The Desmond

4.5

149 Reviews

$31 to $50

American

Charming
Great for creative cocktails
Good for special occasions

We're California born and bred. Best in the world? Yeah. We’ve got that. These are year-round farms. Lifelong fishermen. Orchards that thrive well beyond the fall. Our ingredients here in Southern California are the very best, and we treat them with the respect that they deserve. Join us for an experience that showcases the best of the bounty, with flavors that are truly memorable.

Not bookable

This restaurant is temporarily offline. Please contact the restaurant directly or check back shortly for availability.

There’s more to explore

Discover countless more restaurants like this one with our app.

Scan the QR code to discover countless more restaurants like this one with our app.

Open app

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
American, Contemporary Italian, Californian
Hours of operation
Wed, Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(619) 241-7214
Website
https://www.stayalma.com/dining/the-desmond/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Private party facilities
Special occasions remind us there's always something to toast to. Whether it's a birthday bash, anniversary party, or even a dinner meeting, our private dining rooms are your culinary blank canvas. Invite your favorite people for a fun evening out with a curated menu and an impeccable vibe.
Private party contact
info@thedesmondsandiego.com: (619) 515-3000

Location
1047 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101-5101
Neighborhood
Downtown
Cross street
Broadway
Parking details
Valet
Public transit
5th Street Blue line Trolley
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Oysters on the Half Shell$28.00
mezcal mignonette, lemon, house made hot sauce
Patatas Bravas$15.00
okinawan purple potato, harissa aioli, nuoc cham vinaigrette, scallion
Moroccan Lamb and Pork Meatballs$19.00
smoked tomato tajin, semolina polenta, honey, dates
Octopus al Pastor Tostada$22.00
guajillo harissa marinade, tepache avocado salsa verde, grilled pineapple, pickled red onions, cilantro
BBQ Spring Carrots$20.00
carrot top pesto, ras el hanout, honey, crispy quinoa
Spring Lettuces$16.00
green tahini dressing, marcona almonds, marinated cherry tomato, dill, grilled strawberries
Roasted Cauliflower$21.00
romesco sauce, salsa macha, vadouvan, grilled lemon
BBQ Carrots$17.00
carrot top pesto, whiped citrus goat cheese, ras el hanout honey, crispy quinoa
Fennel and Apple Salad$16.00
bloomsdale spinach, apples, dates, parsley, apple vinaigrette, fennel pollen

Fresh Pastas

Agnolotti$26.00
caramelized carrot, maitake mushroom, black kale, parmesan, chive
Bucatini$29.00
calabrian chili and pancetta sugo, herbed ricotta, pickled fresno, marjoram
Rigatoni$28.00
duck confit, candied pearl onion, madeira mushroom cream, bread crumbs, petit herbs

Entrees

Local Bass$50.00
bbq maitake, roasted sunchokes, lemon, fennel
Seared Tuna$40.00
pepperonata, white gazpacho sauce, green grapes, almonds
Hanger Steak$52.00
grilled asparagus, potato rosti, salsa macha, yuzu kosho bernaise
Roasted Half Chicken$34.00
coconut forbidden rice, snap pea salad, pepitas
Lamb Shank$35.00
mole negro, black kale, dukkah, petit herbs

Dessert

Wildflower Honey Coconut Tapioca$15.00
mango custard, honey sweet mango, coconut geleé, toasted coconut
Pecan Carrot Cake$15.00
citrus cream cheese, candied carrot curls, sumac carrot dust
Dark Chocolate Silk Pie$15.00
salted cream, shaved chocolate, morello cherry hot fudge, roasted cocoa nibs
Seasonal Ice Cream and Sorbet$10.00

What 149 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.6Service
4.4Ambience
4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Desmond, tucked away in the Kimpton hotel, offers an "outstanding dining experience" with a creative menu and a "party chef that's incredible." Guests praise the "excellent service" and "great atmosphere." It's a quiet escape from the bustling Gaslamp area, perfect for intimate gatherings and memorable occasions.

149 Reviews

T
Trina
San Diego
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on October 5, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
Food excellent but had a long wait for service. Staff extremely friendly.
Is this helpful?
K
Karenza
VIP
Chicago
20 reviews
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on September 13, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The service was nice. I was there to celebrate my birthday but for too full for a dessert. They put a cheesecake in my bag with a candle. That made my night.
Is this helpful?
C
Chris
VIP
San Diego
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on August 31, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Whether you are a local or a San Diego visitor looking for a place that is nearby but free of the Gas Lamp or Little Italy crowds, try the Desmond. In the Kimpton hotel - but promise - it is not your typical hotel restaurant. Excellent and creative chef, interesting menu, reasonably priced, attentive and delightful staff. What more could you want?! We have been here a few times - and every time we come back to the Desmond, we leave saying, we need to visit more often. It’s that good.
The DesmondResponded on September 12, 2024
Hi Chris, We're overjoyed to hear that you enjoyed your experience at The Desmond. We're glad that our unique location and creative menu made a positive impression on you. We're also thrilled that you found our prices reasonable and our staff attentive and delightful. Your kind words mean a lot to us and motivate us to continue providing excellent food and service. We will be sure to share your review with the whole staff. We're looking forward to your next visit. Thank you for your continued support! Warm Regards, The Desmond Management Team
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Orlando
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on August 24, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Food was WAY too salty for us, I mean wow. 9 pm on a Friday there was no one there so that should have been a clue food wasn’t great. Service was fine and they comped us a desert. Apologies to the folks there but I do not recommend this place.
Is this helpful?
M
Mark
San Diego
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on August 16, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Outstanding dining experience. The food was nicely paired with wonderful Justin with es.
Is this helpful?
M
Michael
San Diego
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on August 16, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Unfortunately the food wasn’t that good. The octopus was overly charred and the pork loin was so fatty I could t eat it. So for the price, I have had so much better. The ambiance was decent though and the company was great.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Orange County
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on August 16, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Went for the Justin wine pairing dinner. Every single course was off the charts amazing. Excellent staff. We were on the rooftop for this event. Hard to beat a summer evening in San Diego on a rooftop!
Is this helpful?
VN
VernN
San Francisco
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on June 22, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
All great . Super good food . They have a party chef that’s incredible
Is this helpful?
CS
CarolynS
San Diego
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on June 17, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent service, great atmosphere, and outstanding food. We will be back for sure!
Is this helpful?
IM
IMAO
VIP
San Diego
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on June 9, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Hidden gem on mezzanine level in Kimpton hotel with excellent service and a well curated cocktail list. The place was quiet on a Saturday night -- I guess people flock to Gaslamp to drink and party, so this place is a bit left out, and we can have all the space and attentive staff by ourselves :)
Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Desmond is rated 4.5 stars by 149 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Not bookable

This restaurant is temporarily offline. Please contact the restaurant directly or check back shortly for availability.

1047 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101-5101

Additional information

Cross street
Broadway
Neighborhood
Downtown
Hours of operation
Wed, Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
American, Contemporary Italian, Californian
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Valet
Public transit
5th Street Blue line Trolley
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://www.stayalma.com/dining/the-desmond/
Phone number
(619) 241-7214
Private party facilities
Special occasions remind us there's always something to toast to. Whether it's a birthday bash, anniversary party, or even a dinner meeting, our private dining rooms are your culinary blank canvas. Invite your favorite people for a fun evening out with a curated menu and an impeccable vibe.
Private party contact
info@thedesmondsandiego.com: (619) 515-3000

The Desmond

Not bookable

There’s more to explore

Private dining

Additional information

Rigatoni

Bucatini

Agnolotti

Bread Service

Everything Spice Parker House Rolls$10.00

additional dips$8.00

Starters

Oysters on the Half Shell$28.00

Patatas Bravas$15.00

Moroccan Lamb and Pork Meatballs$19.00

Octopus al Pastor Tostada$22.00

BBQ Spring Carrots$20.00

Spring Lettuces$16.00

Roasted Cauliflower$21.00

BBQ Carrots$17.00

Fennel and Apple Salad$16.00

Fresh Pastas

Agnolotti$26.00

Bucatini$29.00

Rigatoni$28.00

Entrees

Local Bass$50.00

Seared Tuna$40.00

Hanger Steak$52.00

Roasted Half Chicken$34.00

Lamb Shank$35.00

Dessert

Wildflower Honey Coconut Tapioca$15.00

Pecan Carrot Cake$15.00

Dark Chocolate Silk Pie$15.00

Seasonal Ice Cream and Sorbet$10.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

How is The Desmond restaurant rated?

Is The Desmond currently accepting reservations?

Not bookable

Additional information