Restaurant to Watch: Mess Hall
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A Word From Food Editor Troy Johnson
Santa taught me everything I needed to know about making lists. My first Christmas wish lists were epic, Ulysses-esque tomes. I asked for everything under the sun, and the sun itself. My single mom just smiled at my early-onset materialism, and cautioned that Santa doles out gifts with a tad more restraint. And so it is with our annual Best Restaurants feature.
Every year, it is my job to eat at between three and 12 restaurants a week (my record is five lunches in a single day, for our 2012 guide to Asian food). I make notes throughout the year, reminisce about my most memorable meals and the restaurants that floored me, and come up with my own personal best. And then I start cutting. Some of my favorite restaurants get shaved off. Would I love to have Yakitori Yakyudori on this list, since I dream of their beef tongue skewers with gossamer ribbons of dried tuna? Yes. Sab-E-Lee is incredible Thai food, but this year, the freshness of Suppanee’s ingredients from their own garden made me lean their direction. I’d also love to see Aqui es Texcoco on this list. Their lamb barbacoa is the soul mate for your salivary glands.
And how in the world do I not have Sushi Ota as the ultimate sushi restaurant, its greatness cemented and beautifully fossilized? Well, that’s because, for me, sustainable seafood is of utmost importance. Our fishing reserves are scarily scant. And chef Rob Ruiz of The Land & Water Co. is one of the foremost sustainable sushi experts in the country at this point. I eat with my mouth—and my ethics.
Choosing only one per category drives me insane.
Talking to San Diego chefs this year, the one thing that they tell me over and over is—San Diego is in the midst of a restaurant glut. There are too many good options, and restaurants are struggling to draw a large enough share of the city’s available diners. That’s lucky for us eaters, not so lucky for the chef-owners.
But the best will survive the eventual shakeout. From a truly selfish diner perspective, it’s a pretty wonderful problem. And it’s a pretty great time to be eating and drinking in San Diego. I hope you enjoy my picks, listed alongside the winners and runners-up of our readers’ survey. Let’s grub.
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Overall
San Diego’s Best Restaurants 2016
Best New Restaurant (Critic’s Pick): Bracero Cocina
Best New Restaurant (Critic’s Pick): Bracero Cocina
Best of the Best
Readers’ Pick: Juniper and IvyRunner-up : Truluck’sCritic’s Pick:
Best New Restaurant
Readers’ Pick: CoasterraRunner-up: Bracero CocinaCritic’s Pick:
Best Service
Readers’ Pick: Cucina Enoteca and Cucina UrbanaRunner-up: MezeCritic’s Pick:
Best Chef
Readers’ Pick: Accursio Lota, Solare RistoranteRunner-up: Joe Magnanelli, Cucina UrbanaCritic’s Pick:
Best Happy Hour
Readers’ Pick: MonelloRunner-up: SearsuckerCritic’s Pick:
Best Cheap Eats
Readers’ Pick: The Kebab ShopRunner-up: Carnitas’ Snack ShackCritic’s Pick:
Best Late-Night Menu
Readers’ Pick: MezeRunner-up: Searsucker San DiegoCritic’s Pick:
Best Hotel Restaurant
Readers’ Pick: Tidal and A.R. Valentien (tie)Runner-up: Nine-TenCritic’s Pick:
Best Food Truck
Readers’ Pick: Super QRunner-up: MihoCritic’s Pick:
Best Restaurant in Baja
Readers’ Pick: Finca AltozanoRunner-up: Oryx CapitalCritic’s Pick:
Best Desserts
Readers’ Pick: Extraordinary DessertsRunner-up: Le Parfait ParisCritic’s Pick:
Best Taco Shop
Readers’ Pick: City TacosRunner-up: Tacos El GordoCritic’s Pick:
Best Indulgent Eats
Readers’ Pick: Carnitas’ Snack ShackRunner-up: Extraordinary DessertsCritic’s Pick:
Best Healthy Eats
Readers’ Pick: Tender GreensRunner-up: Café GratitudeCritic’s Pick:
Best Food/Drink Event
Readers’ Pick: Celebrate the CraftRunner-up: Best of North CountyCritic’s Pick:
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Atmosphere
San Diego’s Best Restaurants 2016
Best Design (Critic’s Pick): Herringbone
Best Design (Critic’s Pick): Herringbone
Best Design
Readers’ Pick: Cucina EnotecaRunner-up: HerringboneCritic’s Pick:
Best Special Occasion
Readers’ Pick: Truluck’sRunner-up: HerringboneCritic’s Pick:
Best View (Urban)
Readers’ Pick: Mister A’sRunner-up: Top of the Hyatt, Manchester Grand HyattCritic’s Pick:
Best View (Water)
Readers’ Pick: CoasterraRunner-up: C-LevelCritic’s Pick:
Best Outdoor Patio
Readers’ Pick: CoasterraRunner-up: Oceana Coastal KitchenCritic’s Pick:
Best Kid-Friendly
Readers’ Pick: Corvette DinerRunner-up: Station TavernCritic’s Pick:
Best Place to Watch the Game
Readers’ Pick: Kaminski’s BBQRunner-up: BarleymashCritic’s Pick:
Best Date Spot
Readers’ Pick: Bleu BohèmeRunner-up: HerringboneCritic’s Pick:
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Specific Dishes
San Diego’s Best Restaurants 2016
Best Burger (Runner-up): The BH Burger at Bankers Hill Bar & Restaurant
Best Burger (Runner-up): The BH Burger at Bankers Hill Bar & Restaurant
Best Sandwich
Readers’ Pick: Rubicon DeliRunner-up: Board & BrewCritic’s Pick:
Best Pizza
Readers’ Pick: NapizzaRunner-up: Buona ForchettaCritic’s Pick:
Best Burger
Readers’ Pick: Burger LoungeRunner-up: Bankers Hill Bar & RestaurantCritic’s Pick:
Best Taco
Readers’ Pick: PuestoRunner-up: Tacos El GordoCritic’s Pick:
Best Fish Taco
Readers’ Pick: Rubio’sRunner-up: PuestoCritic’s Pick:
Best Burrito
Readers’ Pick: Lolita’sRunner-up: Lucha LibreCritic’s Pick:
Best Chips and Salsa
Readers’ Pick: Miguel’s CocinaRunner-up: PuestoCritic’s Pick:
Best Fries
Readers’ Pick: SearsuckerRunner-up: Burger LoungeCritic’s Pick:
Best Sushi
Readers’ Pick: Sushi OtaRunner-up: Sushi DeliCritic’s Pick:
Best Salad
Readers’ Pick: NapizzaRunner-up: Tender GreensCritic’s Pick:
Best Small Plates Menu
Readers’ Pick: MezeRunner-up: TidalCritic’s Pick:
Best Ramen
Readers’ Pick: UnderbellyRunner-up: TajimaCritic’s Pick:
Best Bacon Dish
Readers’ Pick: Pork belly app, Carnitas’ Snack ShackRunner-up: Maple bacon donut, Great MapleCritic’s Pick:
Best Ice Cream
Readers’ Pick: Hammond’sRunner-up: Bobboi Natural GelatoCritic’s Pick:
Best Donut
Readers’ Pick: Donut BarRunner-up: Nomad DonutsCritic’s Pick:
Best Pancakes
Readers’ Pick: SnoozeRunner-up: Richard Walker’sCritic’s Pick:
Best French Toast
Readers’ Pick: SnoozeRunner-up: The MissionCritic’s Pick:
Best Eggs Benedict
Readers’ Pick: SnoozeRunner-up: Breakfast RepublicCritic’s Pick:
Hall-of-Fame Dish
Readers’ Pick: Spinach and ricotta ravioli, Solare RistoranteRunner-up: Kung pao chicken, Szechuan MandarinCritic’s Pick:
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Specific Cuisines
San Diego’s Best Restaurants 2016
Best Italian (Readers’ and Critic’s Pick): Solare Ristorante
Best Italian (Readers’ and Critic’s Pick): Solare Ristorante
Best Middle Eastern
Readers’ Pick: MezeRunner-up: The Kebab ShopCritic’s Pick:
Best Italian
Readers’ Pick: Solare RistoranteRunner-up: Cucina Urbana and Cucina EnotecaCritic’s Pick:
Best Greek
Readers’ Pick: MezeRunner-up: Cafe AthenaCritic’s Pick:
Best Mexican
Readers’ Pick: Talavera AzulRunner-up: PuestoCritic’s Pick:
Best French
Readers’ Pick: Bleu BohèmeRunner-up: Cafe ChloeCritic’s Pick:
Best Indian
Readers’ Pick: BombayRunner-up: Royal IndiaCritic’s Pick:
Best Chinese
Readers’ Pick: Szechuan MandarinRunner-up: Dumpling InnCritic’s Pick:
Best Japanese
Readers’ Pick: Sushi OtaRunner-up: Blue SmokeCritic’s Pick:
Best Thai
Readers’ Pick: SupanneeRunner-up: AmarinCritic’s Pick:
Best Vietnamese
Readers’ Pick: Le BambouRunner-up: Saigon on FifthCritic’s Pick:
Best Korean
Readers’ Pick: Manna Korean BBQRunner-up: Tofu HouseCritic’s Pick:
Best Filipino
Readers’ Pick: Tita’s KitchenetteRunner-up: Manila SunsetCritic’s Pick:
Best Russian
Readers’ Pick: PomegranateRunner-up: PushkinCritic’s Pick:
Best Ethiopian
Readers’ Pick: MuzitaRunner-up: Red SeaCritic’s Pick:
Best Vegetarian/Vegan
Readers’ Pick: Café GratitudeRunner-up: Civico 1845Critic’s Pick:
Best Barbecue
Readers’ Pick: Phil’s BBQRunner-up: Coops West Texas BBQCritic’s Pick:
Best Steakhouse
Readers’ Pick: Cowboy StarRunner-up: Donovan’sCritic’s Pick:
Best Seafood
Readers’ Pick: Ironside FIsh & OysterRunner-up: Truluck’sCritic’s Pick:
Best Breakfast/Brunch
Readers’ Pick: Talavera AzulRunner-up: SnoozeCritic’s Pick:
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Drinks
San Diego’s Best Restaurants 2016
Best Cocktails (Critic’s Pick): Polite Provisions | Photo by Paul Body
Best Cocktails (Critic’s Pick): Polite Provisions | Photo by Paul Body
Best Wine List
Readers’ Pick: Cucina Urbana and Cucina EnotecaRunner-up: Solare RistoranteCritic’s Pick:
Best Beer Selection
Readers’ Pick: HamiltonsRunner-up: Regents PizzeriaCritic’s Pick:
Best Cocktails
Readers’ Pick: SearsuckerRunner-up: Polite ProvisionsCritic’s Pick:
Best Coffee
Readers’ Pick: Dark HorseRunner-up: Bird RockCritic’s Pick:
Best Mocktails
Readers’ Pick: Café GratitudeRunner-up: LemonadeCritic’s Pick:
Best Brewpub
Readers’ Pick: Ballast PointRunner-up: Stone Brewing World Bistro & GardensCritic’s Pick:
Best Wine Bar
Readers’ Pick: Village VinoRunner-up: Wine StealsCritic’s Pick:
Best Juice Bar
Readers’ Pick: Papayas Juice Bar & FruiteriaRunner-up: Sacred JuiceCritic’s Pick:
Best Margarita
Readers’ Pick: PuestoRunner-up: Cafe CoyoteCritic’s Pick:
Best Mule
Readers’ Pick: StarliteRunner-up: Uptown Tavern and West Coast Tavern (tie)Critic’s Pick:
Best Old-Fashioned
Readers’ Pick: Seven GrandRunner-up: Cowboy StarCritic’s Pick:
Best Local Craft Beer Brand
Readers’ Pick: Ballast PointRunner-up: StoneCritic’s Pick:
Best Pale Ale
Readers’ Pick: Big Eye, Ballast PointRunner-up: .394, AleSmithCritic’s Pick:
Best IPA
Readers’ Pick: Sculpin, Ballast PointRunner-up: Stone IPA, StoneCritic’s Pick:
Best Stout
Readers’ Pick: Peanut Butter Milk Stout, Belching BeaverRunner-up: Speedway Stout, AleSmithCritic’s Pick:
Best Porter
Readers’ Pick: Smoked Porter, StoneRunner-up: Victory at Sea, Ballast PointCritic’s Pick:
Best Sessional Beer
Readers’ Pick: Mosaic, Karl StraussRunner-up: Even Keel, Ballast PointCritic’s Pick:
Best Wheat Beer
Readers’ Pick: Orange Avenue Wit, CoronadoRunner-up: Fortunate Islands, Modern TimesCritic’s Pick:
Best Brown Ale
Readers’ Pick: Nut Brown, AleSmithRunner-up: Speedo’s Tiki Love God, FallCritic’s Pick:
Best Red
Readers’ Pick: Red Trolley, Karl StraussRunner-up: Mermaid’s Red, CoronadoCritic’s Pick:
Best Belgian-Style Beer
Readers’ Pick: Cali-Belgique, StoneRunner-up: The Harlot, SocieteCritic’s Pick:
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Restaurant to Watch: Mess Hall
