Lovely people and food! Shrimp Alfredo is so yummy!!!

Simply my favorite place in San Diego for 15 years. It is pure old school class and the food is fantastic. Whether it be your anniversary or closing a big business deal, this place can’t be beat.

We were really surprised! Just here on a layover and dropped in to The Manhattan, and damn. So glad we decided to eat here! ALL the staff we met is awesome, super attentive and sincere; from the Hostes up front to the Busser topping off your waters, they genuinely care about your experience. Brett is our Server, cool and professional, new to this place, but clearly an experienced server. Brett really helped unify our experience, made us feel welcome and instantly comfortable. He's got a warm personality and is an obvious asset to the establishment. Chill and vibrant atmosphere, jazz club style, surrounded with dim lights and rustic brick. Live music, absolutely delectable foods, delicate preparations, gorgeous plated presentations. Tiramisu... Oh... My... just, Italian perfection. Highly recommended.

Five star restaurant, five star service, 5 star food, 5-star portions. The penne with sausage is amazing. But I recommend trying it with angel hair pasta. The pepper flavor comes out better. Great steak too. The waiters are a bit long toothed so you get a certain style of service that you may not be used to.

5 Star Italian dining. Step back in time at Manhattans of La Jolla. The Italian cuisine and customer care at Manhattans is exceptional. A perfect place for a date, family gathering or to handle business. Buon Appetito!

Lovely ambience (live music and gorgeous paintings) and GREAT food. Enjoyed the calamari, spinach ravioli, caprese, and steak, and got cheesecake to-go. New management is awesome, and overall experience is recommended!

My husband and I were in La Jolla and wanted some good Italian food for lunch. We got lucky when we found Manhattan of La Jolla. The ambience was perfect. Nicely dimmed lights and great artwork. It had been a rather hectic morning, and we finally relaxed. The food was outstanding. My husband ordered the lobster ravioli, while I went for the spinach and cheese ravioli. Ended with a gorgeous raspberry sorbet. We have an anniversary coming up, and I know exactly where we're going. This time, however, I'm going to make a point of going all out and ordering the beef carpaccio with the main course. The service was also impeccable. We couldn't have found a better place.

Great quality food, excellent service. Coming from an area very close to Italy, we've been searching for 3 years for a restaurant that has really good, authentic Italian food. I wish we would have found this place earlier. Their cannellonis are to die for! The menu has to offer way more than Italian specialties - so everyone in your party will find something they'll love. The steaks, the veal and the ceasar salad (dressing is freshly made at the table) were especially appreciated amongst our friends!

Manhattan's is easily one of my 2 favorite Italian restaurants in San Diego. Service is top notch and the entertainment on Wednesday evenings is the olive in the Martini. I cant make any suggestions on what to order but everything I've had is to die for. The Chicken cannelloni and Manhattan trio are some of my favorites.

Great tasting food with excellent service. Thank you Ara!!! We will visit again on our next trip to La Jolla. If you get a chance, try the table-side Caesar Salad and the Pepper Steak Flambe along with the house Tiramisu. You will not be disappointed!

Very chic. Food was well done and presented with flair. I enjoyed the while experience.

Excellent atmosphere. Live music is a great mood setter and lifts the dining experience. Brittany, our server, was an absolute joy and made the experience all the more enjoyable. Food was excellent (I had the lobster bisque, and also the scollops). Thus was my third time there. Each and every time was great, and I look forward to returning with friends. Always a memorable experience. Gotta try it. You've earned it. Enjoy.

The veal chop and eggplant Parmesan were delicious. Brought our own wine. Corking fee was $35 for two bottles. The atmosphere is uplifting everyone was in good spirits. The staff was on the ball. Very welcoming. Definitely will return.

Came here while visiting from out of town at the recommendation of family. Was there on a Saturday night, piano entertainment was playing, the ambiance was very New York, the service was outstanding and attentive. I was pleasantly surprised they had gluten free pasta, which was delicious.

Absolutely amazing! The food was flawless and perfectly cooked. The wait staff could not have been better. Thank you to Aslin! I can not wait to come back.

We went for dinner while here in town for a wedding. The food was absolutely amazing and the staff made us feel so welcome and well taken care of. It truly was one of the best dining experiences I've had in years. We will most definitely be back!

Beautiful atmosphere. Lovely staff. Amazing food. I’ve been to Italy many times and the pasta here was much better! Highly recommended 💗

I had my wedding dinner here in their private room and EVERYTHING turned out fabulous. The staff was amazing, the food was so yummy and every detail was perfect. I could not have asked for a better experience. Thank you Manhattans for making my night extra special. We'll be back to celebrate our anniversary with you all.

Upscale dining experience. The service is very attentive. Great Cosmo. My dinner was exceptionally delish!! I had the Linguine Bolognese and highly recommend it. Also their fresh bread comes to your table truly fresh out of the oven, warm and wonderful. A bit pricey, but it is upscale dining :)

The evening was wonderful. Manny is an amazing waiter. He gives you the time to really dine and enjoy yourself. Thank you Manhattan for making our 30th anniversary a memorable one. The Shumway-Huey family

We got a few appetizers, and the cannelloni was amazing! The chocolate tart was also delicious.

The entire experience was beyond amazing. The 5 star rating doesn't even begin to describe the establishment, the food, or the staff. An absolutely gorgeous venue, well spaced, comfortable and intimate. The food was quite literally some of the best I've ever had. The filet mignon had such pronounced flavoring. More than that it was so tender it could have been cut with a butter knife. The chef was incredible. Now the highlight in my opinion is the staff. I proposed to my fiance the other night and the staff took service to a completely different level. They were welcoming and invested in my charade from the very start. From seating us in a location ideal for a proposal, concealing and bringing the ring at a specified time, recording the proposal, taking photos. The entire staff was involved and what I asked for goes beyond their job detail. The lovely manager even decorated the dessert plate with strawberry syrup hearts. These people are more than service, they actually care about the patrons. From the bottom of my heart I will forever be grateful for what they've done for me. Without a doubt the most enjoyable dinner occassion I've ever experienced across the board. Thank you for making a special occasion unforgettable!!!

We had a party of 10 last night that included 4 generations from our family. The service from Brittany was fantastic and the food was outstanding! Real deal Italian coming from a Sicilian critic. Highly recommend and know they are genuine people taking care of your family. Will return again!

Absolutely wonderful. I have eaten at great restaurants all over the world and this is one of the best. Remarkable Lobster Manhattan and the best veal chop I've had since Rome and probably better. Better Creme Brule than my nephew, the chef, can make. Truly a wonderful dinner and well worth the price. Great service as well. Old fashioned service and atmosphere and a very good piano player. Quite fun.

Great food, great bar, fantastic entertainment. We went to hear Roman Palacios and we'll go back for the food and drink.

Headstones aren't cheap, even then I'd splurge the extra bucks if that was the only way I could inform the world that this place is worth the stop From Gretchen the bartender, to the piano player that fakes a smile the whole time while taking the request for Piano man at 9 o'clock on a Saturday. Didn't even mention the food, you already should know by that star count.

Came to celebrate a friend's graduation. Waited for a while to order, but other than that. Everything was 👌. Even though I wasn't paying, the food tasted very expensive (plus the menu doesn't show the price).

Delicious food. Picture is the Manhattan Combo. Lobster ravioli, veal manicotti, shrimp scampi. We had our food delivered to us to our hotel room at the Empress Hotel. 👌🙂

I had the filet mignon Oscar, it was delicious and a very thick cut. With it, was asparagus and carrots and they were both very delicious as well.

+1

This is amazing place. I visit it every time I come to La Jolla. Every time I try something new from their menu and each time it is amazing. So far, I would strongly recommend NY steak with garlic and halibut. Try their vines, but ask waiter for their recommendation. The main advice- don’t try to guess, their people know which each person would like more... This is the best atmosphere for dinner in small team or for two.

It is the best option in La Jolla enlivened by good music and the taste of the food, the best thing is the attention of its staff!! We will return to Manhattan again!!!!

I'm obsessed with this restaurant. Maybe it is because I'm an east coaster and miss NYC but this may be my favorite restaurant in San Diego. On Wednesday nights they have a live pianist and singer who perform Sinatra songs. There is a "music" side of the restaurant with a divide and more tables on the far side in case you want a little quieter dinner. On the "music" side are white tablecloth tables, small bar area seating and even some seating around the piano. Get the caesar salad!! They made the dressing from scratch tableside and serve it fresh. It was very impressive and delicious. The burrata was out of this world. The cannelloni is their house dish for a reason--highly recommend. The manhattan sampler was yummy and a good portion if you're not super hungry. Their portions aren't the typical massive Italian American portions, so you may have some room for dessert. In which case... New York cheesecake!

Big props for Britney & Manny. Veal Chop is Zagat rated for a good reason: the quality is extremely high. While staying at The Empress hotel in which this restaurant is located, I also enjoyed Caesars Salad prepared table side, Gnocchi, Carpaccio, Insalata alla Della, Linguine Pomodoro, and Tiramisu. A great wine list accompanies the superb Traditional Italian menu (Montepulciano!) plus a full bar with happy hour available. If you aren't spending $100 per person or more, you aren't doing it right.

Manhattan's in La Jolla is a fabulous place to have a cocktail, chat with that special person. Great live music. Food is amazing. Staff gave great customer service. Meant the owners. Came by to our table. That was super nice. Romantic. Artwork is so classy. Hoping to return for my birthday. Cocktail absolutely the best i have had. Dinner steak perfectly cooked.

Awesome experience! We stayed at the Empress hotel and heard great reviews about this restaurant so made a reservation for my friend's birthday. Love the darker 'mob-boss' vibe, love piano and live music, plus cool artwork and also fish tank add to the ambience. The host that sat us recommended the table side flambayed peppercorn New York steak, so we got that with mashed potato plus table side caesar salad (don't see either very often anymore) drinks and our amazing server Neoli was super friendly and hooked us up with a baked potato and free dessert for my friend's birthday. Overall wonderful ambience, friendly service, table side preparations and great food!

I love this place! I go to La Jolla every month and I always have dinner here. The atmosphere is fantastic and a perfect spot for a romantic night. It's fancy but very relaxing and casual at the same time. It feels like you're stepping back in time and the piano player/singer gives it a lounge feel but doesn't interfere with the relaxing feel or ability to have a conversation. The food is traditional Italian food with the same fancy yet casual presentation. The staff is always professional and accommodating. The restaurant is in a very unassuming hotel, which has surprisingly large and comfortable rooms, with the same relaxing vibe as the restaurant.

Last year we booked this restaurant for my wife’s birthday because she loved the piano player. The food was excellent and everything was terrific. This year we again booked the restaurant for her birthday, because the piano player was there and our first experience was so nice. We requested our same table for her birthday, not certain whether or not they would be able to accommodate us. When we arrived, we found that they had planned everything perfectly and were able to give us the same table. Food was again terrific, service was again terrific, and her favorite piano player was there and recognized her birthday. We are big fans of this restaurant and we highly recommend it to others.

This was our first time to the Manhattan and to La Jolla. We had a wonderful time! The service was really great, and the live music really set the vibes. The food far exceeded our expectations and the portions were large for the main entrees. Our only gripe was that it was so loud in there that it was extremely hard to hear each other from across the table and even right next to each other, but we also went on a Saturday night and were seated in the center of the restaurant, so we weren't too bothered by it. All in all, it was a beautiful restaurant and we would love to come back the next time we're in La Jolla.

This is your go to Italian place in the village for a wonderful sit down at a proper locale. Food is excellent and staff is tenured and knowledgeable.

Such a gem, my wife and I spend each of our anniversaries there. This week was 25, and as always, the food, service, and atmosphere keep us longing for the next anniversary dinner!!!

Good quality exceeded expectations while enjoying the most beautiful sunset right on the beach. I still remember the fried calamari...ordered a second... Great wine list too.

The fillet Oscar was amazing. Loved the crab and sauce on the fillet. Our waiter was very kind as well. Live music was ripping as well. Great vibes

My wife and I came here for our anniversary. It was a Tuesday night, but everything was exactly what you would expect from a high end Italian restaurant. The servers were attentive and knowledgeable, the food was incredible. We loved the atmosphere. It was so cool to go into a piano bar in La Jolla with actual brick walls. The house specialty Cannelloni is a specialty for a reason. We got tiramisu for dessert and it was honestly the best tiramisu we've ever had. We were blown away all around.

So fun and a great local hang. Live music in the bar combined with delicious cuisine makes the Manhattan a fun drop in on Friday night!

From the moment you walk in your transported into a upscale jazz infused aura. The decor is tasteful and entrancing. The live music was a wholesome touch really drawing you in. Then the food arrives. Of the 4 dishes we ate there was not 1 ingredient spared. Every dish was made with love and care and you can taste it. The customer care is insightful and has great recommendations. I wish there where more stars to give as this place is truly a treat and in a lane of its own. Will be making it one of my staples for the city.

Great little gem!!! Fantastic food and staff and always a good time. I saw a wedding reception, had a flaming steak and enjoyed the piano music for hours

Manhattan's has long been a cherished favorite of ours, a go-to destination for special occasions and hosting out-of-town guests. Last night, we returned to celebrate my bride's birthday, and it was truly a magical evening. The staff greeted us with warmth and friendliness, and the exquisite food never fails to impress. Our waiter was so friendly and quirky, sometimes he got a little busy and we had to ask for him, but nothing that ruined our experience. The enchanting Jazz Band created a captivating atmosphere, perfectly embodying a classic evening of elegance. Manhattan's is truly a place where one dresses up to savor a remarkable meal, making every visit an unforgettable experience.

Just walked in and was greeted by live piano music and singing, giving off a classic piano bar vibe. The dark, vintage decor feels straight out of an old-school Manhattan restaurant. Guests were dressed up, making my Crocs feel out of place, but no dress code here! The food is fantastic and worth the price. The complimentary bread was fresh, and the calamari was one of the best I’ve had, packed with squid heads. We ordered the Manhattan Trio pasta—lobster ravioli was a highlight, and the sauces were so good I wiped them clean with bread. The NY cheesecake was authentic, though I still prefer Yanni’s. This place is perfect for a romantic date, especially if you appreciate vintage charm. Definitely a hidden gem!

Manhattan in La Jolla is all about incredible food and flavor. Every dish comes out hot, fresh, and perfectly prepared. You can truly taste the passion and pride Chef Toney puts into his cooking—he is absolutely fantastic. If you’re craving rich, delicious, high-quality meals, this is the spot. Hands down one of the best dining experiences in La Jolla, located inside the Empress Hotel. Highly recommend!

Located inside of the Empress Hotel in La Jolla, this a very nice restaurant and a local favorite. The menu is extensive with a wide array of options. The veal chop Florentine was delicious and make sure to order a Caesar salad, the staff brings a cart table side and makes the salad right in front of you. On the weekends there is live music and a lively bar scene.

My family and I have lived in La Jolla since the early 1990s and I’ve been coming to this Manhattan‘s of La Jolla since the mid 1990s. I love how it is a time capsule in that it has not changed much over the years but in a good way. I will say that they used to have a double cut veal chop and now it is a single cut and that’s what we went for specifically every single time for decades so I’m hoping that they bring that back. Aside from that it’s located on the ground floor of a small boutique hotel in the village of La Jolla. Parking is fairly easy in this part of town, your best options will be street parking for free or valet. Our server was extremely polite and honestly service here is always terrific. It used to be filled with older Italian men that would sing Italian love songs but now it is more of the standard full service restaurant service. It’s also very dimly lit and kind of reminds me of a steak restaurant you would see on the East Coast. It makes for a much more private and enjoyable experience. As mentioned, we would always come here for the Double Cut Veal Chop but for some reason, it is not on the menu anymore. PLEASE BRING IT BACK! I started off with the Carpaccio di Manzo and thought it was terrific. I’ve been getting this dish since I was a little kid and still get it now in my adult life. For my entrée as always, I got the Veal Chop Fiorentina however it was half the size as it were was every other time we had been here. The flavors were still great though, and it was packed full of garlic and juicy flavor. I would highly recommend to anyone in San Diego searching for a great dinner location and it’s definitely someplace that I would consider a hidden gem and is usually filled with us locals.

Shrimp scampi was dry and flavorless. No garlic or butter or olive oil taste. They did give a free dessert to say they were sorry. The lobster Manhattan was 99% spaghetti with 3 bite size pieces of lobster and three bite size pieces of crab on top. The flavor was great but for $49, it was quite pricey. Still love this restaurant and will go back again. The bananas foster is to dye for!!!

Delicious food, live jazz band, great service. Fettuccine Alfredo, lobster ravioli, New York strip, fried zucchini and last, but not least the homemade tiramisu. Everything was excellent, a bit pricey, though, we’re definitely going to go back there. We enjoyed it so very much.

A true gem in La Jolla! The food is outstanding, and the cozy, intimate setting adds to the charm. I highly recommend trying the veal piccata - it’s exceptional. 5 out of 5 stars!

To all of my Tri-State East Coasters that are either visiting or now living in paradise here in San Diego: This is it, the Italian food/vibe you wanted to find while you’re here. Firstly, the food…I’m not kidding, guys. This isn’t only a taste of home; it is an elevated version of home. Canneloni like nothing you’ve ever tasted, filled with piping hot and wonderfully spiced meats and tomato sauce like nana makes; vegetable sides that are as good as the entrees themselves; CHICKEN FRANCESE! IN CALIFORNIA! AND IT IS JUST AS GOOD, IF NOT BETTER, THAN HOME! And every single person here, whether it’s the boss of the sauce, Gretchen, my spectacular server Harper, or the best-in-class friendly busperson Cayenne, these folks are here to learn your name and your story, share theirs, and provide an experience that will remind you of where you came from, with a Golden State touch. I promise you, this will be a weekend MUST for me. I can’t recommend it enough. Get ready for the best Italian food in San Diego.

Manhattan is a wonderful place to go for an upscale dining experience. The food is excellent as is the service. My family and I have celebrated special occasions there and plan on continuing to do so in the future.

I attended a vow renewal ceremony tonight at Manhattan of La Jolla. The staff did a wonderful job. They were extremely attentive and kind, which really set the atmosphere. I’d like to especially thank Gretchen, Asline, Dawn, and Chad for their superior service. I hope they get the proper recognition for their hard work.

Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor

Manhattan's has long been a cherished favorite of ours, a go-to destination for special occasions and hosting out-of-town guests. Last night, we returned to celebrate my bride's birthday, and it was truly a magical evening. The staff greeted us with warmth and friendliness, and the exquisite food never fails to impress. Our waiter was so friendly and quirky, sometimes he got a little busy and we had to ask for him, but nothing that ruined our experience. The enchanting Jazz Band created a captivating atmosphere, perfectly embodying a classic evening of elegance. Manhattan's is truly a place where one dresses up to savor a remarkable meal, making every visit an unforgettable experience.

San Diego Swim Week

Manhattan in La Jolla is all about incredible food and flavor. Every dish comes out hot, fresh, and perfectly prepared. You can truly taste the passion and pride Chef Toney puts into his cooking—he is absolutely fantastic. If you’re craving rich, delicious, high-quality meals, this is the spot. Hands down one of the best dining experiences in La Jolla, located inside the Empress Hotel. Highly recommend!

LULU LIVE Art

Just walked in and was greeted by live piano music and singing, giving off a classic piano bar vibe. The dark, vintage decor feels straight out of an old-school Manhattan restaurant. Guests were dressed up, making my Crocs feel out of place, but no dress code here! The food is fantastic and worth the price. The complimentary bread was fresh, and the calamari was one of the best I’ve had, packed with squid heads. We ordered the Manhattan Trio pasta—lobster ravioli was a highlight, and the sauces were so good I wiped them clean with bread. The NY cheesecake was authentic, though I still prefer Yanni’s. This place is perfect for a romantic date, especially if you appreciate vintage charm. Definitely a hidden gem!

Dan Gaffey

Located inside of the Empress Hotel in La Jolla, this a very nice restaurant and a local favorite. The menu is extensive with a wide array of options. The veal chop Florentine was delicious and make sure to order a Caesar salad, the staff brings a cart table side and makes the salad right in front of you. On the weekends there is live music and a lively bar scene.

Ely Cohen

Delicious food, live jazz band, great service. Fettuccine Alfredo, lobster ravioli, New York strip, fried zucchini and last, but not least the homemade tiramisu. Everything was excellent, a bit pricey, though, we’re definitely going to go back there. We enjoyed it so very much.

Zan Lee

My family and I have lived in La Jolla since the early 1990s and I’ve been coming to this Manhattan‘s of La Jolla since the mid 1990s. I love how it is a time capsule in that it has not changed much over the years but in a good way. I will say that they used to have a double cut veal chop and now it is a single cut and that’s what we went for specifically every single time for decades so I’m hoping that they bring that back. Aside from that it’s located on the ground floor of a small boutique hotel in the village of La Jolla. Parking is fairly easy in this part of town, your best options will be street parking for free or valet. Our server was extremely polite and honestly service here is always terrific. It used to be filled with older Italian men that would sing Italian love songs but now it is more of the standard full service restaurant service. It’s also very dimly lit and kind of reminds me of a steak restaurant you would see on the East Coast. It makes for a much more private and enjoyable experience. As mentioned, we would always come here for the Double Cut Veal Chop but for some reason, it is not on the menu anymore. PLEASE BRING IT BACK! I started off with the Carpaccio di Manzo and thought it was terrific. I’ve been getting this dish since I was a little kid and still get it now in my adult life. For my entrée as always, I got the Veal Chop Fiorentina however it was half the size as it were was every other time we had been here. The flavors were still great though, and it was packed full of garlic and juicy flavor. I would highly recommend to anyone in San Diego searching for a great dinner location and it’s definitely someplace that I would consider a hidden gem and is usually filled with us locals.

Jimer Devries

Shrimp scampi was dry and flavorless. No garlic or butter or olive oil taste. They did give a free dessert to say they were sorry. The lobster Manhattan was 99% spaghetti with 3 bite size pieces of lobster and three bite size pieces of crab on top. The flavor was great but for $49, it was quite pricey. Still love this restaurant and will go back again. The bananas foster is to dye for!!!

Joe Franza

A true gem in La Jolla! The food is outstanding, and the cozy, intimate setting adds to the charm. I highly recommend trying the veal piccata - it’s exceptional. 5 out of 5 stars!

Douglesby ­

To all of my Tri-State East Coasters that are either visiting or now living in paradise here in San Diego: This is it, the Italian food/vibe you wanted to find while you’re here. Firstly, the food…I’m not kidding, guys. This isn’t only a taste of home; it is an elevated version of home. Canneloni like nothing you’ve ever tasted, filled with piping hot and wonderfully spiced meats and tomato sauce like nana makes; vegetable sides that are as good as the entrees themselves; CHICKEN FRANCESE! IN CALIFORNIA! AND IT IS JUST AS GOOD, IF NOT BETTER, THAN HOME! And every single person here, whether it’s the boss of the sauce, Gretchen, my spectacular server Harper, or the best-in-class friendly busperson Cayenne, these folks are here to learn your name and your story, share theirs, and provide an experience that will remind you of where you came from, with a Golden State touch. I promise you, this will be a weekend MUST for me. I can’t recommend it enough. Get ready for the best Italian food in San Diego.

Took a date here and we had an absolutely magical night. The atmosphere was incredible, as they had a live singer performing all night. The staff and clientele were classy, but not at all pretentious. The highlight of our night was our server, Manny. He was a delight to talk to, and he made sure our dinner was special. Towards the end he even introduced us to the owner, who was an absolutely lovely lady. Overall, it was a 10/10 dinner.

Aslin was incredible with recommendations and service- She literally knew the menu inside and out and helped us decide as if she was a card reader. Anna is the most gift bartender can craft any cocktail of your dreams. This is the best place to go. What do you want appetizers and a cocktail or a fabulous pull on 10 star meal do not skip it. It must be part of your Lajoya night owl

Table side Caesar, calamari fritti, seafood stew with grilled bread and cheese cake. The entire staff takes traditional hospitality and classic service to heart… one of the best kept secrets of La Jolla!

Ibrahim A

Took a date here and we had an absolutely magical night. The atmosphere was incredible, as they had a live singer performing all night. The staff and clientele were classy, but not at all pretentious. The highlight of our night was our server, Manny. He was a delight to talk to, and he made sure our dinner was special. Towards the end he even introduced us to the owner, who was an absolutely lovely lady. Overall, it was a 10/10 dinner.

michael green

Aslin was incredible with recommendations and service- She literally knew the menu inside and out and helped us decide as if she was a card reader. Anna is the most gift bartender can craft any cocktail of your dreams. This is the best place to go. What do you want appetizers and a cocktail or a fabulous pull on 10 star meal do not skip it. It must be part of your Lajoya night owl

Jason Gruben

Table side Caesar, calamari fritti, seafood stew with grilled bread and cheese cake. The entire staff takes traditional hospitality and classic service to heart… one of the best kept secrets of La Jolla!

jenna switch

This was our first time to the Manhattan and to La Jolla. We had a wonderful time! The service was really great, and the live music really set the vibes. The food far exceeded our expectations and the portions were large for the main entrees. Our only gripe was that it was so loud in there that it was extremely hard to hear each other from across the table and even right next to each other, but we also went on a Saturday night and were seated in the center of the restaurant, so we weren't too bothered by it. All in all, it was a beautiful restaurant and we would love to come back the next time we're in La Jolla.

1st time dining in last night, 1 time previous to-go: food & cocktails were clearly 5/5, live music 5/5, booth 5/5, only sad & bad thing last night was my wife’s OVERcooked $60. Filet Mignon…wifey clearly requested MEDIUM (pink in center & outer area) & it was later delivered medium WELL to near WELL DONE (almost all gray). The server was told once we found her & she says we can wait (what 10 or 15+ mins?) for the kitchen to re-do it…? And what happens to the other diners just served & ready to eat? We said “no thank you” & she just ate it. The server disappeared after that for a long time…embarrassed? Yes, when the bill came, full price for the steak NOT ORDERED or WANTED. America. A yummy & memorable night nonetheless. Stick to non-steak dishes!

Celebrating daddy's birthday at his favorite restaurant with the whole family for the first time. Was not happy about how other people at restaurant we're telling us to move because our kids were being a little loud ( excited about the fish tank) we went at 5 p.m. as early as we could so we would avoid crowds.

Manhattan of La Jolla Is an Italian fine dining gem restaurant hidden away in Empress Hotel in La Jolla. We have been to La Jolla multiple times but had not ever heard of this restaurant. The food, service, and ambiance are great and the live music makes it really energetic and fun. The decor is traditional and exquisite. I definitely recommend to try the Godmother and Godfather drinks; though, they are simple they are very tasty. The veal marsala and lobster ravioli were very delicious. The staff is very friendly and attentive.

Nice vibe with live music and a classic setting. - Martinis and espresso martinis were great 5/5. - Cocktail shrimp overcooked, OK cocktail sauce 3/5 - Bruschetta 3/5 - Zucchini chips 5/5 - Wedge salad 5/5 - Scalloped potatoes were just potatoes and cheese, lacked herbs and sauce 2/5 - Ziti 2/5 - Filet mignon delmonico 5/5 - New York delmonico (overcooked and had to be sent back but they kindly insisted which was nice) 4/5 - Flambé New York 4/5 - Tiramisu 4/5

The place is quite popular and hence requires a reservation. Food and service are good

We had late lunch and needed a lighter dinner. We shared a shrimp scampi appetizer - 4 large shrimp in a wonderful butter/garlic sauce and each our own bowl of minestrone - very tasty soup. They served with a nice basket of crusty warm bread & butter. It was perfect. The piano bar was going & was extremely loud - really need to take the volume down a couple of notches. It was a quite satisfying late but too loud dinner.

Old style New York Italian steak and chop restaurant. The 1950's decor is classic, right down to the wood paneling and art work. Excellent Ceaser salad. Very good scallop main course. Calamari was served with a nice, spicy sauce, but was a little tough. Attentive wait staff.

It is overpriced. The food is good but not excellent. Service is ok.

+6

Desert is huge, rather smaller and better presentation Stuffs are so friendly and sweet, good entertainment

Old school Italian restaurant located in the Empress hotel. We were there on Wednesday night and they had folks singing Frank Sinatra in the bar area. The food was very tasty. Service was excellent.

This is hidden inside a hotel in La Jolla San Diego. It’s upscale Italian. There was live music with a lounge singer. I had the veal Marsala, lobster bisque and I highly recommend the Ecstasy desert which is White chocolate gelato with liquor and raspberries. It’s more filling than it looks.

As expected, Manhattan is definitely more old-school New York Italian than Italy Italian, which makes for some great comfort food as a native New Yorker. We went for our anniversary, and enjoyed all our dishes: beef carpaccio, Manhattan combo, lobster Manhattan, the Italian sodas, and almost heaven (gelato). The restaurant was so nice and not only wished us a happy anniversary but also brought us out a plate of tiramisu, which was delicious. Service was also top notch. There's live music, which was a lot of fun but also means it's incredibly loud in parts of the restaurant. I had to yell for my partner to hear me and it was really difficult to hear the waiter. This is the one thing about the experience I'd definitely change - if you're looking for an intimate dinner or are sensitive to sound you can ask for a booth in the back apparently.

The food was delicious! We came here on a Saturday for dinner and requested to be seated in the bar area. They have a piano player that provided live music around 7pm. This place was bustling after 6pm. They do not have valet parking but there's public parking across the street for $15. I ordered the pasta combo for dinner. It came with shrimp scampi (2 big shrimps), lobster ravioli (about 3), and 1 big cannelloni. We also ordered the fried calamari and the shrimp scampi appetizers. We table side Caesar salad, bananas foster, and cherry jubilee desserts were all delicious and fun. I highly recommended ordering the Caesar salad and Banana Foster. Service was ok from our waitress. She wasn't very friendly and warm. Service from the young man doing the Caesar salad and desserts was much better. He was very nice.

Sharon B

The food was delicious! We came here on a Saturday for dinner and requested to be seated in the bar area. They have a piano player that provided live music around 7pm. This place was bustling after 6pm. They do not have valet parking but there's public parking across the street for $15. I ordered the pasta combo for dinner. It came with shrimp scampi (2 big shrimps), lobster ravioli (about 3), and 1 big cannelloni. We also ordered the fried calamari and the shrimp scampi appetizers. We table side Caesar salad, bananas foster, and cherry jubilee desserts were all delicious and fun. I highly recommended ordering the Caesar salad and Banana Foster. Service was ok from our waitress. She wasn't very friendly and warm. Service from the young man doing the Caesar salad and desserts was much better. He was very nice.

Ceasar salad was very tasty, however the lobster bisque and lobster raviolis were cold as if they were previously made, leftover, stored, and then re-heated upon our orders (like when you microwave food and it hasn't heated all the way through).

I hope this was an exception, but I went to Manhattan tonight and the experience was so much worse than I’ve ever Had there before. They couldn’t get our drink straight and brought one drink instead of two. I had to cut my veal’s scallopini with a bread knife because they didn’t bring the proper utensils. People were standing around doing nothing but when he asked him to do something, they did it wrong. The food seem to lack its usual flare as well. I hope this is an exception.

Old-school Italian with polite, friendly servers. The chicken marsala was tender with a rich, umami sauce of mushrooms and herbs. The pastas were fresh and nicely prepared with fresh al dente vegetables. The beef carpaccio was like thinly sliced roast beef--not my idea of carpaccio, but the capers and parmesan were on point. The cheesecake was a fabulous indulgence. The deep, rich wood paneling, vaulted ceiling, and tropical fish tanks bring elegance and relaxation to your dining experience.

Everett Roach

I hope this was an exception, but I went to Manhattan tonight and the experience was so much worse than I’ve ever Had there before. They couldn’t get our drink straight and brought one drink instead of two. I had to cut my veal’s scallopini with a bread knife because they didn’t bring the proper utensils. People were standing around doing nothing but when he asked him to do something, they did it wrong. The food seem to lack its usual flare as well. I hope this is an exception.

Mary Brown

Old-school Italian with polite, friendly servers. The chicken marsala was tender with a rich, umami sauce of mushrooms and herbs. The pastas were fresh and nicely prepared with fresh al dente vegetables. The beef carpaccio was like thinly sliced roast beef--not my idea of carpaccio, but the capers and parmesan were on point. The cheesecake was a fabulous indulgence. The deep, rich wood paneling, vaulted ceiling, and tropical fish tanks bring elegance and relaxation to your dining experience.

The bread was fantastic. Sadly, the best part of my meal. I feel I'm being generous with 2 stars. The staff are pretentious. And not your normal pretentious. It's as if they found some trash actors and taught them how to act pretentious, but forgot to teach them civility or how to enunciate. The spinach was over creamed. The broccoli was decent. The calamari was good. My filet mignon Oscar was atrocious. It not only was served Luke warm to cold but I am quite confident I became sick from my meal. The following day I felt my crab (served atop the cut) had some neurotoxin in it as I had a major headache and some strange neck issues much like meningitis symptoms present along with mild stomach issues. Perhaps this had something to do with Tijuana letting loose their sewage recently or the fact they this restaurant is the equivalent of putting a plunger on a pig and calling it a pony. I haven't had the time to contact the health department yet, but I will be shortly. Snobby, snoody, and sloppy. Won't be returning.

I have been going to Manhattan for 30 years. I’m disappointed to say my last three visits were not good. The bolognese recipe which was once one of the best has been changed and the garlic is way to heavy. It was inedible last Sunday night. I did not eat it and was charged anyway. The Chicken Parmigiana has changed as well. It’s a shadow of itself. Must have been a chef change or something. Probably won’t go again. So sad :(

Starting with the one positive, the carrots and haricot verts were delightful, very nicely done. Now onto the sins. The biggest sin was the linguine being overcooked, felt like I was eating Ramen noodles with tomato sauce. Then as someone who loves garlic I have to say that the whole raw clove made no sense at all. Garlic releases flavor when traumatized so at least smash them if you want that flavor in the sauce. The bolognese sauce was all-around decent, different than most, almost more like a vodka sauce. However the marinara sauce on the chicken parmigiana was very bland, like plain tomatoes from a can just smashed and heated up. Service was average though it did take some time to be seated even with a reservation. Last thing I have to suggest is to serve the butter at room temperature for the bread, serving cold butter is just such an obvious oversight and so easy to correct.

John Yarbrough

Starting with the one positive, the carrots and haricot verts were delightful, very nicely done. Now onto the sins. The biggest sin was the linguine being overcooked, felt like I was eating Ramen noodles with tomato sauce. Then as someone who loves garlic I have to say that the whole raw clove made no sense at all. Garlic releases flavor when traumatized so at least smash them if you want that flavor in the sauce. The bolognese sauce was all-around decent, different than most, almost more like a vodka sauce. However the marinara sauce on the chicken parmigiana was very bland, like plain tomatoes from a can just smashed and heated up. Service was average though it did take some time to be seated even with a reservation. Last thing I have to suggest is to serve the butter at room temperature for the bread, serving cold butter is just such an obvious oversight and so easy to correct.

Manhattan of La Jolla; mixed experience (amazing start, disappointing finish) We made our reservation several days in advance and were genuinely looking forward to it. This was a special occasion, we got dressed up, and we Ubered 30 minutes to and from La Jolla expecting a relaxed, full dinner experience. We had an 8:15 reservation and were seated right away. Within about 10 minutes, our first server, Frida, came over with several water options and took great care of us, she was truly an angel and set a warm, welcoming tone. Unfortunately, after that, the service pacing completely fell apart. Our waiter came to the table but didn’t offer cocktails or ask if we’d like to start with drinks. We were ready to order two martinis, plus an appetizer and a salad, but we weren’t given a moment to place the full order so we waited… and waited. Eventually we ordered calamari (fishy, not crispy and undercooked) and a bottle of wine, and the tableside Caesar was lovely. But we still hadn’t ordered entrées, and by the time it was close to 9:00 PM, the waiter told us the kitchen was closing soon. At that point, we felt rushed and ended up ordering only one entrée just to get something in. Then the room started shutting down around us; lights dimming/turning off, music turned off… and all we could hear was a boombox from the kitchen. The whole vibe made it feel like we were somehow keeping the staff hostage just by being there… which, considering we had a reservation and arrived on time, was honestly a joke. On a positive note, the coffee was fairly hot and the cheesecake was decent. Overall, it was a disappointing end to what we expected to be a really nice night out. Frida was wonderful. The service pacing and the end-of-night shutdown atmosphere need serious attention. Overall unwelcoming. 👎🏽

Great atmosphere ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, but disappointing food and service ⭐️⭐️. The restaurant has a great atmosphere and a lot of potential, but the food was extremely buttery and greasy. Even the broccoli seemed soaked in butter or some kind of oil. The veal, in particular, was very greasy. I mentioned this to the busboy (a young blond gentleman who was kind and attentive) and asked him to check the veal for oiliness. He agreed that it was overly greasy. However, when I brought this to our server’s attention, she said, “That’s just how it is.” She didn’t seem concerned and was not particularly warm or welcoming. There was also a noticeable focus on offering additional items such as paid water, wine, and dessert, but the issue with the oily veal was never addressed. I had hoped to exchange it for another option, such as shrimp, but that didn’t seem to be possible. I disagree with the server’s response, as I’ve had veal at other restaurants where it was breaded, crispy, and dry—not oily like this. I’m curious if anyone else has had a similar experience.

Celeste Abbott

Manhattan of La Jolla; mixed experience (amazing start, disappointing finish) We made our reservation several days in advance and were genuinely looking forward to it. This was a special occasion, we got dressed up, and we Ubered 30 minutes to and from La Jolla expecting a relaxed, full dinner experience. We had an 8:15 reservation and were seated right away. Within about 10 minutes, our first server, Frida, came over with several water options and took great care of us, she was truly an angel and set a warm, welcoming tone. Unfortunately, after that, the service pacing completely fell apart. Our waiter came to the table but didn’t offer cocktails or ask if we’d like to start with drinks. We were ready to order two martinis, plus an appetizer and a salad, but we weren’t given a moment to place the full order so we waited… and waited. Eventually we ordered calamari (fishy, not crispy and undercooked) and a bottle of wine, and the tableside Caesar was lovely. But we still hadn’t ordered entrées, and by the time it was close to 9:00 PM, the waiter told us the kitchen was closing soon. At that point, we felt rushed and ended up ordering only one entrée just to get something in. Then the room started shutting down around us; lights dimming/turning off, music turned off… and all we could hear was a boombox from the kitchen. The whole vibe made it feel like we were somehow keeping the staff hostage just by being there… which, considering we had a reservation and arrived on time, was honestly a joke. On a positive note, the coffee was fairly hot and the cheesecake was decent. Overall, it was a disappointing end to what we expected to be a really nice night out. Frida was wonderful. The service pacing and the end-of-night shutdown atmosphere need serious attention. Overall unwelcoming. 👎🏽

Bella R

Great atmosphere ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, but disappointing food and service ⭐️⭐️. The restaurant has a great atmosphere and a lot of potential, but the food was extremely buttery and greasy. Even the broccoli seemed soaked in butter or some kind of oil. The veal, in particular, was very greasy. I mentioned this to the busboy (a young blond gentleman who was kind and attentive) and asked him to check the veal for oiliness. He agreed that it was overly greasy. However, when I brought this to our server’s attention, she said, “That’s just how it is.” She didn’t seem concerned and was not particularly warm or welcoming. There was also a noticeable focus on offering additional items such as paid water, wine, and dessert, but the issue with the oily veal was never addressed. I had hoped to exchange it for another option, such as shrimp, but that didn’t seem to be possible. I disagree with the server’s response, as I’ve had veal at other restaurants where it was breaded, crispy, and dry—not oily like this. I’m curious if anyone else has had a similar experience.

Very disappointed! We were seated at the bar prepared to order food and drinks. The bartender got my drink order wrong, but I let it go. The people at the bar (only 3 people) were LOUDLY talking politics .... and the bar tender was engaging in the conversation. We were never once asked if we wanted to order food. Honestly, I don't care if people want to talk politics or anything else, but please make sure you are attentive to all well paying patron's. We won't be going back.

Short version: music and atmosphere is great, food is barely OK, service is unacceptable, rude, cold, unprofessional and the worst you could get among most restaurants in San Diego. Long version: Music and atmosphere was really great and definitely the best part of the restaurant. The food was just OK and overpriced. We had a lobster bisque as appetizer which was very tasty (best thing we ordered). My wife had the pasta combo: the food taste was overtaken by the sauce, making the taste poorly equilibrated. I had some veal and had a similar experience: the sauce was too strong. The dessert (the manatthan) was one of the worst dessert I have ever eaten in that kind of restaurant. The pieces of apples were so thick, uncooked and barely fried. They didn't even bother drying up the oil which was dripping down everywhere in the huge amount of mapple syrup. Even in the dark we could see the huge layer of oil, it was disgusting to look at. The plating was also terrible for this dessert and unpractical. Don't get me wrong, the food was not bad (except for the dessert), but not great as well and mostly not worth the price and not what we expected from a restaurant of that kind of standing. However, the service ruined the whole night. This is for sure the worst quality of service I ever had in that kind of restaurant. We got seated but waited for a good 10mn until a waiter started to talk to us, that was very awkward. He asked us for drinks but did not even gave us the drinks menu that we had to explicitly ask for. The waiter came back to ask if we had any question: my wife started to ask something and he just left while she was still talking and never came back wtfff!!! The plates were served so fast, it felt like we were rushed out of the restaurant. We were not even offered the dessert menu that we, once again, had to ask for (and probably shouldn't had asked considering it was the worst thing we ordered in this restaurant). Either way, the whole experience felt very cold unpersonal and unfriendly, even though the atmosphere with the live music was romantic. But worst of all, while the dinner was over and we were staying a little bit to listen to the live music (less than 5mn after signing the check), a random waiter showed up out of nowhere and told my wife "we dont have a lot of table, this is not a dancing area,if you want to dance it is over here", pointing to the dancing/bar area at the same time. Just What The HECK!!!! My wife was just moving a little bit, but still sitting and we just payed the check. Many tables were also empty all around, and some others were done for far longer, that was ridiculous. The comment was outrageous, so I immediately removed the tip from the check that they hopefully did not pick up yet. I then got the waiter dairing to tell me "service is not included in the note sir". Well, probably go take some courses about how to waiter properly and to educate yourself about good manners. I originally tipped 16+%, which was already way too much for the ridiculous quality of service we got, and I dont regret a single second dropping it to 0 following the killing sentence of that uneducated dude. If you can't even understand why you got the tip removed, you are definitely not a good enough waiter for that kind of place. The service is truly rude, cold, unfriendly, unprofessional and lame for any kind of restaurant. Even getting served a burger at mc donald is done better than that. But I guess the waiter decided that 2 young people in their 20s don't deserve the treatment as the regular clients in their 40s of that place. It really felt like we were not important enough for them, what a shame. This makes the whole restaurant pricey for what you get and I understand more why I never heard of this place for 2 years and only found it after searching only for live music restaurants in san diego. I regret coming in.

Sea World has better food than this place.

Seemed like an upscale environment with piano singer...but the New York strip steak (which was good piece of steak) really lacked flavor , sure they topped it with melted butter and garlic with squeezed lemon, the steak which looked perfect and charred lacked any real flavor. Cooked good but again felt wasted due to no flavor in the meat itself. Steaks at some restaurant chains tasted better to be honest. My wife's lobster ravioli was still partially cold vs being warm . Also ordered a Gidfather drink which was served in a glass which someone had used already with lipstick marks on the rim as if someone was drinking the drink as it was being served upscale vibes with lowscale service and taste. Could be maybe me being in jeans and a shirt vs business casual but no dress code was observed when I looked the place up. Even though the experience was bad I still left a good size tip just because it's the service industry.

Manhattan La Jolla was the worst and most bizarre dining experience I’ve ever encountered. My husband and I had dinner reservations for a long over due date night. Before dinner, we stopped by the bar for drinks and appetizers. We were having a great time chatting with the couple next to us when a belligerent woman sat down at the bar and started screaming at us to be quiet because she was on a call (at the bar). This person was heavily under the influence of drugs/alcohol. She was shaking when she entered the restaurant and the staff still let her in. She began shouting nasty obscenities and making horrible comments about my weight / appearance. Our bartender told management that the woman needed to go. She left for a few minutes and came back. When she re-entered the restaurant, she was again visibly shaking from head to toe. Staff allowed her to stay, hugged her like she was the victim, and continued to serve her alcohol. My husband and I left completely disgusted by what had transpired and canceled our reservation after management let the belligerent guest stay. My husband and I were truly disturbed by what had transpired after what was supposed to be a nice date night. This was the trashiest evening of my life.

It's sad to say that the food quality at this restaurant went from a 12 on a scale of 1 to 10 to a 2. Before Covid, I used to dream about the food and crave the food here. I used to eat here at least once a week and we brought friends to this restaurant all the time, and had parties here. Now the food quality is at best a 2 (on a scale of 1-10) and they still keep charging very high prices for very low food quality. This used to be my favorite Italian restaurant restaurant ever and in any city. Unfortunately now they can't compete with other Italian restaurants and are Ranked at the bottom. The recipes that originally came from the owner's grandmother and Italy have either been thrown out or not paid attention to because it is so sad to say that the food quality at this restaurant is so bad that I don't ever want to eat here again. We have tried it about 5 times since restaurants opened after Covid and have been severely disappointed every single time. Very sad to have to report this.

Went her for my partner's birthday and had reservations: took 15 minutes until finally seated. The waitress was real rushed, never checked on us, never brought the birthday dessert after many confirmations it would be. Chewy, the helper, was real kind though. Definitely subpar service at the expensive price.

Unfortunately the manager Nancy was quite rude or just having a bad day. She was less than accommodating. The food was not good. Food and drinks overpriced. We will not be back. Do not recommend.

Terrible food. Seafood wasn’t fresh. 4 shrimp cocktail for $24 and the shrimp wasn’t even fresh. For clam sauce linguini. Linguini didn’t have taste of the sauce and was purely bland. Clams weren’t cleaned properly and had sand. On top of that, clam was not fresh and overcooked so it tasted dry.

Ziwen Ye

Terrible food. Seafood wasn’t fresh. 4 shrimp cocktail for $24 and the shrimp wasn’t even fresh. For clam sauce linguini. Linguini didn’t have taste of the sauce and was purely bland. Clams weren’t cleaned properly and had sand. On top of that, clam was not fresh and overcooked so it tasted dry.