Sky Room

The Tasting Menu was phenomenal. My first time having a 7-​course meal. It was around 2012 when I had this. Glad I was able to experience this menu! ^_^

Enjoyed Paul McCabe’s Mushroom Dinner last Friday in the Sky Room!
It’s a lovely spot and I’d love to go again! It’s located on the 10^th floor with two more floors above with hotel rooms.
Paul is a great chef and in action at La Valencia.
Five Course dinner was based around fungi! Love it.
1^st — Autumn Green — enoki, oats, red beet, peanut
2^nd — Dorade — red miso, bluefoot, mushroom dashi, edamame
3^nd — Mushroom Roast — broccoli raab, hen egg, perigord black truffles, pine
4^th — Wild Scottish Hare — black tompette sausage, chanterelle, prosciutto
5^th — Cashew Frangipane — porcini sabayon, candy cap, yeast ice cream
Service was outstanding!

Tonight this place is closing! What a shame with the great location, food and service. Five of us went here last Saturday night for our Christmas’s New Years event. Service was spot on from the start. Ladies first, chairs pulled out and napkins of the proper color placed.
Three of our group got the wine pairing. One of our group was the designated driver and the last had a cocktail.
While the food portions and wine pourings where minimal, after seven courses everyone was well satisfied. Our top three collective favorites where the beef cheeks and nookie. Lentil soup with pig belly and the squash dessert. Where would you find those combinations? Food was perfectly prepared and presented.
While expensive, $ 95 for the seven course meal and another $ 55 for the wine pairing, for our special occasion it was well worth it. The La Valencia is a great location. We are sorry to see the Sky Room located at the top here with its twelve tables close for we would have liked to return again.

I’m always on the lookout for restaurants in San Diego with tasting menus, it’s really big on the East Coast. If it is well executed its definitely one of best dining experiences you will ever encounter. I’m a little surprised it’s hasn’t become popular over here. So when I found out that the beautiful «Sky Room» reopened and has decided to go with a tasting menu I was very thrilled!
First let me start by saying don’t hesitate to order the wine pairing. You’ll know what I mean once you try it. You can tell there was a lot of time, effort and attention to detail in the making of this paring. it definitely completes the meal.
When it comes to fine dining the staff at the Sky Room really knows what they’re doing. Everything is perfectly orchestrated and well done.
Now the food was amazing a seven course meal with items that consisted of. Oysters, John Dory fish and venison. Venison? Yes ! At first I was a little hesitant, the idea that I could be eating Bambi’s mother came to mind. But once it arrived I was intrigued by the presentation, it was beautiful. The venison was cooked to perfection (pretty sure it was sous vide) all the flavors seem to balance very well and it wasn’t gamy at all.
I definitely recommend you check this place out. The view is amazing from every table. It will be a dinner you will never forget. I’m very happy to see that we have a respectable restaurant with a outstanding tasting menu in San Diego. I only hope more chefs will follow.

The service is UNBELIEVABLE. We had such a great time. Here is what we ate. These are not in the correct order
Raw Albacore — my favorite part
Poached Egg — like a benedict, was also good
Duck Breast — boyfriend had duck, I don’t eat duck, so I had a wonderful quinoa dish
Cheese plate — Petit Basque, really tasty
Chilled Tomato Soup — SO GOOD
Shrimp with a Shrimp foam — really good
Fennel Ice Cream with all kinds of chocolate goodness — Not a HUGE fan of fennel myself, but the rest was great
And two Cucumber Agave Margaritas with Jalapeño — SO GOOD
I highly recommend. We had SO much fun, its a great experience.
Our reservation was for 8:30, if I had known I would have made it for a little earlier, you can barely see the ocean at 8:30, and that’s one of the restaurants best features. So I would do 7 next time.

What an amazing little gem. This was possibly one of the best meals of my life so far.
The Sky Room has definitely earned its name… It is placed delicately above the La Valencia Hotel surrounded by huge windows that allow breathtaking views from any of the 10 tables in the restaurant. We arrived for our 7:30 reservation a few minutes early so we sat at the bar and had a drink while we watched the sunset and a group of dolphins play just below us.
This restaurant just reopened, 3 weeks ago, and they have hired a new chef who is phenomenal. The twist here is that there is NO MENU. The hosts make sure to ask of any allergies, or dislikes, but please don’t insult the chef by coming and saying you don’t want whats on his menu just because you’re picky. You can easily eat someplace else, and choose what you have for dinner.
We were told that the night would consist of a 7 course tasting menu, wine/​champagne parings included. I about choked at the thought of 7 courses, and was glad I wore a loosely fitted dress to hide my food baby. But I was wrong… By the end of the evening I was comfortably full and completely satisfied.
Dinner the night we went consisted of:
1 — Scallop (prepared sashimi style) with watermelon, cucumber, and radish
~~~J. de Telmont ‘La Grande Reserve’, Champagne NV
2 — Tomato soup with beans, basil, and manchego cheese
~~~Skouras Moscofilero, Argos, Greece 2011
3 — Medai (Japanese Butterfish) with onions, peppers and mizuna
~~~Bret Brothers Macon Uchizy Burgandy, France 2009
4 — Pork belly 2 ways — Ravioli and Fried with corn, blueberry foam, and thyme
~~~Thivin Cote de Brouilly, Beaujolais, France 2010
5 — Lamb (best lamb of my life) with wild mushrooms, zucchini, and black garlic
~~~Cultivar Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley 2009
6 — Cheese Plate — some delectable creamy cheese I forgot the name of with plum, frisee, and hazelnuts
~~~Dom. Singla Rivesaltes, Languedoc, France 2004
***Refresher /​palate cleanser***
Basically, a spoonful of sour green grape shaved ice. Amazing.
7 — Deconstructed Strawberry Shortcake — Spongecake, mascarpone cheese, fresh strawberries, strawberry sorbet, and an aged balsamic.
~~~Bottex Bugey Cerdon, Savioe, France NV
I wish I had the time to give wonderful details about every little piece of the meal, but I don’t. What I know for sure is, I had a fabulous evening here. Dinner took about 3 hours, we loved taking our time.
The staff is outstanding and very attentive without being overbearing or annoying. And the fact that they play hip-​hop, rap and dub step ever so quietly in the background is just icing on the cake. You wouldn’t notice unless its music you listen to, so it was a nice surprise for me :)
There is nothing bad I can say about this restaurant. I know they will do wonderful with their new chef, who we had the pleasure of meeting. We will definitely be back.

Absolutely stunning.
The attention to detail at Sky Room is daunting. The Sidecars are delicious. The staff is kind (and cute).
My friend and I were awestruck, and will return.

The food here is amazing. I love the hotel for its classic feel and the way they make their guests feel. So we decided to grab dinner here the other night. And we weren’t disappointed. I had a wedge salad and the wagyu new york. Both prepared perfectly for my liking. scallop with watermelon radish cucumber, pork with corn blueberry thyme.
Everything tasted great, service phenomenal. And it all tasted great without any alcohol involved. Thats a great dinner.

The food can be improved, but the service was right on. Some people assume if the menu items are priced high, the food must be good. The food was OK, it certainly wasn’t the best I have had. The price is a little too much for what you get, but the service makes up for it.
I read it somewhere else too — and maybe it was only me, but my steak was a little on the salty side and was overdone for what I had requested. I still swallowed it whole: D and wish there was more. I will go back again, and maybe next time ask the server to make sure it isn’t seasoned too much.

came here for my birthday dinner!
valet parking is the way to go. i believe it was $ 6 with validation from the restaurant.
the elevator to get to the sky room was quaint and super cute. the restaurant itself was small and intimate with an amazing view at every table!
the service was superb and everything from the rolls & butter to the delicious appetizers and steak were all amazing (:
the drinks were strong and unfortunately we were too full for dessert but the table next to ours got some and they looked exceptional as well.
there‘s even a small outside area to take some amazing photographs. i definitely recommend sky room for any special occasions!

I was convinced that I would never write a five star review for any restaurant in San Diego. I searched and searched for a fantastic place and luckily it found me!
I came here the other night and was blown away with my experience! Not only are the views breathtaking, the service was superb and the food was incredible! We had the tasting menu and it was a spectacular way to really experience Sky Room. A key stand out was the Wagyu! Perfection on my plate! So perfect I was giddy in my seat.
This is a great place for a special occasion or for a romantic date.

EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE! AWESOME OCEANVIEW!
My boyfriend and I came here for our anniversary, and it was a great choice. So when we first walking in, we were a little intimidated by the servers in suits and small setting. However, do not be intimidated. Servers were all very friendly and helpul. Small intimate setting was nice and romantic… not overcrowded and not loud. We were about 45 minutes early for our reservation, but luckily they were able to seat us right away. Oh and, there is no host/​hostess. The servers see you walk in, and assist you as needed. Even when they see you walking away from the table to go to the bathroom, they make sure you know where you are going. And, when you return to your seat, your napkin is refolded for you, and if a server is nearby, they pull/​push in your chair for you. Nice touch!
We both ordered the tasting menu for ~$ 95 pp. We also corked wine for $ 25 per bottle. Everything was yummy. Oh and BROWNIE POINTS: Complimentary Warm Bread served with Soft Butter.
More brownie points. As I was looking out at the view, I thought it would be nice for us to take a picture, but didn’t want to look like a tourist in a fancy restaurant. Luckily, our server was the one to ask us if we had a camera, so he could take a picture of us before sunset. AWESOME!!! We have never had a server ask to take our picture for us. TOTALLY AWESOME!
All in all, it was a great experience, and we would definitely recommend it for a nice romantic dinner.

Went to Sky Room as a farewell/​graduation dinner with the boyfriend. The ambiance of the restaurant is amazing– breathtaking view, intimate, and romantic. Ordered the five course tasting menu and each dish just got better and better. It was definitely worth it. I was utterly impressed by this restaurant, it definitely made my top 3 in San Diego. The food was prepared with such detail, and the service was great. I left completely satisfied and with a happy tummy :) Definitely recommend this place to anyone, whether it be a 2 person type event, or even a party of 10.

My family and I ate at the Sky Room for my graduation dinner and it was really a night to remember.
We did the tasting menu, and let me tell you every single dish was TO DIE FOR! It seriously kept getting better. I tried so many things that I probably would never order, but ended up loving. The servers were great, and totally accommodating to my step-​mom the vegetarian, and my brother who’s allergic to shellfish.
The view was great, the champagne was great, and the ambiance was very intimate. It is definitely one of the more formal restaurants I’ve ever been to, yet I noticed people at other tables in baseball hats and t-​shirts!
All in all, It’s hard to imagine how the dinner could have been better.

Despite good reviews, walking in to the Sky Room I was more than a bit taken aback by the bad 70’s disco atmosphere. It all just seemed so out of place after riding up from a period lobby in an old-​fashioned elevator with an operator. Needless-​to-​say, I was more than a bit concerned about the experience about to unfold before me, but I figured if all else it would give us something to talk about.
We received a very friendly welcome and were quickly seated at what I would say was best table in the house — we were right against the windows with a commanding view of La Jolla Cove.
Throughout our evening, the wait staff proved to be exceptionally personable and professional. Glasses never languished on the table unfilled, bar requests were handled quickly, information regarding menu items was provided… In addition, they participated in friendly banter with us which made the experience even more enjoyable. (On a personal note, I noted that what I would guess were regulars were always greeted by name and make to feel welcome.)
At the suggestion of our waiter, we all choose the tasting menu which was excellent. (It was suggested that the tasting menu works best if everyone at the table order it.)
Although the tasting menu changes regularly, when looking at their website today, I noticed some similarities from our visit to what is available now. The Greg Norman Wagyu steak was our beef course as well and was melt-​in-​your mouth buttery. I highly recommend it. The SO included the wine pairings which he felt were very well chosen and healthy pours.
The kitchen was more than happy to accommodate my tree nut allergy — making omissions and substitutions as needed without impacting flavor or enjoyment.
I’m not sure if it was the kitchen or wait staff who made the decision, but instead of bringing us all the same dessert, they delivered three different desserts and allowed us to choose. Fortunately for the chocoholic at the table, there was one festival of chocolate brought forth.
Despite the rather funky atmosphere, the small physical space and limited number of tables allows for a most relaxing and quiet dining experience.
Prices are a bit high, but when you take into account the size of the restaurant and what the kitchen produces, it seems quite reasonable.
Speaking of the kitchen, you can get a look at it when walking down the hall from the elevator to the restaurant. I think my kitchen at home is larger than theirs and I don’t have to produce meals for 40+ guests.
They are scheduled for a remodel in the future which is going to double the number of tables and expand the bar. Hopefully they will maintain their friendly staff and excellent cuisine.

Everything in a whole made up this place. From the nice ambiance of viewing the ocean to the tasty testing menu. This has got to be on my top list of throwbacks.
The service is typical of a 5 star restaurant, almost like your in Vegas. I don’t have the slightest clue of what the names of the dishes are, and that’s pretty common with higher end tasting menu’s.
At $ 170 for two people it’s not quite for the average person. Will I come back here? Certainly and will you mind picking up the bill, I’ll get you back when we go to Denny’s.

One of the best meals of my life!
My husband took me here for our 3 year anniversary and boy was this a treat! My husband had the crusted rack of lamb with ratatouille and goat cheese soufflé and I had the Pan Seared Sea Scallops. Both were delicious and perfectly cooked. Since it was our anniversary and we were the only table seated, the chef and waiter/​sommelier treated us extra special and brought out extra items from their Chef’s Tasting (Prix Fixe) Menu as well as an after dinner drink. Nice!
This place is for special occasions. Bring your date or significant other here when you really want to impress them.

Hubby and I came here for our celebration… of getting a brand new house and also at the time, our wedding anniversary was right around the corner, so we decided to splurge a little bit… ok, a lot! Our tab came to about $ 400 for our meal, probably the highest we’ve paid for dinner for just the two of us, but it was worth every penny. Hey, you only live once, right?
I love that that chef has a special menu each and every time, he talks about how he only cooks what’s in season and he gets his ingredients from the farm and so therefore, the menu is constantly changing. We really appreciate the chef coming out to explain that to us and even greeted us personally. That was very nice of him! In fact, they even seat us right by the window, with the wonderful view of the ocean!
I also loved that everyone around us was dressed to the nines, it’s great to see that there are people who take food seriously and dress for the occasion. I know that San Diego is a casual place, but it urks me when people don’t care to try and dress up for special occasions, especially for a restaurant like this! Of course, this time, we didn’t have that problem. All the men were wearing suit jackets, some even in black tie attire. The women were dressed to the nines and it was like a fashion show when they walked in one by one.
We first discovered this place when my husband’s grandparents were staying at the Valencia Hotel and we had lunch here. I fell in love with the place and had to come back. Though I will admit, this isn’t a place you take your friends or family, it’s very romantic and for the price tag, who wants to split that kind of bill, so it’s better off to go as a couple. My husband and I generally don’t like going out with other couples to fancy places like this any way.
Unfortunately, my mini camera (that’s the only one I brought that day) decided to only do video so I have a video of us at this place, and a video of each plate, so I’ll upload it and put it on here soon. To start, we had the scallops flambee, which was phenomenal! Hubby got the lobster bisque, which was also very delicious. Our entrée, I had the salmon, which was perfectly cooked and hubby got the kobe beef with a side of lobster tail (surf and turf). To finish, we shared a crème brûlée, since that’s hubby’s favorite dessert. We washed this all down with a bottle of Italian wine. Our waiter was phenomenal and was on point with everything! He even dressed like a million bucks!
After dinner, our waiter suggested we go out to the balcony for photos, we told him our camera wasn’t doing photos today, so he did a video of us enjoying the view, we watched it later, and it looked like a professional videographer took it.
Very romantic! Very special, and very worth it! This is the TOP fine dining I’ve ever done.

CONTEXT
Farm-​to-​kitchen-​to-​table philosophy and minimally processed. If your idea of good food is to get the freshest and best of ingredients and do the least to it, this is your place. Elegant and simple in preparation. No memorable culinary masterpieces but great food nonetheless.
Sky Room is definitely not a first-​date place (don’t take him/​her here unless you’ve said the «L» word) nor is it a place to dine with friends. Go with special loved ones or that special significant other.
WINES:
2006 Bennett Family Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
2006 Château Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
FOOD
(Amuse bouche)
Lobster and avocado mousse «fritter»
Dunguness crab
* Jumbo lump meat intricately mixed with micro greens. Intricately sublime. Great main composition but lacking on compliments; pairing sauce was a bit too simple.
Wagyu NY-​cut (Greg Norman)
* Ordered rare w/​fingerling potatoes, chanterelles and broccoli
* It looked like a rib-​eye cut but was informed that it was the portion nearest to the top
* Slightly overcooked to a medium rare in the center due to resting but other than that, a gorgeous steak seared with a perfect crispy crust
* Gorgeous reduction sauce and complimented, not overpowered, the steak
Dessert drink (Tawny Port):
Non-​vintage Taylor Fladgate 10-​year
* A subtle compliment to the desserts.
Banana cream «pie»
* Caramelized bananas and heavenly custard in a perfectly flaky crust lined with hardened chocolate.
Raspberry and white chocolate bread pudding w/​pistaccio ice-​cream
* The bread pudding was a bit sweet which the waiter warned. The pistaccio ice-​cream was heavenly (I could eat a bowl of this).
SERVICE
Satisfactorily attentive; they needed an additional waiter (they only had two on staff). Dinner patrons were pouring their own wines since the staff of two was so overwhelmed. Also, not full-​service: E.g. napkins were never folded when placed on the chair.
For a nice restaurant focused on food (like Sky Room), you shouldn’t judge a restaurant on its service. Focus on the food, not the service. Service does not define a great restaurant; only its food does.
CONCLUSION
A must for a San Diego special occassion. They don’t have «restaurant week» so it makes the restaurant more of a special experience than other nice restaurants flooded by mass-​produced, $ 40 prix fixe meals.
Sky Room… well-​done!

I took my parents here for their 32^nd wedding anniversary. We were all happy with our meal and dining experience.
The hotel is really beautiful, the elevator up to the restaurant is human operated which is a neat touch. Once you’re in the restaurant, it is really quite cozy. They only have 10 or so tables total, so the dining experience is quite intimate. There is a nice little view of downtown and I’m sure if it wasn’t winter time, we could’ve seen the beautiful la jolla coast.
Our food was great, we had the 5 course chef tasting, the scallops were my favorite.
I feel like San Diego’s fine dining scene is a little behind the times but this restaurant is certainly an enjoyable experience.