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/

Check out Isola in Little Italy, very good.

I would strongly suggest that you read the reviews of the Porto Vista on Tripadvisor:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...alifornia.html

Click on the bar that says "Terrible" - if, after reading those you still think you got a good deal, then stay. Otherwise, you can find much better accommodations.

You can search for appropriate hotels on Tripadvisor. The way to narrow things down is to check the categories on the left of the page. If you check "$75-$125" as your desired price range and "Mission Valley/Hotel Circle" as your desired area, and "4 stars" as your rating - you'll come up with some pretty good hotels at a reasonable price. Hotel Circle is where most of the relatively inexpensive hotels are located in San Diego. Little Italy, OTOH, has only two hotels and neither one appears attractive.

My personal bugaboo is always cleanliness and for that reason alone I would avoid the Porto Vista.

************

At sunset, try to be along the beach somewhere. I loved Sunset Cliffs and would go out there whenever possible just to gaze out over the vast ocean and watch the sun set:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/sunset-cliffs-san-diego-2

There's another place that we used to go to along the beach, the Green Flash Restaurant

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-green-flash-san-diego

It seems to have deteriorated in the last few years, so go for a drink only and watch the action on the boardwalk towards sunset.

I'm certain San Diegans can recommend other places for sunset viewing combined with dining.

Tomsd (the "sd" stands for San Diego) has given you some very good suggestions.

Have a great trip!

Agree with Easy - and Trip Advisor is always a good idea to really check out a place. No idea there were some complaints about cleanliness.

I am going over to check the fish catches at Pt. Loma Docks this am - and will try to go by this hotel and ask to see a room, also for my own curiosity - as if it checks out - it looks like one I would recommend to friends, etc.

And the Green Flash is great for trying to catch the Green Flash of the setting sun. Haven't eaten there in years - but it still looks OK? Years ago it was called World Famous( which it was - especially as a local "watering hole")- and we were just talking about that on the local Lets Talk Hookup - a weekend fishing show which is on in about 30 minutes. :) http://www.hookup1090.com/ . I have even tossed a line in the ocean in front of the Green Flash at night - trying to catch a Halibut that was hopefully following in the Grunion - but mostly I just caught some seaweed. :(

Easy's other suggestion about walking along the ocean/Sunset Cliffs is great - people are jogging/walking there all the time - and it's fun to watch the surfers - and you might then enjoy some fish tacos at a cute little place some friends of mine have called Tower Two in nearby Ocean Beach. They have a patio with an ocean view and entertainment at times. http://www.yelp.com/biz/tower-two-cafe-san-diego

They are quite a couple - and their son studied martial arts at our Dojo/Setting Sun http://www.gojiubujitsu.com/ - in Ocean Beach - and then the mom ("Darling Debbie" is my nickname for her :) ) - joined the "mom's class" - and got her Black Belt too.

The son Dash - was only six years old when he started (it's great for kids - teaching discipline and respect, etc) - and when they were planning a trip to Yosemite - he told his instructor that he had some special "move" prepared - just in case they ran into a bear. Double :)

Wow - just read the reviews. Sounds like one or two had issues with the attitude of the staff - and others loved it and others really panned it for cleanlines.

Generally if I arrive at a place like that - I seem to be able to get them to call out the maid on duty and polish up a room if there are any problems.

Anyhow - now I am really curios and will try to get by later this am.

Tomsd:

Love those fish tacos at Tower Two in Ocean Beach. Also some of the reviews said that the room they got was nothing like the pictures on the internet. Perhaps they have some nice rooms if you pay more and the others are bad. Any way will be interested to read your report back.

clifbob:

If you do go to Ocean Beach the walk out on the pier is a great experience.

The parking fee at the Porto Vista is $22/day. The first time we visited San Diego several years ago we were "green" and our hotel had a $20/day parking fee which caught us by surprise. If you end up keeping your reservation please do report back as to how the hotel was.

You will love San Diego it is a wonderful place to visit or live.

Sandy

Did get by Porto Visto just now - and hey - it's one short block down to Little Italy.

Super lobby - and it's a converted/refurbished Howard Johnson (or some such) - done 4? years ago. They also built/added on a newer section - so maybe that has the nicer rooms.

They were full so I didn't get in a room yet (I will go back) - but the real news is the fantastic restaurant/view they have on the 4th floor - the Glass Door. http://www.portovistasd.com/dining/glass-door.cfm and they get a good review on Urban Spoon: http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/27/13462...Door-San-Diego

I would up having a long chat with the Asst Chef - who started working at six years old at his family's Sushi places in Honolulu, Hawaii (and he is also a "martial artist" :) ) and he and the head chef (who is classically trained in French cooking) buy their fish from the best restaurant supply place in San Diego - Catalina Offshore Products - and Tommy Gomes in particular, who knows as much about fish as anyone there is. http://www.catalinaop.com/

Am definitely going to dine at this place and can give a first hand report on that.

The hotel was also having a 9 AM yoga class on the 5th floor - which is a great outdoor area - and it's complimentary for hotel guests and $5 for locals.

Parking is $22 a day - but hey - you can also park for 2 hours on the street during the day - and overnight for free - unlike say Hillcrest - where you have to have a neighborhood sticker to park overnight.

Again - more later.

Wow thanks everyone, especially tomsd. You guys are so helpful. First off, we are driving there so we will have a car. Secondly, we went to ITALY 4 years ago, so we are trying to relive that trip without flying to Italy.. So little Italy sounded great.

I have a feeling we are going to stick to Italian foood and notMexican in order to recreate that trip to Italy.
I did read many negative reviews on our hotel, but it was a great deal on groupon so we got it. How far is the boardwalk/ocean from little Italy.? Also what is the gas lamp district all about? How much time do we plan on spending there, and what exactly is the gas lamp?

Misinformation:

Hillcrest does not have stickers required for overnight parking.

From Little Italy or the Gaslamp District, the SD Trolley (light rail system) does not take you anywhere near Balboa Park.

Information:

Our four favorite Little Italy restaurants are Indigo Grill, Buon Appetito, La Villa, and (for crepes and salad) Fabrison's. All are on India Street, within about three blocks of each other.

Just got back from a Charger game (a friend of mine laid a couple of tix on moi) - and then went by Porto Vista.

Talked to several people staying there - and one mentioned the room wasn't real big - and I did get in several rooms - and when there are two queen beds in a room, it does make it look a bit smaller - but average size for hotels built a couple of decades ago.

The rooms in the newer section are a little bigger - and they have one King bed - so it might also appear to be larger in comparison to the old section.

There are some nice suites - and they have a pullout couch - so four could sleep in a room if need be.

All told - I think it's a great deal for $79 and you can walk one short block to the corner of India St and the main block in Little Italy - where Filipis, Landini's Pizza - and Cafe Italia are located - along with maybe four or five other good restaurants - and the "new" hot spot is on the corner - Benecotto (sp).

Heading away from downtown/north - is also the Mona Lisa - a classic/long time Little Italy establishment - with a good deli/market.

Going the other way - the next block toward downtown is where Buon Appetito is located and there are a number of other good restaurants in that area, such as Indigo Grill, etc, and another good coffee place - It's a Grind - although it may have closed?

Actually - you could dine at a different/good quality restaurant in Little Italy every night for over a week - and still have some primo choices left. see: http://www.urbanspoon.com/n/27/2635/...ly-restaurants

And don't forget - the restaurant in the Porto Vista is also supposed to be pretty good - the Glass Door. The brunch buffet looked/smelled pretty good this morning, and they also have Eggs Benedict and such on the menu.

Oh yes - the Boardwalk/bay is about a mile? - or less as the crow flies from where you are staying - about the same for getting downtown to the Gaslamp - so named because years ago - they had gas lamps for light.

Downtown years ago was a bit seedy - but starting with Ernie Hahn and his Horton Plaza - it has become the in place to go, along 5th St mainly - but also on 4th and 6th.

You could actually walk from your hotel to the Embarcadero -and then in a wheel type pattern - walk along the bay - past the USS Midway - the back/bay side of the big hotels (Hyatt and Mariott) - and then up 5th St to get to the Gaslamp, and eventually back to your place - or you may grab a cab by then for a short ride, or heck - even take the trolley to the Little Italy stop. :)

Get a map and look at it and it will make more sense.

Well, I just read many yelp reviews. Uggggg. Now I am worried. The majority of them were soooooo bad

I think there may have been an unhappy contingent who posted a lot.

The rooms looked clean - and had a nice Retro type pic on the wall by the bathroom, even if the brown carpet was rather drab.

The place was built for maximizing the number of rooms (whey do you think you are getting such a great rate - $79?), and you do go down a walkway of sorts - but again, they looked clean to me (I went in at least 5) - and I also asked sevral people who were staying there (outside the entrance - or when I rode the elevator) - all said they were happy with them, except for the one gentleman who thought it was a bit small.

If you do stay there and your room isn't up to snuff - call the front desk straight away and get somebody up there to clean it up, etc.

Even if you don't stay there - or check in and decide to move -don't expect the find the "Ritz" for $79. :)

BTW - is this the Yelp review you read? There is a divergence of opinion it would appear, but reading between the lines, I think some had an ax to grind.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/porto-vista-...es-san-diego-2

clifbob: have you ever used Hotwire or Priceline? If not, come back and ask here. Lots of helpful folks with helpful hints. If you have never used them before, please, please don't book anything. If you do, you're stuck in cement, as it's very difficult to get out of those reservations. They are also pay in advance, so you're immediately out the money. Great deals but you have to be a savvy user, so come back and ask questions first before booking.

I just went into Hotwire with a random end of September date and came up with a 4* at $86 and a 3 1/2* at $71. They are not located near Little Italy, but you will have a car and these 4* hotels are usually top of the line hotels like Sheratons, Marriotts, Hyatts, etc. You'll feel much better staying at one of these standard name-brand hotels rather than taking your chances on the Porto Vista.

Just my two cents.

If you stay in a Hotel Circle place you will have a busy freeway for a neighbor and nowhere you would want to walk. Even with a car, there are advantages to staying in a "fun to walk around" area like Little Italy.

If he goes on Hotwire, he doesn't have to stay in Hotel Circle, he could stay around Old Town or Shelter Island or...

Hotwire also has a new feature (new at least to me) where the name of the hotel is given, so you could check out the hotel and not take your chances.

<<<Hotwire also has a new feature (new at least to me) where the name of the hotel is given, so you could check out the hotel and not take your chances>>>

Only some, and more expensive than the "anonymous" choices -- it's because they now own (or have teamed up with) hotels.com.

Just for grins - I quickly checked both Hotwire and Priceline.

Seem like some good deals available if you have doubts about the Porto Vista.

On Priceline - put in $79 for Fri and Sat - Sep 28-29, and received this (but there was also an additional $15 a day in taxes/fees).


3½ Star Upscale-Plus Hotel, Downtown - Harbor Island Area



Check-In Date:

Friday, September 28, 2012



Check-Out Date:

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Tom,

I've only been to Fillipis once, and was actually planning to go soon. I might decide to try Landini instead. Any recommendations?

For a fun experience - Fillipis has more to offer as for atmosphere and menu choices - but for just Pizza - would choose Landini.