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$$ | Point Loma |
A wall of mason jars with pickled vegetables and brined olives transports you to an Italian market in Rome where the owner’s mother perfected generations of recipes that have made their way into this Point Loma eatery. Since its 2019 opening, customers have lined up for generous portions of homemade Italian staples including pasta, gnocchi, meatballs, sausage, bread, and decadent desserts. Choose your pasta shape, sauce, and topping, or simply lean on the advice of the knowledgeable waitstaff. The tagliere cutting board is piled high with prosciutto, burrata, green olives, artichoke hearts, and marinated vegetables beckoning a dunk of focaccia with every bite, while the risotto and tagliata are cooked to perfection and the spaghetti with mussels and clams will have you reenacting Lady and the Tramp. For the finale, get your camera ready for the table-side tiramisu drenched in espresso and topped with mascarpone fresco. The outdoor patio is inviting year-round, even in winter when heat lamps, wool blankets, and sheepskin rugs keep things cozy.
4161 Voltaire St., San Diego, California, 92107, USA
Known For
- Nearly everything made from scratch
- Authentic Italian cuisine
- Excellent vegan options
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$ | Point Loma | Eclectic
This bustling market and food hall is just one of the latest additions to an ever-expanding Liberty Station, the historic mixed-use redevelopment of San Diego's former Naval Training Center. Vendors offer everything from lobster rolls to empanadas, gumbo, or tostadas, making it an excellent place to pop in for a quick but high-quality meal.
2820 Historic Decatur Rd., San Diego, California, 92106, USA
Known For
- Popular food stalls
- Fast, good food
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$$ | Ocean Beach | French
Ocean Beach is a slightly eccentric beach town, not a place diners would expect to find this warm, romantic bistro that evokes a French farmhouse. The satisfying French-inspired menu of soups, woodstone-oven flatbreads, mussels, and other bistro classics is served in cozy dining rooms and a rustic outdoor patio. Go traditional with boeuf bourguignonne or chicken fricassee or spice it up with a flatbread topped with goat cheese, roasted beets, and curry onion jam.
4996 W. Point Loma Blvd., San Diego, California, 92107, USA
Known For
- Popular crispy Brussels sprouts with pancetta
- Tuesday date night special
- Happy hour
- Featured on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$ | Point Loma |
Tucked bay-side between Harbor and Shelter islands, Jimmy's (JFAT for short) draws hungry boaters and sea lovers with its marina views and elevated backyard-barbecue faves like the Cowboy burger with crispy onion rings and pecanwood bacon. The interior blends varnished wood with industrial-chic I beams and garage-style doors, plus there's a patio facing the water. Happy Hour 3–6 draws a crowd for $9 cocktails and $12 burgers. Bottles of the company’s zesty chipotle ketchup now can be purchased to take home.
4990 N. Harbor Dr., San Diego, California, 92106, USA
Known For
- Bloody Marys during weekend brunch
- Seven types of burgers
- Happy hour specials ($9 cocktails and $12 burgers)
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$ | Point Loma |
Three local families—with a fishing history—joined nets in 2008 to provide the best catch in Point Loma; a chalkboard menu showcases sustainable seafood caught mostly by them, off the shores of San Diego and Baja. The fisherman’s stew and fish tacos are on point, loaded with swordfish, octopus, calamari, and rock fish, while the tuna melt and breaded shrimp beckon a cold brew to wash it all down. Regardless of the time of day, there’s usually a line out the door on Fridays. At low tide, you can see oysters under the pier, reminding you that you're as close to fresh seafood as it gets. Bypass the small indoor dining space for a patio table overlooking the dock, but keep an eye on your fries. If your neighbor doesn’t grab them, a seagull most certainly will.
1403 Scott St., San Diego, California, 92106, USA
Known For
- Big fish sandwiches
- Seafood combo with chips
- Great seafood without the fine dining price
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$ | Point Loma | Barbecue
During peak hours at San Diego’s most popular barbecue, lines can be long for diners craving heaping portions of fall-off-the-bone baby-back ribs, moist pulled pork, or huge, crispy onion rings. The Toro tri-tip sandwich made the 2012 list of America’s best sandwiches compiled by Travel Channel celebrity Adam Richman. The hand-cut fries and other traditional sides at this friendly dining spot are favorites and barbecue fans love the sauce, but don’t bother asking—the recipe is secret. Don’t be discouraged by the line, it moves quickly. Carryout is great for picnics at the nearby Mission Bay beaches and parks. There are Phil’s inside PETCO Park and in Santee and Rancho Bernardo as well.
3750 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego, California, 92110, USA
Known For
- Toro tri-tip sandwich
- Tender baby back ribs
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$$ | Liberty Station | Peruvian
At this rotisserie and cevicheria, modern Peruvian cuisine prevails with indigenous influences and traditional dishes that shine even brighter with a pisco cocktail. Chef Emmanuel Piqueras brings Lima to San Diego with crisp yucca croquettes, spicy pulled lamb with sweet potato, and ceviche in leche de tigre (tiger's milk) marinade. Half-off happy hour from 3 to 6 is the best time to capitalize on the prickly pear pisco sours with a side of dry-roasted corn kernels. Live music on Tuesdays helps drown out the airplanes flying overhead.
2401 Truxtun Rd., #102, San Diego, California, 92106, USA
Known For
- Taco Tuesday
- Pisco cocktails
- Signature rotisserie chicken marinated for 48 hours
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$ | Point Loma |
When fishing boats unload their catch on-site, a seafood restaurant and market earns the right to boast that they offer “the freshest thing in town.” In the late 1950s, mostly sportfishermen came here, but word got out about the just-caught fried fish on San Francisco–style sourdough bread, and now locals and visitors come to enjoy bay views, sunshine, and a greatly expanded menu of seafood dishes. A friendly, efficient crew takes orders for food and drinks at the counter, keeping the wait down even on the busiest days. In addition to sandwiches, favorites include fish tacos, seafood cocktails, sushi, salads, and fried platters of fish, shrimp, and scallops. This is San Diego's top seafood market for those who like to grab fresh fish to prepare at home.
2805 Emerson St., San Diego, California, 92106, USA
Known For
- San Francisco–style seafood on sourdough
- Dockside bay views
- Hickory-wood smoked fish
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$ | Liberty Station | Burger
Meatballs get a trendy spin at S&S, where the decor blends a gold-wrapped bar and geometric stools with old-time touches like a bakery area fashioned after a vintage storefront. This cozy space is the perfect spot to indulge in comfort food with a twist. First select a meatball type (pork, chorizo, beef, chicken, quinoa, or sietan) before choosing the style—sliders, a sandwich, with spaghetti, or in a skillet. The meatballs are filling, but save room for the sides, particularly the fried pizza knots. Other small plates include mac and cheese, broccolini with garlic and Parmesan, and spiced crispy chickpeas. A slice of homemade pie topped with soft serve is a great ending to the meal.
2750 Dewey Rd., San Diego, California, 92106, USA
Known For
- Mix-and-match meatball menu
- Housemade pies paired with soft serve
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$ | Point Loma |
San Diego's best cookies come in crowd-pleasing flavors such as birthday cake, red velvet, and pancakes and bacon. There's also craft sodas, Cravory flavored milks, edible cookie dough, ice cream, and cold brew to round out your snack. You'll find the cookies at various Farmers' Markets throughout the city.
3960 W. Point Loma Blvd., San Diego, California, 92110, USA
Known For
- Amazing cookies
- Cookie-of-the-month club
- Ships anywhere
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$$ | Point Loma |
Two sons carry on the tradition of Italian home cooking begun by their father more than 55 years ago at this neighborhood favorite. House specialties like shrimp puttanesca, and bow-tie pasta tossed with prosciutto, peas, and mushrooms in a rose-tinted cream sauce reflect the family’s origins in Southern Italy. The well-priced selection of veal, chicken, and seafood dishes is excellent, but many regulars settle for the lavishly garnished antipasto salad and one of the tender-crusted signature pizzas.
3663 Voltaire St., San Diego, California, 92106, USA
Known For
- Huge portions
- Some of the best pizza in Point Loma
- Quaint and cozy setting
