Eat Out Here
Our readers give the thumbs up to these local restaurants
IT’S THAT WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR, when our foodie readers divulge their favorite local eateries in the Readers’ Choice Awards. And this year, it was Del Mar Rendezvous that snagged the number one spot as Best of the Best.
Del Mar Rendezvous is an Asian-fusion restaurant (yes, they also came in first in that category) that shows off what diners are craving — besides delicious food and great atmosphere — in 2012: menus for vegans, vegetarians and gluten-free diners; oodles of noodles; foods that are handmade like the dumplings, pot stickers and kitchen-made sauces presented here; and a plethora of local, import and craft beers (offered at half price on Tuesdays).
In the Best New category, Prepkitchen took the top spot, followed by Marina Kitchen. Saltbox came in third but showed up several more times in the ballots. Maybe that’s because this country-club-styled dining room in the Palomar Hotel serves up some unusual dishes: oxtail jam, mini lobster corndogs and grilled kale salad with white anchovies to name a few.
The ballots also revealed that our readers are loyal diners. When they find their must-go-to dining spot, they latch on. Last year Truluck’s, Marine Room, Stone Brewing Company, Cucina Urbana and Donovans were among those that won top awards. This year they did it again. In fact, Truluck’s turned out to be quite the catch with our voters. They snagged four firsts.
But our readers like a good joke, too. Coming in third in the best German category was a restaurant called Reishaus. Turns out that Reishaus (German for Rice House) is an Asian restaurant on Stuttgarter Str. in Schorndorf, Germany. Looks like Kaiserhof (#1) and Tip Top (#2) have nothing to worry about…
What else do our foodie readers recommend? Dig into the following pages to find out who the final winners were across 36 categories.
Best of the Best
Del Mar Rendezvous
1555 Camino Del Mar, Ste. 102,
Del Mar, 858-755-2669
Truluck’s
Casa de Pico
Best New
Prepkitchen Little Italy
1660 India St., Little Italy, 619-398-8383
Marina Kitchen
Saltbox
Best Bargains
JSix
616 J St., downtown, 619-531-8744
Saltbox
Urban Plates
Best Romantic
Marine Room
2000 Spindrift Dr., La Jolla
866-644-2351
Truluck’s
Bertrand at Mister A’s
Best Business Spot
Truluck’s
8990 University Center Lane,
University City, 858-453-2583
Cucina Urbana
Saltbox
Most Impressive Décor
Truluck’s
8990 University Center Lane, University City
858-453-2583
Cucina Urbana
Casa de Pico
Best Service
Truluck’s
8990 University Center Lane,
University City, 858-453-2583
Del Mar Rendezvous
Cucina Urbana
Happiest Happy Hour
Prepkitchen Little Italy
1660 India St., Little Italy, 619-398-8383
Casa Guadalajara
Truluck’s
Best Ocean/Bay View
Marine Room
2000 Spindrift Dr., La Jolla, 866-644-2351
Island Prime — C-Level
George’s Ocean Terrace
Most Kid Friendly
Corvette Diner
2965 Historic Decatur Road, Liberty Station,
Point Loma, 619-542-1476
Casa de Pico
Casa de Bandini
Best Wine Bar
Cucina Urbana
505 Laurel St., Bankers Hill, 619-239-2222
Toast Enoteca
Truluck’s
Best Pub Grub
Hooley’s Irish Pub & Grill
5500 Grossmont Center Dr., La Mesa
619-713-6900
2955 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, 619-670-7468
Saltbox
Quality Social
Best Brewery/Micro-Brewery
Stone Brewing Co.
1999 Citracado Pkwy., Escondido
760-471-4999
Karl Strauss Brewing Co.
Pizza Port
Best Breakfast
Snooze
3940 Fifth Ave., Hillcrest, 619-500-3344
The Broken Yolk Cafe
Original Pancake House
Best Brunch
Crown Room, Hotel Del Coronado
1500 Orange Ave., Coronado, 619-522-8490
Urban Solace
JSix
Best Lunch
Del Mar Rendezvous
1555 Camino Del Mar, Ste. 102, Del Mar
858-755-2669
Prepkitchen La Jolla
Casa de Pico
Best Desserts
Extraordinary Desserts
1430 Union St., Little Italy, 619-294-7001
2929 Fifth Ave., Bankers Hill
619-294-2132
The Cheesecake Factory
Truluck’s
Best Chef
Ryan Johnston, Whisknladle
1044 Wall St., La Jolla, 858-551-7575
Jason Knibb, Nine-Ten
Nick Shinton, Truluck’s
Top Steakhouse
Donovan’s
570 K St., downtown, 619-237-9700
4340 La Jolla Village Dr., University City
858-450-6666
Ruth’s Chris
Cowboy Star
Best Seafood
Truluck’s
The Fish Market
The Oceanaire Seafood Room
Best Burgers
Burger Lounge
4116 Adams Ave., Kensington, 619-584-2929
(and several other locations)
Hodad’s
Smashburger
Best Vegan/Vegetarian
Sipz Fusion Café
5501 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Clairemont
858-279-3743
3930 30th St., North Park, 619-795-2889
True Food Kitchen
Tender Greens
Best Pizza
Pizza Port
1956 Bacon St., Ocean Beach, 619-224-4700
135 N. Highway 101, Solana Beach
858-481-7332
Bronx Pizza
Filippi’s Pizza Grotto
Best Fish Taco
Brigantine
2725 Shelter Island Dr., Point Loma
619-224-2871
(and other locations)
South Beach Bar and Grille
Saltbox
Best Sushi
Sushi Ota
4529 Mission Bay Dr., Pacific Beach
858-270-5670/5047
Harney Sushi
Hane Sushi
Best Salad
Tender Greens
2400 Historic Decatur Road
Liberty Station, Point Loma
619-226-6254
California Pizza Kitchen
Casa de Pico
Best Mexican
Casa de Pico
5500 Grossmont Center Dr., La Mesa
619-463-3267
Casa Guadalajara
Café Coyote
Best Italian
Cucina Urbana
505 Laurel St., Bankers Hill
619-239-2222
Acqua al 2
Bencotto
Best French
Café Chloe
721 Ninth Ave., downtown
619-232-3242
Tapenade
Mille Fleurs
Best Chinese
Del Mar Rendezvous
1555 Camino Del Mar, Ste. 102,
Del Mar, 858-755-2669
PF Chang’s
Chin’s Szechwan (Encinitas)
Best Japanese
Sushi Ota
4529 Mission Bay Dr., Mission Bay
858-270-5047
Benihana
Hane Sushi
Best Asian/Fusion
Del Mar Rendezvous
1555 Camino Del Mar, Ste. 102,
Del Mar, 858-755-2669
Café Japengo
Roy’s
Best Indian
Royal India
329 Market St., downtown
619-255-9999
Star of India
Passage to India
Best Thai
Taste of Thai
527 University Ave., Hillcrest
619-291-7525
15770 San Andres Dr., Del Mar
858-793-9695
Saffron
Amarin Thai
Best German
Kaiserhof
2253 Sunset Cliffs Blvd.,
Ocean Beach
619-224-0606
Tip Top Meats
Best Greek/Mideastern
Café Athena
846 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach
858-274-1140
Troy’s
Taverna Blu
