So, I have been in San Diego at a longish meeting, where way way too much of the food is bad. How can that be? I am stuck in a hotel not meant for business meetings, and definitely not meant to serve a large-ish number of people dinner. I wrote home and said I had had one of the worst meals ever in my life. For the first time in my life, I may have been too understated. Having said that, I have eaten away from that place a few times including one day at the San Diego Zoo, which was ok -- rice with chicken and a sauce. The zoo was much much more than okay; pandas and elephants and hippos and flamingos. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! (Here's the panda cam in case you're wondering. And, alas, the polar bear exhibit was closed for renovation.)
Meanwhile, here is a tidbit or two on the other places I have encountered.
Urban Solace -- is a nice place where I heard some great music (though I am having trouble bringing the details to mind!) and ate niman ranch pork belly, w cocoa and beet juice on it and an "herb salad" which involved very very tasty parsley, chives and etcetera. I followed this appetizer with meatloaf made from ground lamb, with figs and pine nuts. The meal was great. The negotiations with colleagues over who owed how much were painful -- not least because we made a huge mistake in the addition and subtraction. The focus on a new version of comfort food was great and helped mitigate the pain -- and for the first time ever I did not get mac and cheese when the opportunity afforded itself. The prices were modest, really, with the meatloaf being about !5.95. Where is it?
Urban Solace
3823 30th Street
San Diego, CA 92104-3609
(619) 295-6464
They have an array of interesting cocktails, wines and beers. And they are the urbanspoonish place with the most votes I have ever reviewed here:
World Famous sounds like a scam. Yes, it is a place on the boardwalk in San Diego (Mission Beach). And yes, apparently it is famous. It is also pretty good (and though I did not really intend to, I went for the half price appetizers and cocktails for happy hour). Pretty darn tasty -- I had seared scallops over potato pancakes (not as gootd as latkes I recently had at home, alas, but pretty ok) and a shrimp taco. I was surprised the shrimp as fried inside the taco. I ordered guacamole too -- needed that snack attack. The food was pretty good, though I was exhausted so I can;t really swear to that in court. What I can say is that the view was absolutely incredible as the sun set over the Pacific. For some reviews, click here. Or go there. Where?
World Famous
Neighborhood: Pacific Beach
711 Pacific Beach Dr(between Ocean Blvd & Ocean Front Walk)
San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 272-3100
A few other places: Gringo's with the largest (though thankfully not highly alcoholic) margaritas,a not-too-bad shrimp quesadilla, and some good chips and salsa. And, a board walk, outside eating only, joint where I had an avocado omelette one day, complete with black beans and some tasty potatoes, a chocolate chip muffin another day, and every single day I went, a latte with a shot of caramel. It's name: Seaside Cantina.
And finally, The Eggery -- which looks teeny form the outside, and turns out to be a quite large establishment with very good omelettes. I had one that involved chorizo, chilies, and . . . . is nameOne thing to know: while they look like they'd only have regular coffee (and it comes in a lovely big thermos carafe), they do a very good cappuccino. Best thing? The chorizo and chilies helped my sinuses -- at least temporarily.
Where is the Eggery? 4150 Mission Boulevard, San Diego
Yes, the place I am staying has horrible food. Really, it does. Should I name it? Let me know.
