I'll be in San Diego with my team (young NYC foodies) and looking for a place for a causal dinner. We are a group of about 8/10 ppl and just looking for a good meal, and decent bar. Will have travelled into town so nowhere we need to change to go to, or that becomes a scene. It will be a thursday PM. And we are staying near the convention center. Thoughts?

Lots of good choices but for openers - hard to beat the happy hour and incredible view at C Level - and the adjacent Island Prime restaurant which also gets very good reviews. Just ent to a Northern Italy wine tasting there. Part of the well regarded Cohn Group.

see: www.cohnrestaurants.com

Other than that - plenty of other places in the Gaslamp - walking distance from your hotel.

Or take the trolley to Little Italy and walk around. Some new hot chefs opening places there.

c level is beautiful. ask if they'll gaurantee you a window seat or go early. it's really pretty looking at the bay area and all the boats returning to shore as the sun goes down.

Price ?? Makes a big difference.

Croce's is a great food destination with adjacent blue's bar.
Croce's owner and chef is widow of the singer, Jim Croce. A very pleasant destination in Gaslamp.

I would do "bar" separately from restaurant. For bar, loads of places in GasLamp district. Depends on how young "young" really means.

For lower priced - http://www.realcheesepizza.com Filippi's has great Italian, but of they are from NYC, it might not be what they want, seeing as to the great Italian food available in NYC.

CROCE'S has great food and jazz http://crocesparkwest.com

Bertrand at Mister A's had food that any foodie would love - http://www.bertrandatmisteras.com

CROCE'S moved; lost their lease end of 2013. They are in new location; it's a bit further away, but still worth the trip.

Davanti Enoteca in Little Italy is very good.

Isola in Little Italy is very good too.

We also like Buon Appetino in Little Italy - but so many good places.

https://www.thefishmarket.com/default.aspx

If you want a nice restaurant with excellent seafood this is a decent choice. The restaurant is on the harbor overlooking SD Bay across to Coronado. They have a nice bar and can accommodate larger groups. There is plenty of city metered parking (you may not have to feed the meter after 6 pm) and parking at many restaurants in the downtown area is paid parking or valet parking and can cost upwards of $20.

If they want really great fish etc and a funky spot - this is it.

http://www.pointlomaseafoods.com

A few months ago we had an excellent dinner at Bencotto in Little Italy. Very easy to get to on the trolley.

Yes, we go to Pt. Loma Seafood as often as we can debit!!
Love it.

However, for I don't think PLS has a bar - they do sell San Diego local craft beers and wine. It's really more of a order at the counter, wait for your order, take your order and find a place to sit kinda place. I don't know how late they stay open either.

Just remembered a fabulous place!! It's very new and very popular called Stone Brewery in the Point Loma Area (not far from Downtown).

http://www.stonelibertystation.com/

We love it and have been there twice. They have tons of areas to accommodate larger parties like 8-10 people. Very cool decor, outdoor seating, indoor seating, lots of fountains, waterfalls.

Stone Brewery is raising eyebrows as a local brewery that has become extremely popular nationwide and has won lots of awards. The food is great. I highly recommend it.