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Vela Reviews List
Vela
There’s something special about the coast that draws people to want to live near it, travel to it and celebrate it. One lives for satisfaction and finds it in simple things. Throughout the world’s coastal resort destinations eateries thrive on the finest products, grown locally where “from farm to fork” is a way of life. At Vela, diners will enjoy the freshest meats, daily caught fish, locally grown market produce and home baked artisan breads served with casual excellence.
Vela is taking its culinary inspiration from the shores of Mediterranean coastal environments of the world while featuring products from our own “Mediterranean” San Diego County and California. Vela’s focus is on the use of the freshest, seasonal, local and sustainable products available to achieve modern interpretations of classic culinary traditions from the most desired coastlines of the planet.
From breakfast and lunch to dinner, Vela will surprise you at every turn.
See more Vela details
35 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
3.8
/
5
Rating Breakdown 35 reviews
5 stars
(9)
4 stars
(14)
3 stars
(9)
2 stars
(3)
1 star
(0)
Food
(Very Good)
3.7
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.8
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.8
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
- scenic view(14)
- good for groups(12)
- great for brunch(8)
- kid-friendly(5)
- special occasion(5)
- great for lunch(4)
Vela Reviews List
Review 1 for Vela
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Good Food for a hotel restaurant
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Very nice breakfast selection and very good service."
Dined on 5/02/2013
Special Features: great for brunch, scenic view, great for lunch
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Review 2 for Vela
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Great Mothers Day Brunch!!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Outstanding food and variety. Wouldn't hesitate to return next year. Just a great time overall!!"
Dined on 5/12/2013
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Review 3 for Vela
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Very slow service, even on
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Very slow service, even on a dead night"
Dined on 04/27/2013
2011
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Review 4 for Vela
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
What I had was very good,
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"What I had was very good, but the wine prices were outrageous, and the kitchen was very slow. Would I recommend-yes and no. It is a very pretty place, but overpriced for the value."
Dined on 04/25/2013
2013
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Review 5 for Vela
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Two sides of the coin
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"This is a hotel restaurant that is somewhat of three faces for a shell of tables. The morning brunch buffet was very mediocre and very expensive for what you get. On the other hand, the dinner food and menu was excellent. However, the ambience is very blan and un impressive."
Dined on 04/17/2013
2010
Special Features: good for groups
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Review 6 for Vela
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Vela was wonderful food and
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Vela was wonderful food and service, but the ambience is quite bland compared to the wonderful food a d service."
Dined on 04/18/2013
2010
Special Features: good for groups, scenic view, great for lunch
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Review 7 for Vela
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Pricey. Good food, but nothing
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Pricey. Good food, but nothing extraordinary. Music is too loud. Service is generally good, but not always."
Dined on 04/14/2013
2009
Special Features: great for brunch, scenic view
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Review 8 for Vela
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Pricey. Good food, but nothing
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Pricey. Good food, but nothing extraordinary. Music is too loud. Service is generally good, but not always."
Dined on 04/15/2013
2009
Special Features: great for brunch, scenic view
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Review 9 for Vela
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
We selected this restaurant
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"We selected this restaurant to begin a weekend of celebratory dinners for our anniversary and we were not disappointed. From the opening introduction by our server Michelle, who welcomed us warmly, to the complimentary glasses of champagne, through a wonderful dinner, and a complimentary dessert with excellent service with a smile - we had a wonderful dinner."
Dined on 04/12/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, romantic, special occasion
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Review 10 for Vela
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Limited menu but good food.
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Limited menu but good food. Service was at a moderate pace but not slow."
Dined on 04/05/2013
2010
Special Features: kid-friendly, scenic view
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Review 11 for Vela
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Lunch and dinner menu was
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Lunch and dinner menu was sparse and not very inviting."
Dined on 04/04/2013
2012
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Review 12 for Vela
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
my eggs wher perfect and the
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"my eggs wher perfect and the orange juice was fresh"
Dined on 04/04/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, kid-friendly
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Review 13 for Vela
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
I had a business meeting here,
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"I had a business meeting here, where we ordered a fruit bowl which never came. The hostest was the nicest woman I've ever met but the servers did not check in on us. Overall, it was ok. I've had the brunch here which is good food. I love how it overlooks the water - very relaxing"
Dined on 04/03/2013
2012
Special Features: great for brunch, scenic view
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Review 14 for Vela
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
We ate brunch here on Easter
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We ate brunch here on Easter Sunday. It was there standard brunch buffet, so I have to admit I was a little dissappointed. The wait staff was attentive and helpful. Food was good and fresh. The kids like the rolls and the selection of kid cereals."
Dined on 03/31/2013
2005
Special Features: good for groups, great for outdoor dining, kid-friendly, scenic view
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Review 15 for Vela
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
Disappointed in San Diego
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Salad was sent back after it looked like it had been sitting there since yesterday. Ive never seem such a sad pile of lettuce and bacon bits. Tasted horrible too. Scallops were delicious but I walked away hungry and after waiting over an hour for our food to be brought out. Server was a sweetheart but the cooks took way too long for a mediocre meal and considering a sparsely inhabited restaurant. I bet the view is pretty in the daylight though."
Dined on 03/29/2013
2009
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Review 16 for Vela
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"I loved how cozy and incredibly comfortable this lounge was. The food was ok."
Special Features: good for groups, late-night find, special occasion
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Review 17 for Vela
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Our appetizers and salads
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Our appetizers and salads were tasty. Our server was a friendly girl and attentive. My scallops were very good. My husband's steak was so tasteless and cooked poorly that he didn't eat it. The manager did remove his entree from the bill without a word from us because the server told him that he didn't eat but a few bites. Overall it may just have been bad luck about the steak; but the restaurant failed to wow us compared to the other amazing meals we had all over San Diego."
Dined on 03/08/2013
2013
Special Features: scenic view
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Review 18 for Vela
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
It was a fine hotel restaurant
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"It was a fine hotel restaurant on the pricey side. Food was good but nothing memorable."
Dined on 03/03/2013
2003
Special Features: scenic view
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Review 19 for Vela
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
The food at Vela was expensive
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"The food at Vela was expensive but excellent and worth the price. However, I felt that the service was not up to par. The wait staff was more in line with that of a typical hotel restaurant, not an upscale eatery. Moreover, given the many outstanding restaurants in the nearby gaslamp district, you might want to venture out and try something else.
If you are staying at the Hilton Bayfront and are not in the mood to venture out, I'd highly recommend Vela. If you aren't staying at the Hilton, I would not plan a visit just to eat at Vela.
The hotel is doing renovation of the pool and bar area. After its completion, it might draw visitors there and Vela as well."
If you are staying at the Hilton Bayfront and are not in the mood to venture out, I'd highly recommend Vela. If you aren't staying at the Hilton, I would not plan a visit just to eat at Vela.
The hotel is doing renovation of the pool and bar area. After its completion, it might draw visitors there and Vela as well."
Dined on 02/12/2013
2007
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Vela
Based on the average of (16) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
3.9
/
5
Food
(Very Good)
3.8
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic