Restaurant Blog - Chowbaby.com

by Jenny Bengen

Jack’s La Jolla
7863 Girard Avenue
San Diego, CA 92037
(858) 456-8111
This beautiful, formal restaurant in the heart of downtown La Jolla has a well-deserved reputation for excellence. Opened in 2006, Jack’s is a collection of classy bars and dining areas. A loungy piano bar on the lower level is filled most nights with sophisticated singles or couples sipping enjoying drinks and appetizers, and the upstairs level takes on a nightclub feel after 10:30. In the dining room area upstairs, a beautiful, airy atrium sets the stage for a dining experience which is difficult to match in San Diego. There are actually three dining areas, all of which offer a view of the bar areas or courtyard down below. The menu a fusion of Asian and Mediterranean cuisine, with offerings such as fresh goat cheese, foie gras and Jidori Chicken and Poached Lobster.

By Whitney Youngs

Red Pearl Kitchen
440 J St
San Diego, CA 92101
The San Diego Red Pearl Kitchen is the third location—the original in Huntington Beach—opened by Tim and Liza Goodell where customers looking for a modern, upscale dinning experience can gather for some great Chinese food in the heart of the Gas Lamp District. The menu showcaseses a hip interpretation of Pan-Asian food such as the strawberry, cinnamon ribs, duck banana lettuce wraps, charred jumbo asparagus, shrimp, bacon, garlic fried rice or the shaking Kobe beef, papaya, mint. Equipped with a large kitchen, the restaurant offers what it calls the Chef’s Table situated within the busy kitchen that overlooks Fourth Street. Estimated price for dinner $7 to $19.

by Jenny Bengen

Café Japengo
Routinely voted by San Diegans as one of the area’s best sushi restaurants, Café Japengo is a hip and trendy locale in the Golden Triangle area. The food is not the only star at this restaurant, the atmosphere is as well. The sushi here is great looking as well as great tasting, and everything from the service to the menu selections are produced with flair and sophistication. Entrees and scrumptious desserts are offered in addition to the sushi, but most everyone comes for the sashimi and the rolls. Café Japengo is more a place to be scene than be heard due to the loud music always playing in the background, but don’t let that scare you away. One bite of the food and you’ll be back to wait in line many more times.

Cuisine Type: Japanese, Sushi, Asian

by: Jenny Bengen

The Crown Room at Hotel Del Coronado
1500 Orange Ave.
Coronado, CA 92118
Locals call it “The Del,” and the elaborate Sunday brunches once served in the Prince of Wales restaurant are now being served in the beautiful Crown Room towards the front of the hotel. At over 13,000 square feet, The Crown Room manages to fill to capacity its impressive space every Sunday between 9 and 2 for hot buffet brunch. Tasty temptations include eggs Benedict, fresh sea food, quiche Lorraine and various types of pasta.  Sushi, Mexican entrees, salads and grilled salmon are available as well, so plan to come with a stomach that’s bigger than your eyes, for once. A polite and friendly wait staff will quickly attend to your every need, including refills of Mimosas.

Cuisine Type: Californian, New American

By: Jenny Bengen

Delirio’s
5721 La Jolla Blvd.
La Jolla, CA 92037
Imagine an intimate space softly lit with candles and subtle spotlights that create a warm glow. In the back, a single brick wall grounds the ethereal restaurant with a touch of homeliness.

Delirio’s is a cozy, romantic restaurant well off the main path La Jolla’s downtown. While the menu is usually on the smaller side, the choices are all exquisitely prepared and presented. The fare is Mexican fusion with a healthy dose of Asian influence. A varied and interesting wine list as well

Interesting wines are offered, and a small beer list is available as well. Delirio’s is a lovely location where the meal and the company are meant to be savored. 

by: Jenny Bengen

Nine-Ten 910 Prospect St, La Jolla, 92037 (858) 964-5400 Situated between Fay and Girard in downtown La Jolla next to the Grande Colonial Hotel, Nine-Ten offers patrons some of the best and classiest sidewalk dining in San Diego. Beautiful views of the ocean can be viewed from the indoor Grand Terrace. The restaurant is known for its fresh menu selections, many of which use produce from local farms or international locales, including the sizeable and impressive wine menu. If you’re feeling adventurous or simply can’t decide, go for the “Mercy of the Chef” option, which is $70 or $110 with paired wine selections. Nine-Ten offers intriguing selections such as the Harissa Marinated Shrimp. Cuisine Type: Californian, Asian

by Chris Faust

THE PRADO
1549 El Prado (Balboa Park), San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 557-9441

The Prado Restaurant is located in the ‘House of Hospitality’ in Balboa Park. Balboa Park is the site of the 1935 Worlds Exposition. The 1400 acre park and its spectacular Spanish Colonial Architecture houses 14 museums, 4 theaters, and the world famous San Diego Zoo. The family can spend the whole day at the park with its many cultural and entertainment venues. And when it comes time to eat just look for the House of Hospitality and there you will find The Prado Restaurant. This fabulously appointed restaurant was named Best New Restaurant 2000 by San Diego Magazine and received the Gold Medallion Award for Best New Restaurant 2000. The cuisine is Latin Italian fusion. High on my list of dishes created by Executive Chef Jeff Thurston are the beef and chicken empanadas fried in a pastry shell with avocado-serrano chile salsa, chipolte cream, corn and black bean jicama slaw or the saffron streamed Manila clams in a garlic, tomato and herb broth. After a cool drink and appetizer in the bar you can make your way to the patio overlooking the park’s 11-acre Japanese Friendship Gardens. There you can satisfy your culinary urge with a honey-chipotle marinated rib eye steak served with caramelized onions and a blue cheese quesidilla in a toasted cumin seed bordelaise sauce. The Prado has a cooking and wine school and is a great place for weddings and special events.

 by Chris Faust

OLD TOWN MEXICAN CAFÉ

2489 San Diego Avenue (Old Town), San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 297-4330
A 45-minute wait on Monday night????? Why not wait at one of the best bars in the city of San Diego? Old Town Mex, as it is called, has several dining areas including a large outdoor patio. The bar wraps all the way around from the patio to the interior. What makes Old Town Mex so good? The tortillas of course. The whole front of this fine restaurant is a large flat griddle where several “mamacitas” (little mothers) prepare the tortillas by hand. Watch them grind the corn then add water to form a paste then hand form and grill the tortillas that will come with your dinner. How about fresh grilled camerones (Shrimp) served with refried beans and Mexican spiced rice with corn or flour tortillas of course. Chase that down with one of Old Towns famous margaritas or a cold Dos Equis (Mexican beer) and Mexican music will fill your dreams that night.

by Chris Faust

TAKA RESTAURANT
555 5th Avenue (Hillcrest)
San Diego, CA 92103
Taka Sushi, located in the trendy uptown neighborhood of Hillcrest is a fine example of an Americanized Sushi Restaurant. Hillcrest is a small enough village that you can park, walk around and enjoy a creative mix of wine bars, boutiques, art galleries and restaurants. Occasionally at lunch you may see one or two Japanese parties at Taka, but being in Hillcrest you are more likely to see every other eclectic, arty type that exists in San Diego. You will see the local actors and the local modern and ballet dance crowd. You might even see Elvis. Yes Elvis does like Sushi! Elvis’ favorite dish at Taka is Hamachi Kama, $10.50, which is baked rare pieces of Yellowtail served with a Ponzu sauce or flavored with Teriyaki. Operated by a Japanese family and being quite popular Taka serves a good quality of Sushi, fresh and flavorful. Taka is an “in” spot and hence the prices can be up there. Taka is as much a scene as it is a Sushi bar. Taka Sushi is one of the best “Americanized” Sushi restaurants in town.