I really enjoyed my visit to Amaya. Loved my steak and service. The place looks absolutely amazing, although a little bit hard to find first time. Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Saleh AsSaif
Perfect place 👌🏻 I’ll be back again
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Tae Tae
Amazing atmosphere, fantastic food. For sure 5 star! Make sure to try their cauliflower dish- simple but so flavorful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
spencer reed
Amaya’s Mexican Cuisine was amazing! The food was fresh, flavorful, and authentic. Huge shoutout to our server Taylor, she was friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Katherine V.
We dined here 3x during our stay at the Fairmont and I was surprised by how good the food was!
They serve the BEST omelettes, most likely because it’s prepared French style which makes ALL the difference. I highly recommend trying both the Boursin cheese one for brunch and the San Diego one for breakfast. Sooo good!!!
For dinner, I was thoroughly impressed by their duck while my husband had the trout (also good). The side of broccolini was also really tasty.
My husband found the tres leches cake very disappointing though — it was not a true tres leches, very dry, which is odd given how close SD is to Mexico.
Service was at times slow but nonetheless very polite and friendly.
The bar area is really ugly and uninviting in my opinion, so I’d stick to the main dining room!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Callum Taylor
Food is great, but would like more options and changes regularly. Service is fantastic. Decor and atmosphere is amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
guy
A very nice dinner, ambiance, food, service all very good. Pate appetizer plate delicious. Scallop crudo outstanding, Pork chop excellent. Would give 5 stars if wine wasn't overpriced ($93 for a $35 retail bottle) and we didn't feel a bit rushed.
Prof . Dr .
We are locals and visited on a regular basis since we always liked the overall ambience and the friendly, qualified service. During our last visits we realized the Food had been changing well under a mediocre level. After our visit on 03-24-25, where we had to entertain guests, we will not return any more unless you change Chef's. The preparation of the Escargot was inedible and cleared almost untouched. And we know and like Escargot. The Steelhead Trout was so highly overseasoned by Terragon that the Trout was totally overpowered. We have never seen such an unrecognizable Coq Au Vin black charred which as well was almost untouched. The two Pork Chop orders had not been prepaired medium, but so highly overcooked well done that they were dried out and almost inedible. We left very dissatisfied but with a carry out bag for our dogs.
Troy Martin
TL;DR, Amaya screwed up my Valentine’s reservation with only three days notice.
I am a student who works minimum wage in the service industry, and wanted to book a table for Valentine’s Day with my girlfriend of four years. Due to customer volume, many restaurants choose to offer set tasting menus on valentine’s; in this case, Amaya offered their menu for 200/person, ~250 after tip & tax. Although this is likely fair value for the food and ambiance, this is simply unaffordable for someone in my position. So, I was excited to see, when looking at OpenTable, that they were offering both the set “Valentine’s Menu,” as well as the option for a “Standard Reservation,” which would be within my price range. I double-checked the website and OpenTable but found no mention of the valentine’s menu being the only one available. So, I went ahead under the reasonable assumption that what they had listed on OpenTable was correct, and a restaurant of their stature would be able to accommodate an à la carte menu as well. I got a call three days prior to valentine’s confirming my reservation, and, just in case, decided to double-check that my reservation was made for the standard menu. The host said that, as far as she knew, only the valentines menu was being offered, but that she would check with management and call back later. The day goes by, I call back with no response and leave a message. The next morning, I receive a call saying that they made a mistake with their reservation listings, and that they would indeed only be offering the valentine’s menu. I have owned a pop-up, set-menu restaurant, and have friends who have run set-menu services as well, so I understand that, if the chefs are only doing prep for a set menu, it would be very difficult for them to offer additional items. I ask if there’s any way to share a single menu between the two of us, or any other way to accommodate the kitchen. The host again checked with management, but there was nothing they could do. Again, this is all two days before valentine’s, and after admitting that they made a mistake listing the reservation options. To be clear, the host was very respectful and seemed genuinely sympathetic to the situation, but the management did not offer any type of solution or even provide an apology for their mistake. I have never seen this level of carelessness and disrespect working or dining anywhere else, and I certainly would not expect it from an establishment that shares a property with a three Michelin star restaurant.
Alexis
My wife and I celebrated our one-year anniversary at Amaya, and it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived, we were captivated by the stunning hotel in which the restaurant is located. The property is absolutely beautiful, and the warm, welcoming staff immediately made us feel special. The exceptional service began right at the entrance with valet parking, which is conveniently validated through the restaurant. Our evening was made even more special thanks to our fantastic waiter, Peter, who took care of us from start to finish. He even surprised us with a complimentary anniversary dessert. The restaurant also provided us a signed card from all the staff to celebrate our anniversary —such a thoughtful touch! We started our meal with a couple of expertly crafted cocktails: the Banana Bread Old Fashioned and the Feelin' Spritzy—both were delicious and unique. For appetizers, we enjoyed the brioche bread and a selection of oysters. The brioche was warm, soft, and perfectly seasoned, while the oysters were incredibly fresh. Even as someone who isn't usually a big oyster fan, I found them delightful, especially when paired with the house-made habanero and yuzu sauce, which added just the right amount of heat and brightness. For the main course, we shared the Duck à l'Orange, accompanied by the pomme mousseline and vadouvan carrots. Every bite was perfection. The duck was expertly cooked—crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside—with a rich sauce that tied everything together beautifully. The sides were equally impressive, complementing the dish wonderfully. Amaya is truly a gem, perfect for a romantic date night or a special celebration. We couldn't have asked for a better anniversary dinner, and we will definitely be returning!
A beautiful location and very nicely prepared food. It's not cheap -- it's the Fairmont -- but on a warm day, sitting outside on the Amaya patio soaking in the ambiance and the quality is a real treat. Staff is very attentive and valet parking is free with validation. A fun treat.
Tatiana Anat
Grand Del Mar and Amaya: A Heartbreaking Decline The Grand Del Mar has been a treasured destination for our family, year after year—a place synonymous with elegance, charm, and the type of attention to detail that made every visit magical. Sadly, this season’s visit was nothing short of heartbreaking, leaving us wondering what has happened to the place we once loved. The first sign of change hit us at the entrance. The iconic arrangements of overflowing buckets of fresh flowers that have been a hallmark of the hotel’s beauty were nowhere to be seen. Instead, there stood a modest Christmas tree—pretty, yes, but far from extraordinary and certainly not befitting the Grand Del Mar’s legendary reputation. The seating areas, once dazzling with tasteful holiday decorations, looked sparse and uninspired. While the furniture has been updated, it seemed like a poor attempt to mask the loss of the hotel's character and warmth. Our disappointment grew as we headed to the bar area. The menu was shockingly limited, and the waiter informed us they had already run out of three items. This level of unpreparedness was startling for such an establishment. To add insult to injury, the small yet thoughtful touches that used to elevate the experience—like the complimentary salted nuts and crackers—were gone. Feeling increasingly underwhelmed, we decided to dine at Amaya, hoping the meal would salvage our evening. It didn’t. As we walked through the hotel, the magic of past years seemed completely lost. Cheap-looking decorations took the place of the once-elegant details, further underlining the diminishing standards under new management. Amaya, a restaurant we’ve long admired, was only half full—an eerie sign for what used to be a bustling dining spot. My husband ordered the steelhead trout ($42) with a side of fries. What arrived was downright insulting. The portion was laughable, barely 3.5-4 ounces when it was clearly advertised as 8 ounces. Worse, the taste was utterly ordinary, no different than a run-of-the-mill piece of salmon. For a restaurant that once prided itself on culinary excellence, this dish was the epitome of mediocrity. It was clear that whoever is running the kitchen now lacks the finesse and standards that previously defined Amaya’s dining experience. The entire evening was marked by disappointment, culminating in the realization that the Grand Del Mar has lost what made it extraordinary. The new management has seemingly stripped away the soul of this beloved establishment, leaving behind an experience that feels hollow, cheapened, and completely unworthy of its legacy. For now, we will take our family traditions elsewhere. Unless there is a dramatic overhaul—including hiring a chef who understands quality and portion standards—and a revival of the Grand Del Mar’s signature elegance, we won’t be back. It’s truly devastating to see such a once-iconic place fall into mediocrity.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 4
Srinivasan Ramachandran
Everything takes a long time; the food was not great, just okay.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
Carmen Ramos
We decided to book for Christmas dinner. We are locals and know the grounds and the hotel are beautiful. When we called, we were told it was ala carte, which we were pleasantly surprised. We called to confirm the time the day of and found out it was a fixed menu, which made sense, but putting down $160 deposit and not being able to back out, we proceeded to go.
Once the hostess came to get us, she walked us OUTSIDE ON THE PATIO. Albeit we are in San Diego, but it was 59 degrees. Let's not discuss the heaters, which are fine, but you KNOW your food would freeze before it was even placed down.
She went ahead and looked for a place and we got seated in the fireplace room in the back corner. :-/. Who in their right mind would want to sit outside on a cold night? We weren't walk ins.
Service was good. Not intrusive. The first item came and was delicious, but they then came with our salads right away. It left me unsettled as I did not want to be rushed. The rest came out fine.
Prime rib - my mom ordered med rare. It came out Medium+. It was tough. Salmon was good. When we asked for bread we were told the Chef is not having bread service tonight. :-/ :-/
We are Italian. We like a piece of bread. LOL
Dessert was good. Overall, I would go back but not ever for a pre-fixed meal. Had we been able to cancel we would have. Luckily the atmosphere, other than the corner table in the room, is beautiful and festive. It's a lot of money for food that was mediocre.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Renaye Murphy
I showed up on time for my reservation but waited 49 minutes ti be seated. Was told to wait in the bar area which wasn't staffed. After being seated and waiting another full 15 minutes for someone to acknowledge us, we waited another 15 minutes for tap water and 29 minutes for a drink. Food was served cold and was not what was expected. The $42 ,mussels were supposed to have saffron tomato broth and had neither saffron nor tomato. Fries were cold. The oysters were milky at $45 for a half dozen. Complaint to the manager resulted in her asking US to recommend a solution to the problems. Took picture of almost empty dining room to show it wasn't busy.
I really enjoyed my visit to Amaya. Loved my steak and service. The place looks absolutely amazing, although a little bit hard to find first time. Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Perfect place 👌🏻
I’ll be back again
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Amazing atmosphere, fantastic food. For sure 5 star! Make sure to try their cauliflower dish- simple but so flavorful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amaya’s Mexican Cuisine was amazing! The food was fresh, flavorful, and authentic. Huge shoutout to our server Taylor, she was friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We dined here 3x during our stay at the Fairmont and I was surprised by how good the food was!
They serve the BEST omelettes, most likely because it’s prepared French style which makes ALL the difference. I highly recommend trying both the Boursin cheese one for brunch and the San Diego one for breakfast. Sooo good!!!
For dinner, I was thoroughly impressed by their duck while my husband had the trout (also good). The side of broccolini was also really tasty.
My husband found the tres leches cake very disappointing though — it was not a true tres leches, very dry, which is odd given how close SD is to Mexico.
Service was at times slow but nonetheless very polite and friendly.
The bar area is really ugly and uninviting in my opinion, so I’d stick to the main dining room!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Food is great, but would like more options and changes regularly.
Service is fantastic.
Decor and atmosphere is amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
A very nice dinner, ambiance, food, service all very good. Pate appetizer plate delicious. Scallop crudo outstanding, Pork chop excellent. Would give 5 stars if wine wasn't overpriced ($93 for a $35 retail bottle) and we didn't feel a bit rushed.
We are locals and visited on a regular basis since we always liked the overall ambience and the friendly, qualified service. During our last visits we realized the Food had been changing well under a mediocre level. After our visit on 03-24-25, where we had to entertain guests, we will not return any more unless you change Chef's. The preparation of the Escargot was inedible and cleared almost untouched. And we know and like Escargot. The Steelhead Trout was so highly overseasoned by Terragon that the Trout was totally overpowered. We have never seen such an unrecognizable Coq Au Vin black charred which as well was almost untouched. The two Pork Chop orders had not been prepaired medium, but so highly overcooked well done that they were dried out and almost inedible. We left very dissatisfied but with a carry out bag for our dogs.
TL;DR, Amaya screwed up my Valentine’s reservation with only three days notice.
I am a student who works minimum wage in the service industry, and wanted to book a table for Valentine’s Day with my girlfriend of four years. Due to customer volume, many restaurants choose to offer set tasting menus on valentine’s; in this case, Amaya offered their menu for 200/person, ~250 after tip & tax. Although this is likely fair value for the food and ambiance, this is simply unaffordable for someone in my position. So, I was excited to see, when looking at OpenTable, that they were offering both the set “Valentine’s Menu,” as well as the option for a “Standard Reservation,” which would be within my price range. I double-checked the website and OpenTable but found no mention of the valentine’s menu being the only one available. So, I went ahead under the reasonable assumption that what they had listed on OpenTable was correct, and a restaurant of their stature would be able to accommodate an à la carte menu as well. I got a call three days prior to valentine’s confirming my reservation, and, just in case, decided to double-check that my reservation was made for the standard menu. The host said that, as far as she knew, only the valentines menu was being offered, but that she would check with management and call back later. The day goes by, I call back with no response and leave a message. The next morning, I receive a call saying that they made a mistake with their reservation listings, and that they would indeed only be offering the valentine’s menu. I have owned a pop-up, set-menu restaurant, and have friends who have run set-menu services as well, so I understand that, if the chefs are only doing prep for a set menu, it would be very difficult for them to offer additional items. I ask if there’s any way to share a single menu between the two of us, or any other way to accommodate the kitchen. The host again checked with management, but there was nothing they could do. Again, this is all two days before valentine’s, and after admitting that they made a mistake listing the reservation options. To be clear, the host was very respectful and seemed genuinely sympathetic to the situation, but the management did not offer any type of solution or even provide an apology for their mistake. I have never seen this level of carelessness and disrespect working or dining anywhere else, and I certainly would not expect it from an establishment that shares a property with a three Michelin star restaurant.
My wife and I celebrated our one-year anniversary at Amaya, and it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived, we were captivated by the stunning hotel in which the restaurant is located. The property is absolutely beautiful, and the warm, welcoming staff immediately made us feel special. The exceptional service began right at the entrance with valet parking, which is conveniently validated through the restaurant. Our evening was made even more special thanks to our fantastic waiter, Peter, who took care of us from start to finish. He even surprised us with a complimentary anniversary dessert. The restaurant also provided us a signed card from all the staff to celebrate our anniversary —such a thoughtful touch! We started our meal with a couple of expertly crafted cocktails: the Banana Bread Old Fashioned and the Feelin' Spritzy—both were delicious and unique. For appetizers, we enjoyed the brioche bread and a selection of oysters. The brioche was warm, soft, and perfectly seasoned, while the oysters were incredibly fresh. Even as someone who isn't usually a big oyster fan, I found them delightful, especially when paired with the house-made habanero and yuzu sauce, which added just the right amount of heat and brightness. For the main course, we shared the Duck à l'Orange, accompanied by the pomme mousseline and vadouvan carrots. Every bite was perfection. The duck was expertly cooked—crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside—with a rich sauce that tied everything together beautifully. The sides were equally impressive, complementing the dish wonderfully. Amaya is truly a gem, perfect for a romantic date night or a special celebration. We couldn't have asked for a better anniversary dinner, and we will definitely be returning!
Restaurantji Recommends
A beautiful location and very nicely prepared food. It's not cheap -- it's the Fairmont -- but on a warm day, sitting outside on the Amaya patio soaking in the ambiance and the quality is a real treat. Staff is very attentive and valet parking is free with validation. A fun treat.
Grand Del Mar and Amaya: A Heartbreaking Decline
The Grand Del Mar has been a treasured destination for our family, year after year—a place synonymous with elegance, charm, and the type of attention to detail that made every visit magical. Sadly, this season’s visit was nothing short of heartbreaking, leaving us wondering what has happened to the place we once loved.
The first sign of change hit us at the entrance. The iconic arrangements of overflowing buckets of fresh flowers that have been a hallmark of the hotel’s beauty were nowhere to be seen. Instead, there stood a modest Christmas tree—pretty, yes, but far from extraordinary and certainly not befitting the Grand Del Mar’s legendary reputation. The seating areas, once dazzling with tasteful holiday decorations, looked sparse and uninspired. While the furniture has been updated, it seemed like a poor attempt to mask the loss of the hotel's character and warmth.
Our disappointment grew as we headed to the bar area. The menu was shockingly limited, and the waiter informed us they had already run out of three items. This level of unpreparedness was startling for such an establishment. To add insult to injury, the small yet thoughtful touches that used to elevate the experience—like the complimentary salted nuts and crackers—were gone. Feeling increasingly underwhelmed, we decided to dine at Amaya, hoping the meal would salvage our evening.
It didn’t. As we walked through the hotel, the magic of past years seemed completely lost. Cheap-looking decorations took the place of the once-elegant details, further underlining the diminishing standards under new management.
Amaya, a restaurant we’ve long admired, was only half full—an eerie sign for what used to be a bustling dining spot. My husband ordered the steelhead trout ($42) with a side of fries. What arrived was downright insulting. The portion was laughable, barely 3.5-4 ounces when it was clearly advertised as 8 ounces. Worse, the taste was utterly ordinary, no different than a run-of-the-mill piece of salmon. For a restaurant that once prided itself on culinary excellence, this dish was the epitome of mediocrity. It was clear that whoever is running the kitchen now lacks the finesse and standards that previously defined Amaya’s dining experience.
The entire evening was marked by disappointment, culminating in the realization that the Grand Del Mar has lost what made it extraordinary. The new management has seemingly stripped away the soul of this beloved establishment, leaving behind an experience that feels hollow, cheapened, and completely unworthy of its legacy.
For now, we will take our family traditions elsewhere. Unless there is a dramatic overhaul—including hiring a chef who understands quality and portion standards—and a revival of the Grand Del Mar’s signature elegance, we won’t be back. It’s truly devastating to see such a once-iconic place fall into mediocrity.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 4
Everything takes a long time; the food was not great, just okay.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
We decided to book for Christmas dinner. We are locals and know the grounds and the hotel are beautiful. When we called, we were told it was ala carte, which we were pleasantly surprised. We called to confirm the time the day of and found out it was a fixed menu, which made sense, but putting down $160 deposit and not being able to back out, we proceeded to go.
Once the hostess came to get us, she walked us OUTSIDE ON THE PATIO. Albeit we are in San Diego, but it was 59 degrees. Let's not discuss the heaters, which are fine, but you KNOW your food would freeze before it was even placed down.
She went ahead and looked for a place and we got seated in the fireplace room in the back corner. :-/. Who in their right mind would want to sit outside on a cold night? We weren't walk ins.
Service was good. Not intrusive. The first item came and was delicious, but they then came with our salads right away. It left me unsettled as I did not want to be rushed. The rest came out fine.
Prime rib - my mom ordered med rare. It came out Medium+. It was tough. Salmon was good. When we asked for bread we were told the Chef is not having bread service tonight. :-/ :-/
We are Italian. We like a piece of bread. LOL
Dessert was good. Overall, I would go back but not ever for a pre-fixed meal. Had we been able to cancel we would have. Luckily the atmosphere, other than the corner table in the room, is beautiful and festive. It's a lot of money for food that was mediocre.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
I showed up on time for my reservation but waited 49 minutes ti be seated. Was told to wait in the bar area which wasn't staffed. After being seated and waiting another full 15 minutes for someone to acknowledge us, we waited another 15 minutes for tap water and 29 minutes for a drink. Food was served cold and was not what was expected. The $42 ,mussels were supposed to have saffron tomato broth and had neither saffron nor tomato. Fries were cold. The oysters were milky at $45 for a half dozen. Complaint to the manager resulted in her asking US to recommend a solution to the problems. Took picture of almost empty dining room to show it wasn't busy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 1
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