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Bertrand At Mister A's
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
2550 5th Ave12th Fl
(between Laurel St & Maple St)
San Diego, CA 92103
Neighborhood: Banker's Hill
(619) 239-1377
Announcement
Make your reservation today.
Chef Stephane just announced his Easter and Mother's Day Brunch menus. Check them out on our website today.
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
Sat-Sun 5 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
577 reviews for Bertrand At Mister A's
Review Highlights
"By far the fanciest mac and cheese I've had."
(in 88 reviews)
"The creme brulee was amazing, and just right."
(in 43 reviews)
"The Lobster strudel is a excellent appetizer."
(in 27 reviews)
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577 reviews in English
-
Review from adda w.
San Diego, CA
2/6/2012
Came here for my Bf's company private event.
I gave this place an overall 4 stars and here is why:
The patio view was incredible! It was one of those things, you'd wish you had a professional camera to shoot San Diego's view of downtown and the harbor.
Service was impeccable!! They accommodated your needs to the T. The food was eh, OKAY.... All the portions was just right for a three course menu. The arugula salad wasn't that good. The chicken Jadori was okay, since I'm allergic to the crawfish/lobster sauce, I had it with the red wine reduction. The truffle mash was good and creamy and I didn't care so much for the veggies on the side. I paired my meal with Riesling wine.
The crème brulee was soo good! The apple and blackberry cobb was good too! Paired my dessert with Moscato. -
Review from Jordyn D.
Carlsbad, CA
2/9/2012
Yet again, an unhappy customer from Bertrand's. I went herewith my husband for our anniversary and I was so excited because of all the hype this place gets. It seems like everyone that gave this place a bad review had their hopes built up like I did.
So here is what happened...
I'm sorry but when you charge that much for a swordfish plate I would expect the meat to come out as its supposed to, flaky with lots of taste. Swordfish isn't hard to make taste good. This was wet and terrible. The vegetables that came with it were overlooked and as mushy as the fish.
My husbands steak tasted worse than that I've had at black angus, but was twice as expensive.
To top it all off our waiter was okay but the rest of the staff we encountered we're soooooo rude. My husband was visibly uncomfortable the entire time.
The restaurant is not that spectacular. The views at great but come on when you charge prices like that you can probably afford to update the style.
As of our anniversary dinner wasn't enough of a let down, we ended up being charged three different times for our meal, putting us out over just about four hundred dollars. Still waiting for them to refund the money they owe us....
Will never go to this place again! And will see them in court if we don't see our money refunded soon! -
Review from Jessica T.
Ramona, CA
2/1/2012
Mister A's has always been one of those restaurants I LOVE, but seldom find myself with an occasion (nor the mean$!!) to justify splurging on myself. Sad, right?! Well you can imagine my delight when, by pure luck, I stumbled across reviews about the PATIO dining and super reasonable and casual menu!! YAY for us!!
The BF and I made reservations for this past Friday evening, and could not have had a better night! While the patio offered the same amazing views of the city that you get inside, (LOVED watching the planes land!) , there was a much more intimate feeling sitting at our cozy, heated table together, looking over Downtown with all of the the sights and sounds.
The service was everything you would expect from Mister A's, as was our dinner....I must confess we ended up catching the tail end of SD Restaurant Week so we treated ourselves to the special menu offerings for that.
Bottom-line: The food was delicious, the ambiance was perfect, and the views of our fabulous city were spectacular....we can't wait to get back! :) -
Review from Dan D.
La Mesa, CA
1/26/2012
Sure, I could do a run-of-the-mill review for my Mr. A's experience. Or, better yet, I could entertain you with a fancy schmanzy review, a la Rossi H.
So here ya go; my Ode to Rossi:
I knew all about you
before we ever met
Yes.
yes, I did.
The other restaurants whispered
Cheap gossip
Outright lies.
Jealously. That's all it is.
sure.
It was a very special occasion.
So special.
guys don't forget these things.
So for her anniversary
or was it a birthday?
doesn't matter
we came to see you.
Not unlike a slasher flick
I tried not to flinch
When presented with the gory details
The menu
frightened us both.
But I didn't flinch.
And Jason our waiter.
Oh, Jason, you're killing me.
Irony flowed like wine
at $12 a glass
But it was good.
like the view
and meat.
Other unflinching males
sniffed their wine and
paid through their noses.
You high class tramp, you.
The best calls for the best.
They say that somewhere.
Not sure where.
Hey, how YOU doing?
Birthday?
No, anniversary.
Yeah, me, too.
Congrats. Congrats.
Nice Dockers.
You, too.
Desserts. Naturally.
Don't allow your eyes to drift to the right.
where the prices wait.
Do Not Flinch, Sir.
Order it with a french accent.
I dare you
Not Extraordinary Desserts.
not Denny's either.
The bill, why yes. I stand ready
Jason, please be gentle.
Smiling. Not flinching.
U comp'd the desert.
thanks u sneaky SOB.
walk into the night with her
visa warm to the touch
I liked that. Me, too.
Happy...
so happy to be here with you. -
Review from Jennifer N.
San Diego, CA
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
If their happy hour food is even half as good as their dinner food, I'd be ecstatic. One or two of the waiters are way too snooty and I wasn't a fan, but the bartenders are terrific. As long as there is great food and good service (preferably minus the snobiness even with the esteemed reputation of Mr A's), I'll be back!
-
Review from Hollie V.
Redondo Beach, CA
2/7/2012
My Boyfriend surprised me with a trip to San Diego and took me to this restaurant. we sat on the Balcony which had great heaters and GORGEOUS view!
Quick download of our experience in bullets:
Food was awesome:
Oysters with Champagne and Rock Salt-Delicious and not small. There were six oysters that were pretty big and plenty to share btw 2 people.
Escargot with Garlic Butter-AMAZING and make sure you order extra bread to dip in the sauce
Chopped Salad-veggie filled to balance out the oh so indulgent meal.
Scallops-really good. they were cooked evenly and had a nice browned outside
Shortribs-really tender and great flavor, you could cut threw them with a fork.
*****The best part of our meal was the drink and desserts.
The mixologist at this restaurant had a drink called "Sweet Heat" it was 100% one of the best drinks I have ever had. It had a sweet berry flavor start and then ended with a kick, but not too much heat so it was a good surprise at the end. My boyfriend who never drinks even tried it and said he would actually have one.
Desserts, the carrot cake was amazing and the cheesecake. Both had uniqueness diff. than other places. For instance cake had fresh cooked carrot shavings. Cheesecake came in a cute little jar with AMAZING caramel sauce.
All in all this place is amazing.
Only negative and reason no 5 stars is the Balcony allowed smoking because as we learned it was also considered part of the bar. We really wish they would have told us this so we could have reserved an inside table with a view and just walked out onto the balcony.....so go but plan to reserve INSIDE seat. I don't think there is a bad view in the place. -
Review from Sam E.
San Diego, CA
2/4/2012
Had dinner here on a weekend the service was excellent and each table has an excellent view.
My only complaint was that the swordfish dish i had was very wet. Juicy swordfish and steamed veggies, a very watery dish, i think they should have roasted the veggie s for this. Other than that, the appetizers were great and so were the desserts. -
Review from Lauren K.
San Diego, CA
1/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Four Stars....
I was skeptical about this place when we made reservations and honestly, had it not been restaurant week, I probably wouldn't have made reservations in the first place. It sounded to me like an overpriced tourist destination with just above mediocre food. Here is what changed my mind but not quite in the way of 5 stars:
The service was excellent. It was classy without being stuffy and that is pretty on target considering they probably do get a good bit of tourists...having the best view in the city and all. Our server was very nice and cordial while still having a bit of fun to his personality. He talked to us about local beers and such, which was a good move since my boyfriend is in the industry and could wax eloquent for hours.
The view was amazing. I was unexpectedly impressed. I had assumed that the view was good since they oft boast about it, but for realz....it was excellent. Of course we went for lunch on a pretty clear day so it may differ depending on a lot of factors, but ours was perfect. We could see for miles in every direction.
The food is where the stars take a turn for me. We got a great deal on our food with the restaurant week menu. And with that deal, I will have to say that the food was very well done. I had a Caesar salad with cheese crostini. It was perfectly creamy and perfectly coated, but no real spark to the flavor. My landlord in ventura made a better Caesar in his kitchen. Not bad, just nothing to give it that extra something.
I also had the Burger with a fried egg and two slices of bacon topped with pesto aioli with fries and homemade ketchup (please don't tell my personal trainer) and it was good no doubt, and once again I am going to throw in the fact that all of this plus dessert only cost $20 so I most certainly got my money's worth. The problem is, even with this amazing view, I would be pretty skeptical about paying twenty dollars for the burger alone. It doesn't come close to my absolute favorite burger in the world at CD Cafe in Solomon's MD served with a Caesar salad side for a whopping $12.95.
The dessert was creme brulee. Nothing more, nothing less. It was perfectly fired with a beautiful glassy top...and tasted like creme brulee. And with that, I think I have said all I need to say... -
Review from Scott S.
San Diego, CA
2/5/2012
I went here for an anniversary, and was extremely let down. The only reason I am giving it 2 stars is because the service was impeccable, and the view was amazing, the food on the other hand was such a disappointment, definitely not worth what I paid, and definitely not going back again. If you want to go to a really nice restaurant with good food, service, and view check out George's at the Cove!
-
Review from Sylvea W.
La Jolla, CA
1/23/2012
I came here for restaurant week and had such high expectations. Maybe that was my problem in the first place. The service, all aside from the waiter, was great. Everyone was friendly, nice and attentive. Our waiter, however, was creepy and extremely fake; he came with a different voice every time he approached our table.
The food is mediocre at best. I had a mushroom risotto that that was extremely bland. For my entrée, I ordered a mahi mahi that was coated with salt. Perhaps they forgot to add flavor to the risotto and decided to double up on my fish? Dessert was decent, but nothing to get excited about.
I love loving things. I do. And I so desperately wanted to love this place so that I could keep coming back. The view is spectacular, but not enough for me to be satisfied. After all, I came to eat dinner.
San Diego is a gold mine for delicious restaurants and spectacular views. It isn't worth my time to go back. -
Review from Amanda S.
Kansas City, MO
1/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Always a treat to visit Mr. A's!
I love the view and sitting on the patio when it is nice enough, plus the service is always excellent!
You can't miss the truffle mac n cheese and I have to say I fell in love with the paella last time I tried it! I was a little bored by the tomato soup last time I went though.
Mr. A's is a special place and I love going there! -
Review from Erin R.
San Diego, CA
1/19/2012
We left extremely disappointed and questioned exactly what just happened to us. First off, I have seen so many #1 reviews about this place and have been wanting to eat there for quite some time. When we first walk out of the elevators into the restaurant, I was automatically confused that there was nothing visually to understand what is so great about this place. You would think that since they pride themselves on the view, you could capyure that when you walk in, WRONG. Moving on... We sat at the most spectacular corner window seat and had an amazing view. (this is theONLY reason this place is getting 2 stars!)
We brought our own special bottle of wine- $30 corkage fee- ouch, but whatever. We figured it was going to be worth it.
Appetizers: Mussels- excellent! Mushroom risotto- nothing great about it. Escargot- delicious even though it was all simply a vat of garlic and butter.
Dinner: Filet Mingnon-after waiting for roughly 15 mins AFTER our appetizer, our meals finally came dragging out. We were each served 3 silver dollar sizes of steak.. Which was COLD... A single carrot, a single broccoli, and a small triangle of cheesy potatoes. We thought this was a joke. Surely NO prestigious restaurant( such as Mr. A's) serves something like this??? It had to have been a mistake!! We were wrong.
We chowed down for a solid 3-4 mins, and what do you know... Our main course was over.
Dessert: Creme Brûlée - very good. Snicker's Moussee: overly sweet.
The view was great, but we live in San Diego, we didn't need to pay a total of $165.34 for some view. We came for the food and experience, but unfortunately it wasn't there for us to enjoy. What a disappointment. Makes me question other reviews this place recieves... Surely my boyfriend and I attended the night they played a practical joke! Right??
To all interested parties- save your money and go to Outback. -
Review from Lisa P.
San Diego, CA
1/7/2012
I love the service! I love the food! The view is to DIE for! But the atmosphere (mind you we went at lunch) is all upity. I love a relaxing place that makes you feel cozy and has all the other good stuff too. I would go back, maybe with a few drinks in me. I have to say our waiter was amazing we didn't even mention it was our anniversary and he picked up on that and brought out a special desert plate that said "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY"
Nice touch. -
Review from Steve R.
San Diego, CA
1/30/2012
This was not my first rodeo at Mr. A's. The food is always very good with excellent presentation. We started with truffled fries which were a bit on the greasy side but tasty,and the foie which was superb. We then had clams and mussels gratinee and again outstanding. My date had paella that was not really the traditional version but still very good, and I had rack of lamb. My only complaint is when you get three bones it is NOT a rack of lamb, it is chops! A rack is usually 6-8 bones or three doubles at the least. Everything was done as requested and nicely seasoned. We had creme brulee and carrot cake for dessert and both were as expected. With the sun setting and watching the two cruise ships sail away it was a very enjoyable evening
-
Review from Faye L.
12/6/2011
This place has been a childhood dream of mine to visit. It just represented *THE* ultimate place for a guy to take a girl on a date. Not sure , now as a grown up, why I have yet to go.
Well, behold my now awesome boyfriend, to take me there after finding out how long I've been dying to come here.
When you call to make a reservation, you will need to give them a credit card. You can try to request a window table but they cannot guarantee table w/ view.
They have valet parking in the basement of building. Easy enough. But there seemed to be plenty of street parking that night as well.
Upon the elevator doors opening to the restaurant, we both looked at each other w/ a 'this is it' question mark stare. Just reminded of us of something in the 80s. Just a bit old, the colors on the walls and carpets seemed faded and old.
Although we got there on time, they asked us to take a seat on the sofa bench to wait for our table. Again, we both glanced around and thought, no joke, 'everyone in here is olddd'....
Finally we got our table. Yes it was a window seat. But it was the towards the left side of the room where the views aren't as great. I thought THAT was their selling point right. THE VIEW.
Truth be told, the view was UNSPECTACULAR. So disappointing. So un-epic.
Altitude in gaslamp - breathtaking
George's Terrace La Jolla - awesome
Bertrand at Mr. A's - meh
We started w/ drinks. BF had a glass of wine. I ordered:
Skinny Margarita: Organic Tequila, Fresh Agave, Fresh Low Calorie Mix ($15)
- Fifteen bucks ppl. $15. The drink tasted like Crystal Light. AND, it was about one gulp full worth (an nooo, i'm not a boozer). It literally came served in THE tiniest baby martini glass I've ever seen. My date and I had a good laugh about it thou.
Appetizer:
Classic Lobster Bisque: Oregon Bay Shrimp $13
- it was ok. Not that much shrimp or lobster to be found.
Entrees:
(This was about two months ago so I'm trying to remember exactly what we had)
Pan Roasted Duroc Farm Pork Chop: Lemon Caper Butter, "Provencal" Vegetables $26.5
- three words...Shake n Bake. That's what my Pork Chop tasted like. It was breaded in , i swear, the same stuff i use to used on my pork chops as a kid - shake n bake. No joke. The pork chop was ok , but was not a fan of the breading as it seemed a bit dry.
Sauteed Wild Halibut, Diver Scallop: Chanterelle Mushroom Jus, Pesto Gnocchi
$35.5
- scallops were nice, halibut was not as good. The bf enjoyed the Gnocchi thou.
Service was attentive. A bit too attentive as a few times the busboy would ask if we were finished when we really weren't (as apparent by the food still on our plates). No biggie. Our waiter, or host?, was knowledgeable but his French accent was so thick that often, me and the date would look at each other w/ this 'i HOPE you're getting all this b/c i sure the heck ain't ' stare.
Summary:
Perhaps it's best NOT to have such hopes and expectations for a restaurant you've been dying to try since you've been 13yo.
Did I have a fun and memorable time - yes. But not b/c of the food, drinks, or establishment. But more b/c of the company I was with.
We did end the night stepping out into their outdoor patio. IF we ever came back, we'd request to sit outside as there are heat lamps and it just seemed much more pleasant . I've read nice things for their Happy Hour.
But all in all, I don't think we will be back. The food and drinks, in my opinion, isn't worth the time or money to visit again.
At least I can say now, yes, I've been to Bertrands. Yessss.... -
Review from brenton w.
San Diego, CA
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Food is good, but i wouldn't say adventurous or mind blowing. Definitely not the best value, but I'm guessing the target clientele aren't too concerned with value. Service and view is great.
-
Review from Lesley C.
San Diego, CA
1/25/2012 2 photos
Ate here for Restaurant Week last night. Views were incredible as was the service. Everyone was so nice and accommodating! I have never had my water glass refilled so many times. It was wonderful!
We were served a complimentary amuse bouche which was a butternut squash soup with parsley foam. Boyfriend ordered the risotto while I had the creamless onion soup for an appetizer. He really liked the risotto and we tasted with the mushrooms and without and it was amazing how much the mushroom really made the dish. I felt my soup was bland but still very good. Entrees included a filet that was perfectly cooked and melted in our mouth. My paella was so delicious that I didn't want to share. I was getting pretty full but I still finished every bite of it. The only thing I didn't like was that the calamari rings were so stark white on the plate that they really stood out aesthetically. Dessert consisted of a slice of Baked Alaska and a Snickers mousse. The Baked Alaska was pretty straight forward and the meringue on top tasted like toasted marshmallows. Yum! The Snickers mousse was rich with a thin jellied top and chocolate mousse center with a delectable flaky crust on the bottom. It was like chocolate sugar wafers and gave the most perfect crunch. It also contained whole peanuts as well. It was very interesting how the flavors really encompassed a snickers bar while the consistency was a mousse.
There were certainly other things on the menu that I wished I could have ordered and we liked that they gave you an option to order them for an upcharge to the Restaurant Week pricing.
We came on a Monday night so street parking was a cinch although I can see it being difficult to find a spot if you were to come on a weekend. Finding the entrance was also a bit of a problem but once we got to the 12th floor our entire mood changed with the ambience of the restaurant.
Hopefully we'll be back for Happy Hour and to sit in one of their plush booths. -
Review from Chari Q.
San Diego, CA
1/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Incredible panoramic views! Food and service was excellent. Had Paella, Kobe burger and truffle fries. Pricey, but what they heck you're in San Diego and the view is fantastic.
-
Review from Leonard L.
San Diego, CA
12/3/2011 2 photos
Bertrand at Mister A's
SD: Banker's Hill 5th Ave.
Friday December 2, 2011
Four Stars
Eating on the 12th floor of Bertrand at Mister A's was such an exciting experience. There was a beautiful view of downtown, where you can actually see planes land on San Diego's one runway airport. The service was amazing. Excellent Host, Friendly Server, Attentive Bussers, and well trained food expediters were all distinguishable by their dress. The Host had a suit; the Servers: Khaki Pants and Navy Blazer; the Bussers: Gray Mandarin Style shirt; and Expediters: Black Pants and Blue Dress Shirt.
The food was good, but not knock-your-socks-off good. My Father and I tried the paella and my Mother had a chicken club. The rice had a good flavor but I needed some good caramelization. The Mussels were fresh and delicious. The one shrimp was overcooked. The peas and green beans added a nice crunch. The portion was a decent size. Overall, a pretty good experience. -
Review from Parker S.
Torrance, CA
1/17/2012
** Happy Hour Review (2:30 - 6:30 weekdays) **
I highly recommend coming during Happy Hour to enjoy the patio view! Watching the planes land is an added bonus for an already fantastic mix of greenery and downtown San Diego.
The $7 food options are very tasty and fair portions. A variety of beverages are available ranging from $3-10 (lots of local brews for just $4!) Including tax and tip, you can keep it under $30 for some tasty bites, drinks, and an incredible view.
I've heard mixed reviews about their regular service for lunch or dinner, but I'll definitely update if I come back for them.
P.S. - Definitely bring a jacket with you since it can get a little breezy at the top and they usually don't have the heaters on until the sun starts going down. -
Review from Jefferey L.
Cupertino, CA
11/24/2011
Ambiance was good and service was great, but the tasting menu did not impress me. For the price, I expected much more, in terms of taste. Even if money is of no object, the only reason I would come here is for the view. Most of the disappointment perhaps stemmed from how beautifully prepared the dishes were in comparison to how each dish tasted. A picture may tell a thousand words, but nobody said those thousand words would speak the truth.
Out of the entire tasting menu, the only dish that really surprised me was the truffled mac and cheese. The sauce was incredibly velvety without being too heavy, and they were generous with the truffle oil. I probably could have eaten another.
The dinner was finished with a few migndardises for my friend's birthday. They were not memorable.
I was hoping Mister A's would be better than its sister, Mille Fleur, but It wasn't. I think my overall experience there was slightly better, although they did not have the beautiful view.
I hope I have the opportunity to give Mister A's a second chance. I don't know if it's worth the risk taking someone on a special occasion. If I come back, it will just be for a regular meal.
If you are looking for a nice French restaurant for a special occasion and do not care for a great view, I would recommend Tapenade. Although they do not have the beautiful view, the service is just as great, and the food is much, much better. The prices were comparable. -
Review from ROSIE B.
San Diego, CA
1/19/2012
Excellent view, excellent service...good food.
My husband and I tried Mr. A's for the first time, last night, as part of resturant week. The place is classy and the view cannot be beat and the service was impeccable. Our glasses were never empty but the food was only good and not awesome. I started with the foie gras terrine which was nice and artfully plated but not particularly memorable. I ordered the paella to follow and the first thing I noticed was the lack of color- where was the saffron? It looked like a pretty seafood risotto and while nice, I was glad there was salt and pepper on the table as the dish was in need of both. For dessert I tried the baked Alaska, which I'd never tried so I don't have any comparisons but the sponge cake was dry and bland and the ice cream was not creamy, but the meringue was nice. I would definitely go back, but I will be trying different things. -
Review from Vina L.
Country Club, CA
1/15/2012
Restaurant week visit. The food was very good. The escargot wasn't fantastic and the paella was closer to risotto than paella but it was still very flavorful. The creme brûlée was the best I've ever had. Done in true French form it wasn't very sweet but that's what makes it so excellent.
Service was very good. They seated us early, came and checked on us often, kind, polite, great recommendations.
I only took away one star because the escargot and paella were less than to die for. -
Review from Kaylee H.
San Diego, CA
11/24/2011
It's really too bad that Bertrands didn't meet our expectations. We went to dinner tonight, Thanksgiving 2011, and were so excited that so many sources put this place as #1 in San Diego.
The view of course is great. We were interested in the condo neighbors across the street, watching their Thanksgiving dinners, watching the jets come in, etc.
Our waiter was, well, not up to the caliber he should've been. He was nice, but... we ordered a bottle of champagne and he didn't leave it by our table in a bucket of ice, he inexplicably left it on the other side of our table neighbors, on ice. Why? We do not know. But we should've had our glasses refilled when they were empty. He was nice enough, there was just something about him. Like he was faking it, it was weird.
I had the three beet salad. I am a beet lover, and these beets had no taste. At all. Well, that was disappointing. Hubby had the butternut squash soup. He reports that "eh, it was good." For entrees I had the turkey with "traditional sides" and hubby had the sea bass. The turkey was good but nothing to write home about, really. Hubby's seas bass was "meh."
I wished that they had offered just regular pumpkin pie but they did have pumpkin bread pudding and it was good, the best thing about the whole meal, unfortunately.
And on a side note, three-quarters through our meal a family came in and the teen boys were all decked out in pants so low we could see their underwear and dirty t-shirts. Why have a dress code if you're not going to enforce it?
We will come back and try the regular non-special occasion menu just to see why everyone says they're so good. As it is, BIG BIG DISAPPOINTMENT.
Bottom line: If you want luscious French food with a great French atmosphere, go to Blue Boheme in Kensington. MUCH more authentic, and way less pretentious. -
Review from annie h.
Los Angeles, CA
My boyfriend and I decided to spend the weekend in San Diego for our one-year anniversary. Bertrand at Mister A's had 4 stars on Yelp with 500+ reviews and we like French food so we decided to try it. Bad decision.
We both had the $65 tasting menu with wine pairings. Courses:
Escargot: Hard to go wrong with that much butter and garlic. I was a little disappointed to not remove snails out of their shells myself.
Amuse-bouche: butternut squash soup in a teacup. Too much roasted pepper flavor. Tasted like a Trader Joe's soup in those cartons except not as good (the TJ's roasted red pepper soup is delicious). Neither of us finished this.
App: steak tartare. Not salty enough, with no citrus. Did not taste like prime grade beef and I did not appreciate the haphazard way the meat was chopped up. The taste was acceptable if you had a bite with cornichons and croutons and a generous swig of Malbec.
Truffle comte mac and cheese was watery with shrimp gut-like slivers of truffle and broccoli. It smelled a lot better than it tasted.
Butternut squash risotto was pretty but flavorless and topped with candied walnuts that were not actually candied.
Bass was crispy but burnt, accompanied by underdone mushrooms but a good baby potato topped with sour cream, chives, and roe. On the side were plain lentils and spinach. He ate the potato but did not finish anything else.
Ribeye was just ok. It was accompanied by bearnaise, some kind of seafood cheese mixture in a spoon and a triangle potato gratin.
Tangerine creme brulee was edible but one segment I got was slightly sour. I enjoyed the jellied piece that was like an orange slice.
It was our anniversary and they brought us a plate with a mini biscotti, half a strawberry, a chocolate covered nut cluster, and random cookie.
Overall the meal was nothing special and I was disappointed to not have better food on our special night. That said, the service and our wine was good and the downtown city view was very pretty. We got to see lots of airplanes landing. It was our anniversary so we had a pleasant evening despite the food not being spectacular.
As for the clientele, it consisted of groups of old people (maybe why everything was underseasoned?) or young couples dressing up for the night. There was a drunk old guy by the elevator talking loudly at the hostesses.
Not to sound like a snob, but also not caring if I sound like a snob, this place is "fine French dining" for people who don't know any better. You deserve to know this. Nothing is particularly bad but there is nothing I'd need to eat again. At least it wasn't that expensive but still, $220 was more than I would have liked to pay for the subpar meal we had. We should have gone out for burritos. -
Review from Adrienne A.
San Diego, CA
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is breathtaking, mainly because of the view. It over looks ALL of Downtown San Diego, and not just a portion. And its not just downtown you can even see the Coronado Bay bridge through the buildings and you can see the airport and north island as well as parts of hillcrest and balboa. You're far enough from the airport that the planes coming in dont really disturb you while you dine outside. The food was amazing and so was the service our waiter was so nice and we even joked around with each other. Yes its really pricey but worth it if you have the money.
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Review from richard t.
San Diego, CA
11/21/2011
You cannot get let down here.
5 star service check!
5 star food check!
5 star wine check!
5 star view check!
Wanna impress a lady bah daa bing~ -
Review from Queen Claire B.
Carlsbad, CA
11/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
After spending the morning around Downtown SD, my friend and I decided to have lunch at Mister A's. I have only been here one other time... for Thanksgiving dinner a couple years back.
When we got to the top floor, we were eagerly greeted. The place was close to empty; so it was not hard at all to get a table. We opted for patio seating since it was a beautiful day out. The view from the patio is breathe taking...
We shared Mister A's Famous Truffle fries, fried calamari basket, black tiger shrimp cocktail, and the fresh swordfish sliders. Everything was delicious. We did not have to wait for too long for the food either.
The total came out to $50 (tip included). It is a bit pricey considering this was just lunch BUT we definitely got what we paid for- great and quick service, delicious food and a beautiful view. -
Review from Su C.
San Diego, CA
12/6/2011
This place is pretty cool. Too bad it started raining right after we got a table because the outside patio looked like a really nice spot to over look Downtown while dinning.
We ordered a full course meal, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees + sides, and 2 desserts.
Food was fabulous, however it took a pretty dam long time to get the entree's.
I think for the length of the wait time, the chef complimented us with a mushroom appetizer which was so so.
The cocktails were pretty damn good also.
We didnt call for a reservation nor were they even booked, but the receptionist or hostesses at the front (2 white chicks) acted very snobby for no apparent reason when we asked if they had a table for two.
Spent about $260 which wasnt too bad, but my lobster kinda came out a little cold?!
Truffle fries are pretty darn good, so make sure you order them!
I'd go back but only for the patio view... The room we were seated in was not even air conditioned until someone probably realized that it was off?
Pretty cool place and food was on par, i'd definitely go back. -
Review from Matt J.
Oceanside, CA
1/2/2012
A great place to meet up and enjoy great drinks, food, and a spectacular view of San Diego's Bay. Some Co-workers and I decided to hit up this place for happy hour. Normally people make reservations and enjoy an expensive meal, but not us. My crew was impressed with all the tasty cocktails and I was impressed with the $3 drafts of Amstel Light. I highly recommend this place as a date spot, nice dinner with family, and happy hour with the friends. Can't go wrong!
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Review from Trevor W.
San Diego, CA
1/14/2012
My wife and I truly love this place. The food is exquisite, always different and rewarding. Whenever we want to celebrate something truly special, we go here. The view is just amazing....whether at sunset or night, there's nothing like being able to see all of downtown and the beautiful San Diego bay. It's pricey but it's worth it. And I will say, that I have never had more friendly/interesting/attentive servers than at Mr. A's. I've eaten at some pretty fancy places from LA to NY to Vienna, and I don't think I've ever enjoyed the service more than I did here.
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Review from Lernik G.
Glendale, CA
1/30/2012
NOOO NOOOO NOOO!!! Take my Advice and never go there! I was in SD for my partners birthday weekend from LA where I manage a restaurant at the heart of Hollywood... I made reservations made them aware of her birthday. As the manager was walking us to our table he rudely turned around and rudely asked her to take her hat off in the dining area ( which was a very nice and dressy fedora not a cap!) than we asked to sit outside in the balcony thinking that her hat wont be a problem since were not in the dining area than he rudely came over and said he could argue with us for 30 mins. when we were asked to talk to his boss he said the owner has 3 other restaurants and didn't have time for us! I have never felt more uncomfortable and disrespected at any restaurant and refused to support or spend money at such establishment.So I called the conciser at the hotel and had him make reservations at Osetra(which btw had great food and friendly staff that took care of us from the moment we got there)
before we left Bertrands I asked a waiter who actually didn't look miserable being there to just charge us for our corkage fee and that we were leaving his name was Alvin he was super nice and apologized He was the only pleasant part of our experience. note The manager never came over to apologize for his rude behavior.
If your restaurant is fine dining and has so much etiquette than the manager should have the etiquette to know how to talk to customers if he had said something in the lines of " that hat looks very nice on you unfortunately we don't allow any hats in the restaurant with a smile on his face than it would have been a different situation.
My advice to the owner if you're not too busy with your 3 restaurant fire the current manager and hire Alvin to run your rrestaurant who actually knows about customer service! -
Review from Sarah P.
Johnstown, CO
12/2/2011
This place lives up to its name.
Pros:
Not a thing I would change about the food
Generous portions for fine dining
Beautiful wine list
Wonderful view of San Diego
The best service I have ever experienced at a restaurant
There are no cons. It is well worth the price. -
Review from Mike C.
San Diego, CA
10/13/2011
Ate here for dinner yesterday with 3 other guests. Two of us spent the night with diarrhea and vomiting. We called the restaurant to let them know their seafood might be bad, but the totally blew us off.
I'd avoid the paella and salmon! -
Review from Muriel C.
Chula Vista, CA
2/6/2012
Mister A's had been beckoning to me since I moved to San Diego. It sits high in Banker's Hill. The restaurant has great views of the city. I finally decided to try it for restaurant week this January. We chose to go at lunch since a 2 course lunch there was $20. We chose the Traditional "Paella", the House Ground Kobe Steak Burger, and for my daughter the Macaroni And Cheese (without the truffle oil). The paella was full of seafood, but the saffron was barely there. The burger was better and served Florentine style with an egg. If you like a earthy flavored beef this would be right up your alley. My first course was the french onion soup and it was slightly bland. The macaroni was tasty. The service and the scenery make up for needing a bit more spices in the food. The staff was friendly and attentive. The place was elegant and would be nice enough for a special occasion. I think I'll be back for happy hour.
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Review from Mark M.
9/25/2011
Trying to run a high-end, fine-dining establishment such as Bertrand at Mister A's IN SAN DIEGO is like putting a dress on Chaz Bono. Maybe it has been fooling other people for years, but deep down, Mister A's knows it wants a penis. And that penis wants out. NOW!
You simply cannot have true fine-dining in San Diego because in the midst of the fantastically beautiful scenery, and sculpted locals, we really are surrounded by SDSU dropouts, surfers, potheads, and a growing MMA subculture, who end up working at a place like this, rendering the experience as more ironic than cultural (wow, this almost sounds like a real review or something). On the other hand, it is neat to watch two waiters trying to submit each between courses with rear naked choke holds (there we go...hyperbole again).
Normally, I could care less about the waitstaff's daily (perhaps hourly) recreational drug use, but this is "Bertrand at Mister A's." Is this not supposed to be one of the crown jewels of San Diego? The views. The food. The experience. This is supposed to be one of those places...right?
...unless you get a server, who, moments before, probably was skateboarding to work, took a couple of tokes, and then delivers your food, awkwardly stares at you, and while trying to fill the silent-void, bows (that's right, BOWS), twirls his hand and blurts out a "My Lady" to the girlfriend, as if we were the Duke and Duchess of Bay Park.
Dude, I can barely get a pizza delivered to my house (thanks for nothing, Fat Tony's: http://www.yelp.com/bi...), so no need to "My Lady" us.
I really, really, really want to give Bertrand at Mister A's four stars. I do. The ambiance and view alone are enough to make it at least a place to check out...but my food was actually only ok (if I order at $15 starter salad, it better make me want to orgasm), and my steak was CHEWY. CHEWY, I say. Yes, somebody get this walking carpet out of my way, indeed!
Combine the decent (not great) food with the comical (at times)service, and this is only three stars for me.
I definitely consider SD my home (even though I am a transplant like almost everyone else), but I bet if this place were in SF (or even LA)...it would be a different story.
3.5 stars....3.75 if the owner reads this and laughs at my Star Wars reference. -
Review from Olga D.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Thank you Mister A's for making our engagement dinner absolutely perfect!
We got engaged at Mister A's while visiting in San Diego. Our hotel (US Grant) helped my then-boyfriend arrange dinner at Mister A's during which he planned to pop the question. The restaurant staff was absolutely amazing and couldn't have made our evening any better than they did.
The restaurant is located on a rooftop of a tall building in financial district. Because it's a bit away from downtown San Diego, once you get up there you see why it's located where it is. The views are absolutely spectacular; you see downtown San Diego, the harbor and planes landing at the San Diego airport (see my picture). It is a very romantic spot for those of you looking for a special occasion place.
The food was great too! Escargot De Bourgogne - devilishly delicious... so good that you don't care if someone is watching you dipping pieces of white bread into that buttery goodness until all bread is gone!:) For main dish I had lamb, which was prepared very well. Dessert... I don't remember much about dessert, because my BF asked me to marry him right before dessert
Service was impeccable throughout the evening! From Maitre D' personally greeting us upon arrival to wait staff who brought free champagne and dessert, to hostess that offered to take our pictures on the patio, which we immediately shared with our family and friends.
Thank You Mister A's for making our evening an unforgettable one. We will sure return for one of our anniversaries! -
Review from Martin L.
9/26/2011
Came here during restaurant week. Place was packed. Every table in the restaurant was seated inside and out. Good thing we had a reservation :-).
Ordered the Multicolored young beets salad, duck confit, and carrot cake. Gf ordered sauteed scallops, braised kurobata pork, and milk chocolate mousse bars. Beet salad was presented as a deconstructed salad. Looked beautiful, but a bit disjointed with all the ingredients separated. Rest of the food was good. 3.5 stars. Seemed a bit under seasoned, but perfectly cooked.
What made the experience amazing, service. The service was on point. Everyone was attentive. Water glass was never more than half empty. Waiter made it a point to wish us "bon appitit" before each course. Was also amazingly knowledgeable about the food. Also attention to details. My date was always served first. The epitome of fine dining.
The view of course is amazing. We watched airplanes land the entire meal. Was a great experience. -
Review from Alexander Y.
Rowland Heights, CA
Oh Restaurant Week, I love you so much because it gives me a great excuse to try one of the best restaurants in San Diego! I've been here before for their happy hour menu, but somehow I don't think writing a review on that would've been illustrative of the menu or the magical views at night. As a note, happy hour isn't bad...$7 for kobe beef sliders and truffle fries can never ever be a bad thing.
Now on to the real business. We were seated facing the south...and well, it just so happens that the entire wall is made of glass from top to bottom with a view of the San Diego downtown skyline. Honestly, it's the best view of SD that I can recall, and I almost never wax lyrically over views at restaurants. But even I was impressed by it...just something magical about that skyline at night.
The food itself is quite excellent, and I wouldn't have given a five-star rating even with all the other stuff I just mentioned if the food sucked. We had the Duo Of Brandt Farm Rib Eye And Short Rib and Mediterranean Style Paella. Just melts in the mouth, really. And honestly, all I can say is try it because my textual droolings about them won't fully describe how good either dish is.
What impressed me so much about this place is just the little things. Most places just have butter packets for bread; they have freshly churned butter. Or bringing another bowl so you can put your empty clam shells in there once you're done with them. And you would think that truffle fries, being $7, isn't really high up on their radar as far as quality control goes. In fact, I think those were probably the best truffle fries I've ever had in my life. Honestly, I'd come here JUST for the truffle fries, and that should pretty much sum up how much attention even the most insignificant thing here gets. God bless happy hour. :D
Naturally, the normal menu isn't going to be friendly on the wallet. But unless you're rolling in duckets, this isn't exactly a regular dinner dining spot either. It is most certainly a premium location for special occasions though, whether it's a date, anniversary, or celebration of some sort. -
Review from Alan G.
San Diego, CA
11/12/2011
We had a really good experience last night for a late dinner. The service is superb and the food was very good. Have a great time and enjoy the view. It is worth the wait for a window table over looking downtown.
$$$$ but worth it
