Opera fathers
Garrett Harris 12:36 a.m., June 19
Kebab King
Kebab shops seem to be springing up all over the place, which is a nice trend. One of the most ...
Vista Beer Tour: Aztec Brewing Company
Part II The second stop on my tour of Vista breweries was Aztec Brewing Company, a business started August of ...
An Education in Ottoman Pastry: La Cafe
I love finding a food that I haven't seen before. I wandered into La Cafe on Regents Road in University ...
The Smoking Goat is Expanding Its Pasture
The Smoking Goat, the casual, busy French/American bistro on 30th just north of Upas in North Park, is expanding. Owner ...
Underbelly Scheduled for Some Serious Bloating this Summer
For most, opening a modern homage to traditional Japanese noodle houses would be enough to garner plenty of oohs and ...
$10 Lunch (for two!): Cali Baguette Express
Say the word “sandwich” and my first thought is, Blah. I eat them, yes, but rarely do they move me. ...
On the Roundabout: Beaumont's Eatery
Chef Scott Cathcart of Beaumont's Eatery in Bird Rock recently unveiled some new items for their winter menu, including a ...
The Lazy Hummingbird: Coffee and Culture in OB
In the comments section of my bit on Industrial Grindl, a reader suggested I visit Lazy Hummingbird coffee in Ocean ...
Vista Beer Tour: Latitude 33 Brewing Company
Part I Brewhouses are opening at an astounding rate around San Diego County, but no one region has experienced as ...
Happiness for Two at Flavors of East Africa
I’m big on atmosphere. Give me a place where the music and the decor aid my fantasies of world travel ...
Prime Rib, Prime View
Whew. Travelin’ with da rich and famous now. Carla’s buddy Linda has just come back from Hong Kong with her ...
Dinner at the Range
A few months ago, Barbarella gave the lowdown on breakfast at the Range in Hillcrest at that all windows spot ...
Nice Happy Hour Find at — Gasp! — a Chain
Having recently relocated from the land of cheap, multi-culti eateries (City Heights) to the kingdom of chain restaurants (Eastlake), I ...
Burn, Baby, Burn: Bahn Thai Not Scared of Spice
There's a guy in tears at one of the three small tables inside Banh Thai. There are three more tables ...
Coming Attractions: Towne Bakery
Del Mar Highlands Town Center is quickly becoming a well-rounded nosh zone. Burlap provides upscale yet accessible eats for the ...
San Diego Chef Awarded Top French Title
Chef Patrick Ponsaty, chef de cuisine at the Loew's Coronado Bay restaurant Mistral, has been awarded the title of Maître ...
Hip to Be Square: Harry's Coffee Shop
Harry's Coffee Shop in La Jolla opened in 1960, and judging from the wall of fame in the back of ...
Industrial Grind Coffee: Hard to Find Caffeine
Normally, I don't go for mid-afternoon coffee, even though it's my favorite time of day to drink the stuff. I ...
Girls at Gossip Grill
Hillcrest can sometimes seem like a Boys Town -- if my many friends are any indication, men of the LGBT ...
Specialty of the House: Searsucker Entree
A Feast! feature in which your humble correspondent visits a restaurant and orders the specialty of the house. Yee-haw! "It's ...
Specialty of the House: Searsucker
A Feast! feature in which your humble correspondent visits a restaurant and orders the specialty of the house. Subtle! Up ...
Carla To Grumpy: A Little of What Ye Fancy...
“Code Stroke, ER, Bed Number Three! Code Stroke, ER, Bed Number Three…” It’s the hospital sound system. “Sounds like “Code ...
Taco Tuesdays at Bravo's in Ocean Beach
In a city where burritos and Tecate are our bread and wine, taco Tuesdays are the Holy Sabbath, and there’s ...
And More Haggis!
Hey, Mary Beth. I've got a haggis story too (see her story right below). Happened last Saturday. Carla's and my ...
Robden of Solway Firth: Rabbie Burns Supper Today at The Linkery and El Take It Easy
My love may be like a red, red rose, but my appetite runs in more carnivorous directions. To that end, ...
Barron San Diego's Latest Kitchenless Chef
When the Cohn Restaurant Group brought aboard executive chef Daniel Barron, a chef who treats his kitchen like a laboratory ...
Calling John Montagu: Mama's Grill
It's a good thing that John Montagu liked to play cards and talk. At least, so the legend goes. As ...
Buena Onda at Lotus Cafe Hillcrest
For any hip, Uptown denizen who's ever coveted the good vibrations and the mellow ways of the deeply tanned and ...
Tijuana: Dogs de la Calle
Shout out to the real thing. Past couple of times coming back from TJ I’ve ended up on the street, ...
Two Buck Sliders
Whoo hoo. What a deal. Popped in to Stout Public House (1125 6th Avenue, downtown, 619-702-7933) during happy hours (which ...
First Look: Prepkitchen Little Italy
Before comfort food and reclaimed chic were the trends in America's Finest, there was Whisnkladle. The product of young restaurateur, ...
Specialty of the House: Quality Social
A Feast! feature in which your humble correspondent visits a restaurant and orders the specialty of the house. Me, last ...
Superior Buttercream at Cupcakes Squared
The cupcake craze of the recent past is gone, but the cupcake shops remain. It's likely that most of them ...
Gastronomic Girl Power on the 101
Last year, Encinitas' St. Germain's Bistro & Cafe brought aboard Kaitlin Ramos to fill their executive chef vacancy. This move ...
Urge Gastropub Black Out
Urge Gastropub in Rancho Bernardo will host their First Annual Black Out and San Diego Top Brewers Book Signing on ...
Tijuana: The Purse in the Ball
I walk into the hall in the ball. Seriously. Cecut. Centro Cultural, Tijuana. Around 8.30 at night. And man! You ...
Las Gorditas Restaurant
Gorditas ("little fatties") are a taco-alternative that aren't as widely available as burritos or quesadillas. Made from masa dough that's ...
Urbn Pizza: New Haven Natives Have Their Say
Urbn Coal Fired Pizza has made it known that their speciality pizza is crafted in the Neopolitan style popular in ...
Food, the Cashless Economy, and Local Business
Local businesses love food. Sometimes, they like it more than money...within reason. Try this: next time you're planning on making ...
(Way) Better than Airplane Food
“Well, it’s better than airplane food,” says Ken. “And Surly Jim here makes a good vodka.” OK, so damned with ...
Don't Sleep In: Snooze
Snooze, the latest addition to the block of Fifth Avenue between University and Washington in Hillcrest, calls itself "an AM ...
Brooklyn Girl Eatery Slated for February Opening
I saw the open doors at Brooklyn Girl Eatery, the new Michael and Victoria McGeath restaurant, so I stopped to ...
Two Ways to Find Foodie Solace
Now that chef and restaurateur Matt Gordon has gotten through the first several months at his newest eatery, Solace and ...
Deciphering Wine Labels at The Loft
Reading and correctly interpreting wine labels, particularly non-USA wine labels, can be challenging. Add a pretentious shop owner or a ...
Extra Motiva-TION to Hit SD’s Oldest Craft Beer Bar
A bar stool at San Diego’s most venerable craft beer bar, O’Brien’s Pub, on an uncharacteristically busy Wednesday night turned ...
Van Gogh and the Three Candles
The three candles burn bright in their candelabra. It sits on the console in the middle of this ol’ horseshoe ...
Free Movies at 98 Bottles Tonight!
Time to get your nerd on. Tonight 98 Bottles on Kettner Boulevard in Little Italy is hosting Free Epic Movie ...
More Than Just Salads: Casa de Luz
"I don't like using the word 'macrobiotic' to describe our food", says Eduardo (Wayo) Longoria III, "it sounds too science-y. ...
Soup & Sandwiches (in that order) at Bolillo Tortas
Gringos are familiar with the taco, burrito, enchilada and extreme nacho sections of Mexican to-go joints. They’re the unofficial signature ...
(Get) Naked Cafe
Tucked in a strip mall on Rosecrans Street between Midway Drive and Sports Arena Boulevard, a small vegetarian/vegan-friendly restaurant named ...
Your Own Personal Skybox
Wandered up here by accident. Saw the sign by the elevators in the Marriott (at Marriott Gaslamp, 660 K Street, ...
Uncle Biff's "Killer" Cookies: Non-Lethal, Celebrity Endorsed!
Uncle Biff's "Killer" Cookies has been in business for 21 years now, which is no mean feat along a stretch ...
Grazie e arrivederci: Caffe Vergnano 1882
Sadly, Caffe Vergnano 1882, the Italian coffee shop on Fifth Avenue, just off University, is no more. I'd been there ...
Set in Concrete: Rossman Opening New Restaurant
Chef Jeff Rossman is pretty well known around San Diego. He’s helmed his restaurant, Terra (in its first iteration in ...
Sunday Supper: Osteria Romantica
Osteria Romantica, on Avenida del Playa in La Jolla, could be straight out of a movie set, from it's pretty ...
New York Style 'Za at Ciro's Hillcrest
Pizza is problematic. With the plethora of regional styles, identifying what separates a great slice from the mediocre hordes is ...
Catching The Wave
So after the adventure (see Rabbit For Breakfast?), and no rabbit to cook on a fire, and all that mud ...
Lunch at Bangkok West
I'd heard the name, Bangkok West, from my father, usually in passing, as in, "I had lunch at" or "I'm ...
Rabbit for Breakfast?
Dang. Thought I was going to get me a free rabbit breakfast this morning. Went out into the fields of ...
Back to Basics: Canada Steak Burger
I've been eating a lot of fancy pants food lately. There's nothing wrong with that, but by Friday, all I ...
Best Dog In the Galaxy?
Is this the best hot dog in the universe? OMG. It’s increíble! And tastes as good as it looks. I’m ...
Mom's Pies: Fuel for Famished Cyclists (or Other People) in Julian
The January Ride that runs up Kitchen Creek, over Laguna Mountain, along Sunrise Highway, and finally up to Julian makes ...
Surfin' Veggie Burrito
Within the confines of Pacific Beach, Mission Blvd. is the nearest street parallel to the edge of the continent. For ...
Hoai Hue: Serving the OTHER Vietnamese Soup
Apologies in advance to the Vietnamese language. The proper characters just don't exist on most keyboards in the US. That ...
An Early Visit to Gingham
First, it should be noted that this is not a proper review. Gingham just opened this week, and the pieces ...
Afternoon Sun and Lunch at Savory Deli
The primacy of the burrito as the lunch item of record in SD remains unthreatened, but there are some delightful ...
BLAH 2.0: Tiger! Tiger!
I've been to Blind Lady Ale House a few times, though not recently, and I've had good beer and pizza. ...
Chef Jason Maitland Resurfacing in Red Light District
Close dining scene observers were surprised last year by the sudden separation of chef Jason Maitland from his former restaurant, ...
Five Course Food Truck Meal?
A five-course dinner…from a food truck? Mangia Mangia, the Italian food truck, usually offers this deal Thursdays at 6.30 at ...
Vegetarian Chupacabra Burrito
Being half Mexican I am completely comfortable claiming that the Mexican food of San Diego is the best Mexican food ...
Pho Filet Mignon at Pho Fifth Avenue
I decided to drop by Pho Fifth Avenue for a bowl of steaming Pho a couple of days ago. Though ...
Last Minute Luxury: Truffle Dinner at Jsix
Like a mid-twentieth century toaster, the pop-up restaurant trend is ejecting another special one-night-only event. This time, it's the product ...
Orange Blossom: Batter Matters
Ooh. Tongue-zipper! That's the thing you remember about crêpes here: the crêpes themselves. The batter has the tang of orange ...
Rice Is Nice: Sipz Fusion Cafe
I'm not a vegetarian, but I do like vegetarian food. Well, for the most part. I tasted a Tofurkey once, ...
A Greek-Canadian Foodie Convergence
For the most part, food writers and restaurant critics operate in a vacuum. Or, at least they should. Nothing good ...
Davanti Enoteca in Del Mar
The enormously successful Francesca Restaurant Group is expanding their Southern California locations. A second Davanti Enoteca will open in the ...
Veganized at El Take It Easy
El Take It Easy will be hosting it's second Veganized evening on Wednesday, January 11th. The three-course prix fixe menu ...
Candy Lady Confesses
Man. I feel like a kid in a candy store. Wait: I am in a candy store. Never meant to, ...
Freebirds World Burrito
Considering that it's a pretty major chain, the arrival of Freebirds World Burrito in Hillcrest shouldn't make that much of ...
Sea Rocket Chef Sets Off for Malarkey's Gabardine
I should have known it when I heard they'd been palling around. Two young chefs with seemingly limitless energy and ...
Bring Back the Manila Café!
Am I the last person to see this? There I was, wandering down Fifth in the Gaslamp the other night, ...
All Pro Chefs Heat Up Super Bowl Sunday
So, you say you love food more than anything. Even more than the biggest annual sporting event in the country? ...
Liv Juice Bar: Drink Here and Live Forever?
Ok, maybe we won't live forever just from including a little freshly squeezed juice, green smoothies, and wheatgrass in our ...
Uninspired in Clairemont: Kitchen 4140
Kitchen 4140 is in an unlikely location on Morena Boulevard better known for design studios, carpet stores, and Costco. Chef ...
Healthy Hardware Hangout?
There’s something new goin’ on behind two of the oldest windows in town. I’m in deepest Gaslamp. Standing outside where ...
Sneak Peek: SOL Markets in Liberty Station
Many of us have gone to a farmer’s market, or been unable to get to one during its prescribed day ...
The Last Piece of the Del Mar’s Puzzle Is in Place
Over the past several months, I have (along with just about every local food writer) been trying to keep up ...
Grindhouse: Cafe Moto
When John and I were having breakfast at the Fig Tree Cafe recently, we noticed this hanging on the wall. ...
Free Cupcakes Next Wednesday!
How did I find out about Free Cupcakes Next Wednesday? By just about colliding with the guy waving a huge ...
Soul Food
“As my dad was dying, six years ago,” says Star, “he made me promise that I wouldn’t sell, that I’d ...
There’s a Lot of Nobility to Noble Experiment
Every time I head to Noble Experiment, the cocktail bar hidden behind a false wall of kegs in the back ...
Forbidden Love: Sprinkles Cupcakes
I have a confession to make...I love cupcakes. There, I've said it. I've loved them ever since my mother sent ...
Breakfast on the Patio: The Fig Tree Cafe
John and I were strolling around Pacific Beach a while back when we noticed a crowd of people waiting to ...
Trends: Keep It Close
If you had to pick four letters that spelled out what's happening in our restaurants this coming year, they’re “K.I.S.S.” ...
Catching UP: Urban Plates
The Del Mar Highlands Town Center is undergoing a major facelift, with a newly renovated movie theatre, new shops, and ...
Jesse James Drank Here
Back in the Barrio, heading down Cesar Chavez towards the trolley. Walk past ye olde brick building that was Chuey's ...
A Room with a View and Cocktails, Too: Candelas Coronado
It's the last official day of the holiday season, and what better way to show it out than with cocktails ...
Former Ritual Tavern Chef Is Off to Liberty Station
If you are a fan of the cuisine at Ritual Tavern, first off, I think you have good taste. Second, ...
Oceanside to Consider Opening Roads to Gourmet Food Trucks
Oceanside council will discuss amending city code to allow food trucks to operate in the City at a hearing on ...
First of Three New Brian Malarkey Restos Opening January 9
If it seems chef Brian Malarkey is everywhere these days, that’s because he pretty much is. After the runaway success ...
Sweet: Friday’s the Day
Get your walkin' boots on... At the mouth of the Sweetwater River, in the badlands west of the I-5, National ...
Dinner at the Movies: Cinepolis Del Mar Luxury Cinema
One of the pleasures of the holiday season is going to see big, loud, explosion-filled action movies. So John and ...
First Impressions: The Lion's Share
Last month, I was psyched to announce news that The Lion's Share, a craft cocktail lair with a game meat-heavy ...
Let’s Do Lonche
Was talking to Nathalie the other night. She’s one of the waitresses at this li’l ol’ place – the oldest ...
New Year Resolution: Less, But Better
New Year’s resolutions could start right here. Mine are simple: One, raw veggies. And two, I swear I’m gonna get ...
