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Prado at Balboa Park

1549 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
619-557-9441
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Ranked #43 of 2,639 restaurants in San Diego
Price range: $10 - $40
Cuisines: American
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Restaurant details
Good for: Romance, Doing business, Local cuisine, Special occasions, Entertaining clients
Dining options: Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Reservations, Late Night, Dessert
Dining style: Casual Elegant
Cross street: 6th Avenue
Description: Just minutes from downtown San Diego, the convention center, and Mission Valley. The Prado at Balboa Park is located in one of the parks most beautiful buildings. Under chef Jonathon Hale's creative direction the Prado Restaurant has won honors as San Diego's Best New Restaurant, has been named one of America's top 10 restaurants by Gourmet Magazine, received the coveted "four star" award by the California Restaurant writers association. Continental cuisine paired with truly excellent service, unique ambiance, hand crafted decor and outdoor/indoor dining year round are just some of the reason's why we've won "most romantic" and "best special occasion" restaurant.
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554 reviews from our community

86% Recommend
    297
    181
    51
    20
    5
Rating summary
    Food
    Service
    Value
    Atmosphere
Date Rating
Boise, Idaho
Senior Contributor
43 reviews 43 reviews
26 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 13 cities Reviews in 13 cities
12 helpful votes 12 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 21, 2013 NEW

I found this little gem, when visiting an art exhibit in San Diego. I was strolling through the grounds and literally stumbled across. The atmosphere alone, was enchanting and my senses were elated. We chose to sit on the patio, over looking the beautiful yet oddly private gardens. Stunning! Okay, sorry, lets get to the food. Where to start? The... More

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Scottsdale, Arizona
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 20, 2013 NEW

The food was really outstanding and we loved the atmosphere and decor of the restaurant.. Being from Arizona, the greenery and beautiful landscape of the Balboa Park area impressed us.

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San Diego
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 7, 2013

The Prado is a great restaurant with beautiful ambience and great food. It's a nice place to relax at lunchtime or in the evening after walking around the Park.

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See 2 more reviews by RVGoddessSanDiego for San Diego
Chicago
Senior Contributor
26 reviews 26 reviews
8 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 5, 2013

Lovely location inside the Prado, lovely view from outdoor terrace. Good food. Really good service. It can get crowded later, came early for dinner.

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Franklin, Wisconsin
Top Contributor
103 reviews 103 reviews
47 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 25 cities Reviews in 25 cities
64 helpful votes 64 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 4, 2013

We didn't expect Prado to be fantastic, given its location within the park. But it was honestly the best meal we had in San Diego. The waiter was so attentive, and engaging - we had some great chats with him about the restaurant, the park, and San Deigo overall. The decor and ambiance are lovely. And the food and drinks... More

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See 12 more reviews by Two_Travel_Bugs_WI for San Diego
Buffalo, New York
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
3 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 28, 2013

It lived up to the hype. Great food, service, and ambiance. Calamari fries were the best. Fish taco was fresh and flavorful.

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See 7 more reviews by karen j for San Diego
Silver Spring MD
Top Contributor
53 reviews 53 reviews
32 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 21 cities Reviews in 21 cities
17 helpful votes 17 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 27, 2013

I was told this was a good spot to eat after the "Art Alive" exhibit, and it was! I ordered Fish Tacos, and it came with mahi and jicama salad, mango and a purple cabbage thing. I could taste the delicate corn tortilla lifting up all the flavors. The garden is pretty gorgeous too. Way way better than you'd expect... More

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San Diego, California
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
5 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 25, 2013

The Prado is very close and convenient for the Old Globe and all the Balboa Park museums. The food is outstanding and service is prompt with restaurant and bar seating available for both lunch and dinner.

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See 8 more reviews by Robert M for San Diego
San Clemente, California
Contributor
18 reviews 18 reviews
8 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
3 of 5 stars Reviewed April 24, 2013

The Mexican-influenced dishes here seem to be better than the other dishes here. Ambience is quite nice, but I've never been able to be fond of the foods here. Parking is often rather tricky.

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See 5 more reviews by GlobalCitizen0001 for San Diego
Scottsdale, AZ
Senior Contributor
21 reviews 21 reviews
4 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
76 helpful votes 76 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 23, 2013

Having now been eating there for 5 years, I can honestly say I have NEVER had a bad or even, poor, meal. We chanced upon Prado during a visit to the Museum of Art and was immediately impressed by the ambiance and decor. The menu is simple and inclusive. The salads and sandwiches are tasty and filling. I could go... More

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See 2 more reviews by jph948 for San Diego

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