Must Haves: Clairemont Area - SD?
So my Vegas family is going to visit some family in SD and I was just wondering what are some Must Haves in the Clairemont Area? We are willing to drive but if there is something amazing right around the corner why miss out?
It needs to be on the less expensive side because we will have a larger group. Also, no seafood. I love seafood but one family member is very against it so it ruins it for the rest of us. HAHA!
Any of your suggestions would be rockin because at this point im clueless.
THANKS THANKS CALI PEOPLE!
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I don't agree with the comment wasting Emeralds. Saying Ba Ren blows it away seems a bit of a reach. I've been to both and while I really like Ba Ren and think it is a way better deal, I have had my best meal at Emeralds.
Both are worth trying but Ba Ren's is much more reasonably priced. It's been awhile since I went to Emeralds because it was just so much more expensive than other spots.
There are a lot of places on Convoy. I thoroughly love Izakaya Sakura's!! It's a little tricky to navigate the menu, especially if you don't read Chinese for the specials! This place can range in price depending on how crazy you go and if you start ordering Sake!! When we want to keep the bill down, my wife and I will order a noodle dish, (We love their Curry Noodles). Then just fill in with 3 or 4 apps and our bill will come out to around $25 total!! On the other hand, if we are hungry and start ordering sushi and the more exotic apps, along with a glass or two of sake, the bill can come out to more than $100 each, easily!! I have to say the one time I went really crazy there, I came out feeling like I had a really awesome meal!
The Cucina Italiana next to the movie house, is way better than you would expect, considering the location. I was expecting a fast food experience and it is definitely way better than that. The ambiance ultimately is not great so for me it is not someplace I will go when looking for a fine dining experience, however, if it's just my wife and myself, we will go there when the mood strikes us and so far have not been disappointed.
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re: Dagney
Gotta give a hefty second on the recommendation for O'Briens. Convoy has a lot of great variations on different asian cuisines, so the fact that it also has the single best beer bar in all of San Diego (LA as well, sorry folks) only further makes that stretch my favorite place to eat in all of San Diego.
O'Brien's carries more unique local craft brews than anywhere in SD. Every other beer bar that aims to offer local and craft brews in town is an imitation of this place. The owner Tom Nickel even won a medal for best brewer back when he was working for Oggi's years back. Brewers from all over the country actually send him one-off specialty kegs. You do not get that kind of experience elsewhere. O'Brien's is the gold standard for beer drinking in SD. And the food is great pub food, to boot.
Beer-cheese burger, or the beer-chili are must-haves. Garlic fries are great as a side.
Alpine chicken sandwich is also fantastic, on marbled-rye no less. And the "brewer's plate" is excellent as well. Fresh fruit and big hunks of different french cheeses with sausage and assorted crackers.
Wash it down with the house-favorite, local Alpine Beer Co's "Pure Hoppiness". So rare you can only get a pint of it on tap at three spots outside the brewery in Alpine: O'Brien's, Downtown Johnny Brown's, and the Liar's Club.
So, after you've had your pho, your ramen, and your dumplings don't forget to walk across the street and get a pint!
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Love YOU, Cranksta' for telling the Clairemont truth. There aint nuttin here, but oh, how I wish there wuz. Nope, we aint no Kearny Mesa, that's for sure. BUT if yall Squaremonters are desperate for tasty, try the tacos sold outside La Tiendita at Clairemont Mesa/Clairemont Dr. on the weekends. . .
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So I am home from Cali and I did go to two places and so here is my synopsis.
1st: Fillippis Pizza. This was really really delicious. I got the chicken parmesan and it was sooo yummy. My family pretty much got the whole rest of the menu: Lasagna, ravioli, pizza, and it was all perfection. I dont think you can go wrong there. I loved the atmosphere. Little Italy was really cool.2nd: I went to original pancake house. It was soo yummmy. We have it in vegas but we loved it enough to go in cali too. I got the banana pancakes on a whim and it was divine. I must admit i have never been unsatisfied at this place. It rocks.
Sorry im not better at my reviews but it was so good. Thanks for the suggestions. :D
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Squaremont is a bland suburb with few unique restaurants. For cheap eats on a patio, I like heading to Dino's Gyros and Cucina Italiana in the Clairemont Town Square (at the Clairemont Drive and Clairemont Mesa intersection). Fillippis Pizza is solid and been around since the 1950’s (Clairemont Mesa near the 163 Highway). For breakfast, try the Original Pancake house (3906 Convoy St) or Honey’s Café (7947 Balboa Ave). If you like healthy food you can try the “SoupPlantation” on Clairemont Mesa (near the 805 interstate).
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re: crankster
Josh
May 30, 2008 10:59 AM
LOL. Yeah, OK, whatever.
You obviously have never once explored the Convoy St. corridor, otherwise you'd be much better informed.
Short list of worthwhile eating in the Clairemont area:
Mien Trung
Buga
K Sandwiches
Noodle Town
Tajima
Sakura
Tofu House
Sammy Sushi
Shirahama
China Max
Dumpling Inn
Pho T Cali
Sam Woo BBQThat's off the top of my head, so I'm sure there are some I'm missing.
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phee
May 24, 2008 12:47 PM
You'll be close to Convoy, and there are so many Asian dining establishments there. Do a search for Convoy on this board, and you'll have a wealth of places from which to choose. Enjoy!
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re: katie_ladie
Sadly, being by the sea, makes seafood one of our "must have items".
I say lock the offending family member in the trunk while you try some of our delicious uni.
Be sure to try a sampling of our local and excellent beers at O'Brien's, which will be in your area, on Convoy.
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The Original Pancake House is great for Briakfast, on Convoy.
If you all like Chinese Food, you can always try Dim Sum at Jasmine or Emerald on Convoy as well.
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re: katie_ladie
to be frank, Chinese food in Vegas is MUCH better than Jasmine or Emerald. Definitely better than Jasmine for sure. If your family knows where to eat Chinese in Vegas around Spring Mountain Road, they will be disappointed by Jasmine and Emerald. Cathay House in Vegas has WAAY better dim sum.
If you want better and equivalent Chinese to what Vegas has, Ba Ren off Clairemont Mesa Drive is very good. Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot in the big strip mall across the street from Ba Ren has good hot pot and to the best of my knowledge, Vegas doesn't have one (yet).
Buga Korean BBQ on Clairemont Drive is good for large parties and cheap for the amount of food. There's a new all you can eat Korean BBQ in the area, Jeong Won Korean BBQ. Someone posted a thread on it recently.
best bet is to follow phee's advice and do a search for Convoy. You'll turn up the favorite Asian places on the board.
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re: normalheightsfoodie
amyzan
May 31, 2008 04:40 PM
If you want the dutch baby with apples, tarte tatin style, order that version. The item called dutch baby on the menu is a smaller version of the german pancake, and is served plain, with lemon, whipped butter, and powdered sugar on the side, always hot with crispy edges. Absolutely delicious, and plenty filling. The german pancake, the larger version, is really huge.
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re: MrKrispy
Josh
Jun 3, 2008 11:22 AM
They're three normally sized pancakes, densely packed with shards of very crisp bacon. With the addition of butter and maple syrup, it's the zenith of the sweet/salty breakfast. They really are tasty, but they're so rich and intense that twice in a lifetime was enough for me.
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