The Guild
San Diego, CA 92102
Phone: (619) 564-7584
- Price:
- $$
- Best of Citysearch:
- Small Plates 2007
- Hours:
- Tues-Sun 5pm-11pm
Editorial Review for The Guild – by Erin Chambers
The Scene
Slipping into the hip East Village scene like a glove, this is one corner of Barrio Logan determined to outgrow the rough and tumble legacy of its neighborhood's moniker. The sleek, urban design with custom furniture and bold, colored lights is a step in the right direction, as is the trendy restaurant/bar/lounge combo setup. But efforts to cram dining, drinking and hanging into such a small space might be too ambitious. We found it less intimate and cozy (maybe it's that stark white floor?) and more like they spent so much on those great custom bobble chairs that they had to scrap the patio.
The Food
An innovative, international menu is prepared in small portions with matching prices. Artichoke hearts with a cheesy, crisp brulee are surprising and sweet at just $9, and a smaller portion of steak frites comes with tangy horseradish for just $15. The espresso martini and chocolate sandwich make a for a fine finish, as would any of the sweet signature cocktails like passionate flame martinis and fruity bellinis.
Hits: Innovative, reasonably-priced food and a cool, original design.
Misses: Safe and well-lit parking, fun neighbors, a patio, one or two serious entrees.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Fun FactThe space is an extension of founder/owner Paul Basile's design shop. Peer through the back walls at his intricate metal shop, where he and his team work on cutting edge projects for clients like the Museum of Contemporary Art's downtown space.
What to DrinkCheck out the great local beers and extensive by-the-glass wine list. They're also sporting a pretty cute list of signature cocktails. We recommend trying any of the ones made with bubbly.
User Reviews for The Guild
05/04/2008 Posted by madhatter74
The portions were so small that they could be Tapas, but the price was George's level high ($$$$). The wait staff was non-existent and mostly useless when they did show up. The presentation was great, the Flavor was excellent, and the design of the space was amazing. Overall, I was still left unsatisfied. I will not go back unless there is a change of management... It was a great idea, poorly executed.
Pros: Pretty
Cons: Too expensive, lousy staff, micro portions
04/06/2008 Posted by jjtrick
This is a copy of an e-mail we wrote to The Guild This was the first time we have been out (alone) for 6 months since the birth of our son. We were sorely disappointed and here is why....... Amuse Buche - The flavors of this were great, but the basalmic reduction was overpowering. Unfortunately, things went downhill from here. Sashimi with Wasabi Foam - The fish was of inferior quality and didn't contain the textures and flavors of sashimi grade fish. It was mealy and mushy. In addition, the "Wasabi Foam" was missing. Foam is supposed to be light, airy and frothy. Whatever cream was on top of this dish was not a foam and way too heavy, unless its' purpose was to drown out the horrible flavors of the sashimi. Chevre Artichokes - While this dish had the most promising flavors with a balance of sweet and sour, it was laced with artichoke skins that were entirely inedible. This made the dish difficult to eat as well as the very tough toast points that couldn't even be cut with a knife. Everyone knows you can't eat artichoke leaves (duh). Daily Ocean (Hamachi) - The quality of the fish was not indicative of the price. A few bites were actually quite pungent. A very blah dish that made me want to get up and leave. Land and Sea - This is the first $28 filet mignon that I have ever had that was prepared Medium Well. It was reminiscent of swiss steak. The lobster ravioli filling was too firm, hard. Very disappointing. We understand that sometimes portions are small because the ingredients are of the highest quality, but this was not the case at The Guild. We don't mind spending money on the best cuisine even if it is a small portion, but we were left completely unsatisfied. We are fairly easy going and didn't even mind the gnats that were swarming around our table. We kept ordering drinks to drown our sorrows and kept hoping the next dish would meet our expectations. It never happened; we had to stop for burritos on the way home.
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