A great restaurant to go to is Little Italy Spagetteria. It's got plenty of room for large groups, and on the weekends they have live music. Their prices are very reasonable and they have a "family style" choice for larger parties on pastas. Their antipasta salad is quite large and definitely serves more than two. The atmosphere is casual with an Italian bistro feel. Tables are centered around the cute red Fiat!
We decided on this style of dining to celebrate E's 30th birthday. He didn't want anything fancy or elaborate, and this seems to fit the bill. Technically though, I told him we are really celebrating my 30th anniversary of the day I gave birth and lost 40 lbs. It is all about me after all. ;-)
Tried a new restaurant called Pizzicato Gourmet Pizza. This may be a chain restaurant but the food was very good! The portions are extremely large. The large salad would easily feed 4 to even 5 people. The pizza was excellent, so was the salad, and the kitchen staff couldn't have been more helpful. The closest location to us was in the Bankers Hill area of downtown on 5th Avenue, right around the corner from the Imperial House. (which of course is also very good!) We didn't try them, but they have antipasti and panini too.
We don't eat raw fish, but we do love the other items at Ginza Sushi. They have delicious noodle soups, our favorite is the spicy ramen. They've got great deals on bentos which my husband usually gets, and they recently added a 10-ingredient fried rice which is not only shareable, a full meal in itself, but is very reasonable. Miso soups, California rolls, and edamame, and even egg rolls. The prices here are low and the service is good. It's located next to a theater so at times it's hard to get into, but it moves fast since most patrons need to eat and run.
Honestly, this is fast becoming one of my first choices, The Burger Lounge. They have several locations; La Jolla, Kensington, Coronado, and Little Italy, which is the one we like best. They serve grass-fed beef hamburgers with homemade buns. But the crispy chicken tenders are to die for. Served on skewers in little take-out type boxes. Order this with one of their salads, which you will want to share as it is quite large, and top it off with a 1/2 and 1/2 order of fresh cooked onion rings and french fries, again enough for two. Outrageously good!
The food park at UTC used to have this little stand called Aladdin's Cafe. They've since moved and are now located in a strip mall on Clairemont Mesa Blvd. It's Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dining with some of the best hummus in San Diego. Attentive staff and visible kitchen with moderate prices.
E and I discovered this one when we went shopping at Great News. It's pretty new and darned good. Pop's Jersey Style Cheese Steaks. No website yet but a mention in the paper, and a review here from a local blogger. We lived just outside of Philly and the entire region makes dynamite cheese steaks and hoagies. None here come close, until now. We shared one for lunch and it was more than enough for a mid day snack. They offer specials and fabulous service. Just be sure to add the Cheese Whiz, that's the key!
Looking for a freebie? Then sign up at Sammy's Woodfired Pizza. Join their Tasty Bytes Club and get a free Messy Sundae. I've gotten free pizzas, 20% off coupons, buy one entree get one free, so it's well worth it. Plus they really do have great food.
Red does like a well rounded meal but once in a while will settle for plain salad. The Club Veg program at Souplantation offers buy one dinner and two drinks, and get one dinner free coupons. That's a really nice deal. Hard to beat two people eating for under $20 dollars! They've sent other offers but that one stands out as the best one in my mind.
Like to eat early? I sure do. My husband and I found Khans Cave, Tavern and Grill in Kearny Mesa. They offer Asian influenced casual dining. Their happy hours are from 4pm-6:30pm every day, and all night on Wednesdays. Plus they have half-priced wine by the bottle on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Love the gyoza, calamari, and chilled noodle salad with sesame dressing best but everything we've tried has been delicious. Being tight-wads on these occasions we stick with just the tapas menu but there is plenty to choose from and when we leave we are more than full.
Go for an early bird special at The Butcher Shop Steakhouse in Kearny Mesa, for under $20. The times are from 4pm to 6pm. It's a great deal which offers three different entrees to choose from, and includes coffee or tea, garlic bread, salad, and potatoes or rice pilaf, and at the end of the meal, a scoop of ice cream or spumoni. It's very old school and back east style; dark and elegant with comfortable booths. They also have banquet rooms, in fact my parents had their 50th Anniversary party there.
Another good choice for eating early is the 94th Aero Squadron. They have "early flight" dinners from 4pm to 6pm. They offer a large selection of entrees which come with soup or salad, and potatoes or rice pilaf. Also includes ice cream and coffee or tea. Really a good deal, and the chef generally makes homemade creamed corn for everyone, which is delicious.
Found an Indian gem hidden in a food court tucked away in a mall that is typically closed at night. Sitar Indian Cuisine, is located just off the 805 freeway exit in Sorrento Valley. Way at the back of the strip mall and located inside the food court area, so there is no sign visible from the street. This one is a great low cost, healthy choice, and very casual. The Saturday night only buffet features specialities including appetizers, exotic vegetarian and meat entrees, tandoori specialities, and cooked to order dosa's. The price was $9.99 each, and well worth it. Lots of regulars are Indian and they were only too happy to tell us what we should get, and what belong to each dish. Indian cuisine is somewhat new to us, so we can use all the friendly tips we can get! We'll be going back frequently as this was a great find.
Red and E Cooking Tips and Recipes. Restaurant finds and reviews, cooking sources, and events.
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