Valentines Dinner in SanDiego

What price point are you talking about for dinner - food, drinks etc?

Not familiar with prices there since I am from east coast Canada so open to suggestions but would $100.00 for 2 people be too cheap?
Warren

Sorry, posted too soon. San Diego is a BIG, spread out city. I think you need to pick your hotel first before someone can suggest restaurants. I assume you will not have a car and will want one fairly close to where you are staying. At less than 2 weeks out, I suggest you book a room - they aren't going to get cheaper.

And FWIW, many "nicer" restaurants have special menus with set price [and a high one at that]. We have found ourselves out of town on Valentine's Day more than once [we don't go out for it when at home since it is one of the worst nights to eat out]. I have found that small, ethnic restaurants are often the best bet on this night, price wise as well as not being super crowded with waitstaff that is overworked.

If you want a nice reasonably priced restaurant - with good food and overlooking a Marina - on Harbor Island - by the airport - try The Boathouse. http://www.boathouserestaurant.com/

Also good is C Level at Island Prime - the other end of Harbor - and they have a great view of downtown and across to Coronado. C Level is the more reasonably priced part of the restaurant. http://www.cohnrestaurants.com/menu-restaurants/island-prime/

As noted - you might want to try and make reservations now to be sure you get in.

Also - check the other California discussions as there have been a number about Hotel rooms in San Diego.

hoteldel.com

my fav not too cheap though. www.lajolla.com bidding betterbidding.com last for me B4 that Hyatt nice area price
chowhound.com for great foodie threads there many great options.Seafood Japanese my favs.

We are booked at Holiday Inn on 7 th street which is about 15 min. walk to Gaslamp Quarter so is that where we would find lots of restaurants. We will eat early like 5 PM because that will be 9 PM for us comming from east coast Canada. Hotel has free shuttle for airport so we will not rent a car.
Warren

I was just in San Diego overnight prior to getting on a cruise ship. Went to Filippis and seriously had the best lasagna I've ever had. It's not a fancy restaurant, but very good.

realcheesepizza.com

I absolutely agree with SusieQQ, in fact that was where I was going to recommend warrsher go once he knew where he was staying. It isn't fancy, [think red checkered table clothes, chianti bottles with candles in them] but man do they have great Italian food. Chicken Parm was huge and really, really good. And the price is right too.

Filippis sounds great and so does the Boathouse. Filippis is within walking distance but my girlfriend does prefer seafood so may try the Boathouse. I would like to do the Boathouse but I am guessing return cab fare would add $40.00 or more. Are there any seafood recommendations within walking dist ( 1 mile ) from our Hotel 7 th avenue between Beech and Ash streets?
Warren

warrsher - you are very close to the gaslamp and any of the places along 5th avenue and in the area might work for you. It is a very busy night obviously so you will want reservations - but as far as seafood, most places in the gaslamp will offer some kind of seafood dish as well. It is so competitive there that most do not stay in business if they are not good.

As long as you do not drink excessively and order appetizers and deserts I think you should be fine for under 100.00. We find it is the wine and "add ons" that create over 100.00 bills...

Oh one more thing... just saw you are going to Hawaii for 2 weeks - pass on the seafood in San Diego - you will be having the best in Hawaii!

Love Cafe Chloe. It's in the Gaslamp and has very reasonable prices. Reserve early.

http://www.cafechloe.com/

We are not excessive drinkers so that will be fine. I am really looking forward to SanDiego. The GasLamp area looks exciting to me.Thanks for all the help and any other suggestions or comments are welcome. I think where we will get to our hotel around 3:30 PM we will just concentrate on that area ( GasLamp Area )because of the time difference of 4 hours we will probably be in bed by 10 or 11 PM at the latest. We do not fly out untill 9:15 Am the next day so that is good.
Warren

We really enjoyed dinner and jazz music at Croce's in The Gas Lamp on 5th. Yes, Jim Croce's; sort of, it is his wife's place. Great food and some wonderful jazz too. Website says from $55 pp.

http://www.croces.com/

http://www.gaslamplocal.com/menu/224/Dine.html

For dessert you MUST go here: http://www.chocolatsandiego.com/ YUM!!

The best bargain for Valentine's Dinner is at Admiral Baker Clubhouse in Mission Gorge. Enjoy a five course meal with wine included -- $39.95 per person. Open 7-9 on 14 Feb, Reservations required 619-487-0016. Meal includes shrimp cocktail, Beef consomme au parmesan, garden green salad, petite filet mignon with scampi and New York style cheesecake. This lovely golf clubhouse overlooking the San Diego River, has previously been open exclusively to military. Recently opened to the public. Just off Interstate 15, exit Friar's Road east, second intersection turn left on Santo Road and right on Admiral Baker Road. Watch out for the deer crossing the road around the golf course. http://mwrtoday.com/sandiego/dining/restaurants/

The Boathouse isn't that far from 7th AVENUE, probably less than 5 miles, so I doubt the taxi fare will be that much.

You might want to check, they used to have an early bird special.

You can always order out from Flippis.

Here's a link to a walking map of Little Italy http://www.littleitalysd.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/WalkingMap.pdf

If you like walking - you are not that far from the Embaracedero - and a couple of good seafood choices there - one of which is as good as it gets - The Fish Market - literally next to the USS Midway, which is fun to see - if not take a quick tour if you have the time/energy. http://www.midway.org/ Great views from there across the bay to Coronado, and it's reasonable. http://www.thefishmarket.com/

And while you are going to Hawaii - which I love - you can get just as good/quality seafood here in SD. I have tried many many restaurants in both SD and Hawaii - and also caught/speared fish both here in SD and over in Paradise, and they both have bountiful choices of fresh treasure from the sea.

BTW - Fillipis is fun - and I love the Torpedo (sub) sandwiches from there - but it's really more a pizza/pasta place - rather than a fine dining place.

For authentic Italian in the Gaslamp area, we liked this restaurant:
http://www.acquaal2.com/

I had eaten in their original location in Florence, Italy, and loved it, so we sought out this relative newcomer.

We liked its atmosphere, service and food. It would be within you $100 budget, if you don't drink too much!

I recommend it as a special place for a Valentine's Day meal.

Peaceout - me too!!! How I wish was in Florence

Have always wanted to get to Acquaal2 ("Aqua al two-eh") - and have even walked by a couple of times and talked to the Chef there (on the way to Padre games) - but yet to make it. It's very highly rated, and nice atmosphere - and we also liked Pana a Vino in the gaslamp.

In Little Italy - there are a number of fine dining choices - including a couple of our favorites - Buon Appetito and Cafe Zucchero. http://www.urbanspoon.com/n/27/2635/San-Diego/Little-Italy-restaurants And after dinner - Extraordinary Desserts is just "sinful" - albeit une petit cher.