Ra downtown: $3 sake and free sushi lessons
Ed finds Rogelio the sushi chef doesn't laugh at his, well, ignorance
“Patience, Grasshopper. Quality sushi takes time.” That’s what stops me, at the head of the menu. A kinda quote from that David Carradine TV series, Kung Fu. Carradine played Kwai Chang Caine, who tried not to fight at least until …
Downtown: Nose to the phos at Pho Xpress
It's the aroma, getting richer and richer...
The thing about the Vietnamese soup-meal pho is the more you slurp it down, the better it gets. The more concentrated, the more flavorful. That’s my tragedy tonight. In a rush. Truly ten minutes before the trolley. Won’t have time …
Hillcrest: farewell Urban Eats, welcome Parma
More musical chairs at a challenging location
First it was an Italian coffee house, Caffe Vergnano 1882 - it had been going since 1882 at the chain's HQ in Turin, Italy. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/29/39232/ That lasted a matter of months at this location in the beautiful ol' French-Indochina style …
Barrio Logan’s new star: Cocina Doña Tina
Can the new Mercado's restaurant compete with Cuatro Milpas?
They say it has been 21 years coming. But the Mercado apartments are open, its supermarket is open, and now its first restaurant is open. Cocina Doña Tina sits on the corner where the food section of the Northgate Gonzalez …
Buck-a-shuck for oysters at Spike Africa’s, downtown
New fish joint brings its own legend to Horton Plaza
At last: hope for the corner of 4th and Broadway. I was there Friday night around six, and the corner with the dark brick building looked different… You could see people eating. Through the window, at tables, a big island …
El Vitral: “Window” joint open? Closed?
The place with 220 tequilas and awesome happy hour deals has a sign on the door...
Down at the ballpark. Worrying. The Proper Pub, 20 yards away, closed down for lack of interest, like no foot traffic on non-Padre days (and that’s maybe 200 days in a year), after what must have been a hugely expensive …
Bermuda Triangle! Revealed in Old Town Market Cafe...
"People get in the warp area, and weird things happen."
A turista comes up, confused. “Excuse me. Is this Old Town?” My buddy Jason nods. “Yes sir. This is Old Town.” “Welcome to Old Town’s Bermuda Triangle,” he says, when the tourist shuffles off. Jason runs the coffee cart on …
Stone Age in Middletown? Not So Fast food at 57 Degrees
This is not your great great great great great great grandpappy’s food. (But it’s maybe as near as we can get…)
I see the shadow of disappointment cross June’s face. Guess it's because I said "bread” when she asked if I want lettuce or bread around my Paleo burger. Paleo…whu? To be honest: I don't know much about Paleo anything. Except …
The Counter: East Village's littlest burger?
The Counter has a deal of a meal…uh, might bring your microscope
This is so typical. I’d been watching this corner – 6th and G – for months, waiting for these guys to open. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/21/38750/ Then when it happened, I blinked, got distracted. It’s only t’other day, when I’m wandering, lonely as …
Gaslamp: Dick’s cleaning up (its patio, not its act)
Dick’s Last Resort is a mess – so you’ll stay warm
Dick’s is all screwed up. You know Dick’s Last Resort (345 Fourth Avenue (between J and K Streets), Gaslamp downtown, 619-231-9100). It’s the place that’s famous for its shenanegans, where the waiters are there just to mess you up, bad. …
El Patio de Old Town: Hot soup on a cold night
Nothing better than a roaring fire, bubbling tortilla soup, and Old Town to yourself
Is it cold? Claro que si. Is it crowded? Claro que no. Is the soup sabroso? You betcha. Specially sitting round one of the patio fireplaces of El Patio de Old Town (2611 San Diego Avenue, 619-260-8389). http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/17/38598/ Actually, fire …
Fabrison's: crêpe lessons in the sky
Ray dishes on crêpe secrets from France
Ray's flying over San Diego Bay. Okay, aboard the 901. Looks down from the Bay bridge to the 32nd street naval base. "That's where my dad took me to see his ship, before he shipped off for the Philippines, back …
Downtown: Tivoli's brewski breakfast
Tivoli's best daytime meal deals include beer
Oh man. I never do this. Have beer for breakfast. But here I am, sitting in the Tivoli, jes' 'cause of the sandwich board outside http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/16/38488/ ..."Come in for our beer and food specials, Monday thru Thursday, 11:30 a.m. - …
Tent City, Coronado: Bring home the bacon!
Great bacon burger, but…...what's it gonna take to chow into a chunk of real bacon?
Carla and I were dining out the other night. Tent City (1100 Orange Avenue, Coronado, 619-435-4611). We went a little wild, for us. Carla had the beef tournedos (tender cuts with blue crab meat, bearnaise sauce, and crumbled blue cheese). …
Jing Si: East Village has good coffee, place to think
The Taiwan-based Buddhist bookstore has really vibes for daydreaming, or writing your thesis without pressure
“From good thoughts to everlasting deeds.” These sayings are all around you, but they’re the only things interrupting your thoughts in this pretty elegant coffee-contemplation place just waiting for the new domed library to open, right across 11th Street. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/11/38287/ …
Currant's HH: Mussel deal makes a ripple
Happy hour at Currant is, uh, raisin' the bar...
So I’ve just swung by Sushi Deli 2 (see blog yesterday). Didn’t go in, but last time I was there, in May, you got those totally delish “green mussel dynamite,” four green-lipped mussels baked in the shell with spicy mayo …
Sushi Deli 2 downtown: If you could bottle their secret…
Is it a rock star? Is it an iPad 5 launch? Is it their soy sauce?
This was the scene downtown at 3rd and Broadway, next to the Spreckels Theater. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/10/38192/ http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/10/38194/ Except this crowd has nothing to do with rock stars or showbiz. They’re lining up to get into Sushi Deli 2. What is it …
New Mexico Cafe: vuelve a la vida!
A visit to the ladies in Barrio Logan cures the bug
Oh man. This was the only place I could come to. Last two days Carla and I have been heaving. Stomach bug. Lost five pounds! Now, want to come back gently to the world. So I homed in like a …
Prep Kitchen Little Italy: 2012 was a very good year...
Honors keep rolling in. My honor: best bread to soak up sops
Spotted this on India… http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/07/38013/ Wow. That's two nods for Best New Restaurant, a Best Chef (Ryan Johnston) and a Top Ten. Not bad. This is at Prep Kitchen Little Italy (1660 India Street, 619-398-8383). http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/jan/07/38012/ Have to agree about …
Sora on Broadway: Drink and ye shall eat
Free HH food as long as you buy full-fare drinkies
Wow. This is swank. Sora (655 West Broadway, downtown, 619-564-7100). I’ve come in for happy hour. Thursdays and Fridays, you buy a drink, you get free food, like pasta and pizzas and edamame. Choice is not surprising since Sora is …