San Diego Restaurant Week--HELP!

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Some say it's amateur night--the hoards come for the deals and the food and service suffer.

I think service will(does) suffer but they're not going to dish up something unpalatable to the huns lining up outside.

Haven't been to either restaurant you're considering but I think you won't go wrong. And if you do, you're only out $40(?)/head.

Tapenade hands down for food and service. They do seem to maintain fairly high standards even during special events. We have been there on Mother's Day and valentine's Day and both experiences were very good. The problem with Tapenade is that they don't have an extensive wine list. Nine Ten is very serviceable, but I have no experience with them on prix fix nights.

Note that I avoid restaurant week like the plague.

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Originally posted by Red guy in a blue state:

Note that I avoid restaurant week like the plague.

You are a wise man grasshopper. Any suggestions for non-participating places? I couldn't find any of interest.

Not really, unless you want to really shell out some $$$ and go to Addison. Is Market Del Mar participating? The food there can be spectacular and they have a very nice wine list. Again, I don't really pay much attention to Restaurant Week so I am not sure who is participating and who isn't. I also don't think you will go wrong with either Tapenade or Nine Ten.

T.O.M., I feel your pain.

I have faced the same issue too many times in the past. I tend to simplify when these type of issues arise.

I tend to just seek out solid and safe options during 'special' weeks like Valentine's Day, restaurant week or whatever ... fire grilled pizza... tapas... simple grilled seafood, grilled beef et al. with a rock solid wine list, or often better yet, a corkage policy and buy excellent wine that everyone selects and takes with them.

You give me wine I love with simple fresh food, I'm a happy man.

I wish you well, Old Man.

The Cohn restaurants maintain their usual level of quality, The Old Man.

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Originally posted by Red guy in a blue state:
Note that I avoid restaurant week like the plague.

You do seem to make exceptions to that rule.

I can be enticed under the proper circumstances.

I can't remember the last time I intentionally went out during restaurant week. Last year I took the family to La Bastide during restaurant week by mistake. We asked the hostess if they could make something off-menu for the kids (they are usually fairly accomodating). We went elsewhere when they declined. Other than that, it has been several years since we have dined out during restaurant week. Am I forgetting something?

Not sure which of these is participating, but all good
+1 Market: great food and wine list in general (not sure about rest. week though)
WineSellar & Brasserie (food is pretty good; wine list is great)
Whisknladle
Brooklyn Girl

Last 2 are reasonably newer farm-to-table joints. Not huge wine lists, but food is fantastic and wine selections are workable

If you're looking for a breakfast joint, highly recommend Snooze

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WineSellar & Brasserie

Parcival, thank you for your suggestion and to everyone else too. I actually had 6 rez's out and wasn't really happy with any of them due to the reduced menus. This included Nine Ten, Tapenade, Pamplemousse Grill, Grant Grill. I kept calling to discover they almost all were on limited menus. I know Tapenande's nice but, it's bass, duck or mushroom ravioli. I'm sure they're nice, but...

So I had thought of Winesellar, I've never been, and they are allowing more than just the three Restaurant Week items--so that's were we're going.

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Originally posted by The Old Man:

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WineSellar & Brasserie

Parcival, thank you for your suggestion and to everyone else too. I actually had 6 rez's out and wasn't really happy with any of them due to the reduced menus. This included Nine Ten, Tapenade, Pamplemousse Grill, Grant Grill. I kept calling to discover they almost all were on limited menus. I know Tapenande's nice but, it's bass, duck or mushroom ravioli. I'm sure they're nice, but...

So I had thought of Winesellar, I've never been, and they are allowing more than just the three Restaurant Week items--so that's were we're going.

That's a solid choice, although prices in the shop are generally not great. But compared to typical wine list prices it's a fairy good deal. However, going with a "very knowledgeable wine drinker" I'm assuming you're bringing your own. Less great under these circumstances, but still an enjoyable evening. Have fun!

Nine Ten will take extremely good care of you, though in the spirit of full disclosure, my wife is the Somm/GM. Tapenade is great too.

PS for those of you in SD Summer (the wife) is very accommodating for wine dinners as well. Not shilling as it stands on its own, but she does understand the wine geek crowd well as we subject her to it all the time.

Fred, I wanted to eat there, but the Restaurant Week menu, as it is all over town, is just too restrictive.

Nine Ten RW menu

Hey, if you can get us hooked up with more choices I'd be very happy to go.

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Originally posted by fredtjones:
Nine Ten will take extremely good care of you, though in the spirit of full disclosure, my wife is the Somm/GM. Tapenade is great too.

PS for those of you in SD Summer (the wife) is very accommodating for wine dinners as well. Not shilling as it stands on its own, but she does understand the wine geek crowd well as we subject her to it all the time.

Thanks for the input. What could she offer us for corkage if we decided to off-line there in the future?

Winesellar has a great wine list and allows you to bring up bottles from the shop at a reasonable corkage but the quality of the food has been extremely variable over the past few years so beware.

Alright this is it. 3rd Corner with OB vibe and no restaurant week menu. Please tell me yes.

Well, in between posts here I actually went down and had dinner at Nine Ten and the menu they have has ~10 apps, mains and deserts. Maybe they had to publish a smaller list somewhere that you saw, but they are offering almost the full menu. Mine was fantastic, but as stated I do have a conflict

As for 3d corner, Its great, but more for the vibe and good wine finds, the food is hit and miss.

Red guy, Summer has always been great about working with groups on corkage/stemware etc, she knows she'd rather have the wine crowd as its a good loyal base in the long game. Let me know if you have specific dates in mind and I can put in a good word as well. You can write me at ghaines at san.rr.com.

I wished more restaurants' somms had your wife's perspective Fred.

I really enjoy Wine Sellar and Brasserie. I haven't gone to a restaurant week event there, but I have gone to a few of the Saturday wine tastings. The featured food pairings have always been very good and the service is excellent.

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Originally posted by fredtjones:
Well, in between posts here I actually went down and had dinner at Nine Ten and the menu they have has ~10 apps, mains and deserts. Maybe they had to publish a smaller list somewhere that you saw, but they are offering almost the full menu. Mine was fantastic, but as stated I do have a conflict

This is good to know. It was my first choice.

Excellent thread for me: we just booked a long weekend in November in La Jolla. We figured we'd have to drive to San Diego for nice dinners, but it looks from this thread like there are some very good places right in or near La Jolla.

I love how much new info I can still continue to find in this little corner of the internet!

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Originally posted by Seaquam:
Excellent thread for me: we just booked a long weekend in November in La Jolla. We figured we'd have to drive to San Diego for nice dinners, but it looks from this thread like there are some very good places right in or near La Jolla.

I love how much new info I can still continue to find in this little corner of the internet!

please let us know if you would be interested in an off-line.

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Originally posted by Red guy in a blue state:

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Originally posted by Seaquam:
Excellent thread for me: we just booked a long weekend in November in La Jolla. We figured we'd have to drive to San Diego for nice dinners, but it looks from this thread like there are some very good places right in or near La Jolla.

I love how much new info I can still continue to find in this little corner of the internet!

please let us know if you would be interested in an off-line.

Sure, that would be great if it can work out. We have made no dinner plans yet. We're flying in Nov. 8 and out Nov. 11, staying at Hotel La Jolla so would prefer one of the restaurants in that area. Maybe Nine Ten? But we're pretty flexible.

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Originally posted by Seaquam:
Excellent thread for me: we just booked a long weekend in November in La Jolla. We figured we'd have to drive to San Diego for nice dinners, but it looks from this thread like there are some very good places right in or near La Jolla.

I love how much new info I can still continue to find in this little corner of the internet!

Roppongi used to have a great happy hour. All appetizers were 1/2 off. If they still offer it check it out.

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Originally posted by spo:

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Originally posted by Seaquam:
Excellent thread for me: we just booked a long weekend in November in La Jolla. We figured we'd have to drive to San Diego for nice dinners, but it looks from this thread like there are some very good places right in or near La Jolla.

I love how much new info I can still continue to find in this little corner of the internet!

Roppongi used to have a great happy hour. All appetizers were 1/2 off. If they still offer it check it out.

Yes it is. And the amazing thing is it's available 7 days a week. Don't forget to order the Crab Stack.

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Originally posted by Seaquam:

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Originally posted by Red guy in a blue state:

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Originally posted by Seaquam:
Excellent thread for me: we just booked a long weekend in November in La Jolla. We figured we'd have to drive to San Diego for nice dinners, but it looks from this thread like there are some very good places right in or near La Jolla.

I love how much new info I can still continue to find in this little corner of the internet!

please let us know if you would be interested in an off-line.

Sure, that would be great if it can work out. We have made no dinner plans yet. We're flying in Nov. 8 and out Nov. 11, staying at Hotel La Jolla so would prefer one of the restaurants in that area. Maybe Nine Ten? But we're pretty flexible.

Great. I'm scheduled to be on call that weekend but there is plenty of time to change out. Contact one of the San Diego crew as it gets closer to your trip (if you think you will have time to off line). My e-mail is sboles at san dot rr dot com or you can ping one of us here.

What did you end up doing, The Old Man?

Was wondering the same thing . . . especially if you came across any new restaurants not from the list of recs you got

Hope it was a successful outing!

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Originally posted by Seaquam:

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Originally posted by Red guy in a blue state:

quote:

Originally posted by Seaquam:
Excellent thread for me: we just booked a long weekend in November in La Jolla. We figured we'd have to drive to San Diego for nice dinners, but it looks from this thread like there are some very good places right in or near La Jolla.

I love how much new info I can still continue to find in this little corner of the internet!

please let us know if you would be interested in an off-line.

Sure, that would be great if it can work out. We have made no dinner plans yet. We're flying in Nov. 8 and out Nov. 11, staying at Hotel La Jolla so would prefer one of the restaurants in that area. Maybe Nine Ten? But we're pretty flexible.

I thought I'd revive this post on the off-off chance that M&M Seaquam might find themselves with no plans one night this weekend and regretting their decision to just twiddle thumbs that night.

I apologize. Things have been a bit hectic for us with a major renovation and some more minor issues, so I dropped the ball on this. I thought I had left it too late and didn't want to impose on anyone with short notice.

That said, we are game to meet up with any of the SD group on Saturday or Sunday evening (prefer a quiet night Friday after travel and hopefully a visit to SD Safari Park). We do have a reservation at Nine Ten on Sat. but can easily change that to elsewhere, or see whether they can accommodate a group bigger than 2. We have a car, of course.

We have an early flight down tomorrow morning, and I was just going to pack. I'll throw a bottle of 1989 Beaucastel into my suitcase, if that appeals to anyone.

Worth a try!

Turns out there's at least one more (semi) out-of-tower around, JulieD. So, that satisfies the informal quorum requirements for an off-line. Let's start roll call! Saturday night? I can't do Sunday evening.

Racer117 & JulieD
Seaqum?
SD-wineaux & the boss ?

P.s. Seaquam, there's a decent winery near the animal park, Orfila. Definitely worth a visit to wash that elephant dung taste out of your mouth. Some might say their wine tastes like elephant dung but don't listen to Javachip regarding that.

OK, Sat. night is great. I/we are 2 people. I'll leave it to you to sort the details. Off to the airport now. Won't be able to check back again until tonight.

I know the new rules: bring a great white and a great red. I'll do my best.

I checked with Nine-Ten and they have a two bottle limit. Obviously that won't work for this group. I'll check a couple of other places in La Jolla as well. Ideas anyone?

Excellent! I will be there, but my +1 is entertaining her nieces this weekend and will have to miss out.

Should we start a new thread in "off-line events" so others around might see it?

I will just email The Usual Suspects so everyone has a better chance of knowing about this today. Seaquem, want to give me your email so I can include you?

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Originally posted by Julie D:
Should we start a new thread in "off-line events" so others around might see it?

Started one here. I'll send out an e-mail to alert others.

Great!