Michelin-Recommended Nine-Ten

Recently discovered a gem of a restaurant in La Jolla – NINE-TEN! While it's listed as a Michelin Recommendation, for me, it was a perfect 5/5 experience! The value for money was surprisingly high! 💰 Price/Positioning: For two people, we had one starter and two main courses, costing only about $70 per person after tax! Incredibly worth it! Plus, they have "Free Dessert Monday" – order two main courses and get a free dessert! Awesome! 🖼️ Ambience: It features a typical upscale hotel restaurant layout (inside the Grande Colonial Hotel), with the ambience absolutely on point. The lighting is slightly dim, creating a romantic and intimate vibe, perfect for dates or business dinners. 👨‍🍳 Creative Fusion: I heard the head chef specializes in Jamaican cuisine. The menu features many Italian 🇮🇹 + Jamaican 🇯🇲 fusion dishes, each one full of delightful surprises. 🌟 Must-Try Dishes (Highly Recommended): • 🍝 Starter: Cacio e Pepe • The pasta had the perfect authentic al dente texture (firm to the bite but not hard). • The thick sauce coated every strand of pasta beautifully, with a pronounced savory saltiness. • The highlight was the addition of finely grated salted egg yolk, elevating the savory flavor to another level. • Finished with coarse black pepper, providing just the right amount of spicy kick to cut through the richness! • 🥩 Main Course: Rib Eye (Recommended Medium Rare) • The steak was cooked perfectly, with abundant marbling. • Topped with a rich, flavorful Jamaican-style savory sauce – very unique and characteristic! • Pine nuts cut through the richness, squash added a touch of sweetness, and everything was garnished with small yellow petals. The layers of texture and flavor were incredible, with each bite truly "bursting with deliciousness" in your mouth! • 🐟 Main Course: Black Cod • The fish skin was masterfully prepared! It was a thick, crispy crust that integrated perfectly with the flesh, yet the fish itself remained melt-in-your-mouth tender and juicy! • The seasoning was perfectly balanced, very suitable for Asian palates. • (Minor drawback: The accompanying vegetables were a bit ordinary, reminiscent of something from Panda Express 😂) 🍰 Complimentary Dessert (Figs and Coconut): • Olive oil cake base, paired with a refreshing coconut flavor (like whipped cream, but lighter). • Figs and jelly provided low sweetness, helping to balance the richness. • The sorbet was the most flavor-intense component of the whole dessert, smooth and icy. • Overall, it was novel and highly recommended! Summary: Highly recommended – a perfect score! The creativity of the main courses and the skill in preparing the Black Cod exceeded what I'd expect from a standard Michelin Recommendation! Don't miss going on a Monday for the free dessert! #NineTen #LaJollaEats #SanDiegoFood #MichelinRecommended #FusionCuisine #ItalianFood #GreatValueRestaurant #DateNightSpot