Feast! entries for February, 2012

Top Dogs in Coronado - Soon

Coronado’s hot dog fanatics are just gonna have to wait a little bit longer. That’s what co-owner Kirsten Bertz says. ...

Free Burgers with a Side of Nostalgia at Corvette Diner

One of the first times I thought myself to have discerning food tastes was when all my friends were celebrating ...

Ikea Meatballs

“Feed them and they will continue to shop” is, I imagine, the idea behind the Ikea restaurant. Last Sunday, when ...

Eastlake's Mea Kwan 2

On the last night of my mom's visit, she requested Thai food. I’d seen Mea Kwan 2 (Eastlake) on the ...

Fish Fetish - PB Fish Shop

Since recently becoming a pescatarian (after being a vegetarian for 13 years), the Pacific Beach Fish Shop has quickly become ...

Vagabond Welcomes Executive Chef Paul Niles

On the tail end of a week celebrating their sixth year as a staple South Park eclectic bistro, Vagabond recently ...

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Harsh: hArt Will Pump Paninis...Soon

Dateline: hArt Lounge, East Village. Harsh Bohra was a typical starving 3rd year student at downtown’s NewSchool of Architecture and ...

Cafe on Park for Lunch

The inside of this cafe is undeniably charming. The expanded dining room on the restaurant's north side is a bit ...

Gluten-Free Lunch at Brockton Villa

I have been promising my mom a visit to Brockton Villa for over a year, but every time she’s been ...

Chula Vista's Via Lago Trattoria

Last December, after closing on our new house in Chula Vista, our real estate agent gave my husband and me ...

$10 Lunch: Prado Restaurant

As much as I dig a good diner, I would most often opt to sip chardonnay and munch on caviar ...

Nami Sushi: Big Lunch on the Cheap

It's usually better to go for a sushi place that's at least a little more upscale. The elevated cost is ...

The Nastiest Thing I've Ever Eaten (And Maybe Kind of Liked)

A little while back, Barbarella stopped in to Yu Me Ya Sake House on the corner of Fourth and University. ...

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Crazy Chicken (Packaging) at El Pollo Loco

First off, the meal that our buddies Ria and Maggie brought around was fantastic. It was for the Oscars. I ...

33 on 3/3

Earlier this month, I wrote a five-piece summary of a trip to five Vista breweries. My first stop was to ...

Raglan Public House

The official grand opening is over and done with and the New Zealand themed bar and restaurant in Ocean Beach ...

Vision Cafe

This little, Ethiopian coffee shop is a bit sequestered in an ugly plaza at the corner of Madison and 30th ...

The One and Only Chicken Pie Shop!

It's a legend, a landmark, and a lifestyle all rolled into one. It lurks in its nondescript building along the ...

New Bakery in Downtown Chula Vista

Errands day often includes a stop for treats. Last week, I spied a new bakery in downtown Chula Vista, which ...

Gabardine in March

Two whole months with no new resto debut? It's almost eerie not to see restaurateur partners Brian Malarkey and James ...

$10 Lunch: Jimmy's by the Park

The search for a grilled cheese sandwich on errands day landed the little one and me at Jimmy’s by the ...

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Missionary Revives Caesar, His Salad...And Now His City?

First signs of a TJ revival? Check out the New Yorker’s profile of Javier Plascencia, missionary chef of Tijuana. It’s ...

First Step in Culinary Evolutionary Announced

Last month, I reported on chef Daniel Barron's departure from Blue Point Coastal Cuisine and his emergence under the flag ...

$1 Wine at Tre Porcellini

The little, Italian restaurant on University Avenue has received the full treatment from the Reader in the past. Consider this ...

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Best Coffee (And Loaded Bagels) In Town?

Best coffee? It might be here in Old Town. It’s called Van Houtte, and it’s a dark Fair Trade, organic ...

Validation for a Self-Confirmed Beer Nerd

I love beer. So much so, I’ve made a career writing about it. I’m not a hop-head or a Belgo-phile. ...

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$5 Pizza - The Seinfeld Way

Five bucks. That’s all I paid for two slices of pizza, a hefty little salad, and a soda. Taking the ...

Mission Hills' New (Brooklyn) Girl Gets New Guy

Brooklyn Girl, an eatery inspired by the edible artisanal renaissance occurring in the community it takes its name from, is ...

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Fat Tuesday in Cre-Ol' Town: New Orleans Creole Cafe

Mardi Gras? Didn’t make it downtown. But: Did make it to the nearest thing to N’Awlins in this fair city, ...

Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant

Tucked in back of the Hillcrest Uptown District center, Aladdin is a better-than-average Lebanese/Mediterranean restaurant that is worth checking out ...

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Ribs Or, Uh, Artichoke?

Still at Pacific Star. (See "Breakfast Under the Trolley," below). Problem is, I get to watching the danged soccer match ...

Teriyaki Rice Bowl: Sushi House

I never gave teriyaki rice bowls much thought until my daughter began eating solid food and joining me on frequent ...

Sushi House: 40 pieces for $16.95

M likes to surprise me on our date nights. He uses the Internet and friend recommendations to scout out places ...

Breakfast Under the Trolley

You sit right under the oncoming trolley. True! The old 422 is bursting through the wall right above you as ...

Prepkitchen Standards Survive Little Italy Jaunt Intact

Good, uncomplicated food and a level of consistency necessary for a quality chain is what’s impressed me about Prepkitchen since ...

Dr. Juice

Finding a good juice bar is a bit unexpected in La Jolla Village, but thoroughly cool. The little shop has ...

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Gone! Last Dollar Coffee in S.D.?

Shock! Horror! $1 coffees - and that's for medium coffees, the most popular size -are gone at Cafe Madrid! Café ...

Sabuku Sushi

With its chic, modern decor, Sabuku Sushi sticks out a little bit on its more typically bohemian stretch of Adams ...

A Seriously Rockin’ Brew at Pizza Port O.B.

Music and craft beer are two of my foremost passions. One makes up the majority of my daily caloric intake, ...

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Anthony: An End, A Beginning

“I think we were the pioneers of happy hour around here,” says Anthony Zizzo. “You should have come.” Dang it. ...

Eat, Drink, and Make New Friends at Blind Lady Ale House

If you’re looking for a place to have a quiet, intimate evening, DO NOT go to Blind Lady Ale House. ...

Cohn Restaurant Group Uncorking a New Concept in Hillcrest

Some restaurant names leave a lot to the imagination. The most recent addition to the Cohn Restaurant Group family, BO-beau, ...

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Bicycle Happy Hour at Empire House Urban Palate

Running off the inertia of Saturday’s Bike the Boulevard ride, cycle your way over to Empire House Urban Palate in ...

Tacos and Opera: Los Pueblos

Finding a good place to stop for lunch between errands can be challenging, especially when your errands take you to ...

Two New Shrimp Tacos at Rubio's

Yesterday I attended a tasting event at Rubio’s in Torrey Highlands, where two new menu items were introduced to food ...

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Two-Buck Chow Downtown

“I’ll give it to you for $4,” says Sim. Boy, talk about in the nick of… It’s 9 o’clock on ...

$7 Lunch: Venissimo Cheese

I’m what you might call a Cheese Head, for no other reason than that I love cheese. I am not, ...

Eastlake Sushi: Bento & Noodles

As a new resident of Chula Vista, I’m on the lookout for a go-to sushi joint in my neighborhood. I’d ...

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Fresh Soup for Sale: Decker Brothers

Earlier this week, my old man and I had a conversation about that phenomenon where you hear of something (a ...

Satisfy a Sweet Tooth at Centifonti's

One day last week, my good friend S said she wanted to take me to Centifonti’s. I didn’t understand what ...

A Whole Different Animal in the East Village

Last night, I headed to Neighborhood in the East Village for an impromptu casual meal. I’ve been here many times ...

Dobson's: Let the Other Soup Drop

So what was I doing without Carla in Dobson’s? (See "About Last Night...", below). Fact was, like last time (See ...

Bo's Seafood Market and Grill: Worth the Cost of Entry

Tucked away in the Hillcrest Uptown plaza, Bo's is partially hidden in plain sight. Despite being a few yards away ...

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About Last Night…

Do people take Valentine’s Day Seriously? Last night in the Gaslamp, you’d better believe it. It was a Tuesday but ...

Despite Big Bite, Zimmern Misses Out on Some SD Flavor

Last week, as I was flying out of San Diego to attend San Francisco Beer Week, a TV celebrity was ...

How to Eat at Brian's

Step 1: Await the Weekend Brian's keeps normal hours on weekdays, but on the weekends it's a 24-hour after-party paradise. ...

Del: Watch Your Dinner Grow

Not that I’ll ever eat there, prices being what they are, but the Hotel Del’s 1500 Ocean and its other ...

Stick with Tea at the Tea Pavilion

When planning a recent trip to the Japanese Friendship Garden, I had my mind set on lunch at the Tea ...

Asian-inspired Mexican Street Food Sans Truck Exhaust

Asian tacos and burritos — they're not just for food trucks anymore. In early March, Taco Banh, a new non-mobile ...

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Beach Bar On B: Tide Out?

Is W's beach under threat? W, the hotel that gave us The Beach Bar two stories above street level, is ...

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Little Italy Spreads to Columbia!

More changes a-coming in the office district around Columbia and B. So far, Karl Strauss and the W Hotel have ...

Bice Food Fight Bids Fond Farwell to Foie Gras

Come July 1, production of a most delicious and controversial gourmet ingredient will be banned in California. That tasty taboo-to-be ...

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Karl Piles on the Chicken

“Happy Hour?” I ask the guy cleaning an outside table. “You’ve got ten minutes, sir.” All right! I’ve been trying ...

Le Dîner à San Diego: Evening in White

Le Dîner à San Diego will debut in San Diego this May. Inspired by Dîner en Blanc, the refined flash ...

Mobile Cuisine: Tabe BBQ

I've never eaten at a food truck before. Correction, I've never eaten at a food truck that had a name ...

Donut Haven

In the restaurant industry, thirty years in business is dynastic. Thirty years of business in a vibrant, Uptown neighborhood that's ...

Cuppa Soup: Filter Coffee House

Saturday afternoon, 3:00 p.m. I’ve missed lunch and am hungry as hell. But early dinner plans make me hesitant to ...

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$10 Lunch (for Two): Target

We eat well at home. Salad accompanies the pasta every time it’s my turn to cook. When my husband cooks, ...

Luna Grill

The Luna Grill replaces a failed Chinese restaurant in this no doubt high rent, make-or-break-it location in the heart of ...

Jersey Joe's Pizza

Jersey Joe's is on that less popular stretch of University Ave east of Park Boulevard, where the vibe is a ...

Kiko's Place

Acknowledgements are due to deniseathome for leaving a comment about Kiko's Place at the bottom of my bit on Los ...

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Uptown’s Two Buck Chuck

Still in Uptown. Late at nite, echoey streets, kinda closed down except for that wunnerful hot dog joint (see below) ...

d Bar Desserts is Coming to Hillcrest

d Bar Desserts, the Denver-based pastry shop/casual bistro, is coming to San Diego. Chef Keegan Gerhard's second venture will be ...

Uptown Grunge Dog?

So, I was wandering along University around eleven at night, looking for a bus, any bus that’d take me downtown. ...

Western Steakburger

Western Steakburger is not the hippest place to grind a burger and some fries. It might be the least cool ...

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Nunzia's Meat Loaf, With Poetry

Oh man. Last night. Can’t believe I’m here. Sitting at a table with a rose in a vase, listening to ...

Barron Looking to "Evolve" with New Venture

Two weeks ago, I reported chef Daniel Barron's departure from Blue Point Coastal Cuisine. I also shared the opinion that ...

Arrow Wars on Fifth

Trottin’ down Fifth t’other night around ten, into the belly of the beast, da Gaslamp. Course my own belly's bawling ...

Bayu's Ethiopian: Say "No" to Forks!

Bayu's has been open for just over a year at the corner of 5th and University in Hillcrest. Despite it's ...

Off the Beaten Path: Mystic Mocha

The most mysterious thing about Mystic Mocha in University Heights is where in the heck it's located. Tucked into a ...

A Safe Supping Gamble at Sycuan

Last summer, I reported Augie Saucedo’s departure from The Shores Restaurant to become executive chef at Sycuan Golf & Tennis ...

It's all French at Jason’s Coffee Cart

Is that…could it be…? Jason! I’d know that face anywhere. Even here in Old Town. “I bought this,” he says. ...

The Barrel & the Beast at Alchemy February 21st

As of this writing, seats are still available for the inaugural Alchemy/Hamilton's quarterly beer dinner. "The Barrel and the Beast," ...

Rainy Day Lunch at Edo Sushi

Edo Sushi in University City is a busy place, popular with students and neighborhood residents, with friendly, fast service. It's ...

$10 Lunch: Swami's

One of the 99 reviews of Swami’s on Yelp begins, “This place is simply an amazing organic food restaurant.” Though ...

Super Sticky Bun and Fun Bathroom Art at Cosmos Coffee Cafe

My friend S wanted to meet for lunch in La Mesa. But that wouldn’t be ‘til noon, and I needed ...

Four High-Ranking Arguments for Staycationing

As we've all trudged our way through the economic downturn, the word "staycation" has become extremely popular. As a native ...

Ballast Point's Newest Spirit Surfacing in Bay Park

Of late, a number of local bars and their associated tenders have been warding off the alcohol world's most transparent ...

Ramzee's Mediterranean Mexican and the Quest for the Gyro Burrito

This is a highly personal tale for me. Several years ago, I had a gyro burrito at the Greek Sombrero ...

$10 Lunch: Aunt Emma's Pancakes

I have a fondness for diners. They remind me of the cigarettes, coffee, and grilled-cheese sandwiches (if I could afford ...

The Unch Side of Snooze

A couple weeks ago, Mary Beth Abate filled you in on breakfast at Hillcrest’s newest “AM eatery,” Snooze. Boasting natural ...

Fish Rolled Tacos at Los Panchos

I won't claim that Los Panchos is the best taco shop in town, not by a long shot. The most ...

Counterpoint

Just a stone's throw from a freeway on-ramp, Counterpoint seems a little out of place on its otherwise unassuming block ...

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Lime-Flavored Joy At the End Of the Road

This is the end of the road. End of Harbor Drive. Here in National City it turns into Civic Center ...

Buzzed in Sorrento Valley: Zumbar Coffee

Zumbar Coffee is tucked away in a tiny strip off Sorrento Valley Road in the Golden Triangle, right near the ...

Food Truck Fundraiser for Alice Birney Elementary School

The New Vision Christian Church in University Heights is hosting a food truck rally today from 3:30 to 7 p.m. ...

A Winged Detour: Empire House Urban Palate

I was all set to get some errands done when I noticed that Empire House Urban Palate, on University Avenue ...

Vista Beer Tour: Iron Fist Brewing

Part V Looking back on this week chronicling each stop of my tour of Vista's breweries, it's hard to believe ...

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Feast! Entries for February, 2012