Anthony Wilson Guitar Quartet
Robert Bush 8:35 a.m., May 25
Sneak Joint: Booze > Burgers
It looks like Ed Bedford mentioned the bottomless pasta bowl at this Mission Beach bar a while back. I didn't ...
Eating for Pennies at Benny’s
What makes me jump off the #2 bus I don’t know. Well, maybe I do. Usually I’ve zinged past this ...
Afternoon Tea at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort
For many years now, my daughter and I have treated ourselves to tea at the Park Hyatt Aviara, formerly the ...
Breakfast at the Gathering
After 26 years in business, the Gathering is a Mission Hills landmark to be sure. It's normally hard to stay ...
New Plans for an Old Love
I’ve passed by Jimmy Love’s American Restaurant & Bar in the Gaslamp easily a hundred times over the past decade. ...
Growing Pains Subside for El Take it Easy
I happened to run into Jay, the highly visible owner of El Take it Easy and the Linkery, the other ...
Venissimo Del Mar & Its Options Grow
I was recently asked: “If it were the last meal of your life, what would you eat?” I’m used to ...
TJ: Octopus Surprise
I’m lost. But my buddy Hector buzzes through the calles like a kid heading for the toy store. We’re in ...
Pho UTC and Grill
I seem to be on a newly hatched restaurant bender. I can’t help myself, I’m impatient by nature. Being a ...
Juan Chou Sushi and Tacos
Formerly the El Camino in South Park, Juan Chou is a fairly recent addition to the neighborhood. The illustrated sign, ...
Food Truck Lunch: Sushi Ninjas
I live in an area that draws food trucks by the dozens. The many business parks lining the 805 around ...
McP's: Naughty Lunch Where the Seals Eat
Carla and I jes’ went wicked today. Her hair day on the Island Republic of Coronado. I was showing her ...
Art, Beer and a Barn in the Ranch
I heard a rumor there was an art class going on in Scripps Ranch. As a writer, I like to ...
Vegan Evolution Fast Food
After eating a pescetarian diet for a year, the pro-wrestlers of my mind have settled on a few key ideas. ...
Subs 2 Go
I was just cruising through Golden Hill and I spotted the "now serving fruit salads" sign from the road. The ...
A Visit to Cueva Bar
I hadn't been to Cueva Bar (2123 Adams Avenue) in a while. I paid a visit last night and I ...
A Carlsbad Farm-to-Table Restaurant: Bistro West
Wow, I’m so glad that I write about food for the Reader! Otherwise, Saturday night without our daughter could have ...
Tomorrow: Bike to Brunch
Tomorrow, if anyone feels so inclined, it's Bikes n' Brunch at the Pearl Hotel on Rosecrans Street. The deal is ...
Weekend Debut Set for Mother Earth Tap House
I was packing my bags for Portland, Oregon, when suddenly my iPhone buzzed. An email had just come in from ...
New Kid on the (Market) Block
Wow. Brand new on Market. This used to be some sort of donut place. But this week I go past, ...
Sincerely Surprised: Samurai Japanese Restaurant
It’s a shame, really, but a lot of the time lunch is a chore. When you’re working, and time gets ...
'Q'ing in Kansas City, Downtown
“My dear chap, this must be the cleanest city in the world.” These words from my English buddy Robin who ...
Molcajete: My Favorite Soul Food
Some people overcompensate for shortcomings by purchasing gargantuan SUVs or wearing blinged-out Rolexes. Me, I put an accent on the ...
New Wine Bar: Paris, California?
Still in the East Village (see Buddhist Sandwiches, below), I spot this guy unlocking a door on Tenth Avenue, near ...
Buddhist Sandwiches At the New Library?
East Village dead? Not if you walk around the ballpark. I'm on 11th, Right beside the new library. On my ...
Lucky's
I had spotted this place a while back and mistakenly assumed it was closed since it's distinctively shabby on the ...
A.R. Valentien Chef Stepping Out of Kitchen & Into The Fishery
Typically, reporting a chef move entails talking about what the incoming chef will bring to his new kitchen. In this ...
Taste of Little Italy
Taste of Little Italy begins tonight at 5 p.m. This self-guided walking tour allows residents and visitors of San Diego ...
Ideal Beer Release Event Found at Lost Abbey
In the beer world, there’s something that’s universally loved and loathed — specialty beer release events. Back in the day, ...
It's Rich Living at the Sublime Ale House
When I hear from several people that a restaurant is good, it’s time to give it a shot. That’s what ...
Mai, oh Mai Tai, Plus a Great Take on PB&J
Over the years, one thing has instigated my trips to Bali Hai—mai tais. Umbrella drinks may harken to a bleaker ...
Jimmy Carter's Mexican Cafe
What can I say, I assumed the Hillcrest restaurant was named after the ex-President. It wasn't. I asked. My server ...
A First Look at Ariccia Italian Market
I posted about the opening of a new Italian deli/grocery, Ariccia Italian Market, a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve ...
Patty's Fruitland: So Good, So Good For You
I’ve always remembered the story José Montez told me first time I popped in here, how he had come up ...
First Look: Hillcrest Brewing Company
It's only been open for a week, so this isn't intended as a conclusive verdict on the self-styled "first gay ...
A Decadent "Au-Re-Foie" at Red Light District
Red Light District—it’s quite possibly the best restaurant you’re not eating at. At least that’s what it looks like when ...
Breakfast at Crest Cafe
This Hillcrest staple is celebrating thirty years in business this year. Because of that, my expectation was that the food ...
Ribbon Cut, Doors Open: White Labs is Open for Business
Friday afternoon, Mayor Jerry Sanders wielded his giant novelty scissors, snapping them shut on a yellow ribbon on the threshold ...
Philly Grill
I finally stopped into this miniscule steak sandwich shop on University Avenue after passing by it almost daily for years. ...
Babycakes California Casual Cafe Opens in Morley Field
This was news to me, but as of yesterday the new Babycakes Cafe opened up right next to the tennis ...
Karl Strauss Homebrew Competition Succumbs to Brown-Out
If you’ve never attended a meeting of a local homebrewing club or had the chance to taste award winning entries ...
In the Barrio: Breakfast Bagel at Ellie’s Deli
Passing El-Vis in the Barrio. Honest. He’s there with Marilyn. And a bunch of cows… http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/jun/16/26370/ So okay, they’re full-size, ...
First Taste at Fabrison’s II
Reporting live from the Republic of Coronado… Had to stop at Fabrison’s, on Day Two of their opening week, see ...
Bacon as Metaphor: the Lifecycle of a Culinary Trend
I first heard about it on KPBS in the morning. They announced it as filler between news items of bigger ...
Homecoming for a Pair of Village People
Most of my meals are strategized. Typically, it’s to provide myself and those who read my work a taste of ...
The La Costa Wine Company: Where Even a Monday Can Turn Into a Party!
During our cul-de-sac viewing of the recent solar eclipse, my neighbor turned hostess by bringing out wine, cheese, and crackers ...
Babbo's Bar and Grille
Fact: my former neighbors owned the Gulf Coast Grille that was on Park Boulevard at the border of University Heights ...
Another Opening: French Invade Coronado!
Fabrison’s, the French café-crepery (1425 India) that actually gives you lessons in how to speak French, has another grand opening. ...
Napizza: First Taste...
OK. Have made it into Napizza (1702 India Street, Little Italy, 619-696-0802). And the first thing is, they do have ...
Local Habit Celebrates Anniversary with Special Beer and a Special Election
Hillcrest Cali-Creole and craft beer haven, Local Habit, is about to turn one. It seems like only yesterday I was ...
Breakfast at Olive Cafe
I've been trying to get down to the beach communities at least a little bit more frequently as of late, ...
Pizza Revolution Starts Today!
The slow-rise pizza revolution is at hand! Today (Tuesday) Napizza Al Taglio flings its doors open (1702 India Street, at ...
Musical Chef Shuffle at Donovan's Prime Seafood
There’s a reason The Reader has a blog subcategory called Musical Chefs. The local restaurant industry is huge and constantly ...
Yum Yum Yo
While out searching for a sandwich shop (that turned out to be closed), I passed by Yum Yum Yo at ...
Marie's Cafe: Massive Burgers and Milkshakes
So, if the Ed Bedford report on Marie's Cafe from a year ago is any indication, this North Park eatery ...
A Different Kind of Health Food at Alchemy
Few factions offer as formidable a brand of camaraderie as the cheffing community. Theirs is a line of work where ...
Proper
I hadn't tried this downtown gastropub yet for a series of reasons; some good, others not. I won't list them ...
Elephant and Castle: Beat This View!
Gotta say. This time of a Friday evening, you can't beat the waterfront. Sitting here at sunset waiting for the ...
How to Cook (and Eat) Balut
I got embroiled in a conversation the other day with a colleague of Vietnamese extraction named Lydia. For whatever reason, ...
Ogawashi’s Coming!
The signs are up, the rolled architects’ plans are on the work tables, the “Hiring” signs are plastered over the ...
A House Built by Fusion: Gaijin Noodle + Sake House
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/jun/08/25864/ Executive Chef and owner, Antonio Friscia, doesn’t exactly look like the guy to head an Asian noodle house. The ...
Coming Attractions: Ariccia Italian Market in La Jolla
Ariccia Italian Market in La Jolla is slated for a June 14th opening. Co-owners Robert Pascucci and Stephanie Savchuk state ...
Starbucks Coronado: No Whine, No Wine
Starbucks Coronado is taking a hit. Make that two hits. In one month. The outlet (it’s at 960 Orange Avenue, ...
French Revolution Chez Loma!
The smell of primer is what hits you first when you walk into Chez Loma, Coronado’s longtime French eatery (1132 ...
Dumplings, Pot Stickers, and Buns Galore at Dumpling Inn
A week or so ago, I decided to blindly try out a restaurant on Convoy. I found it online, liked ...
Coming Attractions: Sally and Henry's Doghouse Bar & Grill
Dog friendly restaurants and bars are getting to be pretty common, and a new place in the Hillcrest/Banker's Hill neighborhood ...
Vegan Cuisine Popping Up with Craft Beer in North Park
It’s something I accepted about myself a long time ago. While I respect vegans (hey, more meat for me, right?), ...
Sima's Grill & Deli
When I decided to sell my home, right in the middle of the mortgage meltdown of 1998, I left my ...
Swiener: Fondue on a Stick?
The red tent draws me across the Petco Park parking lot. Then the smell of sausages cooking hauls my schnozzle ...
Big Front Door Opens in University Heights
It's been open for all of four days now, but the Big Front Door is already showing a lot of ...
Flamenco, Tapas, and Sangria at Vagabond Kitchen
On Sunday June 10, the eclectic South Park world bistro Vagabond Kitchen (2310 30th Street) will be paying homage to ...
Korean Fusion Amid a Club Atmosphere at Fuze
I’d noticed it a couple of times while driving down Mira Mesa Boulevard, and always at night. A large black ...
Five Generations of Italian Tradition at Café Barbera
A new, traditional Italian coffee shop has just opened in Hillcrest, filling the gap caused by the untimely closing of ...
Sky's the Limit for Former Red Velvet Chef Luke Johnson
It’s been over a year since I lamented on the loss of a very talented chef when Red Velvet Wine ...
Contributing to an Upcoming San Diego Beer Cookbook
Back in April, I reported that San Diego-based company, Chefs Press, is in the process of compiling recipes from individuals ...
The Queen’s Jubilee: Banger Celebration!
This being Jubilee Week for the Brits, I just had to pop in to The Princess pub on India Street ...
The Butcher Shop
I don't usually head up to Kearny Mesa for dinner. It's just not a pleasant bike ride. But I had ...
The Winners of the 3rd Annual I Love Poke Festival
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/jun/04/25573/ Last Wednesday, I had one of the best birthdays ever. Why? I spent the evening judging the 3rd Annual ...
Maybe Green Flash has Key to “Super Local” Mystery
In a post last week about a new “super local” tavern opening in Hillcrest, I openly wondered what the term ...
Cantina Mayahuel: Happy Hour, After Hour, After Hour
Unobtrusively perched on Adams Avenue in Normal Heights, Cantina Mayahuel has what just might be the longest happy hour I've ...
South Beach Bar and Grill
My plans to get to the bar at the end of Newport Street in OB took forever to come to ...
The Peanut Buster Parfait: Hot Sex with a Dimwit
Once a year or so, for the past, say, two decades, I get a sudden craving for a Peanut Buster ...
A Bummer of a Blended Coffee Drink
It’s a matter of pride for me that I take my coffee black with no sugar. Not just because it ...
Afternoons at the Mission
I've visited the North Park branch of the Mission restaurant for breakfast a few times. There is usually a line ...
A First Look at d Bar Desserts
Several weeks ago I wrote about the pending opening of d Bar Desserts, the new pastry shop/casual bistro located on ...
Sagmani’s: 99-Cent Garden of Eatin’
I had forgotten about the wonderful Mr. Sagmani till right now, seven in the evening, humping down into El Cajon ...
