Duke's La Jolla — Restaurant in San Diego

The Absolute WORST!!

Based on other recent negative reviews, it appears this establishment needs significant improvement in efficiently seating guests, honoring reservation requests, and providing proper customer service. Now, for my personal experience:

I made a reservation for my family of six and specifically requested outdoor seating. Upon arrival, we were seated inside. I informed the hostess of our preference for outdoor seating, and she mentioned that we would have to wait for a table to become available. As we were visiting from out of town and wanted to enjoy the pleasant weather, we agreed to wait in the lobby.

After 30 minutes with no acknowledgment or updates, I approached the host stand twice to inquire about the status of our seating. Despite the restaurant nearing its closing time, we were still not seated. At this point, it felt like our time was being wasted. It was late, we were hungry, and we had a baby with us. I expressed our frustration to the hostess, who then brought over a manager.

The manager, "Robyn," was the most unprofessional manager I have ever encountered. Having worked in multiple restaurants when I was younger, I know how managers should act with their customers. I have never experienced a manager with such a poor attitude and lack of professionalism. My husband and I currently own two restaurants, and we would never speak to our guests in the manner that Robyn did. We would also never consider hiring someone who shows such disregard for the restaurant's guests.

Ultimately, we decided to leave and went next door to George's, where we had a wonderful experience. The server was excellent, and the manager even stopped by to check on us. This is how guests should be treated!

To make matters worse, while seated at George's, I realized I had left my baby's diaper bag at Duke's, so my husband had to return to get it. When he got there, a different employee or manager (doesn’t matter honestly) practically threw the bag at him. This was the final straw. This was what encouraged me to write this review. I have never left a negative review, only positive ones because I truly love supporting businesses. However, the people at this restaurant are rude, petty, and act like children. Grow up.

I will never return to Duke's and will advise anyone visiting the area to steer clear. There are plenty of other restaurants nearby that value their customers and provide the level of service one expects...

We had lunch at Duke's on Memorial Day, 2023. So this review may be effected because of the holiday. But in my opinion, probably would still be pretty much the same. Our first observation was traversing stairs. There seems to be hills and stairs everywhere in La Jolla. Entering Duke's was no different. Down stairs, then up stairs to enter. It isn't bad, but could pose issues for older or handicapped folks. But again, the stairs into Duke's wasn't drastically bad. They might have had an elevator if needed, but honestly, I didn't think to look around. Duke's was different in that it reminded me of a concrete building inside. It might not be the decor they were going for, but it kind of came across like that to me. But, it was tastefully done and I liked it. We sat inside probably because of the holiday. It was approximately 2pm. The outside was pretty much full. We sat in near the bar. Although we had a nice table that still had a pretty good view. Our server seemed a little stuffy at first, but then seemed very professional, and frankly, did a good job. Everyone had a different entree', and all seemed satisfied with the food. The prices were both what I would consider a little high and also fair to low. I guess it depended on what entree' you ordered. The check wasn't cheap, but wasn't anywhere what I was expecting, considering the area. As such, I felt it was fair, considering where we were and what we ordered. All in all, I found Duke's to be a nice place to have lunch. It probably would have been nicer outside with the much better ocean views. But it still wasn't bad where we were seated. I went back and forth between 4 or 5 stars on Dukes. I can't give 4.5, so I chose 4 stars because although I really liked Dukes. They had a few minor issues that kept me from 5 stars. I do not hand out five stars like some folks. To me, five stars is pretty much, perfect. Or at least close. So put Duke's at 4.5 stars. They really...

While strolling around the La Jolla area, we got hungry and decided to look for a place to eat. We saw Duke's and decided to get a table. They told us the wait would be about 20 minutes, which was great considering we had no reservation on a weekend. The inside of the restaurant is very nice, and the restrooms are clean.

After about 10 minutes, the hostess escorted us to one of the tables with breathtaking views. Our waitress, Ciara, came right after with a beautiful smile and the best attitude. We told her we were there to celebrate my birthday, and she kindly offered me a complimentary dessert. Here's what we ordered:

Fish and Chips - It was perfectly crisp on the outside with a moist, flaky fish filet. The Meyer lemon remoulade sauce enhanced the meal. 4.5/5

Fish Tacos with Side Guacamole - The grilled fish was fresh, and the tacos were very good, especially when you add the guacamole. 4.7/5

Black Beans Nachos with All-Natural Chicken - One of the best nachos I've ever tasted. Crispy tortilla chips covered with pico de gallo, queso fresco, cheddar, chipotle cream, and guacamole. Mouth explosion! 4.8/5

Kimo's Original Hula Pie - A really huge and delicious Oreo crust with smooth macadamia nut ice cream, toasted macadamia nuts, and whipped cream. I was given a steak knife to cut it, which you'll need. 4.8/5

We were so happy we chose to come here for my birthday celebration. We received the best service from our waitress, Ciara; she was amazing all the way. Not only did she provide the best dessert, but she also made our experience memorable. What more can you ask for? This Hawaiian restaurant has amazing ocean views, excellent service, and budget-friendly prices. Highly recommended!

My Personal Rating : 4.83 Food 4.75/5 Service 5/5 Price 4.8/5 Ambiance...