Prepkitchen

Prep Kitchen Restaurant has the feel of an upscale cafe/bistro that is framed in a charm unique to downtown La Jolla. My friends and I went in for a late post-wine-tasting dinner and sat outside. It was a bit of a nippy Spring night, but the impressive array of heat lamps kept the chill at bay.

First off, the food here is outstanding. We started with a trio of appetizers...the peppers stuffed with chicken and goat cheese (this was highly recommended to us and cemented our decision to try Prep Kitchen), a beet salad with goat cheese, and a tuna confit salad. We also got some focaccia bread on the side. The peppers were indeed magical, showcasing a great flavor and complementary texture that really came together. The beet salad was about what I had expected...simple and fresh. The tuna confit was not quite was I was expecting, and I'm not sure I would get it again. It wasn't at all bad...I think my best comparison would tuna in a can with pieces similar to what you may get from large lump crab. Texture was a bit tougher though.

For an entree, I went with the porchetta. I had never had the dish before, so have not basis for comparison, but it was pretty good. Some bites had a chewy/fatty texture that I didn't love, but the flavor was great and it was served in a pool of au jus that was a nice complement. You get a choice of sides, and the mashed potatoes were as good as I've ever had as they had a nice creamy texture and were expertly seasoned.

Service was great and our waitress was friendly and very knowledgeable about the food. We frequently solicited recommendations with exquisite results. Also, having tried a few bites off my friends dishes, I can testify that both the half-roasted chicken and lamb steak were both top notch. In fact, what really differentiates Prep Kitchen is the chef's ability to marry flavors.

Give it a shot, and if you need a great date spot...this is your place.