A Night in La Jolla : Brockton Villa & The Cottage

For the longest time I pronounced La Jolla exactly the way it looks, so yes, my “j” was not silent. I finally checked out the place I was mispronouncing for so long.

During my last visit to Orange County, I took a drive down the historic 101 Pacific Coast Highway to La Jolla. The drive down was so scenic.

On my way there, I stopped at In-N-Out Burger for lunch, of course. I didn’t know they gave out free caps.

Referred to as the jewel of Southern California, La Jolla is an hour and a half south of Orange County and approximately 20 minutes north of downtown San Diego. Set on the Pacific coastline, the views here are spectacular with perfect weather year round averaging 70.5 degrees F.

Known for its beaches, La Jolla is an upscale community in San Diego with a casual beach vibe. There is something for everyone in this small town whether it is walking on the beach or along the shoreline, shopping in the village (La Jolla’s downtown) where you’ll find designer stores to boutique stores, casually browsing through art galleries, sipping coffee at cute little cafes, or simply enjoying ocean view dining with the most stunning sunsets.

La Jolla is more romantic than lively, more quaint than city-like. There is plenty of natural beauty and culture in this small town village.

DAY 1

• Checked in at The The Westin San Diego Hotel.
• Walked around the Shoreline.
• Enjoyed a Sunset Dinner.

Spectacular Sunset at Brockton Villa
Al Fresco dining at this romantic oceanfront restaurant serving American food, also known for its brunch! You can’t leave here without trying the famous Coast Toast a la Mode for dessert!

Cocktails & Appetizer
Coconut Lime Mojito (left): Refreshing cocktail, but the coconut flavor wasn’t quite prominent. There was a good amount of alcohol without the cocktail being too strong – a good thing!
Sunset Cove: Prepared with guava puree, passion fruit, vodka and freshly squeezed orange juice. This cocktail was definitely good and on the sweeter side, but it was more prominent in orange juice than guava and passion fruit – I was looking forward to the latter 2 flavors. This tasted more like a Screwdriver.
Fiery Shrimp Ceviche (right): Fresh chilies, guacamole, house made herbed cocktail sauce tossed with shrimp. Delicious appetizer that was citrusy, crunchy and tasted fresh. A generous portion of shrimp and the chips weren’t oily.

Entrees
Grilled Fresh Fish Tacos (top): Although the tacos were flavorful, citrusy with a slight kick, the fish was a bit tough. Additionally, the tortilla was a bit hard, chewy, and so was the brown rice. On the contrary, the black beans were tasty and cooked perfectly.
Ginger-Chili Glazed Atlantic Salmon (bottom): Perfectly crunchy and tender salmon sat over a bed of insanely delicious and creamy coconut cilantro rice. The bok choy and citrus butter emulsion added depths of flavor to this dish. A favorite!

Dessert
Coast Toast a la Mode: Just like a French Toast, the Coast Toast was soft and gooey and it came with a side of vanilla ice-cream. This dessert was the perfect ending to a good meal.

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Brockton Villa
COST: $$
CUISINE: American/Brunch
FAVORITES: Fiery Shrimp Ceviche | Ginger-Chili Glazed Atlantic Salmon (coconut cilantro rice) | Coast Toast a la Mode
VERDICT: 4 / 5
Overall, a good meal with breathtaking views of the sunset. Brockton Villa comes alive during the evening hours and I highly recommend sitting outside since the weather is perfect in La Jolla. Our server was wonderful and very pleasant. Although I was really disappointed with the Fish Tacos, I was satisfied with the rest of my meal. The ceviche, salmon and coast toast stole the show. A spectacular sunset to go with the meal doesn’t hurt either. I look forward to visiting Brockton Villa for brunch someday!

Food: Very Good | Drinks: Good | Décor: Epic Sunset View/Casual | Service: Friendly/Attentive |Value: Excellent

LOCATION: 1235 Coast Blvd., La Jolla, CA

DAY 2

• Brunch.
• Strolling in downtown La Jolla.
• Shopping at the Village (also part of downtown).

Out of this world Brunch at The Cottage La Jolla
One of the best brunches I’ve ever had. Everything from the scone to the French toast to the pancakes to the eggs benedict are incredible. You’ll leave happy!

NOTE: My portions were smaller since I requested a tasting of various items.

Beverages & Baked
Coffee (left): Organic coffee, a solid cup. I must have had like 4 cups.
Orange Juice: Freshly squeezed – always delicious.
Scone (right): Delish scone that arrived warm upon arrival. It was soft, thick and the butter melted perfectly. One of the BEST scones I’ve ever had.

Eggs & Benedicts
Baja Chicken Hash (top): Combination of a benedict in a tostada bowl with a Mexican twist. Poached egg over vegetables and chicken sausage. This dish was a little spicy which I didn’t mind. The addition of avocado was perfect. I liked the pairing of corn and red pepper… added crunch and color. Although it was good, it didn’t blow me away.
Eggs La Jolla (bottom): English muffin topped with Canadian bacon, mushrooms, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and balsamic. Creamy and tangy… the sun-dried tomatoes and balsamic took this dish to the next level. Incredible dish and a favorite!

Batters
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes (top): Perfectly soft light, lemony, and airy pancakes with grilled blueberries inside. Flavorful, not too sweet. Perfection!
Stuffed French Toast (bottom): The French Toast made with brioche bread and mascarpone dish, hence this dish was most definitely rich. It didn’t taste eggy at all which was the best part. Soft and thick pieces of French toast and topped with loads of berries and banana. Indulgent, yet light. Beautiful dish and tasted even better.

RESTAURANT REVIEW: The Cottage La Jolla
COST: $$
CUISINE: Brunch/New American
FAVORITES: Coffee | Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice | Scone | Eggs La Jolla | Lemon Ricotta Pancakes | Stuffed French Toast
VERDICT: 4.5 / 5
I’ve had my share of great brunch, but this one takes the cake. The Cottage is a gem in La Jolla! The food here is phenomenal, the service was top notch and the coffee was so good. The Eggs La Jolla were unique, I loved the combination of the sun-dried tomatoes and balsamic. It was sweet and tangy at the same time. After eating a brunch this heavy, it’s a good idea I walked around the village for a while. I know I’ll be back here for brunch every single time I visit La Jolla. Very highly recommended!

Food: Outstanding | Drinks: Outstanding | Décor: Casual/Cozy | Service: Friendly/Attentive |Value: Excellent

LOCATION: 7702 Fay Ave, La Jolla, CA

Other Restaurant Recommendations
George’s at the Cove
Piatti

Have you been to La Jolla/San Diego? What did you do? Where did you stay? Where did you eat?