Ed dines with conventioneers, and still leaves with change in his pocket

The kind of weather we're having, this shady western side of The Street - Fifth Avenue downtown - is definitely it. Setting sun is baking the other side. It's that time of the afternoon, before the mad rush starts, when …

"New American" bistro in Bay Ho fails to live up to the pricey standards it sets for itself.

At first look, Kitchen 4140’s summery patio and dining room ooze charm. The place looks phenomenal, like a little oasis secretly hidden in the industrial park ugly of Morena Boulevard in “Bay Ho,” which Google assures us is the correct …

Giant Indian crepes catch Ed by surprise

At first I think they’ve given me a big brown napkin to eat. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/aug/29/52272/ Then I touch it. Warm. Crispy on the rim, softer towards the center. I see it’s like a very thin, very large pancake. “This is the …

24-hour Santee donut shop has decades of personality, and tasty donuts to match.

“I’ll be heading to dinner tonight in Lakeside,” says the woman behind the counter at Mary’s Donuts (9031 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, 619-448-4800). “At the rodeo,” she adds, almost as an afterthought. That introduction, unsolicited, prompts a long discourse on …

Vietnamese restaurant in Hillcrest is a textbook example of classy, effective design.

The ideas behind designing a proper dinging room often elude restaurateurs. Part of this is because the trend right now is to create big, open spaces that are more like lofts or barns than restaurants. But hanging an Edison bulb …

Ed waits for his bus with a big glass of Merlot

It's like 10:30 at night and I've got 45 minutes till my next stretch limo. There's nothing worse than being early for something. Where to fill in the time? Choices are: the bowling lanes, East Village Tavern + Bowl (930 …

Café Lulu reaches out beyond the late night hookah crowd

"Oh heck," say Sean. "Let's make it two dollars off everything in the menu." He's planning happy hour specials for Café Lulu (419 F Street, downtown, 619-238-0114). I popped in to see if they even had a happy hour. Turns …

The third bi-annual VC&AF highlights veggie food and live music at outdoor artisanal food court.

Tijuana’s Vegetarian Cuisine and Arts Fair returns for its third bi-annual installment on Saturday, September 7 with over 15 vendors from Ensenada to Orange County. The fair will be held at Food Garden (Blvd. Rodolfo Sanchez Taboada #10650 – Zona …

A Chef takes time out from the big time to work with his family

“I was running around the world for 25 years opening restaurants for Ruth’s Chris Steak House,” says Chef Miguel Martinez. “They have over 100 restaurants all over the globe. Each time, you have to organize 50-60 trainers. It’s one on …

Coronado restaurant leaves the South behind, embracing a menu that's less clumsy, but less adventurous.

Stylistic changes to the menu at Leroy’s Kitchen (1015 Orange Avenue, Coronado, 619-437-6087) reflect the addition of a new chef in the kitchen. JC Colon, formerly of the Kensington Grill, joined Leroy’s earlier this year. Before, the kitchen was hung …

The Street talks. Ed chomps

OK, so you caught me heading for Jack In the Box (1110 C Street at City College trolley stop). Yeah, sometimes I do. Quick bite before heading down to Broadway to catch the 210 for Mira Mesa. Alas and alack: …

University Height's brand new barbecue spot breaks out the mesquite and gets it right with the tri-tip.

BBQ 81 is fully operational in University Heights. Big news for uptown San Diego, which has had nothing but Brazen Barbecue in recent years. There’s some clamor over whether BBQ 81 (2302 El Cajon Boulevard, 619-255-1958) is a “real” barbecue …

Vagabond's in its last days. Ed is weeping

Maybe it's because they're closing. But I swear. These two unpretentious little happy hour tacos are thee most delicious I've had in a lo-ong time. Carne asada, queso fresco, a little avo, green onion, and that's it. Simple. They're really …

If you make it past the hawker, you're in good hands

I know, it works, it must, otherwise why would they persist -- but that doesn't make hawkers any less annoying. I was strolling down the sidewalk in Little Italy, eager to finally see how my neighborhood location for Davanti Enoteca …

The new sandwich shop is starting a whole new (Korean) ball game. Call it midday heat...

What’s beefy and spicy and came in at #23 on a CNN readers’ poll of the world’s 50 most delicious foods? Bulgogi. Uh, say whu? That’s exactly it: Bulgogi, South (and North) Korea’s most famous food that’s not kimchee. I’ve …

Über-cute La Jolla bakery is scone Mecca for at least 357 people every day

Five-twenty-five. That's when I turn up. "We close at 5:30," says Kara... http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/aug/14/51291/ ..."But no problem." This is in this ancient li'l brick cottage that looks like Little Red Riding Hood's grandma's place in da woods. This is the Brick …

New cocktail and spirits bar downtown looks like a silent movie villain, but puts some very cool ideas onto the drink menu.

Frauds and Swindlers (820 Fifth Avenue, 619-814-5700) soft-opened over the weekend, but a grand opening date is set for August 24th and the staff swears, “it’s going to be a wild party.” That remains to be seen, but one thing …

Cabana-filled courtyard is just the start: great lunch deal is the real surprise

“Tuesday to Friday,12-3,” the sidewalk sign says, “small salad, flatbread and a glass of wine or beer, $8.” That stops me. I’m on my way up Old Town’s Congress Street, graveyard of restaurants. So near the plaza, so far from …

Ocean Beach Indian restaurant is "Indian-ish" at best, and no better than the average takeout spot.

Sundara Indian Cuisine (1774 Sunset Cliffs Blvd, 619-889-0639) started life as a pop-up affair in a coffee shop, taking over the space in the evenings and selling a short menu of curries. Apparently, so successful was the Indian venture that …

Hillcrest eatery offers familiar fare with an occasional twist... and donuts.

I liked Brian's American Eatery, it was one of my go-to breakfast spots back when I lived within walking distance. The menu and portions were absurdly gigantic, but the service was consistently friendly and there were plenty of a la …

Surprise deals on top of Nordstrom's

"Sweetheart, corazon, will you be downtown today?" Warning bells! She's going to ask me to do something I don't want to do. "Uh, maybe." "Great! Would you take this lipstick to Nordstrom's and exchange it for Doublewear Stay Ruby, or …

Tijuana micro-brewery celebrates grand opening with a free jazz cumbia show and a limited edition beer.

This week, I reviewed a burgeoning craft beer bar in the arts and culture alleyway of Pasaje Rodriguez in Tijuana. Mamut Brewery Co. is more than just an inspired brewery slinging bottles of unpasteurized, top quality beer for about a …

A quick lesson in eating hot wings based on a too-expensive--but otherwise good--multi-state chain's spicy chicken bites.

So, a Wingstop recently opened in University Heights, right next to the Lovin’ Hut. 1901 El Cajon Boulevard, 619-297-9464. Maybe the owners have a sense of irony, sticking a chicken wing shop in next to the all-vegan noodle hut. Maybe …

New fruit and ice cream eatery delivers health the Mexican way

Okay. Here's the menu for dinner: Apples, bananas, sandia (watermelon), mango, piña (pineapple), papaya, melon, strawberries, cottage cheese, granola, coconut, raisins. We're in Barrio Logan, so Spanglish rules. 'Course I could have had pepino (cucumber), jicama, sandia, mango, piña, papaya, …

Ed doesn't believe they're just $5 home-made sausages. Who would?

I sit here looking down at this...creature. Things are weird enough already. Here I am, surrounded by an oryx, a blackbuck antelope, a ram... http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/aug/07/50911/ http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/aug/07/50918/ http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/aug/07/50921/ Okay, talking trophies on the wall. But they set the tone for this …

What's next for the perpetually troubled location adjacent to the Hillcrest 24Hr Fitness?

Lotus Cafe gave it a go, but the Hillcrest location is done. Stick a fork in it. The original location in Encinitas remains, hopefully unharmed by the failed venture in Hillcrest. “We will be waiting for you [at our Encinitas …

Ed finds American comfort food in the heart of Old Town

Nothing more delicious than a guilty late brekky. Sitting on the red bench seats in the sun outside the Living Room (2541 San Diego Avenue, Old Town, 619-325-4445). Okay, table wobbles, hot noonday sun, no umbrellas, and a skillet handle …

In addition to off-the-wall barbecued lamb, South Bay's premier barbacoa restaurant sells ancient Mexico's favorite booze!

Aqui es Texcoco (1043 Broadway, Chula Vista, 619-427-4045) has mostly enjoyed success for lamb barbecue. Much like Mama Testa becoming synonymous with fish tacos in the eyes of TV audiences, Food Network and Travel Channel talking heads have dubbed Aqui …

Kensington's new restaurant of note serves shellfish with style, flounders on the drinks, but rallies with impeccable service.

Fish Public (4055 Adams Avenue, 619-281-4014) got its fair share of hype following the public closing of the Kensington Grill and the onslaught of hyperbolic PR surrounding the new seafood restaurant’s development. But there’s no denying that the Urban Kitchen …

Ed's search for the best sprouts in town reaches a high point on Golden Hill

Most popular spot on Golden Hill? Has to be here, just about opposite the fire station. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/aug/05/50645/ Counterpoint (830 25th Street, Golden Hill, 619-564-6722), is, a kinda boxy-modern place between Broadway and the 94 freeway. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/aug/05/50646/ But walking past about …