The Good, The Bad The Ugly... (San Diego, Corona: house, live, restaurant)

[oddstray]

Originally Posted by oddstray

Blue Point Grill on Park

Darn. Meant to say "Gulf Coast Grill on Park"

[zonababe]

Originally Posted by eastcoastbias

Squid,

Give it time. Travel down 8 around mission valley where people have no clue where they are going or route 5 in the morning or evening commute where half the folks are going to the beaches, racetrack and could care less while the others are racing off or coming home from work. I actually think South Florida would have the same problems- alot of out of towners that don't know where they are going, major metro area, and the beach crowd of relaxed individuals sunday strolling down a major highway.

sdurban- I don't think the food is bad here, I just hear alot of talk about the wonderful restaurants that we have and I don't see it- so its pretty disappointing to me. I usually try to find the non-commericial gems, I do my fair share of research. Is there a good deli that I'm missing or some great upscale italian restuarants?

I have to agree about the Italian food. I just returned from a vacation in North County. I told I husband, "I have to stop chasing good Italian food, as I'm not going to find it."

[Encinitan]

Originally Posted by zonababe

I have to agree about the Italian food. I just returned from a vacation in North County. I told I husband, "I have to stop chasing good Italian food, as I'm not going to find it."

Did you try Trattoria i Trulli on Coast Highway in Encinitas?

[sdurbanite]

Originally Posted by eastcoastbias

sdurban- I don't think the food is bad here, I just hear alot of talk about the wonderful restaurants that we have and I don't see it- so its pretty disappointing to me. I usually try to find the non-commericial gems, I do my fair share of research. Is there a good deli that I'm missing or some great upscale italian restuarants?

Trust me, there are plenty of non-chain restaurants to choose from in the area. I can't remember the last time i ate at a chain restaurant (Chili's, TGIF, IHOP, etc).

Check out Food and Wine Magazine's current "America's Best Places to Eat" article on their website, in which San Diego is one of the featured cities.

[sdurbanite]

Originally Posted by eastcoastbias

Jim

Poseidon Del Mar
Brigantine Poway (Best Fish taco- $2 on Tues.)
Poway Sushi
Blue Point (Gaslamp) ($$$ but awesome seafood)
Happy Hour: Coyote Bar & Grill- Carlsbad
Beer Selections: StoneBrewry Escondido (best atmosphere hands down, eat on the patio)
Wine: Bernardo Winery (feels like your in a 19th century town)

What are some yours?

Hmmmm....I'm going to side with others who already made comments on the Poseidon and Brigantine. Stone Brewery is awesome and dining on patio is great, but the food is...well, pub food. It's fine, but there is so much better out there.

Here's my suggestion, forget Fish Taco Tuesday's at the Brigantine, and browse thru Yelp for your next place to eat. Great website with restaurant reviews that breaks it down by cuisine and neighborhood.

And if you are driving all the way to Del Mar, then my all means try out Pamplemousse Grille, Blanca, Addison (one of only 20 restaurants in the country to be awarded the prestigious 5-Star rating from Mobil Travel Guide last January), Red Tracton and Market. In Rancho Santa Fe, there's Delicias and Mille Fleurs. If French is your thing, check out El Bizcocho in Rancho Bernardo. I really could go on and on.

Are you into ethnic food, at all? Thai, Indian, Hawaiian, Mexican, Somali, Korean, etc? If so, there's no shortage of places to eat here! Here's an old City Data thread that can help you out - http://www.city-data.com/forum/san-d...staurants.html

Lastly, here's a link to a local foodie's list of things to eat and where that should keep you busy for awhile. While I haven't eaten everything on her list, you'll be glad to know that I've been to nearly all of the places she mentioned.

[eastcoastbias]

I have my usual staples here thanks for the info- I've had mixed results on Yelp. I'm a pub and deli guy and I like hole-in-the-wall places but i ocassionally spring for a really good meal.

Of the ethnic foods you listed I like Thai, and can tolerate mexican food- maybe thats why I'm not thrilled about the food in SD.

[bloom]

Originally Posted by sassberto

buon appetitto is thoroughly mediocre. I am not sure why people rave about it so much. .

+1

[bloom]

Originally Posted by encinitan

i just don't know what i'd do without your rambling weekly "i can't stand san diego and one of these days i'm gonna blow this taco stand" posts. If you can't find good hole-in-the-wall mexican food in san diego, then there's no hope for you at all.

+1

[bloom]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

Good italian food is scarce here. There are some good spots in Little Italy you can try. Overall it is very medicocre.

Good deli is really almost non-existent.

Il Fornia (sp) in Del Mar was pretty good, not superb, on 1st pass.

[Encinitan]

Originally Posted by bloom

Il Fornia (sp) in Del Mar was pretty good, not superb, on 1st pass.

Just to follow up, Il Fornaio is on the top floor/deck of the Del Mar Plaza (15th and Camino Del Mar). Great ambiance, decent to pretty good Italian food. Not bad for a chain.