Del Mar Area for a Few Days

[nosh]

Heading to Del Mar for a few days. Have enjoyed Market, 1540 not so much, really like Savory on Camino de Real in Encinitas. Willing to go north as far as Carlsbad, but don't want to brave the freeways too far south. Looking for really delicious, not too loud, not too dressy.

Any recommendations for dinners?

For lunch, looking for a good, sloppy burger. And a Chinese or Thai place with good lunch specials.

Thanks.

[RestaurantsSanDiego]

Dolce Pane e Vino in RSF is a casual wine bar with all the menu items coming out of the wood fired pizza oven. Flatbreads, fish, scallops, etc. Great salads and desserts too. The patio is very pleasant on a beautiful San Diego afternoon.

[4wino]

I am surprised there is no love for Pamplemousse Grille. Chef Jeffresy Strauss used to do some wonderful dishes for our wine dinners.

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Pamplemousse Grille
514 Via de la Valle, Suite 100, Solana Beach, CA 92075

[honkman]

I think Pamplemousse Grille is good but overpriced for the quality they are delivering and there are several better restaurants relatively close by - Blanca, Cavaillon, Kitchen 1540

[karaethon]

When I went, there was a Barramundi special and the restaurant wasn't even crowded, but they managed to totally overcook the Barramundi and ruin the entire dish.

When you're paying that much for the meal, you want to eat with everyone else in your party at the same time and you don't want your fish to be overcooked (our table actually had 2 barramundi specials and both pieces of fish were overcooked. There wasn't even a nice sear on the meat so I'm thinking he just threw it in an oven and let it cook too long.

[SDGourmand]

I would for sure give 1540 another shot.. Chef Paul is doing some really great work there.. Blanca is another favorite of mine and the tasting are very reasonably priced.. I would also look into Kaito and the pop up restaurant that will be in Encinitas this month called Relate.. For lunch you can't go wrong with prep kitchen.. You can always head back to Market I'm sure those same items you had 3 years ago are still on the menu..

[Pentagarn]

I've been to Market several times and the menu is usually completely different each time. The only items I've seen stay on are the short ribs and some kind of blue cheese souffle, though usually with different accompaniments.

[SDGourmand]

I find it to be the same proteins with a slightly different twist on them.. I haven't been in about a year because I don't find it to be worth the money and the ambience is terrible..

[Beach Chick]

Hey noshie..
Haven't seen you post here in awhile.
I would add Paon in the village of Carlsbad.
Cavaillon in the Santa Luz/Fairbanks Ranch area.
Del Mar Rendezvous for Chinese..sister restaurant of Dumpling Inn on Convoy..havent' been but Convoy street isn't that far from Del Mar if you want more authentic.
I've been to a Thai place off the 5 in Carlsbad and it was decent but can't remember the name.
Red Tracton's is always a fave and the Rancho Valencia resort in RSF just did a huge makeover and the food is supposed to be fab.
Bully's Del Mar for a bully burger or patty melt.
Have a great time and report back!

[daantaat]

I'd skip Rendevouz. Went back b/c I thought it was a decent alternative to schlepping down to Convoy, but boy was I disappointed! Flavors were muddled and dull and I got a feeling they didn't heat their wok or the oil hot enough before they did their stir-fry. Was missing that slightly smoky, charred wok-hay flavor. There are better eating places in Del Mar and if you really want Chinese, Convoy options are much better.

[daantaat]

Prep Kitchen in Del Mar might be an option. Haven't been yet, but it's getting decent comments on the board.

Cavaillon, off the 56 freeway, would also fit the bill.

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Cavaillon Restaurant
14701 Via Bettona, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92127

[honkman]

What did you like at Market and not so much Kitchen 1540 ? Just trying to understand what kind of restaurants you are looking for

[karaethon]

I agree with honkman in totally not understanding what you said there.

With that said, I'll suggest Amaya first then Blanca. I would suggest Blanca first for anyone else, but what you said about Market > 1540 is really confusing. On a similar note, I would say the food is much better at Addison than Amaya, but since you don't want to dress up, you're probably limited to Amaya.

[nosh]

The dinner we had at Market, probably three years ago, still is memorable to me -- an amazing mushroom broth as a starter, a succulent shortrib, and a tart lemon dessert. Professional service, a great experience. In contrast, 1540 was visually impressive, with the water and lights and clientele, but my long-cooked pork was flat and bland and the place seemed more style than substance.

From a couple of other threads -- feedback on Tidewater Tavern for burgers, Champagne French Bakery for french dip, Bully's East for either?

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Bully's East
2401 Camino Del Rio S, San Diego, CA 92108

Tidewater Tavern
221 N Highway 101, Solana Beach, CA 92075