How do the waves stay outside of The Marine Room in La Jolla?

If you've ever been to the Marine Room restaurant in La Jolla, you know the food is great but it's the waves that are the big attraction.
During the last King Tide, the waves were crashing over the building. But how do the waves stay outside and not crash through the windows? Well we're going to answer that question.
MORE: If you've ever been to the Marine Room restaurant, you know the food is great but the waves are the big attraction.

[@jjbarajas5341]

The corrosion on the building must be crazy, those are some pretty hostile conditions for a structure. Pretty neat.

[@joseavila5616]

Definition of brainwashed. Mother nature would take it out like nothing, engineers are concerned, all over the news, and you're impressed lmfao. Nothing is neat about this

[@jjbarajas5341]

@@joseavila5616 Thank you for your hostile yet incoherent comment. 🙏

[@joseavila5616]

@@jjbarajas5341 comment is clear. You are incoherent

[@itr0863]

@@jjbarajas5341find a safe space nancy

[@jjbarajas5341]

@@itr0863 Okay??? 🤷‍♀️

[@bradclifford295]

My wife and I ate there for our 1st anniversary over 15 years ago. Definitely a memorable experience.

[@SophiaCozy]

How sweet, happy new year to you both ❤

[@vercasson]

Aww! Great to hear.

[@knuterockknee]

Why did the idiot's build it in the ocean

[@petepillow8642]

Because they're FUCKIN idiots

[@evanthibodeaux5172]

What was better the used needles or human feces that you have to wade through on the street

[@Michele-gy1rv]

I'd be interested to know more about how they rebuilt and reinforced everything. It's not like the ocean is going to pause for a rebuild or construction I wonder how they did it??😳

[@timmillan6701]

They might put up a temporary cofferdam around it, or at least work at the lowest tides maybe

[@Michele-gy1rv]

@@timmillan6701 Thank you, I know that it was done I just had no idea how and It seemed crazy to me! I appreciate the reply!☺

[@cbs8sandiego]

I will dig up 1982-83 stories for answers.

[@myshots101]

My guess is they built parts of the structure outside and then just bring them and put them in place. As they probably do in harsh environments.

[@Michele-gy1rv]

@@cbs8sandiego Thank you! 😃

[@christophermyers3758]

The real reason the waves stay out... they can't afford it! 😔

[@allialias]

LOL :)

[@JonnyDIY]

🤣💕👍

[@TheUniverseHasMyBack]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@RY-fe3rt]

😁

[@cieltheeditor7922]

😂😂

[@Arly47]

I worked as a waitress (while in grad school) when Mr. Kellogg was alive. During a grunion run outside the restaurant, the waiters collected the fish, chefs fried up the dish, and with the restaurant manager’s direction, waitresses served it to the customers for free. Sunsets were beautiful, remarkable the day I saw it through the lounge window that had collapsed from the ocean coming in. Heard nice reminiscences from local residents, like the dog races during World War II (where the grunion ran).

[@5MadMovieMakers]

Bulletproof? Easy. Oceanproof? Now that's tough.

[@CVargas202]

they didnt learn from the TITAN

[@timothys1936]

The Marine Room isn't constantly being bashed by waves that big usually, over 4/5ths of the year its just against the lower sea wall and barely even touches the bottom glass with waves. Source: I work in La Jolla in the ocean and pass it ever day.

[@clayz1]

Because tides.

[@YourUserNameSucksx10]

Thanks

[@alliebrown389]

Hey! I live in La Jolla!

[@lllill]

4/5ths is just a snazzy way to say 80% which just translates to about 2.5 months of the year.

[@badams1206]

@@lllill You work in the ocean?

[@allialias]

It is breathtaking. Being in the Marine Room once, at 3 yrs old, in 1963, I remember that wall of glass. Happy to see your family is attentive to the needs of the structure. Thank you for showing us.

[@joseavila5616]

It's stupid. It's about to fall off and you're praising it. Definition of no brain.

[@g37fy68]

The place is that old man

[@Gameboy-Unboxings]

Damn that's pretty crazy that you can remember stuff from when you were 3.

[@natea5298]

@@Gameboy-Unboxings nobody remembers when they were 3, especially in 1963 someone probably just told them they ate there straight cap.

[@sweettoko995]

@@natea5298 The funny thing is, you do remember stuff from when you were three

[@jamescampoccio1152]

Ocean: I'd like reservations for the entire restaurant, please. We have a meeting.

[@bob_frazier]

I heard their having a wave party.

[@realitybreaker1679]

Server: That's no problem. Date and time?... Wait a minute. I know you. We told you to stay outside after the last time you had a meeting here.

[@etamommy]

@@realitybreaker1679 reservation!? We don't need no stinkin' reservation!

[@ChemEDan]

The ocean needs to be more considerate. Already taking up 3/4 of the planet

[@RosettaStoned462]

This is cute

[@noheapai4145]

One thing about nature….. she is persistent and patient. One day she will take back what is hers. No matter how bullet proof it is.

[@Totalinternalreflection]

Stop talking about waves like they're a sentient being you sound unhinged.

[@neyenice]

I agree..gary Indiana use to be the industrial powerhouse during the 1800s now it's almost a jungle.

[@fubarlife7776]

Yeppers!

[@TheAGODAMI]

🎯 *I agReE.!! UnTiL "MaN" leaRns how to tRuLy liVe wiTh naTuRe and NoT on heR she wiLL aLWaYs undoubTedLy WiN.!!!* 🌳 💪 🌞

[@rob5598]

Yep, and im not tryna find out when that might be😂😂

[@garyglenn3654]

The view is outstanding. The food is so-so. You do pay for the experience which is understandable.

[@marktrain9498]

Like any restaurant with a view.

[@chefdsal1]

@@marktrain9498 Think again Mark. Most places that charge this much have good food and a good view. This place has a good view.

[@tioswift3676]

About $60 per entree, I’d say it’s worth it.

[@terenarosa4790]

@@chefdsal1 i have yet to visit a place that has both. I wish we could just bring our own food to places like this. Why take up a good location and then serve terrible food? I haven't been to the Marine Room yet. I hope it's not like all the others.

[@alarahillton1343]

Ok. Same as the Space Needle in Seattle...

[@shadow.banned]

This reminds me of those aquarium restaurants from the 90s that had massive fish tanks.

[@Linkolite]

Always kinda made me feel claustrophobic going to those. Nostalgic though.

[@pastelitopete5968]

They still do, go to cheddars or a Chinese buffet lol

[@Bambisgf77]

I miss those ..

[@oiitzME1266]

I completely forgot those were a thing..they were real neat as a child

[@bkwil6078]

Mother nature will eventually win she always does

[@andre1987eph]

Look at these arrogant bastwrds 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@humanbean1424]

Pshh... We'll see about that.

[@redneckhippiefreak]

@@humanbean1424 Yes, it is a guarantee you will see. Planet Earth has a 100% kill rate. XP

[@sanaaniz]

@@humanbean1424 yes you sure will

[@tommurphy4307]

don't underestimate father nature...

[@levi_octavian]

It reminds me of the dreams where I’d be in a house and the waves would crash right onto the glass with windows in the exact same fashion as this. Definitely would not want to eat there no matter how safe it is.

[@petepillow8642]

I have a reoccurring dream that I'm pinned to the floor with my mouth wired open and people with really bad diareah and liquid poops constantly shit in my mouth, it's horrible

[@brianjones8899]

​@@petepillow8642 I'm sorry, but that was one of the weirdest yet funniest things I've ever read.

[@tommurphy4307]

@@petepillow8642 well what the hell did they eat?

[@AxtionMag]

Ate Here Back in 1996 the Night of MVHS Senior Prom. Great Dinner and a Great Night!

[@georginatoland]

My prom date and I went here for dinner in ‘82. It wasn’t high tide, but the view was quite spectacular.

[@AckzaTV]

So what time do u need reservations to experience the "submarine room"?

[@kenposney4600]

Prom date, '81. PLHS

[@solsticemeows]

@@AckzaTV I used to work there for 4 years. If you want to see waves hitting the windows.. In the summertime the highest of the high tides are at night... They open at 6, so find out on a tide calendar what time the high tide is... Make sure to go when the high tide has at least a 6.5'. In the winter, the highest of the high tides are in the morning. They open up at 5am for high tide breakfast.

[@arhamgill4109]

did u fk after

[@johnodo764]

LJHS?

[@timmyjones1921]

Awesome History & Story On The Marine Room.

[@tonyhoang9431]

Insurance must be outrageous

[@andre1987eph]

😂I 😂

[@salyoutubepremium7734]

Don’t worry I’m sure FEMA (you and I) will end up covering it

[@nickjene6571]

They save on the fire insurance

[@nancycollanto]

My favorite place I used to eat all the time when I grew up in San Diego

[@JonnyDIY]

What a cool restaurant 💕 Great history too

[@cccccc4532]

Always love hearing about the Marine Room. Thanks Shawn

[@vercasson]

Same here, so happy to see this!

[@kxngdavid]

La Jolla, to me, is the most beautiful community in America.

[@amirbashar5626]

Excellent engeneering work and beautiful restaurant. 👍👌🇧🇩🇧🇩

[@vercasson]

Yes!

[@suanne1217]

Wow! It’s a bit scary, but beautiful! We were there last summer literally walking around the ocean side of the restaurant. Hope the high tide doesn’t take over the building.

[@leslieslavens6881]

I had my prom night dinner there back in. 1980 and so did My mother during her prom night in 1956

[@vercasson]

Aww. Nice to hear.

[@Max-uu2gs]

I ate there once for a work outing.. GREAT PLACE.

[@L.Spencer]

I wonder if they lower the prices during low tide.

[@darrencarter]

After my set at The La Jolla Comedy Store I'm going to have an after party there for the fans. Love it!

[@tommurphy4307]

YOU MEAN 'in one of the booths', right??

[@janicevictor7414]

I have nightmares like this. Being inside a building and swallowed by waves...

[@hildib2689]

I have nightmares as well. I wouldn’t mind dining there at low tide. But waves crashing against windows is unnerving.

[@fridahernandez9869]

It looks depressing to me. Large bodies of water scare me, you can’t trust them.

[@redneckhippiefreak]

That's called a ship wreck.

[@clintoruss153]

This is scary

[@ronf.2029]

Just bring in your snorkeling gear or scuba diving gear and you'll survive. Face your fears.

[@user-sg2yt6nc1z]

You know what would be even better? A restaurant under a real waterfall in the middle of a tropical forest. Better yet a restaurant inside of an active volcano

[@billyjennings1523]

I used to treat this place for termites 15yrs ago. Pretty cool building

[@MstressMew]

I was in San Diego for an Oncology conference in the early 90s and a group of coworkers suggested we make reservations for the Marine Room for dinner. Luckily we were able to get late reservations for the following night. Dinner was seated early and late. Since I'd never heard of this establishment I was excited for the opportunity. The night finally arrives (it felt like it was days and days later) and we arrived on time for our dinner. The food was delicious. The dining room was very luxurious and the windows!!! OMG the windows! I couldn't wait to finish and get out of there. The water rose so high that the windows at high tide were covered in sea water with creepy crawly things swimming by. I was glad to leave.

[@from9539]

That sounds like q bizarre experience. I wouldnt be able to eat, ill take it to go please!

[@hopetondelli5146]

me too - no thank you i'll pass on that experience

[@feliciadance1715]

I think my nerves would be shot at the anticipation of a “what if” 😳

[@jimjimgl3]

"I don't get the hype about this restaurant. Every time I try to get in I'm turned away". Ocean.

[@MikeB-Android-Teacher]

Must have something to do with the way you're "waving" at the people in there. LMFAO.

[@jimjimgl3]

@@MikeB-Android-Teacher I tried shouting but no one paid attention

[@MikeB-Android-Teacher]

@@jimjimgl3 - LMFAO!! I see what you did there, haha!!

[@tommurphy4307]

maybe it was your 'vote blue' button....

[@emsa5034]

We should use this method for houses near beaches to protect against hurricanes.

[@christopherpohl8743]

Cool place. Had lunch a few times around 1980.

[@catmomjewett]

I can’t imagine the indigestion from eating in such a stressful environment. Y’all can have it!

[@deagle2yadome696]

stressful?? 😂

[@xxmeanyheadxx]

@@deagle2yadome696 when i see stuff like this i always think of that movie 2012

[@tommurphy4307]

better than a picnic in an old oil field...

[@tthappyrock368]

Someplace I would like to go next time I'm in San Diego!

[@coreywagar3890]

Thats really cool. Pretty unique experience by the looks of it.

[@NKDV76]

Our family once had dinner there and my Yellow Tail jumped off my plate and right back into the sea!

[@sonjaleesloth]

Wicked interesting. 🌊 Greetings from Boston Massachusetts! 👋🏽👋🏽

[@samanthab1923]

It reminded me of those videos during the storms of Scituate

[@rodolforodriguez4409]

That's awesome ,nice place, I'll put it in my bucket list.

[@spikespa5208]

Maybe keep that bucket handy.

[@rodolforodriguez4409]

Okay thanks 👌

[@windermere2330]

Cool story! Thanks CBS 8 San Diego!

[@AnthonyDoesYouTube]

There is also a restaurant very similar to this in Monterey, California if I remember correctly. Went as a young kid but it was a Mexican restaurant and was a bit higher up on a cliff overlooking the beach. Still one of my favorite memories to this day, just being so close to a view like that...

[@tommurphy4307]

i can see youve never been in the kitchen at the marine room....

[@DavidNovaa]

I have always loved that place. Perfect spot to go snorkeling and swimming. The only thing that sucks are all the stringrays

[@robertpalmer3166]

Sea life in the ocean is ironic?

[@claudiahansen4938]

Cool! It's a really great restaurant.

[@johngulino2651]

Free commercial for the Marine Room. Hooray.

[@jazzandbluesculturalherita2547]

I prefer the High Tide Brunch. A beautiful experience for the palette & the eyes!

[@zamp6969]

Oh this is way better then my idea for a restaurant on top of an active volcano

[@desirreemarlenaclonch7593]

Talk about have a last meal , it's to die for

[@ericmaclaurin8525]

All sorts of fun stuff you can do with those curved seawalls (and other textures). I'm surprised it's almost never done.

[@mewkatlol]

Yeah, Love me some Curved sealwalls 🤪😝😜😛👀

[@tommurphy4307]

when does it get 'fun'?

[@alohatvj]

That would be an amazing 👏 dinner 🍽 experience.

[@EITFM]

Interesting segment, good work guys

[@dougcargill6730]

I remember when the windows blew out in 1982. That season was a fought one up and down the coast.

[@tommurphy4307]

did it get glass in your cream brulee?

[@tjsingh5163]

Place is very unique my wife and I once got some free drinks and a table right by the window at high tide for putting some entitled old man in his place for harassing the hosts 😂. One of our favorites for special occasions

[@petermgruhn]

It's a shame they encourage the type of behaviour.

[@tommurphy4307]

its okay- he passed away in 2015

[@davidareyouhuman]

This is awesome!! 🌊

[@MARILYNANDERSON88]

Excellent installers, perfectionist manufacturers. That is the answer.

[@chloegrl1366]

Pretty amazing!!!

[@dunpit3925]

Ate there as a teen in the 90s, pre culinary school and it was superb

[@petermgruhn]

I'm looking at the pictures and the presentation is very contemporary and fun AND... I don't see any foam. (No sea foam.) Which is a plus. But it does appear to be one of those places that thinks meat should be served raw. I disagree with that. I lived with a guy who considered himself a foodie. He thought raw meat had the authentic flavour, that it was how it was meant to be eaten... - To me raw tastes like raw. I don't know if that's because I'm missing the important "make raw shit taste good" gene, or if that guy was a preening liar. Wait, I do know. - Meat was not "meant" to be eaten. There was no intelligent design creating meat so that humans would have a food source that was particularly yummy in a given state. - "Fire has also influenced human biology, assisting in providing the high-quality diet which has fuelled the increase in brain size through the Pleistocene." In short, humans are 'meant' to cook their meat.

[@AB-qw7oo]

All i get an image of is deep blue sea when the shark throws the one armed scientist at the glass and it cracks letting the ocean come in. Lol

[@rexmonarch2]

Back in the day at the beginning of the 1980's I rented a four bedroom house that went from the street down a cliff to the beach at Victoria Beach in Laguna Beach. Anyway, at the south end of the beach there was a condo building that had the same curved wall like the restaurant has. Storm waves would hit the wall and go up and curve backwards. The waves would tower way up like they were going to obliiterate the condos but instead they curved back into the ocean.

[@walkingfree21]

That is God who controls everything!! ✝️💙

[@randallmarsh1187]

@@walkingfree21 Yea, except man designed and built the wall!

[@vickimeyers2672]

There's a well known restaurant located on the coast of the big island of Hawaii where huge waves hit the windows of the dining room.

[@tommurphy4307]

...but the name of that 'famous' place escapes you??

[@QuietNoise302]

Never knew this place existed. Now I must go.

[@paulhomsy2751]

Impressive !!

[@kayprivate2720]

My anxiety would be on another level. I would not be able to relax, so as awesome as it probably is, I'd have to pass.

[@jimmythegeekstickeyrice6062]

I was certified as an open water diver after completing my beach entry right in front of the marine room in 1983. Five of us entered with one instructor three of us completed the test. Two had to be drug back onto the beach. Good times

[@avantgardenovelist]

Bruce Dern should play this guy in a tragedy about making lemonade out of lemons.

[@Cluless02]

Used to go there, was always fabulous! 1st class all the way

[@BKelloggSr]

Great memories and especially for the kids!

[@Martell-XO]

Totally inspiring -- everything water-logged.

[@affordablewebsiterescue]

What if a big log is in the surf?

[@389383]

Or a boat?

[@tkelly1087]

Or a whale turd 🤣

[@389383]

@@tkelly1087 Or a surfer splattered against the window. Kinda puts a damper on the appetite.

[@joseavila5616]

Everything is in there. This won't last

[@mipmipmipmipmip]

​@@joseavila5616 thing has been up for a while already!

[@Viajan.doymas]

In a couple years, they will call it the submarine room

[@hectorheck1353]

Yeah. Sure.

[@donaldfeger91]

That's pretty cool!

[@figgy7099]

Surprised any company would insure this crazy stuff.

[@bob_frazier]

I'm glad the public owns the beaches here in Oregon, but this is interesting.

[@marktrain9498]

The public owns the beaches in California, too.

[@tommurphy4307]

gavin newsom owns our beaches- MASK UP!

[@Mike__B]

Interesting, I wonder how this manages to skirt aside the California law that doesn't allow anyone to own the coast up to the high tide line. Is that restricted to only places with sand? Does the tide wall some how push that delineate that point because it's blocking the tide?

[@kwamebushman606]

@Daniel Hollingsworth In other words things for the rich don't follow the rules 🤣🤣🤣

[@Mike__B]

@@kwamebushman606 Did a little further digging into the law, saw that existing structures and those that provide protection, e.g. a seawall, are exempt, so while no one would build a building straight out on to the beach into the ocean if they build one and use a seawall for the foundation then it's kosher.

[@carramrod8232]

@@kwamebushman606 so they should just tear it down because of newer laws? It’s been there for decades, it brings immense pleasure to those who visit it, it’s historical. Nothing to do with the rich…what’s it like looking for negativity in everything? You must be a lib

[@happity]

@@kwamebushman606 🤦

[@tommurphy4307]

they bought jerry brown a brand new plymouth duster

[@kr4536]

Yup! The energy of the water cannot be fully stopped. Better to redirect as much as you can with curved surfaces.

[@Trp6gng]

I live in SD and never knew about this spot so dope 🔥🔥

[@fatbongripz4207]

it's mindblowing that they can do all that, but we still can't figure out how to build houses underwater

[@DampRaccoon]

Um....

[@dudelebowski8629]

HUH!

[@joseavila5616]

There are houses already under water. Little mind

[@spikespa5208]

We figured out how but the little extras are expensive. Like breathing.

[@solsticemeows]

I worked there for almost 4 years and I'm still blown away by that as well.

[@angelwings7930]

My favorite beachfront hotel in La Jolla got wiped out several years ago. I was shocked but, it was close to the water. The dining room looked out on the beach, basically a massive glass wall on that side, it was just a gorgeous breakfast experience and the buffet was impressive. I forgot but they may have rebuilt it.

[@JustTheFactsYall]

Im about to go book tickets to fly from Florida. See y’all soon!

[@davidcarroll3979]

Parents used to take us there on every visit to SD. Great food and service and never got wet!

[@clintoruss153]

Don’t know why but it seems scary to me, eventually the waves will make it inside. The wear and tear must be insane.

[@e92e36]

yeah but its not like you’re on a sinking cruise ship, if the waves make it inside you can just walk right out the building

[@clintoruss153]

@@e92e36 you are correct

[@tommurphy4307]

you get a free drink when that happens

[@denizliberal]

sinking feeling.

[@Jushwa]

Super cool

[@cynthiamayes8631]

Been there....very cool!

[@turinturambar8622]

That's just anxiety inducing to me

[@shereesetz6690]

What a beautiful place:)

[@caspenbee]

Like how concrete highway dividers are curved to keep cars from absorbing more force. It took several iterations to find the right angel to bounce cars off just right. I wonder how many iterations of wall curve they'll go through...

[@babyade100]

That looks stressful to me… I’d be too scared to eat 😮

[@DrDepth89]

I’ve been wondering how the restaurant was doing with the tides lately. We had our wedding dinner there 30 years ago.

[@tommurphy4307]

the food costs ten times more now...

[@thaexception3406]

On the list

[@n_-_-]

I love topics like this haha

[@dirk7816]

Ocean view yes, wave crashing into the building where I am dinning? No thanks.

[@rainman7992]

they're called windows....

[@compactgirl]

That's so awesome

[@joaoricardo4092]

Thats wild!

[@chefdsal1]

I used to work in the Marine room Kitchen. It’s a disaster back there. First of all it’s below sea level so there is no drainage and at the end of the night the cooks are sludging in 2 inches of water in an attempt to clean the floors every day. They outsource their desserts because their ovens are so disgustingly old and rusted. Lowest paid job I ever had in a fine dining kitchen

[@ronf.2029]

Damn. That's not cool. I saw a person has to spend $100 minimum for food plus gratuity.

[@tommurphy4307]

how unjust- they should have paid you what everybody else was making.

[@joebonomono5078]

Very cool but a room that was totally submerged during high tide would be even better but you would need about 10 feet of tide change to do it I imagine. EDIT. I have since learned at times the window is half submerged so you can actually look out and watch fish. Very cool,,,

[@vectorfox4782]

I’ve been to a restaurant like this on Kamino. The food was horrible but the service was spectacular.

[@rebelmurphy664]

Amazing