november2011

122 SanDiegoMagazine.comNovember2011

NEIGHBORHOOD

With a half-pound of grain-fed Midwest beef, Gruyère

cheese, caramelized onions and peppered greens on a hand-

cra ed artisan roll, the signature Neighborhood Burger isn’t

a conventional hamburger. Lunch & dinner daily. 777 G St.,

619-446-0002, neighborhoodsd.com. $$

OCEANAIRE SEAFOOD ROOM ✮

Swing into an elegant earlier era at this Gas lamp supper

spot and relax in cherry-wood booths under mood lighting.

Enticing shrimp, crab and Fijian yellowtail dishes await

guests. A few non-fi sh entrées are also off ered, as well

as an oyster bar. Dinner nightly. 400 J St., 619-858-2277,

theoceanaire.com. OT, $$$-$$$$

THE PALM

The classic American steakhouse adorns its walls with light-

hearted caricatures of local notable personalities. Dinner

nightly. 615 J St., 619-702-6500, thepalm.com. OT, $$$-$$$$

619-702-8464, reidogado.net. OT, $$$

SEVILLA ✮

The starry ceiling and rustic setting add romance to tradi-

tional Spanish cuisine such as the tapas sampler, seafood

paella, fl an and sangría. Dinner nightly. 353 Fi h Ave., 619-

233-5979, cafesevilla.com. OT, $$

TABULE RESTAURANT & BAR

Blending Mediterranean and Far Eastern fare, special-

ties here include Thai baby back ribs and fried rice with

plantains, cream cheese and eel sauce. Dinner nightly. 535

Fourth Ave., 619-238-0048, tabulerestaurantbar.com. OT, $$$

TAKA

Chef Maruyama presides at this upscale sushi bar and Pacifi c

Rim restaurant. Dinner nightly. 555 Fi h Ave., 619-338-

0555, takasushi.com. $$-$$$

TOAST ENOTECA & CUCINA

This East Village wine bar–restaurant features hundreds of

wines to accompany the Italian dishes of owner-chef Martin

Gonzalez. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner nightly. 927 J St.,

619-269-4207, toastenoteca.com. $$

THE WESTGATE ROOM

The Westgate Room serves breakfast, lunch & dinner

daily. A ernoon tea served in the grand lobby Fri., Sat. &

Sun., 2:30-5 (reservations: 619-557-3650). 1055 Second Ave.,

619-557-3655, westgatehotel.com. $$

Little Italy

ANTHOLOGY

Putting a modern spin on the swanky supper club, Anthol-

ogy supplies live music and fi ne cuisine from chef Todd

Allison. Dinner Tues.-Sun. 1337 India St., 619-595-0300,

anthologysd.com. $$-$$$

BENCOTTO ITALIAN KITCHEN ✮

The Milanese owners deliver contemporary, exciting Italian

food with house-made ingredients. Lunch & dinner Tues.-

Sun. 750 W. Fir St., 619-450-4786, lovebencotto.com. $$-$$$

BUON APPETITO

The Italian menu boasts pastas, meat and seafood entrées.

Lunch & dinner daily. 1609 India St., Little Italy,

619-238-9880. $$-$$$

CAFE ZUCCHERO

Coff ee-shop ambience with a concise menu of paninis, pizza

and pasta, crowned by desserts freshly prepared by in-house

pastry-maker Frank Busalacchi. Breakfast, lunch & dinner

daily. 1731 India St., 619-531-1731, cafezucchero.com. $$

Where to Eat

Restaurants are selected by staff and recommended

by readers. For additional listings and

information, visit sandiegomagazine.com/dining.

❯❯ MENU |

GIVE PIE A PASS
This Thanksgiving, skip the pie and pick up some pumpkin treats at Azucar. From the easy sell
(pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting), to avant-garde option (pumpkin panna cotta
with pumpkin seed brittle), all are worthy ways to celebrate the harvest. Most dazzling is the
pumpkin and cranberry scone, which is so moist that you won’t need butter, but having a dulce
de leche macchiato on stand-by for dunking is highly encouraged. iloveazucar.com // EJ

★ Best Restaurant winner

$$$$ entrées $23 & up

$$$ entrées $17-$22

$$ entrées $11-$16

$ entrées $10 or less

FB full bar

B&W beer and wine

CH checks accepted

N no credit cards

OT Open Table member

Downtown, East Village &

Gaslamp
CAFE CHLOE
This fresh French bistro in East Village blends California ca-
sual and European fl air. Breakfast & lunch Mon.-Fri., brunch
Sat. & Sun., a ernoon tea (3-5; reservation required) & dinner
daily. 721 Ninth Ave., 619-232-3242, cafechloe.com. $$
THE COWBOY STAR ✮
Executive chef Victor Jimenez’ rustic American dishes are
given a modern twist. Lunch Tues.-Fri., dinner Tues.-Sun. 640
10th Ave., 619-450-5880, thecowboystar.com. OT, $$$-$$$$$
GRANT GRILL ✮
Within downtown’s historic US Grant Hotel, this San Diego
icon off ers elegant farm-to-table fresh California cuisine.
Break fast, lunch (brunch on Sat. & Sun.) & din ner daily. 326
Broad way, 619-744-2077, grantgrill.com. OT, $$$-$$$$

GREYSTONE

Whether it’s buff alo tenderloin or wild-boar ragu, Greystone

knows its meat. Dinner nightly. 658 Fi h Ave., 619-232-0225,

greystonesteakhouse.com. $$$

JSIX ✮

Executive chef Christian Graves’ coastal menu matches his

“slow food” approach to cooking. Breakfast daily, lunch Mon.-

Fri, dinner nightly; Sat. & Sun. brunch. At Hotel Solamar,

616 J St., 619-531-8744, jsixsandiego.com. OT, $$-$$$

THE MELTING POT

Cozily private booths add to the cook-your-own fondue

experience. Dinner nightly. 901 Fi h Ave., 619-234-5554,

meltingpot.com/sandiegogaslamp. $$-$$$

MORTON’S, THE STEAKHOUSE

Sinatra sets the mood for generous portions of beef, seafood

and classic steakhouse sides,. Dinner nightly. At the Harbor

Club, 285 J St., 619-696-3369, mortons.com. $$$-$$$$