Restaurants

Thanks to an influx of creative, young chefs -- often incorporating the bounty of local farms and ranches into their menus -- San Diego's fine dining scene has come into its own during the past decade.

You'll find terrific seafood, frequently featured in California cuisine and Italian fare, which dominate the scene; while eclectic fusion food has carved out a substantial niche, as well. Of course, San Diego still has plenty of clubby steak-and-potato stalwarts and no shortage of chain eateries.

Number one on most visitors' list of culinary priorities is Mexican food -- a logical choice given the city's history and location. You'll find lots of Americanized, fairly satisfying interpretations of Mexican fare (that is, combo plates heaped with melted cheddar cheese) along with a few hidden gems. And don't miss our humble fish taco, perhaps the city's favorite fast food.

In this chapter, restaurants in San Diego proper are indexed by location and price category. Note, however, that some of San Diego's best dining venues lie 30 to 40 minutes to the north, in the communities of Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, and Carlsbad. These are found in chapter 12, as are dining options for the Disneyland area and south of the border.

For diners on a budget, the more expensive San Diego restaurants are usually accommodating if you prefer to order a few appetizers instead of a main course, and many offer reasonably priced lunch menus. Some also feature modestly priced bar and lounge menus. In keeping with our beach culture, even in the more pricey places, dress tends to be casual.

Discount coupons are found in the San Diego Weekly Reader, available free on Thursdays (and known as the Weekly in an edited version distributed at local hotels). Quite a few restaurants also offer "early bird" specials -- discounted dining for those who don't mind being seated by 6pm or so.

Restaurants are categorized by price, which includes the average cost of one entree, an appetizer (if the entree does not come with a side dish or appetizer), one nonalcoholic drink, tax, and tip. Very Expensive means a meal averages $50 per person and up; Expensive means it costs $30 to $50; Moderate means it's $15 to $30; and Inexpensive means it's less than $15.

A note on parking: Unless a listing specifies otherwise, drivers can expect to park within 2 or 3 blocks of the restaurants listed here. If you can't find a free or metered space on the street, you can seek out a garage or lot; most Gaslamp Quarter and La Jolla venues offer valet parking.

Attack of the Killer Burgers -- Burgers, it seems, are the new black. Upscale hamburger spots are popping up all around town, putting fast-food joints to shame with their chic surroundings; grass-fed, organic beef; and snazzy beer and wine menus.

Sleekly industrial Burger Lounge has two locations: La Jolla, 1101 Wall St. (tel. 858/456-0196), and Kensington, 4116 Adams Ave. (tel. 619/584-2929); a third outlet is scheduled to open downtown. The 10-item menu cuts right to the chase, featuring natural beef (as well as turkey and veggie) burgers, salads, milkshakes, and wine and beer. The amazing skyline mosaic on the back wall is reason enough to pay a visit to Neighborhood, 777 G St., downtown (tel. 619/446-0002). The 20 beers on tap (including plenty of local brews), sophisticated wine list, gourmet takes on burgers and classic bar food (like Kosher hot dogs with chipotle purée), and creative salads will give you all the incentive you need to stay. In Hillcrest, Lucky Buck's, 1459 University Ave. (tel. 619/297-0660), has a sidewalk patio and full bar; there are also burritos and chicken sandwiches on hand if you opt out of a burger.

The don't-miss spot for burger aficionados is Tioli's Crazee Burger, 4201 30th St., North Park (tel. 619/282-6044). This eatery isn't hip or modern, but it takes a truly fine-dining approach toward its more than 30 burger offerings. Go crazy and order an ostrich, buffalo, or alligator burger; the German owners also take justifiable pride in the bratwurst. Hodad's, 5010 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach (tel. 619/224-4623), isn't new or urbane, either, but many locals insist it has the city's best burgers. If you want a big, messy burger in a classic beach environment, here's your place.

Dive bar connoisseurs can get their burger on at Rocky's Crown Pub, 3786 Ingraham St., Pacific Beach (tel. 858/273-9140), and Danny's Palm Bar & Grill, 965 Orange Ave., Coronado (tel. 619/435-3171). Rocky's is another longtime contender for the best-burger-in-town title; Danny's, which dates to 1908, also has a legion of fans. Kids are welcome at Danny's while the grill is open.

Wood-Fired Pizza -- For a whole generation of Californians, pizza means barbecued chicken, goat cheese or sun-dried tomato, and kitchens all over San Diego stoke their wood-fired ovens to keep up with the demand. Two locally based chains deserve special note, and despite being alike, each chain thrives by covering neighborhoods the other doesn't. Prices are inexpensive to moderate.

Always a favorite in San Diego polls is Sammy's California Woodfired Pizza at 770 Fourth Ave., at F Street, in the Gaslamp Quarter (tel. 619/230-8888); 1620 Camino de la Reina in Mission Valley (tel. 619/298-8222); 702 Pearl St., at Draper Street, La Jolla (tel. 858/456-5222); and 12925 El Camino Real, at Del Mar Heights Road, Del Mar (tel. 858/259-6600). Sammy's serves creations like duck sausage, potato garlic, or Jamaican jerk shrimp atop 10-inch rounds. It also excels at enormous salads, making it easy to share a meal and save a bundle.

A similar menu is available at Pizza Nova, a local minichain with a vibrant atmosphere. You'll find them at 3955 Fifth Ave., north of University Avenue in Hillcrest (tel. 619/296-6682); 5050 N. Harbor Dr., west of Nimitz Boulevard in Point Loma (tel. 619/226-0268); and 945 Loma Santa Fe Dr., near I-5 in Solana Beach (tel. 858/259-0666).

Baja Fish Tacos -- One of San Diego's culinary ironies is that despite its rich Hispanic heritage and proximity to the Mexican border, it's hard to find anything other than gringo-ized combo plates in many local Mexican restaurants. But one item you'll see on plenty of menus here is the fish taco -- a native of Baja California. Consisting of batter-dipped, deep-fried filets wrapped in a corn tortilla with shredded cabbage, salsa, and a tangy sauce, fish tacos were popularized in San Diego by Rubio's Baja Grill in the early 1980s. Rubio's has since grown into a sizable chain, and it's a good option if you're on the go -- the original stand is still operating at the east end of Pacific Beach, 4504 E. Mission Bay Dr., at Bunker Hill Street (tel. 858/272-2801).

Fish tacos are a casual food, served in casual settings. Here are some of the best places to taste one: Bay Park Fish Co., 4121 Ashton St., Bay Park (tel. 619/276-3474); Blue Water Seafood Market and Grill, 3667 India St., Mission Hills (tel. 619/497-0914); The Brigantine; The Fishery; Mamá Testa, 1417A University Ave., Hillcrest (tel. 619/298-8226); Point Loma Seafoods, 2805 Emerson St., Point Loma (tel. 619/223-1109); South Beach Bar & Grill, 5059 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach (tel. 619/226-4577); Wahoo's Fish Taco, 639 Pearl St., La Jolla (tel. 858/459-0027), and 2195 Station Village Way, Mission Valley (tel. 619/299-4550); and El Zarape, 4642 Park Blvd., University Heights (tel. 619/692-1652).

Picnic Fare -- San Diego's benign climate lends itself to dining alfresco. An excellent spot to pick up sandwiches is The Cheese Shop, a gourmet deli with locations downtown at 627 4th Ave. (tel. 619/232-2303) and in La Jolla Shores at 2165 Avenida de la Playa (tel. 858/459-3921). Other places to buy picnic fare include Girard Gourmet, 7837 Girard Ave., La Jolla (tel. 858/454-3321); Bread on Market (tel. 619/795-2730), an excellent bakery and small cafe with a menu of overstuffed sandwiches; and Old Town Liquor and Deli, 2304 San Diego Ave. (tel. 619/291-4888).

Another popular spot is Point Loma Seafoods, on the water's edge in front of the Municipal Sportfishing Pier, at 2805 Emerson near Scott Street, south of Rosecrans and west of Harbor Drive (tel. 619/223-1109). There's a fish market here, and you can pick up seafood sandwiches, fresh sushi, and salads to go. If you decide to make your own sandwiches, the best bread in the county comes from Bread & Cie., 350 University Ave., Hillcrest (tel. 619/683-9322).