LUCIEN Preparing to Open in La Jolla Next Spring

LUCIEN, a 30-seat fine dining restaurant from a star-studded cast, is coming soon to downtown La Jolla at 7863 Girard Avenue, Suite 308.

LUCIEN will be helmed by Chef Elijah Arizmendi, whose career has taken him through acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurants such as Per Se, Joel Robuchon, Daniel, and L’abeille, according to the company’s website. The restaurant will offer guests a hyper-seasonal, carefully curated tasting menu showcasing haute cuisine and old-world cooking techniques. Arizmendi tells What Now Los Angeles that LUCIEN is his vision of Californian cuisine and is expected to open in Spring 2025.

The restaurant will celebrate local farms and fishermen, taking only the best ingredients at their peak in seasonality and elevating them through various old and new techniques with European and Asian influences. The 30-seat dining room will be tasting menu only and reservation only. Customers can expect an open kitchen, a separate bar area for drop-ins to grab drinks, and space for private events. To make this possible, Arizmendi has assembled a strong management team with (multi-star) Michelin experience outside of San Diego, including his business partner Brian Hung.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked under some great chefs over the years, but I’ve always wanted to have a restaurant of my own,” Arizmendi tells What Now San Diego. “And I’ve always known that when I did, it would be back in my home state of California. Things really fell into place when I visited my friend (and now business partner) Brian, who had just moved to San Diego. Together, we just saw so much potential here with the local bounty to do something great.”

While the fine-dining restaurant is set to open next year, LUCIEN is offering a preview of the restaurant by hosting a seven-course dinner on Tuesday, December 3, in collaboration with Kingfisher executive chef David Sim, according to Eater San Diego. Customers can expect a seafood-focused menu with spiny lobster, Pacific mackerel, and sea urchin paired with seasonal produce.