Beeside Balcony La Jolla — Restaurant in San Diego

For my 40th birthday, my mom and I celebrated with a memorable meal at Beside Balcony in La Jolla, and it was nothing short of perfect. The cozy-yet-elevated vibe of the restaurant, paired with its gorgeous location, made it the ideal setting for such a special day.

We started with a toast—mimosas that were bright, bubbly, and just the right amount of celebratory. For the main event, we couldn’t resist the Spanish octopus, which was nothing less than a work of art. Braised and seared to perfection, it was tender, flavorful, and paired with an ensemble of ingredients that truly elevated the dish: creamy potato fondant, smoky bacon, peppery arugula, tangy feta, and sweet caramelized onions, all tied together with a lemon truffle vinaigrette. Each bite felt indulgent yet balanced, a thoughtful combination of richness and brightness.

To complement the boldness of the octopus, we also ordered the BeeYoutiful Bowl—a fresh, vibrant dish that hit all the right notes. The combination of quinoa, edamame, garbanzo beans, arugula, brussel sprouts, red onions, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and avocado, all tossed in a lemon vinaigrette, felt like a nourishing hug in a bowl. It was hearty, healthy, and just bursting with flavor.

What made the experience even better was the impeccable service. The staff was warm, attentive, and seemed genuinely invested in making the evening special. They added those small, thoughtful touches that make you feel like more than just another diner.

Beside Balcony is more than a restaurant—it’s a place where food and ambiance come together in harmony. For anyone looking for a dining experience that feels both luxurious and welcoming, this is it. It was the perfect place to celebrate such a milestone, and I can’t...

If you're looking for a place to enjoy happy hour I highly suggest looking elsewhere in La Jolla. Our hostess was nice, but our server yesterday was incredibly rude & we were shocked by their constant attitude the entire time we were there. We also work in the service industry & would've never treated a customer like this. The place was empty & we told the hostess before hand we were going to do a few drinks & appetizers. When we were sat we let our server know too. We were greeted with attitude & disdain. We ordered our first round of drinks & we ordered the first appetizer to share, but unknowingly didn't know the appetizers are micro small & it's only meant for one person. It was 30 minutes before happy hour ends & when we would like to order another round he is nowhere to be found for another 10 minutes. When he's able to get to our table he said "yeah sorry happy hour ends soon" & quickly walks away. So we were still left confused we had 20 minutes to order drinks or appetizers still. He just brought us the check with out checking in again or asking when we had planned on ordering more. I've never seen someone who clearly hated his job this much. Won't be coming back for subpar food & service. No one wants to feel this unwanted when dining anywhere, especially somewhere more expensive. There's plenty of other nice places in La Jolla with bigger portions for a better price.

Don’t be fooled by the fake 5...

Well first off this was my first time here as a San Diego native, I walked in and was not greeted, the hostess looked at me and walked by me and sat at a table with her lap tap and ignored me. There was another gentleman at another table in uniform also seemed to be on break. I went to sit at the bar which no one was there either, until I sat down, a kind gentleman Fernando showed up and I asked If they were open this was around 5pm. He said yes and I replied oh it just seems like staff is all on break haha, anyways after I ordered I asked if I could sit outside, at which there was no one sitting at, the was empty, that’s when the hostess name of Xiana finally acknowledged me saying wait let me see if I have reservations, at which she said outside was all booked except for a spot she let me sit with sun in my eyes. I sat and had 3 drinks and a few appetizers and desert, at which still no one ever arrived for the tables which were “reserved”. I was literally the only one there. I gave 2 stars only because the waiter/bartender was amazing and sweet and the only one working the entire hour and-a half I was there, watching him host, seat people, bartend and wait. Food was good but not good enough to come back to be treated that way since all the tables were free. The hostess was obviously too busy to give good...