THE LOT La Jolla

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.