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Manhattan of La Jolla transports you to the best of New York via the cozy, upscale village of La Jolla. It is an elegant, casual, and classy place. With quality Italain charm, Manhattan offers classic cocktails and the entrees are as good as it get. Award-winning veal chops, steaks and seafood. Famous for homemade cannelloni. Tableside Ceasar salad, Flambe steaks and desserts. Manhattan remains an award-winning La Jolla favorite since opening in 1986.
Enduring Italian eatery lures locals with traditional dishes, elegant environs & weekly live jazz.
Hours
| Saturday | 5–10 PM |
| Sunday | 5–9 PM |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 5–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 5–9 PM |
| Thursday | 5–9 PM |
| Friday | 5–10 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 7766 Fay Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: (858) 459-0700
Website: https://www.manhattanoflajolla.com/
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Manhattan of La Jolla
Manhattan of La Jolla transports you to the best of New York via the cozy, upscale village of La Jolla. · With quality Italian charm, Manhattan offers classic …
RESERVATIONS – Manhattan of La Jolla
An absolutely gorgeous venue, well spaced, comfortable and intimate. The food was quite literally some of the best I’ve ever had.
MENUS – NEW 2023 – Manhattan of La Jolla
At Manhattan Of La Jolla, we made a living to get the freshest product and made a life to give the best dishes to indulge our guests. FEATURED REVIEW …
Reviews
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.
… moreThey 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.
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.
… moreLULU 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!
… moreThe 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!
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!
… moreBella 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.
… moreThe 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.
… moreWe 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.
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.
… moreZan 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.
… moreAs 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.
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.
… moreJimer 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!!!
… more