A. R. Valentien

A. R. Valentien Review

Known for his insistence on in-season, fresh-today produce and seafood, chef Jeff Jackson writes menus daily for this cozy room in the luxurious, Craftsman-style Lodge at Torrey Pines. His take on food combinations is simultaneously simple and inventive, like appetizers of smoked trout with potatoes and turnips, and porcini mushroom and chestnut soup with bacon and apple. A three-course tasting menu explores the day's market through the eyes of a talented chef. At lunch on the outdoor terrace, consider the off-menu "Drugstore" hamburger, a minispectacle on a great big bun.