Best Restaurants with a Tasting Menu in Del Mar

We have been to the Pacific Beach location and loved it. This time we went to Del Mar and again, fabulous evening. The Pacific Beach location is quieter, more conducive to sipping a glass of wine from the excellent wine menu while one waits for the order to arrive. The Del Mar location is snappier, lively but still quite manageable in terms of having a conversation at the table. In both locations the staff is one of the main reasons to come! Very knowledgeable, we appreciated that our wait person was well versed in the menu and pairings and provided great suggestions. Super friendly, honestly, we felt like family. My suggestion! if you go, go big! We had a dinner guest that wanted a salad, a vegan pizza. Then when the cannoli (developed by a michelin star chef) arrived at the table, he couldn't resist and asked to have his pizza boxed up and got the cannoli instead!! Happiness all around. We are eating the pizza now, for lunch the next day. The food is top notch and i know i speak with authority... my family is from Aqueseria, a small village on Lake Como, i know Italian food! This place is a stand out, not to be missed. thanks

I recently moved from Los Angeles so I've had incredible sushi experiences and have been lucky to befriended some of the best Sushi Chefs in Southern California. As I transition to San Diego a lot of the highly-rated Sushi places on Yelp have largely been focused on Sushi Rolls (nothing wrong with that) but personally for myself the best experience is usually the opportunity to engage the sushi chefs at the sushi bar and listen to how the sushi was prepared vs getting a tray of sushi that needs wasabi and soy sauce. To each their own but I can say that if you want a true sushi dining experience then Boto Sushi Del Mar provides that. It is a cute little restaurant and one of the longest sushi bars I've seen outside of Nobu or Roku. I had Omakasa by Chef Gary and everything was close to perfection with a variety of different dishes aside from the core Nigori sushi and some Sashmi. Each dish was delivered individually and explained how it was prepared by either the Chef or by the great staff. Enjoyed my first real exploration of Sushi in North County and will be back.

My wife and I celebrated our one-year anniversary at Amaya, and it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived, we were captivated by the stunning hotel in which the restaurant is located. The property is absolutely beautiful, and the warm, welcoming staff immediately made us feel special. The exceptional service began right at the entrance with valet parking, which is conveniently validated through the restaurant. Our evening was made even more special thanks to our fantastic waiter, Peter, who took care of us from start to finish. He even surprised us with a complimentary anniversary dessert. The restaurant also provided us a signed card from all the staff to celebrate our anniversary —such a thoughtful touch! We started our meal with a couple of expertly crafted cocktails: the Banana Bread Old Fashioned and the Feelin’ Spritzy—both were delicious and unique. For appetizers, we enjoyed the brioche bread and a selection of oysters. The brioche was warm, soft, and perfectly seasoned, while the oysters were incredibly fresh. Even as someone who isn’t usually a big oyster fan, I found them delightful, especially when paired with the house-made habanero and yuzu sauce, which added just the right amount of heat and brightness. For the main course, we shared the Duck à l’Orange, accompanied by the pomme mousseline and vadouvan carrots. Every bite was perfection. The duck was expertly cooked—crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside—with a rich sauce that tied everything together beautifully. The sides were equally impressive, complementing the dish wonderfully. Amaya is truly a gem, perfect for a romantic date night or a special celebration. We couldn’t have asked for a better anniversary dinner, and we will definitely be returning!

The setup was great- not all tables filled at different times allowed for a more relaxed environment. There was no rush to have us depart after finishing our meal. Food was terrific, and service was very friendly and attentive. The $260 per plate makes this a one time event but worth it on that basis.

worth every penny and every calorie - bravo chef bradley and staff!