The culinary landscape in San Diego has blossomed in the past few years, with more and more exciting eateries to be found throughout the city. During your San Diego stay, make sure to experience the medley of cuisines and scenes. From authentic Mexican and margaritas to antelope sliders and craft beers, here are some of our favorites. —PCBC Co-chairs Dawn & Bill Davidson
Bencotto
Dean Bradshaw
Bencotto Italian Kitchen: San Diego’s favorite Italian restaurant serves up home-style Milanese cuisine in a modern setting. We love the pillowy homemade gnocchi in pink pancetta sauce. 750 West Fir Street, Little Italy, lovebencotto.com
The Blind Burro: Baja-style fish tacos, oyster shooters, flights of tequila, mescal margaritas . . . need we say more? 639 J Street, East Village, theblindburro.com
Café Chloe: This European bistro brings a touch of Paris to town with delicious dishes like lamb cassoulet, mussels steamed in Belgian ale, and steak frites. 721 Ninth Avenue, East Village, cafechloe.com
Café Zanzibar: Rustic flatbreads, garden-fresh salads, paninis for lunch; global cuisine and fun wine bar at night. 707 G Street, East Village, zanzibarcafe.com
Cowboy Star: Old West ambience and hearty cowboy fare, like hand-cut steaks from the in-house butcher shop. Wild salmon, lamb chops, halibut, and scallops, too. 640 Tenth Avenue, East Village, thecowboystar.com
Craft & Commerce: Comfort-style bar food and crafty cocktails. Share a giant punch bowl with friends, or sample the wealth of San Diego’s craft beer that flows from the taps. 675 West Beech Street, Little Italy, craft-commerce.com
Davanti Encoteca: Rustic Italian in a romantic setting with wonderful formaggi and salumi, polenta, pasta, and pizza. Lauded and listed by Bon Appétit in its top 50 Best New Restaurants in 2012. 1655 India Street, Little Italy, davantisandiego.com
Dobson’s Bar & Restaurant: Owned by American bullfighter Paul Dobson, this downtown favorite has an old-school feel and serves classic American fare like veal chops, linguini and clams, oysters on the half-shell, and steaks. 956 Broadway Circle, downtown, dobsonsrestaurant.com
Grant Grill: Classic cuisine meets modern mixology at this historic downtown hotel. We love the mahogany wood, fleur-de-lis banquettes, California seasonal menu, and bar scene in the lounge. 326 Broadway, downtown, grantgrill.com
Prepkitchen
The Lion’s Share: This swank, low-lit lair celebrates the art of craft cocktails and offers an innovative game-driven menu. Think bourbon-glazed wild boar ribs and clever tipplers like Monks Gone Wild—strawberry-infused Pimm’s, green Chartreuse, lemon, and ginger beer. 629 Kettner Boulevard, Marina District, lionssharesd.com
Prepkitchen: With long communal tables and festive lights, this dynamic stylish spot has great Happy Hours, tapas, flatbreads, and pastas. We love the crispy artichokes, rigatoni Bolognese, and scallop crudo. 1660 India Street, Little Italy, prepkitchen.com
Point Loma Seafoods: Chowder, fish sandwiches, sushi, sashimi, and seafood cocktails. Bottom line: the freshest fish in town. 2805 Emerson Street, Point Loma, pointlomaseafoods.com
