Gastronomic Rooftop Utopia
Location: San Diego, California
Style: Modern American dishes
Budget: £££
Away from the glitzy sands of La Jolla and the surfer crowd at Pacific Beach, hidden away just behind the famous Balboa Park is a gourmet spot that no one would notice walking down the road but once you know about it you’ll keep coming back for more! Accessed through an office reception, take the lift right up to the rooftop to find one of San Diego’s most exciting gastronomic hubs, Mister A’s. Mister A’s offers not only incredible views across the city, but also an exciting menu that brings together some of the area’s freshest produce with innovative flavour combinations.
Dining at Mister A's
There’s no better start to a meal at Mister A’s than timing your arrival to coincide with the shimmering sun setting over the Pacific. Take a seat out on the terrace overlooking the city skyline and enjoy one of the best views of the sunset in San Diego. You can spot planes come past you to land at the airport as you sip on one of their exquisitely executed cocktails and watch the sun go down. For a classic pre-dinner tipple, go for the Burnt Orange Old Fashioned, or if you’re in the mood for something fruitier, the Next of Gin hits the spot perfectly with a blend of gin, ginger and raspberry.
The wine list is lengthy, chock full of excellent wines from both Europe (largely French) and some of the AVA’s up and down the West Coast including some gems from both California and Oregon. If you’re looking to bring your own bottle, Mister A’s operate a US $30 corkage policy, but with such an extensive list on offer there’s really no need. The team at Mister A’s are happy to put together superb pairings by the glass for you, even if you don’t opt for the tasting menu.
If you’re joining Mister A’s for dinner (and you’re missing out if you’re not!), you will broadly have two options: the four course tasting menu (with or without drinks pairings), or DIY a la carte. Most dishes appear on both menus so you don’t have to worry about missing out on a dish if you don’t feel like going for the tasting menu.
The team at Mister A’s are extremely proud of the provenance of their dishes, and will gladly talk you through where all the key ingredients come from and how they have been prepared. The beetroots, for example, in their starter of Local Beets, come from one of the best ranches in the region, where Wolfgang Puck even sources his produce. The beets in this starter are prepared two ways, giving two very different textures and flavours, and served with Fourme D’Ambert and Champagne pickled grapes. Paired with a crisp Napa Valley sauvignon blanc, it makes a fresh and delicious start to your meal.
If you’re a raw fish lover, you’ll have a tough time picking out which of Mister A’s crudos to go for. A choice of scallop or tuna doesn’t make it any easier, with the former paired with Mister A’s twist on Tiger’s Milk with sweet strawberries and almonds. The tuna makes it a strong competition though, with super fresh tuna (picked up from the fish market only the day before) interspersed with mango and avocado. In the end, we couldn’t pick a winner!
One of Mister A’s most popular dishes is their deliciously rich and decadent lobster strudel. This is the Beef Wellington equivalent for shellfish, with succulent lobster wrapped in filo pastry with forest mushrooms and a creamy, cognac sauce. Not one to miss out on during your visit, as it’s so popular that it’s never been off the menu, and with good reason.
Onto the main event, the entrées, and the choices of dishes only get trickier as everything sounds (and is) absolutely scrumptious. On the a la carte menu, Mister A’s offer two alternative selections – ‘Respecting the Classics’ paying homage to some timeless dishes and ‘A Modern Twist’, giving you the chance to explore some of the team’s exciting flavour combinations.
On the side of the classics expect plates such as a juicy pork chop from top notch Salmon Creek Farm with a delectable sage and brown butter sauce alongside lentils, and Chateaubriand with thrice cooked yams, Bordelaise sauce and Mimolette cream – the latter worth picking for the yams alone! One of the highlights of the more modern dishes has to be the duo of lamb, a medium rare grilled cutlet and a slow cooked shoulder. Served alongside a nettle puree, rhubarb and rosemary jus, the sweet, fresh flavours cutting through the richness of the lamb superbly.
If you’ve even got any room left, finish off with something sweet from the dessert menu. There’s a great choice of options with some traditional dishes and also contemporary pastries, or conclude your meal with a cheese plate from around the globe. For something light and tasty, the strawberry shortcake is a great shout. Made up of a chiffon cake layered with cream cheese mousse and strawberries alongside a strawberry-basil ice cream we thought we were too full for dessert but this dish was way too good not to finish!
Key Information about Mister A's
What is the dress code at Mister A's?
With a spectacular setting up on the rooftop and food to die for, most people tend to dress up nicely for an evening out at Mister A’s. Whilst there isn’t a super formal dress code, beach attire isn’t acceptable, however you can get away with Bermuda shorts and a shirt during brunch, lunch and happy hour.
How do I get to Mister A’s?
Mister A’s restaurant is located inconspicuously at the top of an office block just off San Diego’s Balboa Park. If you’re staying in the city’s downtown Gaslamp Quarter and fancy a stroll to work up an appetite, it’s around a 30 mins walk. From most other districts of San Diego you’re best off driving or taking an Uber/Lyft. If you do decide to drive there’s a valet service in the building that you can use, Mister A’s doesn’t validate this but you are welcome to pay for this service as part of your check.
How much does dinner at Mister A’s cost?
The tasting menu at Mister A’s is priced at US $89.50 per person, whilst pricing for a three course a la carte meal is likely to be in the region of US$50-80 dependent on which dishes you order. Drinks pairings are available at US $40 each for diners enjoying the tasting menu, with wines or cocktails by glass around US $9 each.
Our final thoughts on... Mister A's
Mister A’s was definitely one of the best meals we had during our time in California. The combination of one of San Diego’s best views of the setting sun and the yummy dishes showcasing a range of amazing ingredients cooked in a way that enhanced their delicious and bold flavours pipped everywhere else to the post. The top-notch service made the evening all the more enjoyable as well as some fantastic cocktails and wine pairings – a must for any foodies exploring San Diego! Book well in advance and secure one of the window seats or tables out on the patio for the best views and you won’t be disappointed.
Find Out More…
Mister A’s – https://www.asrestaurant.com
Explore more from San Diego and California.
Many thanks to Mister A’s for hosting our meal during our time in San Diego. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely our own, we wouldn’t recommend something if we didn’t love it!
