Best Dog on a Stick?
“Established 1894,” says this sign on top of the brick building. It’s the old Wonder Bread building that Mission Brewery has taken over (1441 L Street, 619-544-0555). But it’s what’s outside that interests me. There’s this truck that looks like …
Border Patrol, Caught Partying!
Over the weekend: Parking lot, Petco Park. Place was like a smoke alarm's paradise. BBQs everywhere. But at the eastern end, it was tent canopies and full-on DJ and guys at tents handing out beers, sodas, snacks, and raffle tickets …
My New Favorite Wine Bar
This is it. I'm in love. Was on Fifth, heading across from where Jersey Mike's is coming, when I noticed the red glow of a canopy, and a pretty romantic patio. Said "The Wine Lover" (3968 Fifth Avenue, Hillcrest, 619-294-9200) …
Jersey Mike's Coming to Hillcrest
Okay, it's a way-big chain, but I've met true fanatics of this sub place. It started in Point Pleasant, Jersey Shore, the kinda PB of New Joisey, an hour south of New York City. A real guy named Mike started …
Thai Pepper: Into the Hot Pot
So there I was, waiting for the 928 to take me back down to Fashion Valley, when I noticed a little café. “Thai Pepper Cuisine" (3361 Sandrock Road, 858-715-4676). It looked kind of open. This was around sunset, seven in …
Chocolat: The Perfect Pour?
Are there cheaper places to buy coffee? At $3.18, including tax, for the house coffee, you betcha. Plus here at Chocolat (3896 5th Avenue, Hillcrest, 619-574-8500)... http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/apr/04/22194/ ...while you're waiting for the danged cawfee to be made, you have to …
Hamilton Eats Free in the Gaslamp
Life in the Gaslamp? It’s a Damon Runyan play. Midnight, Monday night: This is the time when you start hearing the clacking of cans being crushed, smelling drifts of marijuana smoke, hearing guys on side streets yelling out their own …
April Madness at the Gaslamp Tavern
Wow. When I was here, down in the Gaslamp Saturday night, and again tonight (Monday), it was the same. The Gaslamp Tavern, at Fifth and E (868 Fifth, 619-239-3339), was unbelievably crowded and sending a racket out into the street. …
Chopahn: It Means “Shepherd,” Not "Composer"
This must be Afghan Month. First I found Zia Pizza, then Ian turned up at Khyber Pass, then I find myself outside Chopahn (650 6th Avenue, in the Gaslamp, 619-236-9236). I’m standing gawking at the menu pedestal outside, when the …
Afghan Pizza? Zia's Shows How
Nine at night in Normal Heights: Khaled Waleh is trying to explain just what Afghan pizzas are. This place, Zia Gourmet Pizza (3311 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights, 619-284-4320) is his vehicle to bring Afghani tastes in food to a town …
Hot Item: Hot Cross Buns at Bread and Cie
Good Friday and Easter are coming next week, and with it, that unbelievable aroma: Hot cross buns. I remember it from when I could first waddle into gramma’s kitchen. The smell of nutmeg, the cloves, cinnamon, the taste of black …
Bye Bye Bino?
How am I going to tell Carla this? One of her favorite places on the sceptered isle of Coronado is closing down. Bino's Bistro and Wine Bar (1120 Adella Avenue, 619-522-0612) has been serving breakfast omelets and crêpes and sandwiches …
Worth Waiting For: Slow Pizza?
How to bake the perfect pizza? Is it oak-burning wood-fired ovens? Or what you put in the dough? Or 1000-degree muscle ovens that crisp the pie in a minute and a half? Nup. If you believe the message on this …
Candelas: Class Joint
Where do you go when you’re having your class get-together? Lorena, our Spanish teacher (Yes, been trying to learn el idioma these past few weeks) said “How about Candelas?” She was talking about the swank Mexican place on the bay …
Tour de Cuisine: French Gourmet Enters Fray
Say buddy, can you spare me $30 worth of dimes? That’s what it’s gonna cost to get in to the French Gourmet’s contribution to the 2nd annual Tour de Cuisine, or French Restaurant Week. They’ve got a three-course menu running …
What French Cooking Can Learn From TJ’s Tacos
Oh man. Having an erotic dream…shrimp tacos with pineapple inside and raspberry sauce on top and walnuts on top of that… I know a place that does that. Honest. And I’m thinking about it ’cause I’m reading about…well, the French …
Carla’s World Market Feast
Carla’s on an Indian kick right now. And when she goes for something, she goes all out. This morning a big – like, microwave-size - box turns up. In amongst all the air bubble plastic sixteen boxes of Japanese sesame …
Saint Patrick's Day Think List
Strong Where to go for St Paddy’s day? Yeah yeah yeah, Gaslamp. But for me the obvious place is The Ould Sod (3373 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights, 619-284-6594), the classic Irish “dateless losers’” hangout that’s actually the third-oldest licensed establishment …
Going Veggie at Fern Street Cafe
Oh, Lord... Weighed myself yesterday. This lousy machine I stood on said 210 pounds. I’ve never been 210 pounds! "Bedford, you’ve gotta get off your duff and jump up and down a bit,” says Carla. “And eat less! Eat nuts …
French Afternoon II: Heure Heureuse at Café Chloe
The wife of the French President is singing “I am sexy” on the sound system. Carla Bruni. She sounds très sexy, too. Nicolae the bar guy says it’s a song called “Raphael.” So I’m hearing this ’cause it’s about five …