Jill and Hank Chambers' San Diego Favorites
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JILL AND HANK CHAMBERS’ SAN DIEGO FAVORITES We’ve personally eaten at all of these restaurants and recommend them to you. We’ve left off countless ones that weren’t so great and may not have visited some new great ones. There is a great map of San Diego in the Restaurant section of the Yellow Pages. Of course there is Google and Yahoo as well. Also there is a map and itinerary at the end of this list. (The numbers next to the restaurants refer to that map) Most of these will require reservations at least a few days in advance. However, if you use www.opentable.com, there are often reservations available even when the restaurant says that they don’t have any. Another great website for restaurants and other activities with review is: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g60750-San_Diego_California- Vacations.html Pick up the ―Reader‖ at any supermarket or convenience store. It has the best list of what’s happening in San Diego or go online to http://www.sandiegoreader.com/home/ By the way an 858 prefix usually means north of the I-8, 619 south of the I-8 and 760 is North County Our City San Diego Magazine Favorites June 2009 Best Place to find your inner solitude: Mount Soledad Best Bookstore for Hour Long Lounging: Upstart Crow in Horton Plaza Best Place to Buy Healthy Food: Whole Foods Best Place to See the Sunset: La Jolla Shores Beach Best Place for a Solo Meal: Zenbu in LaJolla and Cardiff-by-the-Sea Best Healthy Restaurant: Tender Greens in Point Loma Liberty Station Best Place to Pamper Yourself: The Spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn Best Salon: MODA Hair Design 3754 Sixth Ave. 619-299-MODA Best Gym: The Sporting Club 8930 University Center Lane 858-202-7320 Best Beach for Relaxation: Coronado Beach Best Romantic Drive: Coast Highway 101 Best Place for a Romantic Candlelit Dinner: Bertrand at Mr A’s 2550 Fifth Best Place for Antiquing: Downtown La Mesa Best Pier for a Stroll: Ocean Beach Municipal Pier Best Library for Kids: Central Library 820 E Street 1 Best Beach for Kids: La Jolla Shores or Mission Bay Best Spot for a Picnic: Balboa Park under the Fig Tree. By Natural History Museum Best Place to Fly a Kite: Mission Bay Park Best Places to eat for Kids and Parents Together: Hodads 5010 Newport Ave. Best Place to shop with Kids: University Town Center Best Place for Kids to Experience Nature: Torrey Pines State Park Best Place to hear good Jazz Music: Anthology Best Shopping Mall to Spend a Day at: Fashion Valley Best Place to Watch a Game with your Buddies: PB Bar and Grill and Seau’s Best Place for a Picnic with Friends: La Jolla Shores Best Restaurants * Nine-Ten Restaurant 910 Prospect Street, La Jolla (858-964-5400) Comment: Our favorite when we’re feeling rich. Get the ―Mercy of the Chef‖ with wine pairings ($100/person). Very Expensive, but well worth an entire evening (Area 1) * Market Restaurant and Bar 3702 Via de la Valle, Del Mar, CA (858) 523-0007 A mile or so east of the I-5 One of the best restaurants in San Diego, organic food. Menu changes daily depending on what is fresh. * Urban Solace 3823 30th Street, San Diego 92104 619-295-6464 www.urbansolace.net In North Park. Fantastic eclectic menu. Small restaurant. Need reservations. Our new favorite (9/2009) * JRDN 723 Felspar Street 858-270-5736 (Area 2) Located on Pacific Beach with a view of Crystal Pier Excellent but very expensive food. Very loud with all of the concrete and contemporary design, but the best place to see the beautiful people of San Diego. This seems to be the place where all of those swimsuit models (men and women) go. 2 Jack’s Restaurant 7863 Girard Ave (Corner of Wall St and Girard) 858-456-8111 Three different restaurants, five lounges. Very hip. Great décor, Fantastic, but expensive food. Go for a special occasion. Island Prime 880 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego, CA 619-298-6802 Great Food, One of the best views of the city possible! Seafood and Steak. Upscale comfort food Near the Airport on Harbor Island Barbarella’s In the LaJolla Shores area 2171 Avenida de la Playa La Jolla, CA 92037 (858) 454-7373 Great local restaurant. Get the mushroom-truffle oil pizza at least. (Area 1) Laurel’s 505 Laurel Street (619-239-2222) Recently listed as a Mobil 4 Star restaurant (only one in San Diego (get their wine pairings menu!!!) Excellent food and wine list (Area 8) Arterra 11966 El Camino Real (in the Mariott Hotel) 858-369-6032 (Area 16) Excellent California Cuisine. The chef was rated as the best chef in California by James Beard Society. Blue Point Coastal Cuisine 565 Fifth Avenue (619-233-6623), Downtown Romantic dining with great food, service and martini bar. Great seafood and lobster (Area 8) The Oceanaire Sea Food Room 400 J Street (619)858-BASS Great downtown sea food. Most flown in or caught fresh daily. It’s a very upscale chain restaurant. More food than you can eat with great waitstaff (Area 8) 3 Roppongi 875 Prospect Street, La Jolla (858) 551-5252 Great Sushi Happy Hour Asian Fusion Cuisine. Exquisite décor (Area 1) Mille Fleurs 6009 Paseo Delicias, Inland North County (858-756-3085) Very good and very expensive (Area 16) WineSellar and Brasserie 9550 Waples Drive (in a Strip Mall off of Mira Mesa Road) (858-450-9576) Comment: Elegant restaurant with most extensive wine list in town in surprising locale One of Scott Mubarak’s favorites (Area 16) Parallel 33 Hillcrest Restaurant with interesting combinations from cultures along the 33rd parallel San Diego, India, Morocco, etc (Area 6) Indigo Grill 1536 India St (Old Italy area) 619-234-6802 Very interesting décor and food spanning the Pacific Coast of North America (from Alaska to Mexico) Highly recommended (Area 5 or close to it) Tupelos 340 5th Ave, Gaslamp 619-231-3140 Great food, especially the fish. Great Martini Bar (Area 9) AR Valentien The Lodge at Torrey Pines 11480 N Torrey Pines Rd. La Jolla 858-777-6635 Craftsman restaurant at Torrey Pines Lodge and Golf Course Classic California Cuisine, organic food, Great View Best Outdoor Dining in San Diego *The Prado in Balboa Park Great Restaurant right in the Park in the Museum area. Excellent food and wine selection. Great ambiance. One of Jill’s favorites. In an historic building. 4 Pamplemousse Grille Across the street from the Del Mar Racetrack 514 Via de la Valle (858-792-9090) Great menu, very pricey but great dining experience Wine Vault and Bistro http://www.winevaultbistro.com/ 3731-A India Street (619) 295-3939 Great local food menu with wine parings. Usually the wines are accompanied by the distributor or the vintner, so it’s educational as well. Great deals on Fridays. Great prices. A very nice evening. In Little Italy area (Area 5 but closer to downtown) Best View with Great Food * Trattoria Acqua 1298 Prospect St, La Jolla (858-454-0709) (Area 1) * Island Prime/C Level Lounge 880 Harbor Island Drive (858-298-6802) (Harbor Island near Lindberg Airport Top of the Market 750 North Harbor Drive (619) 232-3474 (Area 10) The Sky Room at the Hotel Valencia 1132 Prospect St, La Jolla (858-454-0771) (Area 1) * Crab Catcher 1260 Prospect St, La Jolla (858-454-3031) (Area 1) George’s at The Cove 1250 Prospect St, La Jolla (858-454-4244) (Area 1) Peohe’s 1201 First St, Coronado Island (619-437-4474) (Area 11) The Marine Room 2000 Spindrift Dr, La Jolla (858-459-7222) (Area 1) Very expensive but fantastic dining Go for brunch and watch the kayakers through a gigantic window to the ocean Il Fornaio Cucina Italiana 1333 First St, Coronado (619-437-4911) (Area 11) Comment: View of Downtown San Diego across the Bay 5 and Del Mar Plaza, 1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar (858-755-8876) (Area 16) Comment: View of Del Mar and Great Sunsets Pacifica Del Mar 1555 Camino del Mar (858)792-0476 (Area 16) Comment: Great view of Del Mar. Outdoor eating with excellent lunch menu Brockton Villa 1235 Coast Blvd (858)454-7393 (Area 1) Comment: Great view of La Jolla Cove and sunset * JRDN 723 Felspar Street 858-270-5736 (Area 2) Located on Pacific Beach with a view of Crystal Pier Excellent but very expensive food. Very loud with all of the concrete and contemporary design, but the best place to see the beautiful people of San Diego. This seems to be the place where all of those swimsuit models (men and women) go. AR Valentien (see comments above) Roys at the Marriott: See comments in Seafood. Mexican * El Agave 2304 San Diego Ave Old Town (619-220-0692) Not your typical chips and salsa place. Real Mexican food Several hundred different tequilas ( Area 5) Alfonso’s 1251 Prospect St, La Jolla (858-454-2232) (Area 1) Old Town Mexican Café 2489 San Diego Ave Old Town (619-297-4330) Comment: Traditional American-Mexican food (Area 5) 6 Italian * Il Fornaio (See above under Best Views…) Asti 728 Fifth Ave Downtown (619-232-8844) (Area 8) Arrivederci 3rd Ave Hillcrest (619-299-6282) Comment: Best Italian food by reader poll in San Diego Magazine, 2000 Real Italians run this place and the food is outstanding! (Area 6) Trattoria Positanos 142 University Ave Hillcrest (619-294-6995) Comment: Also excellent food, down the street from Arrivederci (Area 6) Piatti 2182 Avenida de la Playa ,La Jolla Shores (858-454-1589) (Area 1) Barolo 8953 Towne Center Dr (Golden Triangle Renaissance Center.