Country invades City (Heights)! Nate's Garden Grill
Here you never eat alone. You're surrounded by trees, chickens, turkeys, goats, horse, future salads, and raving locovores.
Walking – again. This time up Home Avenue. Seeking out the holy grail of locovore cooking. That’s what I’ve been told, anyway. Also that this place’s happy hour – four to six – has real deals with flatbreads and a …
Thai Island: Leaping shrimp!
Tom Yum Kung means yummy shrimp in a soup that should bristle with both kinds of heat
I’m always in search of the Perfect Tom Yum Kung. Last I had of this spicy sour lemony soup was at Bahn Thai up on Park, near Adams. Pretty zippy and hot, that one. Of course my favorite is the …
Chula Vista: Skins + artichokes = dinner
Happy hour at the BullsEye Bar can get messy
“Try one,” says my bar buddy. He shoves the chalice with half a dozen shrimp curled around its rim. A ketchup bowl sits on the bed of ice inside, along with the slice of lemon. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jun/07/47008/ I do. The little …
Barrio Logan: Phish followers' fab elixir
Roxy's Rockin' Grill does juices, feeds Phish fans
Oh no. Passing along National Avenue. Come to the big orange barn where they have the San Diego Public Market. This is before ten in the morning. But it's like "Honey I Shrunk the Market." Only one of the two …
Cowboy Star: Tender is the bite
East Village choice: An $82 steak, or happy hour?
It stands opposite the Grocery Outlet, that new cheap-cheap grocery chain on Market Street that sells discontinued stock at cut prices so you really can buy cheap eats. But don’t expect that here at Cowboy Star and Butcher Shop (640 …
A little night muesli: Swami’s La Mesa
No such thing as too late for breakfast here
Ah! Can’t believe my luck. I’ve been wandering in downtown La Mesa looking for lunch in all the wrong places, heh heh. Actually, it’s eight at night and I'm looking for dinner, and truth is this place is pretty alive …
Ballpark: Bye El Vitral, hi Southpaw
À la Disney: Is Good Time Design taking over the neighborhood?
So. El Vitral really has closed. For months the bar-eatery with 220 tequilas to choose from and the fabulous view of the ballgames was either having a kitchen fixed or getting organized to start up again. That was then. Now, …
French, Italian and Carla
Hotel Del delivers cocktails, apps for price of a Bud and a couple of burgers
Seeing we’re in Coronado (see Sticker Shock), and seeing we’ve spent, like $35 for burgers…it’s now around seven and Carla suddenly says “Let’s go get you a French and Italian at the Del. Just in time for sunset.” “The…the Del?” …
Sticker shock at Danny's (but it's not what counts)
Venerable bar in Coronado still has "the best burgers." Eat them there, and save
This Memorial Day Weekend, it was kind of appropriate to be swigging a Bud Light here at Danny’s (Danny’s Palm Bar and Grill, 965 Orange Avenue, Coronado, 619-435-3171). http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/may/28/46390/ The names and photos of Navy Seals who didn’t make it …
Downtown: Sliders in Salvation Alley
B.B. Blues Bar H.H. delivers musiculture, cheap booze, and pulled pork to die for
“This joint is dedicated to the memory of Jake Blues.” It’s a gold-lettered sign above this bar, the B.B. Blues Bar. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/may/25/46309/ Jake Blues? We’re in the belly of the beast here, the venerable (okay only eight years old in …
Linda Vista: Broken rice's secret power
Bale Restaurant's special plate has a story
What price broken rice? Was at Bale’s (“Baa-Lay’s”) Restaurant & Deli last night (6925 Linda Vista Road, Suite B, at Ulric Street, Linda Vista, 858-297-2707). Vietnamese. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/may/23/46156/ Here you expect to find Pho (the French-inspired Vietnamese beef and other broths) …
Little Italy: Supping with a ghost named Wanda
The new Queenstown Public House comes with unexpected company in the 1905 house
Hauling up Cedar out of Little Italy, past the Pioneer Hook and Ladder – hey, didn’t that use to be the firehouse museum? - and crossing Columbia when whack! Thar she blows! Former assemblywoman Lori Saldaña’s old HQ. Nice old …
Café Paris: Flying the Flag
Loris Compiano thought he had the perfect gimmick to get noticed
"So Loris," I say. I've just popped in to his Café Paris (455 10th Avenue, East Village, 619-674-8439) on the way down to Petco Park. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/may/20/45947/ http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/may/20/45946/ I remember him for his luscious little plates to go with his wines …
Border: After 43 years selling snacks, no customers
What can Tomás López do with his border snack business, when they change the border?
Spare a thought for Tomás López. We're just inside Mexico, about 9:30 at night, at the western side, near the pedestrian entrance. Or what used to be. It's why Tomás has had his coffee, tea, and soup stall here for …
Downtown: Red trolley, green eats
Customers at downtown's newest lunchery are seeing red - trolleys
"Are you indecisive?" says Christina. "I'm not sure," I say. "Can't decide." “Touché,” she says. She leaves me to Manny, who's waiting - and waiting - to get my order. Ok, I have been screwing around hemming and hawing between …
Coronado: fungi for lunch
Kathy's Place delivers on portobello burgers
Oh gosh. Carla and me and Diane are in the Republic of Coronado again. Diane’s just done Carla’s hair, and this Kathy’s Place (250 Prospect Place, 619-522-3600), tucked into one corner of the Sharp Coronado hospital, is the nearest place …
Barrio Logan: Greenest Roaster in San Diego?
Cafe Virtuoso spills the beans on why organic, why Fair Trade
Who is the greenest coffee roaster in San Diego? My money goes to Café Virtuoso (1616 National Avenue, Barrio Logan, 619-550-1830). http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/may/13/45477/ Why? Because they claim to be the only 100 percent organic coffee roasters company in town. And I …
Turf Club happy hour: First, learn how to grill
Lesson one: take the plastic wrap off BEFORE you toss the patty on...
Lucky break: I just make it into the Turf Club (1116 25th Street, Golden Hill , 619-234-6363)... http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/may/11/45356/ ...before the end of happy hour. “It’s noon to 5:00 p.m., Friday, Saturday, Sunday,” says Jackson the barman. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/may/11/45367/ As usual, you …
Mother’s Day: Last chance flowers!
Corner stall in Golden Hill is open 24 hours
Call it Procrastinators’ Corner. But here at 25th and Broadway, the Jiménez family is taking pity on us all. Their flower stall (Jessica’s Flower Shop, 2480-A Broadway, Golden Hill, 619-847-7188) has a permanent crowd around it, mostly men, waiting to …
Barrio Logan: Sushi secret’s out!
Jeff Roberto’s famous sushi banquet and catering operation expands – to let you and me in
Walking the sun-baked east side of National Avenue. Heading for a cawfee at Café Virtuoso, the coffee roasters. They have a little retail thing going, with one table and one yellow umbrella out front. Problem? Ten yards before I get …