Brockton Villa Restaurant, La Jolla

1 more image

Brockton Villa was built around the year 1894 and until 1990 was a private home or rental cottage. The Pannikin Copper, Coffee, and Cookery company leased Brockton Villa, renovated the hundred year old cottage and opened what has become a very popular restaurant.

A few years ago this was the site of a VT Meeting, I wasn't able to attend and since then have been curious about the restaurant. It offers a charming, unassuming facade and the prices are a bit higher than you'd find at budget restaurants, but the experience in flavors and views is well worth the price.

Favorite Dish: They are open for breakfast, lunch and "Supper." Their Coast Toast is most popular for breakfast but I'd choose the Eggs Ipanema Benedict for $11.00.

At lunch try the Steamed Mussels and Clams ($15.00) or the Sloppy Dave Sliders at $11.00.

Supper; start with steamed mussels and clams ($16.50) and one of the Chef's daily specials. If it is a special occassion, try the 10 Oz Choice New York Steak with House Made Whiskey Sauce - $29.50.

Their desserts are made on site and they offer beer and wine.

This is a casual, stand alone restaurant about the size of a medium size southern California house. On the hill above it is Prospect Street in La Jolla with fancier restaurants and hotels and plenty of shopping. The Brockton Villa is near the caves in La Jolla, near the cove and faces La Jolla cove, with combined California Brown Pelican and cormorant colonies across the road from the restaurant, between the restaurant and the sea. The view is of those bird colonies in the foreground, then the cove - with not infrequent sea lions - then a forest of kelp and then the open ocean caressing the coast as it fades to the north.

The food at the Brockton Villa is fresh and just that little bit different from other restaurants so that you know you can order even the most familiar sounding things and they will be a little new. For example the chop salad, one of my favorites, is spicier that I have had elsewhere.

If you think you might want to have a romantic lunch or dinner this would be nice but not too fancy. Remember to bring a jacket or wrap if you are going to eat on the balcony or out on the patio.

Favorite Dish: I have only ordered the salads and they are always very fresh, and with something different thown in. However, I have also always tasted my wife's food and she has ordered the mussels and pasta dishes that were great.