AMAYA — Restaurant in San Diego

Grand Del Mar and Amaya: A Heartbreaking Decline The Grand Del Mar has been a treasured destination for our family, year after year—a place synonymous with elegance, charm, and the type of attention to detail that made every visit magical. Sadly, this season’s visit was nothing short of heartbreaking, leaving us wondering what has happened to the place we once loved. The first sign of change hit us at the entrance. The iconic arrangements of overflowing buckets of fresh flowers that have been a hallmark of the hotel’s beauty were nowhere to be seen. Instead, there stood a modest Christmas tree—pretty, yes, but far from extraordinary and certainly not befitting the Grand Del Mar’s legendary reputation. The seating areas, once dazzling with tasteful holiday decorations, looked sparse and uninspired. While the furniture has been updated, it seemed like a poor attempt to mask the loss of the hotel's character and warmth. Our disappointment grew as we headed to the bar area. The menu was shockingly limited, and the waiter informed us they had already run out of three items. This level of unpreparedness was startling for such an establishment. To add insult to injury, the small yet thoughtful touches that used to elevate the experience—like the complimentary salted nuts and crackers—were gone. Feeling increasingly underwhelmed, we decided to dine at Amaya, hoping the meal would salvage our evening. It didn’t. As we walked through the hotel, the magic of past years seemed completely lost. Cheap-looking decorations took the place of the once-elegant details, further underlining the diminishing standards under new management. Amaya, a restaurant we’ve long admired, was only half full—an eerie sign for what used to be a bustling dining spot. My husband ordered the steelhead trout ($42) with a side of fries. What arrived was downright insulting. The portion was laughable, barely 3.5-4 ounces when it was clearly advertised as 8 ounces. Worse, the taste was utterly ordinary, no different than a run-of-the-mill piece of salmon. For a restaurant that once prided itself on culinary excellence, this dish was the epitome of mediocrity. It was clear that whoever is running the kitchen now lacks the finesse and standards that previously defined Amaya’s dining experience. The entire evening was marked by disappointment, culminating in the realization that the Grand Del Mar has lost what made it extraordinary. The new management has seemingly stripped away the soul of this beloved establishment, leaving behind an experience that feels hollow, cheapened, and completely unworthy of its legacy. For now, we will take our family traditions elsewhere. Unless there is a dramatic overhaul—including hiring a chef who understands quality and portion standards—and a revival of the Grand Del Mar’s signature elegance, we won’t be back. It’s truly devastating to see such a once-iconic place fall...

TL;DR, Amaya screwed up my Valentine’s reservation with only three days notice.

I am a student who works minimum wage in the service industry, and wanted to book a table for Valentine’s Day with my girlfriend of four years. Due to customer volume, many restaurants choose to offer set tasting menus on valentine’s; in this case, Amaya offered their menu for 200/person, ~250 after tip & tax. Although this is likely fair value for the food and ambiance, this is simply unaffordable for someone in my position. So, I was excited to see, when looking at OpenTable, that they were offering both the set “Valentine’s Menu,” as well as the option for a “Standard Reservation,” which would be within my price range. I double-checked the website and OpenTable but found no mention of the valentine’s menu being the only one available. So, I went ahead under the reasonable assumption that what they had listed on OpenTable was correct, and a restaurant of their stature would be able to accommodate an à la carte menu as well. I got a call three days prior to valentine’s confirming my reservation, and, just in case, decided to double-check that my reservation was made for the standard menu. The host said that, as far as she knew, only the valentines menu was being offered, but that she would check with management and call back later. The day goes by, I call back with no response and leave a message. The next morning, I receive a call saying that they made a mistake with their reservation listings, and that they would indeed only be offering the valentine’s menu. I have owned a pop-up, set-menu restaurant, and have friends who have run set-menu services as well, so I understand that, if the chefs are only doing prep for a set menu, it would be very difficult for them to offer additional items. I ask if there’s any way to share a single menu between the two of us, or any other way to accommodate the kitchen. The host again checked with management, but there was nothing they could do. Again, this is all two days before valentine’s, and after admitting that they made a mistake listing the reservation options. To be clear, the host was very respectful and seemed genuinely sympathetic to the situation, but the management did not offer any type of solution or even provide an apology for their mistake. I have never seen this level of carelessness and disrespect working or dining anywhere else, and I certainly would not expect it from an establishment that shares a property with a three Michelin...

I recently dined at Amaya during restaurant week, which featured an appetizer and entrée for $45, with an optional dessert for an additional $9. This was my first visit to the property, and I was struck by the hotel's beautiful "old money" charm. The complimentary valet service was a pleasant bonus.

My friend and I were seated outside, enjoying picturesque views of the golf course and the lawn area. However, the service left much to be desired. We waited about 20 minutes before any staff acknowledged us, and we had to request the restaurant week menu as it wasn't provided initially.

For our appetizers, we both opted for the French onion soup, which was flavorful and satisfying. Unfortunately, the entrée was a disappointment. We each ordered the burger, which turned out to be excessively salty and overcooked. Additionally, the presence of pickles on the burger was neither disclosed on the menu nor mentioned by the waiter, which was an issue for me as I don't like pickles. I opted for a side salad with my burger and it was one of the worst salads I have ever had with root lettuce and no other veggies as I expected. I also added the dessert and it was the best thing I had.

Our dining experience stretched over 2.5 hours due to the slow service. On a brighter note, we witnessed a lovely bride and groom's first look at a wedding taking place on the lawn, which added a touch of romance to the afternoon.

After our meal, we strolled around the grounds, which are truly beautiful and well-maintained. The venue also hosts tea parties, adding to its allure.

Overall, while the setting at Amaya is undeniably attractive, the combination of poor service and subpar food doesn't offer good value for money. I am uncertain if I...