$50-75

Donovan's of Downtown

Address: 570 K Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Donovan's of Downtown
$$$ Top 10 Recommended New Editor's Pick Special Offer Private Room Gift Certificates
Following the success of its flagship La Jolla location, Donovan’s has opened a new outpost downtown. Now the renowned service, quality, and setting that put Donovan’s of La Jolla on the map can be found just steps away from the convention center, the ballpark, and the Gaslamp Quarter. As with its La Jolla counterpart, the menu showcases a variety of cuts of succulent USDA Prime steak, while offering an array of other options such as Australian rack of lamb and North Atlantic Salmon. Appetizers and salads are available to tantalize the palate before the main course, and potatoes and vegetables …

George's California Modern

Address: 1250 Prospect Street, San Diego, CA 92037
George's California Modern
$$$ Recommended New Editor's Pick
George's California Modern is the fine dining restaurant located inside the beloved George’s at the Cove, in La Jolla. Featuring a sophisticated yet relaxed space with a modern aesthetic, an international wine list and seasonal cocktails by mixologist Frankie Thaheld, California Modern prides itself on being both welcoming and intriguing. Executive Chef and partner Trey Foshee's fearlessly diverse menu continues to celebrate fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients while incorporating worldly influences—The Chef’s masterful touch is one reason the California Modern dining experience has been called the best in San Diego. If you haven't been to George's California Modern, you haven't …

Po Pazzo

Address: 1917 India Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Po Pazzo
$$$ Recommended
Po Pazzo may have an Italian name, an Italian owner, and it may be located in Little Italy, but it goes far beyond the Italian concept. At this wildly creative, upscale restaurant, the eclectic menu centers on a steak and chop selection, featuring succulent USDA Prime steaks, milk-fed veal chops, and rack of lamb. But don’t worry, Italy isn’t completely left out of the picture—this is a Busalacchi restaurant. A selection of pasta and entrees features flavorful creations such as Veal Saltimbocca Romano, Osso Buco, and the most enticing Spaghetti and Meatballs around. With live music Thursday through Saturdays and …

LoungeSD

Address: 655 G Street Suite H, San Diego, CA 92101
LoungeSD
$$$
Are you looking for an event venue that will touch all of your senses? Centrally located in Downtown San Diego, the LoungeSD is one of the newest scenes in San Diego County. The venue incorporates designer furniture, an urban interior, a built in bar, projector screens, and state of the art sound and lighting systems. This locale creates the ambiance of the San Diego night life, while providing you with privacy of your own home. The LoungeSD also has a fully equipped kitchen and welcomes outside catering. When you enter this locale, you will feel the elegance of the modern …

The Thursday Club

Address: 1224 Santa Barbara Street, San Diego, CA 92107
The Thursday Club
$$$
Built in 1928, The Thursday Club is known for being one of San Diego’s beautiful and historical landmarks. This charming old Mission style house is located on the California coast with a panoramic ocean view. The grounds include an elegant garden path, which adds to the ambiance of any event. This venue features its own kitchen, stage area, private bride’s room, stained glass windows, and a grand piano. The Thursday Club provides a list of catering options that will complement any special occasion. If you are looking for a gorgeous location, The Thursday Club is the perfect place for your …

The Fish Market

Address: 750 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
The Fish Market
$$$
For a classic seafood experience with a laid-back attitude, look no further then The Fish Market—San Diego’s premiere destination for seafood. Located on Shelter Island below the Top of the Market Restaurant, The Fish Market features options for several types of seafood faire, including seafood cocktails, oysters, fresh filets, and sushi. You can dine while overlooking the breathtaking San Diego bay for either lunch or dinner. Since 1989, The Fish Market has been enchanting and comforting their guests with premium seafood choices and a dazzling waterfront view.

Brio - A Personal Chef Service LLC

Address: Post Office Box 508, Solana Beach, CA 92705
Brio - A Personal Chef Service LLC
$$$
Always seem to be in a time crunch when it comes to preparing and eating a meal? Let Brio, a Personal Chef Service LLC, help you out! Kyle Marie Wesendorf, the owner and professionally trained chef of Brio, has an exceptional passion for nurturing people through food. Chef Wesendorf is a graduate of the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts and specializes in everyday gourmet as well as vegetarian and vegan dishes. Her menu spans a wide variety of culinary traditions and cuisines and her service is founded on professionalism, kindness, freshness, and creativity. Her company even offers gift certificates and …

Chart House

Address: 2588 South Coast Highway 101, Cardiff, CA 92007
Chart House
$$$ Top 10 Recommended Special Offer View
It’s not hard to find eateries boasting “ocean views” in San Diego, but it is rare to find a noteworthy restaurant that happens to claim such prime oceanfront real-estate as Chart House. Picturesquely positioned along the South Coast Highway 101 (with the San Elijo Lagoon to the east), Chart House’s expansive dining room faces the Pacific Ocean and plates up some of the finest sunsets around. As the waves lap upon the rocky shore before you, settle in and savor Chart House’s array of hot and cold appetizers, signature seafood entrees, prime steaks, and luscious desserts. Pair the evening with …

McCormick & Schmick's

Address: 675 L Street, San Diego, CA 92101
McCormick & Schmick's
$$$ Top 10 Recommended Editor's Pick Special Offer Private Room
Each one of McCormick & Schmick’s restaurants throughout the United States is designed to create an environment that is unique and welcoming; the one in Downtown San Diego is no different. Located in the Omni Hotel on the corner of L and 7th Street the restaurant is connected via skybridge to Petco Park. The ever-changing menu features the highest quality of steak, like the tender aged Filet Mignon as well as seafood choices from the Pacific Rim, Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Also, the award winning bar food is just as satisfying as the main entrees. Indulge in classic …

George's Ocean Terrace

Address: 1250 Prospect Street, San Diego, CA 92037
George's Ocean Terrace
$$$
George’s Ocean Terrace reminds us all that there’s a big difference between eating outside and dining seaside. Occupying prime rooftop real estate upstairs from George’s California Modern, Ocean Terrace invites guests to settle in for a casual yet inspired experience of breathtaking views, invigorating libations, off-the-docks fresh seafood, and from the farm tantalizing entrees. Executive Chef and partner Trey Foshee handles his menu with care and discretion, emphasizing fresh and locally sourced ingredients, ensuring that each ingredient complements the overall flavor profile of the dish. Given that La Jolla boasts practically picture-perfect weather all year long, it makes sense that …

Solana Beach CRUSH

Address: 437 South Hwy 101, Solana Beach, CA 92075
Solana Beach CRUSH
$$$ New
Solana Beach CRUSH is equally urban and inviting, marrying a chic and contemporary aesthetic with a welcoming menu of Italian-inspired specialties. The outdoor patio features a table-top fire pit that encourages guests to cozy up with a glass from CRUSH’s collection of more than 160 bottles of international wines, and their plush lounge provides an ideal backdrop for dining while mingling. Your night on the town will pair brilliantly with the restaurant’s Late Night Happy Hour and weekly live entertainment events. In addition to a simple and hearty selection of warm sandwiches and pastas, the CRUSH Lunch Menu also presents …

Bleu Boheme

Address: 4090 Adams Avenue, San Diego, CA 92116
Bleu Boheme
$$$ Special Offer
Visit the heart of Kensington for a taste of France with Owner and Chef Ken Irvine’s Bleu Boheme. Designed to reflect the traditional French eatery of a bygone era, the Bleu Boheme dining room is rustic and inviting. Exposed beam ceilings and pale stone walls are complemented by simple furnishings and understated accent pieces. The ever-evolving daily menu serves as an art installation of sorts, as it is scribed on a wall-sized chalk board. Guests cozy up in the intimate dining room and peruse the classic menu that includes such specialties as Coq au Vin, Escargot a la Portugaise, and …

Robata Ya Oton

Address: 5447 Kearny Villa Road, San Diego, CA 92123
Robata Ya Oton
$$$ Special Offer
In a contemporary, cozy, and calming atmosphere, Robata Ya Oton offers patrons traditional Japanese fare that some Japanese restaurants have strayed away from. Located in Kearny Mesa, Robata Ya Oton specializes in the art of “Robatayaki”: the original Japanese barbecue, cooked in front of customers and served direct, similar to the style of sushi. The chef sits in plain view of the customers and surrounds himself with selected ingredients he has on display for all. This offers a lively setting and one-on-one interaction with the chef to help him create the quintessential dish for each guest. Delve into traditional Yakimono …

BiCE Ristorante

Address: 425 Island Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
BiCE Ristorante
$$$ Recommended Special Offer
BiCE Ristorante skillfully fuses the elegance and trend-setting gusto of modern Europe in the historic San Diego Gaslamp Quarter, while introducing patrons to contemporary Italian cuisine melded with California ingredients. Executive Chef Mario Cassineri has created a menu that entices palates with amazing flavor combinations as his attention to detail and presentation mesmerize guests. Start off the night with the Prosciutto con Burrata, 24-month aged prosciutto paired with creamy burrata cheese that will surely tantalize taste buds with its perfected meat-and-cheese combination. Indulge in the Orzotto all’Aragosta e Burratina: “risotto style” barley with Maine Lobster, fresh tomato and burrata cheese, …

Vintana Wine + Dine

Address: 1205 Auto Park Way, San Diego, CA 92029
Vintana Wine + Dine
$$$ Top 10 Recommended New Special Offer
Settled on the penthouse level of the luxurious shopping district, The Centre at Lexus Escondido, is Cohn Restaurant Group’s newest venture, Vintana Wine + Dine. The restaurant showcases a modern rendition of California cuisine melded with a breathtaking panoramic view of local mountains and the city of Escondido in a semi-casual setting. Executive Chef Deborah Scott has conceived a sensational menu that offers a wide variety of notable dishes that guests can relish. Overwhelm your senses with Vintana’s fresh sustainable seafood options including Clear Spring Rainbow Trout and Mano De Leon Sea Scallops. Or satisfy your palate with one of …

Sushi Ota

Address: 4529 Mission Bay Drive, San Diego, CA 92109
Sushi Ota
$$$
Sushi Ota, located on the outskirts of Pacific Beach on Mission Bay Drive and Bunker Hill Street, has been serving handcrafted sushi and seafood preparations for years. As word spread about the freshness of their fish and the quality of the food, Sushi Ota became one of the best places to satisfy a seafood craving. This neighborhood Japanese restaurant is open for both lunch and dinner, offering a great selection of sushi and seafood for both meals. Ordering a Sushi Combo gives guests a good sampling of the fresh fish expertly prepared by the sushi chefs. For patrons craving cooked …

Coasterra

Address: 880 Harbor Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
Coasterra
$$$ Top 10 Recommended New Editor's Pick Special Offer Private Room View Outdoor Seating
Coasterra is the newest jewel in the Cohn Restaurant Group’s award winning collection of restaurants. Located on Harbor Island next to its sister restaurant, Island Prime, Coasterra is another luxurious creation from renowned San Diego Chef, Debra Scott. The chic and modern dining establishment features a Mexican-inspired menu that emphasizes fresh, local seafood. Boasting stunning views of the San Diego Harbor and Downtown, Coasterra is the ideal destination for intimate sunset dining. Its proximity to the airport and many hotels also makes it an ideal spot for business dinners and meetings. Whether you’re meeting friends after work to enjoy Coasterra’s …

Full Moon Sushi & Kitchen Bar

Address: 926 5th ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Full Moon Sushi & Kitchen Bar
$$$
Full Moon is a kaizen style kitchen featuring fine Japanese delicacies. "Kaizen" means "change for the better," which illuminates Chef Sung's non-traditional Japanese cuisine. Enjoy an intimate group setting in the plush lounge seating, or settle at the bar to relish at the highly regarded sushi chefs. With menu items ranging from hot entrees alongside traditional sushi rolls to an exotic fish menu changed daily; Full Moon sushi has a wide range of food options for everyone. All food items pair well with the large sake menu - most imported from Japan.

Crab Catcher

Address: 1298 Prospect Street, La Jolla, CA 92037
Crab Catcher
$$$ Recommended Editor's Pick Special Offer Private Room View Gift Certificates
Perched atop an ocean bluff, Crab Catcher in La Jolla overlooks Seals Beach, a little sublet that thousands of tourists come by to visit annually. With a spectacular view and sensational food that is procured straight from the sea, Crab Catcher serves only the best fresh dishes. Keeping to the 100-mile radius philosophy, Chef Jon Burwell hires local commercial fishermen and harvests only the freshest ingredients from local farms and farmers markets to create the kind of dishes that will project surprise and wonder onto diner’s faces. With that in mind, the relaxed and quiet ambiance of Crab Catcher creates …

Grant Grill

Address: 326 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101
Grant Grill
$$$ Recommended Editor's Pick Special Offer Private Room
A contemporary, glamorous place to dine, the Grant Grill presents an extraordinary display of modern cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, and an elegance that permeates the restaurant’s décor and atmosphere. Originally opened in 1951, the Grant Grill’s historical significance as a “Power Lunch” spot is well-known throughout San Diego. A must-have at this legendary establishment is the Mock Turtle Soup, a staple since the doors opened. The creative California cuisine created by Chef de Cuisine, John Duran, features innovative and seasonal selections. A 3, 4, or 5 Course Tasting Menu with an optional wine pairing is available for those looking to sample …