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AVE 5 Restaurant & Bar
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
2760 5th Ave(between Nutmeg St & Olive St)
San Diego, CA 92103
Neighborhood: Banker's Hill
(619) 542-0394
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 4 pm - 10 pm
Sun 10 am - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
212 reviews for AVE 5 Restaurant & Bar
Review Highlights
"For the food, I highly recommend the truffle fries."
(in 35 reviews)
"I'd like to try happy hour or dinner sometime soon."
(in 50 reviews)
"Their duck confit appetizer is a must-have."
(in 19 reviews)
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212 reviews in English
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Review from Melanio F.
San Diego, CA
1/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Restaurant week is almost always going to get new customers and of course the grunters (who think the Restaurants don't put their best foot forward with their menus ). I belong to the latter group in one sense but don't blame Restaurants if they choose to put their more standard fare on the RW menu.
2nd week for this event (RW) and after looking over various menus (my partner is pescaterian), I settled on Avenue 5 in Bankers Hill. First time for both of us, I have visited the sushi place next door and thought we would give this place a try. I have to say that I have been to only several restaurants over the years during RW and managed to get great meals at Bali Hai and Cucina Urbana. And some not so great meals (need not mention them).
For Avenue 5: Had the sangria (HH price 3 dollars) sweet but delicious.
1st Course:
Smoked Salmon Rillette
baby wild greens , champagne vinaigrette, toast points, roe
(salty because of the roe, my taste maybe not so much for other people)
Tortellini w/ Grapes
grilled corn, mushrooms, arugula, Maderia cream
(nice rich musroom taste)
we both finished our first course. good start.
wait for the next course is a bit longer than you expect after finishing your first course.
2nd Course:
Salmon braised portabello, wilted spinach, mushroom vinaigrette.
very good but (noticed a pattern...Mushroom again)
Pork Milanese, sweet potato gratin, baby wild greens, lemon segments, capers, lemon thyme vinaigrette
big piece, enjoyed the mixture of lemon, capers (mixed greens again), sweet potato gratin (not sure this is a sweet potato but rather a potato au gratin sweetened with the cream)
Brian finished his salmon and I finished my pork, i think finishing the mushrooms and greens was out of the question.
Dessert:
Crustless "Jameson" Pecan Pie -served warm with caramel sauce and Bailey's gelato
Liquid Ganache Cake-served warm, classic creme anglaise
Both this desserts were not named as you would think it would be, the pecan pie was more pecan than pie but delicious (just don't expect your traditional pecan pie). My Ganache was sweet but I enjoyed and finished it up (damn the diabetic shock that might come!jk) and it wasn't Liquid (i would think it would be at least creamier)
Overall the total bill came to about 65 bucks ($30 per person on the RW menu) and it was worth it for us because we enjoyed our meal, the waitress was wonderful. Service although slow (in serving only) was attentive(your water was filled up and your plates cleared as you finish).
Menu wise, i think having the wild greens and mushrooms repeated needs a bit of revision. I almost expected wildgreens with my dessert and mushrooms with Brian. I still recommend them for a good to great meal. Everything was prepared nicely and delicious.
Might even come back for Happy Hour next time at those prices and enjoy a nice meal out of the small plates. -
Review from Joyce T.
San Diego, CA
2/9/2012
I stumbled upon this through a Living Social I purchased. BEST. DEAL. EVER.
This place is great. I highly recommend their truffle fries and calamari. It's the best calamari I've ever had.
I wasn't all too impressed with my entree. I ordered their seafood special for the night, which I was told were "prawns." No, they were shrimp. They were small and there was only 6 of them. For +$20? I'll stick with the small dishes next time. -
Review from Xtina C.
San Diego, CA
1/25/2012
I'm a little torn about this place. For ambiance, food, decor, this is a solid 4*. The service was more of a 1-2*.
I was at the bar waiting for the rest of my dining companions. The bartender was wonderful. He was friendly, helpful.. he made suggestions and was just the company you wanted in a relaxed, post-work day. I didn't drink, but my friends liked their drinks. Also, they are pretty.
Myself and 3 dining companions were here for restaurant week so between all of us we pretty much sampled everything on the menu. The food was great. I could appreciate that. I actually really liked the food - especially the appetizers. Which is great because they have $2 off select appetizers during happy hour. =)
The waiter was a bit creepy in his approach. He seemed nice at first (but no, he didn't tell us his name) but I'm pretty sure he had something against one of my dining companions. He forgot to bring his wine, twice. He didn't refill his water even when it was nudged in his direction, but did refill everyone else's. Also, there was a reeaaaally awkward pause between our dinner and our desert. So awkward that we finally flagged down someone (because waiter was nowhere to be found) whom told us the reason why our dessert was taking a while to come out (never mentioned to us beforehand). It kind of ruined the whole dining experience, which just made me sad.
I should also mention that the hostess and the bussers all provided great service. And the place was no where near busy on a Tuesday night.
I wouldn't mind coming here again, but I would really cross my fingers to make sure that we didn't get that same waiter. -
Review from R K.
San Diego, CA
1/20/2012
I'm pretty torn on this. As far as food goes, it was fabulous. As far as customer service goes, it was pretty bad.
First, we had to park a few blocks away because nothing was available. No big deal. We get seated immediately, and then it takes literally 10 minutes before we are even poured water. Our waiter doesn't come over for another 5 minutes (the hubby didn't want me to say anything, he just wanted us to "wait it out.").
Finally, waiter comes over. Doesn't smile. Acts really snotty. Didn't even tell us his name. We barely order and then he literally walks away. Ridiculous!
Good thing the food was good. The butternut squash risotto was one of the best risotto's I've ever had. Honestly. The goat cheese tart salad was delicious as well. Hubby and I both ordered the lamb burger. Best decision. It was amazing, not gamey at all. The only complaint was that the truffle fries didn't resemble "truffle" at all. When we mentioned that to the waiter, he immediately said he would get us some more truffle oil, then he came back and poured on a healthy dose. THEN they were truffle fries.
I'm hard pressed to decide if I would come back. Everything but the $15 lamb burger was out-of-this-world expensive. $23 prawns? $27 steak? Um, no. If I wanted a lamb burger, or some risotto, I would go back. And hopefully get a better waiter!Comment from Colin M. of AVE 5 Restaurant & Bar 1/21/2012
We @ Avenue 5 would like to extend an apology for the wait ,… More » -
Review from Meek N.
San Diego, CA
1/24/2012
It was good. The food was great. I went there for restaurant week and had the salmon bruschetta, pork for the entree and pecan pie for the desert. All great food. But a bit pricey for what you get. I mean, judging from the bill, I've had plenty of nicer dinners.
The ambiance is nice and simple. Kind of industrial, kind of sleek, but not too exciting. Overall, good drinks, good food, but I wasn't blown away for the price of dinner and drinks for two.
Not sure I'd recommend, but I wouldn't yell stay clear either. Bleh. -
Review from Brent B.
San Diego, CA
2/2/2012
I went to this place for the first time yesterday. I give it 5 stars for cuisine, because everything that I had was superb, and I consider myself sophisticated to a degree when it comes to good restaurant fare.
It was a real pleasure to have the ravioli (not tortellini my time) with grapes. This contained corn, mushrooms, a Madeira sauce, various spices, and the ravioli were cooked al dente, which I prefer. This dish was fantastic, and the grapes complemented the appetizer.
I felt it was a complex, entertaining, and multi-flavored offering, and I was told it was the signature dish of this establishment. Get it-I don't believe you will be disappointed. (If the chef were competing on 'Rocco's Dinner Party' this signature dish would've kept him in the competition).
It was followed by the Kale with parmesan, great to cleanse the pallet and if you haven't had Kale I'd recommend it. The parmesan made the dish really work for me-it completed the kale.
The 'Asian Guy' there recommended the salmon as a main course but when I inquired as to the 'catch of the day' he said it was 'sea bass' so I went with that because salmon is rather common and I wanted the fresh sea bass, in spite of the fact that it wasn't Chilean.
The dish was prepared wonderfully and came out 'hot', fresh off the grill, with a slight crusty top and tender on the inside. It was cooked perfectly, I mean really perfectly, and was surrounded by a light balsamic sauce. This was another great offering.
The place blew me away. I will be returning soon. -
Review from Christina B.
Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA
1/16/2012
Parking close by is tough. Unless you snag one of the spots on the side street you'll probably have to walk your sweet ass a couple of block. However, that's typical with Hillcrest/ Bankers Hill area. No biggie.
The exterior of the restaurant isn't much to look at and to be honest I've driven by this place a bajillion times and never noticed it! (The only reason I knew it existed is because I purchased a living social coupon) The interior was nice and I can tell they tried but it just feels a little bit off...like it's missing some mojo. It was funky but nothing spectacular. The artwork on the walls are interesting and make for good dinner conversation if you're on a date with someone and you have nothing to talk about or if you're high and you want to look at painting that reminds you of REM music videos in the 90's. J
Drinks: I don't remember what it was called but it was on the cocktail menu..some sort of martini with champagne and a raspberry floating in it. It was gimmicky and mildly reminiscent of that picture of champagne on the body spray bottle that 9th grade girls used to wear back in the day...champagne and strawberries from Victoria's Secret. I felt fancy.
Appetizers: Rosemary Goat Cheese that came with literally a dab of honey, apple chutney (tasted like homemade applesauce) and toasted slices of bread. The cheese was mild and deliciously flavored with rosemary, the honey and apple thing was a joke. While neither tasted bad, I was expecting the typical cheese accompaniments...at least a teaspoon of honey, fig jam or grapes. At least hit me up with some fresh apples, not some semi homemade cooked applesauce.
I also ordered the beet salad. It should be called "Salad with beets". I liked it but price to portion to taste comparison was off. The salad was on the small plates menu so obviously it's going to be small but come on $7 for arugula spring mix with sprinkles of beets and blue cheese? Get rid of the greens and give me more beets.
Dinner: The Lamb Burger. Soft, homemade tasting bun, a layer of cucumbers, no cheese, butter lettuce, pickled onions (wasn't a fan), tomato and some sort of yogurt sauce on the size. Really delicious and probably one of the best ones I've had. Not greasy or over cooked...I ordered mine medium but I could've gone with medium rare (those of you that like your meat well done don't get the lamb because it was be dry as a bone). I substituted the regular fries for truffle fries and glad I did. They weren't the most amazing truffle fries in the world and I've had better elsewhere but the good old American in me loves crispy strings of potatoes with French flavors on top.
Boyfriend ordered the Duck Confit with Spicy Andouille sausage. Duck is not my thang, but I tasted it anyway. It had a pleasant flavor. The meat itself was dark, moist and hearty. Not organ hearty but stick to your bones hearty and rightly so because duck confit is duck slowly cooked in its own fat. Yum! You can definitely tell you're eating a bird but it ain't no chicken. The andouille sausage was my thang. Spicy and bursting with deliciousness...they need to have an Andouille Sausage main.
Thursday night dinner for two at "casual" place was $89 buckaroos. Truth be told, I'd rather spend an extra $25 and go to Bankers Hill Bar and Restaurant down the ways. I like Ave 5's food but doubt I'll be back for dinner anytime soon...too expensive for what it is. Better off as a lunch spot when you're craving a lamb burger. -
Review from Elba G.
San Diego, CA
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wow, my filet mignon was amazing! The bread pudding was soooo good!
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Review from Fikriye K.
San Diego, CA
1/21/2012
We sat at the bar. Our server was great. He immediately took our orders and being so thoughtful waited our main course as we ordered a ton of small plates. He knew what he was doing. We were full. We loved everything we had. The shrimp was absolutely fantastic. I can easily say the best I have ever had. Beet salad was just perfect. The desert (profiteroles) was OK. I was expecting a traditional one from a French chef but not a deal breaker. We will definitely come back and try that yummy lamb burger.
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Review from Aloha B.
San Diego, CA
1/23/2012
I'm torn at giving this place a 3 or 4. My sister and I got lucky and found parking in the small lot next to the building (big plus). From the outside, it's not something that would catch your eye and make you want to go inside. However, once you walk in, the decor is really funky and interesting. My sister and I were seated immediately, however, it took forever for our server to come to our table. My sister and I talked for what seemed like forever before we ever saw our server.
The food was good and the place was busy considering my sister and I visited the establishment on a weekday. The food also came out in a timely manner, which is very much appreciated. I only give this place 3 stars because the customer service wasn't all that great. I would think if we're spending money at an establishment servers would pay attention to you (especially if they want a good tip). Not so much the case at this establishment. -
Review from Jas S.
San Diego, CA
12/19/2011
The good: simple seasonal menu, which is good. We got beet salad, catch of the day, and lamb burger. The beet salad and catch of the day were good but the lamb burger was amazingly good, not gamey at all. Burger came with thin cut fries which were really good, just the right amount of crisp.
The bad: the salad portion was small. The place is pricey unless you take advantage of their happy hour etc.
Would definitely go back, especially for the lamb burger. -
Review from Jack M.
Rancho San Diego, CA
12/11/2011 2 photos
Stop by here for breakfast after my morning walk with a friend. I ordered the Hunter omelet which came with some country potatoes, and a few small slices of watermelon and oranges. I also ordered an espresso.
The omelet was nicely prepared and filled with bacon, sausage, onion, peppers, and cheese. However, it was quite undersized for me. Yes, yes, for most people it would probably be sufficient, but than again, I have quite the appetite. The potatoes where cooked properly but could of used more seasoning. Overall my brunch was very good and I enjoyed it very much. It was kind of strange that you had to order your toast separately and pay a dollar if you want some. I think we need to break them of that habit.
The service was great and attentive. I certainly want to return for lunch or dinner. I recommend this place.
Thank you YeLpEr Anh v. for recommending this place.Listed in: Did you say Sunday morning…
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Review from Terry D.
Santa Rosa, CA
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
AVE 5 was able to hit a home run even on Restaurant Week!!! We had a fabulous dinner. Food, service and ambience all a hit. I'll be back again and again!
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Review from Tiffany H.
La Jolla, CA
4.5 stars. All the potential to be a 5 star restaurant--I just need to come here again and make sure the quality and level of service is consistent.
We came here on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving and the restaurant part of AVE 5 was completely empty. The bar had a handful of patrons. Not surprising, given that most people were probably traveling to other cities or staying at home with their families.
Because it was so empty, we had the whole place to ourselves practically and the staff and chef(s) were so kind to us. I believe it was the chef who brought out our food on more than one occasion...I wasn't 100% sure but I just wanted to say that chef, if it was you, THANK YOU. Your food was AMAZING.
We ordered a cheese platter that had brie, humboldt fog (my most favorite cheese ever), and manchego. The platter came with jams, fruits, and small pieces of bread with which we could sample the cheeses. HEAVENLY. They did a great job with the pairings, including the classic pear + humboldt fog. Cheese already takes so good by itself but trust me, with the right pairing, it can be even better.
We also ordered from the $7 menu (which I'm not sure is a regular thing, but most likely it is). Hot artichoke and cheese dip with bread and an amazing shrimp risotto. The photos I've posted here don't do it justice. Both were delicious, but I was definitely partial to the creamy risotto. Yum!
For the entree, my boyfriend and I split the Atlantic salmon. Unfortunately, they charge you something like $3 for splitting but whatever. But the salmon really was cooked by a pro. The outside was slightly crunchy but the inside was perfect with just a hint of pink, exactly the way I like it, each bite tender and buttery. The salmon also came with some delicious greens and a hollandaise sauce dotted the plate, which also went well with the fish. Mr. Chef, again, my compliments to you!
I almost forgot the mention that I was so lucky we got a Groupon for this place ($20 for $40 worth of food). What a great deal, definitely one of the best Groupon purchases I've made for a restaurant! But my experience at AVE 5 was so good, I'd recommend coming here even if you don't have a coupon (it is a little pricey though, so save it for a special occasion!). -
Review from Sunny G.
San Diego, CA
1/10/2012
I had a cucumber martini and the lamb burger, everything was delicious and service was great. It was a Friday night and I thought it was dead and the atmosphere was lacking a little. I will definitely try it again...
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Review from Leonard L.
San Diego, CA
11/16/2011 5 photos
Avenue 5 Restaurant
SD: Banker's Hill
Tuesday November 15, 2011
Four Stars
Its Kuo's birthday and we tried to go to Searsucker but they were having a private event and were not seating anybody - Jerks. We then tried Urbana Cucina but they were fully booked too - Double Jerks! We then settled on Avenue 5 which was not crowded at all. We sat at a nice quiet table. We ordered a round of cocktails and bottle of Seven Daughters Pinot Noir. The service was a bit on the slow side. The Sangria was great, the Old Fashion was good, and the Manhattan was decent. We ordered two date night meals - 4 appetizers, 4 Main Courses, and 2 desserts.
App #1: Fried Calamari with Arrabiata Sauce
App #2: Confit Duck Leg on the bone
App #3: Clams with Garlic Creamy Sauce
App #4: Beef Short Rib Lettuce Wraps
Entrees: 2 NY Steaks, Pork Cheeks, Yellowtail
Desserts: Lemon and Acai Meringue & Pear Sherbet.
All the food had a decent flavor.
The Pork Cheeks and Truffle Fries were amazing. -
Review from Lia T.
San Diego, CA
10/23/2011
Went on a Saturday before a show because we couldn't get in at Cucina Urbana. It was Just ok. Not really A-OK.
Service was kind of weird. The server told my husband he was going to buy him a drink. Huh? He didn't, but why even offer if he's not going to follow through?
There were three in our party and we said we were going to split the appetizers. So the salad comes out already split for us - nice - on TWO plates. Hm. The other appetizer was not split. Which was fine. We had no expectation of splitting and don't mind eating off one plate.
Again - only three in our party, but the server is writing down our orders, which were not complicated. Ok, maybe he's new and forgets, but the amount of writing made it seem like a novel would be the result, not three entrees.
All the food was just fine, nothing spectacular. G's bottled Duvel beer was off. We thought it was expired, but no the date was still far in the future, so we suspect the beer got warm and was re-cooled.
A number of desserts looked good, but on the server's advice, we went with the cheese plate. My friend exclaimed over the Humbolt Fog on the list. When the plate arrives - no Humbolt Fog. Seems like he might have mentioned there would be a substitution before before bringing it. Especially since he recommended it. That being said, the accompaniments were very good, but the herbed chevre was exactly like that sold at major chain grocery stores.
Nothing was terrible, but nothing would compel me to return either. -
Review from anh v.
12/10/2011
boo!!!!!! they were out of the pumpkin cream soup and we were told after we placed our orders. boooo!!!!!!
toe curling:
garlic shrimp - be sure to dip bread into that magic sauce
slight toe curl:
housemade chicken liver mousse. large portion and definitely share!
ok: no curl
beet salad
mains: back to toe curling
lamb burger with mint yogo sauce was delicious! thin cut tasty fries
the yellowtail was also mucho bueno
note for next time:
good hh spot. $7 shared plates all night! and you don't have to squeeze into a small bar area. good for groups.Listed in: Happening Happy Hour Haunts
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Review from logovo l.
San Diego, CA
1/3/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Great option for lunch, nice place for drinks and a quick bite before a movie. Have yet to try their dinner options, but this is a cool, good looking place, with nice, helpful service. I look forward to eating here again.
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Review from D P.
San Diego, CA
11/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went with a friend and we had the Salmon and chicken, Red Pepper soup and Spare-Rib lettuce wraps. Highly recommend to try the Spare-Rib lettuce wraps VERY_GOOD...
Chicken was very tender and favorable.
Red-Pepper soup was unique but delicious highly recommended to try.
The crusted salmon was delicious except the only fault was the fish was not warmed all the way through. -
Review from Jimmy D.
10/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went here for dinner after some drinking and was disappointed.
Appetizer
Duck Confit - Duck was not tender and was a real small portion. Not much of a salad.
Butter Leaf Salad - This just didn't hit the spot at all.
Entree
Kurobuta Pork Loin - Took like 25 mins to cook and came out over cooked. It was dry.
Local Yellowtail - Nothing mind blowing. Just typical yellow tail.
Our server was a bit rude and it almost it seem like he was trying to rush us out and encouraged us to not order the pork loin.
Usually going to a place already buzzed, the food would usually be "enhanced." This was not the case at all.Comment from Colin M. of AVE 5 Restaurant & Bar 11/1/2011
were you "buzzed" when you posted this ? More » -
Review from Lindsey B.
San Diego, CA
10/3/2011
Considering the reviews this place had, I was excited to eat here but left slightly disappointed.
The service LACKED. It took way to long to even get water, let alone have our waitor come say hello. The overall experience was slow. It took an abnormally long time to bring out our appetizers and an even LONGER time to get our entrees. Not only did they not have the same menu as they show online, but they were OUT of NY Steak and short ribs! This was Saturday night, by the way.. who runs out of meat!? Their menu is already small to begin with but when you cut out both red meat dishes you're left with very, very little to chose from. They offered chicken in it's place... and I didn't even think to see if they charged my friend for the same price as the short rib.
My dish, however was actually very good. I had the pork loin which was grilled and seasoned perfectly and was super tender. It sat upon a corn and potato 'hash' and had a sauce drizzled over the meat. We also got the arugula/proscuitto salad and truffle fries to start. Fries = yummy. Salad = could have done without. Nothing special. -
Review from Mary Beth M.
Wilmington, NC
12/15/2011
First experience at Ave 5 and we weren't sure what to expect. We went on Suday and had an excellent brunch! We had the blueberry bacon pancakes that were delicious and the Soyrizo was amazing. I did not care for their Bloody Mary's, they should use zing zang as it tasted more like tomato juice and needed more spice. The service was great, our waiter had perfect recommendations and was very attentive. We can't wait to go back and try it for dinner.
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Review from James H.
San Diego, CA
12/19/2011 Seated via OpenTable
A good solid restaurant. Food is somewhat simple though for the price. We went for dinner on Saturday night. Nice ambiance.
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Review from Kari H.
San Diego, CA
8/25/2011
It's incredibly rare that a place impresses me as much as this one did. Leaving the park with my mother, who was visiting from out of town, we were at a loss for where to get a late dinner. This place was open, but it looked from the outside like just a bar. Famished, when I saw someone at the bar had a burger, we decided to just go for it.
At first glance, the prices looked a bit high. $12 for a glass of wine? $15 for a salad? We were informed it was happy hour all night (Wednesday), so we both got a glass of wine. Their pour is incredibly generous--suddenly the price tag made sense when I got my fishbowl-sized glass of pinot noir.
To go with it, I had the duck confit salad, which seemed a bit small, but the presentation was beautiful. When I dug into the salad, it became clear that the chef had carefully considered each of the ingredients--the sweetness of the cherries, with the tartness of the wine reduction, bouncing off the mild creaminess of the cheese, counterbalanced with the tannins in the nuts, all harmoniously matched with the seasoning of the tender, perfectly cooked duck. The skin on the leg had been crisped to perfection without overcooking the meat underneath--I've still never figured out how they do that!
Mum had the burger, which was cooked to order on the rare side--amazingly juicy, and perfectly pink. Paired with elegantly cut skinny fries, I wish she'd opted to truffle 'em up--though I didn't really get a vote in what I'd be stealing off her plate. We chose to end with the sorbet of the day, which was a blackberry cabernet, garnished with basil and fresh berries--a very nice touch.
Everything was so thoughtfully prepared, and our server was helpful and attentive. My only real gripe with the place was the lack of local beers on tap. There were a few, including Stone IPA and the odd pilsner by Lightning (hint: people who care about drinking local craft beers generally aren't looking for yellow fizzy-water pilsners!) but they should definitely broaden their horizons there. Though I didn't get to try any while I was there, I will definitely be back for the cocktails, which sounded really interesting. Overall, we had a great experience, and I'm pleased to have discovered this little gem in Banker's Hill. -
Review from Karen H.
San Diego, CA
12/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
We came here on a Sunday afternoon around 1. The restaurant was not busy at all but theservice was not so good. I didn't get attentive service and it felt like a long time before we got to order. The croissant was very fresh and fluffy. The truffle fries was a but greasy with a lot of oil on it but it was very crispy. I ordered the BBQ shrimps salad without dressing. It was ok despite the fact that they have me only 4 shrimps for a $15 salad. We also order a carafe of sangria. That was good and worth the $18. The blue crab open omelette was just ok but not that amazing.
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Review from James G.
San Diego, CA
12/10/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Mark is the bartender making the most awesome cocktails. Try santa's beard with cotton candy made here at the bar. It was quite amazing from what I can remember.
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Review from Krys G.
Long Beach, CA
8/26/2011 Seated via OpenTable
On recommendations from our San Diegan friends, we decided to go here for our anniversary dinner since we were vacationing in Mission Beach and had no idea what's good.
We ended up being 45 minutes early for our reservation -- we were eager; we don't get out much -- and pulled up a stool in the bar area for Happy Hour. We had two of their signature cocktails - mine with peach, his with strawberries, and they were delicious. We also had an order of the mussels, which were absolutely delicious. I highly recommend them to share over drinks. Perfection. Bar service was attentive and knowledgeable.
We seriously considered staying in the bar, but the stools weren't built for leisurely dinners, so we grabbed a table in the back. Again, great service, including a recommendation on the red zin that was amazing, and we really, really enjoyed ourselves. The hubs ordered the lamb burger, which he enjoyed, and I had the fish which was really fantastic.
Would highly recommend this place as a destination for great food and atmosphere with attentive service, but nothing stuffy or formal about it. You still feel like you're going someplace "nice" without all the pretense of white table cloths and playing dress up. Enjoy! -
Review from Reggie R.
6/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Just missed happy hour, but probably worked to our advantage since the place was near capacity. Chic decor, live jazz musician and mellow atmosphere made it easy to have a conversation. The mussels, calamari and fries were a great prelude to my seafood main course. Can't recall the type of fish, but I believe it was trout wrapped in bacon. Full disclosure: I'm a swine junkie. If you wrapped a dog biscuit in bacon I'd devour it and give it high marks because the swine addiction is real. Nevertheless, the main course was delicious. Not a huge portion, with just a small portion of vegetables on the side. More than enough to satisfy, while leaving room for dessert. Unfortunately, can not include dessert in my review since Extraordinary is just a block down the street... We still drove... Don't hate. Besides, we carpooled it.
Our server was cool and there at the right times. He wrapped up an entreé to-go and we thought he forgot about it or threw it out. When we inquired, he said he had it waiting for us when we departed. Nice touch to keep the table uncluttered and also, potentially, a little snack for the "long" drive to the next destination. -
Review from Leo H.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 10/27/2011
Had a group dinner again last night (11-26-11) and Michael (our server) was beyond very good! He was excelllent caring for our every need and anticipating most. Yo (assitant manager?) was also excellent and
4 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/5/2011
Went there last week with a group and it was excellent as usual. Going again tomorrow with another… Read more »
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Review from Alyssa K.
San Diego, CA
5/30/2011
I have some serious commitment issues, so the words I am about to write verify just how good Ave. 5 is: I could literally marry the person who decided to put $20 for $45 at this restaurant on GroupOn right before the holidays.
I heard from a friend that this is one of her favorite places to dine out at in San Diego and when I saw this come up when I still needed to get a last minute gift for someone I just couldn't pass the opportunity to take them here....and trust me it was one of the best decisions I have made.
I started with a Hefeweizen (was a little disappointed by the fact that they only had two beers on draught) but when he explained I had the option of ordering a PBR tallboy served in a brown paper bag, I got over any of my hang ups. Although I didn't try the PBR on this visit, I figured anywhere serving such quality beverages was alright with me despite their minimalistic tap menu.
I ordered the mussels (ginger, garlic, and jalapeno) and the truffle fries. These were literally the best mussels I have ever had (which is saying a lot because I try them EVERYWHERE I see them on the menu). They were so tender. There is nothing worse than ordering chewy mussels and these were the complete opposite of that. The truffle fries were also quite a treat. The flavor of the truffle oil was rich and definitely added a welcomed flair to this side dish.
I loved the atmosphere. There was a musician playing live jazz in the front. Ave. 5 is so well decorated with shabby chic furniture and exposed brick that it definitely reminds me of the types of restaurant/bar you would find on the East Coast and I have been missing since moving back from DC. Welcoming yet still so classy and sophisticated.
Our server was incredibly helpful and friendly which is always a treat. I also love that they display local artists on a rotating basis (the current artist was abstract and really talented).
Avenue 5 is my favorite restaurant in San Diego and I highly recommend turning your computer off now and driving to Banker's Hill to check out this fabulous dining establishment. -
Review from Kelly T.
11/12/2011
This was a highlight for my boyfriend and I when we were in San Diego for a weekend together. We bought a Living Social deal and really didn't know what to expect. We were so surprised by the place being a little quiet! It will definitely blow up, so just wait until the word gets out.
After strolling through Balboa Park at Sunset, we decided to skip heading back to our hotel to change and went straight over to Ave 5. We had an early flight and wanted a light meal before heading to bed early.
We ate the calamari starter, and my boyfriend said it may be the best he's ever had. I liked the roasted tomato it came with. Yumm. And then there was my cocktail! It was so delicious- The Purple Haze. We shared a main because we weren't too hungry, and the fish was cooked perfectly.
The waiter was friendly, and made sure to take care of us the whole way through. Sometimes at nicer places when you present a Groupon or Living Social deal you just don't know what you're going to get--- this place was glad to have newcomers strolling through, plain and simple. I will make this place a stop for the future when I return to SD. -
Review from Margaret M.
San Diego, CA
Wandered in on a Saturday when we saw the sign that they had Happy Hour. We were immediately greeted by the friendly hostess, and asked if we could sit at the bar. She happily walked us over there and brought us menus (nice touch, considering a lot of hostesses barely even acknowledge you).
The bartender was also extremely friendly, helpful and had some great tips on things to try at not only the restaurant but in the neighborhood. Since we planned on restaurant/bar hopping that evening it was extremely useful information which led us to Hexagone and Bario Star.
We ordered a few drinks and browsed the menu, which by the way looked delicious, and will definitely be back for dinner! -
Review from Elizabeth N.
San Diego, CA
11/6/2011
After seeing a few reviews and recommendations from a die-hard Cucina Urbana fan, I had to check this place out. Finally found time to go here last night, and even though they were completely booked for the night, they had open seating at/ by the bar, which was perfect! We just wanted to enjoy a night out with great food, drinks and...football!?!! yess!!
In all honesty, we didn't know what to expect, but loved how everything worked out so well - open seating so we got to sit down right away, the hostess was very nice and even tried again and again to get us the game after allowing us to grab a different table with a better view of the tv despite the fact that we already started drinking and eating at the first table hahah...our server, Mike, was wonderful - very helpful, accomodating and friendly throughout the night. Additionally, there were a number of others who made sure we were doing well, had everything we needed, if we had any questions, etc - all very friendly and accommodating and never ever to the point of being overwhelming or unnecessary - they were practically perfect! =D
As for the food, we started off with the truffle fries - they were fresh and tasty, though I felt that some sort of special, ave 5 sauce/ketchup to compliment the fries would def make it more of a treat. For drinks, I started off with their cotton candy/fairy floss martini, which the bf thought sounded interesting and our server mentioned was one of his favorites to serve - ok! i'll take it! And take it I did! It was a bit on the sweet side, but I loved every moment of that drink from when Mike served it to when I took the last sip! ha...The other drink I tried was my bf's and it was something with whiskey and fresh raspberries, blackberries, etc...honestly reminded me of cough syrup, but was still good ha!
After we finished the generous plate of yummy truffle fries, we tried the duck confit - which I happily claimed was the best, three day old chicken...I mean duck...I've ever had! Regardless of whether or not the fairy floss martini, the ambiance, the football, fries or server or anything else had to do with it, I still stand by it! The duck confit was tender yet crispy in all the right places with a subtle but great flavor. The "salad"/frisee, sauce/port and brandy cherries that accompanied the duck confit complimented the duck very well - both the bf and I enjoyed it...a lot.
Next we tried the lamb burger which was pretty good, simple, but good, though it could've been a lot better. For whatever reason, half of the lower "bun" was lacking and soggy, the lamb was well-cooked but not as flavorful as I hoped, the yogurt/tzatziki-ish sauce could probably use some more umph...like cucumbers? dill? cayenne?? or even just more of it on the side. At this moment, I also tried their melon cucumber martini, which was like any other melon cucumber martini.
Towards the end of our meal, the bf and I decided to give their desserts a shot and went with the lime custard. Let's just say, when my bf selfishly inhaled the last bite and smiled at me, offering me what was left on his knuckle or napkin, I was a very unhappy camper lol...the lime custard was the perfect size, it had the right amt of sweet without being too thick or the berries too syrupy - the lime, custard and berries complimented each other well. I also liked how the cream topping was somewhat browned/carmelized...but yeah..after all was said and done and I took the last licks of the custard dish, my boyfriend and I happily paid with a generous tip and walked out oh-so happy with the amt we paid for the experience, the service and of course, the food.
Although we went ready for a nice "sit down" dinner, we were more than happy to have had a nice yet casual sit down dinner by the bar and everything from the ambiance, service and food/ drinks were just right. I would def recommend this place, whether for a date-date dinner night or a nice, casual dinner with or without friends. -
Review from Jennifer P.
San Diego, CA
5/27/2011
I can easily foresee this place becoming one of my favorite go-to restaurants for a date night out or dinner with friends. Went here recently to finally cross it off my to-try list and -- wow! -- very impressed. Service was great (my water never got low!) and the atmosphere is fun and laid back. But mostly this review is all about the food (surprise, surprise). I like to eat and I love to eat well and local. This place fulfills on all accounts! Gotta love the farm-to-table vibe.
We skipped appetizers in favor of desserts but couldn't skimp on drinks. Um, the blueberry fizzing cocktail of happiness? (Disclosure: Not its real name.) Yummy. I had salmon with a delicious fennel puree (not as scary as it sounds) and broccoli raab and other veggies. It was that amazing melt-in-your-mouth salmon, too. So good. The hubs had seafood risotto, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I stole several bites off his plate. It was a perfectly sized portion and chock-full of hearty chunks of seafood (no skimping around here!). I might have to order that one next time.
This girl stupidly gave up dessert for Lent so we were all set to pass on it (or I was all set to drool over it sadly) but...BUT...there were cheese plates on the dessert menu! Color me happy. And no, that does not count toward Lent-deprived desserts (no sweets!). It was a fun unconventional dessert for us and the perfect plate full of berries, grapes, olives, raisin bread hunks, and manchego cheese. Perfection!
We'll definitely be coming back here often to try out more of the delicious menu and slurp down yummy cocktails. -
Review from Abtin S.
San Diego, CA
10/17/2011 Seated via OpenTable
This place was just average. Nothing exciting. I would equate this place to Searsuckers in gaslamp which I also gave three stars. The food was average nothing amazing. The atmosphere was nice, but you expect a lot more for the price. I ordered the short ribs and my date ordered the salmon,. Neither of us finished our meals. And the price is insanely expensive for the quality of the food. I would go to urban solace or cucina urbana.
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Review from Ashley K.
San Diego, CA
8/5/2011 1 photo
I've given this place 2 tries now, and sorry, but it's definitely not a 4* restaurant. My husband refused to go back with me the 2nd time saying that the only thing good was his cocktail.
Food:
Seems like every trendy restaurant has truffle fries these days- there's just aren't that great. They're decent, but not awesome. Calamari comes with marinara on it, which makes it soggy, but again, it's ok. Food comes out, the whole bottom of my salmon is completely burnt (see pic). Nice of them to flip it over so I couldn't see it. I just about never send anything back. I'm more of the passive aggressive type who would just tip less.. but I couldn't eat it, and the waiter insisted on having them redo it saying it would just take a minute. Well I didn't get it back until after my sister was done with her food. Not a pleasant experience. The redo was good, but not really worth the price. Dessert was yummy- bread pudding. I can't even remember what we ate the 1st time here- but it wasn't memorable.
Drinks:
I've had the cotton candy one- I guess just not my thing. I'm not a dark liquor fan, bloody mary was super average, just mix and vodka. I really like a place with a good bloody mary. I also tried the peach specialty cocktail- which was meh. Whatever my husband had- and liked- isn't on the menu anymore.
Service:
Well the servers have always been nice (minus the bartender who made up his own menu) . On my last trip I was charged the happy hour prices for everything but the truffle fries, which were on the happy hour menu. When I pointed this out the bartender, he told me that they weren't part of happy hour. Confused, I accepted his answer. Later when we were seated for dinner I asked the waiter. He didn't know why the bartender would say that- as they are on the happy hour menu. It was only $2, and it was later fixed, but it was annoying. -
Review from Renee N.
Ocean Beach, San Diego, CA
6/23/2011
Going here has inspired me to write my first yelp review. One of my friends has a friend moving here from Boston so I planned for dinner in Banker's Hill so I could take her to Mister A's after.
After reading the reviews on here, I booked a reservation during happy hour. Turns out we didn't need the reservation at 5:30 but it started getting packed by 6:30.
Highlights for me: the atmosphere with great art and a great bar area.
My cocktail. I don't remember the name, samba something? Love sweet and spicy in my drinks and this has the perfect combo of mulled strawberries and Serrano peppers. Yum!
Star Loss: I'd be weary when taking advice from the wait staff. Our waiter recommended the truffle fries as an app to compliment my new friend's mussels. He sold them way more than they deserved. They were good but would've rather spent the $$ on another drink.
I was trying to decide between the short rib tacos (included in happy hour) and the yellowtail entrée. He recommended the fish since it was brought in that morning. Don't get me wrong the selection was great, but I had buyers remorse and wanted to jump the girl at the table next to me who ordered the short rib tacos.
All in all, the food was great but I don't trust the intentions of the wait staff. Come in knowing exactly what you want and you'll be set. I am going back for those short rib tacos though ;)
6/23/11
I went back for the tacos a week later. Very yummy, not worth the $$. I'd rather spend it at Lucha Libre :) -
Review from Stella A.
San Diego, CA
10/22/2011
Excellent service combined with modern cuisine made of quality ingredients. The risotto was perfectly done and the pomegranate mojito was tasty as well. I would definitely go back
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Review from Foodie G.
San Diego, CA
5/2/2011
Food = Amazing, Awesome, Art for the palate
Service = Professional, Personal, Pleasing
Libations = Creative, Cool, Craving the Gin, House made Blueberry Tonic 9!
Ambiance = Bar / Dining Rm flow nicely to give a happening, hip feel
Don't take my table, I go often
