Upscale Ice Cream in La Jolla: Bardot Bars
Back in May I wrote about the upcoming opening of Bardot Bars, a fancy-schmancy ice cream bar shop in La Jolla. I say fancy-schmancy because the shop, one of three opening in SoCal this summer, is located in a primo …
Fast Food in Barrio Logan: Rolando's Taco Shop
I was down at Café Moto buying coffee beans, and on a tight time schedule. Where’s a good place to grab a quick lunch?, I asked the ever-helpful Moto staff. They pointed me towards Rolando’s Taco Shop, just a half …
Now Open: Village Vino in Kensington
Proprietor Rita Pirkl, of the newly opened Village Vino on Adams Avenue, spent eight of her last ten years commuting from Kensington to positions at Chateau Montelena Winery and Peju Province Winery in Napa. http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/jul/11/27730/ And for the past five …
All About the d at d Bar Desserts
My first visit to d Bar Desserts, the new pastry shop/casual bistro located on Fifth Avenue in Hillcrest, was successful in nearly every way, except that after my meal, I didn’t have room for dessert. Since I’d watched several of …
Lunch on Convoy: Viet Bakery and Pho
I finally got around to visiting Viet Bakery and Pho, a newish place on Convoy Street in Kearny Mesa. I’ve been driving by it since April, but just didn’t have the right combination of time and hunger to stop in. …
Food Truck Lunch: Red Oven Pizza
I first encountered Red Oven Pizza, Justin Burlingame’s mobile Pizza Napoletano truck, at a Green Flash Brewery tasting event, but he can be seen at the Solana Beach, University City and Oceanside farmer’s markets, as well as regular stops on …
Homegrown Comfort: Leroy's Kitchen and Lounge
Home grown success story David Spatafore opened his first place, MooTime Creamery in Coronado, in 1998. Since then, he’s gone on to launch Village Pizzeria in two locations, the now defunct Beach-N-Diner, Lil’ Piggy’s, a second MooTime in the Hotel …
Travel Light at Vagabond Kitchen
Chad Deal has reported on special dining events and chef changes at Vagabond Kitchen several times, and they always sound great. Still, I’ve never made it there. Then other day my friend Kerri, who’s steered me towards several pleasurable dining …
Pho UTC and Grill
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 …
Food Truck Lunch: Sushi Ninjas
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 …
Sincerely Surprised: Samurai Japanese Restaurant
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, …
A First Look at Ariccia Italian Market
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 …
Coming Attractions: Ariccia Italian Market in La Jolla
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 …
Coming Attractions: Sally and Henry's Doghouse Bar & Grill
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 …
Sima's Grill & Deli
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 …
Five Generations of Italian Tradition at Café Barbera
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 …
A First Look at d Bar Desserts
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 …
A Bite of Hillcrest at Local Habit
A few weeks ago, I went on a Bite San Diego walking tour of Hillcrest. It’s a 1 ½ - 2 hour excursion that stops at five local restaurants, where you get a sample of the specialty of the house …
Losing My Inhibitions at Muzita Abyssinian Bistro
One of the great pleasures in life is communal dining with friends. Especially when you throw away your knife, fork and inhibitions, and dig in with some warm injera. Muzita Abyssinian Bistro, on Park Boulevard in University Heights, provides just …
Pizze, Pizze at Caffe Calabria
A while back, Ed Bedford wrote about the pizzas at Caffe Calabria in North Park. I’m always on the lookout for new places for a slice, and the pictures of the thin crust and fresh toppings seemed right up my …