Duke's La Jolla

Duke's La Jolla Restaurant Review:

Duke's honors the Ambassador of Aloha, Duke Kahanamoku, the Olympiad and cool cat who brought surfing to the states. Sure, the restaurant is often packed and is part of a small chain, but there's something about the vibrant energy and aloha ambience that enchants us every time. Situated high above the La Jolla Cove, it’s an ideal setting for sunset mai tais and fresh fish. Start with poke crispy tacos made with line-caught big-eye tuna, Maui onions, avocado, shoyu and wasabi crème fraîche --- they pair nicely with a lilokoi daiquiri. Next, share a plate of the charred snap peas elevated by pretty watermelon radish, Marcona almonds and chunks of homemade Brie in a pineapple vinaigrette. For entrées, consider the tender mahi mahi glazed with lemon basil and pampered by pomegranate vinaigrette, which comes nestled in coconut rice and surrounded by roasted tricolor carrots. Another solid choice is the local seabass sizzling in sesame oil and a saké glaze and steamed in a banana leaf. Kimchi fans should opt for the 24-hour kalbi short ribs in a kimchi stew with sweet potato, bacon and long beans. Duke’s massive and world-famous Hula pie (macadamia ice cream on an Oreo crust) is mandatory, but try the malasadas (cinnamon-sugared Portuguese donut balls served with guava jam) too. Should you return for brunch, go for the buttermilk pancakes and smother them in more guava jam.