MARU Lounge

These drinks sounded exciting but were pretty artificial-tasting.

Ooh, this katsu was perfectly cooked.  The sweet potato filling was delicious too!

Seafood pancake!  Look at those crisp edges! 
And it was very light, not like some that sit in your stomach all night.

Rating: Two thumbs up
Date: 4/23/13
Time in: 8:35 PM
Time out: 9:47 PM
Servers' recommendations: Sweet potato pork cutlet, fried chicken bowl, cream toppoki
What we ordered: Sweet potato pork cutlet, seafood pancake with no bell peppers
Number in our party: 2
Final check amount: $35.20
Price per person: $11.73
 
Notes:    

• The water is lightly flavored and tasty. 
• Surprising X-factor!  We imagined a stiff, trendy place, but due to the server's kindness and homey cushions, we felt like the restaurant wanted us to be comfortable.
• The lighting is also lovely, not too dark.  
• The music is too loud and the drinks have a strongly artificial flavor (the mojito tastes like powdered limeade) -- our only complaints. 
• They really know how to fry their food.  Everything is a crispy, delicious golden-brown.  That's rare on Convoy!  
• We loved the katsu with garlicky sweet potato.  
• Delicious seafood pancake. 

RESTAURANT INFORMATION 

Address: 4681 Convoy St, Ste A
Phone number: 858.279.8500
Website: https://www.facebook.com/maru.sandiego
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Parking: Shared lot that's pretty tiny, but there's decent turnover, so you can usually squeak into a spot that someone's pulling out of.
Ideal group size: 1-8
Available vegetarian options: Salads, fruit punch salad, fried tofu salad, sweet potato noodles with vegetables (we're not sure if these dishes actually are vegetarian, but they sound like it).
Noise level: 3.5 because of the music; otherwise, it would be a 1.