Category: Restaurants

For casual San Diego dining, look no further than Islands Restaurant.

Offering up a great combination of delicious food and a relaxed atmosphere, Islands should be your prime choice for a casual weekend date or a get together with the girls.

Most famous for their burgers, the restaurant offers several to choose from. Vegetarians can even substitute a meatless patty on any of the burgers – yum!

You can start off the meal with one of 9 great appetizers, including the to-die-for onion rings or nachos loaded with sour cream, jalapenos, tomatoes, salsa and cheese. It’s almost a meal in itself!
If burgers aren’t your thing, choose from a selection of soups, salads, sandwiches or soft tacos, all made to order and especially scrumptious.

Kids 12 and under won’t feel left out at Islands, either – they have several meals to choose from, made specifically for them.
For drinks, I wouldn’t miss their delicious Passion Fruit Iced Tea. They also have a fair selection of other sodas and beverages, as well.

After you’ve enjoyed your meal, you definitely want to save room for dessert. Try the Chocolate Lava; a decadent chocolate brownie topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, roasted almonds and a cherry. Chocolate lovers won’t be able to get enough of this rich dessert!

If you love the taste of Islands but can’t make it out to eat, order takeout via phone or directly online – your food will be hot and ready for you when you arrive.

Whatever your pleasure, Islands will please even the most picky eaters. Whether you want to enjoy a night on the town with your gal pals or a family dinner in a casual environment, consider Islands Restaurant your first choice for fun, delicious and affordable dining.

For the ultimate girl’s night out, you absolutely must visit Jack's La Jolla. With three restaurants and five different lounges, there’s no shortage of food, drink and entertainment.

Truly an establishment for the upscale single girl, Jack’s La Jolla offers three spectacular restaurants, including The Dining Room, the Grille and The Ocean Room.

The Dining Room seems to offer the most bang for the buck, so to speak, including delicious food, cozy atmosphere and live entertainment.

If you’re more interested in relaxing and socializing, invite some of your gal pals out to a night on the town and have a drink at The Wall Street Bar, one of five different lounges within Jack’s. The Wall Street Bar seems to offer busy, young professionals the perfect after-work atmosphere to talk to similar-minded people and socialize.

If, on the other hand, you and the girls want to party over the weekend, choose The Beach Bar, open Thursday through Saturday until 2 AM. It’s the perfect lounge to kick it with friends, or hook up with eligible single men.

You can party until the wee hours of the morning on one of their spacious dance floors, or enjoy the killer ocean views, open air courtyard and large, extensive bar.

Honestly, Jack’s La Jolla offers the quintessential environment for a girl’s night out with an upscale and hip flair. You can expect to pay upwards of $10-50 per entrée and/or beverage depending which lounge or restaurant you choose to spend your time.

It makes for a bit of an expensive outing with your girlfriends, but it’s totally worth the price. Take it from me – there’s no better place in San Diego to find attractive, young men, a cozy atmosphere and a great place to drink, dine and have fun.

If you want to see and be seen, check out Jack’s La Jolla. You may want to consider visiting during happy hour (typically from 3:30 to 6:30), as that seems to be the best place to mingle with the other party-goers.

Centrally located in Little Italy, San Diego’s Chi Chocolat is a chocolate-lover’s dream.

Seriously, if you’ve never been, I suggest you stop in ASAP. Most of their chocolates are handmade with some of the best ingredients in the world, AND there are absolutely no nasty additives found in commercial chocolates.

Open Tuesday through Sunday, this upscale chocolate boutique is sure to have something delectable for every taste and budget.

Stop in after work for a delicious chocolate treat, or order a custom gift package for a lucky friend, family member or that special someone. Nothing says “I love you” more than a basket of gourmet chocolate (or maybe that’s just the foodie in me speaking!)

On a side note, their varieties of chocolate truffles are to die for.

Chi Chocolat also offers an extensive selection of beverages and Paninis, so you can stop in for lunch and take home a chocolate confection to enjoy afterwards. That’s what I did; only I had my desert first… I know, I know – bad!

If you aren’t sure what to sample, you can always go for an on or off-site chocolate tasting. Rates start from $27 per person, and it’s a great idea for parties, hanging out with the girls, or corporate events.

During the tasting, you’ll get to sample a variety of fine chocolates, take home some chocolate samples and enjoy various beverages throughout the tasting. It’s a great way to enjoy a lazy afternoon with pals, or get together with co-workers to relieve the stress from work.

You can even purchase a selection of their gourmet chocolates online, including custom chocolate gift baskets, chocolate slabs, chocolate bars and even chocolate covered strawberries.

Save some room for delectable chocolate the next time you’re out and about downtown San Diego. From delicious fine chocolates to impeccable service, Chi Chocolat has it all.

If you're in San Diego and looking for an inexpensive date spot that won’t make you look like a miser, head on over to the lounge in The Brigantine during their famous happy hours (twice daily on the weekends!). The restaurant side of the Brig can be pretty pricey, but the bar is where it’s at for cheap eats and great atmosphere.

For just a couple of bucks, you and your date can fill up on delectable Brig Original fish tacos with cheese (normally $7, but only $2.25 each during happy hour). Wash those tacos down with either a huge Brig Brew (another happy hour special) or a house margarita (only $3.50 during happy hour). The servers are consistently friendly and prompt and the food is delicious. Another fave of mine is the Coctel del Mar, a tomato-based shrimp, crab, and avocado ceviche that is to die for.

Locations in Poway, Del Mar, Point Loma, La Mesa, Escondido, and Coronado.

Brazilian BBQ isn't just a meal, it’s part feast, part endurance test. You may think that last sentence was a joke, but anyone who has been to a truly great Brazilian BBQ would agree with me. When I first strolled into a Brazilian BBQ (or Churassco in Spanish) a couple of years ago, I had been warned by a friend that the whole experience may be a bit overwhelming at first. Brazilian BBQ is a completely unique experience from any other type of eating, which can intrigue some and intimidate others, so I will lay down the ground rules for the inexperienced. Take notes, because you will be tested.

Rei Do Gado has a reasonable price of $25 dollars per person for a Brazilian BBQ Lunch. The way Brazilian BBQ works is that once you sit down, you receive a placard with a green side and a red side on it. The green side is to indicate to the waiter (or Passador in espanol) that you want to be served, and the red side is to tell the waiters to stop bringing you food. "Why would I ever want to put it on the red side?" you might be asking, "I can eat a lot!". Well, I bet you can, but each Passador comes around with a skewer wrapped in meat that has been marinated and grilled fresh. The meat menu is rather large and includes top sirloin, kosher beef, ham and pineapple, lamb, filet mignon WRAPPED in bacon (Only Homer Simpson could come up with this stuff) I mean...the list of meats goes on and on.

I didn't even know that many varieties of meat existed before I stepped into Rei Do Gado. The smell of freshly grilled lamb and the concept of having a buffet come to you rather than the other way around, combined with the enthusiastic waiters who want you to try everything, can easily overwhelm a newcomer. If you get distracted by the whole experience and keep your placard on green for too long, you might look back to your plate and find a huge pile of meat that you didn't expect stacked on it. A good tactic is to keep you card on green for a couple of meats, then flip the card to red so you can relax and enjoy your meal without feeling pressured to eat too much too fast. I promise you the waiters will still be there when you flip your card back over.

Besides the freshly grilled meat, with your $25 dollar "cover charge" you also get unlimited access to the appetizer/salad bar, which has a wide variety of salads, roasted vegetables, sweets and other appetizers to choose from in case you need to balance out the 20 pounds of beef ribs on your plate. My only complaint is that some of the appetizers were empty, leading me to believe they were either really good or the wait-staff was too busy to refill them, leaving me a little disappointed.

Rei Do Gado is one of the best Brazilian BBQ places I have been to, and I was impressed by every aspect of the place, from the tranquil setting (great place to bring a date) and variety of meats offered, to the eager servers who were more than willing to load up your plate with food. The location was right near the hip gas-lamp district of San-Diego, so its centrally located in case you want to go to the mall or bar-hop after you eat (That is, if you can gather the strength to move after eating so much).The price was also fair for the lunch BBQ, however the price for the dinner BBQ is rather expensive, hovering around $45 dollars per person. The dinner menu is supposed to be have a lot more variety than the lunch menu, but honestly, whether you spend 25 or 45 dollars on your Brazilian BBQ experience, you'll be so full you wont want to move for the next 8 hours.

So that pretty much sums up Rei Do Gado and Brazilian BBQ in general. The key to Brazilian BBQ is to stay calm, be sure to come hungry and bring pants that will stretch out. Trust me, you'll need em.

The Breakfast Scene for Parents Who Are Not Ready to Surrender to Denny’s.

Breakfast is one of those meals that even parents of restaurant-impaired small children might try going out for… assuming mom and dad are feeling strong, the stars are aligned, and they have a child-friendly stop at the end of the car ride. Because this morning meal isn’t crowding bed time, or screwing up any major naps, the behavior gods just might be on their side. And because most kids from ages 1 to 5 are carbohydrate junkies, one is sure to find something on a breakfast menu that kids will eat. Best of all, it’s the shortest meal.

For the parents in and around La Jolla that want to find something more tasty and hip than Denny’s - and less crowded than the seaside swanky spots – I give to you… Bibby’s Crepe Cafe.

This undiscovered treasure is small, quaint, and yummy. A place you’d also like to visit for lunch with a friend. The staff is a lovely collection of sweet-faced young women (one straight out of the movie Amelie) that, while maintaining a pleasant air of dignified European formality, are incredibly tolerant of small children and the challenges they can sometimes pose. Yes, you can get that juice in a to-go cup with a lid, yes we have a high chair, yes we can put the strawberries on the side and add in some bananas. And no, don’t worry, that spilled hot chocolate is not a big deal.

Here is the best part. Kids love the crepes. These crepes are the real deal, too. Made by an older French gal in the back in a matter of seconds… placed in front of you and your little ones, warm and sprinkled ever-so-lightly with powdered sugar, before there is even time for the first meltdown.

You can find Bibby’s tucked in a row of small shops on Pearl Avenue. They don’t open until 8:00am on weekends, 9:00am on weekdays, so if you’re used to hitting IHOP at 7:00, you’re out of luck. But hey, who ever heard of crack of dawn eaters in Provence? C’mon - let’s be civilized.

Tired of having to send back the steak that’s a little too bloody? Like your toast just a little bit more, well…toasty? Well, you’re sure to always have it your way at Gaslamp’s The Strip Club because every steak is cooked to your liking: hey, at Strip Club you cook ‘em yourself! Not done enough? Slap ‘er back on the fire, old boy! Too well done? Oh, well—you can always complain to the chef: that would be you!

2006 Gold Medallion Winner, Best Casual Steakhouse, this downtown institution is a second home to lovers of grilled steak, chicken, fish, and vegetables from all over San Diego County. And while the meals may be self-cooked, the menu is nothing if not full-service, with appetizers to get your motor going, drinks to keep ‘er purring along, and desserts to top off an evening of fun spent ‘round the community grill. Locals and visitors alike rub elbows vying for space on one of several cooking surfaces available for fun and feasting. Popular as Strip Club has become, however, there’s never a great wait once you’re there--meat in hand, a hungry look on your face--ready to charbroil your way to heaven. There’s always room for another porterhouse, filet mignon, shrimp, or an Ahi kebob or two. Steak, soy, and hot sauces, salt, pepper, and a variety of other tasty seasonings ring each grill’s perimeter, for those ready to savor some flavor.

And in the unlikely event your little cooking experiment fails to achieve the status of culinary masterpiece, they’ve lined the walls of Strip Club with original works by Spanish artist Vargas, whose masterpieces of feminine beauty—the Vargas Girl—tastefully graced the noses of World War II fighter planes, the pages of Esquire and Playboy Magazines, and the covers of many rock and roll albums from the 1940s through the 1980’s.

There’s a downside to the story, though. Because the bar’s not self-serve, hunky bartenders must keep the refreshments pouring for those just there to enjoy the bevy of plasma TVs shining down on the festivities from above, the jumpin’ music, and the gorgeous bar patrons. ‘Seems not everyone needs a charbroiled steak dinner with garlic mashed potatoes, sautéed asparagus, or beer battered onion rings. And because it’s a proven, scientific fact that not everyone shares the same tolerance for the plush, luxurious, naughahyde booth, Downtown San Diego’s exhilarating nighttime atmosphere, or some of the most beautiful waitresses San Diego has to offer, some people never get to experience the Strip Club’s self-serve wine cellar and Steak n’ Dom Perignon special. You may just need to go on down and take one for the team!

There is a Thai food phenomenon known to the residents of San Diego's Mission Hills neighborhood; one the locals would likely prefer you didn't discover: Su-Mei Yu's Saffron Noodles and Sate' and Saffron Thai Grilled Chicken restaurants. Truth be told, though, it is Su-Mei herself that is the real phenomenon!

For over 20 years, this dynamo of Asian cooking has scoured the far reaches in search of new and authentic homemade food creations with origins in Thai, Malaysian, and other Southeast Asian kitchens, bringing them home to her adjacent India St. establishments (one sit-down, the other take-out) and winning an impressive roster of famous devotees in the process. If you've missed her appearances on Good Morning America or The Today Show, with Julia Child or Martha Stewart, she is known to pop up as well on the local San Diego stations to spread the word and pass the sauce. She is doing for Thai cooking what Julia Child did for French haute cuisine and has the cookbooks to prove it!

In addition to her books (Asian Grilling, Cracking the Coconut, and soon-to-be-released Earth, Water, Wind and Fire, The Thai Natural Path to Heath and Spiritual Well-Being), Su-Mei has had her share of articles published in such journals as Fine Cooking Magazine, Food and Wine magazine, and the prestigious British journal Petits Propos Culinaire.

Sit down to eat at Saffron Noodles and Sate' and you'll know what all the fuss is about as you dig in to a stir-fried noodle or noodle soup entrée (with choice of pork, beef, chicken, or tofu, of course), skewers, or curries of all description and flavors. Hankering for a Fish Curry? How about Wonton Soup? Papaya Chicken Salad? It's all Duck Soup down at Saffron Noodles and Sate' - in fact, why not order the Duck Soup Special? It's on the Daily Specials menu every Friday! And the Spicy Laotian Sausage is worth traveling to Laos for if Su-Mei weren't serving it every Monday.

Meanwhile, for those of you on the go, right next door is Saffron Thai Grilled Chicken for take-out that is out of this world. With soups and salads, rolls, and a variety of finger foods to choose from, the real focus of Saffron Thai Grilled Chicken, of course, are their grilled chicken combos and specialty sauces. Peanut, sweet pepper, and Sriracha sauces, as well as chutney, salsa, and their own egg roll sauce compliment this traditional Thai grilled chicken dish every bit as well as they do all the wonderful dishes found at the sit-down tables. So even if you're staying you're sure to be going back—again and again and again to Saffron Noodles and Sate' and Saffron Thai Grilled Chicken.

If you're one of those prone to regular eating, there is a French bistro with crepes so light you’ll want to put ‘em in your mouth before they simply float off the plate. With locations in Hillcrest, Encinitas, Rancho Bernardo, and even two in Downtown San Diego, St. Tropez French Bakery & Bistro offers an oasis of civilization in the dessert Southwest. C’est magnifique!

Breakfast affords the early riser their choice of fresh-baked croissants, fruit, eggs and omelets – to say nothing of breakfast crepes of every description to satisfy your need for a little get up and go (even if you just want to stay and sit down!) Try the Eggs Florentine or the berry fruit crepes: you won’t be sorry.

The lunch fare served up daily features a hot and tasty variety of soups, sandwiches, soup and salad combos (featuring your choice of quiche, crepe, or sandwich), paninis, croissants, crepes, quiches – you name it. Go ahead – we dare you! Name it, they serve up it fresh!

Dinner menus are available (except Hillcrest) for the discerning epicure sure to fall in love all over again with the Beef Bourguignon, Coq au Vin, or Salmon with Dill Sauce. Lasagna Bolognese, Chicken Marsalla, Pasta Provencal, and a scintillating Pot Roast in Green Peppercorn Sauce also appearing nightly. Don’t forget to start with an appetizer. Proscuitto & Melon, Marseille Pizza, or Spinach Gratin are sure to grab you.

You eat dessert, don’t you? Who doesn’t? No one after getting a whiff of the St. Tropez Bakery’s finest viennoiserie, pattiseries, tarts, and cookies from a menu which simply must be experienced.

The perfect place for a night on the town with friends, Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery offers a friendly atmosphere coupled with handcrafted beers and a unique menu you won't find anywhere else.

Their on-site brewery ensures you'll get a fresh, delicious beer time after time. With over 100 beer awards to their name, Rock Bottom Brewery definitely knows what they're doing!

You can also peruse their diverse menu, where you'll find everything from soups and salads, to hamburgers and homemade desserts.

Try their Buffalo Fajitas or Honey Rosemary Chicken for a delicious twist on the evening. Or you can always throw back a delcious brown ale and chow down on a Hickory Burger.

Whatever your taste buds crave you'll be sure to find something that'll have you coming back for more.