restaurants

american

Dick's Last Resort
Fifth Ave. between J & K St. This is the joint your mama warned you about. Dick's serves up buckets of barbecue ribs, chicken, catfish, shrimp and crab legs. Platters include mahi mahi, thick pork chops, steaks and even salads for the wimpy eater. The wait staff is irreverent by design, and the décor is local garage sale stuff. Seventy-four kinds of beer, live music, no cover, no dress code and definitely no class. Open daily, Dick's Last Resort is billed as “The Shame of the Gaslamp Quarter.” 619-231-9100. www.dickslastresort.com.

Humphrey’s By the Bay
2241 Shelter Island. This award-winning bayfront restaurant is a San Diego favorite for both locals and visitors. Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and acclaimed Sunday champagne brunch (10-2). Menu highlights include diver scallops, Atlantic salmon, seared ahi tuna, filet mignon, Brandt natural filet mignon, prime rib and Australian lamb chops. Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence and San Diego magazine’s “Best American Dining” are just a few of the restaurants many accolades. Enjoy live jazz, rock n’ roll and disco in the backstage music lounge.  619-224-3577. 

Kansas City Barbeque
610 W. Market St.  A San Diego landmark for 24 years, this famous eatery serves up the finest Midwest barbeque with all the favorite fixings. Hollywood took note of the fun and casual atmosphere and filmed the famous bar scenes from the 1980’s hit movie Top Gun in the bar. Adding to the down home feel is a memorabilia shrine and an outdoor patio. Enjoy barbeque beef, chicken, hot links and pork dishes all from family recipes. Open 7 days from 11am –1am, the bar stays open until 2am.  619-231-9680

Ocean House Restaurant
300 Carlsbad Village Dr., Carlsbad. Enjoy lunch, dinner or Sunday Brunch in the ambience of Carlsbad’s most photographed site, an 1887 Victorian-style home. Serving fresh seafood, USDA Grade-A choice meats, pastas and gourmet burgers. Signature dishes include New York Pepper steak and sautéed jumbo shrimp. In the evenings and on weekends, the restaurant becomes one of the most trendy nightspots in town, with live entertainment 6 nights a week (10pm-2am) Mon.-Wed., 11am-midnight, Thurs.–Sat., 11am-2am, Sunday Brunch 9:30am–2pm. 760-729-4131

asian fusion

Roppongi Restaurant and Sushi Bar
875 Prospect St., La Jolla - Roppongi is the artful work of Sami Ladeki of Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza and Hotel Parisi fame. A delightful lunch and dinner menu melds Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Indian flavors with European cooking style. Wide-ranging cuisine, from the lightest fresh fish and flavorful beef to onion rings that melt in your mouth. The condiments are a lesson in how to make your dipping sauces. Award of excellence winner from Wine Spectator and Zagat-rated as one of the top 5 most popular San Diego restaurants. Outdoor patio; underground parking; major credit cards. 858-551-5252.

breakfast

Richard Walker’s Pancake House
520 Front Street, Downtown San Diego - 619-231-7777. www.richardwalkers.com. Come with an appetite. The portions are large and the taste is fresh – like a wake up call. Richard Walker’s Pancake House is open for breakfast and lunch and features traditional breakfast favorites like fresh juices, Belgian waffles, omelets and, of course, home-made pancakes. Lunch includes soups, salads, crepes and Richie’s BLT with their custom hickory smoked bacon. Dessert lovers will savor the Chocolate Explosion. While you’re savoring the food, enjoy the Frank Lloyd Wright inspired décor.

californian

California Cuisine
Located in the hip Hillcrest area (a short 5 minutes from downtown) at 1027 University Ave. Many ingredients go into making this restaurant the quintessential California dining experience. Reviewed by top critics as imaginative, inviting, intimate and elegant, friendly, eclectic and relaxed. The menu changes daily based on what is market fresh, and currently features Sonoma duck breast, ranch pork chops, filet mignon, Jumbo Crab cakes and veal chops. Enjoy dinner on the intimate garden patio. Dinner served 7 nights from 5-10.  619-543-0790

Sammy's Woodfired Pizza
Seven locations throughout greater San Diego. With a lively, family friendly atmosphere, these restaurants have been local favorites since 1989. Zagat rated and winner of Best Pizza, Sammy's features gourmet pizza, oversize salads and specialty entrees. Items are moderately priced, with generous portions to mix, match and share. Lunch and dinner daily in Carlsbad, Costa Verde/UTC, Del Mar Gaslamp Quarter, La Jolla, Mission Valley and Scripps Ranch.

continental cuisine

Grant Grill
The legendary circa 1951 Grant Grill & Lounge embodies San Diego sophisticated, contemporary dining. Serving breakfast (beginning at 6:30), lunch from 11:00 and dinner (from 5:00) and premium libations with precise service and acclaimed ambiance. Located downtown at The US Grant Hotel, The Grant Grill features an evocative menu of distinctive California culinary creations, bringing together local and native ingredients from the surrounding county and region. Guests will enjoy signature jumbo diver scallops and house blended custom spices created specially for the prime meats and fish. 326 Broadway at Fourth. 619-744-2077

Le Fontainebleau 
Dubbed “one of the most romantic rooms in the city”, featuring French-California fusion cuisine from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Mon.- Sat, a Seafood Soiree Friday evenings, and Champagne Sunday Brunch from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Tableside service on signature dishes and executive pastry chef’s classic Crepes Suzette. The wine list is reviewed and selected by Robert Whitley, wine critic for the San Diego Union Tribune. Awards include 2006 Zagat’s “Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in America”. Reservations can be made online www.westgatehotel.com/dining/reservations, or by calling 619-238-1818. 

dining / shopping

Coronado Ferry Landing
1201 First St. at B in Coronado. Spectacular bay views everywhere. Lunch and dinner at Peohe's feature fresh seafood, beef and chicken; Bay Beach Cafe serves California-style meals. Fast food, too. 619-435-8895

mexican

Alfonso’s of La Jolla
1251 Prospect St. 858-454-2232. A favorite of Mexican food lovers is the family-owned Alfonso’s. For over 32 years the family recipes, handed down through generations, have enhanced burritos, quesadillas, combination plates and specialties like carne asada made with charbroiled steak, ranchero sauce, cheese, avocado and sour cream. Try shrimp sautéed in garlic and butter or Puerto Nuevo style lobster. Many appetizers and soups to choose from as well. Order your favorite margarita from the full bar. Sun.-Thurs. 11am-10pm. Fri-Sat. 11am-11pm. www.alfonsoslajolla.signonsandiego.com

Nati's Mexican Restaurant
1852 Bacon St., Ocean Beach. For 47 years, Nati’s has been a tradition for great Mexican food in colorful, casual Ocean Beach. Just one block from the “O.B.” Pier and on the way to Cabrillo National Monument, Nati’s offers indoor and outdoor dining and home-style dishes made from the freshest ingredients. Of course, you can find tacos, enchiladas, fajitas and burritos, but you should also check out the many house specialties including Nati’s famous chili rellenos. Open daily for lunch and dinner, Sat. and Sun. brunch, cocktails. There’s ample parking. 619-224-3369.

thai

Spices Bay Thai Kitchen
2558 Laning Rd. at Liberty Station near airport 619-224-8424 www.spicesbaythai.com; Royal Spices Thai Cuisine 3145 Sports Arena Blvd, near SeaWorld and Sports Arena 619-226-3100 www.royalspicesthai.com; Meechai Thai Cuisine 3960 W. Point Loma Blvd. 619-224-4871 www.meechai.net. All these beautiful restaurants feature freshly prepared authentic Thai cuisine. Enjoy soups, salads, curries, seafood, poultry and delightful daily specials. Order mild, medium hot or firecracker (for the adventurous!). Open daily for lunch, dinner and takeout. Free parking. Show ad for 15% off two entrées at Spices Bay location.