Best Restaurants with a Tasting Menu in Downtown

Came on NY’s day for lunch. Food, ambience, and service were fantastic. There was an issue initially with the hostess getting our party seated even though we had a reservation. The hostess was not very receptive, reassuring, or service oriented it seemed. But the manager eventually got involved who was amazing and got us all situated. Norma was the sweetest. Would definitely come here again :)

In town for a concert at Petco Park and was looking for a steak restaurant in the gas lamp district. What a surprise! We were a tad skeptical with the options of apps and sides but absolutely everything was top notch and we loved our dining experience. All servers were extremely friendly and fun yet super professional!

Had an amazing experience at Nobu trying the Holiday Omakase menu. My wife and I went for our anniversary and were thoroughly impressed by the attentive service, professional staff, and most of all the outstanding meal. Each course was delivered in a very timely fashion, as we never felt rushed yet never waited on the next course. Cocktails were promptly prepared as ordered, and our water glasses were always topped off. The dinner was well prepared and no course was lacking. At the end, they were thoughtful enough to include a “Happy Anniversary” message on our dessert plate. Overall, I was impressed by and grateful for the entire course of service. Will certainly return.

Attended the 5-course Christmas Eve dinner. It was worth every penny- from start to finish it was coursed beautifully, ingredients were fresh and cooked perfectly to temp, plating was festive and colourful; and all this with just the right timed check-ins from my bartender/server James. The couple next to me did the wine pairing and everything was explained nicely and paired well... along with some fun history & stories- I opted for the cocktails which were creative and utilized some lovely ingredients as well as being well balanced.

Smokin' J's BBQ is a gem unbeknownst to us. My wife and I were attending an event at the Balboa Theater and were looking to make a reservation close to the venue. Smokin' J's is literally across the street...it couldn't be more convenient. Everything was excellent, the service was outstanding, the food was delicious with very ample portions. Even though we live in Encinitas, we will go back downtown to dine at Smokin' J's again. To us, it was a hidden gem.