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San Diego, LAST MINUTE trip! Help with sunset seafood dinner choices!!!

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San Diego, LAST MINUTE trip! Help with sunset seafood dinner choices!!!

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Old Jan 24th, 2006, 05:34 PM
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San Diego, LAST MINUTE trip! Help with sunset seafood dinner choices!!!

I am a Planner, that's why I'm HERE, and
this trip is a last minute jaunt. I have
never been to SD,CA and it will be a short trip: We have three evenings, and would like one dinner to be waterfront, good seafood, but NOT super expensive. I was thinking $25-30 per/pr. without drinks.

I've been reading Georges, Tom Ham, The Fish Market, etc; Any tips for this weekend? Thanks!

p.s. we are staying at the Marriott, Gas Light, but will have a car.
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Old Jan 24th, 2006, 06:16 PM
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Hi..
Being that you are staying at the Marriott in the Gaslamp, Downtown and the big golf tourney is up at Torrey Pines this weekend in La Jolla, I would do the Fish Market and start with drinks on the outside patio facing the bay and then either go to the oyster bar or sushi area..I like the oyster bar and you can really eat well and have great conversation with others..
Second, I would do Island Prime on Harbor Island across from the airport..Good food with bay view..
Third..
Love George's at the Cove on the water in La Jolla..might be tought with the golf tourney..
Fourth..
I love a Mai Tai at either Anthony's or Bali Hai..you can eat well and cheap at Bali Hai's on the bay too..
 
Old Jan 24th, 2006, 06:52 PM
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Do you think I will need reservations
for Fish Market? It seems to be popular. Thanks!

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Old Jan 24th, 2006, 07:39 PM
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Top of the Market(excellent)but pricey upstairs from the Fish Market takes reservations and the oyster bar is first come but usually not a problem but cover your bases on this busy weekend.. Have drinks at the top of the Hyatt for a gorgeous view..
Gaslamp has tons of great restaurants and bars that you won't have to leave the area..
 
Old Jan 24th, 2006, 07:51 PM
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yes, i like easy...meaning just walk outside the hotel and not drive/park.

I am doing a crash course on SD in about 2 hrs!

Thanks for the tips, I need a place to start. We are trying to keep costs down, and that's why the Fish Market seemed like a good option: one website said, "Moderate". $$

hmm....

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Old Jan 24th, 2006, 07:56 PM
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Have drinks outside on the waterfront patio and then go to the oyster bar for chowder, mussels and fish tacos and then head out..cheap and good..and lots of fun!
 
Old Jan 24th, 2006, 07:58 PM
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Iland Prime has a connecting, less expensive kind of bar/trendy restaurant called Cview. Very interesting menu, more casual, not near as expensive as Island Prime. Great place to go for a drink and some appetizers. Go early for the view. That will be the ticket here. To get any view at dinner, you will have to go very early. I believe sunset is around 5:30 now in SD?

Jake's in Del Mar is also a wonderful seafood restaurant with a view, but pretty far north.

I like the Fish Market for chowder, glass of wine and their fabulous sour dough bread. I am not wild about their fish preparations. Very ordinary, just grilled, but the location is great.

A nice place to go for an after dinner drink is the Marine Room in La Jolla. Has a huge spot on the waves that you can view from the bar, and some fireplaces if I recall correctly. It's been a few years.

Downtown you have some great places. The bar in the Marriott has a great view, very trendy, very nice place for a drink. The W down the street a ways but downtown is also a fun place to go for a drink.

Very close to downtown is Little Italy with some great restaurants. You might want to go there one night. Downtown itself has a lot to offer in the way of bars, night spots and restaurants. You'll have a great time checking it all out.
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Old Jan 24th, 2006, 08:55 PM
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When exactly are you coming? This weekend in La Jolla will be very difficult because of the Buick Invitational.

Your price limit for anywhere on the waterfront is a little low- way too low for George's. I'm a big Top of the Market fan. It is a bit more expensive than the downstairs Fish Market, but you can make reservations there and I prefer the preparation of the fish. You can have sushi at your table, it's not necessary to sit in the sushi bar to eat it. While the Sushi bar and the oyster bar can be fun, neither really has a view of the water and I always feel rushed at them. The oyster bar is surrounded by people waiting for their table downstairs. They don't take reservations for the Fish Market and it's usually a long wait.

I would not, ever, go to Tom Ham's. Went once and I don't ever need to go again. Lovely location, less than mediocre food.

Haven't been to Island Prime yet. I don't know where the time goes.

heavens, drop me an email at barbks at san.rr.com.
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Old Jan 24th, 2006, 09:07 PM
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How about Peohes or Il Fornio in Coronado on the Bay? Easy drive across the bridge or go down to the foot ferry near the Star of India and cruise over.
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Old Jan 25th, 2006, 04:27 AM
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wow! thanks for all the suggestions!
If only I could surf the internet on the plane!! I did buy a guide to look
at during the flight.

You are right, I am probably budgeting way too low on the dinner cost. I am thinking in the mid-west, not ocean front in California.

I will look up all the suggestions and evaluate logistics, etc;

Thanks!
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Old Jan 25th, 2006, 05:39 AM
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Beachkomer, talk to your concierge. I bet the one at your hotel, which is very nice, is familiar with the area and can help you.

Barbara, but have you been to Tom Ham's piano bar? If you are in the mood for a funky happy hour, you have got to go. They play old tunes you forgot about (five foot two, eyes of blue) and they serve real happy hour fare. We just happened on to it one night and really had a fun, quirky time. Just wanted to pass that on...

One more place downtown. Lou and Mickeys. Right downtown. Seafood bar. Not cheap but great atmosphere. Best crab cakes ever.
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Old Jan 25th, 2006, 07:30 AM
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if you don't want to drive, i think going over to one of the restaurants mentioned on coronado would be nice. take the ferry over, have dinner and ferry back.
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Old Jan 25th, 2006, 08:45 AM
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I forgot to mention that the Brigantine.com on Shelter Island has one of the best seafood happy hours in town and you can save alot of that money to party in the Gaslamp..
Barbara is right..Never eat at Tom Hom's! The town is going to be packed with the golf tournament so I wouldn't even try La Jolla.. The ferry over to Coronado is also a great idea too..
Water taxi's are another alternative as well..If you do go to the Fish Market, eat only upstairs.. or the O Bar. Daytime lunch spot for off the boat fish is Point Loma Seafoods..
 
Old Jan 25th, 2006, 09:34 AM
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Hi Beachkomer!

I know you were only asking for dining recommendations but I have to tell you what the highlight of my 3 day San Diego trip was. The Whaley House! No you can't get dinner (although I'm sure there are excellent dining opportunities in the neighborhood) but after visiting those haunted digs you're sure to have a "lively" dinner conversation!
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Old Jan 28th, 2006, 05:23 AM
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Did anyone mention Anthonys fish grotto or isn't it there anymore? Right on the water and not terribly $$$. Right next to the Star of India great place to walk after stuffing yourself. Also if you go to the Whaley house in Old town you must have a Margarita in Old town and some mexican food. You can't visit S.D without trying either. Have fun in Americas finest city!!
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Old Jan 28th, 2006, 08:14 AM
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diann, Anthony's is still there. It is OK. Good place for lunch, but not what I would call memorable. Does have a nice view, and I would go for the shrimp cocktail or crab louis, one of my favorites. Their bread is great too.

In the Gaslamp, very close to your hotel (walking distance) is also Seaport Village. Lots of restaurants in there. Most of these places in the Gaslamp and Seaport Village post their menus outside so you can stroll and shop the menus. Makes for a fun evening if you start early this time of year. Whatever you chose, you will have a lovely time. Can't go wrong in SD, IMO.
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Old Jan 30th, 2006, 06:41 PM
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GREAT trip!!

I loved San Diego! The Marriott Gas Lamp was perfect. Very "W" style or westin type rooms, close to everything. Our view was over the Petco ballfield and the bay. NICE.
There was a great bar on the roof with a fire pit and great drinks. The view was amazing.

We walked a lot in the Gas Lamp area and it was hard to choose where to eat! We dined at a new spot called Dussini.
http://www.dussini.com/
Loved it! Had salad, seafood pasta, wine, dessert...very romantic!

Had fish tacos at the Tin Fish there across from the convention center and Lou and Mickey's. Good. "fast food". We made the mistake of asking for "hush puppies"...they laughed at us. I guess it ain't Long John Silver

Our waterfront dinner that was Special was on Coronado at Peohe's. Great view, elevated booth to view the city lights. Sea bass was excellent. Perfect ending to the trip!

Thanks for the tips! I will have to hit the other places next time. We tried to avoid La Jolla due to the golf tournament.

Can't wait to go back!!
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Old Jan 30th, 2006, 07:09 PM
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Glad you had a great time. Thanks for posting about your trip.
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Old Jan 30th, 2006, 07:29 PM
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FYI - Tom Ham's has done a complete 180. It has new owners, been remodeled and has a new chef. I was dragged there for a business thing and it was great (despite my claw marks from my memories of being there as a younger person born and raised in SD)
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Old Jan 30th, 2006, 07:49 PM
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Sounds like you had a blast..
Come back and see us anytime!
The rooftop bar sounds perfect..Come back during Baseball season..


Alice..Glad to hear about Tom Ham's.
 


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