This seaside resort town caters to a well-heeled adult crowd, but that doesn’t mean its fine-dining establishments don’t welcome children. Read our expert’s picks for which restaurants work best for families.
Courtesy of the Marine Room
La Jolla is an upscale community, and many of the restaurants qualify as “fancy.” This gives most parents pause: Will the little ones be welcomed? Sometimes. Frankly, some fine restaurants in the city do not welcome children under the age of 15 or 16. But there are plenty of establishments that encourage (or at least tolerate) families with young diners, and these are among the best restaurants in La Jolla.
Price code:
$: Moderate (less than $30 for an appetizer, entrée, and dessert for one person, excluding tax, tip, and beverage)
$$: Expensive ($30 to 50 per person)
$$$: Very expensive (more than $50 per person)
Courtesy of Cody’s
Although many restaurants in La Jolla can be intimidating to children—too much silverware, too many waiters, too many French words on the menu—Cody’s is a welcoming, homey alternative. The restaurant is housed in a charming yellow cottage surrounded by a white picket fence, and the inviting patio looks out over La Jolla Cove. We love to have a relaxing breakfast here: My crab-crazy daughter adores the blue crab eggs benedict. I like anything that comes with the decadent home fries. For an intimate dinner, the bistro-style dining room, with an open kitchen and vintage rock posters on the walls, is also comfortable for families. Specialties include seafood and pasta. If you come for dinner, don’t miss the grilled Mahi Mahi tacos served with creamy, spicy black beans. www.codyslajolla.com $
This is my favorite restaurant in La Jolla, and to be honest, it’s not an easy fit for kids. Jack’s restaurant is actually a collection of posh dining establishments and bars spread across multiple levels in an indoor/outdoor venue—and it’s one of the best places for the beautiful people to see and be seen. The trick to making this place work with children is all about timing: Come to Jack’s Grill, the casual and more moderately priced restaurant in the collection (serving smaller plates and kid-pleasing pastas) or Jack’s Dining Room (the finest dining experience at Jack’s—try the deconstructed gazpacho in season) for a very early dinner (around 5:30 p.m.). After 7 p.m., the ambiance is more lounge-like (and less inviting for children younger than 12).
Courtesy of the Marine Room
I suggest saving the Ocean Room and Oyster Bar for a couples-only outing: The menu is all about seafood (not universally appealing to kids) and the atmosphere is designed for adults. Note that this is one of the few La Jolla restaurants that enforces a business-casual dress code: No shorts and absolutely no flip-flops. Jackslajolla.com $ to $$
The Marine Room is old-school elegance, and is generally regarded as one of the most romantic restaurants in the city. (I’ve witnessed at least three proposals here over the years.) The restaurant juts out over the sand, and during high tide the waves sometimes crash against the huge picture windows. The exquisite food is fancy French, and every time I visit I enjoy a dish that has at least one ingredient I’ve never heard of before. The menu changes daily, but when you can find it, try the sweet corn and mascarpone brûlée appetizer, which is subtle and rich. (My daughter prefers this without the accompanying organic greens and fig jam, and because she has a small appetite and it is especially rich, she orders it as a main course.) My favorite entrée is the delicate fennel-pollen scented Maine lobster tail served with a perfumy fruit polenta and Lemoncello butter.
Courtesy of Nine-Ten
The Marine Room’s iconic dessert is the cobblestone pie: piles of ice cream studded with nuts and white chocolate on a chocolate crust. Service is formal yet friendly—and even though the restaurant is surprisingly tolerant of children, I strongly recommend bringing only very well-behaved children here, preferably over the age of 10, as fellow diners look on a meal at the Marine Room as a rare (and pricey) treat and will not look kindly on gratuitous noise. www.marineroom.com $$$
Coming in as a close second favorite of mine is Nine-Ten, the onsite restaurant of the lovely Grande Colonial Hotel. The menu is described as “evolving California cuisine,” and the chef concentrates on using local produce and meats, as well as sustainable seafood. Offerings change with the seasons, and I always hold my breath when the menus arrive, lest my daughter’s favorite—braised short ribs drizzled with potato froth—are not on offer. These come to the table looking more like candy than protein, and they taste almost as indulgent. If you or your children are looking for smaller portions, consider making a meal out of the second courses, like the goat cheese and chive tortellini or the lobster risotto. Mom and Dad will enjoy the “Mercy of the Chef” tasting menu; for $120 you’ll experience an unforgettable five-course menu dreamed up by the chef and paired with wines ($90 without wines). www.nine-ten.com $$
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