Coronado: Closing Down…But Not Before Selling 6000 Bacon Burritos
In the Navy, when Elwood Maiden was young and thin and lanky, they called him "Stretch." The name stuck, and when he opened a little sliver of an eatery on Orange Avenue in Coronado, “Stretch’s” had to be the name. …
Tunisian Revolution
And while we’re in North Park… You see them at farmers’ markets in Hillcrest, Little Italy, Temecula, but I never knew these guys had an actual restaurant. They do, and it’s cute: La Crêperie, 3773 30th Street, Suite C. Sami …
North Park's Hidden (Breakfast) Treasure
Everything changes, right? Not Mr. Lucky. Or his prices. Like, 85 cents for coffee? One egg with hash browns, toast, butter, and strawberry jam, $2.75? Three eggs with three bacon, or three sausages or a hamburger patty, plus hash browns …
A (Chopstick) Tree Grows on Market
“Omygod. It’s made of chopsticks!” This is the first thing that happens when people come sit down in J-Wok. They’re talking about the Japanese-style torrey pine tree sculpture on the wall of J-Wok (744 Market). Chrissie Beavis, who’s a local …
Instant Pizzas? Bullseye!
A 55-second pizza? Absolutely, says Giancarlo. “Between 55 seconds and one minute fifteen seconds. That's all it takes to bake a pizza in this oven. It's about 1000 degrees in there." Giancarlo This is the new pizza operation at Caffe …
Secret Courtyard at the Y
"I fly," she says. "Airbus." She's sitting two down at the counter, waiting for her veggie omelet ($8.95). "Wow," I say. I've ordered a crispy corn flake French toast ($7.95). "Flight attendant?" She pauses just a moment. Enough for me …
Blue Bay Breakfast
Ahh. Fresh cool morning on the Embarcadero. Big open terrace, red-and-white umbrellas, blue tables, and above all, that big blue bay spread out in front of us, sparkling in the mawnin' sunshine. Here though, it's nice and shady, this time …
Fat City? Fat Chance
Never thought I’d be speaking up for Denny’s. But Armando Bueno the maître d’ here and I are shaking our heads in their lobby and wondering aloud: why? Why are they going to tear up this beautiful old building? “This …
Stinking Bishop, Anyone?
This might not be best for your after-lunch breath, but man is it worth it. Just go in here where the uh, sandwich board is, and say “Gimme a Stinking Bishop.” They won’t toss you out. Rebecca Gould, who’s an …
Beat the Clock
They say time is money, right? Across Sports Arena Boulevard from Phil’s Barbecue (and that’s a hard place to walk away from at the best of times) it’s for real. Du-par’s Restaurant & Bakery (3711 Sports Arena Boulevard, 619-224-4454), is …
Dog With a View
This being officially summer and all, I can’t stop hanging around the waterfront. Specially love it in the freshness of the mornings. Came on this clump of Segue tourists being told about the old San Francisco ferry Berkeley (and hey! …
Best Focaccia on India?
Sitting at India and Fir, next to a little ol' timber cottage. Sign says Melero Boutique & Gallery. This place, on the other hand is ultra mod: Glass and plastic industrial chic. Everyone who comes in is thin, cool, wiring …
Breakfast on Broadway
Morning surprise! Walking up Broadway, sun still sloping in from the east, median palm trees backlit, shining. And here, just west of the Greyhound, and right at Front Street, is Broadway's one sidewalk cafe. (And what's with that? When you …
Cuatro Milpas: Four Cornfields, Three Sisters
“Yes, we’re still here,” says Margarita. She’s at her cash register, pecking away while her sisters Sofia and Dora take orders and scoop up ladlesful of frijoles and Spanish rice, and stuff lard-fried tortillas with pork and chicken. Ah, the …
No More Bread on Market
Talking of bread (see Barbarella, below), it’s sigh time for one of the little jewels of downtown: Bread on Market, at 730 Market. I know. I’m the last to know, ’cause this happened a couple of months ago -- at …
This Was My Place, These Were My Tacos
I was grooving, listening to someone strumming on the guitar in the door well of this Blue Line trolley... “Yes’n how many times must a man go down…” ...and watching the skeleton of the new library heading skywards, when we …
Come for the Daiquiris, Go for the Munchies
Leah Caguimbaga has her work cut out. She’s hostess at Wet Willie’s (555 Market Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues, 619-546-8747) where daiquiris rule the roost. The daiquiris come from a row of dispensers behind the lo-ong bar. Look kinda …
Eating Aboard the Trolley?
Eating in a trolley car in Barrio Logan? It's the biggest, most delicious surprise of the day. Was humping along Logan Avenue when I see this long, narrow coach-looking little building with a white, metal-security door, open, and a sign …
State Occasion
Sweet deal going on right across that beautiful pedestrian bridge outside San Diego State. Sweet potato fries for $2.50, French for $2, veggie egg rolls for $3 and shrimp tempura for $4. This is at State Street Grill (5131 College …
Soft Opening, Hard Liquor
Leroy’s Kitchen & Lounge is finally open. It’s an upmarket replacement to Coronado’s popular Beach’n Diner (1015 Orange Avenue, 619-522-6890), and after a conversion of many months quietly started serving meals a few days ago for a soft opening. Hans, …