George’s at the Cove in downtown La Jolla, California, reopened its iconic Ocean Terrace rooftop dining area and bar on February 6 after a $1 million-plus remodel. The restaurant’s rooftop dining area and bar had closed for nearly three months beginning November 10, 2025. Partner/Chef Trey Foshee, a former Food & Wine magazine Best New Chef honoree, made the announcement.
The renovated Ocean Terrace includes a new foundation and flooring, new four-foot-tall perimeter glass wall without obstructing steel pillars, new umbrella plan with LED lighting, new permanent heaters, new wall sconces, new dining tables, and a new host stand. The main dining area capacity of 120 guests remains the same.
“Our improvements are meant to be mostly seamless to blend in with what we already had,” Foshee said. “You just don’t mess with something magical. While the price tag of our remodel eclipsed the seven-figure mark, guests may not even notice everything. And that’s OK, especially with that million-dollar view of the water they enjoy that has never changed.”
The Ocean Terrace last underwent a significant renovation in 2016, when the elevated bar area was added.
George Hauer founded George’s at 1250 Prospect Street on August 9, 1984. Originally occupying the first and second levels of the building, the Ocean Terrace opened in June 1991 to create a three-level ocean view dining destination. Hauer ran the restaurant for the first 16 years until Foshee was brought on as Executive Chef/Partner.
The kitchen team is now led by Foshee, Executive Chef Masa Kojima, and Pastry Chef Zach Schneider – all working alongside General Manager Mike Grave.
“It’s been an incredible ride for more than 41 years, and we hope our investment ensures that the restaurant will remain a go-to spot for the next several decades,” Hauer said. “We always want to provide a special place for both locals and visitors to our great city.”
George’s also completed a remodel of the Level2 dining area and bar in April 2025. The covered, but open-air space has a new roof with five retractable awnings, new high-top counter with eight seats facing the water, new dining tables, new or reupholstered furnishings, and new light fixtures.
To celebrate the Ocean Terrace’s grand re-opening, George’s is offering 50 percent off select bottles of Hill Family Estate wines for the first month for in-person dining. The restaurant’s relationship with the Napa Valley winery dates more than 30 years.
To coincide with the re-opening, Foshee and Kojima also released an updated menu. New dishes include Local Rock Crab Spaghetti (red chili, charred onion, lemon cream, chives), Spice-crusted Swordfish (roasted fennel, cucumber, herbed farro, currants, spicy preserved yuzu yogurt sauce), Miso-cured Hamachi (wasabi pea furikake, avocado, yuzu ponzu, finger limes, cilantro), Crab & Jalapeno Arancini (mozzarella, Cajun ranch), and Beef Tartare & Bone Marrow (creme fraiche, grilled Fresno chili, shallot, cornichons, sourdough).
