Select a menu or interest:

Best All-Around Dining Experience: Top o' the Cove or The Sky Room

Both nestled in elegant La Jolla, Top o' the Cove boasts "Best Dining" honors by a distinguished panel of judges. Their risotto with white truffles is considered among the best in the world, and the crème brulèe is second only to Harry Denton's in San Francisco. Also, table #6 is THE most romantic spot in the area! Also vying for top honors, though, is The Sky Room, located atop the La Valencia Hotel (just two blocks along Prospect from Top o' the Cove). With the best view, and service that is nothing short of exemplary, an evening at The Sky Room is an epicurean adventure. The foie gras is delectable, as is the selection of single-malt scotches and vodkas for your apèritif. You can't go wrong at either of these places, but be sure to save some room on your credit cards....

• Mexican:

  Casa de Bandini

  Situated in historic Old Town State Park, this restaurant is a state historical monument. Featuring a wide selection of authentic Mexican cuisine (and margaritas the size of your kitchen sink), this is a pleasant place to spend an evening -- though it does fill up early! Most seating is in the patio area beneath space heaters (for those oh-so-rare crisp nights in San Diego). The Casa truly captures the essence of San Diego culture. No reservations accepted for parties less than six, and the line can get atrocious after 7 pm.

  Old Town Mexican Cafe

  Situated about a block south of Casa de Bandini, this is the most popular for tourists. They hand roll their own tortillas (right by the entrance, too) and sell them by the bundle. The bar has seating for those waiting for tables, and the food is decent.

  Fins

  Cut in the "Rubios" mold of fast-food fish taco joints, Fins is quintessential San Diego. Their combo menus, named after local communities, host some of the best taco and burrito combinations imaginable - and their food is always impeccably fresh! Be adventurous and employ a little psychology when ordering: a "Del Mar" is a shrimp taco and fish burrito, so therefore a "Mar Del" is a fish taco and a shrimp burrito. Their salsa, with just a hint of fruitiness, is el ultimo. Located on Nobel and I-5, behind the Calif. Pizza Kitchen and Islands.

  Ingrid's Cantina

  The southwestern kitchen of Ingrid Croce (the late Jim Croce's wife), Ingrid has fashioned a delightful cafe which features exotic Taos-ian style cuisine like the "Snake, Rattle and Roll" (found on the breakfast menu -- it's rattlesnake, marinated in tequila and lime juice, then fried with chorizo and eggs, served with salsa picante, frijoles refritos and fresh corn tortillas). Strong coffee, too.

  Taco Auctioneers

  Cardiff, by the ocean. Excellent selection of Yucatan-style cuisine, fantastic service, great food! Miracle's Cafe (the coffee house next door) has live music, so the patrons on the patio get a good dose of jazz.

  Las Cuatro Milpas

  Like Old Town Mexican Cafe, they roll their own tortillas here, but, in the heart of Barrio Logan, this restaurant is not for the faint of heart (especially after dark). The food is some of the best in town, though, and a line usually forms early for both the lunch and dinner crowds. Especiales de la casa are the pork and the chorizo con huevos...

  El Rodeo

  Near the Ocean Beach Pier, this walk-up stand has the best fish tacos in town (though it lacks the benefit of having 14 locations to serve you, like the more well-known Rubio's does; Rubio's does have spicier salsa, though). Other good dishes are the carnitas and the taco plates.

  Loma Bonita

  The popular Thursday lunchtime haunt of many NOSCovites, the specials (like the #1 -- bean and cheese burrito with salsa cruda) are great. Good deals, cheap ambiance, and usually pretty good carnitas.

  Roberto's taco shops, et al.

  The best tacos in town are to be had at any number of the walk-up or drive-thru taco stands. With names as diverse as Roberto's, Alberto's, Aliberto's, Adalberto's, etc., they can be found most anywhere in the San Diego area. Just don't go after normal eating hours, or you get the stuff that's been on the grill for hours...

  Mexican in Mexico: If you travel across the border, you'll find a host of cheap (and not necessarily sanitary) eats. While there are a number of comfortable sit-down restaurants with great deals (especially on beef), the best food can be found at the walk-up taco shops and street vendors (but you put your health into their hands in the case of the latter, though the hot dog vendors who appear a night -- and make creations which rival any Chi-town hot dog stand -- will be more than happy to put a fatty dog back on the griddle to cook it a bit more). The best places for tacos are those that have semi-permanent structures. My personal favorite: Carnitas Arizulo on Caminito Negrete (a block or two east of Avenida Revolucion, between Calle 5o and Calle 6o on the west side of the street). Open air, staffed mainly by women (unusual for TJ taco shops), with a wide range of fresh, aesthetic condiments. Their specialty is carnitas surtido (combo of white and dark roast pork -- the most flavorful carnitas -- as opposed to the white-meat carnitas maciza), roasted on a grill on the end of the bar. The tortillas are made fresh (pressed per order by hand and grilled right before your eyes), and the salsa cruda is excellent! Ordering "con todo" gets everything: beans, salsa cruda, green onions, cilantro, salsa picante (added to taste) and fresh avocado slices. To wash it down, a bowl of Jamaica (hibiscus- flavored iced tea -- mmmm! :-) is on the bar with a bowl of their rice drink, but be warned -- it has TJ water in it (those of weaker constitutions should "¡no bebe el agua!"). Tacos are about 50 cents Americano each; order one at a time (so it's served hot), and don't pay until you're done eating. A more established place, right on Avenida Revolucion, is Margarita Village -- it's on the east side of the street, between 4o and 5o, downstairs. On a recent visit during a conference (when we had Air Force and Army types from all over CONUS visiting the Sandy Eggo), we were met with incredible service and attentiveness by the host (probably because at 2pm on a weekday, we were the only gringos in the place). Margaritas were two-for-one, and each included a free shot of tequila. After five or six bowls of chips and salsa, five orders of el especiale del dia (carne asada with tortillas, arroz y frijoles) and two rounds of drinks, our tab was $45 for five people....

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• Spanish:

  La Gran Tapa

  On 6th near the Symphony Hall, their paella is out of this world! (it even outdistances the Paella Valencia found in the backstreets of the Barri Gotic in Barcelona! :-) With everything but the sink, it includes chicken, sausages, fresh fish, mussels, scallops, shrimp, even octopi! I'm usually squeamish around seafood, but this is a delight! Served also as dinner for two (at $35, it's not cheap -- but it IS voluminous!), with a pitcher of sangria you're set for the night. For lighter fare, the Fabada (white bean soup with sausage and chicken) is delightful.

  Ole' Madrid

  Expensive specials, but they usually feature a flamenco show and cheap sangria. In the Gaslamp quarter, you can enjoy an evening of tapas and beer or opt for the paella.

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• Italian/Pizza:

  La Bruschetta

  Our newest favorite, nestled in the quaint confines of old "Village La Jolla." This charming restaurant features the creations of Chef Nino (a remarkably young gentleman with an affinity for fine food at a very reasonable price). His house specialty is Oso Buco, a marinated veal shank grilled to perfection and served on a bed of saffron rice. This fork-tender delicacy is only available on Friday and Saturday nights, and is in limited supply. Also, there is a wide selection of bruschette, and the service is always superb. Nino's wife will meet you at the door, and he will often venture forth from his kitchen to see if you are enjoying your meal. La Bruschetta is one of our all-time favorites!

  Tutto Mare

  Conveniently in the same building as Cooley -Godward (where my wife Renee used to work before becoming a full-time Mommy). Outstanding service, plus the best carpaccio di bue on the continent. Simply incredible!

  Piatti

  Just across the street from La Bruschetta, this classy ristorante has impeccable service and some of the most unique and delectable dishes. One favorite is the wide saffron pasta with shrimp and artichoke hearts. Though it's not as comfortable and friendly as our favorite across the street, Piatti is worth a visit.

  Il Fornaio

  Translated as "The Baker," this Del Mar staple has regretfully sporadic service. On one occasion, the ravioli was out of this world; on another, the young waiter fumbled through a rather boring meal. Excellent potential, but not as consistent as Tutto Mare. Their bread is delivered fresh each day to scores of grocers throughout the county.

  Sfuzzi

  Very chic, in the mold of L.A.'s Prego, this stylish restaurant was the reigning champion of the Gaslamp. A recent group party there, though, was a farce -- the smoked chicken ravioli tasted (I kid you not) like frankfurters, and the service was appalling. Alas, the Emperor has no clothes.... On a more positive note, they feature a wide range of homemade flavored vodkas fermenting behind the bar.

  Fio's

  Meriting top Italian honors in the historic Gaslamp Quarter, Fio's has a very refined atmosphere, and the food is consistently good. You can't go wrong here.

  The Venetian

  A humble, family-run operation in Loma Portal, the Venetian has some of the best original style pizza in town. The wafer-thin onions carmelized into the cheese are mouth-watering! Very traditional, very well done.

  Pizza Nova

  California Cuisine run rampant! While you can get a pepperoni and sausage pizza here, you'd be likely to miss it on the menu loaded with such concepts as "Thai Chicken Pizza" (with peanut sauce vice tomato, and lots of cilantro) and other equally bizarre concoctions. But don't be intimidated; with an open mind, you'll really enjoy the pizza. (and they have Anchor Steam on tap, so how bad could it be?)

  Embers

  A recently opened competitor to Pizza Nova, this one is closer to the freeway (Hwy 8 is a block away), offers woodfired pizzas in addition to a well-stocked pasta menu, and is slightly less expensive than Pizza Nova. Dessert features complimentary Ben-&-Jerry's Ice Cream, shipped over from one of San Diego's five Ben-&-Jerry outlets...

  California Pizza Kitchen

  Nothing that isn't covered in the above-mentioned Pizza Noveau establishments, but with a bigger marketing budget and greater distribution.

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• Seafood:

  Qwiig's

  Situated near the O.B. pier, on the second floor, this restaurant boasts both a spectacular view (even more so at sunset) as well as a rich selection of California- style cuisine. The fish, pasta and pizzas are all superb, and they also have an oyster bar for appetizers or meals. The house dressing of dry bleu cheese with a vinaigrette (served on a bed of mixed greens with veggies and almond slivers) is fantastic. A comfortable atmosphere with reasonable prices.

  Cecil's

  The experimental kitchen for Qwiig's (which is just upstairs from it). The fish tacos are delicious, and they usually feature a fish special and a pizza special -- something lively and bold. Always a pleasant place to come, either for dinner, lunch, or for their breakfast specials.

  Peohe's

  Located in Coronado, with a view of the downtown skyline, this is one of the finest seafood restaurants in town. The atmosphere is spectacular, and very San Diego. The food is superb -- especially the swordfish. Definitely a "can't miss" restaurant!

  Humphrey's

  Featuring a fair menu, Humphrey's is blessed with an excellent location, situated on the marina at Shelter Island. Home to the immensely popular "Concerts-by-the-Bay," the dinner-show packages are always a good bet (you get more food than you can eat, plus the best seats in the house for the concert; we got 6th row for Boz Scaggs and 4th row-center for the Rippingtons).

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• Assorted Asian:

  P.F. Chang's

  The newest addition to the Golden Triangle, this bistro is done with the flair of the trendier locales in L.A. A joint venture between Paul Fleming (the owner of Ruth's Chris steakhouses) and Philip Chang, this is the most flavorful Chinese I've ever tasted (beating even the Mandarin of San Francisco/Beverly Hills). If you decide to go, don't lapse into the rote process of Kung Pao chicken and Moo Shu pork -- be bold! Chef Roy's Favorite Chicken, preceded by Vegetable Stir Fry in Soothing Lettuce Wrap and followed by Szechuan from the Sea will send your palate to Nirvana.

  Yakitori II

  Japanese without drowning in Teriyaki; the Yakisoba (noodles and vegetables served on a sizzling platter) is to die for! Great sushi bar, too, and excellent service and ambience. This has made me a fan of Japanese food (the Yakitori I is in Hawaii, playground of the Japanese corporates, so you know it's good!).

  Jimmy Wong's Golden Dragon

  This is one of the best Chinese places in town (having grown up in the San Francisco Bay Area, it pains me to live in a cesspool of MSG-infested dives that think the soggier the noodle, the better....). Not only does it sport the best neon sign in town, the food is comparable to what you'd get in Oakland's Chinatown. (not quite up to par with The City's Chinatown, but pretty close....)

  Karinya

  With food ranging from hot to inedible (or so the service will tell you), this restaurant has won numerous awards. Definitely among the best Thai places in the county, but a bit pricey. EXCELLENT pahd Thai! Located on Garnet in P.B., one block east of Mission Blvd. and across from the Improv.

  Kabul West

  Afghani cuisine with authentic ambiance. The dishes are uniquely spiced, and are complemented by excellent soups and salads. The lunch specials are very reasonable, featuring a wide variety of plates.

  Tongue Thaifoon

  Right in the heart of Hillcrest, this is one of my personal favorites. Superlative service, with a host of excellent dishes. Not as reasonably priced as Thai Chada, but certainly a good value!

  Cafe India

  On Sports Arena, they have vegetarian lunch buffets each weekday (and on Friday evenings) for under $6. Excellent food all around, spare on the decor, superlative service.

  Fairouz Cafe

  Eastern Mediteranean cuisine (Lebanese, Greek, Turkish), this is tied with Cafe India for the Best Lunch Buffet! A bit more expensive, but very nice decor.

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• Burgers/BBQ/Steak

  Ruth's Chris

  Best steak in the land. Period.

  Hodad's

  Dredging the barrel of civility, this is the best burger you're going to find in the county. Sure, In-N-Out is a great hunk of meat (or two, in the Double-Double case), but a Hodad is heaven!

  Islands

  A great place to hang loose and dream of the islands. Their burgers are huge, and feature Hawaiian or surfer names. The basket of fries is also great, with fresh-cut 'taters still in the skin. Very fresh, with awesome drinks too.

  Foggy's Notion

  One of the last true American Pubs, Foggy's features the most unique decor of any similar locale in the county (or perhaps the state, for that matter). Daily lunch specials are readily available, and the burgers are excellent (my favorite is the bleu cheese burg). A host of microbrews are on tap.

  Kansas City BBQ

  Home of the "Sleazy Bar Scene" from the movie Top Gun, KCBBQ has the best BBQ sauce in town. It's an extremely casual place, so don't go in with a tie on! Their walnut pie is delightful.

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• Delis/Diners:

  Brown Bag Deli

  Definitely the best value of all local delis; their "small" sandwiches (on fresh-baked bread, no less!) costs only $1.99, but could feed two moderately-hungry people. 26 varieties, ready in moments -- thanks to their extremely low overhead.

  Harvest Ranch Market

  Located in elegant "Renaissance La Jolla" (an exclusive San Diego zip code with a superiority complex), this market boasts the absolute best meat and seafood dept. in the county. Their deli section makes excellent sandwiches with fresh baked breads, and also has many hot dishes (their chicken pot pies are delightful). Great place to stop if you're planning a picnic - though their wine is about 30% more expensive than mere mortal supermarkets.

  Sea Trader Deli

  Among the best sandwiches in town; near the cliffs on Pt. Loma, this is a favorite stop for many locals and local workers. The Surfer Spectacular (choice of meat and cheese on a pita with guac et al.) is huge; best to split with a friend at the cliffs. Don't feed seagulls from your car, though, unless you're planning on washing it... :-)

  Newport Bar and Grill

  Excellent snack specials during happy hour (4-7pm), with $1 drafts of select beers. Not just any beers -- Newport B & G features a excellent selection of microbrewed beers! Great fetuccini carbonara, decent chili, daily meal specials. (see "Brewery" guide below)

  Cass Street Bar and Grill

  Excellent oriental chicken salad; close to the P.B. boardwalk, with several pool tables, lots of brew on tap, and a rowdy, young crowd. Their Oriental Chicken Salad is very good.

  The Chicken Pie Shop

  On El Cajon Blvd., a few blocks east of Park Blvd. Great quantities, great prices, very homey feel (and great chicken pies! :-).

  Marento's New Orleans Deli

  A little slice of N'awlins in the Sandy Eggo. You'd almost believe you were on the Bayou in Cajun country if it weren't for the roar of traffic on nearby Midway... In addition to featuring a host of Cajun delights (including jambalaya, gumbo, and (on Mondays) red beans and rice), they also have a store which stocks all the necessities of being a Paul Prudhomme wannabe.

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• Brunch/Breakfast

  Come On In

  Our newest favorite for breakfast or brunch, Come On In is nestled near the foot of Torrey Pines Rd., one block from Girard in La Jolla. The baked goods are delectable, with the best scones imaginable, and are baked fresh each day. The specials include a gargantuan scrambled eggs-filled baked potato, a breakfast burrito with fresh salsa, and the all-too- infrequent huevos rancheros. Their blueberry pancakes and Belgian waffles are similarly outstanding, featuring pure fancy grade, light amber Vermont maple syrup. CHECK IT OUT!

  The Little Chef

  It's something of a greasy spoon, but they have a gyros omelette that is fantastic! Served with a side of tomatoes and feta cheese, it's very tasty and less than $5. On Newport Ave., one block west of Sunset Cliffs Blvd.

  The Potato Shack

  Take the Encinitas Blvd. exit west from Hwy 5 to the Pacific Coast Hwy (Old Hwy 101). Turn left, go to I St., turn right and it's on the right. ALWAYS crowded; about $7 or $8 for a full-on breakfast with their world famous home fries.

  A la Française

  The best place to buy a baguette! (with two locations to serve you) Excellent menu, too, with weekly specials and wonderful breakfasts. Very reasonable.

  Top o' the Cove

  The chic La Jolla scene. Very posh, especially for Sunday brunch.

  Qwiig's/Cecil's

  More proletarian, but equally as good. Nice view of the surf.

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• Coffee Houses:

  Deidrich's Coffee House

  Of the several Deidrich's in the county, our personal favorite is the one in the Plaza at Del Mar (across the PCH from The Inn at L'Auberge). Boasting a stunning view of the Pacific, an outstanding assortment of tasty scones and other treats, and a mocha that is just to die for, an afternoon at Deidrich's is sheer heaven. On a hot day, be sure to try the Viennese Parfait!

  Cafe XXXX

  This unique chain of coffee houses applies their street number to the XXXX. Featuring a decent selection of beans and caffeinated drinks, they usually host local musicians in the evening hours.

  Pannikin

  Also featuring local musicians on most evenings, most Pannikins host a wide selection of beans and drinks. The one on Rosecrans next to the Bookstar has some of the best iced drinks around! They also have some ingenious drink specials (like the "Keith Richards": quadruple espresso with whipped cream). Almost purchased by Deidrichs, the deal fell through in Feb. 1997.

  Zanzibar

  Cut in the Berkeley coffee house mold, Z-bar is even populated with a very Berkeley-esque crowd. Decent veggie-like sandwiches, great desserts, better coffee (the Iced Zanzibar is a must -- iced espresso and coffee ice cream blended into a slushy smoothness, sprinkled with chocolate shavings and whipped cream. Mmmm!

Nightlife Suggestions: Dick's Last Resort for a wild ride, Mr. A's for elegance and the view, Top o' the Hyatt near the Convention Center for an even better view, Blarney Stone for Irish ballads, Winston's for dancing, any of the below-mentioned restaurants in O.B. for quaffing pints.

SAN DIEGO BREWERIES AND PUBS

There are several microbreweries, as well as a number of cafes and restaurants with excellent beer selections. The breweries are:

Karl Strauss' Old Columbia Brewery & Grill

Karl Strauss used to be head Braumeister at Pabst (from the Old Country, though, so he understands the rheinheitsgebot). His nephew got him to finance a business venture in SD -- the Columbia Brewery. It's the most established, and it's beers have become a bit commercialized -- but the food is THE best of all pubs in town, and it's definitely worth a visit. If anyone in Peoria has heard of a brewpub in San Diego, it'll be this one. Located at 1157 Columbia, at "B" St. downtown; (619) 234-BREW.

La Jolla Brewing Company

La Jolla Brewing Co. is a recent entry into the microbrewery scene, only a couple of years old. Their food rivals Columbia, and the beer is MUCH better. (it must be those copper kettles in the back -- Columbia uses stainless steel :-) Well worth a drive. 7536 Fay Ave., La Jolla (about 10 miles north of downtown); (619) 456-BREW.

Hang Ten Pub, Bistro & Brewery (now Riptide Brewing Co.)

A great selection of bitters and ambers. Kind of light in the stout category, but a high quality brewery. It gets PACKED on weekends! Great ambience, though sort of a yuppie decor.

Hop's Bistro

Great menu, and an excellent track record for replicating German brews (their bock is quite good, and their hefeweizen is (in the opinion of a native German army officer) the "best beer in America." They occasionally feature a märzen. Located in the UTC mall, between Macy's and The Broadway. (619) 587-6677.

Restaurants featuring Microbrewed Beers

Newport Avenue Bar and Grill

Newport Bar & Grill doesn't look like a brewhouse; it looks more like a coffee shop -- but don't be deceived! It features at least a dozen microbrewed beers on tap. Last night, I had an Anderson Valley Octoberfest that was superb! (it went great with their fettucini carbonara :-) They feature $1 drafts of select brews from happy hour to close, and have a number of great meal deals both at happy hour (4-7pm) and after (meal deals). Check it out. 4935 Newport Ave. (619) 222-0168

South Beach Brewery

After sampling the brews in the Newport B&G, go back out to Newport, take a left, and walk three blocks to the last building before the beach (actually, before the parking lot for the beach). This is the South Beach Brewery -- a newcomer that has put on a strong showing (in my estimation, any new pub or bistro that has the courage to prominently carry "Buzzard's Breath Lager" gets my vote! :-). The beers are great, and the food (mostly snack-fare) is equally good. Their mahi mahi sandwich is simply superb! Check it out! (and take a cab.... ;-) Located on the west end, south side of the 5000 block of Newport Ave.

Foggy's Notion

One of the last true American Pubs, Foggy's features the most unique decor of any similar locale in the county (or perhaps the state, for that matter). Daily lunch specials are readily available, and the burgers are excellent (my favorite is the bleu cheese burg). A host of microbrews are on tap. Foggy's is across the street from the Sports Arena, so it's not really O.B....

WINE TASTING

The best wine tasting opportunities are an hour's drive north on Hwy 15, in the town of Temecula. Situated in a valley which connects the shores of the Pacific with the Salton Sea and the Mojave Desert, the region always enjoys cool ocean breezes in the early evening (the hot air rising in the desert creates a vacuum, drawing it in from the ocean) -- ideal for growing grapes. There are a number of wineries to the east of 15 on Rancho California Rd., among them:

Callaway

Interesting, brief tours; specializes in whites (Chardonnay, Fume Blanc). $6 for tasting.

Mt. Palomar

Best bet for red wines in the area, with a great port.

Cilurzo

Small, with a dirt road. The oldest in the valley, with excellent merlots and canellis.

Culbertson

Most popular, and most refined-looking, with excellent sparkling wines. Also home to KIFM Jazz 98.1 concerts.

Piconi

Small, intimate, comfortable.

The town of Temecula is quite charming as well. It has been restored to appear much like it did a century ago as a stage stop. Touristy, but charming. Rosa's Cantina has great deals on decent Mexican food.

EXCURSIONS

• Wild Animal Park
• Balboa Park
  • San Diego Zoo
  • Reuben H. Fleet Space Center
  • Aerospace Museum
  • Old Globe Theatre
• Sea World
• Scripp's Aquarium
• Old Town State Park
• Cabrillo Monument & Tidepool area
• Del Mar Racetrack
• Gaslamp Quarter
• Torrey Pines
• Coronado
• Mission Bay Park
• Mission Beach/Belmont Park
• Mt. Palomar Observatory and Park
• Anza Borrego Springs
• Tijuana

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