Candela's Restaurant

(619) 702-4455

416 Third Ave
San Diego, CA 92101 32.7096 -117.162

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Neighborhoods: Marina, Central, Central San Diego

Price:

$$$

Last updated 6.17.10

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard, Debit Card

Restaurant Special Features:

Chef's Table, Romantic Dining, Date Spot, Bar Scene

Cuisine:

Mexican

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Candela's Restaurant

Featured Review

Erin Chambers

Contributor

The Scene – Dark and moody, the brown painted walls, rustic wood stools and exposed ceiling beams contribute the feeling of an old colonial Mexican castle. Red and purple accent pillows, hand-embroidered table cloths and hundreds of candles enhance the romantic look in each of the four rooms. On the menu, it's upscale Mexican cuisine presented with classic French service. Try the ceviche for a divine beginning with the day's fresh fish smoked, marinated in olive oil and lemon and served with tomatoes and onions on a bed of mango-basil vinaigrette. Other seafood standouts include Chilean…

Editor's Tips

Where to Sit:
The gated table in the wine cellar is up for grabs every night at no extra charge. Ask for it when you make a reservation or upon arrival if it's empty.
Parking:
Horton Plaza's garage is the closest mainstream lot. Buy a pack of gum and validate at Longs as you leave the structure and head south five blocks to the restaurant.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Great food, drinks and ambience”
  2. “Outstanding food, nice atmosphere, unique drinks and great service.”
atmosphere
100.0% positive
  1. “outstanding food, nice atmosphere, unique drinks and great service.”
  2. “great food, drinks and ambience”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “great food, drinks and ambience”
  2. “The bartender was really nice and made a great caipirinha's (brazilian drink).”
  3. “Outstanding food, nice atmosphere, unique drinks and great service.”
  4. “Best espresso outside of Miami.”
  5. “a nice bottle of red wine, dinner served at a relaxed pace, each dish well thought out, and particularly tasty.”
  6. “This place is ok, the drinks aren't bad.”
  7. “best espresso outside of miami.”
  8. “Great food, drinks and ambience”
  9. “was ready to order wine when the server talked me into their all natural (no high fructos corn syrup mix) high quality margarita on the rocks.”
  10. “the bartender was really nice and made a great caipirinha 's brazilian drink.”
  11. “outstanding food, nice atmosphere, unique drinks and great service.”
  12. “nice bottle of red wine, dinner served at a relaxed pace, each dish well thought out, and particularly tasty.”
food quality
90.90999603271484% positive
  1. “it was pretty good but i like the italian style that, i was not fond of the rice texture with the calamari.”
  2. “a nice bottle of red wine, dinner served at a relaxed pace, each dish well thought out, and particularly tasty.”
  3. “We loved the black bean soup and the avocado/seafood app.”
  4. “outstanding food, nice atmosphere, unique drinks and great service.”
  5. “The lobster is also very good but the best item on the menu is the beef filet with tomatillo sauce.”
  6. “Outstanding food, nice atmosphere, unique drinks and great service.”
  7. “It was pretty good but I like the italian style that my mother in law makes better, I was not fond of the rice texture with the calamari.”
  8. “fantastic menu, food,& service”
  9. “the food is so amazing”
  10. “Excellent food, excellent service.”
  11. “i highly recommend this place for anyone who loves mexican food, even though it is pricey!”
  12. “The food was amazing.”
  13. “Great food, drinks and ambience”
  14. “the food was amazing.”
  15. “the jumbo shrimp and coconut was so amazing”
  16. “great food, drinks and ambience”
  17. “i highly recommend the placer steak.”
  18. “nice bottle of red wine, dinner served at a relaxed pace, each dish well thought out, and particularly tasty.”
  19. “we loved the black bean soup and the avocado\/seafood app.”
  20. “Innovative dishes with a great urban twist.”
  21. “the lobster is also very good”
  22. “Its a bit off the beaten path but worth it for some great food.”
  23. “am usually not a big fan of Mexican food until I came here!”
  24. “innovative dishes with a great urban twist.”
  25. “its a bit off the beaten path but worth it for some great food.”
  26. “excellent food, excellent service.”
  27. “the calamari was so delicious”
menu variety
75.0% positive
  1. “The lobster is also very good but the best item on the menu is the beef filet with tomatillo sauce.”
  2. “fantastic menu, food,& service”
  3. “Lastly, it is a little dark to read the menu but the service was fantastic.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “our favorite stop in san diego.”
  2. “one of the best upscale mexican restaurants i have been too!”
service
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. “was ready to order wine when the server talked me into their all natural (no high fructos corn syrup mix) high quality margarita on the rocks.”
  2. “the bartender was really nice and made a great caipirinha 's brazilian drink.”
  3. “Outstanding food, nice atmosphere, unique drinks and great service.”
  4. “Lastly, it is a little dark to read the menu but the service was fantastic.”
  5. “outstanding food, nice atmosphere, unique drinks and great service.”
  6. “the service was fantastic”
  7. “The dining staff was extremely polite, polished and welcoming.”
  8. “fantastic menu, food,& service”
  9. “The bartender was really nice and made a great caipirinha's (brazilian drink).”
  10. “excellent food, excellent service.”
  11. “Excellent food, excellent service.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “Its a bit off the beaten path but worth it for some great food.”
  2. “its a bit off the beaten path but worth it for some great food.”
  3. “great authentic margaritas.”
  4. “i highly recommend this place for anyone who loves mexican food, even though it is pricey!”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/16/11

Best Mexican in San Diego

by LesleyC at Citysearch

The food is Amazing!!! I was in heaven!! YUM! Casual yet elegant great ambiance. The staff is so nice and the decor is so very spanish. I loved it! Cute waiter too, I liked the one with the pony tail. YUMMY! I'll be back. Lots of good looking people. Fun!

1 Star Rating: Poor

03/21/10

DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME

by MamaDeb at Citysearch

HORRIBLE! HORRIBLE! HORRIBLE Service. Waiter was given money and asked for change. Never came back with the change ($75) and when asked about it, he said he gave it back to us! After dealing with the useless manager, we were finally given the change. Only to be followed out by the waiter and asked, "Did you find the money YOU lost?" Basically accusing us of lying and stealing from him! A friend dining with us said that she had a bad experience there too, but was giving it another shot with us, and realized it wasn't just her experience, it's that whole Restaurant! We will never return and never let friends or family waste their time there!

  • Pros: dishes were clean
  • Cons: service
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

04/11/08

A New Way to Look at Mexican Cuisine

by contempler at Citysearch

Mexican fine dining. We were greated at the front door by our host, Conrado Abundes, who then walked us to our table. I asked him to identify any dishes that he thought were note worthy, and his suggestions were on the money. The black bean cream soup, stewed with dark Mexican beer was as unusual as it was delicious. The first courses recommendations of "Callos Jean," scallops sauteed with Portobello mushrooms, onions, cilantro, jalapeno, lime and white wine, and "Estructura de Aguacate," Haas avacado stuffed with scallops, shrimp and crab, marinated in lime juice and tossed with parsley, tomato and onion and served with a basil and mango vinaigrettes, are both sophisticated, blends of texture and taste. The entree of beef filet, grilled and served over a green tomatillo sause, was an equal pleaser.

A nice bottle of red wine, dinner served at a relaxed pace, each dish well thought out, and particularly tasty...

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

04/08/08

Excellent food, excellent service.

by rcervera at Citysearch

Innovative dishes with a great urban twist. Service is prompt and courteous. Best espresso outside of Miami.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/24/08

Great food, drinks and ambience

by GustavoJasmine at Citysearch

We had an early dinner there, the place is dimly lit, the entry bar is small but loungy. The bartender was really nice and made a great caipirinha's (brazilian drink). The dining staff was extremely polite, polished and welcoming. The food was amazing. I highly recommend the Placer Steak. Its a bit off the beaten path but worth it for some great food. THe music is loud enough to feel like a NY lounge but not like a club, Saturday night it was a house music.

  • Pros: Great Food!

The Details on Candela's Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • great mexican food
  • recommended placer steak
  • good lobster
  • nice bartender
  • liked italian style
  • great authentic
  • fantastic menu
  • recommended place
  • delicious calamari
  • amazing coconut
  • great food
  • fantastic service
  • unique drinks
  • polished dining staff
  • really nice bartender
  • favorite stop
  • highly recommend placer steak
  • best upscale mexican restaurants
  • great caipirinha
  • nice atmosphere
  • very good lobster
  • great ambience
  • great urban twist
  • not bad candelas restaurant
  • not big fan
  • loved black bean soup
  • nice bottle
  • best espresso outside
  • bad experience
  • loved avocadoseafood app
  • order wine
  • like italian style

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