RESTAURANT REVIEW: Here in San Diego you would think we had hundreds of great restaurants right on the water. Every time I have visitors from out of town, going and having dinner on the water is one of the first things that they want to do.
There are the great standards here that have proven to be well worth it such as George’s on the Cove and the Fish Market. But there is a relative newcomer that has hit the scene a few years ago that is rising to be part of that class, and interestingly enough, it is in the most bizarre location.
Nestled on the boardwalk in Pacific Beach, JRDN seems to be a bit out of place. Housed in the swanky Tower 23 Hotel, JRDN has added a bit of much needed sophistication to the area. The hotel and restaurant are modern with a white color palette which gives them a Miami Beach feel.
Chef David Warner hit the ground running and has not stopped. Using only all natural meats, the best seafood he can find, local and organic produce, his creative menu shines. Their motto is as unique (Surf:Sky:Spirit) as is their menu and layout.
The menu is laid out in a little booklet that is very user friendly. Cleverly designed, the menu is broken out into sections: So Raw for the raw bar selections, Way Cool are your salads, Pure Sizzle the fish entrees and Burning Up the steaks.
Being right on the ocean, I always love to start my meal with a raw bar tower. Here the Grande Platter ($75) is a bit steep, however it is loaded with raw clams, oysters, giant prawns, New Zealand mussels and succulent crab legs. This definitely gets the party started. The fish is so fresh and delicious; you may need to portion out the items.
Ordering a salad here takes some thinking. Pieces of paper and pencils are dropped in the center of your table. With a confused look on everyone’s face, we were pleasantly instructed to design our own. I loved this idea; it is such a great way to get the diner involved.
Under the Getting Warm section, hot appetizers were listed. The Sweet Corn Chowder ($9) was certainly warm, but I felt was a touch bland. Served with pulled pork and smoked paprika, it just lacked something. The Lamb Lollipops ($15) were a winner at my table. Brought on a plate filled with a delicious fig and cucumber relish, the Dijon glaze hit the mark.
Now of course being right on the water, fish entrées should be shot out of the park. Chef hit a grand slam with the Alaskan Halibut ($32). Leeks, new potatoes, green beans all came with a perfectly cooked piece of fish and finished with a tomato and olive nage. Another homerun is the Butter Poached Maine Lobster ($42) with succulent summer succotash, truffles and sweet garlic. Topped with a lobster and sherry bisque, this really was one of the best lobster dishes I have had in a while.
The steaks again are uniquely presented. Choosing from three sections, you have your choice of nine unbelievable types of beef and sizes ($23-$43). From there you choose a rub, a sauce and two sides. Combinations can be endless and the meats are top notch and all are cooked to perfection.
Being in PB the crowd certainly is more on the straighter side. I have been many times and on occasion, we would get glances of surprise. But truly, who would not want to stare at several very fit, attractive and impeccably dressed guys whose girlfriends would rather be sitting with us … and especially when we show up in a car that’s better than theirs.
JRDN
723 Felspar St.
San Diego, CA 92109
858-270-5736
jrdn.com
