San Diego Outdoor Dining

[pickypicky]

San Diego prides itself on the best weather in the US. So why is it so hard to find outdoor dining with decent food here? I'm talking about truly pleasant places to sit outside, eat and/or drink-- not just tables and umbrellas. I'd even be happy with great open air dining. (No excuses about high rents and restaurant costs! Don't bother if the view is great but the food sucks.) Bread & Cie is one of my favorite places to sit outside, eat, and people watch.Or the makeshift back porch facing the Pacific at Bahia in Bird Rock (until the new house going up blocks the view). George's Bar in La Jolla. The terrace at A R Valentien. I'm new to CHOW and would love your suggestions. All prices, cuisines, neighborhoods welcome. Even places just to drink.

[littlestevie]

Have you been to Hacienda de Vega out in Escondido? beautiful patio. The food can be very good but it can be inconsistant, same with the service. It is a Mexican place that tries to be a bit more than your usual tacos and enchiladas. A mexican place that does not try to vary from the standard is Fidels, and both locations have patios. The food is better at the Solana Beach location.

[butterbutt]

Where is Bahia in Bird Rock.?. I work in BR.. but cant think of it..

[pickypicky]

It's a dive. Don Bahia on the corner opposite the new condos and across the street from the restaurant ruin. The only thing I get there are the lobster burritoes or enchiladas. And I love to sit with a beer on the outside (back) when there's a sunset.

[wanker]

The Del Mar Brig has a great patio and a fun happy hour. The Del Mar Plaza also has spectacluar views, although their restaurants are only pretty good in my view. Epazote's was pretty good when I visited it this summer after its conversion to a steak house -- albiet a bit crowed due to its happy hour. Pacifica Del Mar is also decent, but it's been years since I've eaten there.

[daantaat]

Americana and Pacifica Breeze Cafe in Del Mar have pretty decent food at their price point (moderately priced) w/ outdoor seating. Pacifica Breeze is all outdoor seating and you can see the ocean over the rooftops below.

Cavaillon in Santaluz has outdoor patio seating for dinner and breakfast. Overlooks into a quiet, manicured park in a residential area.

Nine-Ten in La Jolla has outdoor seating facing the street. So does Roppongi's.

Piatti's in La Jolla Shores has a really nice outdoor patio w/ plants but it's walled off from the street, so people watching is limited to the other diners.

Cafe Chloe is almost outdoor dining b/c of the large glass windows and doors that are usually open to the street.

Izakaya Sakura has outdoor tables but your view is the parking lot and Convoy Ave.

Ki's in Cardiff has decent, inexpensive food and the upstairs tables have views of the ocean and Hwy 101. Not gourmet dining by any stretch but not gross like The Beach House across the way.

The general rule of thumb is that if there is a view, places will try to get away w/ mediocre food and high rents. ie: The Beach House, Peohe's, Poisideon's (the latter I have stayed away from).

[Alice Q]

JRDN in Pacific Beach has good food and a nice patio - though the view is more of the boardwalk than the ocean. Cafe Chloe does have outdoor tables, sidewalk cafe style. Poseidon is ok for lunch/drinks, and is one of the few places in SD that is right on the sand. I also like Cafe Zinc in Solana Beach. The Prado in Balboa Park is one of the nicest places to sit outside and the food can be good, though definitely not mind blowing. Bertrand at Mr. A's has an outdoor patio and arguably the best view in town, though it's often windy up there.

[pickypicky]

thanks! I like JRDN but my chef doesn't. The 2-way bar charmed Bill, my NTIMES buddy, who used to write a cocktail column. But this is exactly what I think SD can do-- and should do-- better than anyone. Boardwalk, ocean, clean design, decent food. I'll try Poseidon and Cafe Zinc.

[Alice Q]

1500 Ocean has open air dining on the patio, they even have an outdoor fireplace. It's been a while since I've been, but I recall that the Fish Market also had a nice outdoor patio attached to the bar in the back, and their bar food and sushi are pretty good.

[cstr]

daantat, I feel the same rgarding your comment in the last paragraph (medicore food with good views), I usually try to their hit happy hour and test taste apps etc. at these places before commiting to din..din.