“ We arrived right in between meal service so we could not sit in the dining room but the bar was open seating and ok for us and kiddo. They were busy but once our server made it to us he made us feel like we were the only ones in the room! The not listed wagyu burger- maybe it was a special- was AMAZING!!! French fries delicious! (No bathroom in here... had to wait in long line outside in the courtyard.) ”

“ "Wow!" She said after she took a bite of each new dish she ordered! This is one of your options when exploring Balboa park and you will NOT be disappointed. Came on a thursday evening early dinner 2 plus tot and we were seated right away by 3 friendly hostesses. Our waitress was also very chipper and knowledgeable which always makes the experience that much more pleasant. She was very helpful with suggestions not only on the menu but the area, esp with the little one, after most things were closed. Started with the lentil soup special, like your mom's homemade pea soup with a twist- lentils. It was so delicious, the three of us scarfed it down like we hadn't eaten in weeks. I also wanted to try a sparkling strawberry lemonade and Y U M! Fresh made to taste and not too sugary. The prado pressed arugula salad also came out with the soup and we couldn't get enough of that either, the asiago, figs, walnuts and strawberries balanced each other out perfectly, dressed with a vinaigrette, but not too much overpowering. They were having a deal for 2025, so we ordered a mini surf and turf to share, steak, a delicious potato side (au gratin? I think) carrots, shrimp and spinach. A great portion size to taste for three. The little one even loved the spinach. Since we love fam style we decided on another dish, the pan seared salmon. I am not sure if maybe the flavors of the two dishes were just a little too diff, the sauce was amazing and I love that it was paired with rice and bok choy, but it wasn't my fave of the two. Would def give it another try but there are so many delicious items on the menu. Ended the dinner with a birthday carrot cake, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and some tazo passion tea. The cake was a sliver but a few bites for each of us left us satisfied and it paired well with the vanilla ice cream. Passion tea is just my favorite. I was pleasantly surprised by this spot since normally I don't have high hopes for tourist destination restaurants, even felt the prices were reasonable. You can tell everything was made in house and drool worthy and I can't wait to come back. I also enjoyed that we were served in courses and there was little wait time in between. They were also so kind when the little one had the wiggles and wanted to walk around a bit. This tired mama had a great meal despite her momma duties. ”

“ The Prado is a nice restaurant and possible pit stop when hanging around in Balboa Park. Balboa Park mostly has cafes for snacks but the Prado had a bit more substance and flavor. We opted to try the cantina menu which required us to sit in the lounge or bar. However our bartender said that the regular menu was also available so we only saw pros by sitting at the bar. The portions were nicely shareable between 2. Our drinks came out quickly but the food took quite some time to come out. *Absolutely Peachy Spritz: true to its name, very peachy. Shoutout to the bartender for giving it a good wine pour. *Ceviche: very good portion and was shared easily between us 2. The chips were thick and withheld the citrusy whitefish and shrimp well. The citrus juice could have had more depth in flavor and could have benefited from more tomato, jalapeño, and/or onion. The shrimp appeared to be overcooked and was chewier than anticipated. *Ahi & Jicama Tostadas: the order came with two tostadas. The flavors and textures were S tier. The ahi was generously applied to the crisp tostada and it was incredibly tender. The chipotle aioli added some creaminess and fat. The jicama was my favorite part as it was tossed in a light sweet and savory tamarind sauce. 10/10 I could gobble a bunch of these. I found the sauces to be impressive so I'll be looking out for dishes with similar flavors. The ceviche was on the simpler side so I'll pass on it in the future. However those tostadas made my day. I'll be back to check out their happy hour and more of the cantina menu. ”

“ The Prado at Balboa Park offers a delightful dining experience, especially after a day spent exploring the beautiful park. We stopped in on January 1, 2025, and were thrilled to find a welcoming patio area where we could dine with our dog. The outdoor seating was charming, with a relaxing ambiance perfect for unwinding. Our waiter was exceptionally friendly and attentive, making sure we were comfortable and well taken care of throughout our visit. We sampled a few appetizers, and each one was fantastic, showcasing the thoughtful flavors and quality ingredients that The Prado is known for. I also ordered the Prado Caesar salad with added chicken, which was a standout dish. The crisp romaine hearts, herbed croutons, and cotija cheese paired beautifully with the poblano chile Caesar dressing. The portion size and flavor were excellent, especially given the reasonable price point. It's clear that care goes into every dish, making the dining experience memorable. One area for improvement, however, is the variety of mocktails on the menu. For those who don't drink, the options felt a bit limited, which was disappointing considering how creative the rest of the menu is. Expanding the mocktail offerings would make the restaurant even more inclusive and enjoyable for all guests. That said, we had a wonderful time at The Prado and would happily return for another meal in such a picturesque setting. ”

“ Despite a busy after Christmas crowd in Balboa Park we slipped into the Prado quite easily for a drink. Our wonderful waiter, Brian mentioned dinner would be available in the bar area at 430pm so what was supposed to be drinks and an appetizer turned into dinner and drinks. The raspberry lemonade martini was sweet and delicious and the mango margarita was good if you like tangy and tajin. I was in the mood for a Caesar salad and my soup went with the Chef's soup special. It was cream of turkey soup was incredibly good. We also opted to split the short ribs which were great. OK we ordered another soup because the soup was fantastic. Highly recommend the Prado for a romantic dinner date or a quick drink in the bar area. ”

“ I've been coming here with my family for over 15 years and can always rely on The Prada for yummy meal after long day in museums. Special shoutout to Lisa, an absolutely incredible server who greatly emphasized our experience and brought this review from a 4star to 5star. I can only hope that The Prado knows how lucky they are to have her. THANK YOU LISA ”

“ The hubby and I had dinner at the Prado before a holiday candlelight concert in Balboa Park. It was our first time dining there which is wild, considering we live here and go to Balboa on a regular basis. We both ordered a cocktail which were very strong. I ordered the peachy spritz which was refreshing, bubbly, and strong but good. We then had the calamari, Prado salad, and sea bass. We shared everything and loved the calamari. It was a unique spin of lightly breaded and fried calamari tossed in an asian sauce with a kick. We then ordered the Prado arugula salad with greens, walnuts, figs, Asiago , strawberries, in a shallot vinaigrette and chicken. It was good but something I could've easily made at home. It was missing funk, like a Gorgonzola but good nonetheless. Last came the sea bass over a corn succotash and creamed corn sauce. The fish was beautifully cooked, skin crisp, and the corn medley was seasoned perfectly, had nice elements of texture and taste. Jorge provided exceptional service and the restaurant itself was nicely and tastefully decorated. ”

“ Prado is one of our favorite places to go with out of town visitors because it is in a beautiful environment in the heart of Balboa Park. The bonus is that the food and service have always been very good. On this visit, it was only my wife and me. We shared the black bean soup, which is delicious. I ordered the grilled fish tacos - my usual. There is a big portion of a deconstructed taco with mahi mahi, cabbage slaw, chimichuri aioli and mango salsa. It comes with corn tortillas and beans. It's great to be able to create the perfect tacos, using the portions of ingredients I prefer. I washed it all down with their delicious mango iced tea. My wife had the eggplant pasta, which she enjoyed very much. Service was friendly and very attentive. And, the ambiance on the patio was so peaceful and beautiful. We had a thoroughly enjoyable experience. ”

“ Came here during the busy holiday season with no reservation. Fortunately they allowed walk-ins. I love the ambiance, it's very welcoming and festive. The employees were pleasant as well. The food was up there in price, as expected since it's one of the most popular places in all of SD. However, every buck spent was worth it. We ordered the chef's soup of the day which was a cauliflower soup, calamari and kids sea bass with mashed potatoes and seasonal veggies. Everything came out fresh. The ingredients were clean and fresh. Our favorite was the calamari due to it's delicious sauce. We could have drank the sauce alone, it was tasty and had a nice sweet kick to it. Cauliflower soup was so yummy, but overly salted. The kids meal was generous in size. The sea bass was cooked perfectly and didn't have too much seasoning. It was so good. I docked off one star due to service. Our waitress forgot our waters, we didn't get it until after our food came out. There were two large groups prioritized over us. My husband and I had to get another workers attention just to pay the bill. Other than that, everything else was superb! We would definitely come back again, but maybe during a less busy weekday. ”

“ This place was amazing. It was elegant in every way. It was beautiful with fine architecture building walls art and entire atmosphere. The servers were helpful and attentive. I love my Maui Maui meal. Everyone enjoyed the visit atmosphere and meal. I love this place in Balboa Park . ”