Good casual restaurants in SD Downtown/Convention Center?

[taaren]

I know where to eat in Old Town and Mission Valley, but am clueless downtown, and need to come up with a nice-ish, mid-priced sit-down place to meet and have a decent meal with some family since they're staying at the Days Inn over there. Will have DS5 who is an adventurous eater, as well as DNiece7 and DNeph14 who are not. Any suggestions?

 

[preciouz29]

Not sure about Mission, but Mexican food is quite good and well known in Old Town so you can't go wrong with that. You could also try Crazee Burger for burgers. Forty Bistro & Bakehouse is nice too for a change away from mexican. My last two suggestions are Old town Market Cafe for great coffee and Old Town Mining Company for average American food in huge portions. Hope this helps!

 

[taaren]

Thanks for the suggestion.

I'm really looking for places to eat in the Downtown/Convention Center area since that's where my cousin is staying.

 

[sonnyjane]

Downtown can get a little pricey. Even though it's a chain, I like Buca di Beppo. You get tons of food. Old Spaghetti Factory is also super close to the convention center. Ghirardelli is also on 5th if you want to go somewhere for dessert after. There's a House of Blues if you like that. There are a lot of good restaurants down there, some of them can just get pricey. To be honest, any time I have friends in town, we just walk up and down 5th looking at menus (most places have them posted on the street) and we decide what looks good.

 

[ImDMous]

The Gaslamp District across the street from the Convention Center is full of places. Tin Fish is right across the street and has great fish tacos and chowder. Nicky Rotten's is on 5th and Market, really fun, good burgers. The Field is a great Irish pub; shepherd's pie, corned beef, etc. The Spaghetti Factory, Rockin' Baja Lobster and Buca de Beppo chains are also there.

 

[ncc1701]

Take a look at the menu for Rock Bottom. Good food at decent prices, plus really good beer

 

[Keyser]

If you weren't aware of it already, the Gaslamp quarter has its own association that lists many of the restaurants:
http://www.gaslamp.org/dining/