Home Page

The Prado at Balboa Park

The minute you step into The Prado you know you’ve entered into a world like no other. Located in the historic House of Hospitality in Balboa Park, the restaurant offers four main dining areas. Each has its own distinctive décor and ambiance: the Terrace features outdoor seating, the Courtyard room overlooks the courtyard and fountain, the Solarium overlooks the Terrace and features skylights, and the Lounge serves up two happy hours with several signature drinks. The California cuisine is expertly prepared, and includes Pan Roasted Sea Bass with cauliflower and truffle puree and Braised Beef Boneless Shortrib with Point Reyes blue cheese foam.

A Pampering Meal at the Prado

Our scenic walk to the Prado is our first indication that we are in for an extraordinary evening.  We meander through Balboa Park, passing illuminated historic monuments, lush landscapes, and romantic Spanish Colonial colonnades before arriving at our destination.  It is a uniquely picturesque commencement to our dining experience: instead of pushing through throngs of people on streets crowded with competing restaurants, we are immersed in the tranquil indolence of the park after dark, sharing the wide open walkways with only a handful of evening strollers.

The dreamy ambiance is heightened by the Prado’s courtyard, which transports us to a re-imagined hacienda infused with the timeless, magical nostalgia of a Marquez novel.  The trickling water from the fountain mingles with the distant chatter from the restaurant, bouncing off stuccoed walls and echoing through arched walkways.  The restaurant peeks coquettishly from behind a screen of palm fronds, intensifying the sense of drama and intrigue that has been building during our slow approach.  We willingly succumb to the beckoning glow of the restaurant, and enter Prado’s luscious epicurean dreamscape.

The Prado, we learn, is a multiple-roomed labyrinthine shrine dedicated to the fine arts of feasting and revelry.  The restaurant has a unique mixture of private rooms, large-scale banquet facilities, and dining rooms suiting a variety of occasions and dining fantasies.   The elegant banquet hall, seating 350 to 500 guests, captures the debonair style of a bygone era with its twenty-foot high hand-stenciled ceiling.  Upstairs, the Loggia and El Hambra rooms, seating approximately 80 and 60 guests respectively, are slightly more intimate banquet areas, each with their own balconies and distinctive views.  The main restaurant offers a variety of seating areas, including the stylish Lounge, where twice daily happy hours Tuesday through Friday make for a decidedly jubilant atmosphere.  With four kitchens, an extensive underground network of catering facilities, and a highly skilled culinary team, the Prado is a well-oiled gastronomic machine.

We are led past the lively Lounge into the Courtyard Room.  As we approach our table, I catch glimpses of the other seating areas through windows and doorways: the Solarium, which shares a windowed wall with the Courtyard Room, promises sun-soaked meals and lazy weekends through its wide windows with outdoor views, while the Terrace’s multi-tiered seating area near the verdant Café del Rey Moro gardens offers glimpses of the Downtown skyline through eucalyptus trees and views of the canyon below.  In contrast, the Courtyard Room has more of a domestic feel, albeit with luxurious and historic overtones.  Large, round tables offer a family dinner feel, while smaller, more traditional tables and cozy banquettes offer intimate atmospheres.  My eyes dart around the space, attracted by various unique accents: hand-painted beams salvaged from the original 1915 building, whimsical blown glass sculptures, and baroque mirrors impart a distinctive artistry and Old World aesthetic to the space.  Wrought iron lanterns and candles cast a soft glow over the dining crowd, amplifying the warm-hued décor with a faint radiance.  We are seated next to the window overlooking the very courtyard that greeted us on arrival, and for which the Courtyard Room gets its name, providing voyeuristic peeks into the world beyond our cozy yet lavish niche.  Still overcome by the visual smorgasbord surrounding us, we attempt to focus our attention on the culinary feast to come.

True to its name, the Study in Beets, resembles a painter’s study in Abstract Expressionism.  Three large beet discs are aligned in gradations of color across a long rectangular dish, their rich jewel colors standing out against the stark white of the plate.  A smaller section of a marinated beet is placed precisely on top of each larger disc, while generous chunks of soft goat cheese and dark-colored balsamic vinegar zigzags disrupt the careful order of the composition and infuse a rhythmic energy into the presentation.  A smallish bundle of frisee is placed to the far right of the plate, presenting a light and airy component that is both a visual and flavor counterpoint to the rest of the study.  Upon tasting the dish, the title Study in Beets is given new meaning, as the particularities of each beet are juxtaposed and compared on the palate.  The earthy sweetness of the beets is punctuated by the acidic balsamic and the slightly sour goat cheese, while the frisee undercuts the puckering pungency of the dish.  It is a pleasing beginning to our meal: an expression of the simple satisfaction of quality ingredients.

I am astounded by the size of the Prado Oysters Rockefeller when it arrives at the table.  A panko-crusted oyster nearly the size of a salad plate unfurls like a fan from its deep-set dish.  A sautéed medley of watercress, corn, pancetta, and parmesan cheese adds a colorful accent to the plate.  The dish is as much an exploration in texture as it is in the subtleties of flavor: the crispy panko exterior is juxtaposed against the silkiness of the oyster, a textural interplay that is reflected in the sautéed vegetables, as whole corn kernels and crispy pancetta add crunch to the near-pureed texture of the watercress.  It is as well balanced in flavor as it is in texture: the salty, slightly bitter flavor of the oyster is picked up by the salty parmesan and bitter watercress.  The layered nuances of this dish leave my palate intrigued, an excellent starter for the culinary expedition that is to follow.

The Pan Roasted Sea Bass arrives floating on a “raft” of garlic potato mash and rapini within a sea of creamy white cauliflower and truffle puree.  The rather minimalist presentation belies the complexity of its flavors.  Leaning over the dish, my nose immediately detects the slightly musky aromas of the white truffle, which mixes with the faint charred smell of the roasted fish to impart a distinctly wintry sensibility to the dish.  Despite this initial headiness, these potent flavors are treated with an expert hand, carefully maintaining the delicate, quieter flavors of the fish, and gingerly layering the more nuanced and potent tastes to create a dish that balances pungency and subtlety in a pleasing and unexpected marriage. 

As soon as the Braised Boneless Beef Short Rib is placed before us , the air is filled with the rich scents of red wine, blue cheese, and beef.  The vibrant red of the wine reduction blends with the cool white of the blue cheese foam pooling around the dark slab of beef, making for a visually arresting presentation.  Off to one side, a mound of creamy potato mash supports two towering green asparagus spires.  The Prado kitchen, again, has infused nuance into simple flavor combinations: by transforming the Point Reyes blue cheese into a foam, it manages to make a rather heavy, rich cheese very light and ethereal, while still maintaining the integrity of its pungent flavor.   The red wine reduction, like an exquisite wine pairing, complements the short rib’s meatiness with a delightful full-bodied flavor, intensifying the comforting, wintry satisfaction of the dish.

Continuing in the decadent vain that has characterized the rest of our Prado experience, the Apple Tart “Jewel Box” and the Belgian Chocolate Othello arrive together.  True to its name, the Apple Tart resembles a treasure chest, its buttery shortbread walls and caramelized apple interior hinting at its flavorful riches that, upon first bite, transform homey apple pie flavors into a light and subtle dessert.  The Belgian Chocolate Othello, on the other hand, is anything but light.  Its tower of hazelnut and chocolate mousses is a study in rapturous sweet tooth indulgence.  Our spoons sink in to its silky layers and excavate hidden treasures: brandied cherries, whose alcoholic sweetness add new levels of opulence to this sophisticated dessert.  Crowned by a chocolate-dipped cherry that playfully references an ice cream sundae, the Belgian Chocolate Othello is a dramatically gluttonous crescendo to our gastronomic festivities. Satiated beyond capacity, we leave behind the Prado’s delicious pampering and look forward to our slow, restorative walk through the park back to the car.

Hide Review

Copyright © Restaurant Agent Inc.


  Buy Online Gift Certificates

Buy restaurant gift certificates online and save 20%

The perfect gift for any occasion. It's Quick & Easy!


Reservations


Photos


Deals & Special Offers

Deal:   Buy a $100 Gift Card for only $79.99.

Valid: Jan. 1, 2018 - Dec. 31, 2099

Days Available: Daily Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday,

Time Available: 12:15 a.m. - 11:45 p.m.

Rules: Get two $50 gift cards ($100 total) for only $79.99. This exclusive offer is only available online through our website while supply lasts. Only a limited number of gift cards are available at this price. No rain-checks.


Restaurant Info

  • Address: 1549 El Prado, San Diego CA 92101
  • Cross Street: Plaza De Panama
  • Location: Downtown | Balboa Park
  • Cuisine: Steak | California | Fusion |
  • Cost: $$$ | Moderate | $50 - $75
  • Category: Fine Dining
  • Star Rating:
  • Reservations: Recommended
  • Dress Code: Casual
  • Meals Served: Lunch | Dinner |
  • Parking: Public Lot | Valet Parking |
  • Payment Options: VISA | Amex | MasterCard | Discover | Diners Club |
  • Corkage Fee: 15.00 | Per 750ml bottle.
  • Phone: (619) 557-9441

Business Hours

Monday
Courtyard Room (inside) | Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Tuesday
Courtyard Room (inside) | Happy Hours 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Courtyard Room (inside) | Happy Hours 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Courtyard Room (inside) | Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Courtyard Room (inside) | Dinner 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Wednesday
Courtyard Room (inside) | Happy Hours 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Courtyard Room (inside) | Happy Hours 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Courtyard Room (inside) | Dinner 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Courtyard Room (inside) | Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Thursday
Courtyard Room (inside) | Happy Hours 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Courtyard Room (inside) | Happy Hours 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Courtyard Room (inside) | Dinner 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Courtyard Room (inside) | Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Friday
Courtyard Room (inside) | Happy Hours 8 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Courtyard Room (inside) | Happy Hours 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Courtyard Room (inside) | Dinner 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Courtyard Room (inside) | Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Saturday
Courtyard Room (inside) | Happy Hours 8 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Courtyard Room (inside) | Happy Hours 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Courtyard Room (inside) | Lunch 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Courtyard Room (inside) | Dinner 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Sunday
Courtyard Room (inside) | Lunch 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Courtyard Room (inside) | Dinner 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Features

  • Full Bar
  • Late Dining
  • Catering Services
  • Famous Chef
  • Live Entertainment
  • Outdoor Seating
  • Private Room
  • Prix Fixe Menu
  • Tasting Menu
  • Winning Wine List
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Valet Parking
  • Happy Hours
  • Lounge / Bar

Occasion

  • Child Friendly
  • Romantic Dining
  • Dining Alone
  • Business Dining
  • Meet for a Drink
  • People Watching
  • Quiet Conversation
  • Special Occasion

 


F.A.Q. - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The Terrace features outdoor dining and the Courtyard room overlooks the outdoor courtyard and fountain. The Solarium features skylights, while the Lounge boasts a happy hour menu.
Yes, the Prado is open for lunch every day, from 11:30am to 3pm on weekdays, and from 11am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Yes, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays starting at 8pm in the lounge.
We only take reservations on Saturday and Sunday lunch for groups of 5 or more. Reservations less than 5 are more than welcome to just walk into the restaurant.
Dogs are welcome only on our front patio.
Both Prado and the Zoo are in Balboa Park. It’s about a mile distance and about a 20 minute walk through the park.
Yes, The Prado has 3 lounge areas. The front outdoor patio, the indoor lounge, and the back terrace lounge area.
No. Smoking is prohibited in California.

Menus

Lunch

First Taste

Prado Specialty Salads

Farm Greens

Prado Favorites

Prado Sandwiches

Prado Burgers

Happy Hour

  Only offered during Happy Hour. This is a sample menu only. Prices and availability may be subject to change.


Drinks

Appetizers

Dinner

  This is a sample menu only. Prices and availability may be subject to change.


First Taste

First Taste Favorites

Farm Greens

Seasonal Greens

Sea

Land

Sea & Land

Sides

Prado Specialty Cocktails

Dinner After 8 ($32.95)

  3 Course Prix Fixe Menu offered in the main dining room after 8pm, Tuesday-Sunday. This special menu cannot be combined with any other offer, promotion, or discount. *Served with your choice of a glass of Jean-Luc Colombo Cotes du Rhone or Cotes du Rhone Rouge or your choice of cocktail: prado moscow mule or prado margarita.


Starters

Entrees

Third Course

Dessert Menu

  This is a sample menu only. Prices and availability may be subject to change.


The Prado Desserts

Lounge Menu

  Only offered in the Lounge. This is a sample menu only. Prices and availability may be subject to change.


Soups & Salads

Prado Bites

Flatbreads


Map

Restaurant Address: 1549 El Prado, San Diego CA 92101

User Reviews

unique experience  

loved it! you must try!

Casual, good food, bad parking  

This place is always full of tourists so the dress is really casual compared to the food. The menu rarely changes but it's good. Humus and flatbread are free and really good. They also have several specialty alcoholic drinks that are highly recommended. If you sit outside, and it's a weekend afternoon or evening, you'll probably see someone getting married 20 feet away.

Beautiful and has great food  

Yes, a restaurant can have brains as well as beauty. Aside from being in a stunning location in a beautiful building in Balboa Park, their food is excellent. We had the calimari appetizer, and the accompanying sauce was one of the most delicious sauces I've ever tasted. The service was excellent, and I had a mango martini that was terrific. Boyfriend had the meatloaf and I had the skirt steak tacos, both very tasty. Highly recommended, and I can't wait to return.

Wonderful  

Absolutely wonderful...great service and food... anit pricey but still deliciious and its situated in Balboa Park...

Great dessert, bad dinner  

I only go to Prado for its dessert. My wife and I sit outside the cafe area and enjoy a great dessert and excellent coffee. The view of the waterfall in the middle of the courtyard helps to create a relaxing atmosphere. The one time I did eat the dinner inside the restaurant, I was extremely dissapointed. They served me a chicken dish with all of the skin hanging on it and the flavor was straight nasty. My wife ordered a salad that was disgusting. I don't know what the chef was trying to pull, but sometimes looks are everything. I would much rather enjoy a burrito from alberto's. i give the desser a 5 rating and the dinner a 1.

Must try  

I have eaten here many times now, and the food and service has never disappointed. While it can get crowed from people visiting the park, I have yet to need a reservation, or waited long to be seated. They also do not make you feel like you need to leave when the place is crowded, which makes a great restaurant for a date that could run into hours, and you may be the last ones there.

very nice  

It's casual but upscale. The decor looks like a pier 1 catalog. The service is very good. The food is very good. For drinks I recommend the mojito or maybe a glass of wine. The dinners are smaller portions than some restaurants. You can sit inside or outside. We went there for a birthday and no singing luckily

Lunch at Prado  

On a recent trip to San Diego, my friends and I ate lunch at Prado while visiting Balboa Park. We had an excellent experience there. We loved the decor -- very colorful and unique. Our food was excellent, and the service was genuinely friendly and efficient. The presentation of the dishes was impressive as well. We loved the iced tea as well as the chips, which tasted homemade. I see that they will be serving Easter brunch. I wish I could be there for that!

Blending of flavors was amazing!  

My design crew and I had the pleasure of doing a wedding at the Prado's large ballroom on Cinco De Mayo. We were asked to drive down from The OC for this specail day. As a treat I took my 3 assistants to dinner at the Prado restaurant. We arrived a bit earlier than our reservations, and the hostess was pleasant and seated us at a nice table overlooking the courtyard, where we were delighted to see our bride and groom taking photos. With Cinco De Mayo on our minds we ordered Pomagranite and classic Margaritas shaken at tableside. Wonderful! BUT the food was AMAZING. A starter of Ahi was fresh tasting with a creative side of Glass noodles. We each ordered a different entree. A wonderful Chicken pasta with pine nuts and nicely flavored sauce. Tempura Ahi with a very cool Licorice rissotto, This was so different, and a nice blend with the ahi. Of course you MUST like Licorice!! The hit at the table was the Shortribs with bittersweet chocolate sauce, OMG!!! It has to be experienced! An artful and truly inspired blend of flavors. My assistant is still talking about how great this meal was, and he has been to some of the best dining establishments in the world! Making the experience even better was the friendly service. I look forward to my next trip down to SD and will have the Prado on the top of my list for at least one meal.

5 star all the way  

Not sure why, ut the review I posted for may 10 shows only 2 stars!! It is suppose to be 5!!! All the way. Keep up the wonderful and creative cooking!!

A Great Experience...  

Checked out this website and decided to try a new restaurant for our 10th anniversary. The food was excellent and the combination of ambience and personable staff made the entire event memorable. We've been back a couple of times since and each time the food and experience has been just as good as the first time. I was considering more expensive/exclusive restaurants to celebrate our personal milestone but this one worked out perfectly.

Best kid's meals in SD  

We love the Prado. Everything is spectacular from the drinks (GET A SANGRIA) to the kids meals. Food is always cooked perfectly and you can tell that the ingredients are the freshest available. One of us always gets the special as it is always amazing. Taking a little one with you is also totally worth it (although I recommend lunch as it's more casual) because The Prado has the BEST chicken strips EVER. They come with fabulous marinara, and you really feel like they thought about the kids enjoying their meal instead of them being an afterthought. They also make fabulous Mojitos and the Prado burger with Horsey Cheddar is TDF. Oh, and the Bouliabasse. Mmmm... Always cordial, quick and very informative service is a friendly atmosphere where both touristy gear and evening wear are appropriate.

NEARLY ALWAYS GREAT  

FOOD AND SERVICE TYPICALLY JUST RIGHT. GREAT ATMOSPHERE. HAD ONE BAD VISIT AND A HORRIBLE SWORDFISH STEAK - VERY DISAPPOINTING, SERVICE DURING THAT VISIT STARTED OUT GREAT THEN BECAME A RELATIVE NIGHTMARE. OTHERWISE A NICE PLACE TO BRING FAMILY AND FREINDS OR JUST RELAX FOR AN AFTERNOON. WAIT STAFF IS TYPICALLY RESPONSIVE, FOOD GOOD AND YOU REALLY CAN'T BEAT BALBOA PARK IN GENERAL.

Excellent Choice  

My wife and I went for our anniversary and the whole experience was great. The staff were very attentive and the food was right on. We had several different dishes and all came at a leisurely pace. We sat in the courtyard room and just got to soak up the atmosphere and decor. Can't wait to visit again.

Best Crab Cakes in SD  

I've tried them all and nobody does crab cakes better than Prado! I like the patio also.

A Delicious Saturday Lunch!  

I am one of those strange people who live to eat rather than just eating to live, so my Sabbatical year in San Diego is getting filled with wonderful dining experiences. However, I used to be very overweight. I have lost over 70 pounds by having only one complete meal each day and having it at noon. I've found that this practice allows me to eat whatever I want and love, keeps me full and happy the rest of the day, and I don't gain any unwanted weight. Saturday is a problem, however, as many of the best restaurants are not open for lunch. But Prado solved it last Saturday big time by its Jidori Chicken entree, a half chicken with only one small leg bone, roasted to perfection and served on a generous bed of the best garlic mashed potatoes imaginable. These were on top of a flavorful portion of dark leafy greens, so you got everything you needed in one intensely comforting dish. Calories were not wasted here with bread and butter, as none were served. Instead, you started with some thin narrow flat-bread strips served with a flavorful vegetable spread. Fantastic! Iced tea was served in enormous glasses that didn't need to be refilled very often, and the wait staff was very responsive to my need for extra lemon wedges and Tabasco sauce. For dessert (I ALWAYS have dessert) I had the chocolate souffle cake: dark and rich and wonderful!

Valentine's Day  

We went for their Valentines day special. Had reservations, so the service was spot on all the way through the check; our waitress checked on us, refreshed drinks & was very friendly. We sat outside & they spaced out the parties enough so it was a nice intimate evening. The menu they had was great with both of us having the lobster pot pie, balsamic glazed chicken and a shared desert. All came nicely spaced out and had no complaints.

Amazing Food & Service!  

The food was out of this world amazing!! We can't wait to go back.

Lunch at its best  

I met a few business associates for lunch and we were very impressed. Seated quickly with our reservation and served in a timely fashion. Food was excellent and the service was great too! We'll be back for sure.

The Prado  

Just amazing...the food was spectacular (I ordered a goat cheese raviolli..yum!) and the service was top of the line. I'll be returning soon!

Prado  

Excellent!

The BEST service in San Diego  

The Prado has amazing food, but the main reason I love bringing friends and family there is because the service is above and beyond wonderful. The wait staff is the most courteous and friendly of any restaurant in San Diego. They appear to enjoy the environment they work in, and are always very observant of the patrons' needs (e.g., shade, water, condiments) and act before being asked.

DEEElish!  

I have eaten at so many places lately that advertise chefs and menus, but the quality has been lacking. Not so with Prado--thank you!! Best Meal in San Diego!

Always a favorite!  

Especially nice for out-of-town guests or special reunions; beautiful courtyard seating in a lush setting; never rushed by the staff who are quietly attentive to your every desire. Love the Prado!

My birthday at The Prado  

The service was exceptional, yet fun. The food and ambiance would be hard to top. The Prado and the other restaurants owned by the same group are the best in San Diego, in my humble opinion.

Excellent restaurant  

A great restaurant that has it all. The Kobe burger is delicious, as are the vegetarian options of meals. I usually eat vegetarian meals, but this is the restaurant where I "break with tradition" because I love that burger so much!

Excellent restaurant  

A great restaurant that has it all. The Kobe burger is delicious, as are the vegetarian options of meals. I usually eat vegetarian meals, but this is the restaurant where I "break with tradition" because I love that burger so much!

Innovation and Flavor  

Great ambiance, flavorful food and amazing presenations, the menu of Prado keeps you with a great taste and always wanting to come back!

PRADO RESTAURANT  

I would actually go back again and also recommend to my friends who come to San Diego to visit.

A Wonderful evening  

My husband and I enjoyed our dinner at the Prado Restaurant. The atmosphere was relaxing,the service well paced, and the food superb. The entire experience was positive.

come and experience prado restaurant  

it was great the staff were really nice and the food was great...

very nice  

They have delicious sauces for the meat dishes including some with balsamic vinagar, wine, and/or with molasses. The short ribs were soft and flavorful, and the sides were also very good. My wife enoyed the duck. The desert was outstanding--super rich chocolate soufle with expresso gelato!

Value  

Great value...used the 3 course coupon offer. Delicious meal, very nice setting, great service.

Great Dining  

A great place to celebrate a special event or just to experience fantastic food.

delicious  

I went to this place on New Years Eve and was happy I made reservations. The place is not too fancy but inviting and nice in its own right. The staff was very friendly and the food was excellent. If you are looking to take someone out, this is the place.

Our Visit to the Prado  

We recently retired to San Diego. One of our favorite restaurants is the Prado. Not only because of its location in Balboa Park but the food is delicious and the staff very caring. The menu changes gives one an opportunity to try something different.

Wonderful experience!  

We took our party of 8 to the Prado to celebrate our daughter's high school graduation and we couldn't have been happier! The service was amazing -- so attentive and thoughtful. It was the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion!

Great Dining Experience!  

If you're celebrating an occasion or simply want to have an outstanding dining experience go to Prado Restaurant at Balboa Park. Great location, ambiance, and the food is great! Excellent service, and the price is right!

The Prado Experience  

All around class and ambience along with fabulous dishes. My wife and I had a fantastic experience dining at The Prado and would go back anytime!

Great Atmosphere & Food!  

One of my fave places, but I don't get to go often enough. The food is really yummy, and the service is terrific! Don't miss the calamari -- it's unlike any you've ever had! Very flavorful! I like their happy hour specials (4-6p; 8-10p), and be sure to sit out on the patio if you can, or come to the bar between 8-10pm to enjoy the live music. You'll be glad you did!

Great food and view  

I took my fiancé to this restaurant while we were visiting San Diego and we had a wonderful experience. The food was great, service was very friendly, and the view was spectacular. I definitely recommend the Prado as a dining choice.

Girl's night out  

I visited the Prado with my sister and daughter. We all had different meals and they were all wonderful. My sister has some dietary restrictions and our server was very mindful of her requests. A very enjoyable evening.

Prado  

Best food in San Diego and best service

Dining After 8PM at The Prado  

The Prado's "After Eight" 3 course dinner was a wonderful way to be introduced to the delicious choices on The Prado's menu! Too calorie conscious to order 3 courses most occasions we dine out, the special pricing for 3 courses was a treat in two ways: we were able to have a very special full dining experience and the price was an exceptional value!

Prado Dinning At Its Best  

Dinning at the Prado is ALWAYS a wonderful experience. The service and the food is always OUTSTANDING. The ambiance of the restaurant is classic and yet contemporary. It is nestled among the beautiful edifices and gardens in Balboa Park. We are proud to entertain our guests at the Prado because we know that we will not be disappointed.

Have A Snack Before  

Earlier this month I went to the Prado. We sat in the courtyard. It was dimly lit, but a little too loud. The server and others were awesome! They were polite and knew the menu very well. Our waiter made great suggestions and he was right on about what food we would like. The food and desert was great. It had good eye appeal as well. My only problem was the time it took. Some people would enjoy the lengthy time given for everything but I didn't enjoy the idea of starving all day to then wait at a restaurant for another twenty minutes just to order our food which then took another twenty minutes to bring. I'd say to anyone not to go to the restaurant starving...have a snack...but don't eat too much because the food is really good and you'll want to eat it all.

Great Service!  

My husband and I took my brand new mother-in-law to the Prado for dinner for our one month anniversary (we got married at the Prado in May) and we had the absolute best service we have ever expereienced. When you go, go for the ambiance, the decor and the food, but ask to be seated in Scott's section - he's knowledgeable, attentive and charming.

Excellent service  

My date and another couple were greeted warmly and taken care of by the wonderful staff of the Prado. The service was perfect at assisting my party, however the food was not up to par with the service. The other time I had visited this restaurant for lunch, and it was the same as well. Still, it had high quality service that made my night.

Happy customer!  

The food was delicious, staff was cheerful, location was breath taking and the atmosphere was great!

Guilt Free  

Thank you for your help on my meal, Linda

A Memorable Meal  

Prado creates a lovely experience for diners. It was my first visit to San Diego, so I used the reviews on the site to determine that Prado would be a special date night for my husband and I. The ambience of the restaurant is spectacular. We were seated on the heated patio. It was lovely with patio tables and lights strung across the patio. The patio was full of tables of diners, but we were not overcrowded. Our waiter was very attentive and helpful with the food selections. The fish was perfectly prefared and paired with vegetables in a chile sauce. Delicious! It was delightful to enjoy the outside. The heaters kept us warm to enjoy al fresco dining even though the night was a little cool, especially knowing that our friends back East were getting hit with a blizzard! It was a lovely evening together and a great pick for our first visit to San Diego together. It won't be the last!

Birthday Lunch  

Amazing food with an amazing view! I took my best friend for lunch (the perfect time to visit the Prado) and it was definitely a lunch to remember. It's also a perfect place to take someone visiting from out of town. A highlight of San Diego. I WILL be going back!

Birthday Lunch  

Amazing food with an amazing view! I took my best friend for lunch (the perfect time to visit the Prado) and it was definitely a lunch to remember. I was shocked how good the food was (I'm a foodie) and it was such a perfect view of the park. It was relaxing to eat and hear the birds and the wind in the trees. It's also a perfect place to take someone visiting from out of town. Definitely a highlight of San Diego. I WILL be going back with others so that they can experience the food and setting too!

Birthday at the Pardo  

Took my fiance to the Prado for her birthday to get away from the loud gaslamp crowd. Enjoyed their bar and dinner was great. But, I tend to think the experience would have been better during the day having lunch on the patio. The ambiance there is nice, but it sort of feels like a hunting lodge and the guests tend to get loud celebrating. Great place, but not as romantic as I had hoped.

Fall Classic Menu at the Parado  

Fall Classic Menu an excellent selection of dishes and a great value ! 20th Wedding Anniversary a success !! Rosario

Our dining experience at the Prado  

Meal was excellent. However this was my wife's birthday and a special occasion to us and when making our reservation this was noted. At the restaurant no mention was made of this special occasion and not that we expected anything else at least a happy birthday to my wife would have been nice. As I recall we had a similar experience with another Cohen restaurant and I feel that we will not use this chain for any other special events in our family. Ray Larabee, [email protected] Tel 619-281-8176.

Nice place - OK food  

I have lived San Diego a total of 3 weeks now and have already been to the Prado twice. The wait staff has been very good and very friendly and the ambiance is great and what you think about when you think of San Diego (key reason I went back). However, the food was average at best. This may be due a special menu promotion they were running for resturant week in San Diego. The first time I was there they ran out of the sea bass (ironically featured on their special menu. So the second time I visited, I ordered the sea bass again and they had it....... but nothing to write home about at all.

Prado  

Always a great experience with different plates and wonderful service.

Good Date Resaurant!  

Ambiance of Balboa Park is nice.

Outstanding Service!  

It's too bad that I cannot remember the name of the waiter, he was absolutely great.  The decor and ambiance was relaxing and beautiful. My porkchop was a bit bland, but the kobe sushi was to die for, flavorful and unique.

predictably great......  

Much to say about this restaurant as having changed hands several times in the past 15 years..........however, today........it's in good hands. Not only from the cusine, presentation of the dishes, but from the management perspective. Seems to work like a well tuned machine........but with "smiles" from the staff.

predictably great......  

Much to say about this restaurant as having changed hands several times in the past 15 years. However, today it is in good hands. Not only from the cuisine, presentation of the dishes, but from the management perspective. Seems to work like a well tuned machine........but with "smiles" from the staff.

The Prado in Balboa Park  

The Prado is beautiful, and the food was good, and our server, Nick, was excellent. It is a little pricey...

Dinner at Prado  

Atmosphere and dinner was excellent (see food). However, I did not see lot of desert selection.

Prado  

We had a wonderful dinner at Prado. The wine selection pared perfectly with our dinner. The menu was well balanced and we enjoyed our waitress and ambiance of the restaurant in Balboa Park.

The Prado  

Great location with free parking! Nice lighting and acoustic music in the background (not too loud, easy to talk over the music). Staff was pleasant and not too pretentious. Food and wine selection was fabulous and the waiter gave us good recommendations, as well as letting us know the wine we selected would go well with the meals we selected. Most people, being in a tourist area, are a little underdressed for this restaurant, but it didn't take away from our meal. Wait staff was attentive without being too present at the table. My meal made me sick to my stomach from being undercooked, but I would go back.

Marginal Dinner Date  

You simply cannot beat the setting. Wonderful exterior lighting captures the unique architecture and one expects the evening to be wonderful. Unfortunately, the experience is only beginning. We sat in the Courtyard. The wonderful colors and lighting were overpowered by the loud atmosphere and the under-impressive food. My "exquisite" salmon dish was served with popcorn as the "finishing touch". I've dined around the world and have never experienced a chef that resorted to popcorn to finish the presentation of the main dish. My recommendation: Eat at Prado for fun not for romance.

Service was Amazing!!!  

I have rarely had better or more congenial service than I experienced at Prado. Our desserts and salads were exceptional. Just one thing, however, my daughters and I all had pasta dishes, three different types, and all of them had sauces that had the consistency, taste, and texture of “soup”. In fact I'm not exactly sure they weren't soup. If you had put them in a lovely ceramic bowl with a piece of French bread and a soup spoon, I might well have enjoyed them on a cold afternoon. I am a “sauce person”, so for that reason, I can’t quite see myself returning. But if there were a little recipe tweaking, well, who knows.

Prado  

We had a group luncheon a few weeks back and as usual, the service was great. The menu selection is always large. I had the chips and fish which was a little too greasy for me. The majority of the other people had salads and they enjoyed them quite well.

OK  

It was ok, nothing out of the ordinary. Beautiful setting, which should allow for a much better dining experience. Maybe 12 people for dinner is too much to handle? The personnel were very adequate.

Just OK  

I read all of the glowing reviews for this restaurant and my partner and I decided to dine there on a Friday night. The restaurant itself is very beautiful inside. However, the meal and service did not live up to the atmosphere or the reviews we had read. Our waiter acted as if he was totally bored with his job and offered only prefunctory service. There was no evening special offered and he did not offer his opinion on any of the regular menu offerings. I ordered the three skewers appetizer because it looked so good on the restaurant's internet advertisement (a skewer with layers of shrimp, beef and chicken). What I got was three seperate skewers, each with one piece of shrimp, chicken or beef plopped on top of a pile of coleslaw with three different dips on the plate. Boring and way overpriced for what was presented! My partner fared better with the calamari fries which he, thankfully, shared with me. My main course was the Tiger Prawns over a bed of squash and root vegetables with a chocolate expresso sauce on the plate. The eight "Tiger Prawns" were more like kitten prawns in size. The sauce was actually quite good. My partner had the filet which was good but, a steak is a steak hard to screw up. Our two appetizers and two entres, along with an iced tea and a Sprite, came to $96. Now I eat out frequently and understand that waiters and kitchens can have off nights but, next time I go to Prado, I'll settle for a drink in the bar and experiencing the beauty of the decor.

Great ambiance ok food  

The atmosphere was memorable and romantic. The food could be more flavorful and my girlfriend's fillet was a little tough.

Not a good dining experience!  

We went to Prado with 8 other friends for a birthday party. We wanted to go somewhere fun with a good atmosphere; Prado has all that! However, out of 8 of us only 2 enjoyed their meal and those 2 had the rack of lamb. I had the Ahi which was good but for 25.00 I would expect more then 3 medallions; morsals would be more fitting! But the Licorice flavored Risotto that accompanied the Ahi was HORRIBLE!! The Basil Risotto that my husband had with his lamb was better but should be more properly named...basil minute rice; calling it Risotto does Italians a disservice!!!!

The food was good but the service was very bad  

I just returned from dinner at the Prado with my husband. I have to say the service that we received was very bad. We made reservations through this website but when we arrived at the restaraunt we were given one of those horrible flashing beepers and told that we had to wait an additional 5-10 minutes to be seated....What was the point of making a reservation???? They apologized saying that they were backed up because of a wedding reception being held at their site....Hmmmm????We were finally seated and STILL waited to be waited on by our server. Service was VERY slow and several times we felt that we were forgotten and abandoned by our server. The couple sitting at the table next to us were served their main course before us ...this couple was seated as we were already FINISHING our salads!!!!!!! Our server and the manager apologized to us...but how many times can you apologize for bad service that occurs throughout the night (3 of the longest hours ever spent dining/waiting out)....the food was great...If I could rate food alone it would get a 4...just a shame that the service was lousy

Great starters, not so good entrees  

If we decide to go there again, we would probably go for appetizers and drinks only. Entrees were not that good so we left disapointed.

service is the only star here  

We attended the Prado with great expectations and were very disapointed. The food was tasteless and definitly not worth the money,and the atmosphere was loud and crowded. The only saving grace was the fact that the service was great however I will not go back again. There are too many great restaurants in San Deigo to waste your time here.

Total RIP OFF! DO NOT GO!  

The restaurant is nice the service was OK but the price of the food is beyond exorbitant it's like robbery. The taste of my Ahi entree was deplorable. The brown sauce it sat in tasted like some cheap beef reduction that didn't match the fish. The crust around the side didn't have any taste and the fish had a cheap fishy taste. Doesn't the chef think we have taste buds? However the salad that went with it does match fish but that wasn't much of a consolation. $27 for two little short ribs, the cheapest cut of beef, and my father's oso boco didn't look anything like the photo on the web site, in which the meat was surrounded by a big bone in the middle. What a total rip off! If you want to spend a good amount of money at a worthwhile restaurant go to Peohes in Coronado!

Rate This Business

Please rate your experience on scale 0-10, with 10 being the high rating.

Overall Experience


Food


Service


Ambience


Value


Review