Give me your top 5 gourmet dining spots, and why you like them! Thanks.

Why?

The restaurant at the Torrey Pines Lodge is incredibly good.
Nine Ten, also in La Jolla is super, too.

Not too sure what you mean by gourmet. That can mean different things to different people.

So, I'll do it this way. If you were a friend and wanted recommendations on where to eat and have a fabulous meal in San Diego, here is what I would say:

Lou and Mickeys, downtown. Kind of like an east coast chop house with great steaks and seafood. Best crab cakes I have ever had.

2. The Fishery - almost all seafood. Nice neighborhood fish place with pleasant atmosphere and dynamite food from fish tacos to macadamia crusted halibut (their signature dish, I believe). That is between Pacific Beach and La Jolla, maybe it is called Bird Rock, or just south of.

3. We love Roys in La Jolla. Great food and a fun lively ambiance. Love the food.

4. Point Loma Seafoods (are you starting to see a trend here? We LOVE seafood and there is good stuff in San Diego). Sitting on the docks of a marina, great fish and chips, chowder and crab cakes. Great fish market so you can take home the best the sea has to offer.

5. Hummm, not sure. Could be the Third Corner (Point Loma) or Thee Bungalow, or Jakes in Del Mar, or a new place we just went to, sushi bar in La Jolla called Zenbu with some of the best sushi I have ever had. Their poki is to die for.

So, hope this helps to get you started. Have fun in San Diego. It is a great town with awesome food.

And don't forget Little Italy. Some great places there too. Trattoria Fantastica comes to mind. I am hungry now...

i looove "george's at the cove" in la jolla. the view, the ambience, etc can't be beat. that would be my number 1 pick.

for super romantic - i say head for "the marine room" also in la jolla - for a truly gourmet meal. it sits on a private beach, and during high tide, the waves crash onto the glass windows!

for seafood i say "anthony's fish grotto" (on harbor island) - pretty busy place, the ambience isn't too good but the food is unbelievable.

"donovan's" in la jolla for steak.

"extraordinary desserts" for your sweet tooth.

Its kind of funny but I don't think I've ever eaten anywhere in San Diego that I would consider a gourmet dining spot. However, there are a lot of great restaurants there. Someone already mentioned Lou and Mickeys in the Gaslamp District. Fabulous Steaks and Seafood. There is also a Mortons if you are into that kind of place. In old town, the best new restaurant is Churasco's. In La Jolla, we always enjoy the Top O'the Cove. Surprisingly, in Balboa Park is The Prado.

Thank you for all of your suggestions! I am going to look into these places right now. The places near the beach sound great.