The Prado at Balboa Park

Super cool if you go when they open around 11:00 and just go to the bar which has full seating and you can order food there too instead of the restaurant proper. Definitely appealing if you want to roll in and avoid the crowds and hassle. The food selection was pretty awesome, the portions were good. The cocktails were great. And of course I love the vibe and the decor. Highly recommend you go on a weekday when they open. Especially in the off-season.

El Prado boasts an outstanding location and ambiance, with an amazing cocktail selection that sets the tone for a great evening. The service was attentive and friendly, adding to the overall experience. Unfortunately, the food did not live up to the setting. I ordered the mahi sandwich, which was well-cooked but lacked flavor and was presented more like a cafeteria burger—underwhelming given the atmosphere. A beautiful spot for drinks and vibes, but not my top pick for the food.

I really wanted to like to this place, especially since on Wednesday it’s the only restaurant open at the park that’s not a food stand. They have an open seating section where you pick your own seat and server comes to you or you can sit at the bar or a table outside. Service wise: I sat down pretty quick but I didn’t get a server within 6 mins of sitting. My server was kind and timely. Food wise: I got the Kobe burger with fries, sparkling lemonade and Piña colada creme. The burger was fine and came out quick! The fries however were EXTREMELY salty. I couldn’t finish my meal because the saltiness of the fries were very over powering. I was very excited for the crème brûlée however it fell flat for me. The crème was runny. The texture of this dish is supposed to feel a little like flan and this was loose. The taste also didn’t work well together, it tasted off and the more I ate the more I realized the sugar on top was good but the compote, custard and chantilly gave a slightly expired taste. The marble tuille did not work with the dish but tasted fine alone. I’m sure there are other menu items that are great here but these flopped for me.

A wonderful lunch at a wonderful place. We enjoyed our morning at Balboa Park at the different museums and started getting hungry. We are so lucky that we decided to go to Prada. The food was delicious. The service was great. We highly recommend the farmers green salad with salmon and the desserts were amazing. The German chocolate cake had fresh toasted coconut on top m. We paired it with vanilla ice cream that made it perfect. The carrot cake was delicious and overall our experience was really a good one.

Ate a great lunch at Prado! We started with the seared prime beef sushi roll, and for entrees had the grilled mahi and filet steak sandwiches. Everything tasted really good. We sat on the dog friendly patio. Service was very friendly and quick. Great place to eat while you’re exploring Balboa Park.

Lovely atmosphere in Balboa Park. Maybe a one-time experience. Average good expensive food. The clams and mussels were quite tasty, good average spinach salad. Salmon and ribs good. I would recommend the perfect sea bass.

A group of four of us had lunch on the patio at The Prado, and as always, it was such a beautiful experience. The outdoor seating is stunning, overlooking a lush, forest-like area in Balboa Park. The atmosphere is always lively yet relaxing, making it one of our favorite spots to sit outside and enjoy a meal. We all ended up ordering the Chopped Cobb Salad, which I had raved about before. It’s packed with fresh ingredients, colorful, and a great portion size—big enough to share, but also perfect for one. It has a variety of proteins, making it a satisfying and well-balanced meal. The Prado also has a great beer selection, and my husband enjoyed a cold one while the rest of us had iced tea. The menu offers a great variety of options, so there’s something for everyone. Our server, Jorge, was fantastic—super sweet, attentive, and helpful throughout the meal. The service here is always top-notch, which makes the experience even better. It was such a relaxing and enjoyable lunch, and we’ll definitely be back soon! Highly recommend sitting on the patio if you get the chance!

We had a wonderful experience at the Prado. Our server was really polite and helpful on providing recommendations. Food came out as ordered, with my steak cooked as requested. Is a nice location to come for dinner or to celebrate a special occasion.

We found the restaurant staff pleasant and helpful. The food was mediocre and quite overpriced for the meals we had, sea bass and the short ribs. The sea bass was tasteless, served with a concoction of vegetables that was almost unrecognizable as to contents. The short rib singular was just a piece of pot roast with mashed potatoes and gravy. For the price of $40 each not worth it.

Has indoor/outdoor seating. Reservation made on Google. Ordered several items to share as a group. A bit pricey but nice ambiance to eat at and convenient if in Balboa Park. mussels and scallops: ok crab dip: very rich and creamy. Couldn't taste much of the crab but filling calamari fries: Korean styled. Loved it! Greens w seared salmon salad. Needed a bit more vinaigrette but liked the variety of things in it. Mahi mahi sandwich. Good flavor, thick filet so very meaty. Fruity lemonade: several people ordered it as strawberry or lemonade and loved it.

Came in for dinner and drinks before a show at The Globe. We had made reservations and were supposed to be seated outside on the terrace. It was busy with a million prom dates and a wedding in the courtyard. It was also drizzly with rain. So they changed our rez and seated us inside at the Cantina. Our server was very kind but thought we were there as part of another party with a preset menu. After we explained that we think we were seated in the wrong place, he brought us menus and told us another server would be serving us. Kinda weird but I guess we were grateful we got a table inside from the rain. We ended up ordering from the cantina menu which was really affordable and fast. It was a bit loud but had a fun energy. We ordered apps, drinks, tacos, and dessert . All really good. Service was great. Good served fast. We had time for 3 courses and to be able to chat and still made it to the show on time. Parking on a Saturday during wedding and prom season on Balboa Park is not fun so plan to get there early and expect a trek. We parked on 6th outside of the Park.

Lunaversary! My boyfriend and I celebrated our lunarversary. It was practically perfect in every way! It started by my phone call to the restaurant and reconfirming my reservation and noting dairy free. I found out that if you are celebrating an anniversary, they comp you a dulce de leche dessert, but since I my boyfriend can't have dairy they made a not to do a dairy free dessert. At that point I was excited because it is hard to find places with DF desserts. The time came for having dinner. It was a Friday on the first hottest weekend of 2025! Donna sat us to our table on the patio and she was a delight. We learned about the Prado and how they do events. Our table overlooked one of their event spaces which has a petit lawn and wishing well. It was picturesque! Let's just say duly noted on Prado doing events like weddings and if I were to plan any future event there. Michael G. was our server and he was great! He was personable and funny. He started us off with Arnold Palmers and the pescador mussels & scallops. The crostini was dairy free. And the spread was a bell pepper one. The soupy sauce and the flavor with the mussels and scallops was so good! It was a great sharable appetizer. For our entrées, we decided to share so we both shared the red wine short ribs and the pan roasted sea bass. The short ribs was so tender and did not need a knife to cut. I absolutely love brocolini, so that was a awesome seasonal vegetable choice to have. For the sea bass, I think i loved the vegetable medly and sweet corn that came with it. Don't get me wrong. The fish was good, but I liked the side more! And for our dessert, which is what Inwas excited for, was a mango sorbet. It tasted creamy like a Dole Whip! It was so delicious and they gave two large scoops! It was so amazing to have Michael G. be there as our server and he took the time to make sure the food was all dairy free, which we appreciated so much! I for one will definitely be going back and want to make this our couple's thing! Now, I got to make more special memories.

Be forewarned: the prices are high. You will pay a premium for the amazing location. The restaurant is located in the area that serves as the de facto center of Balboa Park. The restaurant decor is absolutely charming. Service was outstanding. I highly recommend making a reservation. The food presentation is gorgeous. Everything about the restaurant is very attractive. But you need not worry about overly spicy or super strong or exotic flavors. Even though San Diego has Mexican restaurants on every corner and the city is 10 miles from the Mexican border, the flavors here are not going to offend any delicate palates. The lavash crackers and chipotle hummus was nice enough but if there was any chipotle here, it was in the name only. The crackers and hummus are fine but there was not a hint of spice here. The chicken potstickers appetizer was good and flavorful. The paella entree was fine. It's loaded with different seafoods but at least half the seafood was overcooked. It was a little bland, too, but overall, it was a nice dish. It just could have been better. The fresh sea bass was light, flaky, and wonderful. This was a great dish. The chicken milanesa was massive and could probably feed two people. This massive piece of breaded chicken extends beyond the edges of the plate. It comes with a tomatillo sauce, which was a different and nice twist to this dish. The food is high quality. The setting is lovely. If you are visiting Balboa Park, and don't mind the cost, this is a safe bet.

Really cool restaurant right in the center of the courtyard at Balboa. Has a nice outdoor patio with self seating and a little grassy area to picnic or have your little ones run around in. The staff was very friendly and food was yummy. (A little overpriced but still delicious and good quality.) I got the Tomato bisque and Salmon Salad... yumm! Only complaint is you can't make reservations since its first come first serve, and you have to go up and order everything yourself.

Fantastic food, great friendly and accurate service and warm ranchero interiors. I went for the Kobe Burger and not-to-be-missed sangria.

We went around 3pm on a Friday and were a bit disappointed to find out they only served their limited midday menu, as we were all hungry. Despite the short menu, we all found food to eat--ceviche and tacos. Overall food was fine, nothing spectacular, but very much "good". I would definitely come back, as service was good as well.

Beautiful place, inside and outside dining. Went for dinner before a theater show. The ambiance was really nice and service too. Food was good. I had a delicious bean soup and a no so great chicken fricassee. Although it came nice and hot, I could taste too much starch. Hubby had a nice beet dish and no so great grilled cauliflower dish. Too al dente to appreciate the flavors. If you are in the area, give them a try and share your experience. Happy dining!

Food Quality: *** (Decent but Limited Dairy-Free Choices) Service: *** (Attentive Enough for Apps and Drinks) Ambiance: *** (Beautiful Setting in Balboa Park) Value: *** (Reasonable for Location and What We Ordered) My recent visit to The Prado at Balboa Park was primarily for appetizers and drinks, and the ambiance was definitely a standout. The setting within the park is quite beautiful, offering a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere. Our server was attentive enough for our needs, ensuring our drinks were refilled and the appetizers were brought out in a timely manner. In terms of food, the calamari was decent - not the best I've had, but certainly enjoyable. The soup of the day was also a solid choice. However, the significant limitation was the lack of dairy-free options on the appetizer menu. For someone with dietary restrictions, this would definitely be a factor in future visits. While what we ordered was satisfactory, the limited choices in this regard were noted. Overall, The Prado offers a lovely ambiance and a decent experience for drinks and some appetizers. However, the food menu, particularly the dairy-free selection, could be more extensive.

Simple burgers and fish sandwich with reasonable price in Balbo park. Great view. Service is ok in general. Nothing standing out for the part of the server not much interaction with guests. No recommendation or suggestions sale. No allergies questions to be asked. Over all love the view of the patio seating with the view of the sky which I could enjoy to see all the planes arriving to San Diego airport.

Where do I start!! The atmosphere and ambience sold me. It's been quite a while since we have been here. We were greeted warmly and seated right away with a lovely view. Our server Shay was phenomenal, very attentive and not hovering, but checked in often to make sure we were enjoying ourselves. We ordered calamari and drinks to start, and then had the chefs cut steak dinner (I think that's what the menu said) and it was fantastic! Next year we will be back!!

The food was so delicious ! They were very tiny portions tho and the price was the same as a normal plate which I felt robbed . Luckily it was delicious. The server was really nice and helpful . They have a large selection of premium drinks . I got IpA and my wife got a margarita both were A+

An incredibly mid restaurant in the heart of Balboa park. I always grew up thinking the Prado was so fancy and cool but it is really an overpriced restaurant in a great location. I asked the waitress for her recommendation and she said the pork prime rib was the best item on the menu. I definitely agree it was delicious- juicy and good potato, but for $37, I thought it was a little expensive if you include a drink, and salad item too, it would be about $60 per person. Overall, I would not come back to the Prado unless it's a SD Restaurant Week deal.

I didn't take any photos of my food whoops! But this spot is in such a cool location. Tons to do around the area. It was pricy and my chicken caeser salad was nothing notable, but the service was very good for our large party of 11 people. The food came quickly and we had no problem getting a table around 1 pm on a Wednesday. My husband got the Birria torta and it was very good. I think this would be a great date spot because there is so much cool walkable stuff in the area and a lot of that was free, so that offsets the food being the higher end of medium price (at least at lunch - not sure if dinner is more).

The Prado is a nice restaurant and possible pit stop when hanging around in Balboa Park. Balboa Park mostly has cafes for snacks but the Prado had a bit more substance and flavor. We opted to try the cantina menu which required us to sit in the lounge or bar. However our bartender said that the regular menu was also available so we only saw pros by sitting at the bar. The portions were nicely shareable between 2. Our drinks came out quickly but the food took quite some time to come out. *Absolutely Peachy Spritz: true to its name, very peachy. Shoutout to the bartender for giving it a good wine pour. *Ceviche: very good portion and was shared easily between us 2. The chips were thick and withheld the citrusy whitefish and shrimp well. The citrus juice could have had more depth in flavor and could have benefited from more tomato, jalapeño, and/or onion. The shrimp appeared to be overcooked and was chewier than anticipated. *Ahi & Jicama Tostadas: the order came with two tostadas. The flavors and textures were S tier. The ahi was generously applied to the crisp tostada and it was incredibly tender. The chipotle aioli added some creaminess and fat. The jicama was my favorite part as it was tossed in a light sweet and savory tamarind sauce. 10/10 I could gobble a bunch of these. I found the sauces to be impressive so I'll be looking out for dishes with similar flavors. The ceviche was on the simpler side so I'll pass on it in the future. However those tostadas made my day. I'll be back to check out their happy hour and more of the cantina menu.

"Wow!" She said after she took a bite of each new dish she ordered! This is one of your options when exploring Balboa park and you will NOT be disappointed. Came on a thursday evening early dinner 2 plus tot and we were seated right away by 3 friendly hostesses. Our waitress was also very chipper and knowledgeable which always makes the experience that much more pleasant. She was very helpful with suggestions not only on the menu but the area, esp with the little one, after most things were closed. Started with the lentil soup special, like your mom's homemade pea soup with a twist- lentils. It was so delicious, the three of us scarfed it down like we hadn't eaten in weeks. I also wanted to try a sparkling strawberry lemonade and Y U M! Fresh made to taste and not too sugary. The prado pressed arugula salad also came out with the soup and we couldn't get enough of that either, the asiago, figs, walnuts and strawberries balanced each other out perfectly, dressed with a vinaigrette, but not too much overpowering. They were having a deal for 2025, so we ordered a mini surf and turf to share, steak, a delicious potato side (au gratin? I think) carrots, shrimp and spinach. A great portion size to taste for three. The little one even loved the spinach. Since we love fam style we decided on another dish, the pan seared salmon. I am not sure if maybe the flavors of the two dishes were just a little too diff, the sauce was amazing and I love that it was paired with rice and bok choy, but it wasn't my fave of the two. Would def give it another try but there are so many delicious items on the menu. Ended the dinner with a birthday carrot cake, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and some tazo passion tea. The cake was a sliver but a few bites for each of us left us satisfied and it paired well with the vanilla ice cream. Passion tea is just my favorite. I was pleasantly surprised by this spot since normally I don't have high hopes for tourist destination restaurants, even felt the prices were reasonable. You can tell everything was made in house and drool worthy and I can't wait to come back. I also enjoyed that we were served in courses and there was little wait time in between. They were also so kind when the little one had the wiggles and wanted to walk around a bit. This tired mama had a great meal despite her momma duties.

We arrived right in between meal service so we could not sit in the dining room but the bar was open seating and ok for us and kiddo. They were busy but once our server made it to us he made us feel like we were the only ones in the room! The not listed wagyu burger- maybe it was a special- was AMAZING!!! French fries delicious! (No bathroom in here... had to wait in long line outside in the courtyard.)

The margaritas were really good here and the food was good but overpriced for what it is. Sad I couldn't substitute beans for rice since they don't offer rice here :/ our server was friendly and I would come again for the drinks.

The hubby and I had dinner at the Prado before a holiday candlelight concert in Balboa Park. It was our first time dining there which is wild, considering we live here and go to Balboa on a regular basis. We both ordered a cocktail which were very strong. I ordered the peachy spritz which was refreshing, bubbly, and strong but good. We then had the calamari, Prado salad, and sea bass. We shared everything and loved the calamari. It was a unique spin of lightly breaded and fried calamari tossed in an asian sauce with a kick. We then ordered the Prado arugula salad with greens, walnuts, figs, Asiago , strawberries, in a shallot vinaigrette and chicken. It was good but something I could've easily made at home. It was missing funk, like a Gorgonzola but good nonetheless. Last came the sea bass over a corn succotash and creamed corn sauce. The fish was beautifully cooked, skin crisp, and the corn medley was seasoned perfectly, had nice elements of texture and taste. Jorge provided exceptional service and the restaurant itself was nicely and tastefully decorated.

Ambiance TOP NOTCH. Super Romantic and Relaxing and Amazing Atmosphere. Service was good, but there were a few times when we had to flag our server down. Food was ok for the price. I've had fresh pasta and boxed pasta so for a $38 pasta meal, I had certain expectations and they fell flat. The food wasn't as flavorful as I was hoping and it was really oily and buttery. There were a good amount of clams, but like barely any pasta. It was the weirdest thing. It was just pasta, butter, and clams for $38. Sad part is that it wasn't even fresh pasta which I could get behind when it came to portions, but I literally went home still hungry. Dessert was interesting again. I was expecting a food orgasm and instead got a super dense, dry cake that had me saying, "Where's the milk?!" Glass of white wine, pasta, and a sliver of their version of German chocolate cake was $100. Super steep as I have been to places like Mister A's, Viggilucci's, and Ruth Chris that are better alternatives in my opinion. If you happen to be in Balboa Park visiting a museum and craving something more than just a sandwich than swing by, but I wouldn't be going out of my way to come to The Prado.

The ambience is warm, cozy, and everything you want for a date night. The food and cocktails are tasty. Be prepared to pay for this experience. There is only one entree priced under $30. Given the price point, I expected the service to be better. Our waiter never came by to see if our meals were okay. They were, but I would have expected a visited.

Despite a busy after Christmas crowd in Balboa Park we slipped into the Prado quite easily for a drink. Our wonderful waiter, Brian mentioned dinner would be available in the bar area at 430pm so what was supposed to be drinks and an appetizer turned into dinner and drinks. The raspberry lemonade martini was sweet and delicious and the mango margarita was good if you like tangy and tajin. I was in the mood for a Caesar salad and my soup went with the Chef's soup special. It was cream of turkey soup was incredibly good. We also opted to split the short ribs which were great. OK we ordered another soup because the soup was fantastic. Highly recommend the Prado for a romantic dinner date or a quick drink in the bar area.

This place was amazing. It was elegant in every way. It was beautiful with fine architecture building walls art and entire atmosphere. The servers were helpful and attentive. I love my Maui Maui meal. Everyone enjoyed the visit atmosphere and meal. I love this place in Balboa Park .

Prado is one of our favorite places to go with out of town visitors because it is in a beautiful environment in the heart of Balboa Park. The bonus is that the food and service have always been very good. On this visit, it was only my wife and me. We shared the black bean soup, which is delicious. I ordered the grilled fish tacos - my usual. There is a big portion of a deconstructed taco with mahi mahi, cabbage slaw, chimichuri aioli and mango salsa. It comes with corn tortillas and beans. It's great to be able to create the perfect tacos, using the portions of ingredients I prefer. I washed it all down with their delicious mango iced tea. My wife had the eggplant pasta, which she enjoyed very much. Service was friendly and very attentive. And, the ambiance on the patio was so peaceful and beautiful. We had a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Expensive, high quantity food. For lunch we had two bowls of tomato basil soups, ahi tuna, beet salad, hummus with large crisp crackers, one alcoholic drink, water, and tip for $100. The hummus was quite delicious with a little spicy kick added. The tomato soup was tasty and seemed homemake. It had a nice texture to it rather than being thin and watery. Our server Michael was attentive, professional, and communicated well with us. Clean, cheerful setting. In door and outdoor sections. The indoor section has a more traditional dining area and a very casual cantina area. The restaurant was more relaxed than the other places to eat in the park. No long lines, no rushed feeling. I encourage u to make reservations for a more seamless experience.

Came here during the busy holiday season with no reservation. Fortunately they allowed walk-ins. I love the ambiance, it's very welcoming and festive. The employees were pleasant as well. The food was up there in price, as expected since it's one of the most popular places in all of SD. However, every buck spent was worth it. We ordered the chef's soup of the day which was a cauliflower soup, calamari and kids sea bass with mashed potatoes and seasonal veggies. Everything came out fresh. The ingredients were clean and fresh. Our favorite was the calamari due to it's delicious sauce. We could have drank the sauce alone, it was tasty and had a nice sweet kick to it. Cauliflower soup was so yummy, but overly salted. The kids meal was generous in size. The sea bass was cooked perfectly and didn't have too much seasoning. It was so good. I docked off one star due to service. Our waitress forgot our waters, we didn't get it until after our food came out. There were two large groups prioritized over us. My husband and I had to get another workers attention just to pay the bill. Other than that, everything else was superb! We would definitely come back again, but maybe during a less busy weekday.

After visiting the blooming of cherry blossoms, we came here to have lunch. We arrived at the opening of the doors and there was minimal waiting. We asked for indoor seating although it was a beautiful day outside. The bird droppings inside the bar floor deterred us from sitting outside. I ordered the grilled mahi sandwich. It was tasty and the fries were crispy. My friends ordered the grilled Kobe burger and the fish tacos and cleaned up their plates as well. The service was prompt and servers friendly and attentive. This was a Tuesday afternoon and it wasn't very busy and the ambience was peaceful and scenic.

The Prado 4.3 After a few museum visits we visited the Prado for lunch. We decided to sit in the bar area. In this area you have a choice of the bar menu or the restaurant menu. We ordered Red Trolly beers to start our lunch. My brother ordered a Quesabirria tacos from the bar menu. I orderd the fish tacos from the restaurant menu. Both were quite good. The service in the bar was excellent.

The ambiance of the Prado is the big draw, with its beautiful Spanish architecture, mosaic tiles, fountains, and landscaping in the heart of Balboa Park. We had family in town and were showing them the park when they asked if we could grab lunch somewhere close. We decided to try the Prado and were seated outside on their patio. They have indoor and outdoor seating., but the outdoor patio is best for a nice day. Service: our server was great, explaining the menu and specials for the day, as well as checking in on us. Food: three out of four people in our party got the grilled chicken BLT. I opted for the side salad ($3.50 up charge), while the others got the French fries. The sandwich was just ok to me. The bread was very dry and it had a fairly thin piece of grilled chicken. The side salad was good and the french fries were perfect to me. My husband said the bread on the mahi mahi sandwich was a bit big for the sandwich and that it was just ok as well. Overall, I'd give it 4 stars because of the ambiance and service, but 3 stars for the food.

Superb. Visiting from New York, and it's my veggie day. Splurged on the cauliflower and black bean soup. The latter is a superstar, HUNTY. Inspired me to try making it at home. Excellent service. Sat next to the fountain on the back patio. And calm vibes for days. Now off to the zoo!

Ambiance: 10/10 We sat outside on the back porch. Great umbrellas everywhere, if you don't want to be in the sun you absolutely do not have to be. Very comfortable and pretty. Location is centered in Balboa park which is hard to beat. Food: 5/10 Birria Sandwich - the birria sauce was awesome. The meat was overcooked, which was sad. The French fries were good and the plate comes with ketchup so you don't have to ask for it. The bread on the sandwich was good but the meat being dry was not fun. Fish Tacos - came deconstructed, so you could load up your taco (3 tortillas) in any way you wanted. Problem was that the fish did not have much taste, and was a bit overcooked. The main protein being a let down is a huge hit. Overall the meat standard knocked this review score down. Maybe try a vegetarian option.

We popped in here on a Balboa day for a quick snack during Happy Hour. The restaurant is stunning and there was loads of open seating. Our server was very friendly and fast. The happy hour menu is extremely limited. We ordered a margarita for me, a mule for my husband, and the fries and hummus to share. The hummus was great, we liked the crisps. The fries had cheese and bacon and were a huge portion for $8. They tasted great but lemme tell you, I had the worst indigestion after. Not sure I'd order them again. Our drinks weren't anything crazy amazing but we did enjoy them!

I ordered a dirty martini. I received a regular martini. The server returned to the bar to have olive juice added to my drink. When the bill arrived there was an additional charge of $5 for the "adjusted" order. The server removed the $5 charge, but had I not noticed it on the bill I would have paid $5 more for what I originally ordered. This is unacceptable!

The patio is so stunning. It looks like you are in Europe! The weather was absolutely beautiful making for a perfect outdoor dinner. The decor and the view were stunning. I got the braised beef short rib. The mashed potato's were really flavorful and delicious, I like the short rib too but it was pretty fatty and tough. Usually short rib is falling apart and really tender! It was the best I've ever had but it was pretty good. The mashed potato's were the highlight. The drinks were yummy but were crazzzy sweet. I got the guava martini and mango margarita and both were just very sugary and tasted like juice. They were yummy, but a hangover waiting to happen. Overall we had a good experience here and if I was in the area I would stop by to grab a snack! I reccomend.

Highly recommended. If you've never been here, it is one of the most beautiful restaurants in San Diego and doesn't need a view of the city or water. On top of that, the food is fantastic. We had the chef's cut (hanger) steak along with the beef short ribs and salmon. Both dishes were incredible. We finished the evening with the tres leches cake and coffee. Amazing! The only thing better than the food and ambiance was the service provided by Mehdi. He made spot on dinner and dessert recommendations for us. He was fantastic and truly an asset to the Prado. I will be back, even if it is just for dessert and/or cocktails. Oh, also dog friendly on the front patio, which tonight provided awesome music from the wedding nearby.

The waitstaff and service at The Prado were exceptional and the food was excellent, last Friday lunch. Our server, Wendy R, deserves special mention for her attention to our table. The cesar salad she recommended was flawless, the paella was delicious, and the presentation was perfect. Kudos to the kitchen, the service staff and The Prado.

I have been here multiple times, I always had a great experience in the restaurant. Recently came here for a wedding. Enjoyed the venue and the food. However, had an interaction with the bartender. She overcharged my auntie, charging her 5 drinks instead of the 4 that we ordered. She seemed confused when showing her the e-receipt doesn't match the 4 drinks we had in hand. She also seemed overwhelmed by the amount of people in line. Thankfully the manager came by and offered to make a 5th drink.

Great service and good food! We went around 2pm (so after the lunch crowd rush), and it was super easy to get a table and it was a great view! Parking was also nearby at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion parking lot.

I recently hosted a baby shower at The Prado and walked away with mixed feelings. The setting is beautiful - the historic charm of Balboa Park paired with the stunning views makes for a visually appealing venue. Unfortunately, the overall experience didn't live up to the location. The food was average at best, especially given the premium price point. What stood out even more was the sense of upselling and fees. Fees felt unnecessary or structured to drive up spending. For example, a $350 labor fee for parties under 50 people, even though we had no issue meeting the overall minimum. They add a 25% service fee and tax after the tally of fees. Before the event, we were also encouraged to order more food under the suggestion that we might not meet the minimum, only to later be met with defensiveness about that conversation. We were told, "That's why we offer a cash bar," which felt dismissive and contradictory to the main point. A particularly odd moment came after the event, with a "back room" tally process for drinks. It was vague and a little unsettling - we were essentially handed a final bill that wasn't easy to verify, and the bartender told us we were below the minimum during the event itself (to later be told we weren't below the minimum and that isn't his job). A 'nickle-and-dime' example was that they counted 20 or so drinks per bottle, which exceeds the industry standard of 17, raising questions about accuracy. I was told, "In my 10+ years, I've never had someone dissect the bill this much before." A dismissive tone for someone simply trying to understand what I was paying for. I lead software sales teams and would never coach someone on my team to approach a customer this way - transparency and a positive tone for the buyer is basic. To their credit, the staff was accommodating the day before the event and allowed us early access to the room since it wasn't booked. That flexibility was appreciated. Overall, while The Prado offers a picturesque setting, the added fees, underwhelming food, and uncomfortable billing/fees/upselling left a sour taste. For the cost, I believe the money could be better spent elsewhere. Unfortunately, I won't be recommending it for an event, but I'm sure I'll visit the restaurant again at some point.

The service was okay. The food was mediocre. I went with my boyfriend and his family. My boyfriend and I don't like fancy food because of the small portions. We decided to share one dish because of the cost. Most the entrees were about $35+ here. The dish was $40. We got the pan roasted sea bass. The sea bass tasted like nothing. The corn puree and potatoes were tastier than the fish! The fish portion was 6 bites maybe, the size of a small wallet. We were annoyed and hungry afterwards. We decided to get fish n' chips afterwards. The ambiance was nice. The restaurant was big but few people dining. I wouldn't go again.

Service and food - amazing! Luis and Andre did great at the bar. The potato and leek soup they recommended was to die for! The prime rib sushi was good, but would be better if they had wasabi and ginger. Love this place.

Beautiful ambiance. Perfect weather. Umbrellas over tables. Capable of taking care of allergies. Wonderful service. Loved the paella and spicy margarita. Definitely a vacation from life.

Went back on Saturday afternoon to this local favorite. We were seated right away. The music was great, not loud so you can still enjoy the good music but talk. We had a great waitress & the manager checked in on us too. The Pomegranate Margarita was recommended to me by the waitress and I think it was the best Margarita I think I have ever had. The tacos were excellent and the salsas delicious. The Prada never fails! Beautiful restaurant.

We sat at the cantina and their happy hour dishes are pretty good. Loved the Tortita. The ambiance was fun with authentic Mexican music, and servers were super Nice even when it was packed

Great location and ambiance in Balboa park! However, thats where it ends. The food is just "meh". The tortilla soup is an abysmal and tasted like if you were eating a year old stale tortilla saturated in red sauce with no flavor. The risotto was decent, but for the price of it all one would expect better food. 3 stars us for location and ambiance.

I came for a private event hosted by my company. It was about 120. people. The event was after 6pm and I have to say the view was spectacular. I love all the lights outdoors and plants. For the event they had 3 bars opened plus a champagne wall that was amazing. Unfortunately I left my phone at hotel and didn't get pictures. The food was perfect. You have to consider that a huge group like this is hard to please but I was very impressed with all the food; quality and taste. I was surprised that the mini desserts did not only look good but tasted fenomenal. The staff was all very pleasant and helpful. The bathrooms can definitely use a bit of an upgrade but were cleaned.

It's easy to forget about The Prado. It's a San Diego institution, and there are so many new and interesting restaurants out there to try, but I have to say, our visit this past Saturday reminded me what a fantastic, top-notch restaurant it is. We made reservations for around 5:30 after the zoo closed and got there a tad bit early, but they graciously sat us before our time. The decor in main dining room of the restaurant is beautiful, but every room, including outdoors is great. Our waiter was Scott, and he was fantastic. Friendly, knowledgeable, caring. He took his time with us and gave us the run-down of vegetarian friendly options on the menu and pointed us in the right direction of a great wine. He checked on us constantly and always had a smile on his face. I'd have to say that Scott was probably one of the best waiters we have EVER had, and we eat out a lot. The food was delicious! Again, we are vegetarian, so our choices might differ from yours. We had two appetizers, the hummus and the Elote Cauliflower. Both were top notch as always. Our entrees, which we split amongst the three of us (myself, my hubby and our daughter) were the Mushroom and Truffle Risotto and the Pasta Ala Norma. Both were great, but the risotto was fantastic! We saved room for dessert and went with the German Chocolate Cake, the dairy-free Tropical Creme Brûlée and the out-of-this-world Tres Leches (like no Tres Leches I've ever had, but so great). We were in culinary heaven. The Cohn Restaurant Group owns The Prado, and they continue to know how to run a great restaurant, but the people working at the Prado, the chefs, the front desk staff and of course, our waiter, Scott are what really make it a memorable experience and a place we want to come back to. So, if you are searching for a great spot for dinner, lunch or just drinks and apps, don't forget about The Prado. Free parking and the beautiful Balboa Park make it the perfect spot.

Came during happy hour and got the guac, taquitos, and a strawberry margarita. It was all fast and amazing. Easily the best meal I had on my trip down the coast. The marg was just the right amount salty and sweet and the taquitos were scrumptious. It's also super cute with nice patio seating. Obviously I was here when it was not super busy but damn I would go back if I'm ever in San Diego again