16th Annual San Diego Restaurant Week: Sunday, January 19th, 2020 through Sunday, January 26th, 2020

Next week is San Diego Restaurant Week and it's a great time to try those restaurants that have been on your list but you just haven't gotten around to. Of course there's a very enthusiastic press release, so I'll post that after the jump. I'm gonna be honest here and say that I honestly can't remember the last time I participated because of our resident picky eater, but she's grown a lot and we can pretty much eat anywhere now and know she'll find something on the menu to satisfy her tastes. But we're also a family on a budget, so most of our favorite spots wouldn't ever be on such a list. (At the moment, when we do eat out, it's some rotation between 777 Noodle House, The Balboa, Fairouz, Yak n Yeti, Volare, or even Black Angus because she keeps winning these free kids meal things for all of her reading, but mostly we try to cook at home.) Regardless, this info is probably valuable to you out there, dear reader, so catch the press release and full list of participating restaurants after the jump, or just check out the official San Diego Restaurant Week site here.

Honey jalapeno wings from 777 Noodle House...NOT a participating SDRW restaurant

Now Open: URBN Coal Fired Pizza North Park

On Monday, URBN North Park finally opened their doors and I couldn't be happier. My BFF (and occasional sddialedin contributor) Kristian was hired as a bartender so I decided to pay him a visit on Wednesday night. Much like Bar Basic, the place has an open floor plan with a modern yet warm feel. The brick walls and organic textures lend this to being quite a hangout. I love Blind Lady Alehouse and I think there's enough demand in the area that both places will thrive with their great pizzas and beers. In fact, I saw a BLAH cook at URBN while I was there...it's just another spot where friends and families can congregate.



The pizzas at URBN are for sharing and can feed 2-3 people, or one very hungry person. The prices are reasonable ($15 for my mashed potato with pancetta pizza from the specialty menu) or you can order a plain pie and add toppings as you wish. There's also a great beer and wine selection, with a good range of prices so you can have a tasty glass or an expensive bottle depending on your tastes.



I'm a fan of Bar Basic, but I really don't spend a lot of time downtown, so my visits are few and far between. With the similar layout and menu of URBN, I'm sure I'll be back often. Kristian wanted me to note that families are always welcome and that they serve food until close. If you order a pizza after 1:30 am, you have to take it to go, but you can order right up until 1:59 on weekends, which makes it a good alternative to all those late night taco joints.

URBN is locatedat 3085 University, across the street from U-31.
URBN is open Sun-Wed 5pm - Midnight and Thursday-Saturday from 5pm-2am

You can follow the bar on twitter @URBN_NP, text URBN to 91944 for specials, deals, and info, or check out their website here.

Dinner at Avenue 5, FTW!

Late yesterday afternoon I received an email from an associate inviting me to a "media dinner". I've been to plenty of media events over the years...parties and events and such...they usually tray passed appetizers or food stations. This one was a first for me...I had not experienced a meal like this, where one course after another is brought out, one by one. I felt like I was on Top Chef for a minute.

Being without transportation, I didn't think I was going to get there at all, but a quick tweet and I heard back from my friend Robin Roth. We got there a little late, thankfully we hadn't missed any courses.

The meal started with the Roasted Squash Risotto. Just writing about it makes my mouth water. I feel like only recently have I discovered how much I enjoy risotto, perhaps that's because when it's served properly, it's delicious. When it's not it can be a sloppy, gooey mess. I didn't think I was going to take photos, so I didn't snap one of the risotto, but when the rest of the food was brought out, I couldn't keep my camera away.


We were sitting with Stephanie from con/vis and she informed us that we'd missed the opening cocktails. We were brought these beautiful gems in spoons.

The pink/vanilla colored one was a cosmopolitan. It was almost like the consistency of a jello shot with a tad of custard. Mixologist Michael Yen makes "molecular mixes", so there's still alcohol, just not like you're used to. I was partial to the other spoon...the passion fruit margarita. It had little beads in it that popped in your mouth, kinda like boba. It was delicious. I was fantasizing about a punch bowl full of the stuff.



Our second food course was a chorizo scallop taco with a tomatillo salsa and a mango and jicama garnish. It was delicious but about half the size of a street taco, so it left all of us wanting more, especially with the homemade corn tortilla. Keep in mind, we were getting seven courses, so our serving sizes reflect taster sizes, not actual serving sizes if you were to order from the menu. (I double checked with Executive Chef/Owner Colin MacLaggan, just to be sure)


On to the salad menu, we were served Roasted Beets, served with chevre (delicious on it's own), arugula, with a porcini vinaigrette. This is probably the part where I should mention that I'm pretty sure I didn't leave a drop of food on any of my courses (except the capers on the fish). The salad was light and delicious.

Finally getting to the entrees, we were served the catch of the day which was a beautifully flaky piece of yellowfin tuna served on spinach, mashed potatoes, carrot, and topped with a slice of grapefruit and capers. I'm not a fan of capers, but I eat enough fish that I can handle the flavoring, so as I mentioned, these were the only things left on any of my plates.

The other course from the entree menu was the braised lamb shoulder with garlic whipped potato in a rosemary jus. I don't like a lot of rosemary in my food (ironically enough), and fortunately it wasn't overpowering. I wish this photo was more flattering because though it was lamb, it was so tender it could've been mistaken for pork. No knife needed on that one.

Our final courses were dessert courses. The first was a piece of manchego with poached pear chutney and a piece of toast. I didn't catch what kind of bread it was, but it had nuts in it. I love manchego and can eat cheese all day long so this was a winner for me. At the end of a meal, I'll go with cheese over dessert every time...until they brought out the butterscotch pot de creme.

This was absolutely delicious, and if I hadn't yet reached food orgasm...well, this one hit the spot. It had a merengue foam and was served with a thin cookie that had the surprising taste of oregano. Even though this was a really sophisticated dessert, I think I liked it because the flavor reminded me of going shopping in Tijuana for certain things that were cheaper and better, like sugar and vanilla, and we'd always grab some of those little caramel cups on the way out. This was very much the grown up version of that, and it took all I had not to scrape the cup with my finger. (Who am I kidding? you know I totally did.)

Anyway, it was an awesome meal and I enjoyed the room, though I could see it getting a little loud at times. It's not often that I get to eat in restaurants in this price range, but it's good to know there are other options that I've yet to try instead of always going back to the same places. The restaurant is celebrating their 3rd anniversary, and with food this delicious, it's no wonder.

Avenue 5 is located at 2760 5th Avenue, between Nutmeg and Olive.

Fish Taco Heaven: Palapa

It's not often that I post about food on this site, partially because my attention is mostly toward music and partially because once I find a place I love I tend to be a repeat customer. Being unemployed also means watching the budget and finding ways to stretch my dollars and actually (gasp!) cooking at home.

That said, I spent some time in Chula Vista this weekend meeting my nephew for the first time ever. On my way to my parents house yesterday, a 99 cent Fish Taco sign caught my eye and I had to try it out. My parents live off of Orange Avenue so for most people, this might be a little out of the way. Additionally, just like you can count on great Filipino food just about anywhere in Mira Mesa or National City, great Vietnamese in City Heights, or great Chinese in Clairemont, there are pockets of the county that have great Mexican food at every turn. So what I call a great fish taco might generate 50 people telling me dozens of other places that are better. I can accept that. I'm just saying I was happy to find this tasty little spot near my parents' house.

It's called Palapa, and it's located at 263 E. Orange Avenue, in the parking lot of the Albertson's (that is slated to close soon, unfortunately). I thought it would be worthy of mentioning here versus just a regular Yelp review because the summer concert season is about to jump into full swing and this happens to be one freeway exit north of Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre. The fish tacos were absolutely perfect, with huge pieces of lightly battered cod with a colorful heap of green and purple cabbage on top. Inside the shop they've got a complimentary chips and salsa bar with a red salsa with just the right amount of kick, a tomatillo salsa that rivals the best, and a creamy chipotle that tasted great on the taco, not to mention hot carrots mixed with zucchini and jalapenos that made my Mexican eyes tear up a bit.

The rest of the menu looked pretty great, too. The focus of their menu is on full charbroiled chicken dinners in two, four, or eight piece options and you can choose sides or just get the chicken with tortillas and salsa. They also have a full fruit bar with smoothies, aguas, juices, and fruit salads. They also have typical Mexican fare including burritos and tortas, and a full breakfast menu. We fed a family of five for under $11 and in these times, that really cannot be beat. I might have sudden inspiration to visit my parents a little more frequently.

Again, Palapa is located at 234 E Orange Avenue, just one block west of the 805 offramp. You can call in orders by calling 619.426.1229. Hours are M-Sa, 8a-8p, and Sunday 8a-6p. For my Catholic mother, I can guarantee I know where she'll be spending her Fridays.

Eat At Sizzler

Today Sizzler is having a deal. If you order and entree with a steak, you can get a second steak for a penny. It certainly takes me back to my tennis days when we had an $8 a meal stipend and Sizzler was the only sit down place we could afford. C'mon, you know you miss the dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets and that just-like-home mac n' cheese in the kids salad bar.

Best Happy Hour In San Diego?

Where's your favorite Happy Hour spot in San Diego? I've got a few in mind but want to know if I'm missing something. I'm specifically in search of Happy Hours that go until 7 pm and that offer both food and drink specials. The ones that end at 5:30 or 6 are pretty pathetic, if you ask me.

Anyway, leave a comment, or send me an e-mail. I'll repost if I get any responses. Give me deets, too...what makes it so good?

San Diego Neuroscience Convention: Where to Eat

As I enjoyed dinner with my friends who are in town for the Neuroscience convention, I thought I would do what I did for comic con and recommend some places to eat that are in close walking distance from the Convention Center and the area hotels. I'm kinda just going off the top of my head, but I'll do my best with the little time I have.

The Local- This is where we and a group of us ate last night. As the name indicates, they prefer to stay low on the radar as far as tourists go, and with a small kitchen and only one cook, service isn't always fast. But, if you're looking for reasonably priced drinks and food, The Local is your spot. I recommend the Steak Stuffer- a stuffed sandwich with chunks of steak, grilled onions and mushrooms and oozing with cheese, the pesto cheese tortellini (comes with grilled chicken), or stick with the burgers. You'll spend a whole lot less than the Yard House next door with a more relaxed attitude and better beers. (Just because Yard House has a lot of beers, doesn't make it superior. Think of how long some of those less popular kegs sit there and ask yourself if you really want stale beer.) The Local serves lunch, dinner, and has daily happy hour specials. The Local is located on 4th Avenue between Broadway and C.

Lucy's Taco Shop- Not necessarily the best Mexican food around, but if you want a "'berto's" style taco shop downtown on the cheap, say to order a breakfast burrito to nurse that hangover, Lucy's is reliable and cheap. Try the Machaca burrito for breakfast. Of all the taquerias downtown, I think Lucy's is the best. Because of the odd location, Lucy's closes at 3 pm. Lucy's is located on C St between First and Front.

Grab N Go Subs- Right next to Lucy's. Sub sandwiches for about $6. Try the Italian Village Special or the Grilled Cheese Feta. Tell Tito Rosey said hi, that I was laid off, and that I miss seeing him. Corner of C and First.

California Grinders- The best tuna sandwich in town, hands down. Order it on the croissant instead of the house roll (ciabatta). Their chicken salad sandwich kicks ass, too. If those don't work, be adventurous and try the Gilroy- a chicken breast with a slice of ham with a garlic bleu cheese spread that is scrumptious. Try a side of the potato salad. Just like mom's. California Grinders is located at 921 6th Avenue, next to the Hustler store. (they also close at 3pm)

Cafe Sevilla- Spanish tapas. One of the best bargain happy hours in town, with half price tapas. If you don't know what to order here's what I would get for two people: pan para dos, tortilla espanola, croquetas de camarones, albonidigas al jerez, and I don't think it's on the half price list, but the bocadillo platter is delicious. Wash it down with a few sangrias.

That's all I can get to right now. I'll update more when I get the chance, but one more mention to the House of Blues. I have my issues with the music venue, but that doesn't mean I don't love the happy hour there. From 4-7 M-F they serve half priced apps, $2 drafts, $3 wells, and $4 wine. On Mondays (that's tonight, fool!) it's ALL NIGHT HAPPY HOUR. Have a Stella and some catfish nuggets. Can't go wrong.

I haven't updated in a while, but I have an old food blog that has other downtown spots reviewed, like Richard Walker's Pancake House and more. Oh, and everyone was asking me about Sushi. Ra has a good happy hour but in general I feel it's overpriced. Sushi Deli, Too is inexpensive but in their case, I feel you get what you pay for, and I've never been impressed there. Instead, if you want some good fresh sushi for takeout, head to Beach City Market in Horton Plaza at the end by Norstrom and 24 hour fitness. Try the two hand rolls, and special order one spicy tuna and one eel. Too good for $8. If you want nice sushi for a sit down dinner, check out the Fish Market on Harbor Drive, just north of Seaport Village. From the Convention Center, just follow the sidewalk around the embarcadero and you'll run right into it.

OK, that's all for now. You neuroscientists go get your think on and I'll add some more to the list later. And if you're still in town through the weekend, come to the Ken Club on Thursday night. Catch the #11 bus from Downtown ("Skyline Hills Via SDSU") and get off when you see the "Kensington" sign hanging over the street, then catch a cab back downtown afterward. Cheap drinks, great music, and no cover. Can't go wrong.

Burger Lounge In Kensington Is Open

After a day that involved going to a job recruitment thing and an afternoon with the kids at my mom's daycare, my sister and I had built up an appetite and decided to try out the new Burger Lounge in Kensington.

I've been watching the space transform from Just Fabulous to the Lounge, and have to admit that it's a little sad that Just Fabulous couldn't survive, even if just that the interior design of the space was so cute. The fundamental design is the same and the color palette similar, but there's something more stark about the new location.



We chose a table outside because we had Johanna in her carseat and there weren't tables inside that would seat us. I was expecting more of a menu, I guess, and didn't understand the concept. Why are there 5 waitresses if I'm ordering my food at a counter? Because I order at the counter, do I tip in the jar or on the table, or is there no tipping expected?



As for the food, my burger was delicious. The menu is small...there are grass-fed beef burgers, turkey burgers, and veggie burgers. All of them are served with lettuce, tomato, onion, American or cheddar cheese, and homemade thousand island dressing. There are also fries, onion rings, shakes, etc, though the menu is entirely a la carte. A $6.95 burger ain't bad, but add another $2.95 for fries, your beverage, and suddenly your spending a good chunk of change for what a friend of mine called "a glorified In n Out". I'd say this burger beats In N Out, but their "hand cut fries" didn't really seem hand cut. For convenience, I might go back to Burger Lounge, but I don't see myself becoming a regular.


The food was good, the waitresses were really nice, and our orders came quickly, but next time I crave a burger, I'll probably go to Ponce's where I know the fries truly are hand cut and come standard with your order.

300 (the movie) Event At Comic-Con

Last night, my friend Xavie (he works at Petco Park) was telling me about a huge event for the movie 300 and its worldwide DVD release coinciding with Comic-Con this weekend. Street posted it this morning but didn't really go in to detail and since the "contest" to win ComicCon passes, airfare, and a chance to be in the final challenge is over, I thought I'd pass along what Xavie told me.

The 300 event will take place on Friday at 7:30 pm at Petco Park. The event (though details on what exactly the "event" will be are hazy) is free but limited to 5000 people who visit the 300/Warner Brothers booth at Comic-Con to get their passes. I don't know if there's any "challenge" to get them or if you get them simply by asking, but if I get more deets, I will post them here.

In a semi-related issue, for you Comic-Con attendees looking for some good grub before a day of adventure, check out Richard Walker's for breakfast. It's at 520 Front Street and is a short walk from the Convention Center but should get you away from the mobs on 5th and 6th Avenues. It's open from 6:30 a.m.-2:30 pm and they have kick ass waffles, omelettes, pancakes and simple bacon and eggs. (East coasters will recognize the menu from Bickford's in Boston, started by Richard Walker's family)

This weekend: Taste of Gaslamp

The season of food tastings is upon us. All kinds of San Diego neighborhoods have an event this summer to show off the dining choices in their respective area. Living in Kensington, I love the Taste of Adams, but I've also heard rave reviews about Taste Of Hillcrest and the one happening this weekend, The Taste of Gaslamp.

I think tastings should be in the $10-$15 range, rationalizing that if I'm gonna spend $25 on food for just me, I'd rather not look like a vulture scavenging for the last piece of chicken or waiting for someone to offer me a shrimp.

That said, with the caliber of restaurants that have sprung in the downtown area to feed all those people who can afford homes that cost $1000 a square foot, maybe $25 isn't too bad to sample cuisine from places like The Ocean Room, Lou & Mickey's, Rama and JSix among many others.

For a list of all of the participating restaurants, click here.
If you decide this is your bag, buy your print-at-home tickets here.

Note, they limit the attendance so that food doesn't run out. To ensure this, TICKETS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE ONLINE AND WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AT THE EVENT. You've been warned.

Random things

I'm feeling sick today which should explain my lack of postings. Sorry. I just have some random stuff today:

1. Rob Crow's third solo album will be out soon. You can pre-order it at Insound. Just don't order it quite yet, because I have a coupon code for you in my e-mail inbox at home that I'll post later.

2. It came to my attention that somebody was unhappy about certain postings on this site, like I'm blowing some big secrets or something. First of all, all of the information I get for posts are through MySpace, local rags like CityBeat and The Reader, and a ton of e-mail newsletters from various artists, radio stations, etc. I read through all the stuff and try to post things that specifically interest me in a more concise manner. I am almost never privy to "secret" information and everyone I know now knows that if they tell me something they don't want published, a disclaimer of "don't write this on your blog" works just fine. Secondly, if you're unhappy about something I've posted, I have all my contact information on this site. You can ask me to take something down and I probably will. Just ask me directly. That is all.

3. Troy Johnson and I met because on my old blog, I had referred to him as a tool, and he sent me a self-depracating e-mail that made me adore him. We've been friends ever since. It taught me something about judging someone before you know them, which we all do a lot of the time. People like Troy and the crew at Fox Rox and Tim Pyles and Scott Riggs and Anya Marina and Halloran and CatDirt and dorky bloggers like me ultimately do what they/we do because we love music. No toes need to be stepped on, there's room for everyone, and "the scene" is a whole lot more fun when you check your attitude at the door and try being nice every once in a while. This is as much for my readers as it is a reminder to myself.

4. If you haven't checked out my new food blog, check out the event I posted for tomorrow. A $12 Sake tasting accompanied with a $10 Sushi platter at Wine Vault. Yum. Me and Andrea are going, are you coming with??

That's really all I've got today. Maybe I need some Airborne or Zicam or something to get this brain ticking again...

I'll say goodbye with another Christmas Song link for you! This one comes from my good friend Adam of Rookie Card. Click on the song called "The Sun Always Shines On Christmas."