Mr. Adam
We had a fantastic lunch at La Gran Terraza during Restaurant Week. Making a reservation through OpenTable was quick and easy, and we were seated immediately upon arrival. The food was both delicious and satisfying, but the standout of the meal was the Smoked Chocolate Pistachio dessert. It arrived literally smoking and was an incredible combination of chocolate mousse, pistachio ice cream, and pistachio brittle—an absolute treat for any sweet tooth. The service was excellent, especially our server Amia, who was attentive and checked on us regularly. The ambiance, paired with the warm and beautiful views, made the entire experience even more enjoyable.
… moreLauren Sum
SO GOOD!!! One of the best meals I’ve ever had. The presentation of the food and every bite looks and tastes like art. Beautiful views and the service was above and beyond! Will need to come back the next time I’m in San Diego.
… moreJack Hawkins
Went for restaurant week and the food quality was quite poor for the cost. The pasta was cold and congealed, there was a hair in one of the dishes. The lamb dish was good but the rest of our dishes ranged from mediocre to disappointing. Definitely not a hidden gym.
… moreSteven Heath
Went to La Gran Terraza for a business lunch today and it was outstanding. It’s located on the University of San Diego campus within the University Center and they typically offer valet parking but during the summer parking isn’t as difficult to find if you don’t want to utilize their service.
We were served by Nicole (trainee) and April at our lunch today and they started us with a complimentary plate of multigrain bread with olive oil side. For the meal two of us ordered Chell’s Shrimp and Crab Louie and one of us had the Red and Green Caesar with Airline Chicken Breast. Both salads were attractively presented and tasted fantastic. They both featured ingredients perfectly chilled and the chicken was cooked perfectly. This restaurant always does a great job with their food no matter what you order. We come here pretty often both for the food as well as to be on the University of San Diego’s beautiful campus and have never had a bad food experience. Nicole and April were both friendly and attentive in their service.
I highly recommend giving LGT a try.
… moreThomas J. Nelson, Realtor
One of San Diego’s best kept secrets is La Gran Terraza at The University of San Diego Campus. What a lovely university to stroll around and and wonderful restaurant. We enjoyed our first visit here this week with tasty 5 star quality food! We were fortunate to experience Restaurant Week Menus when we dined here, so I ate off menu and it was amazing. My bride enjoyed the Crab/Shrimp Louie and their mocktails were delicious. The service can be spotty, attentive overall and polit, but sometimes long gaps of waiting to be checked on.
Warning, no alcohol is served at lunch, we did not know that and we were there to celebrate a birthday, so if you like to have wine or cocktails, dinner service is better for that.
The students seem to make up the staff and they are professional and polite. The views are amazing out to the bay and ocean and much of Tecolote Canyon. Parking is easy with a short walk, cutting through the student union.
2024 Note: There is a lot of construction on campus right now so we did see a lot of temporary eyesores due to that and there was no sense of valet parking mentioned on the website due to construction detours.
The food was delicious, the service overall wonderful and the experience has us discussing our next trip there; I highly recommend it! I can’t believe it took us 20 years of living here to discover this gem!
… morePJ Thompson
The most wonderful atmosphere paired with delicious food. Their honey-smoked cheesecake may have been the best cheesecake I’ve ever had. Rich moist, expertly accented with the texture of its accompanying crumble–it was perfection on a plate. I will also say that the chefs here are supreme sauce masters. I went there a year ago and still think about the black cod over forbidden black rice with a creamy white beurre blanc sauce. This time the wagyu steak frites that came with the crispest fries and delightful creamed spinach had an amazing sauce. As much as I loved that, the plump ravioli with roasted vegetables had this amazing green sauce that was silky, smooth, and as bright as its neon color. So amazing–highly recommend!
… moreShirley Worrels
One of the best dining experiences that I’ve had in awhile. We went for their Father’s Day brunch buffet. The venue is beautiful with great views. Good food selections and everything was delicious. Outstanding seafood and carving stations. The service was great, especially the woman who seemed to be a manager. Her warmth and helpfulness elevated the experience. I look forward to going back.
… moreKyle Joynt
A wonderful hidden gem on campus with a lovely view from the main dining room. They’re at their best during one of the special events, and I do hope they bring back the lunch buffet.
… moreMartin Repinecz
This place has gotten markedly worse over the years. The servings are tiny and expensive. The last two times I was there, others that ate with me complained about still being hungry after ordering a full entree and dessert. In addition, the food and check were VERY slow to come out and my coffee was served lukewarm. I suggest finding another option.
… moreMelissa Murphy
Simple and elegant. Delicious buffet for a good value. Lovely view of the canyon.
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