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IanPike's avatar

Ian Pike

Ian Pike is a Reader contributor. See staff page for published articles.

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Bad service in San Diego

SF's restaurant scene has a lot going for it at the top end, that's never in dispute. However, in some things we totally and completely own their asses. Mission-style taco shops are wack. The beer drinking scene is better here. We may have the world's best selection of awesome, 24hr donut shops. That's to name a few advantages. That said, San Francisco and San Diego are culinary apples and oranges. SF compares more favorably to NY than anything else. SD, at its best, is weird and one-of-a-kind. It bears more comparison to a southern or midwestern city, some of which are awesome in their own rights but would fail miserably if San Francisco were the "gold standard."
— June 17, 2013 1:44 p.m.

Bad service in San Diego

It's true that down in TJ and other Baja cities, even the most humble restaurants treat guests like absolute *kings* in comparison to standard-fare SD table service.
— June 17, 2013 12:01 p.m.

Bad service in San Diego

I disagree with this. My experiences in other cities with equally vibrant food cultures--like DC, San Francisco, and the Northeastern towns--is that the standards for service are, as a whole, more professional. What passes for normal here would not be tolerated in nice places in SF, which is no less a part of California and no less short of bohemian residents working service gigs.
— June 17, 2013 11:59 a.m.

Bad service in San Diego

Kitty: You're right in that our laid back beach culture is at least partly to blame for lax standards in service (and other things). The chilled out pace of life here is one of the greatest things about living in SD. I love how relaxed and enjoyable my life is. It just sucks how that lack of urgency translates into sloppiness, as though it were take just one degree too far! I think that attentive, professional restaurant service isn't too much to ask for while keeping things chill. You can have a "no worries" attitude and still take your job seriously. This isn't NYC and I'm not looking for black ties and studied silence out of my servers--I just want them to act like pros! Friendly, casual, effective, polite, gracious, skilled professionals.
— June 17, 2013 10:38 a.m.

Bad service in San Diego

The main problem with all these anecdotes is that they *never should have happened in the first place.* The very nature of being served should preclude any of these things from happening and mediocrity should not be the norm.
— June 16, 2013 11:02 a.m.

Someone spank crybabies Lucas & Spielberg and send them to bed without their suppers

Marks, you speak the truth! Thanks.
— June 14, 2013 1:18 p.m.

Country invades City (Heights)! Nate's Garden Grill

I know a place where you can get your future told for free if you buy coffee....but I want to keep it secret-ish because it feels unjust to broadcast that information.
— June 14, 2013 9:11 a.m.

Please come to San Diego, Iron Press.

In Quebec and Montreal you can still get "gaufrettes" as snacks. Crispy little waffles--very skinny and crunchy but very good.
— June 14, 2013 9:10 a.m.

Country invades City (Heights)! Nate's Garden Grill

I've been trying to get here for srsly like three months! I'm jelly, bro!
— June 13, 2013 10:01 a.m.

Coffee Roaster Tour

Looks to me like Ms. Kelly kept it "urban San Diego" specific, for lack of a more elegant term. Zumbar is great, but it's wicked far away for those of use who slime around North Park all the time. Bird Rock's closer...but only just. If you live in SD city proper and don't want to spend ten bucks in gas for a three dollar coffee, this list is pretty much your options!
— June 5, 2013 6:21 p.m.

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Chris Ahrens Ian Anderson Thomas K. Arnold Eric Bartl Don Bauder Ed Bedford Siobhan Braun Robert Bush Chad Deal Joe Deegan Barbarella Fokos Leorah Gavidor Dave Good Marty Graham Moss Gropen Andrew Hamlin Dorian Hargrove Garrett Harris Ken Harrison Patrick Henderson Tam Hoang Eve Kelly Dryw Keltz Eva Knott Thomas Larson Ken Leighton Matthew Lickona Mike Madriaga Bill Manson Scott Marks Bob McPhail Walter Mencken Joseph O'Brien Sheila Pell Ian Pike Matt Potter H.G. Reza Dave Rice Elizabeth Salaam Jay Allen Sanford Julie Stalmer DJ Stevens Matthew Suárez Amanda Tascher
More writers Former writers
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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