Prep Kitchen is in a league of its own, which is particularly surprising for a city as refined in dining in an area as La Jolla. While the aesthetic is more home-grown instead of shabby chic, it’s because is more about the food than anything else. The dining experience has been perfected elsewhere, namely several local restaurants in the area and of course, the original Whisknladle, from owners Arturo Kassel and Ryan Johnston.

Simply put, the restaurant is more about the prep than anything else. It’s built on the foundation of Whisknladle just a few streets down, the crew who opened the restaurant in February 2008. Besides a more laid-back version of the dining experience on Wall Street, families can take their exquisite meal home. Prepared meals are packaged in family sized pieces, combining the comforts of home with some wine country favorites.

To get the essentials from Prep Kitchen, dining in the summer is a must; yet in San Diego it’s easy to find moderate weather any time of the year. The small restaurant is more a place for pick-up than anything else, but wrought iron dining sets sprinkle the outdoor patio marked only by lights in the trees. And bellies are stuffed with cheese plates, duck confit and breast of chicken salads and interchangeable ice cream floats. The menu changes with the season, with locals a familiar constant.

To dine here is an perfect experience, one that defines San Diego through simple comforts and unprecedented style.

[images from Prep Kitchen website]

Tags: La Jolla, Prep Kitchen