Laurel Restaurant & Bar

Frommer's Review

Restaurateur Tracy Borkum brought upscale, minimalist chic to the Gaslamp Quarter when she opened Chive in 1999. Five years later she took ownership of, and completely reinvented, Laurel, one of the city's premier dining destinations. Laurel has unusual (for San Diego) game entrees like elk, boar, and rabbit; a wonderful cassoulet; a main-course vegetable sampler; a seven-course chef's tasting meal; and a daily three-course, prix-fixe meal from 5-6:30pm for $35. Many bottles of wine are half-price on Sundays. Laurel's quirky interior design features bold black and white patterns, punctuated by highlights of chartreuse, Kelly green, and lipstick red; mirrored walls with arabesque and Joan Miro-inspired patterns reflect Swarovski crystal chandeliers; and bouquets of roses are suspended in large cylindrical vases like lab experiments. If that all sounds a bit over the top, it's mitigated by plenty of soft lighting from flickering oil lamps. Located adjacent to Balboa Park, Laurel offers complimentary shuttles to the nearby Old Globe Theatre.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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