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Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Banker's HillCome join us for our 3 course pixe-fixe dinner menu, Sunday-Tuesday, for only $40!
Announced 1 week agoMon-Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Mon-Fri. 5:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sat-Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
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My husband and I celebrated our 9th anniversary here on 9/10/09, and we were both totally blown away! The view, the service, and most importantly the food were all outstanding.
We arrived a bit early for our 6:30 reservation, and were seated right away. We got a table facing the airport and got a spectacular view of the sunset as well.
We ordered drinks, which were served promptly, followed by warm bread and butter, and then...the macaroni and cheese. Wow. This dish was smooth and creamy with a delicate flavor and a delicious crispy topping. It was perfection!
I ordered the seafood paella and my husband ordered the pan-seared tenderloin. Mine had a beautiful presentation and fresh, perfectly-cooked seafood. The tenderloin was cooked to order (medium rare), deliciously seasoned, and was truly melt-in-your-mouth tender. I enjoyed my dish, but ended up wishing I had ordered the tenderloin. My husband said his was the "best meal ever."
Since it was our anniversary, they brought out a lovely complimentary plate of cookies, with "Happy Anniversary" spelled out in chocolate. We didn't have room for the cookies, though, because we each ordered a dessert. I had the rhubarb and blood orange "tartelette" which was actually an assortment of small bites: blood orange sorbet (my favorite) with mini macaroons, the actual tart with rhubarb, and rhubarb "soup." It was all so delicious, and lovely to have different tastes to enjoy. My husband had the three s'mores, which looked delicious and which he enjoyed very much.
The staff allowed us out onto the patio to take pictures of the gorgeous sunset, and took our picture as well. They even offered to move us out to the patio half-way through the meal for a better view if we wanted! We declined, but appreciated the gesture.
It was obviously expensive, which we expected, but well worth every penny for a celebration meal. We will definitely go back next time we are in San Diego.
This was our first visit to Bertrand at Mr. A's. Our entire experience was wonderful, and we will most definitely be returning. We would highly recommend the carpaccio and the Macaroni and cheese as appetizers. With regards to the main courses, my girlfriend had the rib-eye cap and it was amazing. I had the lamb and it was excellent, but I would find it hard not to order the rib-eye next time back. Dessert was a trio of coffee based dishes. There was a tiramisu, a coffee ice cream sundae and a coffee crème brulee. They were all amazing.
The staff was wonderful and very attentive. The view may be one of, if not the best view of San Diego.
5 stars for overall, 4ish for food..
The Place- VIEW, ambiance, everything you'd expect from fine dining. Comfortably elegant (biz casual would cut it). Happy hour on the patio- affordable decadence. Easy to park.
The Service- Great! Attentive but not hovering, helpful, friendly, personable. Not condescending in the least.
The Food- wait first, the DRINKS- creative, delicious, strong! If you have to wait, do it at the bar. Food was good/great, a solid B-plus/A-minus. Lobster strudel not worth it.
Recommended- Mac and cheese, paella, Cali rack of lamb.
This place is A-OK. As others have stated the view alone is worth coming for and I can't wait to return for happy hour and enjoy cocktails on the deck. There really is not a bad table in the house, but we were fortunate enough to get a table right by the window, and wistfully watched the planes as they landed while the sun go down. The service was very attentive and well paced, no long awkward pauses between courses. The food however was just OK - nothing spectacular. The best dish was definitely the Mac n cheese. There were 4 of us at dinner, 2 of us ordered the Salmon and Halbut which we found too "fishy" for our liking. The vegetarian entree had many fried vegetables on the plate - not to my liking. Also, the corkage fee is outrageous.
All in all a great place to take folks from out of town to enjoy the view, but I was hoping for more. Will definitely come back for drinks and appetizers.
I have to admit I was a little skeptical about this place when I first got here. The restaurant is pretty much located on the top floor of an office building (totally unexpecting for me). However, once you exit the elevator and go into the restaurant, you will be shocked. This restaurant has a fabulous city view of Downtown SD. It was overcast the day that we went, but I can imagine the view is amazing during sunset on a clear day. This is definitely the place to go for a romantic date.
The food here was great and thoughtful but a little pricey for me. I had the lamb dish and the bf got the chicken dish. Both dishes were a little greasy for me but so delicious and totally worth it. The drink menu was awesome! The bf wanted to try some scotch and they had everything he wanted.
The service was awesome. Our server was professional but not so uptight that it made us feel uncomfortable. My favorite part of the meal was when they pulled out a rolly box to clean the crumbs off your table.
WOW!!
YEOW!!!
i couldn't have asked for a better friday evening.... no joke when i say this but i was extremely impressed with the overall experience... the service was simply incredible, from start to finish, but the food was a solid 4. normally, when a restaurant boasts a spectacular view, the food is mediocre, but mr. a's.. minus the halibut, i have to give it to ya!
modern American Cuisine with French and Mediterranean influences...
we started off by ordering the carpaccio ($17) which was SOO damn good! cannellini beans in rosemary and parmesan was driving me crazy!
he ordered the steak and i ordered the halibut... the alaskan halibut came with 2 sides of scallops which were a leetle bit salty ($34.50) and a side of angel hair pasta and braised fennel... the angel hair pasta... and the halibut ... this is where mr a's went wrong... the steak was perfect but mine was super bland... but the baked potato we ordered on the side ($7) was yummy... it seriously melted in your mouth! no joke* okay now his $50 grilled 10 OZ NY steak was super juicy... in fact, it was excellente!! :) damn, it should be, if you pay $50, right? :) with that, we ended the evening with this rich chocolate souffley cake with 2 sliced strawberries on top! muy bien!! :D
okay, now the ultimate highlight of the evening... which is worth mentioning, the view... was A*M*A*Z*I*N*G! i'm a sucker for views, and having to witness the sunset is double trouble... not only do you get this incredible view but you have this whole entire view of san diego. PERIOD. you even get to see all the planes arrive before your eyes ... it was soo cool!
the secret is to reserve a table on the deck! and lil did i know that they have happy hours... i hate to say it but this will be my new secret spot! :D
My boyfriend and I chose to come here for a splurge on our anniversary. Although I partially chose Mister As because I wanted to eat somewhere that required dressing up, I was apprehensive that the service here was going to be really snobby (especially since we're a young couple). However, I have to say that though the food, ambiance, and view were superb, the service was definitely the best part of our dinner. Our waiter was super friendly and not at all snooty. He was attentive without being too intrusive and at the end of the night, he even brought us a complimentary plate of cookies with "Happy Anniversary" written on the plate (yay! free cookies!)
The food here was delicious, but WOAH is it expensive. Here is what we had:
Relaxing Afternoon cocktail- had a great fresh fruit flavor and looked like I was drinking tropical ocean water. wish they served those at frat parties haha.
Fried Chesapeake Bay Oysters- kind of tasted like an oyster-y chicken nugget- not a bad thing. Really cute presentation with rock salt and kelp.
Pan Roasted Sole with Lobster Mouse- came with yummy caramelized cauliflower and tiny potatoes. The sole was cooked to perfection- great texture/ flavor and the caviar in the sauce was a nice touch. However, I didn't really taste the lobster mousse.
Alaskan Halibut with Sea Scallops- the boyfriend said it was the best seafood dish he'd ever had. The scallops were very tender without being undercooked or fishy tasting. yum.
Truffled French Fries- you HAVE to try these if you come here. Crispy, skinny fries (my favorite) with garlic and just a hint of truffle- served hot!
Pumpking Brioched Bread Pudding with Bourbon Cream- sooo rich and scrumptious. Almost tasted like a cake. The sauce definitely had a kick and the little ball of pumpkin ice cream went perfectly with the warm bread pudding.
The only downside of our meal was that you don't get much bang for your buck in terms of quantity. However as long as you know what you're getting into I don't think you'll be disappointed. A great place for celebrating a special occasion or impressing a date (it's on the twelfth floor with an amazing view of the city and planes taking off and landing). We were both very happy with our meal despite our wallets being considerably lighter.
Great food, service, decor, and view.
Took the Mom here for Mothers Day about a year ago. She was very happy and well cared for. Food was enjoyable and delicious; and would chose this destination restaurant again for a special occasion or high-end date. If nothing else try it once, as a longtime San Diego establishment.
Me and my beautiful girl friend had a wonderful dinner for our 6 month anniversary and it was absolutely amazing. From the view to the extremely prompt service, everything was perfect.
We started with an awesome iceberg salad that had home made blue cheese dressing. For the main coarse we had the beef tenderloin that came with truffled mashed potato's, small onion and tomato. We both wanted to take the plate to the bathroom and lick it clean!!! We will be back soon, real soon.
My boyfriend surprised me and took me here for my birthday. I have to say...hands down... THE BEST FOOD EVER!
Everything was amazing!!
This is one of the best places I've ever eaten. It is expensive, but I don't mind paying a lot for an amazing meal on special occasions. The steak ($50) was delicious and cooked to perfection. The salmon (also $50 I think) was moist, flavorful, and fantastic. The service was the best I've ever had and you can't get a better view of San Diego.
HOLY COW!!! This place is amazing!! I couldn't of asked for a better restaurant to dine in San Diego. First off, the place is amazing. the view? spectacular!
The service, top of the line. Very, very impressed.
The food was amazing. I had fish, amazingly done, the appetizers where fantastic, not to mention the wine. i even had dessert which i usually don't have, but it was amazing!
Highly recommend to anyone in San Diego looking for a romantic date spot or an impressive dinner!
Some of the best views in the city I must say. You don't have to be a "member" to get in which is nice and attire is really flexible. Just don't walk in looking like you just came from the beach in PB. Jacket not required but appreciated. Both times I've gone however, I've worn nice jeans and a nice button down. I figure...my money is green and my credit is good. So...
The food and service here are amazing and seriously the views both from the inside or outside are the best. 360 views of the city. The staff pamper you and make you feel like a million bucks even if you're just $300,000...LOL!! The wine list is huge and has everything from cheap to incredibly rare and expensive. If you're looking for something different, a change of pace and to see your city like you've maybe never seen it before I'd strongly recommend this place. I've not had a bad meal yet....and if you're lucky enough to eat here during "Restaurant Week" you can try it on a budget too!!
1 star for the view
1 star for the food
1 star for the service
2 stars for my job that allows me to pay for expensive ass dinners!!
Took shorty doo wop here for our 4 yr anniversary (yes 4 years. I ask myself time after time how did I manage to do that!!..haha jk!!) I better erase that last comment or she's going on strike! This is the spot to bring your date to if you want to wine and dine her (Fellas if this doesn't get you some action afterwards, then give up NOW!!)
GOOD:
- awesome view of downtown SD. Got to see the sunset, can you say "breathtaking!?"
- MAC n CHEESE!! Gourmet mac and cheese baby!! I can eat that as my main course!
- Service (the servers know you about to drop some cash money if you come to eat here, so they give top notch service)
- free cookies ( a little sampler plate if you are celebrating an anniversary)
- desserts (fancy schmancy desserts tasted oh so good!)
BAD:
- a little bug flew into short stacks wine glass. instead of replenishing her cup, they just gave her a new glass with a little amount of wine in it.
- I was surrounded by snobby guests dining in as well. (they see a young couple and act like we don't belong there!!)
UGLY:
- yea, I apologize that shorty and I look super young. But just because we look young doesn't mean we are going to be shysty and leave a bad tip. I got that vibe from our server. It's a crappy stereotype and i just wanted to make our server think twice about his view on us.
I sign the bill and leave a generous tip. As we leave I see the server look at the bill and his eyes get big. Take that to the bank server!!
A nice anniversary dinner + nice view + big bill = GREAT DESSERT (and I'm not talking bout the creme brulee'!!)
my bf and i were handsomely decked out as we drove to the edges of hillcrest. i didn't know where we were going, so you can imagine my stomach's skepticism as i was led though an office building's lobby. i'm here for food, not cubicles and water cooler chatter! fret not, for the bf did not lead me astray. it was a quick ride up 12 floors, and we were at mister a's.
the view was absolutely gorgeous! (you gotta love those city lights.) after some engaging conversation and a few glances at the menu, we decided on the black tiger risotto to start with; rack of lamb and osso bucco for him; halibut and scallops for me; all accompanied by a glass of wine.
the shrimp risotto has been the FREAKIN BEST RISOTTO to ever grace my taste buds. i don't think any other risotto can ever compare; i'm ruined for life. with such a unrealistic start, the rest of the meal just fell short (hence the 4 star rating). the halibut and scallops were good, but disappointing in comparison to the appetizer. additionally, my bf said he makes a better osso bucco (but i can't confirm that, as he hasn't made it for me yet).
we ended the meal on a sweet note with the chocolate bars. a deliciously deletable evening :0)
A dear and loving friend brought me to Mister A's on my birthday. I won't reveal how young I am but, here are my thoughts on the dining experience.
Parking:
No hassle. We were able to find street parking just a few steps away.
First Impression:
Initially confused by the office building the restaurant was atop of I thought, "Am I eating or meeting with an attorney?"
Ambiance:
Unpretentious elegance.
View:
We chose to be seated on their outdoor patio which afforded us panoramic views of SD. When the sun disappeared over the horizon the incandescent moon illuminated the city and as I sat back admiring the view with a glass of wine in hand it rekindled an appreciation for this city obscured by the everyday mundane.
Service:
Impeccable. The entire staff were amicable and efficient.
Wine:
Pinot Noir "The Hitching Post" from the movie "Sideways." It was soft in flavor and paired wonderfully with the meal.
Appetizers:
The black tiger shrimp risotto and lobster bisque were equally flavorful and rich.
Entree:
Pan seared beef tenderloin with Gorgonzola cream sauce and gratin dauphinois - the tenderloin was ordered rare and it was cooked perfectly. The color was ideal, it was tender and thoroughly delicious. My taste buds were in ecstasy. The Gorgonzola cream sauce was tasty however, I'm a purist when it comes to steak in a sense that "don't mess with a good thing." On the other hand, I thought the sauce paired well with the gratin which was also cooked wonderfully; Slightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Dessert:
We were served a complimentary plate of various cookies for my birthday. I took a single bite of each cookie leaving room for my favorite dessert, creme brulee! Expectedly, the raspberry creme brulee was scrumptious.
Price:
Expect to pay a shiny penny but, it's well worth it.
Insanely romantic.
Insanely good service.
I accidentally dropped a little soup on my fork, and they whisked the dirtied fork away and replaced it with a new one. I didn't even notice them do it either. My drinks were always full, too.
Food was amazing - had the beef tenderloin. Only complaint - portions are ridiculously small. I ALMOST paid $7 for a twice baked potato to come with my original choice of entree which was some seafood dish... I'm so glad I didn't and opted to get the beef tenderloin which was already paired with a twice baked potato because when you think twice baked potato you think of a big Idaho potato covered in cheese... Nope, not here. They are minuscule lil potato's. Ridiculously small.. but oh so good. You can't substitute food here either. But oh well.
Amazing ambiance. So pretty. Ask for a window seat.
Sinfully delicious. Mister A's not only has the best view in San Diego, they have some knock your socks off food.
Our server was polite, a little rigid for my taste but my water glass was never empty so I won't complain.
We had martini's afterward at the bar and went outside to enjoy the beautiful view and found ourselves lost enjoying the moment.
San Diego is a city with a split personality. On the surface, it tries so very hard to be a "big" city and yet, under that thin surface, a little city lives. Everyone can judge for themselves whether this is a good or bad thing, or whether it just is what it is.
Mr. A's* is one of the very few restaurants in San Diego, and I mean very few, which represents the "big city" aspect to the city's schizophrenic personality. The view, as everyone and their mother has noted, is the best in town. The food is extremely good and the service, from the host, to the waitstaff to the servers, are all on par with the best servers you will find in New York, New Orleans, and the other great eating cities in America.
Keep in mind that you will pay big city prices here, too, but that is to be expected and the establishment has earned the right to charge these prices given the extremely high quality of the food, service and location.
The crowd is a somewhat curious mix of blue blood La Jollans wasting the days (and nights) away, and just plain folks coming for that special occasion. But the good news is that the overall mood is not stuffy and regardless of your lineage or bloodline, you should feel right at home as long as you have enough credit on your Visa card to keep you from washing dishes before you leave.
Also, if you want to save a few bucks and skip the valet charge, parking is free and plentiful on the streets after 6 p.m. and you can stroll right into the building and take the elevator directly to the restaurant. It may not be the classiest way to go for you first or third daters, but it may save you enough for one more cocktail or appetizer on the patio before dinner, and you can't beat that.
*Sorry, Bertrand. To locals, the restaurant will always be known just as "Mr. A's," its original name for the last million years or so.
OH MY GOLLY GOLLY GOSH!
Haha yes, I really had to say that! The bf and I simply fell in love with this restaurant when we dined there last night.
The MACARONI AND CHEESE, A's Style is really as amazing as everyone says! Have you ever tasted something that you can eat a whole tub of but since you can't you want to eat it as slowly as possible so you can savor every moment you have with it? THIS IS IT! It had a fairly light cheese sauce but the powerful flavor from the truffle oil more than makes up for it. Throw in some panchetta and top it off with crisp parmesan and you've got yourself the perrrrfect mac and cheese!
I had the halibut and scallops duo. The scallops were good but a bit salty and I didn't like the sauce much. The halibut was okay, slightly overcooked. The spinach pasta was good.
The bf had the prime ribeye steak with this potato cake thingy, all of which left him speechless for a good 20 seconds. He said it was the best steak he had ever had and I must admit it was very good. Super tender steak and the sauce on top was great.
We also ordered a side of the famous truffled fries and they were also quite good. Tossed in lots of herbs and parmigiano reggiano. We came to a conclusion at the end of the night that everything truffled is good!
Amazing, Amazing, Amazing view! Did not want the night to end especially since we had the perfect vantagepoint of downtown's brilliant lights. Not a hard place to find, and parking on the street was plentiful. We requested patio dining and were happily accomadated with a pretty private table for two and a heat lamp to ensure our night was magical.
We started off the night with cocktails, I had an awesome mojito and my wife had a fufu cocktail that we both agreed was pretty boring...oh well. We went with fellow yelpers recommendations as well as our waitress' and had the Mac n Cheese and Shrimp Risotto. Everything everyone says about these two appetizers is true, we could have had them as our main course and our dessert! Moving on to our main course we had the beef tenderloin and kobe burger. My steak was delicious but not the absolute best, (having Wagyu beef in Japan, jades you) and the kobe burger was just ordinary in my opinion...But the best part of the meal were the truffle fries. A generous portion of addicting, finger licking fries you can't stop eating. For dessert, we had the trio of smores which were a nice end to our meal.
Overall I'd give the food 3.5 stars and the view/service 6 if I could.
I really feel like this place is very overrated, however the service is great! I went there and my bf ordered a Coke, the waiter says, "sir..we only have pepsi." About 15 minutes later, the waiter says "here is your coke." My suspicion is that he went across the street to the local liquor store to purchase a coke. but hey, he got a great tip! The food is pretty overprice, but then again you are paying for the beautiful view of downtown SD. I had the Kobe beef, and it wasn't all that good, the beef was way overcooked too. My bf had sea bass, the fish didn't taste very fresh but was decent. I guess with French places, the portions aren't filling enough, because afterwards I was still hungry.
Good food, good ambiance, traditional and everything to be expected. Perhaps that is Bertrand's low point, it lacks that wow factor if you aren't planning on popping the question it's not much to write home about.
The food was composed and plated well. It was balanced and authentic from my carpaccio to the suggested wine pairings through dessert. My rack of lamb was well seasoned with a delectable crust; it was however slightly overcooked to my order. Excellent ambiance and service as to be expected from a restaurant of this caliber. Truthfully you pay for the service and ambiance they provide in addition to the food, with that in mind, if it is worth it to you, Bertrand hits its mark.
On a side note I am always happy to see a true french champagne on the wine list
We decided to come here for dessert around 9:30. When we arrived the hostess looked at us funny wondering why we were there. Then we were told that the kitchen was closed. My date asked if the bar was still open because we wanted to see the view and they said yes. The place still had quite a few people there finishing dinner and eating desserts. We got a drink and went outside on the balcony. The views are outstanding! Another couple arrived after us and they ordered dessert. I thought that was strange so my date asked a waiter if we could order also, and he said of course! I don't understand why the hostess and another man who could have been a manager had told us originally that it was closed.
We ordered the smores dessert. It was good! I would have loved to try the creme brulee!
Located in a strange area. We were sitting pretty quick, but then were forgotten. I mean forgotten. I had to flag someone down to have our order taken and get drinks after about 20mins. The food is a limited menu and is very small portions so dont go there hungry. The view is good and if not for that I would give this place one star.
Met up with some coworkers for a xmas party here. Got lost trying to find this place when i finally realized it was located on top of a business building. The first thing i noticed as the elevator doors opened was the beautiful scenic view overlooking downtown san diego at night, 360 degrees around with a surrounding patio. A blazer is optional but recommended. I didnt wear one but no one raised a stink about it. Had the mac and cheese with truffle sauce as my starter. Best damn mac and cheese for sure. Ordered the filet mignon which was cooked to perfection. Small portions, but it fills you up. If you're looking to take your girl out to dinner with a romantic view, this place is perfect.
My boyfriend brought me here for my birthday dinner, and it is one I will never forget.
After a long day at Comic Con, this was the perfect ending to our evening. At first I did not know what to think because it is kind of hidden in an office building. We take the elevator up as soon as we step off i look over my shoulder and see all of downtown San Diego lit up. The sight made me shriek Oh My God! It was breath taking and that was just the view. This restaurant over looks the whole city, the night was clear not one cloud, all the stars were out bright.
Anyway on to the meal. The menu had a lot of really good steak and seafood choices. I ordered the Pan Seared Beef Tenderloin and twice baked potato. The bf ordered the A's Truffled Kobe Burger. The tenderloin was so good, it had Gorgonzola cheese on top. My steak came with a side of asparagus and gratin dauphinois. The best gratin ever! The bfs Truffle Burger was equally amazing. I couldn't stop sneaking bites off his plate. The truffle really made it into something special. For dessert we ordered the smores which was traditional smores made really fancy. There was a smore gelato sandwich, gram cracker smore and a cake smore all soo good.
I will never forget this birthday dinner not only was the food and the view amazing but there were fire works going off in the distance to top it off.
My boyfriend did good.
Went here for my birthday and it was wonderful. The highlight of dining at Mr. A's is definitely the view of San Diego. I love to be surrounded by water, so I fell in love with the view of the bay, Coronado, etc. The food was good and the service was top notch. However, the ambiance was a bit stuffy for my taste. On a positive note, a jacket is not required (highly recommended though) and you do not have to be a member to dine. Overall, I would definitely recommend dining here to enjoy the view and if you want to obtain bragging rights - much like at the Marine Room, Symphony Towers, etc.
OK 4stars. Let me start with my favorite things about this place. We sat on the patio overlooking San Diego. It was amazing! The best restaurant view that I have ever experienced. I loved how out on the patio there are trees in between the tables to create a little privacy for those one on one romantic evenings spent here. I always had water in my glass and the food came very fast. I ordered the seared beef tenderloin and it was delicious and perfectly cooked. I would order this again. They had heat lamps outside to keep me warm and did not even hesitate to turn them on when I requested it.
But I have a few complaints
1) the lobster bisque had no flavor compared to that of Ruth's Chris. It was foamy instead of smooth and creamy and lacked lobster pieces.
2) raspberry creme brulee-I enjoyed the non-custardy part of the creme brulee, but the toffee sugar on top tasted slightly burnt and was thick and stuck in my teeth. I guess I'm more used to melt in your mouth.
3) the staff for the most part seemed very young in age and thus seemed unsure of how to serve at a fine dining restaurant. and our waitress was very strange, she would walk up to our table and just stand there and stare until we said something to her. It was often awkward. She also didn't have a very good knowledge of the champagnes and how to describe them.
4) OK this ones a little silly but bare with me. If you don't want to hear the planes coming in and taking off every 5 min, don't sit outside. At first it was loud but we actually enjoyed watching the planes fly soo low to the ground. And really it is downtown, and that happens all the time. BUT if that's not your thing, don't sit outside.
5) Valet- If your not willing to pay 7.50 plus gratuity for valet-dont go here. Really if you cant pay that for valet, then you cant pay for the food. I personally just think that its a little cheesy to ask for money for valet at a fine dining restaurant. That request is not classy at all. And the parking garage for the restaurant is only valet FYI It wasn't a big deal, but you need to know about so you can either park on the street or know in advance your going to have to pay 7.50 for valet.
Overall it was a great experience and I would go there again. I would recommend it, but with some precautions. The view was wonderful and so romantic. If your looking for a place to take your sweetie, this is a good choice. Just make sure to request the patio when you get there. There seemed to be plenty of places to sit which was nice. Although we went during the week, but it seemed like getting a reservation was relatively easy. The food was good and the plating of the food was pleasing to the eyes. I would say its worth trying at least once or twice if you haven't already.
I love this place. Absolutely the best view. Great drinks. Solid food. Good service. Definitely a little pricey, but worth it in my opinion. Great place to go with friends, especially if you sit out on the terrace at night or sunset. No reason not to come here again, but maybe with the corporate card. Or somebody else's...
BREATHTAKING is how I would describe the view. You could see Downtown, the harbor, all of it. It was amazing.. and we were lucky enough to come during the sunset.
Apetizers: Mussels - buttery garlic deliciousness
Main Course: Kobe Burger with fries - tender and mouthwatering
Seafood Paella - like none I've had before. Flavor was amazing with a spicy punch (thanks to the spicy sausage)
They brought out a sampler plate of desserts for our anniversary. That was a nice surprise! Service was definitely an A+. All the wait staff was very friendly and attentive. If you could get a seat outside, that would probably be best. I wish I knew this before! You must try this place for a special occasion - but beware, you should dress up!
Ok so we once again went to our very favorite restaurant in Sd, Bertrand at Mr A's!! Sunday night was our very first wedding anniversary so obviously a very special night for us and Mr. A's is always the place we go to for celebration.
We decided to sit outside this time which was a first for us, that was a great choice. We had a 7 pm reservation and the sun was just starting to set, needless to say the view was absolutely stunning. It was such a clear night that we even saw the Hyatt Islandia on Mission Bay from where we were. Honestly Mr A's must have one of THE best views in town. It's really only located on the 12th floor but since it's in Bankers Hill it's already so high up.
We ordered a nice bottle of Merlot & 2 appetizers. I had the New Steak Carpacccio (excellent!) and my husband had Gnocchi with Chanterelles. Both were outstanding!!
I personally love Chanterelles from growing up picking them in the forest back in Sweden and then my mom fried them at night and put them on a piece of toast. You don't find them too often at restaurants so I was stoked.
For entree I had the Roasted Jidori Chicken En Roulade with Thyme and Garlic. Chris had the local white Seabass. Both awesome!
They brought out a complimentary plate that read "Happy Anniversary" with a mix of cookies including a mini red velvet to die for. (had that plate before, so good!) We had 2 desserts on top of that :) the Strawberry Shortcake (Amazing) and the house made caramel ice cream.
Like every time, THE best food, THE best view and THE best service. Mr A's is nothing but perfect!!!!
Yes we dropped over 200 bucks but it's well worth it!
Went for Restaurant Week a few nights ago. Very chic interior. Beautiful view of downtown SD. Food was delicious, service was excellent. Overall a great restaurant.
Great ambiance and food was out of this world. I took my wife for our second anniversary and asked for an outside table. When we got there we were seated facing the SD skyline which was awesome. We ordered the lobster bisque which was very delicious and truffle fries which were okay but not anything famous. My wife got the halibut which was undercooked and notified the waiter who assured us that it will be taken care of. I ordered the steak which was great but the sauce they included overwhelmed the steaks natural taste. For desert we got the chocolate smores which was out of this world. Finished that off with a cappuccino and the night was done. Very good service and ambiance. Would recommend this place to anyone.
Woah, the view from here!!!!. Perfect place for a special lunch or dinner.
Celebrating the wifey's birthday and she couldn't have picked a better place. The Chilean Sea Bass. Wow. Great wine selection as well. This place should be snobby but it isn't at all. Excellent service from start to finish. The China, silver and crystal is really nice touch. First Class, but still expected to spend a lot more than I did.
Careful, though. Everything here has a very rich taste to it and just might not be that healthy. Everyone at my table had a few residual tummy aches later. Okay, it could have been the Kobe Beef burger that we were told was a must try, so we all sampled as an appetizer. Fatty? Yes. Juicy? Yes. Necessary, no. What was I thinking?
Suffering withdrawals from the effects caused by the exquisite culinary experiences in Chicago, I was suppose to fast for a month. However, the dire quivers associated with needing that last quick fix before going into submission was calling out: "Go to Mister A's... just go you bastard..."
So off we went, all the way to San Diego. If you haven't experienced it yet, Bertand at Mister A's (What a mouthful) probably has one of the best 360 degree views of downtown San Diego with Balboa Park to the east, Coronado/Downtown to the south, the harbor to the west, and La Jolla to the north.
Reservations a must. They open at 5:30 for dinner, however will take reservations for 5:15. Be good to yourself and take the 5:15. The staff will seat you at the window seats (they will do their best to fill the window seats first before the interior seating.) Which is an awesome move on their part. Most stuck-up places won't do that, and will try and seat you near the bathroom or kitchen. My utmost respect goes to Bertrand. If you can't do 5:15, the 7:30 seating may get you back to the window seats when the tables flip. You could sit in the outdoor patio area looking 12 stories down, but It does get quite windy. So if that's your plan - use that 50 mph industrial-strength glue to stiffen your hairdo. The executive chief, Stephane, has been there for 6 years and he continues to do an exquisite job of culinary feats:
Two types of yummy-in-your-tummy bread selections served with whipped salted butter (http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
Appetizers:
- Classic Lobster Bisque with black tiger prawns. This comes out separate and mixed at the table (http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
- Macaroni and Cheese, A's Style. I was a bit hesitant in ordering this, but the waiter said it was one of A's all-time favorites. So had to get it (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Probably the best Mac 'N Cheese I've had yet. An aromatic cheese crust, al dente mac, emince of black truffles and pancetta cooked within.
Main course:
- Grilled Prime "Cap of the Rib-Eye" (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Served with Bearnaise and Pommes Anna with tempura broccoli. The rib-eye was flavorful, but maybe a tad too salty, but when dipped into the Bearnaise reduction, both complimented each other quite nicely. The broccoli when cut turned to instant mush, which is very difficult to do and gets a thumbs up from me.
- Black SeaBass and Seafood Sausage Duo (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Served with riesling cream, local white corn and chanterelles. Firm, tasty and again the duo complemented each other spectacularlly.
- Pan Roasted Sole and Lobster Mousse Stuffing (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Topped with chive, caviar, and champagne beurre blanc. A fine dish indeed.
- Side dishes included their famous truffled fires covered with parmigiano regiano, and sauteed assorted mushrooms in garlic and herb butter. Sweet!
Dessert:
- Creme Brulee (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) - awesome, nuff said.
Would have been a 5-star rating, but Chicago has tweaked my tastebuds to expect a bit more steak-wise. But it was quite a view with impeccable service. The entire experience is a 4.8 on the richter scale. Prices are a bit up-in-your-face, but you need to treat yourself good once in a while... Also enjoy Balboa park, by using the park's street parking, saves on valet and garage parking fees. Also you can take a nice stroll to walk off the 5 pounds you just put on...
Well I have to admit that I am partial to this restaurant because my man proposed to me here. The food was amazing! We kept savoring every bite! The service was wonderful. Our waiter was so sweet and attentive. The view was spectacular even though it was raining. We also were very impressed with the wine menu.
After he proposed they treated us like king and queen. Tons of drinks on the house, lots of dessert, and everyone in the restaurant kept toasting. It was enjoyable! It was pricey but it is a fancy restaurant and you get what you pay for! Love it!
We were not disappointed by picking Bertrand at Mister A's for a celebration of my birthday. It was our first visit to this most famous of San Diego's upscale restaurants. The twelfth floor location at Fifth and Laurel, as promised, provided stunning views of airplane landings at Lindberg Field, the bay, waterfront, downtown skyline, Balboa Park, Mission Hills and more. Arriving a little early we enjoyed sauvignon blanc at a patio table with a view of planes landing.
Patio seating was also available for dinner (three sides of the roof area) but we picked an inside-the-restaurant table with a great view of downtown. Our very distinguished waiter Marc was attentive and helpful, perfect. The service was timed to our conversation, never rushed or disruptive and the food was delivered promptly.
Our favorite food all night was the famous truffled fries ($7) with parmigiano regiano, absolutely delicious. One order was more than enough for all three of us. Highly recommended, a bargain.
For an appetizer I had the Maine lobster strudel (fresh lobster and assorted mushrooms in filo dough with cognac lobster sauce): honestly I was a little disappointed, somewhat dry and lacked the explosion of taste expected. Not recommended. My wife had the multicolored young beet salad with goat cheese in filo served with a horseradish vinaigrette: good she said but I noticed only half was eaten. My daughter had the garden salad with baby vegetables and champagne vinaigrette: OK she said, just a salad. Presentation on all three were very nice, colorful, fresh.
For the main course I ordered the duo of Alaskan halibut and sea scallops served with saffron sauce, angel hair pasta and braised fennel: loved the scallops, halibut was just OK, nice presentation. My wife had the vegetarian entree after a discussion with our waiter: it looked like they put considerable effort into the preparation; after a taste we all thought it was, at best, just so so. My daughter ordered the winner, the pan seared beef tenderloin with gorgonzola cream sauce and gratin dauphinois: fabulous, perfect, absolutely perfection but priced to feed a family of four for a month in several parts of the world. Oh, forget price, it was my birthday and a celebration.
The two deserts and paired late harvest wines we tried were both pretty good, creme brulee and bread pudding. Coffee service was unexceptional. Total bill with tip and valet parking: $332.
Will I go back? Maybe, but we have so many great choices in San Diego... Do I recommend it? Well, yes, the views are really something and I loved the truffle fries. Minus one star for being 30 percent overpriced. Minus one star for serving food that does not taste as good as it looks.
Warning, this is the first time yelp has failed me. I always had great experience with places 4 stars and higher but this place is a dud. Notice that all the people that rate this place highly always state how great the view is or how great the atmosphere is. When we came here, a huge family had children running around the restaurant out of control and no one cared. The view is OK, but if you want to see a decent view go to Chicago or New York, it's not even comparable.
I haven't written for Yelp for a long time but I was so outraged by our experience here that I had to write this.
The service was terrible. The wait staff was uncoordinated and people would come by asking us the same questions without performing actions. Our head waitress wasn't even there half the time sending her underlings who weren't coordinated and kept asking questions like would you like coffee, even after we ordered coffee with another one of her minions. They would sacrifice quality service for quantity of random people that would show up at your table. Random servers would come to switch out utensils without asking, and when you said Thank You they would ignore you. Only one time did a server say you're welcome. Not only were they rude/haughty, they were slow. My water glass was empty more than half the time. The one good note about the service is that the guy that came out with my friend's desert had carried it wrong and the desert fell apart and he asked my friend if he wanted a new one but my friend declined. Overall, if you want good service even a chain like Ruth's Chris has infinitely better service, without the attitude, or a classy restaurant like Oceanaire has wait staff that is properly trained. Also, it took multiple requests to get more bread, and boy will you need it. The quantity is the worst out of any restaurant I've been to. The total amount of food per dish was roughly a palm each.
Now on to the food. The food wasn't bad but it was nothing to write home about. To be honest, the food is maybe a 3 star. However, the quantity made it abysmal. You could barely taste the food with the small quantity they served. There are two good points about their food though. Their dessert is excellent, not worth the $11.50 but excellent quality and presentation. Also, their bread was excellent and so was their butter. Can't say the same about their appetizers/entrees but at least their bread and dessert were good.
Now to explain why this place has such a high rating even though it doesn't deserve it. There were a lot of drunk frat-kids here when we went and being drunk fogs your memory. Thus, drunk people who just remember paying alot for very small quantity don't want to admit they are suckers so they say how great the view is or how great the service is because they're too sloshed to remember their bad experience. I've never been more disappointed in a meal but I should have heeded the warning signs when the majority of the views focus on the great view and supposed great service, but not the food quality.
In a nutshell... horrendous service - uncoordinated inept staff that try to make up bad attitudes with sheer quantity of staff that come to the table rather than offer quality service, average food but with outrageous prices for such mediocre quality, terrible atmosphere, a fool's trap. This is a great example of people justifying something unacceptable just because of the high price tag.
Oh Boy.
I love you so.
Never ever ever Gonna' let you go....
Now that I got my hands on you.
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