Sherman's Shack replaces Urban Chicken
Grant Hill loses a chicken house and gains a burger joint.
Urban Chicken was cool. It wasn’t the best place in the whole wide Grant Hill, but the chicken was tasty and the funky building had some charm. Naturally, I was a little bummed when the place shuttered and quickly deteriorated, …
Japanese in Hillcrest
One yakitori grill closes, another opens in its place.
Raku is gone, replaced by Tec Chan, which isn’t all that different. The inside looks basically the same, although some bamboo awnings and booths went up on the north wall where, if I’m correct, only tables stood before. Lights and …
Cheapest steak in town?
North Park bar may just have the best deal on a steak dinner, but it's only one night a week.
I don’t know how I missed out on steak night at Gilly’s, living right around the block and all, but Tuesday now has a new old hotness. I guess they’ve been doing it for a quarter-century--grilling up steaks for the …
Fresh wasabi at Ikiru
Japanese restaurant in Liberty Station has the hard to find condiment on the menu
I’ve had my eyes open looking for fresh wasabi ever since a reader told me about a (since closed) sushi place in La Jolla that served the green horseradish prepared fresh instead of the ersatz powder that’s more commonly used …
City Heights' Pupuseria
Few things are more satisfying to eat on a cool evening (or any evening) than this Salvadoran specialty — a great alternative to tacos!
I espied El Salvador Pupuseria on my way back from Tom’s BBQ. Honestly, I don’t know how it had evaded my scrutiny for so long. I adore pupusas. I’m not the only one, either. Bedford did a whole Tin Fork …
Chinese BBQ in City Heights
Ducks, chickens, and pigs all meet a savory, crispy, soy sauce-drenched end.
There’s not much to Tom’s BBQ in City Heights. The storefront comprises a counter, register, display case, and a table that looks like it isn’t for sitting at; at least, not for customers. All of this is slammed into a …
Empire House Brunch
Hillcrest's "urban palate" serves a commendable breakfast at a fair price
I’ve said nice things about Empire House before, mostly because I think the kitchen there manages above-average execution of the staple dishes that makes up the menu. It took me forever and a day to make it into EH for …
Chennai style
Vegetable curries in the South Indian fashion at Madras Cafe
A while back, I lavished some praise on Punjabi Tandoor for its hearty curries. Since then, I’ve had the vegetable curries of southern India on my mind, however, so I went back to Miramar in search of Madras Cafe, which …
Wings for North Park
Imperial Beach-based wing chain sells tasty hot wings and not much else
The North Park outlet of New York Buffalo Wings is (I believe) the fourth store for the local mini-chain, heretofore restricted to the south bay and east county. They’ve occupied the old Zia’s building, selling primarily wings and ribs. Sure, …
Gettin' Cozy at Bootlegger
East Village "faux-hibition" lounge has better chairs than food
Bootlegger claims the “allure of a 1920’s speakeasy,” which is a rather dubious proposition unless you’re doing business without a liquor license. Something tells me that it would be easier to get an “illegal bar” vibe without big windows, bright …
Bruno's third year
University Heights fancy pizza place of record can claim success despite a tough locale
I am amazed that Pizzeria Bruno settled not for survival in a terrible location, but held on for the outright win. I dropped in during a weeknight dinner service and it was jamming! The only spot I could sit was …
Cafe Bleu is stuck
Mission Hills' French-ish bistro has not made significant changes to a menu that needs changing
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/dec/20/37235/ It’s been more than a year since Barbarella took a first look at Cafe Bleu in Mission Hills. Her assessment--that the place was “French-ish” and lacking in polish--seemed spot on at the time and I thought it might be …
Soup Shoppe
New soup joint in North Park dishes up warm comfort on cold days
As cold and rainy and all around nasty as it’s been lately, soup seems like a fantastic idea, right? Nothing warms the bones better and wards off torpidity like a piping hot bowl of soup, chowder, bisque, stew, pottage, bouillon, …
All hail the waffle king!
Magical breakfast kingdom in Hotel Circle serves up a one-of-a-kind morning meal
I had no idea. How could I have known? I just saw the little pictogram of an anthropomorphic waffle king on the sign for the King’s Inn and that was enough to pique my interest. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/dec/18/37098/ In the lobby, where …
Mehburgers
Cool house vibe and lackluster burgers in La Jolla Village
As I’ve said before, I like it when old houses get turned into restaurants. The whole ‘we’re eating the living room!’ aesthetic lends an Old World feel to the dining experience that comforts me. La Jolla’s Public House, at the …
Flashy!
Tierrasanta family pulls out all the stops with yearly Christmas light spectacular
In Tierrasanta, not far from the freeway's reach, the majority of the neighborhoods are sleepy and darkened in the evenings and the Christmas lights glow softly in the darkness. There’s something very All-American about big houses and festive lights that …
Tour de Cheesesteak: final stage
The Tour rolls into El Cajon for the last steak sandwich I'll eat for a good while
The final stop on the Tour was a hard one to make. Philly Steak Subs in El Cajon closes early--7PM on the weekdays — and getting out there in a timely fashion proved difficult for me as I’m accustomed to …
Million dollar java
Encinitas coffee shop validates prime real estate with fine espresso
Condominium’s in the lofts at Moonlight Beach (intersection of the coast highway and Encinitas Blvd) were/are being offered for well in excess of a million dollars, or so I heard from a friend up in north county as we hit …