10/20/08

Best Asian downtown- no comparison

by faizal

The ambiance was really nice, the staff friendly. My drinks was always topped immediately. I had Panang Char Kuey Teow and Satay. Char Kuey Teow was really good but the satay was out of this world. I'm telling everyone about this place.

• Pros: Food
• Cons: Parking

03/05/08

Great Drinks, Good service, Delicious Food

by juluvsace

Heard about this place on the radio from Erin @City Search. Hubby and I walked in on a Friday night without reservations. Were told the wait would be about 20 minutes - no problem we'll have a drink. No sooner did we browse the drink menu and order our drinks did the hostess approach us to let us know our table was ready. Quick! Got seated, had our drinks delivered to our table - SO GOOD - can't remember the name but it had soju, pineapple and some other stuff - delicious. It did take a few minutes for our waitress to take our order, but as soon as we took notice there she was. Our appetizer came out quickly and dinner followed just as we finished the last piece of shrimp. The food was excellent - kobe beef (melted in your mouth), mango fried rice (yummy), but I was particularly pleased with the curry cauliflower. It was surprisingly tastey. This place is great - is pretty loud, but the music is cool - we've already recommended it to our friends. We'll definitely be back.

• Pros: The specialty drinks and the food

02/11/08

Great Food, Beware of Wait

by jomarkumar423

On the recommendation of 2 people, my wife and I decided to meet up with some friends at the Red Pearl on Saturday night. Figuring it'd be pretty busy, we made reservations for 8:45pm. We decided to get there a bit early, and wait in the bar area for our table. We were very disappointed at how long it took us to get seated. Tables kept getting seated before us, and when we confronted the hostess, they told us that they had reservations- funny, I thought we did too? A party of 8 even got seated before us, and I heard there reservations weren't until 9:15pm. For the amount of time we invested in waiting there, we decided to stick it out. Finally, after about 40 minutes of waiting on our originial reservation, we were seated. They decided to comp our first round of drinks, which in my opinion was the least they could have done. Past the whole waiting for our table ordeal, the rest of the night went off pretty well. Our server was a little slow, but understandbly so- the place was PACKED. We decided to start with the Edamame and chicken dumplings. Our table LOVED the edamame, and the dumplings were just so so. For dinner we ordered the Spicy Drunken Noodles, Cashew Chicken, Kobe with Papaya, and the black bean scallops. I figured this place being a downtown restaurant, the prices would be high, and the portions would be small. It was a little pricy, but for being downtown, it was just about right, and they were pretty generous with the portions too. The food was GREAT. I believe one review compared this to PF Changs. PF Changs SUX compared to this place. The food was top notch, and the flavors were wonderful. On the strength of the food alone, I would consider coming back, but possibly on a less crowded evening, or not during the peak dinner hours. As long as you prep yourself for the wait, the food is well worth it. I'd like to review this place after a second go round.

• Pros: Great Pan Asian Food, Generous Portions
• Cons: Long Wait (even with Reservations), Service

12/12/07

First timer, not impressed with the service!

by lanilan79

So I waited in the bar area for 2 other friends, I sipped on a pretty good lychee martini and watched a cool movie. My friends roll in and I had to wait for about 10 min. for a 7pm reservation I made. no biggy I thought I finish my martini and be happy. When sitted we sat next to the mens bathroom, there was a sheer curtain separation fromthe toliet to the dining area. but still...watching men walk out adjusting their packages is not appetizing. So there we sat for a good 10 minutes at least (no joke) not one server, busser, nobody came to say "hi", "ill be right with you", "have some water" etc... It was'nt that busy eiather. Ive heard that the food is really good here so I wanted to take some friends there, I am embarresed that I did.... So we walked out, no "goodbye"... we ended up at Rama, way better anyways!!! I worked in the restaurant industry as a server, cocktail server and bartender in the downtown area for years, loved it..but you do expect a certain level of hospitality and look for it as well. I wasnt impressed, niether were my friends. Ill never go back, and recommend that you dont go eiather.

• Pros: lychee martini, the bartender
• Cons: layout of the place, service

11/17/07

Great Service at anytime!!

by socialdee

So we go at 10:30pm and you would think we get the bogus lazy end of the night service but it was the absolute opposite. We had one of the best servers Joanna and she was informtive attentive and plesant. The food was amazing -- Get the Salt & Pepper Shrimp -- delish!! We had the garlic shrimp noodle -- said to be spicy but when I ate it wasn't at all -- thumbs up for me!! Also the Cashew chicken very good as well chicken may have been a little over cooked or it could've been the spices they used to give it the color because the consistency didn't taste like it was. Family style portions so go with friends or have a huge appetite. Overall great spot -- for San Diego -- This is coming from a Discerning New Yorker with the discerning palatte to go with. Must try!!!

• Pros: Late night service, Great food, service, and music
• Cons: Little dark inside, parking may be tight on the street - lot close walking distance

07/25/07

Best or one of the top 5 Fusion Asian places in San Diego

by jttravels

We have been there many times and have always enjoyed the innovative food. Sometimes the service does slow down when the place is full. The fusion of different Asian tastes, spices and presentations has almost always satisfied. Definitely a place for adventurous palettes. Try the chefs table and let the exec. chef decide what to feed you - you will leave quite happy !

03/06/07

Great ideas of fusion, nice lounge-y bar

by bellahead

Hip, warm, scene and vibe accompanies very tasty asian-fusion dishes. The appetizers (dim-sum) are great for sharing and very delicious, the main courses are like an elegant step-up from PF Changs. Sides of veggies were even more impressive - like a favorite spot from a real "International District." Too loud music sometimes, but cool music nonetheless.

• Pros: decor, bar, fun for parties
• Cons: too loud

11/20/06

Okay food, waited a long time even with reservations

by llm79

I had a big group, maybe 15, but we had reservations and we still waited for over a half an hour for our table. The food was just okay, I was not that impressed. We had to ask for extra rice constantly, because they kept bringing out really small servings for the group--just fill up a big platter of rice for the whole table, even if you have to charge us for however many "sides of rice" it adds up to! Isn't that easier than bringing out a small plate every five minutes? They also messed up some of the order, but that is understandable for such a large group. I would not recommend the cashew chicken, but I liked the curry dishes and noodle dishes that others in my group ordered. Maybe next time I would try this place with a small group and not on a Saturday night.

• Pros: creative drinks, cool space
• Cons: not good for groups, okay food, very dim lighting

11/10/06

great atmosphere, locale, above average food

by jmorrow12

i went to Red Pearl Kitchen on a Thursday night and was happy to find a hip asian fusion restaruant in the gaslamp quarter, something not easy to come by. the restaurant was packed and we had to sit at the bar. the menu was creative with a variety of asian foods to choose from. our caramel shrimp dish was delicious, but the portion was on the small size. the appetizers were very good, and the drink menu both creative and well done. i enjoyed my experience here and would recommend going here either for dinner, drinks or both.

• Pros: location, food choices, romantic

11/04/06

Great Place for Happy Hour

by jojobadabing

I had the pleasure of dining here last week while in SD and just loved it. We ordered a series of appetizers and each one was more delicious than the last. The dumplings delicious, beef satay, spicy & sweet, grilled asparagus, grand! And the sake, scrumptious.

We were pressed for time so enjoying a full meal was not an option, be we sat in the lounge on the funky, square stools and gobbled up every morsel of delicious app.

Can't wait to go back.

• Pros: Great food. Great atmosphere.
• Cons: We got there as the dinner shift was starting so their was lots of server and management chatter.