It looks like Ed Bedford mentioned the bottomless pasta bowl at this Mission Beach bar a while back. I didn't get a chance to dig into such a bowl of pasta, but I did stop at the bar for some …

What makes me jump off the #2 bus I don’t know. Well, maybe I do. Usually I’ve zinged past this corner house Mex. eatery, jes' 'cause I'm imagining all the cool places around the corner in South Park. Tonight something …

For many years now, my daughter and I have treated ourselves to tea at the Park Hyatt Aviara, formerly the Four Seasons. To clarify, this is not “high" tea which is more of a dinner, but rather afternoon tea: the …

After 26 years in business, the Gathering is a Mission Hills landmark to be sure. It's normally hard to stay relevant for that long in a tough industry, but the Gathering has managed to keep at it with only the …

I’ve passed by Jimmy Love’s American Restaurant & Bar in the Gaslamp easily a hundred times over the past decade. Every time I do, two words spring to mind — Parmesan cheese. That’s normal, right? The reason I associate this …

I happened to run into Jay, the highly visible owner of El Take it Easy and the Linkery, the other day and that planted the seeds of a visit to the supposed outpost of TJ in North Park. That the …

I was recently asked: “If it were the last meal of your life, what would you eat?” I’m used to being the one asking people questions, but once the amazement that somebody was actually soliciting my opinion for a change …

I’m lost. But my buddy Hector buzzes through the calles like a kid heading for the toy store. We’re in his li’l red Hyundai, a model I’ve never seen before. Back plate says “Atos, by Dodge.” He says it’s a …

I seem to be on a newly hatched restaurant bender. I can’t help myself, I’m impatient by nature. Being a food writer doesn’t help - the temperament of a food writer invites indulgence. That’s my excuse, anyway. John and I …

Formerly the El Camino in South Park, Juan Chou is a fairly recent addition to the neighborhood. The illustrated sign, half kabuki masque and half day of the dead skull, is one of the more intriguing logos that's been put …

I live in an area that draws food trucks by the dozens. The many business parks lining the 805 around UTC and Sorrento Valley, as well as the Metro system’s UCSD bus loop makes it an attractive area for lunchtime …

Carla and I jes’ went wicked today. Her hair day on the Island Republic of Coronado. I was showing her where Prince Harry had sat... http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/jun/26/26860/ ...on his naughty nite of boozing when he was doing his helicopter training in …

I heard a rumor there was an art class going on in Scripps Ranch. As a writer, I like to fancy myself some fringe type of artist. All the same, despite appreciating Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, and their talents, for …

After eating a pescetarian diet for a year, the pro-wrestlers of my mind have settled on a few key ideas. 1. In accordance with the laws of physics I have no problem with the transfer of energy. After all, that's …

I was just cruising through Golden Hill and I spotted the "now serving fruit salads" sign from the road. The shop is in a strip mall on the corner of Broadway and 25th. Fortuitously, I was hungry and I had …

I hadn't been to Cueva Bar (2123 Adams Avenue) in a while. I paid a visit last night and I found that a few things have remained constant: 1) The soundtrack there is perpetually spot on. I don't claim to …

Wow, I’m so glad that I write about food for the Reader! Otherwise, Saturday night without our daughter could have ended with cereal at 11:00pm. Instead, we actually got dressed up and headed out the door for a 7:45pm reservation …

Tomorrow, if anyone feels so inclined, it's Bikes n' Brunch at the Pearl Hotel on Rosecrans Street. The deal is as follows: ride your bike and take $10 off the price (usually $22.50) of brunch, which comes with endless mimosas. …

I was packing my bags for Portland, Oregon, when suddenly my iPhone buzzed. An email had just come in from Daniel Love, owner and brewer at Vista’s Mother Earth Brew Co. notifying me that, after 90 days of heavy tenant …

Wow. Brand new on Market. This used to be some sort of donut place. But this week I go past, see someone has written on the chalk sandwich board. “The District. Now open! Specialty sandwiches, salads, soups. Made fresh daily.” …

It’s a shame, really, but a lot of the time lunch is a chore. When you’re working, and time gets away from you, you suddenly find yourself starving and faced with nothing but places that serve mega portions of mediocre, …

“My dear chap, this must be the cleanest city in the world.” These words from my English buddy Robin who came out from London to visit us colonials a couple of years ago. Thinking of him as I head towards …

Some people overcompensate for shortcomings by purchasing gargantuan SUVs or wearing blinged-out Rolexes. Me, I put an accent on the “a” in my last name. I’m half-Mexican, and proud of it, but that doesn’t really come through in my appearance. …

Still in the East Village (see Buddhist Sandwiches, below), I spot this guy unlocking a door on Tenth Avenue, near Island. http://instagr.am/p/MHbLLLoMpy/ It's one of the new collection of concrete condos surrounding the ballpark. When I look at the windows, …

East Village dead? Not if you walk around the ballpark. I'm on 11th, Right beside the new library. On my left, a new sign. "Jing Si Books & Cafe." And "Ecoverse." And "Opening 2012." Then some Chinese script. http://instagr.am/p/MHVsVyIMmN/ Huh. …

I had spotted this place a while back and mistakenly assumed it was closed since it's distinctively shabby on the outside. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/jun/20/26572/ But not so! Lucky's was fully operational and apparently has been for eons. I stepped through the door …

Typically, reporting a chef move entails talking about what the incoming chef will bring to his new kitchen. In this latest report from the local toque shuffle, there’ll be none of that. Tim “T.K.” Kolanko, former chef de cuisine for …

Taste of Little Italy begins tonight at 5 p.m. This self-guided walking tour allows residents and visitors of San Diego to literally get a taste of a variety of restaurants in a district. If you've ever been to another Taste …

In the beer world, there’s something that’s universally loved and loathed — specialty beer release events. Back in the day, before craft beer had grown as popular as it is today, a seasonal or experimental beer could be released by …

When I hear from several people that a restaurant is good, it’s time to give it a shot. That’s what brought me to the San Marcos’ Restaurant Row parking lot, driving around in search of the elusive Sublime Ale House. …

Over the years, one thing has instigated my trips to Bali Hai—mai tais. Umbrella drinks may harken to a bleaker period of culinary history, but there’s a reason they’ve stuck around as the American culinary scene has evolved around them. …

What can I say, I assumed the Hillcrest restaurant was named after the ex-President. It wasn't. I asked. My server told me that Jimmy was the owner and a third generation San Diegan. He told me that if I walked …

I posted about the opening of a new Italian deli/grocery, Ariccia Italian Market, a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve been eagerly anticipating a visit. Located on Girard Street in La Jolla, Ariccia Italian Market had only been open for …

I’ve always remembered the story José Montez told me first time I popped in here, how he had come up from Durango in Mexico and worked for a catering company, cooking like 20,000 pieces of chicken and 1,000 pounds of …

It's only been open for a week, so this isn't intended as a conclusive verdict on the self-styled "first gay brewery" that's owned by the company in charge of Mo's and Betty's. The move from nachos and sugary drinks to …

Red Light District—it’s quite possibly the best restaurant you’re not eating at. At least that’s what it looks like when I’m there. Granted, I avoid the Gaslamp on high volume weekend nights, so perhaps I’m not being granted the best …

This Hillcrest staple is celebrating thirty years in business this year. Because of that, my expectation was that the food there would be a little dated, that the restaurant had operated on institutional credibility more than an ability to stay …

Friday afternoon, Mayor Jerry Sanders wielded his giant novelty scissors, snapping them shut on a yellow ribbon on the threshold of the new White Labs tasting room (9495 Candida Street). This symbolic gesture marked the official grand opening of the …

I finally stopped into this miniscule steak sandwich shop on University Avenue after passing by it almost daily for years. It is in an unappealing location where the streets are often filled with broken glass. The neighbors are a liquor …

This was news to me, but as of yesterday the new Babycakes Cafe opened up right next to the tennis courts in Morley Field. It's a big change form the main Babycakes in Hillcrest, which is a hopping scene for …

If you’ve never attended a meeting of a local homebrewing club or had the chance to taste award winning entries from local homebrew competitions, you likely have no idea just how good some of the beers being produced by scores …

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, lightweight models, waiting for, like, shops to put them outside their front door to bring in business. But at the …

Reporting live from the Republic of Coronado… Had to stop at Fabrison’s, on Day Two of their opening week, see what they’re actually offering. "Fabrison's," the name, is a combo of Fabrice - he's French, from Marseilles - and Alison. …

I first heard about it on KPBS in the morning. They announced it as filler between news items of bigger importance--Burger King put a bacon sundae on the menu. The news brief was meant for levity, but for me it …

Most of my meals are strategized. Typically, it’s to provide myself and those who read my work a taste of what a restaurant has to offer. This weekend, I planned a visit to a specific venue, but the reason was …

During our cul-de-sac viewing of the recent solar eclipse, my neighbor turned hostess by bringing out wine, cheese, and crackers for us to munch on while we contemplated our sacrifice for the return of the sun. As one of my …

Fact: my former neighbors owned the Gulf Coast Grille that was on Park Boulevard at the border of University Heights and Hillcrest. Gulf Coast is no more and the building is now home to Babbo's. My neighbors, as far as …

Fabrison’s, the French café-crepery (1425 India) that actually gives you lessons in how to speak French, has another grand opening. This time in Coronado. They’re taking over the space Bino’s Crepe place occupied at 1120 Adella. Promise: Fab crepes! They …

OK. Have made it into Napizza (1702 India Street, Little Italy, 619-696-0802). And the first thing is, they do have pizzas from $3, though most are $5.75. But this place is certainly rockin', even though they don't have their outside …

Hillcrest Cali-Creole and craft beer haven, Local Habit, is about to turn one. It seems like only yesterday I was monitoring its transformation from its former identity as Pizza Fusion to its current all things local and sustainable model. I …

I've been trying to get down to the beach communities at least a little bit more frequently as of late, especially early in the morning while the June Gloom is making everything seem sleepy and peaceful. I visited the Olive …

The slow-rise pizza revolution is at hand! Today (Tuesday) Napizza Al Taglio flings its doors open (1702 India Street, at the corner of India and Date, 619-696-0802), and we’ll all be able to see if, well, happy yeast makes better …

There’s a reason The Reader has a blog subcategory called Musical Chefs. The local restaurant industry is huge and constantly in flux. Finding the right chef for one’s venue can be difficult. Maybe they have the chops, but the wrong …

While out searching for a sandwich shop (that turned out to be closed), I passed by Yum Yum Yo at the corner of El Cajon Boulevard and Highland Avenue. I've been by the place a time or two before and …

So, if the Ed Bedford report on Marie's Cafe from a year ago is any indication, this North Park eatery is straight-up haunted by the ghost of the former owner. Cool. Marie's might be easy to miss if not for …

Few factions offer as formidable a brand of camaraderie as the cheffing community. Theirs is a line of work where banding together is extremely important as they are often on their own when it comes to solving vocational problems. They …

I hadn't tried this downtown gastropub yet for a series of reasons; some good, others not. I won't list them because they're rendered irrelevant now that I've eaten at Proper (795 J Street). Mary Beth went there for brunch a …

Gotta say. This time of a Friday evening, you can't beat the waterfront. Sitting here at sunset waiting for the lovely Carla, at the Elephant and Castle (1355 North Harbor Drive, 619-234-9977). Sun's setting through the clouds over Point Loma. …

I got embroiled in a conversation the other day with a colleague of Vietnamese extraction named Lydia. For whatever reason, we ended up talking about weird things that get eaten and the dialogue eventually turned towards balut. She said that …

The signs are up, the rolled architects’ plans are on the work tables, the “Hiring” signs are plastered over the front windows… a new sushi joint is about to hit the streets. We’re talking about the Ross store’s corner spot …

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 husky, bearded Italian with brawny shoulders, hipster black plastic framed eyeglasses and an impossibly shiny bald head looks like he …

Ariccia Italian Market in La Jolla is slated for a June 14th opening. Co-owners Robert Pascucci and Stephanie Savchuk state that they wanted to create a market that “offers everything a family, chef, or appreciator of good food may need …

Starbucks Coronado is taking a hit. Make that two hits. In one month. The outlet (it’s at 960 Orange Avenue, 619-437-8306) was supposed to be the first Starbucks in California to serve wine, beer and an expanded menu. But when …

The smell of primer is what hits you first when you walk into Chez Loma, Coronado’s longtime French eatery (1132 Loma Avenue, 619-435-0661). I’d heard it was closing. Wrong. It has been sold, and the new owners, chef Alex Martínez …

A week or so ago, I decided to blindly try out a restaurant on Convoy. I found it online, liked the name – Jasmine something or other – and headed over without looking at their menu. When my three-year-old daughter …

Dog friendly restaurants and bars are getting to be pretty common, and a new place in the Hillcrest/Banker's Hill neighborhood will add to the venues for dining with your four-legged friends. Sally and Henry's Doghouse Bar & Grill will be …

It’s something I accepted about myself a long time ago. While I respect vegans (hey, more meat for me, right?), their cuisine will never scream out to me with the same regularity or intense volume as a juicy cheeseburger, piled …

When I decided to sell my home, right in the middle of the mortgage meltdown of 1998, I left my furniture in it so it would show better. I furnished my new apartment with a combination of Ikea and Goodwill …

The red tent draws me across the Petco Park parking lot. Then the smell of sausages cooking hauls my schnozzle even closer. Bunch of people cluster around it, right outside the old (1894) Wonderbread building, the one that Mission Brewery …

It's been open for all of four days now, but the Big Front Door is already showing a lot of promise. To begin with, the physical transformation of the space is astonishing. The defunct Greco-European deli that used to be …

On Sunday June 10, the eclectic South Park world bistro Vagabond Kitchen (2310 30th Street) will be paying homage to its Spanish influences by hosting a fundraiser to help send students at the Paloma Aragon flamenco dance studio to Seville, …

I’d noticed it a couple of times while driving down Mira Mesa Boulevard, and always at night. A large black sign sporting the word FUZE on a turret ascending from a building off a driveway near the intersection at Black …

A new, traditional Italian coffee shop has just opened in Hillcrest, filling the gap caused by the untimely closing of Café Vergnano 1882 last January. Café Barbera, located on Fifth Street just a few doors down from Hash House a …

It’s been over a year since I lamented on the loss of a very talented chef when Red Velvet Wine Bar shut down last May. Every dish I enjoyed from chef Luke Johnson at the quaint yet luxurious Little Italy …

Back in April, I reported that San Diego-based company, Chefs Press, is in the process of compiling recipes from individuals associated with the local craft beer industry for an upcoming cookbook. At the time, I was a fly on the …

This being Jubilee Week for the Brits, I just had to pop in to The Princess pub on India Street in Little Italy... http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/jun/05/25601/ Yes, Carla – I swear, she loves everything British - had me watching the Thames River …

I don't usually head up to Kearny Mesa for dinner. It's just not a pleasant bike ride. But I had a birthday last week and my roommate offered to drive (and buy!) so the trip quickly got a lot easier. …

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 I Love Poke Festival. On that cool, serene night over 500 attendees gathered at Shelter Island’s Bali Hai Restaurant to …

In a post last week about a new “super local” tavern opening in Hillcrest, I openly wondered what the term “super local” means. The next day, I received word about a new line of beers being released by Mira Mesa-based …

Unobtrusively perched on Adams Avenue in Normal Heights, Cantina Mayahuel has what just might be the longest happy hour I've ever seen: Tuesday through Friday from 12-6. Those are some seriously happy hours. Can you even call it happy hour …

My plans to get to the bar at the end of Newport Street in OB took forever to come to fruition, but when I finally made it there I found it to be the quintessential SoCal beach bar. Reggae-inspired music …

Once a year or so, for the past, say, two decades, I get a sudden craving for a Peanut Buster Parfait at Dairy Queen. Like the Taco Bell of Ian Pike’s youth, my hankering for the layers of peanuts, hot …

It’s a matter of pride for me that I take my coffee black with no sugar. Not just because it sounds macho (and often makes people squinch up their faces in disgust and awe), but also because it has no …

I've visited the North Park branch of the Mission restaurant for breakfast a few times. There is usually a line out the door. Calling the breakfast there "popular" would be an understatement. The restaurant enjoys such a sterling reputation that …

Several weeks ago I wrote about the pending opening of d Bar Desserts, the new pastry shop/casual bistro located on Fifth Avenue in Hillcrest. I’ve lurked in the neighborhood frequently ever since, checking on its progress. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/jun/01/25438/ Last Thursday, the …

I had forgotten about the wonderful Mr. Sagmani till right now, seven in the evening, humping down into El Cajon from the trolley. I'm hollow-gut, short on the ready, and long way to walk. I cross East Main right where …