We will be attending a conference at The Four Seasons Resort in the Carlsbad area. I would love to hear some of your recommendations for some restaurants in this area. We like all types of food and although we would prefer something very nice for dinner I would also enjoy some fun ideas for breakfast or lunch. Thank you

We're on the 'budget plan' food-wise on our vacations, so i can't help with nice dinners, but theres a Hard Rock Cafe located close to the water that might be fun for lunch. Menus are the same of course, but it was one of the nicest that we've visited (and we've eaten at most of from coast to coast ) in terms of memorabilia.

Georges overlooking the cove had great food and a nice atmosphere. If it is nice out, you can sit up on the 3rd floor deck overlooking the water. Nice for lunch or dinner.

We love Jake's in Del Mar. On the ocean and some of the best seafood in San Diego. I don't recall it being so expensive for what you get.

Also some friends of ours LOVE Zembu (?) which is a sushi bar in LJ. Also in LJ, Harry's. It is a coffee shop but one of the best you will ever eat at and a huge huge menu. Great for breakfast of lunch. And the Cottage, LJ, great lunches and big selection of salads. George's is also wonderful, either the expensive downstairs or the more casual upstairs. Great bar.

OK, I have more. Also LJ, Trattoria Aqua for Med/Italian, and Piatti's for Italian. All these places are reccommended for the quality of the food. Wonderful food.

I hope you realise that Carlsbad isn't really in the La Jolla area. It's certainly close enough to drive for the evening, but if you're thinking of breakfast or lunch before meetings at the Four Seasons, then I think it might not work. It's a good twenty to twenty-five minute drive in good traffic situations, but in the morning the traffic going south is very, very heavy and the afternoon/evening traffic going north is similarly bad.