San Diego
 

I am heading to little Italy in San Diego on sept 30 for 2 days. Also going to the gas lamp district. I need restarant advice and tips on what to do while there. Thanks

Get the Zagat Survey. There are tons of new restaurants that have opened in the last couple of years.

There are a number of very good restaurants in Little Italy - and more downtown in the Gaslamp.

For Little Italy - our favorite is probably Buon Appetito - http://www.buonappetito.signonsandiego.com/ - although the newer Bencotto has been getting great reviews - but we have yet to try it. http://www.lovebencotto.com/

My favorite coffee place in Little Italy is Cafe Italia - and they have good gelato - but up the street a block or so is perhaps the best at Pappalecco. http://pappalecco.com/

Downtown - it depends a lot of what food type you are looking for - and it's hard to beat the Fish Market for value (next to the USS Midway museum http://www.thefishmarket.com/locations.aspx ) - or for fine dining - upstairs at their Top of the Market, and a great view of the Bay and Coronado.

For carne/Steak - some prefer Donovans - and for Italian downtown - Agua Al 2 (from Florence originally http://www.acquaal2.com/ ) is very good - but some prefer the highly acclaimed Bice (friends who have been there love it) - http://www.sandiegorestaurants.com/r...BiCERistorante and for a fun Irish pub - check out The Field which has pretty good/reasonable chow. http://www.thefield.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/events.woa

For an incredible view and very fine dining - try Bertrand Hug's - Bertrand's at Mr. A's, which has been the view site for decades, and Bertrand - of Mille Fleur fame in Rancho Sante Fe - took it over a few years ago.

http://www.sandiegorestaurants.com/r...randatMisterAs

And if you want the best cocktail hour deal - at least IMO - try Island Prime/C Level - from 3:30 to 5:30 during the week when they have great offerings for $5 - and drinks are also $5. Two orders and two drinks (love the Desi Arnez - a mango type Mojito) - and you are set. :)

http://www.sandiegorestaurants.com/r...98/IslandPrime

Fooey - can't pull up the cocktail menu - but it is several of these dishes - albeit a bit smaller - for $5 - and a good group of coctails or decent wine by the glass - for $5 - and a good beer is even $4.

Did I mention the incredible view of the bay and downtown?

http://www.cohnrestaurants.com/resta...t=island-prime

Just to be clear, Fish Market/Top of Market Island Prime/C Level or Bertrands at Mr. A's are not located in either Italy or Gas Lamp.

Ok- they are within 5 minutes of Little Italy and/or Downtown.

Is that a significant distance?

Tsd - you're doing it again. Run-on thoughts, that ended up with 4 responses.

Note the word 'again'.

Rasta - please improve the quality of your responseas.

Recommedning one reads Zagats because there have been some new restaurants in SD lately. Really. How many new places have you dined at in SD lately?

And for IJAR - does he/she really know their way around SD? You can pretty much walk to any of the places I suggested except for Island Prime/C Level.

And have either of your gourmands been there?

I had the best lasagna that I've ever had at Filippi's...right in Little Italy. I was taken there by my SIL who has lived in the San Diego area for many years. She was right,when she told me to order lasagna...Try it!

Thanks everyone. This is all so helpful. Keep the food ideas coming. I really appreciate it. I know very little about the area. We are staying at a place called the Porto Vista. We arrive Sunday afternoon sept 30 and leave two days later.
What should we do besides walk around and eat for 3 days? Are there specific things worth doing in the gas lamp or little Italy area?

Go to Balboa Park. It's within walking distance but you should be able to use the trolley to get closer and save some walking, depending on where you are staying.

If you have a car - drive over the scenic Coronado Bridge and visit the legendary Hotel Del Coronado.

You can also go/walk (or short taxi ride) to the Embarcadero - where the USS Midway is located - which is worth a tour itself - and a couple blocks down/north - catch the ferry over to Coronado - and then it's a good walk - or a short bus or taxi ride to downtown Coronado on Orange Ave and the Hotel Del. It's a good place to have brunch or a sandwich - overlooking the Pacific. http://www.hoteldel.com/?gclid=CJWwg...fdom=KSLDC-ppc

Again, most of the places discussed for dining are within walking distance of your hotel - especially Little Italy - and if you want to splurge at Mr. A's - it's a short walk up the hill.

You could also walk to downtown or the Embarcadero from your hotel.

BTW - Fillippis is a fun place/institution - good pizza and subs too. There is actually a place just down the street that may even have better pizza. Landini http://www.landinispizzeria.com/

Does anyone has any thoughts on our hotel...The Porto Vista. It was a good deal so we booked it. any better suggestions for a budget place?

What is your rate? It's a very good location.

My favorite restaurant around downtown is Cucina Urbana, and I'd second the cohn restaurant group recommendation, especially for C Level's happy hour.

You MUST visit Balboa park!

You MUST eat SD-style Mexican food, which would be carne asada fries (check out Lolita's by the ball park) or a California burrito. If you're flying in, I'd suggest El Indio on India Street because of it's proximity to the airport and it's authenticity. A longtime local favorite.

For eats actually in Downtown, I'd suggest Neighborhood, The Kebab Shop and Cowboy Star.

We got a deal at the Porto vista for 75 a night

clifbob:

Have a look on http://www.sandiego.org the official tourist information site for things to do in beautiful San Diego.

Will you have a car during your stay?

$75.00 a night is very low for a hotel in San Diego so I wouldn't expect much. Look on http://www.tripadvisor.com for reviews.

Sandy

El Nino has the best chips (paprika dusted) - and pretty good Mexican Food - but if you want to move up a level - get to Casa Guadalajara by Old Town, only a few blocks away. Last time there - it was as good as any Mexican food I have ever had and that's saying something. http://casaguadalajara.com/

They also have a great happy hour - with cheap Margaritas and a good/free appetizer bar.

But truth be told - there are a lot of good Mexican restaurants in SD/and the smaller places such as Lolita's - and some have their own variations.

El Zarape is also quite good/reasonable, especially the "hole in the wall" on Park - and they have another a bit further out on Adams Ave. http://elzarape.menutoeat.com/

Generally - the most popular tourist destinations in SD are: The Zoo/Balboa Park and the "sister" - Safari Park (formerly Wild Animal Park - in Escondido), Sea World, the Gaslamp/downtown, Old Town, getting over to Coronado/seeing the legendary Hotel Del, Pacific Beach/Mission Beach/Ocean Beach, and getting up to the Village of La Jolla.

Your rate of $75 is also quite reasonable, especially for being close to Little Italy (via a vis say Hotel Circle). You might be able to beat the rate a little bit elsewhere if you really searched (we are past the busy summer season) but probably not by much, and while I haven't been in it - it looks like a very nice boutique/modern type hotel. http://www.portovistasd.com/

You are also easy walking distance to a fabulous - albeit a bit expensive dessert place: Extraordinary Desserts. http://www.extraordinarydesserts.com/