San Diego Gal--Erin Knows San Diego

Erin Knows San Diego -- About me!

Here's the link to the "About Erin" page that is still sort of hard to find on this website (link on the top right). It's where you can find out a little bit about who I am, why I update this blog and and how you can get in touch with me. Thanks for visiting!

new Restaurnts open in San Diego: East Village, Downtown, Hillcrest (kips!), North Park and Carlsbad

LOTS of new restaurant openings lately!
5 New spots to Try:
 
Toast:
http://www.toastenoteca.com/
 
Pizzeria Bruno:
http://pizzeriabrunosd.com/
 
Wellington:
http://thewellingtonsd.com/
 
The Counter
http://www.thecounterburger.com/concept/
 
North Park Fish Market
http://www.northparkfish.com/index.htm
 
Kips Hillcrest finally open!!!

 
Coming Soon:
Fluxx (where Aubergine ued to be)
Searsucker (where Z Gallerie used to be)
Quality Social (where Exy used to be)
Banker's Hill Bar and Restaurant (where MOdus used to be)
Barrio Star -- also in Banker's Hill
El Take it Easy -- in North Park

Valentine's Day San DIego, Part 1.

Valentine's Day Spots -- Time to make plans and get reservations!

 

1 Urban Solace -- they are doing a great prefix menu, and the dessert sounds to die for -- chocolate bomb with malted marshmellow and cocoa nibs!

 http://www.urbansolace.net/events.html

 

2 Midnight Dinner + Movie -- Ken Cinema in Kensington is showing E.T. at midnight on Feb 13 at part of their midnight movies seires -- try Burger Lounge across the street for burgers and wine before the movie. Or Blue Boheme is cute and romantic too for dinner before.

http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/SanDiego/SanDiego_Frameset.htm

 

3 Eclipse Chocolat -- Love this chocolate shop in University Heights! For V- they are doing 4-courses ($95 per couple) with surf+turf plus a live violinist. Every course has some kind of chocolate element. and the dessert course is a flight of 4 limited edition truffles, each infused with cheese....i'm dying to try the Gogonzola Dulce.

 http://eclipsechocolat.blogspot.com/

 

4 Wine Vault + Bistro -- tucked-away little bistro in south mission hills, so romantic, with a pre-fixe menu built to share between two people. 7 courses, with wine -- such a cozy, romantic place!

http://winevaultbistro.com/calendar.html (click through to the february calendar.

 

5 Chocolate Festival -- Downtown escondido hosts this sweet festival, complete with chocolate samples, wine and even beer+chocolate pairings. It all happens Saturday Feb 13.

http://www.downtownescondido.com/chocolate.html 

 

 

More at www.erinknowssandiego.com and @ErinKnowsSD on twitter

5 cozy rainy day spots:



1 Dublin Square -- the coziest fireplace, soft sofas to snuggle on, Guinness on tap, Shepherd pie!

http://www.dublinsquareirishpub.com/gallery.html

2 Reds Coffee House -- Cozt Point Loma coffeehouse with games, great espresso + sandwiches

http://www.sexybeans.com/

3 Chicken Pie Shop -- there is nothing more toasty-warm and satisfying than a Chicken pot pie from the original pie shop in san diego http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/27/314418/restaurant/North-Park/San-Diego-Chicken-Pie-Shop-San-Diego

4 Chez Loma -- cozy restaurant in Coronado built into an old house -- feels like eating in an old-fashioned parlor with the firplace roaring. http://www.chezloma.com/

5 Phuong Trang -- for the best steaming Vietnamese and Chinese soups in the city!

http://www.phuongtrangrestaurant.com/

More on www.ErinKnowsSanDiego.com and @ErinKnowsSD

5 picks for san diego restaurant week!

Cavaillon -- $40 Love the first couse menu choices of lobster bisque or seared scallops and they have coconut profiteroles for dessert! http://www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com/index.php?page=restaurantmenu&rrid=113

Cowboy Star -- $40 they have wagyu carpaccio on the first course menu, plus petiti filet, Niman pork or Pheasant for the main course. Be sure to splurge on a cocktail, too, because their bartenders are among the best int he city. http://www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com/index.php?page=restaurantmenu&rrid=84

Mistral at Loews -- $30 they always focus on local, sustainmable ingredients, and they grow a lot of their herbs and some produce on site. RW menu looks awesome! Sea bass, short ribs, wild arugula salad, rose water creme brulee for dessert. http://www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com/index.php?page=restaurantmenu&rrid=294

Suite & Tender -- Super swank dining room and they have maple-glazed bacon as one of their courses! Plus king crab and New Strip steak for the main course! http://www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com/index.php?page=restaurantmenu&rrid=164

Waterfront Grill -- Pier 32 in National City $20 menu -- Flat iron steak, three cheese pasta -- simple desserts. Neat new restaurant to check otu for sure. Awesome view of the marina in National City. http://www.mywaterfrontgrill.com/ 

more at www.sdrestaurantweek.com

Kip's Hillcrest Opening Update!

Thanks to Jane for leaving the comment that led us to the Kip's Facebook fanpage! Become a fan of it on Facebook for all the updates on the new Hillcrest location. Looks like mid-January is their target opening.

5 Classic San Diego Spots: These are the old-school, original, before-restaurant-week-was-ever-invented kind of places!

Red Sails -- A big part of San Diego lore, history and legend lies with the fishing communities who founded the little ITaly and Point Loma neighborhoods. And the Red Sails Inn (with it's great old wooden bar and back patio) is where all the salty sailors (and now someof the swanky yacht club folks) head for breakfast and coffee in the am, and stiff cocktails at night.Classic!

http://www.theredsails.com/bar.html 

 

Venice Pizza -- Even as the surrounding neighborhood gets seedier and more "funky", Venice Pizza remains exactly the same as it was 40 years ago -- awesome pizza, neighborly, friendly, hometown hospitality.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/venice-pizza-house-san-diego 

 

Hob Nob Hill -- The classic breakfast spot for San Diego power brokers, grandparents and anyone whose been around long enough to know this city pre-Gaslamp, pre-Petco, pre-high rise condo buildings.

http://www.hobnobhill.com/history.htm

 

Red Fox Steakhouse -- old school steakhouse and piano bar that's been hoppin' since "The Boulevard" was the place to be back in the 1960s. Nw owners have brought in a slightly younger crowd, but the vibe is still totally old school.

http://www.lafayettehotelsd.com/dining-out.html 

 

Filippi's -- With Chianti bottles hanging from the ceiling, red checkered table clothes, and a truly authtic Italian market in front, it's San Diego's classic version of an Italian bistro.

http://www.realcheesepizza.com/web/history/index.html

 

**bonus: Cafe 101 -- Classic 1050s diner in Oceanside that still attracts the classic car weekend roadster crowd

http://www.101cafe.net/

Top 10 New Restaurants San Diego 2009!

My PIcks for the best New Restaurants in San Diego for 2009! A great year of food!

1 Cucina Urbana www.sdurbankitchen.com
2 Blind Lady Alehouse www.blindladyalehouse.com
3 Alchemy www.alchemysandiego.com
4 333 Pacific http://www.cohnrestaurants.com/restaurants/333pacific/ 
5 Roseville www.rosevillesd.com/
6 Hane Sushi www.hanesushi.com
7 Red Door www.thereddoorsd.com
8 Pappalecco Gelato  www.pappalecco.com
9 Kitchen 1540 www.laubergedelmar.com/kitchen1540
10 Ruby Room www.myspace.com/therubyroomsd

Cozy fireside restaurants!

Lamont Street Grill -- tucked-away little spot in PB, right off Lamont St and Grand Ave (hidden behind a green hedge) -- such a cute fireplace inside, plus a roaring one outside on the patio. Very romantic and date-worth or good for special occassion.



Thee Bungalow -- Feelslike eating in an old California Bungalow. Known for great duck, extensive wine list and cozy ambiance. Very quiant and very old-school, fancy restaurant!



Baci Ristorante -- hidden little Italian restaurant off Morena Blvd -- authentic Pasta and seafood dishes, romantic, old-world atmosphere, cozy, glow-y!

http://sandiegobaci.com/

Foodie Holiday Gift Ideas!
Vennissimo Cheese -- the best cheeseshop ever! Get your foodie and cheese-of-the-month membership, gift certificate, cheese-making class, or just a big ol' wheel of good Parm -- yum! (3 locations: Mission Hills, Downtown, Del Mar)

www.venissimo.com

Great News Cooking School -- fabulous cooking classes, everything from knife skills to cooking seafood to preparing an entire dinner party. usually between $39-$69 for a clas, but you always get to eat the food and have wine too!

http://www.great-news.com/

Bacon of the month! -- now you can get anything delivered monthly, but I think getting 12 months f artisian pork might just be my fave!

http://www.thepignextdoor.com/bacon/traditional.html

Best Egges Benedict + Street Food!

Best Eggs Benedict!
The Eggery -- homestyle diner-sty;e breakfast joint with awesome, traditional eggs benedict (love the slightly spicy hollondaise sauce!)

http://www.theeggery.com/

Brockton Villa -- eggs benedict with a view of La Jolla Cove

www.brocktonvilla.com/

The Trails -- very cute, tucked-away neighborhood cafe in San Carlos with amazing eggs benedict! simple menu, cheap prices, free coffee while ou wait for a table.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-trails-eatery-san-diego#hrid:Vcil1vC8aHqIbHw0M3S_lw/src:search/query:best%20eggs%20benedict

Best Street Food --
Street Food Fest this Saturday morning!

http://www.cooksconfab.com/Coming_Up!.html

Panini Guy at the Little Italy Mercato -- the line is about 20-30 minutes every saturday, but the fresh paninis are worth the wait!

http://littleitalysd.com/mercato/home.asp

The Churro Guy -- best warm, fried fresh churros from a street vendor! A lot of controversy surrounding this cart -- used to be at university ave and 35th street, but now has been forced to move down to 25th/imperial ave, due to crowds. Find it! it's worth it!
(this blogger has the whole story: http://masaassassin.blogspot.com/2009/07/churros-el-tigre-san-diego-street-food.html

More of Thanksgiving in San Diego (+ where to show off the city!)

Thanksgiving Menus -- Even more!
The Beach House --- 3 courses for $32, choose from lobster, turkey, prime rib. Ocean views to die for!
http://www.opentable.com/rest_profile.aspx?rid=33025&d=11/26/2009
 
Nine-Ten -- If you want upscale, modern, La Jolla, special occasion, Nine Ten is it! 3 courses for $52.
http://www.opentable.com/rest_profile.aspx?rid=1826&d=11/26/2009
 
Brian's Downtown -- Great spot for a down-home, inexpensive, traditional turkey dinner. One heaping, old-fashioned platter pf turkey, stuffing and gravy is just $14.99 all weekend long.
http://www.opentable.com/rest_profile.aspx?rid=34966&d=11/26/2009
 
 
Out-of-town Guest Spots -- Where to show off San Diego:
Tacos el Gordo -- want to show your family a taste of real Mexican food? Street tacos? the best carne asada?
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&source=hp&rlz=1R2SNYI_enUS348&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=tacos+el+gordo&fb=1&gl=us&hq=tacos+el+gordo&hnear=San+Diego,+CA&cid=3574953485129475139
 
Island Prime -- Great views, great deals at the nex-door lounge C-Level ($5 wines at Happy hours) and a-mazing views of the waterfront and san diego skyline.
http://www.cohnrestaurants.com/restaurants/islandprime/
 
Fig Tree Cafe -- Perfect place for a beachy breakfast or brunch. cute little house with strung lights and outdoor patio, right in the best part of north PB.
http://www.figtreecafepb.com/