Great Xmas Eve dinner.............

[Kitchen Queen]

Coming to stay in Old Town just the one night
Want 1 yummy dinner spot for 2. About 60-70$ for dinner total - we don't drink

Gaslamp, dwntwn, or other ok. Have car, will travel but, not too far.

Seafood is best- Not Oceanaire- too expensive but a close relative would be great
Open for other options if food is good. We love ethnic spots.

Happy Holidays

TIA from Santa Clarita :)

Kitchen Queen

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Oceanaire
San DIego, CA, San DIego, CA

[Island]

The scampi Giulio at Jack & Giulio's in Old Town is delicious. It's an Italian restaurant but can't tell you about any other entrees since i always go there for the scampi. http://www.jackandgiulios.com/

[Kitchen Queen]

Thank you both. Made a reservation at Jack & Giulio's since we'll be in Old Town. Love Scampi.
(Dobson's is a possibility tho).
Appreciate options!

Happy Holidays!

[Kitchen Queen]

So, wanted to report back...Went to Jack and Giulio's and left. Wanted the Scampi but, it's pre-breaded and I eat Gluten Free. They had nothing else to offer me. NO potatoes, polenta or rice! Only pasta :(. Drove to Gaslmap. Dobson's was closed :( Parked next to La Strada. Went to Blue Point but wasn't impressed. Then walked around. Met a couple that escorted us to Lou and Mickey's. They said it was fab and not a part of a chain. Bad decision and wrong on both accounts. I was not happy and had to pay 70$ for a so-so dinner :( La Strada was busy. Maybe I'll try that next time.

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Lou and Mickey's
224 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

[cstr]

Scampi breaded??? never!!

[Fake Name]

Ouch. I feel like we let you down- there is a lot of good food here and I'm sorry you didn't have any. Lou and Mickeys was once a VERY good place. Haven't been for a while.

It's my fault, I'm afraid. I was trying so hard not to be disagreeable with Island that I failed to steer you away from J & G. Never heard a single positive comment, and I thought that Island might have had a better experience.

Come back to San Diego, and go to any of the places BeachChick suggested (although if I see her spell en croûte without proper punctuation again, I just don't know what I'll do!) and I believe you'll have a better impression of San Diego's offerings, (humbled by those of Berlin of course) whatever the cuisine.

[Beach Chick]

Fakey!
When you learn to properly space my name correctly, I'll put the little Frenchy thing over the en croûte.. ; )

Kitchen Queen..sorry you had a bad experience but I think you need to let us know if you are Gluten free eater..GoodHealthGourmet could of really steered you in the right direction since she knows all the fab places that are GF in SD.

binkychow..how did you come up with your name?

[Kitchen Queen]

Lou and Mickey's is part of the family that includes the Fish Market restaurants and others. I used to like the Fish Market-Long Beach and Calabasas-years back but, after one last bad experience in L.B. , I was done. The worst! I won't even try the other places in the "family". And, yes, the scampi is pre-breaded according the chef there. Floured, breaded, whatever. If it comes that way ahead of time rather than preparing fresh, I would qq it regardless, that how the scampi is prepared is not an option? And, what restaurant doesn't have a potato or rice or an Italian place that doesn't have polenta??? IMHO Bleh!

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Lou and Mickey's
224 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

[eatemup]

If Lou & Mickey's is related to the Fish Market, it must be a distant cousin. Lou & Mickeys is part of the King Restaurant Group which owns King's Fish House, Water Grill and others. There is a King's in Long Beach so maybe that is where your bad experience was.

We have had many good experiences at Lou & Mickeys...steaks, fish, even burgers and pasta. Sorry you had a bad experience.

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Lou & Mickey's
224 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101

King's Fish House
5625 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad, CA 92008

[Fake Name]

"Lou and Mickey's is part of the family that includes the Fish Market restaurants and others."

uhhh- fact check, please?

[littlestevie]

Eatemup is right, Lou & Mickeys is with the Kings chain. Last time we were at the CB location of King's we had a so-so experience after lots of good visits, and we haven't been back. Can't comment on Lou's though.

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Lou & Mickey's
224 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101

[Kitchen Queen]

Yes, sorry. Kings Fish House.

[binkychow]

No, no, not La Strada! It is terrible. Supposedly they are revamping but I still say no.

[Island]

Sorry Kitchen Queen if I'd known your were gluten free I wouldn't have suggested it. Their scampi is not breaded, but they do use a special type of flour on it before sauteing which for you, same outcome; can't eat it. As mentioned I could only vouch for the scampi since it's the only entree we ever get and we've been returning for it for almost 25 years.

[Kitchen Queen]

Thank you all for your compassion and support. I understand Dobson's is good and maybe try that next time. I rarely make it to S.D. but, with baseball season right around the corner, I may just have to. HE want's a day at the "new" stadium.
Any other suggestions? GF, dairy and sugar free too. :( sad eh? The GF is the worst to get around.

As a consolation, we drove through the Mission Hills district (behind the BW Hacienda) and drooled over the gorgeous homes.

TIA KQ...Happy New Year!

[Beach Chick]

Dobson's in the Gaslamp for the best mussel bisque en croute and then have the catch of the day.
Fish Market Downtown at the Oyster Bar or Sushi bar..not the restaurant!
Blue Water Grill in Little Italy
Wine Vault but their probably sold out.
Bay Park Fish Company..casual but good
Oceanaire.. you could do their happy hour..