The block section bounded by Prospect Street, Herschel Avenue, Silverado Street and Girard Avenue could be described as “restaurant row,” offering a variety of cuisines in comfortable settings indoors and out.
Two standout eateries in this area are Puesto, at 1026 Wall St., and Whisknladle, at 1044 Wall St.
Puesto Mexican street food recently updated its menu.
“We have a new octopus taco with crispy pulpo, avocado, chipotle crema and handmade blue corn tortillas,” said the restaurant’s management, which encourages patrons to “visit out popular eatery for unique artisanal takes on tacos, ceviches, margaritas and more in a bright and breezy eclectic dining room.”
“Whisknladle serves lunch, dinner and weekend brunch in the heart of downtown La Jolla, taking a back-to-basics approach to food and dining,” said the restaurant’s publicist, Cindy Nixon. “Owner Arturo Kassel and corporate chef/partner Ryan Johnston opened Whisknladle in 2008, seeking to bring good food, good wine and great people together. The culinary team focuses on creating comfort food with unexpected gourmet twists. With a strong dedication to the farm-to-table concept, the Whisknladle menu is in constant flux and reflects the best that local farms and seasonal bounties have to offer.”
Also on Wall Street is Karl Strauss Brewery-Restaurant, which brings its own brand of distinctive beers and cuisine to the Jewel.
Next door to Puesto on Wall Street is the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, at 1008 Wall, one of 16 nonprofit membership libraries in the country, offering a stellar collection of all things artistic and musical.
Yet another high-profile restaurant nearby, at 7811 Herschel Ave., is Hennesey’s Tavern, Inc. Since it was founded in 1976 by Paul Hennessey in Hermosa Beach, Calif., Hennessey’s has spread throughout Southern California and Las Vegas.
“Hennessey’s Tavern is your ‘local neighborhood gathering place,’ where locals and tourists meet for socializing,” said general manager Dan Lang. “We feature two fireplaces, a fire pit, outdoor dining and private rooms for special events and wedding parties.?Hennesey’s La Jolla is open until 2 a.m. nightly offering entertainment daily.
“We have award-winning fish and chips and buffalo wings as well as the best burgers in town,” added Lang.
Speaking of burgers, don’t miss out on the cuisine of Burger Lounge, at 1101 Wall St., which has handcrafted grass-fed burgers that you can feel good about eating, “and truly healthy salads,” said Robert Lane, the restaurant’s vice president of marketing.
Lane said Burger Lounge is all about “uncomplicated food that is made from scratch using whole-food ingredients.”
“It’s your neighborhood restaurant where you can get unpretentious, real food every day and fell good about it,” said Lane adding, “We’re a beloved brand in San Diego. We were born and raised here and now have 15 restaurants throughout Southern California.”
Marcos Sayd, spokesman for The Frap House, at 7844 Herschel Ave., said his new coffee shop is “a very boutique place, very lively, where people can sit outside and enjoy more than 20 flavors of frappuccinos as well as hot and iced coffee and many types of desserts and snacks.” For more information, visit thefraphouse.com.
Herringbone La Jolla, at 7837 Herschel Ave., is another don’t-miss eatery.
“Chef Brian Malarkey’s Herringbone La Jolla, located in the heart of the city, features a playful ‘fish meets field’ menu featuring farm-fresh cuisine with an emphasis on line-caught seafood and quality meats,” said the restaurant’s publicist, Lauren Kita. “Guests dine among 100-year-old olive trees that flow through the front lounge and back dining area while fisherman ropes, Edison bulbs and the signature pufferfish provide whimsical design accents throughout. Enjoy daily lunch, dinner and lounge happenings, weekend brunch and ‘Ales & Acoustics’ the last Saturday of every month.”
Visit HerringboneEats.com for more information.
Then there is another longstanding Village standard, Jose’s Courtroom, at 1037 Prospect St.
“Jose’s Courtroom has a rich history in La Jolla, having opened on Herschel Street in 1956 as The Courtroom,” said restaurant publicist Kristen Hollingsworth, adding Jose’s remains “family owned to this day.”
Noting Jose’s offers “ocean views, family-friendly dining and late night drinks and entertainment,” Hollingsworth said Jose’s serves some of the town’s “best Mexican food and plenty of margaritas to wash it down.”
Jose’s has happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays with food and drink specials.
And don’t forget Prospect Kitchen and Cocktails, at 1025 Prospect #210, an iconic local bar in the Village.
“You can have great food and a ton of fun while enjoying live music and a great ocean view,” the restaurant said, imploring guests to “check out our daily specials.”
Prospect Kitchen also has 17 TVs for viewing football games and other sports events.
Diesel Salon at 7865 Herschel Ave., describes itself as “more than a well-known salon. We are the example of what hairdressing can be and salons should be,” said spokesman Kyle Buckett. “Our talented team of stylists have been meticulously selected to uphold our reputation as leaders of our industry in San Diego. Each stylist is accomplished in the Diesel Salon philosophy and technique while remaining committed to fashion-forward style through education, advanced training and a personal dedication towards excellence. Your hair will be Art with Boundaries at Diesel Salon.” Another business unique in La Jolla is Norma Kay Collections, at historic La Valencia Hotel, known for its fashionable, edgy, different, handcrafted jewelry catering to the well-traveled and educated audience of La Jolla, Del Mar and San Diego.