Best of 2003: Best Jewish Lunch

Sheila's Café & Bakery
4577 Clairemont Drive, Clairemont
www.sheilascafe.com
858-270-0251

Sheila creates dishes everybody eats, from Italian to Mexican to ribs to fried chicken to desserts like cheesecake, but in a way that allows observant Jews to munch freely. Sheila follows the cardinal rule: no dairy products (a blessing to people on lactose-free diets, too). Most won't notice the difference. It costs more, but you can still find bargain lunch dishes. Try Bubbie's chicken soup with matzoh ball or lukschen (noodles), veggie burgers, veggie dogs, or -- and this is delicious -- beef hot dog and "slips" (a cross between a French fry and a homemade potato chip).