In many, many, many restaurants it is the "B" team (both kitchen and house) that usually works brunches. Anyway, dinner was exquisite.

http://www.acquaal2.com/

Peaceout - I LOVED that in Florence as well... it was RIGHT by our apartment...ahhhhh to go back there....

In many, many, many restaurants it is the "B" team (both kitchen and house) that usually works brunches.
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Oh brother. OK Cafe Chloe was divine! You must go, bardo1 aka James Beard said so.

Thank you all for your suggestions. On Sunday morning I was able to purchase 2 NLDS playoff tickets at PETCO park for $16 each plus service fees. Our playoff tickets in Philly would go for at least 10 times that price, for cheap seats. I felt like I hit the jackpot! By 8 o'clock that evening, I realized they were worthless. However we will get a refund from stubhub. Feeling disappointed about the tickets I booked a dinner reservation for this Saturday at Island Prime. We are planning to go to Cafe Chloe but haven't decided day or time. Thanks for the suggestion of Albert's, I didn't know about it previously. I know we want to go to La Jolla and George's at the Cove sounds (and looks) nice.

We land in SD tomorrow eving at 8:40PM and will probably eat in at the Hilton Bayfront if we're hungry unless there's an easy to get to quick bite nearby.

Thanks to all for all your help.

GO PHILLIES! H2O (Halladay, Hamels & Oswalt)

From the Hilton Bayfront, you can walk to the Gaslamp District with numerous restaurants very quickly. But given what time you will land and get into your car, I would just drive into the Gaslamp, park, eat dinner wherever then drive to the hotel. Restaurants at the hotel are very good but are not cheap.

I do not understand why your tickets were worthless?

Dear Mom,

The Padres lost their game on Sunday with the SF Giants & never made it into the playoffs. So there will be no playoff games in SD. Since I bought the tickets on StubHub they will refund the money less service fees.

MomDD, good memories of Florence, eh? Our daughter had studied there and she suggested we go to Acqua al 2. It was packed and noisy when we were there, but food and ambiance was great. I see they have opened a restaurant in D.C., also. None will be as good as the original, though!

Well, I'll recommend Cafe Chloe as well (lovely steak frites), along with The Linkery and George's - the Terrace.

However, I am a Massive brekkie fan, and the best breakfasts I have ever had in the United States have been at The Mission, and I managed to eat at 2 of their locations every single morning I was there a few years ago (I have a SD trip report here somewhere, if you click on my post name). I was lucky enough to go back last year, ate there agian every morning, and was still blown away. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200... hit The Mission for breakfast.

Oops, meant to say "at one of their locations"...even I can't handle 2 of their breakfasts...

The Mission is quite good, but my two favorite breakfast places are (1) Parkhouse Eatery on Park Boulevard in University Heights and (2) Brockton Villa in La Jolla Village right on Coast Boulevard.

http://www.parkhouseeatery.com/

http://www.brocktonvilla.com/

foodforthought! Silly me! I could not figure that out. Bummer, as Petco is one of my favorite ball parks!

Peaceout - I loved Florence...

Me, too!

Had brunch Saturday at Cafe Chloe, it was great but a longer walk from the Hilton Bayfront than anticipated. Dinner Saturday was at Island Prime another home run. Sunday breakfast was at the Mission another great suggestion and dinner tonite should be at George's at the Cove on the Terrace (couldn't get a table inside). Thanks for all your help. GO PHILLIES!

Any comments on Top of the Market vs. Oceanaire for tomorrow's dinner?

If you go to the Prado (which I love), try their tres leches cake for dessert if you like that sort of thing. It is the best version I've ever had. I would try to do it for happy hour after the zoo.

A great Thai restaurant near downtown is Celadon in Hillcrest. It is on Fifth Avenue. Their salads are great and the dining room is so beautiful. Classic and elegant.

If you make it to North County, (see my name, lol), try Savory in Encinitas. It is in a strip mall, nondescript, but very nice inside but the food has been fantastic the last two times I've dined there.

My favorite view restaurants (since you mention being on the water) are Island Prime (near the airport), Bali Hai (on Shelter island near Humphreys) and anything coastal along the village of La Jolla (like George's on the cove). The Il Fornaio in Coronado also has good food and great views of SD downtown from across the way.

Top of the Market has both the water view (altho it is foggy this am should clear by dinner) and seafood.

Oceanaire has no water view and fabulous fish....

Agreed about Top of the Market