Paradisaea

I grew up in La Jolla and I’ve been coming to Bird Rock for dinner for decades and can honestly say this is one of the best restaurants that I’ve been to in Bird Rock. I am sure it will earn a Michelin star in no time. It’s a delicious seafood restaurant that is a bit too pricey in my opinion but the flavor quality and diversity is really great and so was the service. Inside is designed really beautifully, there is a large bar that had a beautiful Christmas tree when we arrived that was sparkling and just really set a great mood. The tables have also a retro modern aesthetic that just really blends well with the area. Parking in the area is extremely easy, we were able to find a free space a few feet from the front door. We ordered many items and thought they were all fantastic. First came the Steak Tartare and we thought that was great. The prior evening we ate at Born and Raised in Little Italy and this version was much better than theirs. We also got a Caesar Salad and that too was very nice. The cheese on top was my favorite part. The Potatoes Three Ways was also a hit at the table and was really a nice dish. For my entrée I chose the Whole Roasted Branzino and thought it was a wonderful. It had great flavor and the sauce at the bottom added a nice spice level to it. They did say it was deboned and I did have quite a few bones in it, but that’s to be expected with Branzino. I would say Paradisaea and Catania have some of my favorite in town. We ended with a cappuccino that was a little bit too small. In my opinion, I think they should use larger glasses, but still the meal was fantastic and I would highly recommend to anyone and I plan to be back in the near future.

- Zan Lee -

Went for Christmas Eve dinner and we enjoyed the beautiful and festive atmosphere! Service was perfect and the food was delicious! There is a lot of attention to detail and some of the basic elements (freshly made bread, salad, house made butter) were some of the highlights of the meal! There is a nice amount of space between the tables, which gives it an airy and private feel. We were in the main dining room, but will definitely come back to eat at the beautiful bar. Highly recommended for a nice dinner!

- KC Wilder -

Paradisaea We were warmly welcomed by the hostess who told us that we had been checked-in. I’m not so sure that anyone cares about this procedural matter. The desk was decorated with a large bouquet of Birds of Paradise certainly a hint to the restaurant’s name that was originally introduced in the 18th century by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus. Is it coincidence that the Chef hails from Denmark and the manager from Sweden? A short while later we were guided to our table and briefly thereafter offered still or sparkling water that was promptly served. Tevonne(?) asst. server was the first to see if we were comfortable and her graceful demeanor and conversation that ensured was a fine testimony to the hospitality profession. Elisa Marie was our server and guided us through the menu is a comprehensive manner. She was not pushy but had a gentle persuasion that in our opinion works miracles. We ordered a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and a Cabernet Merlot which were excellent for the type of establishment. Here a compilation of our order and observations; Sourdough, rich and crispy baked served with a whipped butter. Easy to indulge in but don’t eat too much as there is lots of nice food to come. Steak Tartare, was made in the kitchen and not table side but a lovely experience. Chive sauce, egg emulsion and Japanese white radish accompanied the seasoned Tartare. Green onions, capers, mustard, herbs were all recognizable accompanied by slightly toasted north European style dark rye. Sage Carrot served with a buttermilk sauce made this a very rich exploit. Red Snapper was served with a fresh corn succotash in a contemporary version. The fish was very tasty and the portion closer to what one would expect in Europe. It suited us perfectly. Veal Milanese, I have to say that this was the first time that we experienced a European style veal dish that wasn’t beef but real veal! It was cooked to perfection and definitely a dish to be remembered. The portion was more than generous and would have sufficed for three. We ordered the Gateau Royal as dessert, which was a rich chocolate cream with a tiny cake layer in the bottom. Perhaps a lighter more mousse style (with some fine sugar dough layers) would have kept chocolate lovers happy and a tad kinder to the calorie count. In conclusion, this was a lovely experience of unpretentious genuine cooking of crossroads between Europe and America, while all accompanying sauces were delicious, perhaps serving them on the side would be welcomed by the lighter eaters. The nice atmosphere with superb service is surely memorable in a time where service is not always a given. The restaurant has bar seats, high tables near the bar, in-door restaurant seating and a lovely terrace with soft evening lighting. The bar had a great -somewhat convivial but contemporary sophisticated vibe. The interior itself had mainly hard surfaces where perhaps a bit more consideration for noise absorbing materials would have been beneficial. We will be back and we would recommend it to friends and family. Team Paradisaea, keep up a great job.

- Herman E -