Your Top 5 restaurants in downtown San Diego?

[ipsedixit]

Which places make your list for the best (however you define it) restaurants in downtown San Diego?

Here's mine (in no particular order):

Cafe Chloe
Knotty Barrell
Cowboy Star
Bencotto
JSix

Yours?

[OCAnn]

Does this still stand? I'll be in downtown SD in a month, staying @ the Omni.

I've been to JSix & liked it so much that we're thinking of going again. But after reviewing some of the other threads, our shortlist (in addition to JSix) now includes Cafe Chloe, Saltbox or Dobson's for dinner. We're leaning toward moderately priced (not expensive) dining for this visit.

Thoughts? Thank you!

EDIT: ps/ will have car, but prefer to walk.

[mcgrath]

Other than the Mussel Bisqque, which is sublime indeed, there is nothing about Dobson's that would warrant a visit.

A new restaurant opened since your original post, featuring chow worthy Baja Coastal cuisine (i.e., really kicked up Mexican food) is The Blind Burro, about a 2 minute walk from your hotel.

There's a decent Happy Hour at McCormick and Schmick's in your hotel.

And a 12 minute walk down the Promenade will get you to Lion's Share, with interesting dishes, intriquing cocktails and a money saving Happy Hour.

[El Chevere]

Dobsons
Cowboy Star
Salvatores
Athens Market
Tie between Grant Lounge & Prep Kitchen

[chetatkinsdiet]

Surprised Extraordinary Desserts isn't making anyone's list

[honkman]

I wouldn't call Hillcrest downtown and even though the cakes at ED are OK once a year I actually prefer Chocolat for the more late night dessert trip.

[Beach Chick]

pretty but tasteless...imho

[zmirzlina]

Pretty cakes, but usually dry and bland.

[Beach Chick]

honkman and mcgrath are spot on with their choices..

Top of the Market at the Fish Market Downtown..oyster bar and sushi bar
Dobson's...mussel bisque en croute..sublime
Starlite for drinks and late night

I would add in the greater San Diego area..
Kitchen 1540 at L'Auberge Del Mar
Addison or Amaya at Grand Del Mar
Eddie V's
George's
AR Valentien
Bali Hai
Tender Greens and Session Public

Anyone been lately to Delicias in RSF?

Ipsy...whatcha doing slumming in SD...taking over for Swift Justice Judge Jackie Glass..
; - )

[cstr]

and don't forget to take the H2O Taxi to Coronado and hit the Del for a night cap!

[Beach Chick]

HA...smart ass!

You've gotta get the sequence right cstr....mussel bisque en croute, water taxi, drinks at Top of the Hyatt, mai tai's at Bali Hai and then swing up to Hacienda de Vega in 10 minutes or less from downtown SD to Esco (gotta keep RB on his toes on Porsche time)

[honkman]

Why ending the day on a low with HdV ?

[Beach Chick]

I'm one of the few fans that love HdV...but I only have their apps and margs.
I can swing by Delicias if it would make you feel better..
; )

[cstr]

Ok, I think I got the sequence, bisque, H2O taxi, drinks etc. Whew, what a mental workout!

[Beach Chick]

When you're hanging with the big dogs, you've gotta be 'mentally' strong brother sledge..
; - )

[cstr]

Yah, next to you, I'm probably just a Pommie!

[Beach Chick]

You're big man on campus...and don't you forget it!

[mcgrath]

Bice

Chloe

Cowboy Star

Grant Grill

Jsix

[honkman]

Cafe Chloe
JSix
Cowboy Star
Chocolat (for dessert)
Grant Lounge (for cocktails)

I wouldn't call Little Italy downtown

[ipsedixit]

How about in/around downtown? :-)

[honkman]

Than you should define how far away from downtown - do Cucina Urbana and Avenue 5 still count ? If you drive on Broadway you need about 8-10 minutes to Alchemy, is it still close enough ?

[ipsedixit]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown...

[jayporter]

According to my memory when I worked on some relevant projects, in the early '90s Little Italy, then still a (fading) fishing district, was called Middletown and/or Harborview and was not considered part of downtown. I believe that the creation of "Little Italy" was a marketing move driven by real estate considerations, as was the official creation on city maps of "South Park" in 1999 (a Golden Hill secessionist movement due to South Park's higher home values/lack of Huffman six-packs).