Carlsbad, Ca Christmas Eve
 

Looking for restaurant suggestions for Christmas Eve- Carlsbad Ca area.
We are staying at Four Seasons but might want to go somewhere else for dinner - I liked Cardiff by the Sea area last time I was there but don't remember where we dined-

Jakes in La Jolla is a suggestion - Del Mar Plaza restaurants? Open for ideas and not necessarily a high end restaurant - might be nice to have an ocean view.

Jakes is no longer in busines.


My first choice would be the Hotel Del Coronado (about a 40 minute drive from Carlsbad). Their lobby has a beautiful tree and it has wonderful charm and a wonderful Christmas spirit.

http://www.hoteldel.com/?gclid=COz5k...fdom=KSLDC-ppc



Other suggestions: Roppongi in La Jolla. http://www.roppongiusa.com/

The reason I mention this restaurant is because it has good food and a nice fireplace (kinda like sitting around your living room on a cold night). But it can also be very crowded. If you can't get a table near the fireplace then maybe:

The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
http://www.theinnatrsf.com/about/

For an ocean view I would recommend George's at the Cove in La Jolla, but remember unless you go there for lunch, by 5:00 it will be pitch black looking out to sea!

All of these are very popular places and will be booked in advance so I would call right away.

http://www.delmarhighlandstowncenter.com/directory

If you want less high end & high cost, but equally good food Del Mar Highlands Shopping Center has a number of really nice restaurants. They are modestly priced and casual but excellent food. AND you might need reservations as well.

There is a very good sushi place but I can't remember the name of it - it is next door to The Counter (a fun build your own burger place). I also recommend Urban Plates, Sammy's Woodfired Pizza and Rimel's Rotisserie (organic).

What type(s) of food do you prefer? In addition to what nanabee has suggested - there are a couple of good fish places in Carlsbad/on down toward Del Mar - and for a home style - but very interesting/European type place - try Tip Top Meats. Really more of an international/German store - with a small dining area - but they have great deals on lunch nd dinner - albeit a very informal setting.

They might even have a local entertainer singing songs/playing the accordian. :) http://tiptopmeats.com/

As for Cardiff - both the Beach House and Chart House have great views. There is also a good Mexican restaurant - Olaf's - on the other side of the highway. http://thebeachhouse.com/cardiff-by-...restaurant.php

And here is the Chart House. They are close to each other:

http://www.chart-house.com/

Yes, as tomsd mentions, the Beach House and Chart House, as I recall, are right on the beach. But, again at 5:00 it will be pitch dark. Some restaurants use flood lights so you can see the waves. Either of those would be very close to your hotel.

thanks for your suggestions- TheBeach House is one of the places I was remembering- maybe we could do a lunch there.

Tip Top Meats sounds like a fun lunch place- we will be there for 5 days

George's is a place I have always wanted to go so maybe a late lunch one day while we are there.

We checked into the cost of dinner at the Four Seasons and it was $85/person - so that will not be happening. We plan to cook Christmas dinner ourselves.

Thanks for suggestions- looking forward to it- hope weather will be good

hi sunbum,

George's has three levels and each level has a different restaurant style. The very top level is the best. It is causal and cheaper (although the food is equally good and probably from the same exact kitchen) and the view is like you are on top of the world looking over the Pacific Ocean. I would have reservations or go at a off hour as it is always crowded.

The weather will be cool (low to mid 60's) and sunny. It is IMHO the perfect weather! Not hot but a little cool, sunny, usually clear and blue skies. We don't usually get much of the thick marine layer in the winter months. Dec/Jan/Feb are my favorite months in San Diego.

If you want a real bargain - great view - try the Cohn group's C Level - on the water by the SD Airport/Harbor Island.

During the week - from 3:30 to 5:30 - they have a cocktail hour/happy hour and great deals for $5 - including salad, potstickers, prawns, warm quiche, etc, and good drinks - my favorite being the Dezi Arnez - a mango infused type mojito. :) see:
https://www.cohnrestaurants.com/WebAds/CLHHrWeb.jpg

Oops. No prawns but Crispy Calamari, Ahi/poke or Mussels.

Like them all. :)

And the deck at George's is super.

We are joining some friends at the Top of the Market (fish market) on Sat night - for their daughter's graduation from Nursing School - and will write a review later. It's right next to the USS Midway Museum.

http://tinyurl.com/bmaxkt7

Been there before and it was fabulous - and the downtairs Fish Market also serves very good food and has a Sushi bar - with a top Sushi master/chef.

A better view of the Fish Market, with Midway in the background.

http://www.sandiegan.com/top-of-the-...food-downtown/

The view from C level is really outstanding. THeir fancy restaurant is Island Prime. Another fabulous view restaurant is Bali Hai, in Shelter Island.

I was not so impressed with my meal at Beach House. I would go to Pacific Coast Grill only 2 doors to the north instead. It is newly renovated and lovely.

I enjoy Crush in Solana Beach, especially for Happy Hour (no view though). My faves in Encinitas are Union (I love their flatbread pizza with proscuitto, rocket, and fried eggs on top, half priced at Happy Hour, 4-6, M-F), and East Village diner which seems like Korean fusion to me. I loved a dish that I think was called Monk's stone pot, but it is spicy.

In Encinitas, try gelato at Bubby's in the Lumberyard. It is fantastic; my faves are cardamom, Vanilla rose, Honey lavendar, and Roasted banana.