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Categories: Asian Fusion, Hawaiian [Edit]
Neighborhood: University City
Mon. 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Tue-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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This is the former Yacht Club restaurant adjacent to the Marriott. It offers outstanding views of the Seaport Village harbor and of course the timer ass yachts. It is a great day time or sunset location to go to.
It is especially nice immediately following Padres games and is in walking distance of Petco Park.
I'm not a fan of the prices that high end restaurants charge for Asian inspired dishes as everyone who has traveled throughout Asia knows that dish sells for under $5 dollars there, but the majority of the food here is well executed although pricey.
I highly recommend trying there classic trio which includes salmon, ahi, and butterfish. It's a great way to experience a small variety of meats cooked with a few different techniques. Add a couple of beers or cocktails to your meal and your bill should roughly be around $50-60.
The food here is so tender and juicy. The flavoring for all the meals that I have eaten was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Thank you Roy's for the wonderful meals!! Applaud to the chefs!
I came here couple times. Sometimes I would come here for my anniversaries, dates, company dinners, etc. Of all the times I have been here, the service was great. Occasionally the service is a little bit slower, especially during the prime times.
I don't remember everything I ordered but some of the stuff that I got was: Ahi Tuna (delicious!!! only complaint is the wassabi sauce is too much and too strong); Kobe Sushi Roll (AMAZING! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!); the three sampler seafood plate - Ahi Tuna, Seared Salmon, and Butterfish (this fish was my favorite - thank you Jennifer L. for reminding me of the fish name); Dumplings; Berry Fruit Sorbet; Chocolate cake .. etc.
Recommend: Ahi Tuna, Kobe Sushi Roll (this a MUST!), the three sampler seafood plate
The dumplings tasted like dumplings (nothing new). I wasn't a huge fan of the Berry Fruit Sorbet and the Chocolate Cake was good.
Overall, the ambiance is nice. The lighting is good.
One memorable and thoughtful gesture was when they gave us a chocolate cake because it was our anniversary. They even wrote Happy Anniversary on our plate.
My only real complaint is that there is just way too many tables and people in the restaurant. They really try to pack and utilize every space possible. Having a quiet dinner here isn't really possible. The tables are so close that you feel as if you came with a large group of people. For a nice fine dining restaurant, I expected a better and quieter set up.
Overall, I do recommend this place. The food is definitely something that is worth trying.
I think Yelp's rating says it all A-OK. If you on Genesse and need to take a client for a bite, I guess you can you take them here.
The Critic
This has to be one of my favorite restaurants of all time - although I don't have the funds to be dining here all the time. My family was out driving pretty late and nothing was open so we decided to eat at the next open place that we came across. That place happened to be Roy's. I would have to say the WORST thing about Roy's is the price for the dishes, which are around $30 a plate. In addition to each plate being very expensive, the portions are also really small - like any fancy restaurant would be.
Besides my ranting about their prices, the dishes were GREAT. EVERYTHING we ordered was GREAT. My dad who is usually a cynical guy, having garbage to say about EVERYTHING, didn't really have anything to say except to eat in stoic silence, which is a GOOD SIGN. I don't even remember what we ordered but everything was great. Roy's is a PERFECT place to take a serious date - if you have the funds.
Roys is a Hawaiian fusion restaurant with outstanding service. As soon as you sit down, you are greeted with specially seasoned edamame, rather then bread. I highly recommend the seafood. Everything is so fantastic. I loved the seared ahi tuna, or the salmon that melts right into your mouth. The fillet Mignon is also phenomenal. But the best part about Roys is the chocolate souffle. It is a flour less chocolate cake with a gooey melted middle. It is perfect every time. It is a great place to treat yourself. If you are on a budget, they have a prefix menu. You get to choose an appetizer, entree and desert for $35. You can't beat that.
When you get near Roy's La Jolla in the dark and see the yellow flames of the steel torches burning outside the building - don't worry!! The building is not on fire. Actually, you're at the right place :)
To celebrate a milestone promotion, choosing the right restaurant was critical to top off a great week and a half! I felt the need to go Hawaiian and after hearing all the good things about Roy's, it was time to put the Yelp bookmark I saved for it to work :)
My experience with Roy's did not start in the shop. It was by phone. You'll get an "aloha" greeting each time you call - but more importantly, make a reservation or some time after 5:30 pm, you'll find yourself waiting for a table, along with your guest(s). It's an easy call - get the number of the Roy's you plan to visit and make the call. You will be glad you did (the website address is also on Roy's Yelp page - no need to Google).
The food and service at Roy's is magnificent!! They really give you an "ohana" feeling (family, that is). No problem with any of the servers - they will even refill your water after you drink an ounce!!
We worked from Roy's fall Prix Fix Menu and chose the "Pulehu" Sirloin along with second order of the Roy's Classic Trio - a brilliant combo of seared (but rare) ahi, butterfish, and grilled salmon. I WANT MORE!! But if you go to Roy's and love chocolate, you MUST try the Hot Chocolate Souffle!! This is one of the top three desserts I have ever had in ANY restaurant! You will love it - a REV guarantee!!
Roy's is pricey, so it will always be on the list for special occasions on my radar. But from service to location to service to food to atmosphere - even to the restrooms - it is 5-star across the board!! AND if you are going there celebrating a special occasion, let the host(ess) know when you call in your reservation - they will bring you an extra special dessert to recognize the occasion. They won't tell you over the phone what they're going to do, but first you'll have numerous employees congratulate you during your visit - then they give you a nice treat at the end. Trust me, it's a lethal (in a good way) brownie with fruit!!
Recommend: DEFINITELY AMONG THE BEST!!
I just went for SD Restaurant Week and it was very good. I found the tiger shrimp was excellent and the filet to be just good. The bisque and the miso roll were both very good, but the chocolate souffle was one of the best desserts you can get in SD. Great selection of wine and decent beer/liquor selection. Lighting was off, music was non existent to barely there. Bar area is small and for me personally the decor just wasn't what i thought it would be. Just too eclectic. They are missing a seaweed salad which is a staple at every other sushi/Hawaiian joint West of Japan.
I took a star off for the filet, no seaweed and ambiance.
I was recently here with my family for my sister's 21st.
They had gotten there a bit before me and my gf, and had already ordered my sister's first drinks. They had gotten pretty friendly with the waitress and were already pretty buzzed. Guess that means friendly service and good alcohol.
The interior is nice and dim. Every table comes with a candle so the setting is pretty intimate. Need a romantic dinner and got dollar bills to drop? Roys is great.
Cause this place is expensive.
Despite that, the food was great. They serve awesome tiger shrimp, and the beer kept coming.
Ill take one star off cause the salad was weird. But thats probably just me.
I knew about this restaurant living in the Bay Area but I just never had the chance to check it out while living there...fortunately for me there was one here in San Diego. My boyfriend and I decided to check out this restaurant for Restaurant Week. The deal was 40.00 for a 3 course meal. We had the choice of sushi or the lobster bisque for the appetizers. Both we're great. The entrees were mahi-mahi, tiger prawns or steak. I chose the prawns. They were good but a tad bit salty but very filling. My boyfriend had the mahi mahi and he enjoyed it. The desserts were chocolate souffle or banana creme brulee. I thought the desserts were awesome. The wait staff were very polite and attentive and the restaurant setting was night, but very dark. Over all the experience was nice and the food was good. This restaurant would probably be more of a special occasion restaurant since it is pretty pricey and the atmosphere is more fancy schmancy.
The first time I ate at Roy's was over 2 years ago, and it was quite one of the best dining experience I've had in San Diego at the time. Fast forward to today, I would have to say, unfortunately, the quality just isn't there anymore. The recent two times i have been at Roy's have been major disappointments. Each time the food was way too salty, and meat that is overcooked and lost it's juicyness. For me the best thing a chef could do is to bring out the natural flavor of the foods, and I feel Roy's cannot achieve that, and tries to compensate by over seasoning.
At this price, I cannot possibly recommand Roy's to anyone.
If you want good food go to Donovan's that's right across from the mall.
Simply great food, a few dishes were alright. As a majority, the environment, the service and food was amazing :)
Every time I'm here, I'm so pleased that I wonder why I don't go more frequently. Maybe it's because I don't live in San Diego! LOL. Just like we learned in Ratatouille, the difference between good food and GREAT food is the complexity of the flavors. Roy's has that concept nailed. For example, you don't just get a complementary starter dish of edamame -- you get soybean pods that have been boiled in a salt brine then tossed in a slightly spicy thin sauce and coated with polished black sesame seeds. Get the idea? Everything has an extra little touch or zing. And I appreciate the portion sizes, which are the size that we all were used to until we supersized our plates.
ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PLACE! Everytime I go here, the service is superb, and the food is always right on point.
Even though this place is pricey, it is definitely worth it. The food is to die for! Everytime I dine here, I always order the lakanilau roll which consists of kobe beef, crab, asparagus and avocado. This is sooo yummy! I also order the Filet Mignon with Shrimp for my entree and the melting hot souffle for dessert. MmMmmmm! Everything here is just so damn good! Always makes my tummy HAPPY! :)
Not my flavor, but a good restaurant.
They have good quality food. Service is good. Prices a little high for what i think of the place.
I just don't like Hawaiian / French fusion food. But I'm not holding that against them.
Again, chain restaurant, been to one, been to all of them. But this one in SD is especially busy! Don't know why.
This is a big surprise for me. I'm still feeling a little dizzy for giving such a high rating to a chain restaurant. We went in for the SD restaurant week special, and came out with a whole new regard for this -- I'm going to say it again -- chain restaurant. Who knew?
To be sure, the food was not completely five stars, maybe 4.3 stars. Nonetheless, it was a meal I won't forget for a long time.
Then there is the issue of the many, many torches lining the side of the building. Driving up, I became obsessed with the amount of petroleum they were consuming. I know the prices on the menu (especially the drink prices) are expensive - it's such a shame that part of my food and beverage dollar is going to fuel this wasteful lavish display of light. Honestly, I'd rather be impressed with extra dessert!
So where do the five stars come from? The service. Man, we were served last night. And we sure tested their mettle with our dining companions: three feral little grommets who have reduced entire wait staffs to quivering, tearful masses of regret.
The Roys team was completely unfazed. "Bring it on" they intimated as we arrived at our table. It was already adorned with three children's menus/activity books and a little festive decoration for the birthday girl in the party.
While the adults dined on a praiseworthy three-course meal, waiters lavished the kiddos with a generous four-course meal. One guy frequently and aggressively bussed the table, keeping it remarkably uncluttered.Our main waiter handled our rowdy party with rare poise and dignity. Our various courses arrived at a steady pace and requests for extra spoons, split portions etc. were fulfilled quickly and competently.
Our starters, both delicious, consisted of lobster sui mai and a rich miso noodle soup laden with mushrooms. The beef sirloin and tiger shrimp main courses, while probably not the most interesting items on the menu, were each well executed. For dessert, the molten lava cake with ice cream and raspberry sauce was a strong finish, although the lava temperature was a little cool for my tastes. Completely forgivable, given the trio of compatible flavors that were a delightful end to a triumphant meal.
As I write this, I just found out that Restaurant Week has been extended another week. How very tempting it is to go back...
YUMMY! everything was great food and service wise.
Our server had great reccommendations which we actually took. And enjoyed everybit of our meal. It was a nice restaurant, but didn't feel stuffy or overly fancy.
I def want to dine here again
The food and service here are excellent. I wish it were a little less pricey so that I could go there more often!
Definitely try the sushi creations if you're looking for a good appetizer. Portion sizes are small here, but comparable with other restaurants in this price range. The beef short ribs are melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
My husband and I went here for our second anniversary and mentioned that it was our anniversary when making our reservation. When we were seated, the waitress took our picture, which was framed in a special Roy's cardboard frame and ready for us by the time we were ready for dessert. A simple touch, but nice.
Despite non-Japanese restaurant, I was impressed by sushi served at this place. Although selection was limited, freshness and taste of sushi was really good.
Well, it is a noisy inside and many are here for famous fusion style dinner; but I recommend other people to try at least a few of Hamachi, Chu-toro, pieces. I was impressed.
Price...hmm, it could be very steep if you want to make yourself full with sushi only.
I came here with my friend during restaurant week. We were seated promptly and our waiter was very friendly. The odd thing was that throughout the night, we must have had at least 10 different waiters. We never saw the same one twice.
The food is good, though a bit overpriced for a chain restaurant. It's not spectacular enough to warrant their price tag. The chocolate souffle is amazing and if nothing more, I will definitely be back for that. Come for drinks/dessert, but I would skip the meals since it's really nothing more than a chain restaurant dressing up what seems like fast food.
The casually elegant place to celebrate your special occasions.
I've been to so many Roy's on the Islands and stateside that I feel I have enough supporting evidence to award them 5 stars. In particular, I really enjoy the La Jolla restaurant.
Even though the stateside locations are managed by OSI Restaurant Partners ( Outback Steak House) there is nothing about this chain that is phony, corporate, or disingenuous.
The atmosphere of Roy's is tropical and tranquil, though it can get noisy when busy. I would say that most people here are dressed causally elegant. You will see people in t-shirts and jeans along with businessmen in suits. San Diego is a very casual town and it's rare to find a place that has a specified dress code. Relaxing attire make this place more approachable to family members that may not want to put on a tie.
Fish takes center stage here and it never disappoints. Keep in mind that the chef does tend to recommend serving the fish slightly undercooked. Do not fear, it's okay. They will cook it thoroughly if you like. The menu highlights Hawaiian fish ( Ono/, Opakapaka, and farm raised Kampachi for example). The Salmon is always the safe choice, but I think the Roy's Classic Trio ( Grilled Salmon, Blackened Ahi, and Misoyaki butterfish) is hard to beat. I wouldn't really recommend the meat dishes but I do enjoy the Appetizer Szechwan Spiced Baby Back Pork Ribs. It's small but tasty.
Each Roy's has a seasonal Prix-Fix menu ( you'll have to check the specific restaurant's menu as each has different choices). The Prix Fix is a good value because you can get a Chocolate Souffle, though I suspect the portions are a little smaller than full entree portions.
The La Jolla restaurant does serve Sushi which is not to be missed. I would actually consider saddling up to the sushi bar one night, it's that good. It also makes a great appetizer.
VIP treatment is given when you call ahead and let them know about your special occasion. You might get ribbon on your table, a free dessert, and even a special keepsake photo. The photo is new ( and may be limited to the La Jolla restaurant) but it really completes a special evening.
Unless you absolutely hate fish, try this restaurant. Even if you're so-so on fish you will enjoy their flavorings and sauces. Enjoy
I first had an experience with Roy's back in Hawaii years ago and when I saw that they were opening up in San Diego, I got excited. For our engagement anniversary, we came here for dinner, since we got engaged in Hawaii and wanted to keep within the theme (I know, corny but whatever). I loved the food, it was delicious. The service was awesome, our waiter knew we were celebrating something so he asked and even suggested wines for us to go with our meal.
The creme brulee is made with some sort of whiskey sour instead of grand marnier, which was delish! I had a great experience and would definitely go back for another special occasion.
I've eaten here twice now. The first time was on a business team budget and we had a fantastic meal - lost track of all the items and wines but it was wonderful. Came back here recently for a private dinner for four. It was good but not quite a wonderful as the first time.
The scallops/shrimp entree was outstanding with flavor and texture but a rather meager portion for the price charged. The Crispy Shrimp Lumpia appetizer was mushy - I would not order it again. The Crispy Polenta Crusted Calamari appetizer was pretty good. We also had the Auntie Lei's Aloha Roll which was very good - even the non-sushi eaters enjoyed it.
The huge waitstaff was very attentive and prompt.
I gave this place 4 stars due to a combination of food taste & quality plus the outstanding service; but I was tempted to knock it to 3 stars over the prices -v- portions served.
Really expensive...Really Really expensive.
The food here is good, not great. I feel like if given the time I could probably make something that was comparable to Roy's food and save a lot of money. The macadamia nut encrusted mahi mahi is pretty good, I feel like it could be better though. The order of calamari is very small, and not worth the price. The gazpacho was strange, but the 'souffle' was awesome. I just feel like if i'm spending that much money i'd want the food to be so good that no matter how full I am, I can't stop eating.
I went for a friends birthday on a Saturday. While waiting for everyone to show up, we had some drinks at the bar. The bartenders are nice and friendly and the decor looked good. I wasn't too thrilled with the price of my drink. I could have bought a 12-pack for the price of my Blue Hawaiian.
The appetizers were good, we had edamame, poke, and a canoe appetizer which consisted of baby back ribs, lobster potstickers, tiger shrimp, pork sui mai & tempura ahi tuna roll. My girlfriend and I shared the Crispy Hawaiian Moi because she loves moi. I was not impressed by the entree. It was bony and not satisfying.
The chocolate souffle was absolutely amazing. Chocolate cake mixed with ice cream and raspberry sauce is just a perfect combination.
My overall experience was pretty good, but I can't justify for paying that much for food. This place is more of 'special occasion' place for me.
wow, went here last night again and i was completely blown away. there is a no corkage fee until december 15, 2009 so make sure you take advantage of that before it ends. we were able to celebrate a very special evening with some great bottles of wine that we brought in. everything we ordered was amazing, but the star of the evening was definitely my choice of the prix fixe combo of the kobe beef carpaccio, tiger shrimp risotto and the chocolate souffle. the risotto was amazingly creamy, decadent and delicious. their menu is always changing, but if it is on there when you go be sure to order it. the runner up was the shellfish combo and the rib eye.
overall we had great service and an excellent dining experience. this is a great special occasion place and is sure to please everyone in your dining party no matter what their tastes are.
the food here is excellent and the presentation is superb. this food looks like it jumped out of a… Read more »
Mmmhhh deliciousness!
Went here a few time, and it remains one of my top "go to" restaurants!
I enjoy their tropical drinks, the Pina Colada is my favorite! While dining William, the wine manager, suggested some great pairing all the way to dessert wine!
I enjoyed the freshest tuna sashimi, and seared ahi, topped with a creamy wasabi sauce ...as well as their Steak and fish roll (can't remember the name right now) all the flawors just melt in your mouth complementing each other! ... everything was made to perfection... but the most perfect delicacy of all was the made to order Chocolate Souffle... light fluffly cake (flowerless), filled with decadent warm melting chocolate, garnished with vanilla bean ice cream!... mmmhhhmmh!
Can't wait to go back!
NOTE: If you are a wine lover ask for William, he will amaze you!
When I need to recharge my Aloha Spirit I can always rely on Roy's. After a friendly greeting from the hostess the journey begins. The decor, the atmosphere and the smiling staff continue the virtual-Hawaii feel. Nice, quiet table that I was able to reserve on their website. The waiter was knowledgeable, informative and attentive. The dining room was close to capacity, but the main entrée came in a timely manner. I ordered one of Roy's Classics, the Roasted Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi... Delicious. An exceptional dining experience. Mahalo and see you again soon!
So this past weekend was my first venture into Hawaiian Fusion. So I heard that there are two locations in San Diego, one in Downtown and the other in La Jolla. This review is obviously for the La Jolla Location. I heard from friends that the menu differs from both locations. While the downtown locale has a better view...the menu at La Jolla is better.
Items I tried included;
Vodka tonic
Lakinlau roll. This was pretty awesome...It had had wagyu strips and ponzu (?) on the sushi roll.
Main course was the Shellfish combo. Basically it had a Scallops and Tiger Shrimp. I can't recall what type of sauce it came with...but it was definitely a good accompaniment with the dish.
Thinking back, I should have gotten one of their 3 course dinners. The best part is the chocalate souflee desert. Just melts in your mouth. I had sample a friend's desert.
Overall I like this place, but it can be pretty pricey. For the amt of money you pay out....it would be nicer to have large portion sizes.
I wish I could say Roy's lived up to my expectations, but after reading the reviews here and looking at the pictures, I have to say the experience last night failed to measure up! My friend took me there for my birthday, and we asked for a recommendation on sushi as appetizer, and here Roy's succeeded and the Lakanilau Roll was amazing. But, after again asking for a recommendation on the scallops versus the shellfish combo, our waiter recommended the combo, and it came with 3 tiny scallops, poorly seared and bitter and served on a bed of bland, firm risotto which was so bad I couldn't even eat it. The enormous shrimp was overcooked. My companion ordered the Shrimp & Butternut Squash Risotto, again a recommendation, and it was basically the same meal as mine, only with two overcooked jumbo shrimp. And, even after asking what vegetables came on the side, our waiter shrugged his shoulders and said something like "oh, i dont know, probably some asian side vegetables" our dishes came with no vegetables at all. Also, the food was lukewarm at best. The chocolate soufle came out very good, but only after our waiter told us our first one "fell" and we had to wait 10 minutes for a new one.
The restaurant was very crowded, which might be an excuse for them, but for the prices, they should be able to serve high quality food at any time. If I am compelled to eat here again (i.e. someone offers me another free meal) I would stick to the sushi. There are so many great restaurants in San Diego, I would not take a risk and eat here again.
We went there tonight as we got a $20 off coupon from mail
We order one summer menu and a kobe beef
1) Appetizer - shrimp roll - good
2) Sirlon steak - not good....... very very salty
3) Kobe Beef - good
As always the melting chocolate cake is good
Service is just ok and the time to get the food is long
First, I've been to this Roys (La Jolla) as well as the one in Kahana Maui, Kihei Maui, San Diego and San Francisco so I'm not a first timer. Actually I've been about 25 times in my life.
My fiance and I were treated to the wonderful array of culinary delights we have become used to at Roys, all of which were at the recommendation of our waiter.
We will of course return.
Advice for those wanting to try Roys or having left bad reviews.
1) Slow down - rushed meals are what fast food is for.
2) Appetizers, appetizers...appetizers - yes, they ruin your appetite but do so with many wonderful flavors and they prolong the meal.
3) An entree is a thing to be shared by 2-3 people because you will be satiated by the appetizers and don't want to miss desert.
4) Don't act like a fish expert and say the fish was bland after ordering Mahimahi...this is the most bland fish in the world. Get the Butter fish!
5) Ask your waiter for his/her advice and follow it!! They know their restaurant's food.
6) Ask to meet the sommelier (So-mo-Yay) and ask him/her to bring you a great bottle of wine.
7) Get desert - the souffle and the guava chiffon are our favorites
8) Don't come here for a budget meal. Save up and be prepared to spend $50-75 per person for the experience which should be 2-3 hours of excellent service, food, drink and enjoyment of your group. More appetizers and less entrees will keep the bill lower and afford you the flavors and full experience of Roys.
9) If you don't like anything tell your waiter. If you don't like your waiter ask to see the manager. This place lives by its great service and excellent food. you leaving unhappy is as much your fault as it is theirs.
10) Get to know the waiter and manager. Request your favorite waiter's section.
11) walk right up to the kitchen and thank the staff for a wonderful meal. They work the hardest and get the least feedback! They will be very grateful for your comments.
I actually used to LOVE Roy's and had TWO of my special birthday dinners here several years ago... but the food quality and service have deteriorated over the years, and the price tags simply do not justify for them. If you want expensive, less than mediocre food, go ahead, spend your money here. It just does not cut it.
My friend Jen and I both each had a $20 gift card that was sent to us in the mail by Roys. No min purchase necessary and you can use the $20 gift card on food or drinks! So +1 star right there. I also had a card for a free lobster roll (courtesy of the Roy's chef that taught a cooking class I attended several months ago).
We sat at the bar. Surprisingly PACKED for a weekday. Roy's so NOT offer happy hour so it was even more surprising that all the bar seats and tables were occupied.
We ordered :
- Roy's Canoe Appetizer for 2: Baby back ribs, lobster potstickers, Tiger Shrimp, Chicken Satay, Ahi roll... : MEH. Nothing really stood out. Presentation was nice on a long white plate but take away the presentation, close your eyes, take another bite, and you woulda thought the food was from a semi-nice terriyaki House down the street or something.
- Some sort of salad w/ sliced pears and a piece of fried prosciutto: it was just 'ok'
- edamame: my friend loves edamame and this one was good b/c they spiced it w/ some sweet/spicy salt on top (but honestly, how can anyone screw up edamame at a restaurant right?)
- Lobster CA roll: tasted and looked like a regular California roll to me.
- chocolate souffle: pretty darn good. I've had this several times and this time around, for some reason, it was totally memorable (maybe b/c the appetizer and salad didn't quite hit the spot?)
I've been to Roy's several times in the past. The ONE item that I do remember having (in the past and not for this review) that really stands out was Island Style Sizzling Hamachi sashimi. From what i remember, they fan out some hamachi sashimi and then drizzle hot peanut oil and some sort of soy sauce jus on top. They still have that on the menu but I didn't want to order it this time around in hopes that the Canoe Boat app would be tasty :(
For drinks:
- Red Rock Merlot: i ordered this b/c it was the cheapest red they had on the bar menu. $8/glass. Didn't particularly like it thou...
- Flora Springs Merlot - much better than the Red Rock in my opinion. $12/glass
I do hope they can add happy hour sometime soon b/c everything is pretty darn expensive. IF we didn't' have the gift cards and the free sushi roll, Roy's woulda been, easily, a 2 star place for me.
But thank you to them for sending out those free $20 gift cards as it did encourage my friend Jen and I to go :)
Service: Wonderful. Knowledgeable, pleasant, and classy.
Food: Always great. I don't think you can really go wrong with any of the dishes they serve here; everything is tasty and fresh. The scallops are huge and tender. The sushi is all creative and delicious. The portions are pretty good. Maybe the only thing is that the vegetarian dishes appear to be large blocks of tofu, with some side things; which is a lot of protein but not necessarily the most creative way to do vegetarian.
Ambience: Pretty nice, classy and fun. A lot of people come here, which can add to it seeming fun; but if you are at a large table, it's hard to hear at the opposite end.
Probably one of my favorites!
It's all about the BUTTER FISH BABY!
Roys is great, I live nearby, so I visit every few weeks. The food here is a expensive, and in my opinion, somewhat overpriced, but it is comparable to other restaurants of the same quality in La Jolla.
I'm not a fish eater, and I'd NEVER stick a piece of raw fish in my mouth, so I can't comment much on the sushi. I've had the fish trio once - ahi is delightful, salmon was very fishy for someone who doesn't eat fish often, and the butterfish was good, but really rich.
I always order the filet mignon, and it's usually quite good. Tender and tasty. The sauces change once a month or so though, and it can be hit or miss. They're never bad, per se, but some of the sauces are definitely better than others. For example, in February, the filet was served with a tomato based sauce, that's just not as good as some of the mushroom sauces I've had with it.
Sit at the sushi bar for a more casual experience. I don't eat sushi, but it's fun to sit and watch the sushi chefs at work, and to have a view of the entire kitchen. The best part of Roys is the dessert - the hot, melty chocolate souffle is (usually) amazing. I've also had a few other things there, like the lilikoi cake and the crème brûlée - good, but not nearly as good as the souffle.
Very over rated.
I've been here a few times for other people's events and always found it average at best.
The food is not terribly innovative (maybe 20 years ago it would have been). Portions are small and the prices are high.
If you ever have the chance, try Alan Wong's next time you're in Honolulu or Tokyo and you will see what great Hawaiian fusion should be.
Roy's Melting Hot Chocolate Souffle, enough said.... :)
I frequent this place often and the prefix dinner never fails... The prefix menu I choose consist of the following:
Appetizer :Roasted Corn & Sweet Potato Chowder
Entree: Tender Braised Hawaii Kai Beef Short Ribs Served with a Natural Braising Sauce (totally melts in your mouth).
Dessert: Roy's Melting Hot Chocolate Soufflé Flourless Chocolate Cake with a Molten Hot Center served à la Mode (So heavenly... )
The atmosphere is great. The staff is extremely friendly.
I also enjoy the Lakanilau Roll (Seared Kobe Beef Wrapped Around Dynamite Crab, Tempura Asparagus & Avocado) & Roy's Classic Roasted Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi Lobster Butter Sauce.
Oh soooo good...
Yay for Roy's! I came here for restaurant week. I drive by Roy's all the time. I live about a mile from it. I always see the tiki torches and want to eat there, but I talk myself out of it because it's so expensive. This was the perfect opportunity to try it out.
My friend and I picked this as a place to try out for restaurant week. Honestly $40 for a 3 course meal at Roy's is quite a deal. (though they do have a prix fixe 3 course menu for $35 as well... just saying!) We both got the calamari and paella cake appetizer, I'm so glad I did. I love sweet things, and the calamari had this sweet almost brown sugar flavor to it from the "honey brioche" dusting they had. I was in love. Roy's has the best calamari I have ever had. You can tell it's fresh, it's completely not rubbery, they are very very thin calamari and so tiny. You can tell they have never been frozen. It is absolutely fantastic and has given me a new standard to compare to. The lobster paella cake was great too, I really liked whatever the yellow sauce was with it, the tomato sauce was good, but if it was doused in that yellow sauce I would have been in heaven.
Next up we both got the Ono. Wow was it good. The fish itself was delicious, flaky, moist, didn't taste fishy hehe. I ordered mine medium, but now I'm wishing I had gone medium-rare or rare. Had I known they had a way with fish... The garlic spinach it was served with was also good, a bit soggy but it did taste great and went well with the fish and its herbed crust. The only thing I didn't like was the baby potatoes. I found them lacking compared to everything else on the plate.
for dessert I had the chocolate souffle and my friend got the Guava Lilikoi Cake. She was in love and ate every bite. I didn't see anything outstanding about the chocolate souffle, in fact I found it a bit lacking, the edges were really hard like an over cooked brownie. otherwise it was like every chocolate lava cake you have ever tried. In fact it tasted exactly like one of those Betty Crocker moist delight microwaveable things...
Drinks! I had the 1988, and I *highly* recommend it. It was delicious, pink, fruity, and got me tipsy fast. ;) my friend got the sparkling hibiscus and loved that. If you like champagne or aren't the biggest fan of overly sweet drinks, this one is for you. It had great flavor and aroma but definitely wasn't too sweet.
1988: "A tribute to our opening year in Honolulu. Perfectly balanced blend of tart grapefruit and tangy pomegranate with ABSOLUT Ruby Red Vodka, SoHo Lychee Liqueur and Patrón Citronge Liqueur echoes the idyllic island lifestyle."
Sparkling Hibiscus: "An awakening blend of Belvedere Vodka and Hawaiian hibiscus nectar, with a large splash of Domaine Chandon Sparkling Rose. A delicious Champagne cocktail."
Our waiter was friendly and attentive. Every time my cohort got up to do something the waiter ran over and refolded her napkin for her. It was so cute. he made jokes with us and we got along well. no complaints there! When we first sat down we were a little confused about who was waiting on us... we saw three different people in the first 10 minutes. Also it was a pain to get their specialty drinks menu. We asked 2 different people for one and it took like 10 minutes till we finally even got to look at it. They give you a wine list, but not their drinks list...Maybe they only have like 5 for the whole restaurant? They have a full bar and I do recommend their specialty drinks. Maybe figure out which you want before you go in to order though?
Overall, I had a great time, its a lovely atmosphere, delicious food. I would try anything on their menu without fear, if it sounds remotely appetizing I'm sure it will tickle your palate. This seems like one of those places that just does everything well.
I actually enjoyed the two appetizers I had more than the entrees.
Lakinilau (sp?) roll (kobe beef + ponzu) you won't be sorry.
p.s. Whilst reading the other reviews.. I really can't comment on the staff and such .. I was really busy with the food :(
Dessert was alright --- if I could have had the lankinilau for dessert.. I would have.
San Diego, CA
Category: Hawaiian
Neighborhood: University City
Category: Wine Bars
La Jolla, CA
Category: Steakhouses
Neighborhood: University City
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: La Jolla
Category: Seafood Markets
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