San Diego restaurants, tips please!!

[laughsandlaughs]

It looks like my husband and I are moving to San Diego for at least 4 months, maybe more and wanted to know if any of you have any favorite restaurants we should try, both there and across the border. My husband doesn't eat meat, so places that are veggie/seafood friendly are especially appreciated, though being in CA, I don't think finding places will be a problem. Also any tips about fun places to live or visit would be nice. We're going to drive from Dallas out there and take about a week seeing the sites, which I'm excited about. Our first stop will be the Carlsbad Caverns, which I've always wanted to visit. I've never even been to California, so this whole thing is going to be a blast for me!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Natasha]

Hi,

Lucky you! Sounds like fun. Just for starters, here is a thread that might interest you, though it really focuses on restaurants, rather than sights to see:
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/001639.html

[Laura Wick]

Dear laughsandlaughs

San Diego is full of great restaurants--the Gas Lamp area is downtown and has a little night life, La Jolla has incredible seafood restaurants--George's, Marine Room, Hotel Valencia, My favorite is Cafe Luna in Carmel Mtn Ranch. If you enjoy wine, EVERY restaurant seems to carry several great California wines. What part of SD will you be living/working in?
There are many excellent chinese restaurants,as well as other asian cuisines, as we have many asians living here.

Housing is extremely expensive here--if this is a temporary assignment, you might want to ask for a housing allowance or supplement.

If I can answer any questions, e-mail me or post to this BB.

Welcome!

[debg]

laughsandlaughs,

do you know where in San Diego you will be? KimKelly and I live in No. County (Escondido area) and have shared in depth different restaurants and places to visit on the link Natasha recommended! I'm pretty sure we both have many other restaurants we have been to that we can share. I LOVE to talk food!

I found a (old) hole in the wall Hamburger stand here in Escondido that I used to visit 14 years ago when I moved here. I hadn't been able to find it since, but the local "Unknown Eater" on the news did a report on it. It's called The Hamburger Factory and makes the most yummy, drippy burgers! Definitely not CL material - but good for a once in a while change!

Anyway, feel free to e-mail me too for further info. I'd be more than happy to send you the Sunday Real Estate advertisements or whatever you need!

Welcome to one of AMerica's Finest Cities! You'll LOVE it here!

[MPHenderson]

Kemo Sabe!
My colleagues and I had a wonderful, inventive meal at this restaurant when we were in San Diego last October. Delicious, creative and beautiful food. I'd go back to San Diego just to eat here. And when your server suggests that you share a dessert, listen to him! The desserts are HUGE!

Here's a link to a sample menu... http://www.savvydiner.com/sandiego/kemosabe/menu.html

[laughsandlaughs]

Right now I have no idea where we'll be living. My husband will be working as a consultant at Qualcomm so they'll be getting us a place to live (and paying for it, which is nice!) and give us extra money for living expenses. We're both just excited about the opportunity to live someplace new. We both want to learn to sail and this should be the perfect place.

Unfortunately I was just joining a Cooking Light supper club here in Dallas and now I'm leaving. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif That's the only downfall, but maybe I'll be able to find one when I get to sunny CA!!

[DanaSD]

Laura B Wick - can you please give me your recommendations for Chinese Restaurants. I haven't found many good Asian restaurants in San Diego besides PF Chengs and Rappongi.


Recommendations - Definatly Jakes in Del Mar and The Fish Market. The Gaslamp district downtown has so many excellent restaurants. Our favorite is Croce's Seared Ahi...yummy but pricey. But they usually have excellent jazz and blues in the two bars.


You'll find lots to do here especially if you enjoy the ocean and want to learn to sail. The coast is so beautiful and the weather is perfect...I'm never leaving this town. There's also Temecula, Southern CA's wine country which is short drive away. I've heard the restaurant at Thorton winery is excellent - anyone tried it?

Beaches, Parks, Mountains, dessert, San Diego zoo and Wild Animal Park, Sea World, Julian (small town in the mountains) for apple pie,....

[MaryH]

Having had friends who worked for Qualcomm my quess is they'll locate you in the Sorrento Valley area - which is close to their building. (Sorrrento Valley is approximately 15 miles northeast of downtown which is where the Gaslamp Quarter is.)

Having lived in SD for 20+ years (although not there now) I can second Kemo Sabe - in Hillcrest just north of downtown - try the fried brie (the recipe for which is also at epicurious.com).

As for sailing, try Harbor and Shelter Islands (due west of downtown by the airport).



[This message has been edited by MaryH (edited 01-22-2001).]

[laughsandlaughs]

Thanks for all the tips...we'll think of you all when we use them!

[Laura Wick]

DanaSD: PF Chengs is my very favorite. Have you been to the one in Fashion Valley yet? We also like the Cheesecake Factory there. The Fortune Cookie is also very good. It is on Bernardo Center Drive in Rancho Bernardo. There are several Dim Sum restaurants in the Kearny Mesa area on Convoy. I don't know the name of our favorite, because there is no English wording on the sign. It is in the corner of a strip mall building on Convoy, and has a band shell in one corner. My husband could probably give more info, but he is on a business trip today.

I've never been to Rappongi--where is that?

What part of SD do you live in? We are in Sabre Springs, and are looking for two more couples to start a supper club.

Originally posted by DanaSD:
Laura B Wick - can you please give me your recommendations for Chinese Restaurants. I haven't found many good Asian restaurants in San Diego besides PF Chengs and Rappongi.


Recommendations - Definatly Jakes in Del Mar and The Fish Market. The Gaslamp district downtown has so many excellent restaurants. Our favorite is Croce's Seared Ahi...yummy but pricey. But they usually have excellent jazz and blues in the two bars.


You'll find lots to do here especially if you enjoy the ocean and want to learn to sail. The coast is so beautiful and the weather is perfect...I'm never leaving this town. There's also Temecula, Southern CA's wine country which is short drive away. I've heard the restaurant at Thorton winery is excellent - anyone tried it?

Beaches, Parks, Mountains, dessert, San Diego zoo and Wild Animal Park, Sea World, Julian (small town in the mountains) for apple pie,....

[KellyD]

I definitely second Kemo Sabe as one of my favorite SD restaurants - but don't forget about MIXX - also in Hillcrest. As for Chinese, PF Chang in the UTC area (close to Qualcomm) is good as well as Panda Country - right by the Marriott in UTC. The Fish Market downtown is a classic SD restaurant - you can sit out on the patio and watch the boats in the bay and watch the sun set - one of our fav things to do!

[DanaSD]

Laura B Wick

Roppongi is in downtown La Jolla just south of the Hard Rock. Its not authentic Asian - its more a modern fusion type. Its run by the same guy that start Sammies Wood Fired Pizza (one of my favorite places).

here's a link from the UT reviews: http://sandiego.citysearch.com/E/V/SANCA/0004/20/80/


About a dinner club - I was part of the group that tried to form a San Diego about 6 months ago. After our first meeting we had about 10 women interested but as the date got closer it was down to 4. We postponed and decided to rerecruit - 3 of us dropped (including me). I think some people met but I'm not sure how it went. I'm not up for a couples club - my SO lives in Arizona so its usually just me.

For good Thai there's Saffron Noodles and Saffron Chicken on India St.

...gotta run to the airport to pick up my SO...

Dana

[DanaSD]

almost forgot one of my favorite Asian restaurants thats in the reasonably priced catagory

Spice Thai Cafe in Del Mar and Rancho Bernardo. Their lunch specials are a great deal! And they have many vegetarian selections although my favorite is the kai curry chicken.
http://sandiego.citysearch.com/E/V/SANCA/0013/01/08/