San Diego Restaurants Guide: High End Dining to Budget Eats in San Diego

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San Diego

Restaurants

Like you might expect of any major city, San Diego's restaurant scene runs the gamut, with a plethora of choices in every price and cuisine category. The city boasts great Mexican food in particular and sampling it, whether it be at an upscale restaurant in the Gaslamp like Candelas (416 3rd Ave.; 619/702-4455; www.candelas-sd.com), at a tried-and-true favorite in Old Town like the Old Town Mexican Café (2849 San Diego Ave.; 619/297-4330; www.oldtownmexcafe.com), or by eating your way through the variety of tacos at Mamá Testa (1417 A University Ave.; 619/298-8226; www.mamatestataqueria.com), should be as much a part of visiting San Diego as anything else on your "to-do" list.

But there's more to the gastronomy of this town than Mexican food. If you're looking for a high-end dining establishment, there's no shortage in the city limits, and if you enjoy your meal with a view we recommend two great ones: Bertrand at Mister A's (2550 Fifth Ave., 12th floor; 619/239-1377; www.bertrandatmisteras.com) offers fantastic city views through floor-to-ceiling windows in its 12th-floor location and is the perfect place for a special-occasion dinner; feast on a mostly American menu of Kobe steak, macaroni and cheese with white and black truffle oil, and Maine lobster strudel. The sea views take center stage in La Jolla at George's on the Cove (1250 Prospect Ave.; 858/454-4244; www.georgesatthecove.com), which offers a formal dining room with breathtaking Pacific vistas in an elegant setting; the same views can also be enjoyed in a more casual setting at George's on the Cove Ocean Terrace Bistro or the Pacific View Bar, both at the same location. For some of the best people-watching in the city, Trattoria La Strada (702 Fifth Ave.; 619/239-3400; www.trattorialastrada.com) serves up Italian classics on one of the busiest corners in the Gaslamp Quarter.

Moderately-priced restaurants abound as well, but there is a certain delight in finding a restaurant that offers a great value to its customers. Antico Toscano (1288 University Ave.; 619/298-2768; www.anticotoscano.com), an Italian restaurant in the Hillcrest neighborhood, does just that, striking a balance of price and quality that's hard to beat – try the homemade pastas. Red Pearl Kitchen (440 J St.; 619/231-1100; www.redpearlkitchen.com) is a relative newcomer to the San Diego dining scene, but this sleek Gaslamp Quarter spot's family-style Asian-fusion was an instant hit. The Mission Hills neighborhood is the spot for great barbecue; try Phil's BBQ (4030 Goldfinch St.; closed Mondays; 619/688-0559; www.philsbbq.com) for a fun, casual meal of great ribs and BBQ chicken.

For budget eats, the Ocean Beach neighborhood offers up a wine store and restaurant combination that no self-respecting oenophile should miss: The 3rd Corner (2265 Bacon St.; closed Mondays; 619/223-2700; www.the3rdcorner.com) has a menu mostly consisting predominantly of small plates (think artisan cheese plates, pate samplers, and salads) and over 1000 bottles of wine; stroll the aisles, pick your wine, and drink it with your meal in a wine-cellar setting (a $5 corkage fee applies). After a day at Pacific Beach, check out Bub's Dive Bar & Grill (1030 Garnet Ave.; 858/270-7269) and don't let the name or peanut-shell covered floor deter you: this is a real local favorite. The popular Sammy's Woodfired Pizza (www.sammyspizza.com) has several locations in the city; the one in the Gaslamp Quarter (770 Fourth Ave.; 619/230-8888) is great for a casual meal after a day of sightseeing; pizzas toppings range from standard (Margherita) to unusual (arugula and pear).