Where to eat in & around San Diego
 

Hi - Family of 4 traveling to San Diego over spring break. Staying in Gas Lamp District. Would like recommendations for dinning. My daughter and I like Mexican and we all like seafood and good Italian. Also need a place to eat on Easter. We will have a car at least part of the time. Don't mind splurging on a couple of meals also like more affordable options. Suggestions?

Mexican Downtown:
La Fiesta, Don Chido, The Blind Burro, Puesto. Inexpensive - Lolitas.

For good Italian walk or take the Trolley to Little Italy.
Buon Appetito, Davanti Enoteca, Isola Pizza Bar, Bencotto, Modelo. I would avoid Filippi's (chain) and NaPizza (imo awful pizza.)

Seafood - Also in LI, Ironside.

Closer to your hotel: Spike Africa, Blue Point Coastal, Roy's Hawaiian Fusion, Mariscos el Pulpo.
Inexpensive and mostly deepfriend: Tin Fish

Thanks elizzie

If you like seafood, the Fish Market (slightly formal) on the Embarcadero downtown or Point Loma Seafood (very casual) off of Rosecrans in Point Loma. Both have nice bay views.

Coronado I like Tent City and Miguels Mexican. I was just at Clayton's in Coronado and was shocked at the prices. The food is typical greasy spoon, but it's sorta a landmark.

La Jolla, The Cottage, Karl Strauss Brewery, Burger Lounge.
Bird Rock, Bird Rock Coffee Roasters (for great coffee no food).

Pacific Beach, Joe's Joe Crab Shack right on the ocean is fun. I like The Fishery on Cass Street.

The Fish Market is the downstairs restaurant. It gets crazy noisy, loud and lots of kids. Very casual. If you go there I'd request an outside table. I like the upstairs restaurant much better, Top of the Market. More formal, quieter, a bit more expensive and also have an outdoor patio.

elizzie,
have you eaten at Mariscos el pulpo? It looks really cool! I love seafood. I've never tried it but plan to soon. Thanks for the recommendations in the downtown/gaslamp area.

nanabee - No I haven't. It does look good. I love seafood but unfortunately I do have certain allergies so I have to be very careful. And if I'm not 100% sure I won't eat someplace. I love shrimp, crab, fish but am allergic to clams (& juice) and scallops.

Every Busalacchi restaurant I've eaten in when asked tell me that they marinat their fish in clam juice. I admit that it's been awhile since I've been in one of their restaurants and the last couple of times I didn't order any seafood.

They aren't the only ones, so I have to be careful.

For Mexican food and great atmosphere - w/ a Mariachi band - Casa Guadaljara in old town - 5 plus minutes from downtown.

http://www.casaguadalajara.com/

And strolling along Newport Ave in Ocean Beach - you can find any number of casual dining places.

For Easter Brunch - expensive - but the Hotel Del Coronado puts on a great Champagne brunch - replete with a separate room for desert. :)

I lke Filippi's pizza. It's a chain, but primarily in San Diego. I don't know anyone who doesn't like their pizza.

Fillip's is decent for sure - and I like their Torpedo sub - but I think next door has better Pizza - at Landini's.

http://www.landinispizzeria.com/text-menu/pasta/

Mona Lisa is also a classic - old style Italian place in Little Italy - with a good store/deli (as does Fillipi's).

http://www.monalisalittleitaly.com/restaurant.php

If you also want one of the newer "hot spots" in San Diego dining - offering an interesting selection - at reasonable prices - try this upscale hole in the wall: Carnitas Snack Shack :) Soooo good.

http://carnitassnackshack.com/

The only think I like at Filippi's is the pizza. The pasta is awful, imo. Too many good options for Italian in Liittle Italy and I wouldn't waste it on Filippi's. Sorry.

Mona Lisa's is my favorite sub sandwich spot.

Family - back to close to where you are staying check out Cafe 21
http://cafe-21.com/

For Easter have a look at opentable.com. Not all restaurants that will be open will be listed but it can help. It looks like it's a little early for the Easter listings.

On our trip there a year ago, these are the places that we had very good meals.

Bencotto and Zia's Bistro, both in Little Italy

Toscana, Cafe Sevilla and Tin fish, all around the Gaslamp.

Over on Coronado we had a nice lunch at Tent City.

For Easter, seriously consider the Sunday brunch at the Hotel Del Coronado. We have done that several times, including with the kids, and it is wonderful! It is in the Crown Room and truly they do a great job.

Great restaurant called World Famous in Pacific Beach.

LOL sanderskn. Have not been to World Famous for some time - but we had a couple of memorable parties there years ago. You can't beat the Ocean view (and maybe catch the "green flash"?) - just like you can't beat the downtown/bay/Coronado view at C Level - next to Island Prime -- by the Airport.

Cocktail/Happy Hour at C Level is the best deal in SD - IMO.

see: http://kingofhappyhour.com/sandiego/bars/C_Level

Thanks everyone for the suggestions....will likely stay away from pizza as we are from the Northeast and we are absolute opinionated pizza snobs.....throw in the first generation Italian Brooklyn born into the mix and the snobbery goes to extreme levels...so likely to stick with Mexican and Seafood and perhaps some pasta....all subject to change when we get there and something smells incredible or looks delish.

BTW I tried booking Easter brunch on open table for the Crown Room and it appears booked...will call later to see if I can beg my way in. Thanks again everyone.

Restaurants often only give OpenTable a limited number of spots. Do call, I have had 100% success rate when OT shows none.

Contact the Crown Room directly. Opentable doesn't have all the availability. And, if they are booked when you call, I'd keep checking back as people do cancel their bookins.

The Crown Room at the Hotel Del has space available at least right now. You can reserve a table online or by calling the hotel directly.

The Crown Room Easter brunch is $115/person and tax and tips are not included in this amt.

They also have another dining room (which is small and not as grand and impressive but it does over look the ocean). Their Easter brunch cost is less at $105/person. Children 6-10 are $42.

I don't know if you or your spouse are retired, active, reserve military but the Navy Bases all have clubs that do Easter Sunday brunches as well. The costs are minimal.