San Diego Gaslamp

[rockpile]

Okay - so I understand from reading all of the San Diego posts that the gaslamp district is just for tourists, overpriced food, blah, blah, blah. But, I still need to eat there because I have limited time for eating and need to walk everywhere from my hotel (I can walk 20-30 minutes each way). I am staying at the Marriott Marquis on West Harbor Drive. I would love Mexican/Latin, Seafood (with West Coast selections), and creative new American. Living in a great restaurant city (Philadelphia), I don't need to go to restaurants whose cuisine I can easily get back home (Italian, Thai, Indian, etc.). Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks.

[dxdxmxe]

I'm with Rockpile, I too live in Philly but come to SD every year for a conference and am stuck downtown. Got reservtions at Saltbox and Searsucker, been through most of the others, nothing ever stands out besides cheap fish tacos. Oh and btw these a whole lot less mediocre food here in downtown Philadelphia then in SD and we have good beer and seafood too, um there's an ocean called the Atlantic about 90 miles away.

[El Chevere]

And you have access to seafood such as flounder and non- deformed lobster ( i.e. lobster that has claws)..... Anyhoo, as a fellow ex-East coaster, you might like Dobsons and Salvatores of you are confined to downtown. Just my two cents.

[scottca075]

I've spent more time than I would like in Philadelphia and I find the food very average compared to Manhattan or Boston and maybe even Baltimore. You do have Trenton beat though.

[mcgrath]

See my repy to a "foodie's" thread, above, staying at same hotel.

[tplife]

I wouldn't fret, you feel right at home as the GasLamp, which, like Philadelphia, has a full variety of mediocre tourist food. Luckily we also have some of the nation's best breweries right in town, and after a Stone or Ballast Point, you'll almost imagine your seafood hasn't been trucked in on ice from distant lands, and that "organic" means more than the supplier filled out a form to say it is. It'll all taste good, I guarantee it!

[scottca075]

I would consider Roy's in your hotel, Seersucker, The Grant Grill and maybe La Puerta if you are under 35 or so, it is a fun place.

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La Puerta
560 4th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

[stevewag23]

Here is the most recent thread on the gaslamp:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/810761

Search around the board, almost like clockwork once a week for the last 3 years someone posts an identical question to the one you asked.

I wouldn't be surprised if you found over 300 threads that address the famous "gaslamp" question.

They usually go around and round and everyone finally ends up agreeing on only two places:

Cafe Chloe
Cowboy Star

Interestingly enough, both places reside outside of the gaslamp.

That all being said, if you walk 30 minutes you could find yourself in little italy or bankers hill.

[DiningDiva]

And the downtown trolley loop is pretty efficient at moving people around that area

[Josh]

You forgot the Old Spaghetti Factory.

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Old Spaghetti Factory
111 N Twin Oaks Valley Rd, San Marcos, CA 92069