent shaped booth facing the beautiful ocean view. For dinner I ordered the Chef’s burger. It was super juicy and cooked to perfection. With the burger I had the orange blossom margarita which was delicious of course! I was also super excited to order the Hula Pie for dessert since I had tried it once before at Duke’s in Hawaii when I was a kid. It well exceeded my expectations. The combination of crunchy cookie crust, hot fudge and macadamia nut ice cream was heavenly. Although a bit pricey, the quality of the food and service at Jake’s is definitely worth the cost!
Laura B.
Tu valoración: 5 San Diego, CA
Good food and good views of the ocean! I prefer this over Poseidon because in my opinion the food tastes better. I really like the calamari here for an appetizer. Its meaty and comes with a tasty refreshing sauce. My favorite salad is their seared tuna salad nicoise salad. I also had their sea bass with pomegranate reduction on top of veggies and it was the right portion and good blend of flavors. Their mac and cheese meatball looks and tastes amazing. Service was great. Don’t forget to make a reservation before you come.
Anthony S.
Tu valoración: 4 Rancho Bernardo, San Diego, CA
Food here is really tasty. We tried the Crispy Calamari, which is amazing! The crust was perfectly seasoned and it had the perfect crunch. Calamari popped slightly in your mouth with each bite. This paired well with the sauce they provide for dipping. The Chef’s Burger is very large and filling. It only comes w a few unseasoned fries. The patty is savory, bun was fresh and had a buttery crisp, cheese was thick and melted over the patty, bacon was crisp, and avocado added some great color to each bite. Fries were very plain and mi Parking in the area is not great at all. They have a $ 5 valet lot and you can search for street parking if are feeling luck. We scored a free street parking in the neighborhood a short walk away. The area is nice to take a stroll if you have time. Service here is just ok. We sat in the patio because we didn’t have a reservation. We waited about 5 minutes for someone to leave and we immediately sat down. We didn’t have the spectacular beach view while dining like most other pictures here, but is wasn’t that big of a deal bc we walked right off of the patio after we ate and you are literally on the beach. Our calamari, salad, and burger came out at the same time. One of the waitresses asked if my wife wanted pepper on her salad, but never returned. The view here is amazing. Make sure to make a reservation or be ready to wait for a prime table. Parking is horrible, but it’s right on the ocean. Check out the beach after by walking out to the patio and directly onto a walkway leading to the sand.
Brittney S.
Tu valoración: 3 Rancho Bernardo, San Diego, CA
I really want to give this restaurant 5 stars because I’ve experienced it before, dining room seating, but this is for my review on lounge dining. We came on Valentine’s Day and we should have known to make a reservation for the dining room because it was fully booked. So we had the option of waiting for a table in the lounge or patio. Luckily we didn’t have to wait long and we were able to sit outside. Service: here is my complaint. There are 4 – 5 servers covering the lounge area and for some reason we couldn’t get refills on our drinks fast enough. We ordered an appetizer, which came out with our meal it is was somewhat disappointing. When our meal was brought, the server asked if I wanted fresh ground pepper on my salad. I said yes, and never saw her again. In fact we didn’t see anyone at our table until our check arrived long after we finished. Food: we were given slim options as we had to order from the bar menu. Which confused me, because guests who arrived shortly after us were given a dinner menu and a bar menu. So I ordered the $ 17 seafood salad which was basically 5 jumbo shrimp on a small Cesar, minus the Cesar dressing. It was more of an anchovy vinegarette. Don’t get me wrong, it was delicious but it wasn’t worth $ 17. The calamari appetizer was definitely worth it. Super yummy, crispy, big pieces and a delicious dipping sauce. Ambience: well this is what you come here for! Views of lovely Del Mar beach! It’s beautiful and breathtaking, but I recommend grabbing a reservation!
Catharine L.
Tu valoración: 4 San Diego, CA
Made a reservation for six for friday lunch. Got there around 11:15 and man oh man. No street parking. Their parking lot is all valet only. People were already lining up before the restaurant was open. I would say always make a reservation or go early! The patio is literally right in front of the beach. It was SUCH a nice day so sitting on the patio was just swell. We got the calamari– definitely better quality than other restaurants. Also got the potstickers they were all right. The tartar i didnt really enjoy. Got the shrimp linguine– it was great! Not a big portion and it was $ 16.50 but it was definitely worth it. Shrimp was great. Definitely coming back for a happy hour one time.
Steve S.
Tu valoración: 3 Healdsburg, CA
Upscale restaurant in Del Mar on the sea that has a great view of the surf. I came at Happy Hour and had a couple of drinks, fish tacos and a beet salad. The ambiance and service was very good. All the guys were wearing Hawaiian shirts to give the place the«beach house» feel. Mostly«oldsters» at 4 p.m. tanking up on the booze and bar treats. My gin collins was good. I should have had another, but I was curious about the grapefruit martini. It was awful. Made with vodka and grapefruit juice it was like drinking a glass of grapefruit juice at Denny’s. Well, I don’t go to Denny’s, but if I did, that’s what I’d expect to get.(Sorry Denny’s.) The beet salad was good — but not great. The fish tacos were also good, but not great. Big hunks of fish with a smoky taste, but no cheese with the taco! Com’mon man! Show a little bit of creativity! My Vermont friend ordered the clam chowder. She said it was not good and ate just a little bit. I wanted to taste it to find out if it was because she is from Vermont or the chowder is really that bad; but we were not that close that I could say, «You going to eat that? Because if you aren’t, I will.». So, if you are from Vermont, avoid the chowder. If you’re from California, it can’t be worse than a grapefruit martini. It may be that no one puts a lot of effort into the«old people’s happy hour rush» — so I’d come back. When I was leaving, all the pretty people were starting to arrive — which tells me that Jake’s has a lot more to give. Pro-tip: Don’t use the $ 5 valet parking because the place gets so jammed up with cars you will stand there waiting for some time for them to get your car.(I saw some people fuming while they looked out at this jumble of cars. The phrase that popped into my mind as I saw the guys scrambling for cars was«Cluster Phuck». Park to the south on a side street and walk. You will be all the better for it. The view during the walk is great — but bring a flashlight because the city of Del Mar can’t afford street lamps.
Jemmie W.
Tu valoración: 4 Carmel, IN
The view and location are five stars. The food is four stars. This is where the the beautiful and hip people of the San Diego area eat. My seafood bowl was very tasty but you’re here for the view — the view of the beautiful ocean, beach, and people. Just keeping it real…
Ray R.
Tu valoración: 5 Escondido, CA
One of my favorite lunch spots! Great atmosphere and really tasty foods. This is a nice decently upscale date nite location too. The wait can be long, valet is nice and speedy and I’ve never had anything from the menu I didn’t like.(and that’s saying something!) This is also a great place to take out of towners for the quintessential Coastal California dining experience. Highly recommend!
Bruce S.
Tu valoración: 5 Sacramento, CA
While in SD why not experience a beachfront restaurant? Reservations were at 8, so we BARELY made it for the photo op. We went early and the hostess sat us a little after 7:30pm. Sunset: I would say prime time is 7pm give or take 10min. Food: Good was delicious and complimented our dining experience very well. Valet: only $ 5 and was quick! As soon as I handed the keys we jammed through the restaurant to take a picture!
Brenda B.
Tu valoración: 4 Menifee, CA
Updating my review because they took the Hula pie that magically appeared at my table off my check. Thanks.
Robert T.
Tu valoración: 3 San Diego, CA
Stopped in for a drink with my fiancé this past weekend. Been at least ten years since I set foot in this place. Thankfully, it hasn’t changed much. Same lovely setting, somewhat austere décor. Excellent bartenders. Fiancé asked for the bartender to suggest a drink and she got a very unusual drink, and said it was one of the best cocktails she has had in a long time. Not much in the way of vegan options, just the usual veggie burger. Parking in valet lot, or street, or pay lot across the street. Easy access for disabled.
Olga M.
Tu valoración: 1 Gilbert, AZ
We had reservations for 8:15pm — didn’t get seated until 9pm — when we asked why the wait was so long the response from the hostess was«well we can’t make other people leave so you can get seated». We mentioned the wait to our server who also didn’t seem to care and gave us the same response. The spot where our table was located had a heater right above it, and since it was freezing, we asked the server if he could turn it on, to which he responded with a «no». Eventually a buss boy noticed that we were frozen and turned it on for us. The food was mediocre and definitely not worth the price. For a restaurant that tries so hard to grasp the Hawaiian feel — they were definitely missing the aloha.
Alyssa L.
Tu valoración: 5 San Diego, CA
Came here during restaurant week and it was busy ! Since it was also a friday night. Definitely recommend reservations and to also try getting there early if you don’t wanna pay for parking too. Jake’s doesn’t have a private lot for their customers so you would have to park in a nearby neighborhood and walk, across the street where you have to pay to park or in their full valet lot. The atmosphere is inviting. As you get more towards the back of the restaurant, the back is just lined with windows which uncover the view of the beach. Seriously, It was really pretty to come right before sunset and watch the sun go down from the view of our window. Food and service were on point. I ordered the spicy calamari app and my boyfriend got the rib app as both were really good in flavor and each sauce complimented well with one another. As for our entrees I ordered the surf and turf which was shrimp and a steak with this glaze on the bottom and potatoes. THISWASSUCH A GOODCOMBINATION. Whatever sauce or glaze that was lined underneath the steak was so good and went so well with the entire meal. My boyfriend got the bbq chicken as it was a pretty good portion too. The chicken was not too dry as it was pretty moist and well seasoned on the inside and out. The bbq sauce was a tangy sweet flavor which had that hawaiian/island vibe going on. As for dessert I ordered their famous hula pie and my boyfriend got this chocolate musse dessert. Hula Pie was so yummy. Ice cream pie with nuts, chocolate, vanilla ice cream and a thin oreo crust. so delicious ! Totally recommend this place as it’s perfect for date nights, anniversaries, birthdays, or just going out to eat ! Really good food.
Gary N.
Tu valoración: 4 San Diego, CA
Jake’s is all about the views as far as I’m concerned, it’s a great place to grab lunch and take in the blue water views, or watch a killer sunset with a drink in hand. Among everything on the menu, and the natural influence to order seafood with the ocean just steps away, i tend to order the Jake’s Burger more often than not, and it’s an above average burger. Basically what i’m saying is; you can experience a high end view with tasty food and drink, right on the Pacific Ocean, and spend the same amount of money that you would a The Claim Jumper in RB(nothing against TCJ in RB) love that place too! What are you waiting for? Head on down to Del Mar and give Jake’s a try…
Rebecca A.
Tu valoración: 4 Santa Ana, CA
Came here at 1:30pm Thursday, I called before and requested a table by the window. We arrived and waited 10 minutes at the bar before our table was ready. Fun fact, Jake’s is part of the restaurant chain that owns Duke’s(hint: Duke’s Mai Tai is the same as the one at Duke’s). Definitely worth the wait(see my photo of the stunning view). We had an unobstructed view of the beach and even better we were inside and covered with ocean breezes early flowing through the many windows. On to food, roasted beet salad with Marcona almonds, blue cheese and bacon crumbles. Good salad, beets were a little flavorless but the season is ending for beets. The size was small for the price. Market grilled fish was Mahi Mahi. Good choice, well grilled, moist and seasoned. Cute little pee wee potatoes accompany the fish. Only complaint was the sprout salad on top of the fish was on the salty side so off it came. DESSERT…Peanut butter pie with bruléed bananas(same as the one at Duke’s), I’m super happy. The total experience was great, however I’d avoid this place on the weekends or in the summer, especially if you want a relaxing unrushed experience. Mai tai in hand(in a super cute tiki glass), we made our way to the table.
Ben P.
Tu valoración: 4 San Diego, CA
Had our business dinner here and it was great. Long wait even though we had reservations nonetheless overall a good experience. We had a window view and could see the beach and waves crashing by during the meal. Appetizers: Ceviche– delicious and fresh fish and the chips they came with made nice crunch and the sorbet was nice touch Mac cheese meatball– ok but not my favorite it was cold Short ribs– ok not bad Then I ordered the tomato salad which was quite good and very different. The beet and pesto sauce made it unique and tasty. The real star was dinner! Ordered surf and turf and the steak was cooked perfectly and lobster tail yummy! Dessert was amazing ordered the macadamia hulu pie and it was massive! Had to share it and even both of us did not finish it which is a shame as it was quite delish. Service is fantastic our waiter was attentive and helpful. It is not a cheap place to eat so come here on an expense account!
Dan D.
Tu valoración: 3 La Mesa, CA
We had dinner here last night to celebrate my wife’s birthday. Everyone was pleasant and nice and helpful from the get-go. The valet(use the valet – parking can get crazy), the hostess(we’ll seat you early, no prob), the bartender($ 5 Mai Tais!), the waitstaff(yay, Clay) …just everyone. We were seated at a window, with a perfect view of the surfers and volleyball players. A nice breeze made it that much better. We were seated a bit earlier than our reservation time. Once at the table, we started with more drinks(wine and Sculpin IPA) and the Brussels sprouts(very good: bacon and walnuts). She had the shrimp scampi, I had the NY steak. And that was the only downside to the evening: The steak is $ 44, and for that, it should be «pretty good.» It wasn’t. It was tough(though flavorful). Shame on me for having steak at a place that specializes in seafood dishes. My main reason for this complaint is that I did ask for the server’s recommendation first and was assured that the steak was outstanding… and it just wasn’t. I should’ve gone with the venison, my first choice. Anyhow, we had the hula pie and it was really good. Rich and tasty… and too much for 2 people. They comped that for her bday, thanks! So, Jake’s was an excellent dining experience except for the lackluster steak.
Miriam L.
Tu valoración: 5 Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen
direkt am beach, nachts sind die Wellen sogar beleuchtet, so dass man beim essen nicht ins Schwarze schaut. Valet parking nur 5 $. Meega lecker essen. Rosenkohl mit karamelisierten Nüssen, Balsamico und Bacon. wow!
Janice C.
Tu valoración: 5 San Francisco, CA
I’m a sucker for views. What is it about big picture windows, comfy seats next to said windows, as the sun sets over the horizon? casting its powerful light across the dancing waves of the ocean … Case in point: I don’t like vodka in my cocktails anymore. Unless its in a Vesper, then we’re talking! But I ordered a pink grapefruit martini, which was made with vodka, and I happily sipped it while listening to Mr. G regale me with stories about life in sunny SoCal.(maybe I can learn to like vodka again when I have views like this?) We weren’t in the mood for a full on dinner, so we noshed on several small plates. A great selection of local charcuterie and venissimo cheese, crispy calamari, tender BBQ ribs and of course, addicting french fries! I’m happy that he’s also a lover of these fried potato sticks as much as I am! You won’t notice how time quickly passes by when you dine here(nor blink an eye at the bill) because guess what? the food is actually good, service is professional and the views? Well, I’m a sucker for views.
Lydia R.
Tu valoración: 4 Baltimore, MD
Beautiful place to watch the sunset! Came here with a work group so it was clearly very romantic. In all seriousness, the views are gorgeous and dynamic. Sitting by the window is a must for photo opportunities galore. Food was quite good as well. Ordered the tuna which came with jasmine rice and beans, which made for a tasty dish. Server assisted with wine selection, which turned out to be delightful, so many thanks. Upscale, beachy, and relaxing are the three words I would use to describe this place. You’ll get what you pay for with the views :)
Douglas Y.
Tu valoración: 5 Sacramento, CA
Located beach front in beautiful Del Mar, reservations are a good idea. We arrived a few minutes before opening on Wednesday and there were already people waiting for them to open. By the time we left the place was packed and people were waiting for tables. Parking is valet for $ 4 and there is a public parking lot across the street. Be warned there is not a lot of parking in the town of Del Mar so it might be a good idea to pay the $ 4 for valet. I can’t remember what Jake’s looked like on the inside because I was captivated by our ocean view a few feet from the beach. The menu wasn’t too big but contained salads, chowder and about 8 – 9 lunch entrees. We tried the steak wedge salad $ 18, salmon $ 15 and the chicken and arugula salad $ 13.50. All of our food was good but I felt the salmon at a mere $ 15 was the best tasting and best value overall. Complimentary sourdough rolls and butter were also served. One of the main reasons I wanted to come to Jake’s was for the famous Hula Pie. The last time I had Hula Pie was three years ago at Sunnyside Resort in Lake Tahoe. I have to say the Hula Pie was bigger and better at Sunnyside but it was still delicious here at Jake’s. See my Hula Pie profile picture and compare it to the Jake’s Hula Pie and you will be able to see the difference in size. Overall Jake’s was great, great food, great service, great atmosphere, great view and even affordable pricing. I highly recommend coming to Jake’s for lunch.
Linda X.
Tu valoración: 4 San Francisco, CA
Incredible views! Tried our luck here on Memorial Day for lunch without a reservation and surprisingly there was no wait and we got prime seating next to the view of the beach. Service was super friendly and attentive. There’s valet for $ 4 parking from what I saw at the front door but we had parked at one of the parking meters across the street for $ 3/hour. Got the calamari($ 11) as an appetizer. They give you large pieces and I liked that it was not too fried. The sweet and sour sauce was a nice flavor. For our entrees we got the tuna salad($ 17) and the seabass special($ 18). The tuna salad had eggs, olives, and potatoes. It was pretty good but nothing too memorable. The seabass was nicely cooked and came with quinoa and vegetables. I liked that dish more. The highlight of the meal for us was actually the hula pie($ 10). So decadent and huge serving worth every bite! Get this! Overall I recommend this place for a nice date — the views and restaurant itself are absolutely beautiful!
Anne C.
Tu valoración: 5 Napa, CA
This was the best meal we have had in a while. First, the location, ambiance, view and décor are wonderful. You can see the beach and ocean from nearly every table. Service was nice and efficient! We had the seafood chowder, mussels, herb crusted salmon and the scallops. All were excellent! I loved the scallops especially with the beans and homemade gnocchi. Dessert we had the hula pie! It is as wonderful as they say… heaping serving of ice cream, hot fudge and macadamia. Definitely recommend!
Francine H.
Tu valoración: 4 Laguna Niguel, CA
I have been here several times over the years and always pleased. The only thing I dislike is the parking. This popular place has valet, but it is a very small parking area to pull into and often crowded and backed up. The cost for valet is only $ 4. I was greeted by a friendly hostess when I arrived and my table was ready for I had made a reservation for lunch. This oceanfront restaurant has a magnificent view. I was seated right next to the window, where you can watch the local surfers. We started with the crispy calamari. It is macadamia nut crusted and comes with a delicious sweet and sour sauce. These were more like a calamari steak cut into strips, not the rings and tentacles. It was yummy and we all enjoyed it. We also ordered the eggplant bruschetta with sundried tomatoes and balsamic drizzle, however it came out late. Our waiter was so nice and said no worries, that it would be complimentary. Unfortunately, none of us liked it and would not order it again. A couple of us ordered the mixed seafood pot. It was delicious! It is made with fresh fish, shrimp, scallops, and mussels. It is in a perfectly seasoned saffron tomato broth and topped with crispy sea beans. I loved this dish and would definitely get again. Someone ordered the shrimp and pasta dish and was very pleased and enjoyed every bite. We were celebrating a birthday and they brought us a complimentary Hula pie with a lit candle. It is made with macadamia nut ice cream in a chocolate crumb crust and topped with hot fudge and whipped cream. It was so yummy and a perfect way to end a wonderful lunch. This restaurant is clean and tidy. The service is friendly, and attentive. Our coffee cups and water glasses were filled frequently. The noise level is loud so do expect to speak a bit louder. However, the food, service and view makes it all worth coming back for, time after time.
Adrienne K.
Tu valoración: 5 San Diego, CA
Couldn’t be better! I have always loved coming here, with it’s heavenly beachside setting. Literally perched on the sand, with full views of the ocean just steps away. They did a great job revamping the interior with its coastal updates and modern touches. I usually enjoy the salmon, sea bass or whatever the fresh fish of the day is, but I’ve also enjoyed the flank steak! All delicious! Great for a casual lunch or a romantic dinner! (Street meter parking that accepts cc’s, or $ 4 valet)