CampySD's Profile
If you love Mexican Seafood check this out
Just a quick note to those who don't check out that other food site - this place is cash only. They have one of those ATM's that charge you an arm and a leg and the nearest cash machine is Cass and Law.
GREAT SPOTS IN PACIFIC BEACH TO EAT
This is sarcasm, right? I mean, craft beer, line ups, inept service and surfers; it all sounds like stevewag kryptonite to me...
Seriously, I wanted to like this place, but my 2 visits were met with high prices, long waits and a distinct curiosity as to how the PB crowd affords this place. Despite the lack of good beer selection, El Pescador beats the Fish Shop, hands down.
Sweetbreads
Third for Piatti. I can't stand them, but both my wife and dad have had them here and loved them. Whisk'n'Ladle also has them on the menu from time to time.
Farmers Market Favorites
Fresh, but "dry", still in the pod. Suzie's Farms had them for a few weeks in the early fall. I'm assuming they are a seasonal item.
First time in San Diego end of March for wife's bday
That would have been my assumption, but either by mistake or design, they allowed 2 members of our party to stay without ID (they are foreigners who have yet to get their driver's licenses and always forget their passports...) so long as they didn't order alcohol.
Judging that the OP is traveling with a baby and they'll likely be eating during the day, it may be easier to swing.
First time in San Diego end of March for wife's bday
Since lots of posters will direct you out of PB, I'll try to keep my suggestions within walking distance.
Seconding The Fishery. PB Fish Shop gets a lot of love from friends and co-workers, but I have yet to go.
Love La Playa mexican (Mission, just south of PB Drive), especially their breakfast burritos and shrimp tacos.
Not always consistent, but the fish tacos at Taco Motion (Garnet and Fanuel in the 7-11 strip mall) were among my first in SD and I go back at least once a month for a fix.
I just went to the Tap Room for the first time on a Taco Tuesday and was pleasantly surprised. There was little to no "PB-DB" overload that you find further down Garnet and the beer selection is awesome for PB.
Breakfast at Isabel's Cantina is a must for any out-of-towner's that visit me (Cass at Feldspar). With an 8mo old, you should be able to readily beat the crowds. On a nice morning, they open the floor to ceiling windows and the crisp, cool ocean breeze coupled with a deep latte can't be beat. Note that Seaside Cafe (Oceanfront Boardwalk and Reed?) and The Mission (Mission and Redondo?) are sister restaurants. Though the view is incredible at Seaside (one of the only real beachside eating experiences) I find the food inconsistent, but coffee is good. The Mission is a real locals favorite, but not so much on this board (I find it fine, but prefer Cantina).
I love Thai Village, which is right outside your hotel on Mission. They have an avocado curry which is anything but "authentic", but everything delicious and very SoCal. Also a big fan of the finger shrimp - shrimp, lemon grass and galangal twisted into a spring roll wrapper and fried.
One last thing - stay away from Sushi in PB, other than Sushi Ota. Though, I don't really recommend Ota on a weekend, it's too much of a hassle to get in and a madhouse of people. If you're sushi fans, just trust the many, many, many posts glorifying Kaito and bite the bullet to drive to Encinitas .
Farmers Market Favorites
Like most of the commenters, I go to my local FM primarily for the produce. Some merchants have a more-or-less constant supply of the same items, but I really enjoy those that cycle through the seasons with different items. Though I do often buy the same items from the same vendors, I always make a point to make a full round of every stall before committing to buy as you never know what you will find. My one and only beef with the SD market scene is that the same vendors will "modify" their prices for different markets. I could understand if the markets I visit were hours away from one another, but my roaming grounds are pretty much limited to Little Italy to Del Mar (coastal).
That being said, special favorites I love to happen upon would include: passion fruit, pomegranate juice, kiwis, cannellini beans and the unending varieties of citrus :)
where to get a healthy, fishiterian and/or low cholesterol meal in the San Diego area
I would recommend The Fishery, in Pacific Beach. The meals vary as to price and health consciousness, but I'm sure the chef would accommodate requests for vegetable substitutions or toning down the butter/oil. Most fish is local and line caught and there is a good focus on seasonal, local produce.
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Fishery
5040 Cass Street, San Diego, CA 92109
Vancouver (3 nights) and Tofino (2 nights)
Thanks everyone. Unfortunately, by the time most of you responded, I was already on the ferry to Tofino and without internet until returning to Vancover (Richmond).
We had a great time in Vancouver and were spoiled by great weather our entire trip, other than during our drives to and from Tofino.
Here's what we had in Vancouver:
Toratatsu
This was really fun. Not authentic in any regard to the food, but very true to the izakaya atmosphere. We really enjoyed the small space, seemingly a trend in downtown Vancouver, and neighborhood feeling. Drinks were really interesting in a good way, using fresh fruit in sake cocktails. Especially fun were the kushiten - skewered items battered and fried - with playful combinations. The cheese tofu was quite literally a cheese plate and dessert in one. We also had a couple of rolls that did not disappoint.
Hidden (Westin Hotel)
Not in the mood for diner food at a premium price tag, we opted for Hidden and were really impressed! This is not a cheap breakfast, but apart from a bagel or Starbucks, I thought most places were overpriced for a simple greasy spoon breakfast. Hidden was the opposite of that. Nice, well executed food and, based only what the server told us, focused on local ingredients.
Salt
Every town should have a place like Salt! We went in the middle of the day, so it was very empty and we got great, attentive service. There were 4 other tables and the one server seemed a little overwhelmed, but all the timing was perfect. We chose an all meat trio and all cheese trio and let them pair each combo with wines. Everything was spot on and we really felt among locals in the hidden alleyway location.
La Belle Patate
Just had a small poutine, but I thought it was well done. I read a lot of mixed reviews about this place, but, for me, it hit the spot perfectly. Gravy could have been a little saltier. Otherwise, it was very close to my memories of what a Banquise poutine in Montreal was like.
Juno Sushi
Had a little bit of a wait for a table, even at 9pm on a Thursday, but food was really nice and the service was very good too. Had a small sashimi plate composed of Yellowtail, Yellowtail toro, Pacific salmon and octopus, a nice bowl of seaweed with sesame seeds/paste and sake. Very enjoyable.
Yaletown Alehouse
I went here alone in the afternoon and brought my wife back for one reason - Rocket to Russia, a stout finished with Jack Daniels, that was out of this world! I had the two IPA's on tap in the afternoon, but compared to San Diego, they were pretty weak... The Rocket to Russia name caught my eye and the bartender hooked me up with a taste and I was impressed enough to make it back that night. No food was had
In Tofino, we were recommended Norwood's by a Ucluelet native (who married our friends), but it was a day too late. The wedding was a potluck and we really only had one meal available that turned out to be:
The Pointe
Worth the view alone, all our food was fabulous. Maybe a little overpriced, but the splurge was not a waste. A starter of oysters followed by the salmon for her and beef with mushroom pasta for me. I loved the freshly made pasta and my wife said the salmon was fabulous (I don't care for cooked salmon) so I can't comment.
Back in Vancouver, we had one meal in Richmond and opted for some closeby Chinese:
Dynasty Chinese
Had bao, spicy fried pork, beef and beans. This was all great! Way too much for two people, but the price was right and we gave the leftovers to a street person on the way back to the hotel.
A great voyage to the homeland, all in all.
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Toratatsu
735 Denman St, Vancouver, BC V6G2L6, CA
Vancouver (3 nights) and Tofino (2 nights)
Hi 'hounds,
Ex-pat Canandian (F'ton, NB) visiting from San Diego, in Vancouver for 3 nights (Wed, Thurs & Sun) and Tofino (Fri & Sat), looking mainly for unique experiences in downtown Vancouver and YVR.
Will be staying in downtown, Robson and Burrard, for 2 nights and then probably one night (Sun) near the airport on the way out of town.
Vancouver:
Aiming for great sushi without traveling all day long. I know downtown is not the best, from what I've read, but I don't want to spend my 1st trip to the homeland in 2y driving around an unfamiliar city. Thoughts on (based on posts): Juno, Tsunami, Toratsu, Kimura, Hapa, Honjin and maybe Santouka (we have one in SD, but ramen in the rain seems appropriate).
Thinking of Hidden for an arrival night fix or lunchtime meal...
Was a Montrealer for 5+ years before moving to San Diego - is La Belle Patate worth a meal (poutine)?
Would like to try Japadog for the hype - is it worth it?
A colleague recommended Tony's Fish and Oyster Cafe, but reviews seem mixed.
Tofino:
We're in town for a wedding on Sat (meal already determined), but Fri dinner and Sun breakfast are open options, so far.
Thanks,
C
Panna Cotta?
9-10's various Panna Cotta's remain one of my favorite SD dessert offerings.
Marina Del Rey Takeout
Hey 'Hounds,
In Marina Del Rey for the weekend, staying with friends with a baby - looking for interesting takeout places for the evenings and baby-friendly breakfast and lunch options. The visitors are from Canada, so points for good Mex, Thai and Sushi. We're all adventurous, but they already get good Chineses, Vietnamese and Middle Eastern in Ottawa, Canada.
Thanks!
One week in Mission Beach, need recs
Fish Tacos - one of my favorites remains Taco Motion on Garnet in Pacific Beach, but La Playa is closer to you - though I'd recommend almost anything off their menu, the breakfast burritos remain my favorite in SD. It's not the 5lb one you'll get at Kono's, but you won't wait an hour in line either.
Sushi - if you're serious about sushi, follow karaethon's advice and make the long drive to Kaito. If you've got deep pockets and don't want to drive so far, Sushi Ota is still a solid option, imho. Otherwise, most of the sushi in MB and PB is pretty mediocre, but if you're from a place where sushi is scarce, you can have something passable at most places.
Breakfast - La Playa breakfast burritos. Mission Coffee Cup (MB) or Isabel's Cantina (PB), also great for lunch and dinner. The Catamaran also has brunches that are more family friendly and you can eat right on the beach. If there are younger folks in the family and the weather allows, the Wavehouse is fun spot for people watching and buffet brunch (not Chow-worthy, but fun with kids).
I'd also highly recommend the Fishery in PB (Cass St) as a nice slice of SD family beach city. Most of the fish is local and there is a strong emphasis on local seasonal produce.
Gaglione Bros in MB, across from the roller coaster, serves up solid Philly cheese steaks.
If you like fried fish, there's some good quick eats to be had along the Quivira Bay strip (Sportsman's Seafood), if you make it across the bridge.
Sorry I can't recommend more spots in spots in MB... Most are tourist traps or in the hotels. Hope the great weather keeps up for you!
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Mission Coffee Cup Cafe
1111 Wall Street, La Jolla, CA
Fishery
5040 Cass Street, San Diego, CA 92109
Sushi Ota
4529 Mission Bay Dr, San Diego, CA 92109
Taco Motion
1313 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
Gaglione Brothers Famous Steaks & Subs
728 Ventura Pl, San Diego, CA 92109
Sportsmen's Seafood Restaurant
1617 Quivira Rd, San Diego, CA 92109
Wave House
3125 Ocean Front Walk, San Diego, CA 92109
PrepKitchen - Del Mar
Thanks guys' - I've always ended up there with younger co-workers/friends for post beach beers and had munchies while playing pool. For bar food, they're definitely a step up, but I'd never considered actually sitting down for food... My mistake, apparently.
PrepKitchen - Del Mar
Never even thought of getting a salad at CSBG - is there one in particular you like?
Prep Kitchen Breakfast/Brunch (LJ)
Finally went to Prep Kitchen in La Jolla yesterday. I'd been to the Del Mar location once for lunch once before, but LJ is more my normal hunting grounds.
I had the beef "hash" - perfect soft poached eggs over beef "stew" on toast - maybe a little salty for some, but perfect for my tastes. Wifey had the chilaquiles - also perfectly prepared.
Typically, we switch dishes at the halfway point. Not this meal! A bite each and then back to defending our individual plates like hungry pack dogs ;)
We'll be back - it's officially "in the rotation' now.
Anywhere in North County I can get Cheese Curd
I think the only thing I've found close to "real" QC cheese curds - fresh, unrefrigerated and squeaky - are from the cheese vendor that is at the LJ Farmer's Market. I'm sure they do other SD markets, but not sure which ones... If you leave these guys out on the counter for the afternoon or overnight, they will relax enough to make a good poutine.
The other types (TJ's and WF) both have been refrigerated way too long to ever become much more the shape of curds - they never get the right consistency or squeak, no matter how long you warm them up. That being said, if you're too far away (time and space) from the market, I would just buy shredded mozza or mild white cheddar and break it apart. Otherwise, you paying a big premium for the name.
Kip's Bay/Murray Hill Options
Thanks everyone!
It was a rock'n'roll 8 days on the ground - some days, I actually did not eat at all (other than finger foods at a couple of holiday parties I was invited to)!
Close by, I managed to hit:
Waterfront Ale House - had just beers one night and then, a couple of days later, had the pulled pig sandwich for a late lunch. It was decent, but I was definitely more impressed with the beer selection.
Ali Baba - This was really good and quite affordable. I was a little surprised by some of the bad service reviews on Yelp considering we had super prompt service, but that's par for the course with Yelp ;)
Barking Dog Cafe - Tried to get into Penelope at 9-ish on Saturday morning = 90 minute wait. So, we shifted gears and ended up a few blocks up at Barking Dog. This was a nice little place with a pretty extensive breakfast menu. Nothing to blow you away, but solid and probably the cheapest meal I ate in Manhattan.
2nd Avenue Deli - Ended up here one late night after leaving the lab around 10pm. Service was quick and friendly. Had the pastrami with a couple of pints. The pickles were great, but the pastrami (though leagues beyond anything in San Diego) fell a little flat.
Sarge's Deli - The night after my 10pm finish, I was out at 11pm and shifted to Sarge's, which is open 24h. Had the corned beef and pastrami combo. Great pastrami! Corned beef was solid, too. I think I liked the pickles at 2nd Ave a little better, though it could be just that the meat was so much tastier at Sarge's...
Paquito's - This was a coworker's choice the first day I arrived. Jet-lagged and disoriented, I wasn't in any shape to argue. Nothing stupendous, but the food was not "bad" either. I wouldn't return voluntarily, but would eat it again if offered.
Further away, I had 2 "sit-down" dinners with my wife while she visited for a couple of days over the weekend:
Gramercy Tavern - without reservations, we braved a 1.5h wait in the foyer, but the hostess was very attentive to my wife (who had a recent minor surgery on her heel and had trouble walking). We were encouraged to grab drinks from the bar and set up shop in the waiting area while the crowds shuffled in and out. We were horribly under-dressed compared to the average clientele, but were extremely well taken care of and had a great meal. The $38 prix-fixe in the tavern area is probably the best deal I saw for dinner in Manhattan. The seasonal ingredient selections were great and everything was perfectly executed.
wd-50 - This was very last minute. However, the endless array of fine dining options left us filtering selections by what was unobtainable in San Diego and our previous knowledge of Wiley Dufresne from the TV put it over the edge. We had the tasting menu, without the wine pairings, and I was very happy with our selection. It was a makeup dinner to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary and fit the bill as a great memorable experience. Not every dish was incredible, but the playful execution and attentive service was all that was necessary to make for a fun time we will talk about for quite awhile. Our server was a fellow Canuck and was nice enough to invite us back to the kitchen post-meal for a quick tour and introduction to the chef. This was made all the more memorable by the fact that wd-50 was featured on Top Chef this week and I ended up watching the episode on the plane during my return journey.
Thanks again for all the great rec's - next time, we'll plan for a more food-intensive, less work inclusive getaway!
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WD-50
50 Clinton Street, New York, NY 10002
Gramercy Tavern
42 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003
Ali Baba Turkish Cuisine
212 E 34th St, New York, NY 10016
Sarge's Delicatessen
548 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016
Second Avenue Deli
162 E 33rd St, New York, NY 10016
Waterfront Ale House
540 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10016
Paquito's
160 E 28th St, New York, NY 10016
Barking Dog
150 E 34th St, New York, NY 10016
Kip's Bay/Murray Hill Options
Hi 'hounds,
Visiting NYC for around a week from San Diego - consulting at NYU Medical and staying close by - and looking for meals and unique experiences within walking (maybe short subway) distance. Most of my days will be pretty full, so I will probably be looking for quick solo lunches and later night eating options - which are non-existent in SoCal, so that's a bit of a novelty anyway. Also have 2 nights that the s.o. will be joining me that we'd like to dress up and do something a little more extravagant - again, dressing up for supper in SoCal just makes you stand out.
No need for Mexican or Sushi recs, would love some good Indian, Ethiopian, Middle Eastern as they are harder to find here.
Thanks!
Bar with wide selection of Belgians on tap?
Josh, sometimes I could strangle you, but this had me ROFL this morning :D
sports bars on the beach/water
It's actually really hard to get something in this vein that's actually "on" the beach.
All of the PB locations are at least one-block from the beach, unless you count Joe's Crab Shack (not sure what the viewing is like either). PB Alehouse might be an option, but I've yet go. Miller's Field is very popular on gamedays, but, again, is a block from the boardwalk and might have peek views of the ocean. Nick's in PB has an outdoor raised patio that you can see the ocean from (again one block away).
For Mission Beach, the only thing I can think of would be the Wavehouse (used to be Canes, but has been bought out by Wavehouse). Everything else is on Mission Blvd and a block from the beach.
Ocean Beach only has one bar that I would say is more or less on the water, Nick's at the Pier, and that is only from the outdoor raised patio. Have never been here either.
This is one of my major complaints about SD, as your waterfront choices are rarely really attractive. For PB as an example: Lahaina's = crowded and stinky; Green Flash/World Famous = meh; JRDN = fun for a drink, but not worth the 'tude; etc.
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Miller's Field
4465 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109
Emory University - Closeby Choices
Home again, home again, jiggity-jig...
The rather remote aspect of the Emory Conference Hotel, coupled with paid conference food (vs expensed resto choices), left me little option on most meals. Lest I be bashed on my, admittedly, snobby palate; many people at the conference commented on how much they enjoyed the conference hotel's offerings. I was not as forgiving. The hotel food was edible, but consisted almost wholly of Sysco-style pre-made meals and produce, with little extra effort. Admittedly above the average conference fare, these were the meals I ate the least of.
Outside the conference, I had most of the day on Sunday free and managed to walk to Community-Q BBQ and into downtown Decatur to visit Twain's. Tuesday, we escaped to Saravana Bhavan for a small group dinner. Wednesday, I dragged a local colleague to Cakes-and-Ales. Thursday, my colleague and I made a pre-flight trip to Bhojanic on the way to the airport.
Community-Q BBQ - had ribs and pulled pork. Ribs were really good and didn't need any additional input other my fingers and teeth! Pulled pork was well prepared, fat rendered off completely - maybe too completely - but was overly dry, even with the addition of sauce. Sauce was left on the side, served on the table, which I prefer.
Twain's - just beers, had the amber and the stout. Amber was decent. Stout was a little tart on the finish. Although both were ideal considering the walk that took me to south Church St.
Saravana Bhavan - went with my boss, his admin and 3 other S.Indian colleagues. That being said, the Indians did all the ordering and I did not capture most of the details. The service was a little spotty at first, but we had a very nice meal and almost everything was novel to the non-Indians. Everything was very delicious and, despite spice warnings, all of us had no problem with any of the preparations.
Cakes-and-Ales - this was a last minute snap decision between myself and a local colleague and we lucked out, without a reservation, snagging a canceled table in a very full restaurant on a Wednesday(?) evening. I won my colleague over and ordered the pork rillette (which was perfect) and Padron peppers (which I was surprised to see in Atlanta). She had Chicken a la mattone and I had lamb with gnocchi - we both enjoyed our meals, but did not share. We "grudgingly" had a great dessert of peaches with brown butter ice cream on a blondie. Everything was really nice and quite affordable in comparison to SD prices, imo.
Bhojanic - this was a little bit of a surprise. Our Indian dinner companions from Tuesday had come here on Wednesday and said they had a good experience. Described as a fusion restaurant, the fusion seemed to be of American presentation with traditional North Indian flavours. It was very good and quite affordable for the quality and interesting take on presentation. The surprise was more in the service and clientele - unlike Saravana Bhavan, where every single other client was Indian, Bhojanic's clientele was overwhelmingly Caucasian; additionally, the server went out of his way to explain Indian dishes to my obviously Indian colleague, though he was obviously American (I wasn't that aware of this interaction, but my colleague mentioned it at some length, later on).
All in all, it was a very nice slice of what was around Emory. Thanks again for all the helpful suggestions. It would be really nice if the bike rental service was open to visitors, as it would open up the vast campus much more.
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Bhojanic
1363 Clairmont Road, Decatur, GA 30033
Emory University - Closeby Choices
Hi 'hounds,
Will be visiting Atlanta, Emory University for a conference, for a week next Sun-Fri from San Diego. No car, probably with colleagues in tow for some meals, but mostly solo. Meals, by and large, will be supplied by the conference, but I more than willing to skip conference food for a reasonable walk (up to 1.5miles) to visit some local chow. I'm sure there are local faves, but no need to suggest Mexican, Sushi, or Burgers - all are well over-represented here in SD.
My colleague traveling with me is South Indian and has already bookmarked a visit to Saravana Bhavan - good or bad, she's been before and it will be on the itinerary.
Otherwise, have scoped these places from the board - all more or less beside Emory or in Decatur - would be willing to rent a car 1-2 days for worthwhile quick food trips, but the conference is way too packed for any long excursions.
BBQ - Community Q BBQ / Maddy's
Local/Farm-to-Table - Cakes & Ale / Farmstead 303 / Floataway Cafe(?)
Breakfast - Flying Biscuit Cafe
Sandwiches - Super Pan Latino Sandwich Shop (looks a little far by foot, but looks really good/different)
Thanks for the help!
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Cakes & Ale Restaurant
254 W Ponce De Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030
Floataway Cafe
1123 Zonolite Road Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30306-2015
Flying Biscuit Cafe
1655 McLendon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
Solana Beach eats?
I'm definitely not an authority, but, from opening to 4pm (I think) it is only a lunch counter setup with the standard: order from the counter and pay, get a number, grab a seat and get served. Obviously, I can't comment either on whether the breakfast/lunch would match the quality of dinner. However, the online menu for breakfast and lunch both look pretty tasty - no shakes on the menu though...
Solana Beach eats?
This won't help the OP, but, I ended up at Ki's last night for a late supper before a show at Belly Up and was pretty impressed. I always thought it was just another tourist trap among Kraken, The Chart House, etc... However, we found the dining room nice and relaxed, service ended up a little spotty, but we did show up and order 20min before the kitchen closed and they were definitely in clean up mode. Nothing spectacular, but a nice emphasis on locally sourced products and what I thought was a really nice range of wines, sold at retail price (Wednesday's have no corkage fee - normally $5). No huge wine cellar selection, but diverse.
I had gaspacho and a petit filet served over mashed potatoes and shaved/steamed veggies; the s.o. and another one of our group had sea bass with pistachios over rice; and the last member had a seafood curry that had pretty much every shellfish known to man and some Mahi Mahi. I wouldn't go out of my way to go there, living in PB, it would be an hour round trip. However, for an actual decent meal before a show, I'll definitely be back.
Top 3 'whole in the wall' Mexican in PB
I am a huge fan of the breakfast burrito at La Playa - eggs, rice, bean and cheese (+ whatever else you'd like). Also loved the shrimp tacos the couple of times I've had them.
Don't miss potato tacos at Bahia Don Bravo - someone on CH got me onto these and I just can't resist them!
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Bahia Don Bravo
5504 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037
Foodie Souvenirs
Here's some items that I can come up with from my own experiences:
Hot Pepper Jelly - Henry's carries the Julian brand, which I like ok
Agave syrup - may be more ubiquitous in the T. but I never saw it before coming down here
Cypress Grove Cheeses - from more NorCal, but their Humbolt Fog and Truffle Tremor goat cheeses are great
Booze - the wine selections are indeed great down here, but I get more bang for my buck (and more happy partakers) from a nice topshelf bottle of tequila or mescal
Also, I'd check with Customs Canada about what is on the "barred" list for the week. I have a good friend who is a hostess for AC and says that it often changes week to week - you might get lucky and get a "window of opportunity" :D
(I'm a Canuck myself, and am always looking for items that I can bring back to Eastern Canada as gifts - especially since I make all my visitors stock me up on Ketchup chips, golden gingerale, maple syrup, cheese curds, etc...)
