THE LOT La Jolla

Love this theater. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the films and their menu!!!!!! The food is delicious. True high end restaurant quality. I had the pleasure of hosting an event there and the grazing station was spectacular! Thank you THE LOT La Jolla. See you soon for happy hour!!

Oh, My God what a hidden gem 💎, from the service to theor margaritas, appetizers and main entre. The presentation and flavors melt in you mouth. Highly recommend this well kept secret in La Jolla. I'm in love ❤️ 10+ 2 thumbs 👍 up 5 🌟

I rarely leave reviews, especially negative ones, but this experience was so profoundly disappointing that staying silent would feel dishonest. I initially shared this review on Yelp, where it was removed despite containing nothing false or defamatory. As such, I feel compelled to share it here. From the moment we arrived, it was evident that something was seriously wrong with the operation of this business. Early in the evening, the bartender openly mentioned that the establishment might be going out of business. While that alone is alarming, what followed made that statement feel less like speculation and more like an unavoidable reality. On what was clearly a busy night, there was one single employee responsible for servicing the entire restaurant area. One. This is not merely poor planning—it is grossly negligent management. No business should ever place that level of responsibility on one individual during peak hours. It is unfair to the employee, damaging to morale, and guarantees a substandard experience for guests. For a company that charges premium prices, this level of understaffing is not just unacceptable—it is embarrassing. The exhaustion of the staff was impossible to ignore. The lone employee on duty looked completely overwhelmed, visibly worn down, and stretched far beyond reasonable capacity. Watching someone struggle under such conditions is uncomfortable and speaks volumes about the lack of leadership and support behind the scenes. Even if a business is facing financial challenges, running employees into the ground is not an excuse—it is a failure of management. Your staff deserves far better than this. We waited 30 minutes for a single glass of wine. That is not an exaggeration. By the time it arrived, the atmosphere had already soured. I had brought my girlfriend out for Discount Wednesday to see Solo Mio, expecting a relaxed and enjoyable night. Instead, the disorganization, delays, and visible chaos completely overshadowed what should have been a pleasant movie-going experience. The entire evening felt stressful rather than special. There was no sense of hospitality, no flow, no basic level of service that would justify the prices being charged. Quite frankly, I would rather endure AMC’s uncomfortable seating and eat elsewhere beforehand than subject myself to this again. This experience cost you a loyal guest. I used to enjoy coming here and wanted to support this business, but after this visit, I will not be returning. At the rate things are being handled, it is difficult to imagine this location surviving much longer. It feels less like a functioning business and more like one already in the process of shutting down—just waiting to become another empty lot. Do better—for your customers, and more importantly, for your employees.

Came to see a movie with my grand daughter. They delivered our meal quickly and the food was pretty good and delivered hot right to our seats. Amazing! Food was a bit pricey but it was worth it. I'd do it again!

Beautiful space to hang out and watch a special movie. The food was very good but massive and priced that way too. We got a popcorn, bottled, water, nachos and a beer for $65 when ordering at the seats. Definitely share with a friend.

Big shot out to The Lot employee Tony Provencio! You would believe how he helped me make sure that I was a happy customer. Thanks so much. Grateful for The Lot ensuring their employees provide great value

It was a good experience but the food was dare I say ridiculously expensive 21$ for a thick but somewhat average burger and the waiters were struggling to keep up with all the orders in fact they forgot my order and I had to redial them a few times. Not because they were totally incompetent it's just a lot of orders. Now the atmosphere of the movie theater was expensive.... but it wasn't private and I like private theaters

Been to the La Jolla location a lot but tonight warranted this review. Great theater and experience most the time, but if you’re going for a late night movie on a weekend the service is sub par at best. In addition, our food came an hour later after we ordered it in the theater and it was cold. Considering the idea of paying extremely high prices, it’s not worth it. I would say 65% of the time is a good experience food/service wise.

My husband and I LOVE coming to The Lot! We were here last Friday to see The Fall Guy and it was so much fun. Normally we sit at the bar but we decided to sit in the restaurant and it was so comfortable. Like, the chairs were so comfy! Our server was super nice and attentive, we really appreciated that. We shared the coconut shrimp, Kobe beef sliders, and chicken tortilla soup. All of it was good! Next time I want to try the rigatoni bolognese or the house glazed salmon. Both looked super good! I love the cocktail and wine options. And if you don't finish your drink you can take it with you into the movie! The Lot is a super fun place to come have a nice dinner and movie date or with a big group. They also have a parking lot underneath which can come in handy.

The Lot looks more upscale than regular theaters and having higher quality food available makes a slight difference to me. Overall the food was fine, nothing special but would I come back... Maybe.

Only way to watch a movie is at The Lot; makes it an experience and not just a movie! NEVER go to that other 3-letter tiny-chaired-sticky-floors place since we discovered The Lot!

This place is very nice. Everything from the bar, to the restaurant, to the bathrooms. Very upscale but you get your money's worth. They even have a happy hour menu with items. Forgot what the hours were. But I had a drink that was called A day at the spa I believe. Was very refreshing! Burger samples I tried were delicious. Everything is really good here. I would definitely come back. I would say that parking can be a little challenging but not impossible. You just may have to walk a bit. Also its a really nice location. All staff members were very nice.

Great service! Very nice burgers and flat bread. And the best movie theatre with comfy chairs.

I frequent THE LOT near my house in San Ramon. While down in San Diego my son and I visited this location. I didn't realize that this location has its own parking lot. I almost used it but saw a lift gate but not a sign that it was for lot customers. Anyways I parked in the public lot down the street and it ended up being free. The layout is kind of the same as the one near me, dining area that opens up to a patio but just a lot more outside seating. The theaters are fairly the same with similar seating. There was an overhead light that was flickering when house lights were still up. Food was good, same as what I've had before. Service was really good. All in all a good experience

My favorite movie theater! There is absolutely nothing stressful about coming here, the staff are friendly the movie theater is super comfortable, sound and picture quality fantastic. I'm not a huge fan of their food but it's okay if you are very hungry or want to eat dinner and watch a movie it's convenient for that reminds me of cafe food or something but it's very expensive. Still giving it 5 stars because this is probably the most relaxing movie theater I've ever been to.

If you're looking for a quick summary of The LOT, then here it is: it's the best overall place to see a movie in San Diego. And yet, you're also counting the stars and seeing only four. Where did Mr. Five go? I'll get my two very small gripes out of the way before I heap praise on The Lot. You can safely skip the next two paragraphs if you want to avoid middle-age guy problems that likely nobody cares about. The first is the increasingly normal yet mildly dishonest "service charge" when buying your tickets online. Tickets right now are $21. You then get charged another $1.50 per ticket for "service." What service? I did the work. You saved money by NOT paying a cashier. Really, your ticket price is $22.50. Just charge $22.50. The second is for film nerds only. The Lot does not have adjustable masks for the screen aspect ratio. This leads to washed out looking projection, especially on 16:9 presentations where there is light bleed from the unused portion of the screen. Still here? Thanks for letting me vent. Back to why The Lot is the best. The theater itself is clean, well maintained, and has impressive sound. The sound is so good that it helps make up for the projection issue. The seats are always in good working order, and not filled with the crumbs of movies past. They are also more comfortable than those provided by Cinépolis - the closest competitor in this space. The food is better than it has any right to be for a movie theater. It's so good that we have eaten here twice without actually seeing a movie. Also: the variety is unbeatable. Here for an early matinee? Congratulations they have breakfast. Our servers are always friendly and know how to navigate a very delicate dance of being helpful while not being disruptive to the film. They ability to order in-seat means that you will not miss anything if you have a suddenly mid-film urge for snacks or drinks. Lastly The Lot mitigates the very real parking problem of downtown La Jolla. They have a garage with a generous four-hour validation.

Great spot, amazing food, service was quick and easy. Atmosphere is great and perfect for a date. I'd just say a little pricey. But I did buy like. 6 food items. Total was $180 for food and tickets were on the higher end.

I've been to this location twice. Both times I've had a great experience! The first time I went on a double date with my husband & our Bestfriend's. Everything is clean & upscale. They have a bar/dining area as well. They also have their own private lot with self parking. Spots can be limited but there's always street parking. Everything is expensive but worth it! They serve alcohol & they have reclining couch seats. I suggest you bring a blanket if you want to get cozy! They have a ring button in the case you need to call a waiter. They provide a full dining menu/drinks. Once cooked/prepared, they'll bring it straight to your seat. Service is usually friendly. I haven't had a bad experience as of yet. The second time we came here we came with the same set of Bestfriend's & decided to bring our toddler 3yr old son. This was his first movie theater experience & we wanted him to be as comfy as possible to sit through the entire movie. Keep in mind we were watching one of the Fast & Furious sequels. So not exactly a kid-friendly movie, but our son loves cars! The place of establishment was very accommodating. I didn't get no side eyes for bringing my toddler or feel out of place. Again, things can get pricey. Especially being it's a VIP theater. My son had candy, soda, slurpees. Lol. He enjoyed his time to say the least. It was a great first experience for him & now I know I can take him to the movies! Would definitely come here again.

Food and service did not disappoint at this La Jolla coastal gem! Oh... and the movies were good too!

A great place to watch a movie! Good food and service. We recently moved here from Florida and were excited to give the Lot a try. Our experience was great!

Came to see the Barbie movie today. Caught a matinee. There was plenty of street and garage parking. It's validated if you park in their Lots (pun intended). The service was great. The brussel sprouts were delicious. Unfortunately the movie stopped probably about 30(?) min into the movie due to an unexpected power outage in their control room-- ruh roh. They refunded us or tickets and on our merry way we went for short stroll. When we came back to (to get our cars), we checked if the movies were playing now and what time the next showing of Barbie was, literally we arrived in the dot, and were able to get in (comped!). win win, the staff went above and beyond.

A shout out to The LOT's staff who went above and beyond to help us during my granddaughter's 8 year old birthday party last week! They were terrific, the food was FAB and so was ERASTour. Thanks again. #SWIFTIEFOREVER

- ample parking - great staff - good food - great ambiance - comfortable theaters rafael duran (director of special events) and his team were so helpful!! (we were there for a kid's birthday party). thanks to mr. duran and the lot team!!!

Comfy reclining seats; plenty of space; good views of the screen; and upscale, good food. What's not to like?

Went to see One Love, the new Bob Marley movie. On premier night, and worth noting.. Valentine's Day, which they had a full restaurant for service. Sat down for the previews and ordered my food 15 minutes before the movie started. Multiple servers stopped by with different peoples orders throughout the movie. Only to find out that they were in the wrong row and many seats away. Obstructing my view for quite a few scenes. They finally managed to bring my food during the ending credits. It was nearly 9:00 pm, and I was about to leave, so we turned the food down as I had wanted it 2 hours prior. Luckily they removed the food and the drinks that were also late from my bill. Movie was great, but the service was subpar and kind of frustrating having the servers stand in front of me as often as they did.

I'd like to make an edit. I believe all places have days where not everything is 100%. Some days are really busy or others you're understaffed... happens anywhere. My last review, I guess was one of those days. While food is expensive and that's just the nature of it, I'd like to comment on overall hospitality. I am very impressed with their staff's responses to consumer/clients reviews and feedback. I was rewelcomed in and Rafael was very kind to show us to our seats and offer us refreshments. Nothing beats the comfortable reclining seats and spaciousness of your own space. If you haven't been to a movie experience like this - you're missing out. :)

5 star movie experience, so many great amenities here for a movie theatre, which include comfy reclining seats and food service. My biggest pet peeve is feeling cramped in theatres, so The Lot is a perfect layout for me as the reclining seats are grouped in pairs with a small table in between each pair. It's very spacious and I feel like you can whisper to your partner without disturbing other groups. They also offer a full food service menu, and servers can take your order at any time. I ordered a fried chicken sandwich during the previews, and it came out quick. Each seat has a swivel table that you can use for eating and swivel out of the way when done. Food was good, but a bit bland for my taste. I opted out of dessert for that night but every dish sounded delicious! Service was top tier too servers were very courteous and quiet if they were moving around during the movie. In terms of price, tickets were $21 for a Saturday night so only a few more dollars than most average theatres today, and even the same price in some cases. It's worth the extra few dollars for reclining seats! The food is a bit overpriced in my opinion, as I ended up spending ~$40 for my sandwich, fries, and sparkling water (after tax and tip).

Food and ambience were amazing. Parking on and off restaurant was convenient. Service was great and they even have a movie theatre in the adjacent building.

My wife and I decided to go to the movies Xmas eve and I was a little hesitant because my last few theater experiences to various theater chains post-covid have been less than great. Seats are torn, floors are messy, employees are like zombies with uniforms that don't fit. Just a weird experience. As we walk down the street on Fay towards The Lot theater, you can see what a beautiful venue this is. Well lit, clean and inviting. I felt like I was walking into a 5-star hotel. Restaurant on the left, bar straight ahead and theaters to the right. We were immediately greeted by two nicely dressed employees. We opted to get a cocktail at the bar. I was immediately greeted by a bartender with a big smile named Andre. He was very enthusiastic at both his job and the place he worked. My cocktail was excellent. We then decided to go over to the concession stand. We waited for about a minute with nobody behind the counter but we could hear someone chatting to another employee in the back. The manager named Felix who was standing across the way by the entrance noticed that we were not being tended to and immediately started alerting the employee that customers were waiting. We walked into the darkened theater. I felt that the rows and seats could have been lit a bit better as we had a little difficulty finding ours. But again, an employee was there to help us immediately. Seats were super comfortable electronically controlled recliners. There was plenty of space between other seats so we felt like we were in our living room. I would definitely make an effort to see movies at this place in the future. I liked The Lot a lot :-)

This was our first time at the LOT. The establishment is very clean , professional and friendly staff. This theater is similar to the other luxury cinemas such as Cinépolis and the theater box. We saw the long three hour movie John Wick, being at the lot enhanced our experience due to the big comfortable reclining seats with the restaurant like dining experience. We ordered the angus burger which was one of the best burger I have ever had! The have a few different flavors of popcorn which is great and they allow you to mix flavors which is cool. We mixed butter with the caramel and we ordered an additional salt and vinegar popcorn to try. The salt and vinegar popcorn tasted old, it was cold and chewy. The popcorn stick to my teeth like gum. The butter and caramel popcorn was great! We ordered the fried calamari and it was awful! Very salty! And it had way too much hot peppers and Parmesan cheese on top. We ordered two cocktails which was good and I ordered a water in which I never got! The food runner brought me a coke be accident and she said she would return with my water and she never did. Very disappointed in the calamari, salt and vinegar popcorn and service for not receiving my water.

They took a really long time to respond to our call for service during our movie. Once they did respond, it was to tell us they were not serving drinks anymore. It seemed like a big waste of time and money.

First time back in a movie theater since the pandemic! We wanted to watch Top Gun Maverick in theater, but didn't want to be in a crowded theater without masks, so on a random weekday off, we snagged a matinee showing. It was just us, five elders, and one kid in the theater. Although the seats were a bit worn, all the comforts I associate with The Lot were there. Comfy seats, service at the press of a button, good spacing between other moviegoers. The prices were a bit ridiculous ($7.50 for a box of Sour Patch Kids that would be $0.99 at the grocery store), but that's also part of the expectations. Parking lot, gorgeous restaurant, and bakery also available. Enjoy!

Who doesn't love to go see a movie in the afternoon during day off? It is always a fun but relaxing thing to do and I don't do it enough. The theatre during the week was pretty empty which I don't mind but for it being so empty I was surprised at how slow the service was. I always enjoy going to the lot because you can do dinner and a movie with great food and drink options and comfy seats.

My experience here was just okay. The bathrooms are soooooooooo so dusty and not well kept. The level of cleanliness was definitely not in line with how much everything costs here. When my partner and I sat down, it took a very long time for the servers to acknowledge us, even though they helped those next to us. The movie was delayed by about 30 minutes. The food was okay. I got the Chicken Tenders and Fries. I wish the fries were crispier, but the portions were pretty good. My partner got the BBQ Chicken Flatbread and he said it was just okay. The Truffle Fries were good, just wish they were crispier, again. I did appreciate the convenience of parking available. Overall, my experience here was not worth the drive to La Jolla. I'll stick with the Liberty Station location.

Love the movies, the cozy chairs, and the chicken tenders! Their house wine is fab and I love coming here and unwinding.

I attended an influencer event here for Barbie and it was so uplifting and wonderful. The food was delicious and the drinks were so good. Visiting the lot was the best way to experience Barbie with a group of very supportive and vibrant woman.

I ordered the chicken tortilla soup. the description was vague. so I ask the waitress what was in it. she pretty much said the same thing on menu. she recommended and mentioned it is homemade. it was Not what I expected. Wvwryone makes chicken tortilla soup differently but this looked like a thick tomato bisque with cheese chunks. however it tasted like a can of prego sauce for spaghetti Very disappointed

My first ever 1 star Yelp review but it is so well deserved. If you are looking for your movie experience to be ruined by the most condescending & egocentric staff this is your theater. Also triple check they didn't tip themselves extra or double charged you (like they did to me), but frankly, you are better off just going to any other theater. My Kung Fu Panda experience was thoroughly ruined I am so done with "the lot" never again.

Great moviegoing experience at The Lot La Jolla! Booking tickets online was easy and we had a great view in the D row. Love the reclining seats as they go so far back! Tickets were a little pricey, but noted their $13 showings on Wednesdays. As for food, I recommend ordering early before the movie starts so that you aren't interrupted. However, the servers are great and do their best not to obstruct the view or speak too loudly once the movie starts. We enjoyed the Fried Chicken Sandwich and will have to come back to check out their restaurant as well!

If you're going to offer subtitles make sure the subtitle device works!!! I've been to the Lot twice over a year and each time the closed captioning didn't work. Our older waitress hates her job and made it apparent with her body language. We ordered a beer and wine. The wine never came and we had to ask a food runner which in turn told us to tell our waitress. The loop de loop. We ordered a Cobb salad with no bacon and dressing on the side, all of those which were never met. Came with everything on top. We asked for more water. Theybrought out 5 plastic water cups between two servers. Please note there were only two of us. Last thing: they accidentally brought a chocolate fudge cake to our table. We told our server, she took it. When leaving to use the bathroom five minutes later, I could see the cake was eaten and the bowl was placed near the trash can. Not only does their waitstaff suck, but they eat their "erroneous" errors. If I was management I would TAKE NOTE. All in all I will NEVER be back and will warn others before paying for overpriced tickets. I'm very disappointed with this place. They're terrible!!!!

So good that it's ruined any other movie theater for me. Amazing service, food, and overall experience. Very comfortable seats as well. Friends who visit from out of town talk about the Lot more than the beach LOL! Cooper was my waiter and he is the best! A+

We came here today to watch movie Babylon, because this theater has the best seats and dining in experience. We really enjoyed their comfortable seats, they are perfect for a long movie. They also provide brunch menu before 1pm. I had a pancake, which is not really delicious, but I still enjoyed with my movie. I also had a matcha tea latte, I loved that.

The restaurant at The LOT is a destination in itself. Last night my GNO friends and I arrived for Happy Hour. I ordered Chopped turkey cobb salad off the main menu. It was HUGE, fresh, and loaded: smoked turkey, egg, cucumbers, iceberg lettuce, a dozen cherry tomatoes, and get this: more than 1/2 cup grilled chopped bacon and a half avocado. Enough for two wholesome meals!

I would not visit The Lot again. First, we waited over 30 minutes for our one appetizer and drink. The prices are absolutely outrageous considering the quality of food. The bathrooms were dirty and the service was only okay. The seats were comfortable and there is plenty of room in the theatre. Overall, not worth the premium price.

Great Time! Delicious drinks, Salt & Vinegar popcorn was yummy. Service was quick and friendly. Awesome staff. Great experience and atmosphere. Thank You Rafael & Hemi.

Fantastic seats with first run movies in the heart of L Jolla Very good selection of food- grey the truffle fries, burger or chicken schnitzel- a fun night out. Get there for happy hour.

Amazing beautiful place to host a party. The catering staff (Arleth and Rafal) are 1st class. The open space is very comfortable and warm. All 60 of our guests were very complimentary.

"Sophisticated Mediterranean restaurant in an upscale dining & entertainment hub with a bar & cafe." This is the Lot's google description and what you'll find on their website and advertising is offering "a pristine fine dining and luxury moviegoing experience." Except like the cinepolis' of the US and Mexico/South Americas alike, management doesn't really care about projecting an immersive experience of actually watching a movie. They are all rather half-assed and lackadaisical in presentation. No, these places are all about price gouging you for ready to heat food straight out of the refrigerator and poorly made drinks clearly made by people who are better at pouring beers and glasses of wine, rather than being qualified to be actual bartenders. Each time I go here, the projection and actual screen itself never fills up the actual wall. Instead, you'll have visible black bars taking up the entire screen. Sure the sound is alright, but sight matters just as much as sound when it comes to immersing yourself in the moviegoing experience. The Lot is just one of many luxury theaters that cares less about actual movies, and more about serving subpar school quality food and underwhelming cocktails.

I love this theater!! Lots of parking! The food service that comes to your seat is amazing! Such a cozy theater!! Nicest movie theater! Love coming here for a date night! After the movie you can get a class of wine at their restaurant by the fire too!

We love to see a movie and have dinner and drinks in our seats! The staff are very friendly and helpful - especially Vicky she's the best!

Love this place! Great food! Great drinks! Great movie venue! Close by. The seats are very comfortable. It's a wonderful movie watching experience.

I was very confused as to how empty this place was on a Saturday at 11:30am?! The food was delicious and the brunch cocktails were delightful! The oaxacan chilaquiles were in the spicy side for sure. Modern ambiance with edm/house music playing somewhat loud outside which was nice ambiance to me but could be annoying to others. I just really don't know why it was so empty. Our server was charismatic and so helpful but disappeared for VERY long intervals which was a little frustrating. Overall loved it but the only negatives were the intermittent slow service and weirdly empty feeling.

One of the coolest of not they collect theater I've been too. I went on a Saturday night and the restaurant/bar there was packed. It had a very cool atmosphere to it. They show both movies that are in theaters currently and on some days they show movies that have been out of theaters for a long time. They have all the chairs inside the theater paired off in twos. They have a food menu and alcohol list that you can pick from. While watching the movie all you have to do is press a button and you will have someone come to your seat and take your order. I loved my visit there and will be back!

All I can say is Wow! The manager Anthony really took care of my fiancé and I, ensuring we had such an amazing experience. The food was delicious, the service was on point and the ambiance was super relaxing yet also high end. I highly recommend for everyone to check out The Lot and have a great time like we did!

The Lot is an excellent place to watch a movie and enjoy a beer. Every visit is a delightful experience, and I highly recommend it

For a movie theater restaurant the food is surprisingly good! Drink: Blackberry Farms Drink: Buffalo Trace Bourbon Food: Prosciutto Pizza Food: Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad The drinks and food were fantastic and the service was quick.

It has become very commercialized. It used to have wonderful Sunday buffets but this last visit was awful. Very cheap selection of food. The quality was very inferior and the price was excessive. Will never go back again except for the movie theater . After the review, they reached out and appreciated the review. They also were very sincere in trying to improve. We will go back and try again.

I've been coming to The Lot for years and it used to be a really great place to see movies and grab drinks. Every time I have come recently it gets more and more disappointing. The last two times we have come here they have "forgotten" to bring us something we've ordered and tried to charge us for it anyway. The worst part is the last couple of times we have come it's been for a 8 or 830 movie. They let you know last call is is 930 which is no big deal, the kitchen and bar have to close we get that. Both times though the waiter will come right around the 930 with your bill and just stand there over you until you sign it...in the middle of the movie. We are trying to enjoy the movie we paid for and it's difficult to sign when it's pitch black. It totally ruins the movie experience. Especially if they are doing it to your whole row. Seems like the service staff is just in a hurry to go home and does not care about standing over you in the middle of the movie. Service and experience here used to be great. Now it's just terrible. There are other luxury theaters in the area with better service.