SD Restaurants??

[sharoncity]

Any must do Restaurants in SD? We will be staying at the Sheraton SD Marina. We will be busy at SeaWorld and the Zoo during the day, but as they close at 6pm in April, I'l be looking for some where to eat two nights. Something casual, kid friendly is what we generally prefer. Anyone have any good ideas?

 

[ScooterL]

Hmm...most of the restaurants on Harbor Island (where the Sheraton is) are more up-scale...there's a place called Pizza Nova not too far away, though, and that's good - wood-fired pizza and pasta and salad. It gets pretty busy and noisy, though, but the food is good and it's a casual setting.

Further away (15-20 minutes from Sea World/Zoo) is a place called "Dave and Buster's" - www.daveandbusters.com - which is a big arcade/midway games restaurant place. I've never been there, but I know a lot of people seem to like it.

There's lots of Mexican food places in Old Town, though most of them tend to be run-of-the-mill Mexican food - nothing too special about them, though the atmosphere in Old Town makes it an interesting place to walk around.

There's lots of chain restaurants on Point Loma - ~5-10 minutes from your hotel - Denny's, Coco's, Olive Garden, Chili's, Red Lobster, etc.

There's an Italian place called Filippi's in Little Italy (~10 minutes), and it's a place that's been there for 40+ years - at the entrance to the restaurant is an Italian grocery store. Red-checked cloths on the tables, straw-wrapped chianti bottles hanging from the ceiling - it has atmosphere! More authentic pizza and toppings (and they top their pizzas with a thick gooey layer of mozzarella cheese!) - you won't find barbecue chicken or Hawaiian pizza here! The food is good, though.

 

[sharoncity]

Hmmmm......no must do Mexican places?? That is a ittle disappointing. I was really looking forward to something unique as far as Mexican food goes. Pizza places tend to be a little tough for us - we are from the New Haven CT area where pizza was invented in a little place called Pepe's Pizza. There is a line EVERY day to just get into the place because it is so good. And I'd rather stay away from the chains and try some local favorites. Filippi's in Little Italy sounds promising. Anyone else have any ideas?

 

[ScooterL]

Not sure what you mean by "uniquely Mexican" - strolling Mariachis and stuff like that? There ARE places like that, but they tend to be the touristy places which have more run-of-the-mill Mexican food. I think Guadalajara Grill in Old Town has strolling mariachis - I've eaten there in the past year and the food was fine, but nothing special. For good Mexican food, try the carnitas at Old Town Mexican Cafe - that's a casual, kid-friendly place. Though it can be a long wait to get into, and they don't take reservations except for large parties (8 or more, I think.) If you like tamales, Ortegas in Ocean Beach has yummy tamales, as well as more unusual things like enchiladas with mole sauce, but it's not much on atmosphere. But it also doesn't have the crowds like the Old Town restaurants! (There are two Ortegas in OB - the restaurant is the Niagara Street location, and not the one on Newport Ave.)

There's also fish tacos at one of the many Rubio's restaurants around town...San Diego is where fish tacos got their start in the U.S. They are all fast food places, though they have tables...but Rubio's is definitely a San Diego thing. The fish tacos are really good, but they also have chicken and carne asada...and they have kids' meals, too. The original Rubio's is not too far from Sea World, though it's smaller and doesn't have indoor seating like the newer ones. There's one on Point Loma, ~10 minute drive from the Sheraton (probably only 2 miles as the crow flies, but you have to go around the airport to get there).

 

[sharoncity]

Thanks Scooter! Those sound like some interesting options. I am pasting those suggestions in with my other notes!

I just figured we like Mexican food and with SD being right next to Mexico, maybe there was a "must-do" Mexican restaurant there.....

What about this Corvette Diner (I think that's what it is called.......)? Have you been there? Is it good?

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

In San Diego we have two kinds of mexican places... authentic taco shops and 'this is what we want you to think mexico is like' mexican restaurants. Taco shops are small establishments that often times look questionable but serve delicious food. Mexican restaurants feature an improved atmosphere, but lack some of the authenticity.

Not far from your hotel, at the corner of Harbor Dr and Rosecrans, is a taco shop called Santana's... You will not find a strolling mariachi anywhere, or anyone who can spell the word mariachi nearby... but your tastebuds and your pocketbook will thank me.

If you want a nice patio setting with a fountain and mariachis... visit Casa de Bandini in Old Town. I will second the nod for Filippi's in Little Italy... or better yet, Pete's Sausage on India. Authentic italian suasage sandwiches, grilled right in front of you.

San Diego is a seafood town! If you are so inclined, the Fish Market is a great place to dine. Nice atmosphere and great fish. Corvette Diner is a fun place to go with kids. Lots of kitschy decor and gum-snapping waitresses, comfort food, milkshakes, etc. If you want a TRUE culinary delight, visit Kemo Sabe, next door to Corvette Diner. AMAZING food, truly unique, one of the city's best chefs, Deborah Scott. I have never taken anyone there who wasn't blown over by the truly delicious food. Also, close to the hotel (located in the Holiday Inn Bayside) is the Point Loma Cafe. Great salads, sandwiches (even a monte cristo) and inexpensive...

Have a great trip!

 

[ScooterL]

I agree with ExPirateShopGirl on the taco shops - if you eat at any place whose name ends in "erto" (Roberto's, Alberto's, Adelberto's, etc.) you'll probably be happy. Try the rolled tacos with guacamole. And I also know that Santana's is good - just be aware that any of these types of places are drive-through/counter service/eat outside kinds of places, for the most part.

Unfortunately Casa de Bandini is no longer in Old Town - it was a casualty when a different concessionaire took over Bazaar del Mundo in Old Town a couple of years ago. Casa Guadalajara (which I called the Guadalajara Grill) is run by the same company, though, so it's pretty much the same place, just a different name and location.

I haven't eaten at the Corvette Diner, but I have been to Kemo Sabe, and it is excellent...but I wouldn't put it in the "casual/Kid friendly" category.

 

[deletedpenguin]

The Corvette Diner, as mentioned above, is a fun, family oriented restaurant. The company that owns the Diner also owns a number of other restaurants in the area, and one that you may or may not be interested in is called the Prado. It's in Balboa park as well, so it's walking distance from the Zoo. It's a bit more upscale, but is casual for weekend dinners and is kid friendly as well. The food is not to be missed.

Since I'm new here, I can't post links yet, but search "Cohen Restaurant Group" in google, and you'll find both the Corvette Diner and the Prado Restaurant, as well as a few other great places in the SD area.

 

[ScooterL]

Let me put in another vote for the Prado! We had lunch there not too long ago...the fish tacos were *excellent* - maybe the best I've ever had! And it's in a lovely restaurant in Balboa Park - the exteriors of all the buildings there are covered with "gingerbread", and really, really nice looking.

 

[sharoncity]

quick question - does Prado have a kids menu? I don't see one listed on the site. Also, has anyone tried Dakota in the Gaslamp Quarter (same rest group). That menu looks very nice for my family......

 

[deletedpenguin]

They do have a children's menu, although it's not that huge, it's still got your typical "childrens menu" items.

Dakota's is nice as well, and can be loud a times. If you want really good seafood and be out over San Diego harbor, check out "Island Prime" (also part of the Cohen restaurant group) or the "Fish House Vera Cruz". Both excellent choices.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Island Prime is my personal favorite. In addition to unique items, you'll get a sampling of some of the best dishes from the other restaurants in the same group. The view's not too shabby, either.

 

[sharoncity]

Island Prime looks exceptionally good, and we are staying at the Sheraton Marina just down the road. But I know my DH will appreciate the menu at Dakota even more. We shall see, I am sure we will end up at one of them one night there!

We leave Sat afternoon - I can't wait!

 

[deletedpenguin]

Very cool, either way, you can't go wrong.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[sharoncity]

Okay - we are back! We ended up eating at C Level, which is in the same building as Island Prime, but a bit more casual. It was EXCELLENT! I can not emphasize enough how much we ALL enjoyed it. The kids had the kids meal chicken. It was not fried, but roasted with seasonings and my kids loved it! I had the calamari and a bowl of lobster bisque -OMG! Both were delicious!!!!! My DH had the Prime rib sandwich and he could not stop raving about that!
We enjoyed it so much that we tried to go to Prado the next day after the Zoo, but we missed lunch and were too early for dinner. So we went back to the hotel, had a swim, changed and headed to Dakota's. It was good, but not nearly as good as C Level. Also, it should be noted that Dakota did not have a childrens menu, so my 9 yr old DS had to order from the regular menu. Fortunately he has a big appetite, so he was able to do the meal justice.
Thanks so much for the recommendations! I never would have found the places without the info I learned here!