Boy, is this a fun couple or what? Jongo Park and his wife Brenda make their place, O’Bistro (4934 Voltaire Street, Ocean Beach) more like a club. Strangers at the counter get chatting within minutes. Also, dogs welcome. Brenda comes …

The Hillcrest space that formerly housed Pizza Fusion has undergone a transformation and will reopen on July 4 as Local Habit, a restaurant with a goal of utilizing as many SD grown and crafted edibles as possible. As one would …

Li'l Italy's Art District has traded reds and whites for ales and lagers with the arrival of Bottlecraft (http://www.bottlecraftbeer.com), a craft beer bottle shop which recently took over the spot that recently housed Tango Wine Company (which had its final …

Wha? Oh wow. Having one of my chicken fried steak breakfast dreams again. Best one (steak, not dream) I ever had was at the Potato Shack in Encinitas (120 West “I” Street). There’s nothing like Encinitas (“Little Oaks”) in the …

Whenever I hear the words hand-crafted or house-cured in relation to any edible product, my wallet winces in anticipation of a hefty price tag. But, despite the lengths the folks in the back of the house at Quality Social go …

Roasted bone marrow is the latest restaurant craze, but of the last four times I tried it, it was overcooked to just plain bone two of those times, and really great only once. (These were all high-reputed new eateries.) It's …

A reader posts that Mountain Mike's Pizza: (http://www.mountainmikes.com) offers a gluten-free pizza crust. "I visit the location in La Mesa." And if you crave a fab gluten-free dessert, Extroardinary Desserts has loads of them. .

The New Yorker posted several Letters to the Ed reacting to their report on test-tube burgers — all interesting (at least, to me). The first, from a guy in Princeton, New Jersey, was a witty suggestion that to get over …

Michael Specter in the New Yorker (May 23) reports that scientists in the Netherlands have succeeded in creating test-tube (in vitro) beef hamburger meat, grown from cell culture of cow cells. . The doctor who started this research and continues …

Oops. The opening night gala party of Cafe Sevilla at its new Gaslamp address has been postponed to mid-July, when the owners HOPE the place will finally be finished. Stay tuned to this space...

People say it tastes like chicken. Or fish. Or both. Talking about alligator. I had to try it. Took the plunge in Old Town. Crazee Burger (2415 San Diego Avenue, at Arista. Also in North Park at 4201 30th). And …

Stopped here at Grape and India – the busiest crossing in Diego? – mostly because of this sign. The guys here at the L’Angolino North End Lounge (1971 India, at the corner of Grape and India) got a great grab …

I look for reasons to drive all the way up north and east to Escondido, because I know that right off the Centre City Parkway exit, a haven from the modern world awaits. Hacienda de Vega is a 1930s residence-turned-restaurant. …

The Del Mar Fair (that's right...I said it...this native doesn't have to get on the San Diego County Fair bus) features a number of competitions where blue ribbons and their lesser hued cousins are pinned to the chests of worthy …

Mama’s Bakery and Lebanese Deli in North Park has been baking fresh flatbread since 1988 on a traditional sajj convex oven, which has been in use in the Mediterranean for over 2,000 years. A prime example of what Rad Patio …

Don’t you just long to stride into a French restaurant and rattle off greetings and orders like a Parisian pro? “Bonsoir tout le monde! Ça va? Bien! Et vous? Un rouge, s’il vous plaît.” Maybe do your Piaf thing and …

Aah. French toast, cawfee roast, on the coast. Can’t beat those smells wafting past you in the briny ocean air. This is OB in the mawnin’, at ye Old Townhouse (Old Townhouse Family Restaurant, 4941 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach). French …

Sour beer — it sounds wrong and, on first taste, most (myself included) confirm that theory with a disapproving lemon-faced grimmace. But, just like one's first beer, distaste typically gives way to an amour that darn near borders on a …

I tend to forget it's over there, on the other side of Hillcrest, so I was happy when my friend Jane recently suggested we happy hour at Bankers Hill Restaurant and Bar, the foodilicious marriage between Carl Schroeder and Terryl …

Is this the best pizza box in town? It’s the artiest I’ve seen. Irony: Fancy box for maybe the most minimalist pizzas in town, that I know of, anyway. From Pizzeria (and Caffe) Calabria (3933 30th Street, North Park). Arne …

Dateline: Inside Coronado Village Theater. At popcorn stand. Subject: Graham. Will Graham. Age: 12. Role: Savior of the Coronado Village Theatre. Say what? "True," says Lance Alspaugh, the L.A.-based Vintage Cinemas guy who made this happen, too, and just happens …

Standing in the frontlines of popcorn here. I can report that the concession at the newly – fantastically – refurbished Village Theater in Coronado is dishing out Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn, with real butter. I was there at the last opening …

You've probably walked right by it, but after last year's renovations, I suggest you walk up the steps and check out the inside of the Cosmopolitan Hotel & Restaurant in Old Town. Everything has been restored to its lush, 1800s …

The San Diego Spirits Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday ( June 25-26) at the Broadway Pier's Port Pavillion on San Diego Bay. The venue is a big-time upgrade from last year when it was held at multiple venues …

“We have…stuff going on here.” Marie (Maria Nealson) of Marie’s Café in North Park (3016 University Avenue) is talking late at night in her café (open till 3:00 a.m. during summer). “During the day you’ll get pushed," she says. "And …

With barbecues and fireworks just around the corner, it's time to prepare with some great summer recipes. Now, I don't cook, but my man does, and I'll be sharing some of his choice creations, along with recipes, for you to …

There's a sign up in the windowed front portal that formerly gave way to Soho (and before that, Vesuvio) at 3025 El Cajon Boulevard in North Park. Mere blocks, yet somehow light years away from the thriving section of 30th …

It's the perfect storm for guitar/movie/white-bean chili buffs. Tonight (Thursday, 6/23), after you've attended Coronado Village (movie) Theatre's grand reopening (it has been dark for a decade), get down to Costa Azul restaurant (1031 Orange Avenue), 'cause Johannes Linstead, a …

When even the wine bar is pairing beers with its happy hour food, you know something's up. What's happening is the official opening of Stone Brewing's South Park store (2215 30th Street) where you can taste brewskis and get growlers …

Drunken, Punkin’ Idiots, anyone? Screamin’ Yee Haws? Both of these are Nick Bone’s bands. He has the photos on the wall to prove it. He's also serving tables here at this new downtown Hodad’s (945 Broadway, at 10th Avenue). The …

It seems like just last week I was blogging about how a San Diego chef had gotten big-time props for writing a standout cookbook. Oh yeah, it was (kudos again to chef Jeff Rossman of Terra American Bistro). At the …

Chef Hanis Cavin is leaving Kensington Grill to open his own restaurant with partner and fiance Sara Stroud. His last official date at Ken Grill is July 17, and he expects (hopes) his new place, located at 2632 University Avenue, …

Something new is sprouting up at Eden in Hillcrest. Actually, from the sounds of it, very soon EVERYTHING will be new. If you, like me, are thinking, Wait a sec...didn't that place like JUST open? you're right. It opened last …

Is it just me? Am I the only person who believes Carlo Rossi’s cheap growlers of burgundy are just as good as more expensive plonk? I like the stuff. I say a lot of this wine business is driven by …

The people who brought Bleu Bohéme to Kensington have teamed up with the Cohn Restaurant Group to transform what used to be Thee Bungalow into a "casual neighborhood bistro" reminiscent of Provence, called BO-beau kitchen and bar. The "BO" stands …

The whole world knows San Diego is home to some of the best professional brewers on the planet. Before they took charge over big ol' brewhouses, those sudsy studs manned stovetop stock pots in their humble kitchens. This base level …

Oh, and one more Food Truck thing: Cupcakes. Had my first since I was a kid at the Corner Cupcakes truck. You can choose your own frosting. I got red velvet with cream cheese frosting ($2.50), plus a chocolate with …

Si, I lament Santana’s going the way of MXN. Si, I survived much of my seventeenth year on Santana’s one pound veggie burritos. Si, I spill my foty for you, Santana. Every day. Pero, no, I will not abuse affirmatives …

Nuts and Twigs People, cast your eyes aside. JR Kaminski, third generation BBQ guy down from Poway with his "Super Q" BBQ truck, has just handed me the most disgustingly delicious plate of carne asada fries ($6.99) I’ve ever had. …

Friday night, 7.30 — At the 3rd Friday Food Truck gathering in the parking lot of 57 Degrees, the wine place at 1735 Hancock, near Washington. Standing here at a tall temporary table with a classy black tablecloth. Crowd milling …

David summed up the flavors of this new gastropub in East Village best: Simple yet satisfying. The Knotty Barrel just opened a month ago, but it looks and feels like a longstanding neighborhood pub. I happened by it today on …

Beer things just keep happening. This Saturday, it’s Mission Brewery’s opening (see blog “Your Mission, This Saturday”), and next week it’s Stone. They’re coming down from their lofty Escondido Empire to Be With The People here in South Park. Honestly, …

Here's another nice Vietnamese noodle dish that's good when it's a bit warmer. This one combines the stretch and chew of Hủ Tiếu along with the crunch of Mi, or egg noodles. It's a winning combination when you're not sure …

When it comes to beer, I'm into Belgian tripels and triple IPAs. What I'm not into is the thought of paying triple DIGITS for a single bottle. Yet, much like the cost of gasoline, the value of my favorite liquid …

"This is crazy! It's happening again!" Dave "Dabbles" Riddle is on the brink. Of tears. Dave is Canadian. His teeshirt reads "Canucks." "We've been 40 years in the League. This is the second time we've lost it in the seventh …

Often, cookbooks that are self-published and slated for a locals-only demographic tend to be...how can I put this nicely...not something to drool over. That's for sure not the case with From Terra's Table: New American Food Fresh from Southern California's …

Do we have to kill to live? Turn fellow-creatures into dead flesh to eat? Been thinking about this ever since I found out Harsh, one of the guys who started up hART - the new coffee/hookah lounge across from the …

Once considered little more than a passing fancy among restaurateurs, farm-to-tableism has caught on big time in San Diego. One chef who walks the walk in this regard, literally, is Brian Johnston of The Red Door. Every few months, he …

Fans of French Food in America's Finest City know the name Philippe Verpiand. He first cut the Dijon mustard at La Jolla's Tapenade as the younger component of a mentor-protégé relationship with chef Jean-Michel Diot before staking his own claim …

That long-promised grand opening for Mission Brewery (downtown in the old Wonderbread building at 1441 L, between Petco Park and Father Joe’s) is happening at last, this Saturday June 18th. As of Tuesday afternoon Mission Brewery has already sold 400 …

The sun is out, the sky is blue, patios are rad, and so are you. But unless you’re fortunate enough to live in one of San Diego’s lackadaisical beach communities, finding businesses with sunny patios on which to enjoy a …

When I find myself in Balboa Park (which is fairly often, as there's a whole lot to do over there), I do my best to stop by the Prado. It's one of the Cohn restaurants, one of 11 local restaurants, …

Wow. Several food trucks I haven’t tried are coming this month. Talking about the third Friday Food Truck Extravaganza in the yard at 57 Degrees, the wine place (1735 Hancock Street, at Washington), coming next Friday, June 17. Saw them …

Remember Scott Harris? He’s a nice, unpretentious guy, the Chicago restaurant chef-entrepreneur who bought out the old-line Zagarella restaurant in Little Italy. In its place, he was going to clone one of his Chicago-based Mia Francesca chain Italian eateries, with …

Kendon Hawkins showed me this one. He's proud of his baby. "It's my first bathroom with grass on the ceiling," he says. Okay, AstroTurf. Even better, though, the walls are all blackboard, so you can write that brilliant thought down …

Marine Room chefs Bernard Guillas and Ron Oliver, the duo behind their globally inspired debut cookbook Flying Pans: Two Chefs, One World, recently picked up two prestigious honors from the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) 2011 Cookbook Awards. The …

Clay's, on the top floor of the Hotel La Jolla, is no more. The hotel has been sold, and the new owners plan to move the restaurant — now renamed the Grill at Hotel La Jolla — down to the …

(Well, I had the idea about the same time as Ed Bedford, but then the weather turned so cold...) Here's a list of my favorite patios: Hacienda de Vega, Escondido — This isn't just a patio, it's a lush garden …

The latest libation to debut on the SD craft beer scene has a most interesting name. Dubbed "The Angry Panda," one might think it's an homage to the most storied residents of the San Diego Zoo, but that explanation's too …

Gotta thank the beautiful Carla for this. She insisted on loading our bikes on the 901 bus and heading for Coronado Island. “We’ll ride around it,” she said. “Much better than paying a gym.” 'Course first you have to get …

Whew. I was worried. Couldn’t get through to Mario at his Hancock Street Café (3354 Hancock Street, between Old Town and the Sports Arena area). Turns out he has a new number (619-408-2101). I wanted to get to him to …

You'll hear a lot about my haunts on here, because as much as I consider myself a food explorer, I'm also a die-hard repeat customer when I fall in love with a place. It doesn't surprise me that Kensington Grill …

I don't make it a habit to post menus, but some sound so tantalizing that I can barely help myself with Grant Grill's Father's Day Beer, Barley, & Hops menu, June 18 to 24. Grant Grill's beverage director, Jeff Josenhans, …

I noticed a couple of new openings last week while shopping and stopping in the Kearny Mesa–Clairemont area. The first was Sufi Mediterranean Cuisine, which seemed to take forever to open — though, on second thought, they might have been …

El Zarape in University Heights is the Jabba the Hutt of Mexican restaurants. Illustrious, spirited, and always entertaining an eclectic crowd, El Za’s singular delight stems from tossing succulent sundries into my sarlacc pit. And while this metaphor might be …

Two of San Diego's best chefs who've been off the radar for quite some time are taking temporary respite from their hermitism to help out a cause. Amy DiBiase — who rose to fame at Laurel (now Cucina Urbana) in …

If you’re a fan of Bad Boy, Duet, Odin’s Raven, or my other absolute fave, Irish Red (and, clue, we’re not talking racehorses here) you’ll know I’ve been up to Alpine and Pat McIlenney’s Alpine Beer Company brewery/pub (2363 Alpine …

Gluten-free? Latest place I saw where they’re serious about this was at the University of San Diego. At USD (where I went recently), everybody did something GF in the big dining hall (“Pavilion Dining”): *Tapenade, the Mediterranean-type place, always has …

Real-life Spanish food (as opposed to "global tapas", "small plates," etc.) is an endangered species here. Cafe Sevilla does a reasonably nice job with both the little and the big bites. (The basement nightclub in the old place no doubt …

An El Cajon reader (and doctor) wrote in: He and a number of his patients have developed gluten sensitivity. (What the hell is happening to our bodies lately? First the shrimp allergy. Then the horrible peanut allergy that's taken delicious …

If you're doing it right, Sunday morning is really just an extension of Saturday night. The problem is it's too damned bright outside. This Sunday, the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon didn't help, a bad '70s music cover band blasted me …

This weekend, on a lark, I decided to drive a dozen miles out of my way just to hit up my favorite taco shop from my youth. Housed in an orange-and-yellow-striped barrel and situated just close enough to my alma …

Located on the downslope of Fourth Avenue in Bankers Hill, there's a cozy vino-driven spot with a worldy eclectic serenity-now vibe that seems almost out of place amidst residences and office buildings mascarading as condo complexes. You could easily walk …

So, yesterday, I expressed my belief San Diego would someday become one of America's top 10 best dining cities. In typing up that impassioned dissertation, I mentioned that most tourists miss the boat where our up-and-coming cuisine is concerned because …

Talk about R.I.P: One more place to worry about. Babbo Grande (1731 University, Uptown/Hillcrest area) has a notice on its front door, "Temporarily closed because of rain." This place has good food, beautiful varnished woodwork, and a tropical, dog-friendly patio …

Looking for a quiet spot in the Gaslamp to celebrate? Believe it or not, one of the best bets is the loudest, most packed restaurant in the Quarter — Searsucker. Brian Malarkey's constantly crowded eatery is now offering a private …

So, I awake to an otherwise awesome Saturday, fire up the ol' email, and click open a message from one of our finest local chefs. What I see horrifies me; one of my favorite spots in San Diego is closing …

And now the most important question of all: Which eateries have the best Loo-slash-Bathrooms? Chad Deal’s excellent cover story on communal living (this week) got me thinkin’ about this. Because my all-time favorite, the most “Oh, wow!” john in the …

I'll be one of the first to admit...OK, RANT...that certain dishes seem to be on every menu in town for no good reason. Short ribs, flatbreads, pork belly, ahi tuna, etc.; as a guy who eats a lot and sees …

Pretty impressive eating arrangements at USD (University of San Diego), the Catholic university on the hill (5998 Alcalá Park, Linda Vista), and the good news is their eateries are open to the rest of us. Not cheap-cheap, but decently-priced. And …

I don’t think I’ve ever been to Rigoberto’s in the daylight, which makes it a perfect candidate for the 24 Hour Eats edition of Burrito Barato. Be it a testament to my vampirical circadian schedule or the mysterious transmutation of …

“Ask me when I first came here.” “Okay. When did you first come here?” “In 1942. I came in with my aunt. This was Ramona’s Kitchen then. They had a kitchen with a to-go window. That was it. Tacos and …

Hoo, boy. You know how, in the Hangover movies, they eventually find a bunch of stuff on a smart phone that documents their horrific group bender? Well, apparently, I made sangria a while back. If things look a little sideways, …

Bud's Louisiana has moved from their tiny Tierrasanta place to larger space in the middle of an office complex in Kearny Mesa: 4320 Viewridge Ave, "A" In the Balboa Business Center San Diego, CA 92123 At least getting there should …

Man. Jes’ walked up here to the south side of Mission Valley. From Old Town. I don’t advise it. No sidewalks! I crab-walked around the bluff below the presidio. No space for anything but crazy cars. You feel like a …

Spotting San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders in a brewery with a beer at 10:30 a.m. on a weekday. Sounds downright scandalous, but worry not, fair citizens, of my suds-slugging hometown. I'm not providing grist for the rumor mill. There were …