I will be in san Diego this weekend. Can anyone recommend one or two good places for food and wine (french, italian, steak, fusion).
Thanks

Steak- Rainwater on Kendrick

French- 1. Thee Bungalow
2. Wineseller and Brasserie

Italian- pardon me whilst I shudder

Fusion- see Italian

A while back Tim Fish posed a similar question (can't locate the thread anymore) which helped lead to his article. I can't fault Board-O's suggestions, although perhaps I don't know enough to take things all the way to *shudder*. And I'm assuming for steaks you want to avoid the usual chain restaurants like Ruth's Chris and Donovan's.

If you're going to be in town though Sunday afternoon, you might consider joining us for an off-line.

Italian -- Primavera Ristorante in Coronado
Steak -- Donavan's in La Jolla Village area
French -- WineSellar & Brasserie in Mira Mesa
Hawaiian Fusion -- Roy's in La Jolla Village area
California-fusion: NINE TEN in downtown La Jolla

'Prince Of Wales' at the Hotel Coronado

Italian... fugedaboutit. Wrong coast.

French... Vincent's Sirinos (North County),Pamplemousse Grill in Del Mar is very good. Winsellar and Brasserie, or Mille Fleur are good. Thee Bungalow changed ownership so I can't give an updated opinion. The Sky Room at the Hotel La Valencia is pretty good and has the best view in La Jolla.

Steak... Nothing comes to mind. Went to Donovans with WIML. Only passable. Not great. I don't go out for steak, it's always better at home.

Nine Ten is OK but it can be a little loud. Roppongi is OK for Asian fusion.

Try El Bizcoco in the Rancho Bernardo Inn. Continental more than French but always very good. Best brunch in North County.

Agree with Ropponggi re fusion, but Pamplemousse is uninspired and Mille fleur is pompous (food is good but they are jackasses when I last ate there). The best food I have had in San Diego (where I live) is Arterra, but that was prior to Bradley Ogden's executive chef leaving. Anyone been there since he has left? RB Inn is supposed to be good, although I have ot eatenthere.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sky,

As much as it pains me to agree with GA, I'll second his nomination for the RB Inn. I grew up very near there, and they always did a tremendous job, I'm sure El Bizcoco is no exception.

Try Fio's in the Gaslamp Quarter (downtown). It's not Manhattan or Chicago, but for mid-priced Italian, you should get a really nice meal. Try the woodear mushroom appetizer (if they still have it), it's fantastic.

But, really, Mexican food is the best thing to get in San Diego. Ask around to find out what the current faves are, but for a quick, and very no-frills fix, El Indio on India Street (near the airport) is incredible, and less, um, earthy than what you'll find further south.

Good luck!

Gaslamp is over priced and underwhelming, but if you want to be a tourist it's perfect.

Question for you San Diegoans- We thought the steak at Rainwater was excellent, but that was a few years ago. Is the place still in business and have you ever ordered steak there?

quote:

Originally posted by Sky:
Gaslamp is over priced and underwhelming, but if you want to be a tourist it's perfect.

When I go to Manhattan, I go see the WTC site, and Central Park. When I go to S.F., I often go to Chinatown and the Golden Gate Bridge. When I'm in Miami (next week), I'll make sure to hit South Beach. And, what tourist would go to Yosemite and not gaze up at El Capitan?

No shame in doing touristy things when you're a tourist. Just leave the white sneaks, Purdue shirts and pot bellies at home when you visit San Diego.

French:
1) El Bizcocco (Rancho Bernardo Inn). This requires a half hour drive from downtown, but well worth it. Chef Gavin Kaysen is the US representative to the Bocuse d’Or competition in France. The food and service are always outstanding. The wine list is enormous. Try the mercy of the chef tasting with paired wines.
2)Tapenade (La Jolla). Think upscale/progressive bistro French. Also outstanding food and service. Although they have a tasting menu, they are very accommodating and you can create your own muticourse meal by splitting appetizers and entrees. Wine list is short, but well thought out. They do a wonderful job pairing wines by the glass.

Italian: What Board-O and GA said.

Fusion:
1)Roppongi (La Jolla). Very good, but very busy on the weekends. Small plate concept is nice. Good wine list
2)Japengo (La Jolla). Nice setting. Good food and nice sushi bar.
3)Kemo Sabe (Hillcrest). My only dig on this place is that some of the dishes are too busy. Still, the food is well prepared and you won’t go away hungry. Bonus of two wine bars within walking distance.

Others of Note:

1)Jack’s La Jolla: Outstanding French inspired cuisine. A relative newcomer to the area. Three separate dining area. The dining room at Jack’s is the fine dining area and definitely worth a visit. Outstanding wine list and nice selection of wines by the glass.
2)Parallel 33 (Mission Hills): San Diego lies on the 33rd parallel. Chef Gubbins combines cuisine from countries that lie on the 33rd parallel. Very good and a unique dining experience.
3)Indigo Grill (Downtown/Little Italy): Southwestern fusion – Southwestern food with influences from Mexico, Asia, and the Pacific Northwest. Erie good and another unique dining experience.
4)El Agave (Old Town): One of my favorite Mexican restaurants. Nice Tequila bar.
5)Candella’s (Gaslamp): Upscale Mexican cuisine. Very good and worth a visit.
6)Molly’s (Gaslamp Marriot). Very good contemporary American cuisine. Nice wine list. Lisa Redwine (you got to love her name) is the sommelier. Place yourself in her hands and you won’t be disappointed.
7)Market Del Mar: New restaurant. Chef Carl Schoeder recently left Arterra, which was one of my favorites before he left.
8) Marine Room (La Jolla): French inspired cuisine. Spectacular stting - Dining room sits right on the beach. Food is pricey by very good. Nice wine list. Great place to go at sunset/dusk, especially if you can get a window table.

Steak: My favorite steakhouse is Donovan’s. Rainwater’s is solid. Like GA, I would rather stay home and grill it myself.

Let me know if you have any questions and enjoy your trip.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
Question for you San Diegoans- We thought the steak at Rainwater was excellent, but that was a few years ago. Is the place still in business and have you ever ordered steak there?

Still in operation and still very good. Like GA said, I would rather stay home and grill my own. I guess out of towners don't have that luxury.

I second Red Guy's recommendation on Molly's I featured it prominently in my story. Rainwater's has an excellent wine list but the atmosphere is dated, the service clumsy and the steaks merely OK. Ed Moore sold Thee Bungalow but he's doing some interesting stuff across the street at Third Corner Wine Shop & Bistro. As for Italian, for something casual, try Sogno DiVino wine bar in Little Italy.


Here's a link to a feature on La Jolla I did a few years back:
http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Features/0,1197,2027,00.html

quote:

No shame in doing touristy things when you're a tourist.

Isn't that more or less what I said? I live here and love the zoo, wild animal park and other tourist attractions. I do not love the Gaslamp, it tries to be something it's not, it's absurdly overpriced for what you get and I find the service to be substandard/rude. Obviously this is a broad stroke and there are exceptions, I just haven't found those yet. On the other hand, my parents are actually disappointed that we moved to North County because they loved staying down near the Gaslamp when they came to visit.

I agree with Red Guy re Japengo for sushi, El Agave is supposed to be the best Mexican place in town, but I hav not eaten there yet. Tapenade was very good too. Good to see Carl get his props, he is an excellent chef and my wife and I had an excellent meal there on our anniversary last October (it still had it's old name then but Carl was there).

I've heard mixed reviews but I've had a very good meal each time that we have eaten at A R Valentin in the Lodge at Torrey Pines.

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
...But, really, Mexican food is the best thing to get in San Diego. Ask around to find out what the current faves are, but for a quick, and very no-frills fix, El Indio on India Street (near the airport) is incredible, and less, um, earthy than what you'll find further south.

Good luck!

14 years here and I still haven't found decent Mexican food. El Indio is a good example with what's wrong here--the locals think it's fantastic.

quote:

Originally posted by Red guy in a blue state:
3)Kemo Sabe (Hillcrest). My only dig on this place is that some of the dishes are too busy. Still, the food is well prepared and you won’t go away hungry.

Funny, this is what I thought the first and only time I was there over 10 years ago--fussy dishes that showed a little too much ambition. I can't believe it's still the same way.

quote:

Originally posted by Mr Cabernet:

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
...But, really, Mexican food is the best thing to get in San Diego. Ask around to find out what the current faves are, but for a quick, and very no-frills fix, El Indio on India Street (near the airport) is incredible, and less, um, earthy than what you'll find further south.

Good luck!

14 years here and I still haven't found decent Mexican food. El Indio is a good example with what's wrong here--the locals think it's fantastic.

You live in San Diego and haven't found decent Mexican food??? You either don't like Mexican food, or you haven't been looking. El Indio isn't the be all and end all, but it's easy to find, and is always fresh and tasty.

1 additonal note- don't waste your time going down to Tijuanna. I wish I had listened to that advice.

Board-O, if you would of just asked I would of told you the Donkey Show is an urban legend and saved you some time...

Ha! TJ's kind of like only going to Vegas if you've never been to the U.S. before. The worst parts of the country all rolled into one. Amazing that the Caesar salad was invented in Tijuana.

Pretty fun for 18 year old high schoolers though (ah, those were the days).

I never heard of a donkey show. Took the trolley down and walked across. Major mistake. A complete waste of time.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
I never heard of a donkey show. Took the trolley down and walked across. Major mistake. A complete waste of time.

Yes, unless you're a baseball player heading over for your fix of 'roids at the many pharmacies there, the border towns are a waste. And, then, there's the rather unsavory Donkey Show.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
I never heard of a donkey show. Took the trolley down and walked across. Major mistake. A complete waste of time.

Board-O, Don't tell me you went to TJ and did not get one of those monkey riding a surboard banks.

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:

quote:

Originally posted by Mr Cabernet:

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
...But, really, Mexican food is the best thing to get in San Diego. Ask around to find out what the current faves are, but for a quick, and very no-frills fix, El Indio on India Street (near the airport) is incredible, and less, um, earthy than what you'll find further south.

Good luck!

14 years here and I still haven't found decent Mexican food. El Indio is a good example with what's wrong here--the locals think it's fantastic.

You live in San Diego and haven't found decent Mexican food??? You either don't like Mexican food, or you haven't been looking. El Indio isn't the be all and end all, but it's easy to find, and is always fresh and tasty.

Went to Tucson last month. Ate at a little place on 4th (?) near the campus. Blue away anything here. Even the rice and beans were special.