HG001London

tom that is uber strange

am so so excited about all these options, 19 days thats a minimum of 39 meals right

sf7307 i need to get myself a smart phone...not sure my BB could cope!

HG001London

38 even...oh dear and i have a degree in maths!

HG001London

we only started watching about a year ago but it got us totally hooked- that guy sure can sell places very well!!

Patty

If you go to SB Shellfish, stick to the blackboard specials. We actually had a better meal recently at Pier 46 Seafood in Templeton (about 10 min south of Paso) but you can't beat the view at SB Shellfish. Pier 46 Seafood, despite its name, is in landlocked Templeton in the parking lot of Trader Joes. It's also a fish market with a few outside tables.

In Carmel, I can highly recommend Aubergine for fine dining and it's a fraction of the cost of FL.

In general I've found Chowhound more reliable than Yelp which has been hit or miss for me.

HG001London

thanks Patty, yeah it was kindoff also the setting that was tempting us to but going to add pier 46 to my list too

NoCaliGal

Re: that GPS. I want you to imagine an American trying to drive theough from Croydon to Cambridge, straight through The City. Now do that three times using different routes. OK, now imagine yourselves driving on the wrong side of the road through LA, Orange County, San Diego, and back again, then up to the SF Bay Area, a large many-freeway metropolis, then through SF (aack!) over the Golden Gate Bridge, through Marin County and up to the wine country, then back through to SF and the airport again.
Sugar, as they say in the South, you gonna need dat GPS!

Tomsd

My approach when "driving on the other side of the road/car" is to make sure the driver has his/her outside/window shoulder next to the yellow line when starting out and the rest seems to flow. Also -look BOTH directions when pulling out as traffic is coming from a different direction than you are used to.

And GPS is fine - but I was all over Ireland and part of Scotland with just plain old paper maps and did just fine thank you. Always check them before you leave to preview the routes you want to take, and then if you get lost - you still have a better idea of some of the checkpoints to look for/find.

Forgot to add that if you get to Cafe Margarita during Happy Hour (5 to 6 PM is it?) - the drinks are discounted and some people make a meal of the free H'or D'Ourvres, which are way more than just their good chips and salsa.

Just before we are to be seated - we also order another Margarita/beverage of choice to carry into the dining room. Hey - we ain't proud.

Tomsd

oops. Freudian slip? It's Casa Guadalajara.

And just checked: Think Happy Hour goes from 4 to 7 - but on a Friday night for sure - it's jammed and they run out of the other snacks (besides the Chips and Salsa) by 6 PM or so.

Also just read our local Magazine - San Diego - this afternoon - and for best fish tacos for 2012 - El Zarape I believe came in 2nd, no small distinction for San Diego with it's plethora of good mexican restaurants/stands.

HG001London

hey nocaligirl, i was just kidding about GPS as you guys were being so helpful with directions, we were still planning on getting one when we got there-dont fancy that croydon style drive!

Thanks for all the tips. The weird thing is we don't actually drive at all in London/UK as don't have a car (don't really need one in london), so it randomly means that the only driving we do is when we go on holiday to Europe and have to drive on right hand side anyway just did two weeks in italy which was a bit crazy! its all my partner as i don't drive at all.

Like the sound of happy hours and fish tacos Tom! would you say we should have gone to La Jolla over Coronado as that was one of out tough calls too ;-)

Tomsd

Both Coronado and La Jolla are great for first time visitors. After that - I would choose La Jolla as you don't have to travel over the beautiful/sometimes jammed Coronado Bridge - and you are generally closer/easier access to other things when in La Jolla.

HG001London

Thanks Tom, i think we got swayed by the lodge at coronado as la jolla was my first choice (i hadn't even heard of coronado-although now i notice it on that famous "come to california" advert) all the time! Think i had a hard time finding our style of accommodation there unfortunately.