I recently dined at Kettner Exchange with a group of 7, and while we were okay with the mandatory 20% gratuity for larger groups, the service we received was shockingly poor. Our server, Skye J, was unprofessional and rude throughout the evening, leaving everyone at the table frustrated.
From the beginning, she was inattentive and did not bring waters until we asked multiple times. When one of my friends wanted to change their drink, she flat out told them not to do it instead of offering alternatives. She gave poor recommendations and seemed unwilling to listen to any requests.
The worst part came when I ordered a well-done cheeseburger. She insisted it would come out medium, and then didn’t bring it at all. After waiting for over 40 minutes while the rest of my group finished their meals, she claimed the burger had only been ordered 10 minutes earlier. When I asked for it to be removed from the bill, she argued with me, rudely refusing to accommodate the request.
Overall, the experience was incredibly disappointing. Skye J’s behavior and lack of professionalism left a bad impression, and I wouldn’t recommend dining here this place only looks good and is too busy to care for its customers.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Sydney Pidgeon
Amazing cocktails and service, the food is good but a bit over priced for flavor profile and size. I would go back, but there are far better options in the San Diego that would be higher on my list
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pig Mac Bao Royale, Noodles
Joseph Ortega
Good food, great service. Drinks were pretty good, but not worth the price tbh. I expect downtown to be more pricy, but this is like 'going to the clerb' prices. Despite the prices, this place still had attracted a very young crowd, I'm guessing that helps contribute to its popularity.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Debra Deal
One of the best meals of my life. Everthing was delicious and the service was fantastic. The salmon belly skewers and duck meatballs ?.
A fantastic experience from start to finish. Team dinner that kept growing in numbers, and the staff handled it with grace and speed. The bartenders were busy and still took the time to have fun and put out great drinks. The food was fantastic and our server crushed it. He was friendly, took command of the room when we needed to simmer down, and guided us through the menu perfectly. Thank you all for such a great experience, our clients are still raving about the food.
Brent Graham
Gorgeous restaurant, amazing food, and super knowledgeable, attentive, and enthusiastic waiter (Miguel).
Everything was outstanding, and each would have been a standout favorite at another restaurant.
Also really appreciated Miguel’s question (which no restaurant has ever asked me before) of, “which dish was your least favorite?” You can tell this place’s goal is to up their game every evening and every meal.
Cant say enough good things and can’t wait to come back!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Debra
This was one of the best meals of my life! Ever dish was delicious but I really loved the salmon belly skewers and duck meatballs. The cocktails were creative and tasty (the manhattan and honey yuzu were perfect). We were also treated to a mini budino dessert for our anniversary which was wonderful. The service was top tier and the atmosphere was modern and fun. Would go back tomorrow!
Jay
Without a doubt, one of the best restaurants in SD. Craft cocktails, heck yes! The concept of having small plates to share lets you sample deep into the menu.! Try the whipped ricotta or eggplant for sure.
I recently dined at Kettner Exchange, and I can confidently say it was an extraordinary experience from start to finish. A special shoutout to Andrew for his impeccable recommendations! The duck was absolutely astounding—perfectly cooked with an explosion of flavor that left me craving more. The ribeye steak was equally delicious, cooked to perfection and seasoned beautifully. The ambiance of Kettner Exchange is truly something special. It strikes the perfect balance between high-class elegance and a relaxed, business-casual vibe. The aesthetics are reminiscent of a chic nightclub, yet it maintains the charm of a fine dining restaurant. Every corner of the space is thoughtfully designed, making it a feast for the eyes as much as the palate. And let's not forget the drinks! They were fantastic and bursting with flavor, perfectly complementing the exquisite dishes. Each sip was a delight, enhancing the overall dining experience. If you're looking for a place that combines exceptional food, a stunning atmosphere, and top-notch service, Kettner Exchange is the place to be. I can't wait to return for another memorable meal! Thank you, Andrew, and the entire team for such a wonderful evening!
Alexa Harcourt
Yummy drinks, a lot of shareable plates for food. Cozy chill environment with an upscale vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Marie Park
This place has the best food and amaretto sours. Jts tastefully decorator in modern decor and always packed with a hip crowd.
Fabulous, creative food and wonderful cocktails. I was grateful that we were in a large group so I could try a variety of dishes. The spicy tuna and Duck meatball were our favorites, but everything was incredible! Would highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
patrick
Monthly Chef's Table Review: Chef Brian & team, Sommelier Kyle, and the serving staff really outdid themselves with this offering. From the second we arrived and enjoyed a unique bottle by the fireplace, until the last bite at the Chef's Table right in the kitchen, the whole experience was a pleasure. From unique, rare, and artful ingredients, to thoughtful and refined presentation, the food checked all the boxes. The menu was completely custom to the night as well, featuring many dishes outside of Kettner's typical offerings. My favorite aspect of the food was Chef Brian's use of a storied imported olive oil that made an appearance in many of the courses. Chef's take on "Caesar salad" built into a crouton was also brilliant. Lastly the wine was almost an entirely separate but completely integrated feature, with a supremely knowledgeable Sommelier whos passion for wine shown bright. Kyle worked closely with Chef Brian (who also has a deep understanding of wine as well) to weave a tapestry of flavor between the food and wine. He didn't hold back on rare bottles either, and educated the table about what we were drinking along the way. Overall a 10/10 experience and a great value.
Their hot oil spicy noodles are a must try!
I recently dined at Kettner Exchange with a group of 7, and while we were okay with the mandatory 20% gratuity for larger groups, the service we received was shockingly poor. Our server, Skye J, was unprofessional and rude throughout the evening, leaving everyone at the table frustrated.
From the beginning, she was inattentive and did not bring waters until we asked multiple times. When one of my friends wanted to change their drink, she flat out told them not to do it instead of offering alternatives. She gave poor recommendations and seemed unwilling to listen to any requests.
The worst part came when I ordered a well-done cheeseburger. She insisted it would come out medium, and then didn’t bring it at all. After waiting for over 40 minutes while the rest of my group finished their meals, she claimed the burger had only been ordered 10 minutes earlier. When I asked for it to be removed from the bill, she argued with me, rudely refusing to accommodate the request.
Overall, the experience was incredibly disappointing. Skye J’s behavior and lack of professionalism left a bad impression, and I wouldn’t recommend dining here this place only looks good and is too busy to care for its customers.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Amazing cocktails and service, the food is good but a bit over priced for flavor profile and size. I would go back, but there are far better options in the San Diego that would be higher on my list
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pig Mac Bao Royale, Noodles
Good food, great service. Drinks were pretty good, but not worth the price tbh. I expect downtown to be more pricy, but this is like 'going to the clerb' prices. Despite the prices, this place still had attracted a very young crowd, I'm guessing that helps contribute to its popularity.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
One of the best meals of my life. Everthing was delicious and the service was fantastic. The salmon belly skewers and duck meatballs ?.
Parking: Small valet parking lot
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Meatball in Marinara Grits, Sonoma Lamb Szechuan Noodles, Noodles, Budino
Nice bartenders, lovely setting!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
A fantastic experience from start to finish. Team dinner that kept growing in numbers, and the staff handled it with grace and speed. The bartenders were busy and still took the time to have fun and put out great drinks. The food was fantastic and our server crushed it. He was friendly, took command of the room when we needed to simmer down, and guided us through the menu perfectly. Thank you all for such a great experience, our clients are still raving about the food.
Gorgeous restaurant, amazing food, and super knowledgeable, attentive, and enthusiastic waiter (Miguel).
Will without a doubt be going back here.
Had:
- kale salad
- whipped buttermilk ricotta
- spicy shrimp
- duck meatball
With dessert of budino, and curry-osity cocktail
Everything was outstanding, and each would have been a standout favorite at another restaurant.
Also really appreciated Miguel’s question (which no restaurant has ever asked me before) of, “which dish was your least favorite?” You can tell this place’s goal is to up their game every evening and every meal.
Cant say enough good things and can’t wait to come back!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was one of the best meals of my life! Ever dish was delicious but I really loved the salmon belly skewers and duck meatballs. The cocktails were creative and tasty (the manhattan and honey yuzu were perfect). We were also treated to a mini budino dessert for our anniversary which was wonderful. The service was top tier and the atmosphere was modern and fun. Would go back tomorrow!
Without a doubt, one of the best restaurants in SD. Craft cocktails, heck yes! The concept of having small plates to share lets you sample deep into the menu.! Try the whipped ricotta or eggplant for sure.
Restaurantji Recommends
I recently dined at Kettner Exchange, and I can confidently say it was an extraordinary experience from start to finish. A special shoutout to Andrew for his impeccable recommendations! The duck was absolutely astounding—perfectly cooked with an explosion of flavor that left me craving more. The ribeye steak was equally delicious, cooked to perfection and seasoned beautifully. The ambiance of Kettner Exchange is truly something special. It strikes the perfect balance between high-class elegance and a relaxed, business-casual vibe. The aesthetics are reminiscent of a chic nightclub, yet it maintains the charm of a fine dining restaurant. Every corner of the space is thoughtfully designed, making it a feast for the eyes as much as the palate. And let's not forget the drinks! They were fantastic and bursting with flavor, perfectly complementing the exquisite dishes. Each sip was a delight, enhancing the overall dining experience. If you're looking for a place that combines exceptional food, a stunning atmosphere, and top-notch service, Kettner Exchange is the place to be. I can't wait to return for another memorable meal! Thank you, Andrew, and the entire team for such a wonderful evening!
Yummy drinks, a lot of shareable plates for food. Cozy chill environment with an upscale vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place has the best food and amaretto sours. Jts tastefully decorator in modern decor and always packed with a hip crowd.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Creme Fraiche Panna Cotta, Molten Chocolate Cake, Spicy Shrimp
Fabulous, creative food and wonderful cocktails. I was grateful that we were in a large group so I could try a variety of dishes. The spicy tuna and Duck meatball were our favorites, but everything was incredible! Would highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Monthly Chef's Table Review: Chef Brian & team, Sommelier Kyle, and the serving staff really outdid themselves with this offering. From the second we arrived and enjoyed a unique bottle by the fireplace, until the last bite at the Chef's Table right in the kitchen, the whole experience was a pleasure. From unique, rare, and artful ingredients, to thoughtful and refined presentation, the food checked all the boxes. The menu was completely custom to the night as well, featuring many dishes outside of Kettner's typical offerings. My favorite aspect of the food was Chef Brian's use of a storied imported olive oil that made an appearance in many of the courses. Chef's take on "Caesar salad" built into a crouton was also brilliant. Lastly the wine was almost an entirely separate but completely integrated feature, with a supremely knowledgeable Sommelier whos passion for wine shown bright. Kyle worked closely with Chef Brian (who also has a deep understanding of wine as well) to weave a tapestry of flavor between the food and wine. He didn't hold back on rare bottles either, and educated the table about what we were drinking along the way. Overall a 10/10 experience and a great value.
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