With San Diego Restaurant Week offering more than 180 restaurant choices between January 15-22, here are a few dining and drinking experiences you need to try.
Edited by Madelyn Harris
The Shores Restaurant
Dine a three-course prix-fixe meal highlighting several favorites from the seasonal menu from executive chef Bernard Guillas and chef de cuisine Percy Oani. Select from various options for each course including chef Percy’s ginger pork pot stickers, local sea bass ceviche, almond butterfish, Angus braised short ribs and more. For dessert, the Shores Restaurant is teaming up with the Girl Scouts to mark the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scout cookie. Check out their “Samoa Cookie” chocolate cheesecake to finish off your meal. $30. 8110 Camino Del Oro, La Jolla, 858.456.0600. theshoresrestaurant.com
Grant Grill
In the heart of the Gaslamp District, chef Mark Kropcynski offers a three-course dinner menu. Highlights include his signature mock turtle soup, duck confit, thyme-roasted sea scallops and braised pork cheeks. $50. 326 Broadway, downtown, 619.744.2077. grantgrill.com
CUCINA Enoteca Del Mar
Enjoy contemporary Italian cuisine with a focus on California seasonality within Del Mar’s Flower Hill Promenade. Highlights from the San Diego Restaurant Week lunch menu include beet and avocado salad, grilled three cheese panini, short rib pappardelle and the Cucina burger. Dinner options include pear and gorgonzola pizza, polenta and ragu, stuffed squash blossoms, grilled octopus, butternut squash ravioli and a “dolce” dessert finish of a chocolate peanut butter bar, lemon semifreddo or a percorino toscano. $30. Flower Hill Pomenade, 2730 Via de la Valle, Del Mar, 858.704.4500. urbankitchengroup.com
Blue Bohème
Owner/executive chef Ken Irvine offers a three-course prix-fixe dinner with additional items available for a supplemental charge. Dinner begins with options such as chicken oysters, leeks and shallots with Dijon mustard cream, garlic sausage and more. Main courses range from Provençal-marinated Duroc pork ribeye or bouef Bourguignon. Finish off the meal with homemade Callebaut chocolate mousse, crème brulée, brioche bread pudding, among others. $40. 4090 Adams Ave., Kensington, 619.255.4167. blueboheme.com
Flour & Barley
Located at The Headquarters at Seaport, Flour & Barley is embracing the cooler temperatures with an array of new pizzas, appetizers and cocktails. Stand-outs include hearty lasagna pizza and BBQ chicken pizza; lighter options like the ahi crudo and ahi greens and refreshing drinks including the Margarita Romana and Paloma Italiana—Italian spinoffs of classic cocktails. $30. 789 W Harbor Dr., Suite 110, downtown, 619.344.2900. flourandbarley.com
Bellamy’s Restaurant
Bellamy’s offers modern California cuisine with French influences in a relaxed, refined family atmosphere. Check out the special three-course menu from chefs Patrick Ponsaty and Jonathan Freyberg. Choices include shrimp with Spanish chorizo ragout, Scottish salmon with braised garbanzo beans and wilted spinach and braised king beef short rib. Try either the classic opera gateau—a coffee and chocolate sponge cake—or a Golden Delicious apple tart for dessert. $50. 417 West Grand Ave., Escondido, 760.747.5000. bellamysdining.com
Farmer’s Bottega
The comfortable and charming eatery is nestled in the trendy Mission Hills area of San Diego. For San Diego Restaurant Week, their menu includes dishes like housemade meatballs, lasagna ratatouille, buffalo filet and fennel sausage cavatelli. Finish off the meal with a New York style cheesecake, mango coconut cake, or bread pudding. $40. 860 W Washington St., downtown, 619.458.9929. farmersbottega.com
Nobu San Diego
Launched a decade ago, Nobu San Diego features the culinary talents of chef Nobu Matsuhisa with his signature dishes like yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño and miso black cod. Dine on a four-course family-style dinner with items such as sashimi with white fish, truffled baby spinach salad, salt and pepper squid, salmon filet and lobster wasabi pepper sauce, among others. $40. 207 Fifth Ave., downtown, 619.814.4124. noburestaurants.com
