The Desmond

4.5

149 Reviews

$31 to $50

American

Make a booking

2 people

27 Nov 2024

19:00

Charming
Great for creative cocktails
Good for special occasions

We're California born and bred. Best in the world? Yeah. We’ve got that. These are year-round farms. Lifelong fishermen. Orchards that thrive well beyond the fall. Our ingredients here in Southern California are the very best, and we treat them with the respect that they deserve. Join us for an experience that showcases the best of the bounty, with flavors that are truly memorable.

Private dining

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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
American, Contemporary Italian, Californian
Hours of Operation
Wed, Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(619) 241-7214
Website
https://www.stayalma.com/dining/the-desmond/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Private party facilities
Special occasions remind us there's always something to toast to. Whether it's a birthday bash, anniversary party, or even a dinner meeting, our private dining rooms are your culinary blank canvas. Invite your favorite people for a fun evening out with a curated menu and an impeccable vibe.
Private party contact
info@thedesmondsandiego.com: (619) 515-3000

Location
1047 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101-5101
Area
Downtown
Cross Street
Broadway
Parking details
Valet
Public transit
5th Street Blue line Trolley
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Vegan

Offers

Lounge Exclusive: Wine Flight
Multiple dates available
Sun - 17:00 - 21:00,Wed - Thu - 17:00 - 21:00,Fri - Sat - 17:00 - 21:45
Stop by the bar in The Desmond for our newest offering: a wine flight featuring a variety of four 3oz pours, each paired with a light bite. Now available in The Desmond's lounge for $25 per person.
Wine B-Sides
Multiple dates available
Sun - 17:00 - 21:00,Wed - Thu - 17:00 - 21:00
Enjoy up to 50% off select wines by the bottle every Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday at The Desmond. Ask your server for details. Selection may vary.

Popular dishes

Oysters on the Half ShellUS$28.00
mezcal mignonette, lemon, house made hot sauce
Patatas BravasUS$15.00
okinawan purple potato, harissa aioli, nuoc cham vinaigrette, scallion
Moroccan Lamb and Pork MeatballsUS$19.00
smoked tomato tajin, semolina polenta, honey, dates
Octopus al Pastor TostadaUS$22.00
guajillo harissa marinade, tepache avocado salsa verde, grilled pineapple, pickled red onions, cilantro
BBQ Spring CarrotsUS$20.00
carrot top pesto, ras el hanout, honey, crispy quinoa
Spring LettucesUS$16.00
green tahini dressing, marcona almonds, marinated cherry tomato, dill, grilled strawberries
Roasted CauliflowerUS$21.00
romesco sauce, salsa macha, vadouvan, grilled lemon
BBQ CarrotsUS$17.00
carrot top pesto, whiped citrus goat cheese, ras el hanout honey, crispy quinoa
Fennel and Apple SaladUS$16.00
bloomsdale spinach, apples, dates, parsley, apple vinaigrette, fennel pollen

Fresh Pastas

AgnolottiUS$26.00
caramelized carrot, maitake mushroom, black kale, parmesan, chive
BucatiniUS$29.00
calabrian chili and pancetta sugo, herbed ricotta, pickled fresno, marjoram
RigatoniUS$28.00
duck confit, candied pearl onion, madeira mushroom cream, bread crumbs, petit herbs

Entrees

Local BassUS$50.00
bbq maitake, roasted sunchokes, lemon, fennel
Seared TunaUS$40.00
pepperonata, white gazpacho sauce, green grapes, almonds
Hanger SteakUS$52.00
grilled asparagus, potato rosti, salsa macha, yuzu kosho bernaise
Roasted Half ChickenUS$34.00
coconut forbidden rice, snap pea salad, pepitas
Lamb ShankUS$35.00
mole negro, black kale, dukkah, petit herbs

Dessert

Wildflower Honey Coconut TapiocaUS$15.00
mango custard, honey sweet mango, coconut geleé, toasted coconut
Pecan Carrot CakeUS$15.00
citrus cream cheese, candied carrot curls, sumac carrot dust
Dark Chocolate Silk PieUS$15.00
salted cream, shaved chocolate, morello cherry hot fudge, roasted cocoa nibs
Seasonal Ice Cream and SorbetUS$10.00

What 149 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.6Service
4.4Ambience
3.9Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Desmond, nestled in the Kimpton Hotel, is a "hidden gem" offering "outstanding food" and a "well curated cocktail list." Guests rave about the "excellent and creative chef" and "attentive and delightful staff." With a seasonal menu, it's perfect for those seeking a unique dining experience away from the crowds.

149 Reviews

T
Trina
San Diego
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on 5 October 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
Food excellent but had a long wait for service. Staff extremely friendly.
Is this helpful?
K
Karenza
Chicago
20 reviews
vip
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on 13 September 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The service was nice. I was there to celebrate my birthday but for too full for a dessert. They put a cheesecake in my bag with a candle. That made my night.
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C
Chris
San Diego
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on 31 August 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Whether you are a local or a San Diego visitor looking for a place that is nearby but free of the Gas Lamp or Little Italy crowds, try the Desmond. In the Kimpton hotel - but promise - it is not your typical hotel restaurant. Excellent and creative chef, interesting menu, reasonably priced, attentive and delightful staff. What more could you want?! We have been here a few times - and every time we come back to the Desmond, we leave saying, we need to visit more often. It’s that good.
The DesmondResponded on 12 September 2024
Hi Chris, We're overjoyed to hear that you enjoyed your experience at The Desmond. We're glad that our unique location and creative menu made a positive impression on you. We're also thrilled that you found our prices reasonable and our staff attentive and delightful. Your kind words mean a lot to us and motivate us to continue providing excellent food and service. We will be sure to share your review with the whole staff. We're looking forward to your next visit. Thank you for your continued support! Warm Regards, The Desmond Management Team
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Orlando
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on 24 August 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Food was WAY too salty for us, I mean wow. 9 pm on a Friday there was no one there so that should have been a clue food wasn’t great. Service was fine and they comped us a desert. Apologies to the folks there but I do not recommend this place.
Is this helpful?
M
Mark
San Diego
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on 16 August 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Outstanding dining experience. The food was nicely paired with wonderful Justin with es.
Is this helpful?
M
Michael
San Diego
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on 16 August 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Unfortunately the food wasn’t that good. The octopus was overly charred and the pork loin was so fatty I could t eat it. So for the price, I have had so much better. The ambiance was decent though and the company was great.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on 16 August 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Went for the Justin wine pairing dinner. Every single course was off the charts amazing. Excellent staff. We were on the rooftop for this event. Hard to beat a summer evening in San Diego on a rooftop!
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VN
VernN
San Francisco
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on 22 June 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
All great . Super good food . They have a party chef that’s incredible
Is this helpful?
CS
CarolynS
San Diego
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on 17 June 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent service, great atmosphere, and outstanding food. We will be back for sure!
Is this helpful?
IM
IMAO
San Diego
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on 9 June 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Hidden gem on mezzanine level in Kimpton hotel with excellent service and a well curated cocktail list. The place was quiet on a Saturday night -- I guess people flock to Gaslamp to drink and party, so this place is a bit left out, and we can have all the space and attentive staff by ourselves :)
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FAQs

The Desmond is rated 4.5 stars by 149 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

27 Nov 2024

19:00

1047 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101-5101

Additional information

Cross Street
Broadway
Area
Downtown
Hours of Operation
Wed, Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
American, Contemporary Italian, Californian
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Valet
Public transit
5th Street Blue line Trolley
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Vegan

Website
https://www.stayalma.com/dining/the-desmond/
Phone number
(619) 241-7214
Private party facilities
Special occasions remind us there's always something to toast to. Whether it's a birthday bash, anniversary party, or even a dinner meeting, our private dining rooms are your culinary blank canvas. Invite your favorite people for a fun evening out with a curated menu and an impeccable vibe.
Private party contact
info@thedesmondsandiego.com: (619) 515-3000

The Desmond

Make a booking

Private dining

Additional information

Lounge Exclusive: Wine Flight

Wine B-Sides

Rigatoni

Bucatini

Agnolotti

Bread Service

Everything Spice Parker House RollsUS$10.00

additional dipsUS$8.00

Starters

Oysters on the Half ShellUS$28.00

Patatas BravasUS$15.00

Moroccan Lamb and Pork MeatballsUS$19.00

Octopus al Pastor TostadaUS$22.00

BBQ Spring CarrotsUS$20.00

Spring LettucesUS$16.00

Roasted CauliflowerUS$21.00

BBQ CarrotsUS$17.00

Fennel and Apple SaladUS$16.00

Fresh Pastas

AgnolottiUS$26.00

BucatiniUS$29.00

RigatoniUS$28.00

Entrees

Local BassUS$50.00

Seared TunaUS$40.00

Hanger SteakUS$52.00

Roasted Half ChickenUS$34.00

Lamb ShankUS$35.00

Dessert

Wildflower Honey Coconut TapiocaUS$15.00

Pecan Carrot CakeUS$15.00

Dark Chocolate Silk PieUS$15.00

Seasonal Ice Cream and SorbetUS$10.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

How is The Desmond restaurant rated?

Is The Desmond currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Additional information