La Jolla
| Address: | 8147 Vaughn Rd, Montgomery, AL 36116, USA |
| Phone: | +1 334-356-2600 |
| Site: | lajollamontgomery.com |
| Rating: | 4.5 |
| Working: | 4–10PM 4–10PM 4–10PM 4–10PM 4–10PM 4–10PM Closed |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 20
BR
Brad Seehawer
Between La Jolla, City Grill, and Garretts, Exit 9 seems to be the third place for fine dining in Montgomery behind Cloverdale and Downtown. Like some of those other restaurants, La Jolla continues the practice of charging at the high end of what I would be comfortable paying in this city, though the skill of the kitchen is ultimately what swings my enjoyment between three and four stars - atmosphere is little justification for price tags. Admittedly, my late lunch only put me in the mood for something light, so I opted for a bowl of gumbo and the crab salad. The former was a fine soup, replete with plenty of seafood, a nice vegetable base, and presumably a pretty light roux. It was also served with cayenne toast, which - as you might expect - was a couple of pieces of baguette with some butter and cayenne for a bit of heat. The intended effect was accomplished, even if the toast was a little burned on one side. Perhaps a little too burned to leave the kitchen, in my opinion, but I still ate it and enjoyed it just fine. I was pleased to see the crab salad wasnt just the pretense of some crab meat over a pile of greens, but rather a pretty sizable amount of crab over some grilled slices of zucchini. The menu described it as "West Indies" style, which probably had something to do with the infused olive oil in which it was tossed, and upon my first bite, I got a little bit of that sweetness that comes along with Indian spices, as well as an unpleasant amount of heat that didnt work with it at all. I continued to eat, and eventually pinpointed the culprit to the zucchini. What I suspect happened was the cayenne toast from my gumbo was prepared by taking the bread, putting the butter AND cayenne on it, and then placing it on the grill. The zucchini was unevenly cooked - each slice a little less browned by the grill, almost as if you could see the grills heat output diminishing as each new ingredient was introduced. Or just the guy working the grill didnt manage it properly. Either way, it didnt leave a very good impression. Burning toast and carryover cayenne are small mistakes, but this is fine dining - we pay more because our expectations are higher, and though there are plenty of things on La Jollas menu to lead me to believe that this might just be chalked up to a bad night, this particular experience left something to be desired.
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Byron Batey
Have come to expect a phenomenal experience....La Jolla delivers again! Three highlights of dining at La Jolla. Great people, great food, great feeling... Great people: Had the pleasure of being taken care of (again) by Damian (sp). Courteous, helpful and extremely kind. He knows his way around the menu and even keeping up with multiple tables, he makes for a very pampered dinner date. Touche! Well be back. Great food: Now that weve tasted most (if not all) the menu, there is honestly no dish that is sub-par! As a tastebud risk-taker, I greatly appreciate the care in melding flavors just right. High points: Duck confit, Veal Picatta, anything grilled/seared on the Big Green Egg(s) and (Ive decided) if I could only eat one meal for the rest of my life (which would be sad) Id take Brisket Risotto without batting an eye... Great feeling: "Cheers meets French Laundry" Cant wait for the next episode at La Jolla. Its so nice to find a foody-based dining experience with true Southern hospitality. "Getcha something off the Big Green Egg!" -La Jollas time-tested (including "new location") motto {unofficial} See you soon, La Jolla...
LK
LK B
I was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled across this place. It is in a cheesy outlet mall, and I expected cheesy chain fare. It was anything but. Chef-driven, everything on the menu looked outstanding and creatively put together. The servers were very friendly and attentive. I ordered from the lunch menu and got the grouper with mushroom risotto and veggies with a side of fried green tomatoes. Everything I was served was SO delicious, the grouper and risotto in particular! Rivals some of the best restaurants I have been to in NYC and Boston! Strong drinks and fantastic food...definitely make time to go here, you wont be disappointed! By far the best food I have found in Alabama since I moved here 7 months ago (so far anyway...)!
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Beverly Green
I normally dont leave a review for a place, however La Jolla deserves one as the food cant be out done by any other Restuarant in Montgomery, there are a few that can be just as good, but La Jolla still out performs them all. In addition to the food, the staff is unbelievable and very knowledgable of the food to make sure you have the most memorable experience If you have the chance to eat here, do not pass it up Enjoy
A
A Private User
Great hangout on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Well behaved customers unlike all the other night spots in Montgomery. Great drinks and customer service. Upperclass atmosphere. Musical entertainment provided some nights and the music isnt overly loud or intrusive. Give it a shot, you wont be disappointed!
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Chris Lynch
Excellent service, among the best Ive had in Montgomery. Great atmosphere with a more mature crowd. Awesome menu. Only reason Im not giving more stars is the sauce on my trout overpowered the whole dish, which honestly was quite disappointing.
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Beverly Lopez
Great food....great service!!! Tried new foods. Some we liked and some not so much, but that could have been us. Never had pigs ears...too chewy for us, but the flavor was good. What we liked, we really really liked!
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Eric Lewis
The food is very good here. The bar side can be a little loud, but not rowdy. Sometimes it is crowded and close, but usually thins out after a while. The food and the service are excellent and great wines to boot
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Shawn Trask
Friendly, courteous staff, excellent food, and nice atmosphere. To me the signage over the restaurant is difficult to see, however; so, finding the restaurant was somewhat challenging the first time.
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Larry Summons
Absolutely amazing experience, great wine selection and very good food. Atmosphere was nothing short of perfect, will continue to visit for a great night on the town.
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Andrea Newton
Amazing bar to socialize, eat, drink, and play. The food is top notch and hits the spot. You will see beautiful people and you will be treated with care and respect.
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Adam Wilson
Fantastic food. Plan to wait a while if with a big group. They prepare a lot of their meals on a Green Egg grill so it takes a bit to get it all cooked.
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David Belser
Used to be the best restaurant in town, but something changed and the food is not nearly as good. The service is still great though!
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A Private User
Everything on the menu is great. Have at least 1 hour to eat here and dress nice. Great place for dates and busines lunches.
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Jorge Serafin
What a great experience! Great food, service, and personal attention. On par with any big city Michelin rated restaurant!
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Nick Claus
The food is worth every penny spent on it. In all my years of eating out, no one has come close to this dining experience!
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Vince Johnson
The food was decent. I had to wait for table 20 minutes with scheduled reservation. There was a long wait time for food.
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Harold Powell
My favorite restaurant in Montgomery. A weekly experience for me and my spouse. Friendly staff and excellent chef!
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Alfred Maynard
Nice place. Outstanding lamb chops. Very friendly wait staff. They offer a 17% military discount at this location.
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Eddie Barlow Jr
Great Atmosphere. Nice for a date night or just a night away from home. The experience is always exciting.
