Restaurant Urban Solace Downtowners are a curious bunch. We know this because sometimes that curiosity takes them off the beaten center-city path. Their favorite restaurant, after all, isn\u2019t even in Downtown; it\u2019s in North Park, which has a dynamic all its own. Urban Solace, founded two years ago, doesn\u2019t sit still any more than its neighborhood does. It\u2019s open seven days a week and features classic and cutting-edge American-style dishes. A crafted beer list is the crowning touch on a restaurant with nowhere to go but up \u2013 and in the minds of Downtowners, it\u2019s already at the top. Urban Solace 3823 30th St. 295-6464 www.urbansolace.net Soleil@K Soleil@K keeps things fresh and local to deliver an exceptional contemporary Californian cuisine. To boot, it\u2019s on a corner and opens onto the roily Gaslamp streets, replete with sidewalk patio tables. Plush leather booths and wicker chairs dot the welcoming vibe as well. If it\u2019s the Gaslamp, it\u2019s Soleil@K. Soleil@K 660 K St. 446-6088 www.soleilatk.com Restaurant Service Bertrand at Mister A\u2019s What with its magnificent Downtown panoramas, you\u2019d think this restaurant would have won a mention for Best View. It could, and easily\u2013but you liked it for its exceptional service (something you don\u2019t see so much as experience). Bertrand at Mister A\u2019s 2550 Fifth Ave. 239-1379 www.bertrandatmisteras.com Confidential Restaurant & Loft Located smack on the corner of Fourth Avenue and E Street, Confidential has created a new hybrid for dining and entertainment service since opening in April of 2005. You know this is true because it\u2019s won no fewer than 11,712 awards since then amid its artful approach to cuisine and cocktails. As you relax in the warmth of contemporary design, you will undoubtedly come to realize that the San Diego dining experience has been reinvented here. Confidential Restaurant & Loft 901 Fourth Ave. 696-8888 www.confidentialsd.com New Restaurant La Puerta For a new restaurant, La Puerta has an amazing acumen for the whole Gaslamp vibe thing\u2013casual, busy and full of itself in all the right ways. And if the tortilla soup doesn\u2019t get you, the prices and the great happy hours will. Potato cheese tacos, bacon-wrapped turkey hot dogs, $1 mimosas during Sunday brunch: It\u2019s all here, with a kitchen open until 1 a.m. to boot. La Puerta 560 Fourth Ave. 696-3466 www.taco619.com El Vitral El Vitral is so new that it doesn\u2019t even have a website, at least not at this writing. That\u2019s OK, though. We can assure you it\u2019s here, because it has a beautiful patio that sits right next to Petco Park. It also has a baby scallop ceviche that\u2019ll make you drop over dead unless the chili relleno gets you first. That and three styles of guacamole dip oughta get you started, but leave room for the churros with coconut dip. El Vitral 815 J St. 236-9420 Chef Matt Gordon Urban Solace owner and executive chef Matt Gordon is a 20-year veteran of the restaurant industry. He\u2019s headed numerous kitchen operations ranging from formal fine dining to bustling, high-volume corporate eateries. He also used to be executive chef at the Gordon Biersch Brewing Company\u2019s anchor locale in San Francisco and held the same position at the acclaimed Willi\u2019s Seafood and Raw Bar in Healdsburg, Calif. What we\u2019re saying is he\u2019s been there and done that\u2014meanwhile, Northern California\u2019s loss is San Diego\u2019s gain. Eddie Fincher Eddie Fincher, executive chef at the Gaslamp\u2019s Soleil@K, is feeling pretty good these days, and that\u2019s because you voted his restaurant into Downtown\u2019s No. 2 spot. No wonder. Fincher has transformed this place from a tourist-only destination to a high-end after-work spot for Downtowners and their friends. Family gatherings are a big item at the Soleil, located in the Marriott San Diego Gaslamp Quarter, and Fincher is at the bottom of it all. Breakfast Richard Walker\u2019s Pancake House Richard Walker\u2019s Pancake House, an upscale fusion of traditional and gourmet breakfast favorites, has griddlecakes, crepes, omelets and other specialties. Yeah, so do other breakfast eateries. But they probably don\u2019t have hand-blown glass art and classical music as part of their amenities. Richard Walker\u2019s Pancake House 520 Front St. 231-7777 www.richardwalkers.com The Broken Yolk Cafe The Broken Yolk, of course, has had its cadre of followers in Pacific Beach for the last 700 years. And no wonder. This place has been serving some of the best breakfasts in the region, including your choice of 20 omelets (not to be eaten at once) and out-of-this-world pancakes and waffles. And now, you don\u2019t even have to go to PB to enjoy it all. The Broken Yolk Caf\u00e9 355 6th Ave. 338-9655 www.thebrokenyolkcafe.com Lunch Zanzibar Caf\u00e9 If you\u2019re like most people (and you probably are), you have to\u2014uh\u2014sandwich a lot in between noon and 1, or whenever your lunch hour happens to be. Zanzibar can help. It has no fewer than 40 entries on its lunch menu; all that choice translates to less guesswork. Zanzibar Caf\u00e9 707 G St. 230-0125 www.zanzibarcafe.com Urban Solace (see entry under Restaurant) Dinner Soleil@K (see entry under Restaurant) Cowboy Star Cowboy Star is the first restaurant in the East Village to serve up a unique dining experience by combining contemporary American cuisine with a western flair. The restaurant features exposed beam ceilings\u201a cowboy accents and classic landscape photography \u2014 it translates to a welcoming atmosphere, into which locals gravitate. Cowboy Star 640 10th Ave. 450-5880 www.thecowboystar.com Take-out Lolita\u2019s Mexican Trust us: You\u2019ll never get take-out service like this again, not even if you live to be 312. Plus you\u2019ve got East Village at your feet, plus Padres game-day specials. Don\u2019t forget to order, though. Rolled tacos and guacamole, carne asada fries and the California burrito are the orders of the day. The mini-tacos get the job done as well. Lolita\u2019s Mexican 202 Park Blvd. 269-6055 Sushi Deli Downtown\u2019s businesspeople and locals know a good take-out thing when they eat it. That\u2019s why they come here. Japanese entrees such as Sesame Chicken and Tempura are available, yet, oddly enough, the primary item on the menu is sushi, and the combos are too numerous for the human mind to deal with. Sushi Deli 135 Broadway 233-3072 Sunday Brunch Urban Solace (see entry under Restaurant) Currant, an American Brasserie As the Sofia Hotel has gone, so goes Currant. That\u2019s to say that the Sofia, which launched in 2006, has brought this beautiful American-style eatery and its noted Sunday brunch with it. Steak and eggs, turkey, homestyle soups, an otherworldly drink menu and so much more await (you can even enjoy them all from a series of private booths). Currant, an American Brasserie 140 West Broadway 702-6309 www.currantrestaurant.com Family Restaurant Filippi\u2019s Pizza Grotto San Diego is a long way from Italy and France, but that\u2019s the route Vincent DePhilippis and Madeleine Stefani, the original founders of Filippi\u2019s, took to get here. What once was a deli on India Street is now a bastion of traditional Italian family recipes these 58 years later. Filippi\u2019s Pizza Grotto 1747 India St. 232-5094 Buca Di Beppo OK. So it\u2019s a chain. That doesn\u2019t make Buca Di Beppo a lousy restaurant, by any means. It continues to innovate and create recipes beyond traditional Italian style by adding new menu items, featuring appetizers, salads, pastas, pizzas, entrees, desserts, beer and fine wine. Buca Di Beppo 705 Sixth Ave. 233-7272 www.bucadibeppo.com Wine Selection Fleming\u2019s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar You know Fleming\u2019s for some of the best steak around — as it happens, this place doesn\u2019t second-guess itself in the wine department, either. The Merlots, every one of \u2019em, are to die for. Just leave room for the magnificent peach cobbler. Fleming\u2019s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 350 K St. 237-1155 www.flemingssteakhouse.com Rainwater\u2019s on Kettner The steakburger. The club sandwich. Clam chowder and black bean soup. The Chicago salad. They\u2019re all at their best at Rainwater\u2019s. But it\u2019s the neat wine-tasting dinners and price fixe menu that\u2019ll get ya Rainwater\u2019s has you covered, even if you\u2019re with a corporation. When wine is the byword, Rainwater\u2019s is the eatery. Rainwater\u2019s 1202 Kettner Blvd. 233-5757 www.rainwaters.com Wine Bar The Cask Room The Cask Room has its secret weapon in owner Mike Kallay, who\u2019s forgotten more about wine than the entire Downtown population will ever know. Kallay can even speak to the weather differences in the hemispheres as a mitigating factor in winemaking; that\u2019s when you know you\u2019re getting some of the best fare you can find. The Cask Room 550 Park Blvd. 822-1606 www.caskroom.com Enoteca Style The granite top is a giveaway that you\u2018re in a wine bar\u2014but Enoteca Style is so much more. Panini, bruschetta, salads, cheese and bread\/olive plates: They\u2019re served as veritable main courses rather than side items here. Check out the daily specials and special events, too. Enoteca Style 1445 India St. 546-7138 www.enotecastyle.com Wine Shop The Cask Room (see entry under Wine Bar) Tango Wine Company Tango offers great wines from around the world, of course. But the owners are also loopy about the Internet, so much so that they have an online community section where you can ask questions, start a wine blog or whatever you want. They\u2019ll soon be launching a video section and already have a newsletter and even a T-shirt line. Cool. Tango Wine Company 2161 India St. 564-7700 www.tangowine.com Local Winery Orfila Vineyards & Winery Let Northern California take all the glory it wants. The fact of the matter is that San Diego County has somewhere around 30 wineries of its own, all of which produce some pretty fine product. The one you like best is Orfila Vineyards & Winery, even though it\u2019s not exactly Downtown. It\u2019s about 30 minutes outside the city, nearly into Escondido. So just go, already. Orfila Vineyards & Winery. 13455 San Pasqual Road, Escondido (760) 738-6500, ext. 27 www.orfila.com Wilson Creek Winery OK. So it\u2019s in Temecula, which is more than an hour away. When\u2019s that ever stopped you? If you\u2019ve indeed visited the winery, you\u2019ve seen the fabulous pavilion and gazebo and jazz stage. The owners have had hundreds of amazing weddings and private events. Oh \u2013 and we hear the hundreds of wines are out of this world. Wilson Creek Winery 39560 Rancho California Rd., Temecula (951) 699-9463 www.wilsoncreekwinery.com Beer Selection Hamilton\u2019s Tavern San Diego\u2019s South Park has its historic side. Take Hamilton\u2019s. It\u2019s been licensed to serve beer and wine for over 75 years, making it the oldest beer and wine licensed location in San Diego. Formerly the beloved dive bar Sparky\u2019s, Hamilton\u2019s opened in 2006 under new ownership and is now solely focused on offering the highest- quality ales, real ales and craft beers from around the world. Hamilton\u2019s Tavern 1521 30th St. 238-5460 www.hamiltonstavern.com Neighborhood With its gargantuan beer selection, Neighborhood is all things to all people. It\u2019s refined and stylish, yet it retains the beer-and-burger feel that epitomizes the San Diego mainstream. B\u00e9arnaise on your burger? You\u2019ll find it here, and you\u2019ll eat it amid some chic, postmodern trappings. Drink here, and you\u2019re getting two places for the price of one. Neighborhood 777 G St. 446-0002 Local Brewery Stone Brewing Co. The Stone Brewing Co. logo sports a big ugly gargoyle designed to strike fear in the hearts of evil spirits. In this case, the bad guys take the form of chemical additives, preservatives and adjuncts. One taste of this stuff, and you\u2019ll see the gargoyle does his job very well. Stone Brewing Co. 1999 Citracado Parkway, Escondido (760) 471-4999 www.stonebrew.com Airedale Brewing Co. Airdale Brewing Co. embodies a passion for aviation and a love of great beer. Behind its founders\u2019 backgrounds in aviation and craft brewing, Airdale strives to produce quality-handcrafted ales worthy of those pioneers who take to the skies. Airdale uses only the finest malts and hops available, paired with truly premium yeast strains and water tailor-conditioned for each specific beer style. Airedale Brewing Co. 8385 Miramar Mall, No. 206 822-1612 www.airdalebrewing.com Sports Bar East Village Tavern and Bowl Like a little beer to celebrate that 300 you just bowled? East Village has just the ticket. Not only does it have every single beer in the universe at its disposal; you can bowl that perfect game under the same roof. This is a big football-watching venue, too. If you don\u2019t believe it, just stop in on Saturdays, Sundays and Monday nights. You haven\u2019t seen specials like these since you last went bowling, which was in 1933 \u2013 half-priced appetizers and reduced costs on pitchers are endemic on weekends here (don\u2019t forget the sausage sampler, giant bucket of wings and panini sandwiches). Any way you look at it, East Village Tavern and Bowl has something to \u2013 ah \u2013 strike your fancy. East Village Tavern and Bowl 930 Market St. 677-BOWL www.bowlevt.com The Local Eatery and Drinking Hole Some sports places claim they have the cheapest happy hour; others say theirs features the most beers on tap. None of \u2019em comes close to matching The Local\u2019s outrageous challenge: Happy hour here runs from 4 p.m. until closing Mondays through Thursdays. At The Local, it\u2019s all about keeping you sports guys happy. The Local Eatery and Drinking Hole 1065 4th Ave. 231-4447 www.thelocalsandiego.com Place to People-Watch Altitude Sky Bar and Garden Lounge People-watching is great at Altitude, especially if you\u2019re prepared to look onto Downtown\u2019s array of streets from atop the San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter. If that isn\u2019t your thing, there are plenty of people at lounge level amid all types of ages, persuasions and expectations (or lack of them) \u2013 assuming, of course, that you can keep your eyes off the killer view. Altitude Sky Lounge 660 K St. 696-0234 www.altitudeskylounge.com Gaslamp Tavern Bar food is usually pretty run-of-the-mill, because the staff is there to serve you beer and booze (fuel for all that people-watching), which is why you need to go to the Gaslamp at your earliest convenience. Yes, the Gaslamp has about 1,200 beers on tap (fuel for all that people-watching), and yes, there\u2019s an equal number of big-screen TVs for sports-gazing, but the people-checking-out quotient compares with anywhere else\u2019s in town. Gaslamp Tavern 868 Fifth Ave. 239-3339 www.gaslamptavern.com Pet-friendly place Sally\u2019s on the Water Gotta love Sally\u2019s for its “yappy hour,” featuring drink and appetizer specials (if you\u2019re real discreet, you can probably sneak some to Fido). Meanwhile, for the humans among you, Sally’s pairs San Diego’s finest seafood with a bayfront view. Each dish is crafted to your specifications, creating a culinary experience unrivaled among San Diego seafood restaurants, one that features an impressive wine and sake menu. Sally\u2019s on the Water 1 Market Pl. 358-6740 www.sallyssandiego.com The FleetWood The FleetWood, which is as pet-friendly as you please, also brings Downtown San Diego something it\u2019s never seen. It\u2019s a place where options are endless \u2014 a bar, restaurant and lounge, a place where you can meet people from all walks of life or bring your own party, a place where you can be comfortable, laid back or dressed up. Simply put, it\u2019s San Diego\u2019s coolest way to eat, drink and mix and keep an eye on Tigger at the same time. The FleetWood 639 J St. 702-7700 www.thefleetwood.com Restaurant with Live Music Croce\u2019s Restaurant & Jazz Bar When rocker Jim Croce died in 1973, his wife Ingrid was left with an uncertain future. Twelve years later, she would launch this club as a tribute to her late husband. Little did she know the move would spearhead the growth of the Gaslamp Quarter into the iconic neighborhood we know today. Croce\u2019s is worth a visit on that alone. And the food\u2026 Croce\u2019s Restaurant & Jazz Bar 802 5th Ave. 232-2891 www.croces.com Urban Solace (see entry under Restaurant) Happy Hour La Puerta (see entry under New Restaurant) Latitude Lounge Latitude has a few things in common with Altitude (our Place to People-Watch selection), like the fact that it\u2019s located in the San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter. Unlike Altitude, however, it features a striking difference, in that it\u2019s the first and only Downtown bar named by the locals. That heralds a pretty friendly crowd, there to enjoy the millions of beers and cocktails\u2014just like you. Latitude Lounge 660 K St. 696-0234 www.latitudeloungesd.com Comfort Food Urban Solace (see entry under Restaurant) Gaslamp Tavern (see entry under Places to People-Watch) Late-Night Eatery Brians 24 Everybody raved about Brian\u2019s 24 when it first opened. Maybe it was the copper-clad open kitchen, its historic “Joan Crawford” mahogany bar or its beveled glass window wall and crystal chandelier that got everybody\u2019s attention. Or it could have been the malted waffles, krab cake Benedict or killer pastas. Likely, it was a combination of all of those and more, waiting 24 hours a day for everybody\u2019s enjoyment. Brians 24 828 Sixth Ave. 702-8410 www.brians24.com Ciro\u2019s Pizzeria Ciro\u2019s opened in January of 2003, but its recipes are much older, originated by a large Italian family outside New York\u2019s Queens borough. It uses nothing but the freshest ingredients and takes pride in its lasagna, Buffalo wings, dough, pizza sauce, marinara sauce and other pasta dishes. A while back, it also expanded its storefront and has seating for up to 40 people inside. Join \u2019em, 24 hours! Place to Go on a Budget La Puerta (see entry under New Restaurant) Lolitas (see entry under Take-Out) Birthday Party The Old Spaghetti Factory Just \u2019cause this is a national chain doesn\u2019t mean the fare\u2014colored with fine antiques from around the world\u2014takes a back seat. Find out for yourself, especially over a big birthday meal. Savor the perfectly cooked pasta and spaghetti sauces, freshly made, using only the finest ingredients. Dedicated to satisfying dining in warm surroundings, The Old Spaghetti Factory is where to wind up! The Old Spaghetti Factory 275 Fifth Ave. 233-4323 www.osf.com Corvette Diner Go ahead. Move this birthday-savvy place to Point Loma\u2019s Liberty Station after 22 years in Hillcrest, like last June. Rock \u2019n’ roll, burgers and shakes still rule at this \u201950’s throwback, with sassy waitresses in poodle skirts and bouffant hairdos. The Garbage Plate, the Chili Cheez Waffle Fries and the Pickle Me Up at 7 are more than their names\u2014they\u2019re just a few of the items that have made Corvette Diner the landmark everybody knows it to be. Corvette Diner 2965 Historic Decatur Rd. (619) 542-1476 www.cohnrestaurants.com Most Romantic Spot 1500 Ocean Enjoy glowing sunset colors from the patio and a beachfront cabana setting at 1500 Ocean Restaurant and Bar, located inside the Hotel del Coronado. The experience begins in the Sunset Bar and its terraced entrance overlooking the Pacific. Inside, the venue features two private dining venues and a wine vault. 1500 Ocean 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado 522-8490 www.dine1500ocean.com Chez Loma French Bistro The first of this venue\u2019s romantic trappings is the locale itself. It\u2019s not situated in a restaurant space, or at least not the kind you think of right away. It\u2019s actually situated in a house \u2014 Coronado\u2019s 120-year-old Carez Hizar house, to be exact. And it\u2019s moments from some of the most romantic beachland in the area. Chez Loma French Bistro 1132 Loma Ave., Coronado 435-0661 www.chezloma.com Ocean View Island Prime\/ C Level Lounge C Level is like the ocean it overlooks \u2014 mesmerizing. Check out the magnificent view of the world\u2019s largest body of water over a lobster truffle or pineapple cake. The food and the view simply can\u2019t do without one another here. Island Prime\/C Level Lounge 880 Harbor Island Dr. 298-6802 Top of the Market Top of the Market got its name because it\u2019s upstairs from a fish market. Clever, eh? What\u2019s even better is that there\u2019s no punches pulled on expense here. Neither is there any skimping on the view. Imagine all the traditional seafood entries at your disposal, with an expanded wine list and a spectacular vista of the harbor. You\u2019ll know you\u2019re in San Diego. And you\u2019ll know you\u2019re upstairs. Top of the Market 750 N. Harbor Dr. (629) 232-3474 www.thefishmarket.com Appetizers Cowboy Star (see entry under Dinner) Bite Bistros\/wine bars like this one traditionally serve smaller portions as their appetizers, like grilled cheese baguettes and baby beets. You can get stuff like that here, and it\u2019s great\u2014but we just wanted to remind you that entrees featuring grilled sweet corn and pizza Bianco are available as well. It\u2019s called full service. Bite 1417 University Ave. 299-BITE www.myspace.com\/bitesd Burrito La Puerta (see entry under New Restaurant) Valentine\u2019s Taco Shop The Santa Fe burrito is the hands-down fave here \u2014 it\u2019s the size of Wichita Falls and comes in chicken, vegetarian and beef editions to satisfy any taste. And if you\u2019re looking for a late-night breakfast, here\u2019s your answer. Valentine\u2019s Taco Shop 844 Market St. 234-8256 Burger O\u2019Brothers Tasty? No question. Organic? Absolutely. Every element of the O\u2019Brothers burger comes from a place where organic is the rule of law. The beef is raised in South Dakota. The cheese is made in Bridgewater, N.J. The buns come from Boulder. Most everything at O\u2019Brothers is 100 percent organic. So if you\u2019ve been looking for something real, taste it here. O\u2019Brothers 188 Horton Plaza 615-0909 www.obrothersburgers.com The Corner Restaurant & Bar The hip factor rules at The Corner. And that\u2019s not all because of the great burgers and brews or the sweet potato fries or the fried pickles or the dipping sauce that comes with them. It\u2019s because The Corner is located in the Carnation Milk Factory, which still showcases some of its original features. Very, very cool. The Corner Restaurant and Bar 10th Avenue and J Street 531-8804 www.thecornersd.com Fish Taco The Tin Fish Don\u2019t worry. Really. The fish here aren\u2019t really made of tin. That\u2019s just what the name says. Understandably, you voted this place as among the best fish taco eateries, and the friendly, fast service probably weighed in your excellent decision. The Tin Fish 170 6th Ave. 238-8100 www.thetinfish.com The Local Eatery and Drinking Hole (see entry under Sports Bar) Desserts Extraordinary Desserts Owner Karen Krasne says food is best enjoyed as a reflection of culture \u2014 so she embellishes her desserts with tastes from around the world. To boot, her cafe sports mementos of all sorts, from Africa to Italy, helping enhance the flavors from faraway places. Krasne says she\u2019s discovered a connection between her yoga practice and the pleasures of a fine dessert. It so happens that the word “yum” is also a yogic mantra for healing a heart, so the link is fairly obvious. If it\u2019s not, let us know. Extraordinary Desserts 1430 Union St. 294-7001 www.extraordinarydesserts.com Currant (see entry under Sunday Brunch) Margarita La Puerta (see entry under New Restaurant) Fred\u2019s Mexican Caf\u00e9 Fred\u2019s Mexican Caf\u00e9 has won a slew of awards (including this one) just by being cool. Besides serving up some of the best margaritas in town, Fred\u2019s also can accommodate big fat gatherings, as in up to 50 or 100. That\u2019ll hold the people-watchers over for a while. Fred\u2019s Mexican Caf\u00e9 527 5th Ave. 232-8226 www.fredsmexicancafe.com Pizza Basic Everybody knows Basic\u2019s reputation for great pizza. What everybody may not be aware of is its hip urban setting. The eatery is located in East Village and converted from a circa 1912 warehouse, It\u2019s left open and raw, with its original brick walls, high ceilings and industrial garage doors. Meanwhile, the crowd is chill and preoccupied with those great New Haven thin-crust brick- oven pizzas, serve until 2 a.m. Basic 410 Tenth Ave. 531-8869 www.barbasic.com Pizzicato Gourmet Pizza We have one word for you when it comes to Pizzicato: Try the thin-crust entries! The staff have a way of balancing the dough and the cheese they slather on it, with one amazing result. They\u2019re not too heavy on the other toppings either; the result is some of the very best fare of its kind. Pizzicato Gourmet Pizza 2420 Fifth Ave. 232-9000 www.pizzicatopizza.com Salad Currant (see entry under Sunday Brunch) Sammy\u2019s Woodfired Pizza Contemporary tables and a gardened patio mark the Sammy\u2019s atmosphere as salads and appetizers appear like magic. Meanwhile, the teriyaki chicken and grilled shrimp pizza entries are not to be missed\u2014just leave room for that salad, an unlikely favorite in this most pleasant venue. Sammy\u2019s Woodfired Pizza 770 Fourth Ave. 230-8888 www.sammyspizza.com Sandwich Tin Can Ale House Don\u2019t be alarmed by the All-in-One Sandwich\u2019s appearance\u2014it\u2019s supposed to be sloppy and askew, because it contains everything to eat in the universe, plus fries. It\u2019s also a big deal among the regs here, who have 50 beers to choose from and think they may have stumbled on the perfect rock club for Bankers Hill. Tin Can Ale House 1863 Fifth Ave. 955-8525 Grant\u2019s Marketplace If Grant’s doesn\u2019t carry some of the best sandwiches in the universe, then no such sandwich exists. Such a sandwich, of course, wouldn\u2019t be complete without Boar\u2019s Head deli meats and bread from Bread & Cie, and the smarties at Grant\u2019s know this. Try The Californian. If the avocado doesn\u2019t get you, you probably don\u2019t belong on the planet. Grant\u2019s Marketplace 2953 Beech St. 231-0524 Steak Cowboy Star (see entry under Best Dinner) Donovan\u2019s Steak & Chop House Non-steak moments have their traditions at Donovan\u2019s, too. That\u2019s why the exceptional service includes a wide array of seafood to go with the elegantly appointed d\u00e9cor. But meanwhile, dig into the pork chops. You\u2019ll be struck so speechless by the taste that, ironically, you\u2019ll never be able to divulge your delight. Donovan\u2019s Steak & Chop House 570 K St. (also in La Jolla) 237-9700 www.donovanssteakhouse.com Sushi Hive Sushi Lounge If you can get past the name “Caterpillar Roll,” you\u2019ll enjoy this venue\u2019s particular delicacy for what it is\u2014it features eel and cucumber and is topped with avocado and eel sauce. There\u2019s a whole menu of stuff like this, and it\u2019s plastered with rolls, appetizers and drink specials for your listening and dancing pleasure. Hive Sushi Lounge 1409 C St. 702-6010 www.hivesushilounge.com Sushi Deli 2 Sushi Deli 2 carries most of the stuff on the menu of its Hillcrest counterpart, called, oddly enough, Sushi Deli 1. The difference is that Sushi Deil 2 is Downtown, so you get to enjoy the same delicious entries\u2014like the Big Monster or Spider rolls\u2014that they do up there (not to mention the legendary Sapporo beer). Dig in and wash down! Sushi Deli 2 135 Broadway 233-3072 www.sushideli2.com Seafood The Oceanaire Seafood Room Retro is the watchword at this exceptional Downtown eatery, its interior patterned after that of a 1930s ocean liner. (Maybe the chef hauls in his catch from one of the staterooms). And just because head chef Brian Malarkey left some weeks ago is no reason to stay away. The preparations and award-winning fare are still well in hand. The Oceanaire Seafood Room 400 J St. 858-2277 www.theoceanaire.com McCormick & Schmick\u2019s Tilapia and catfish are about as far apart geographically as they are gastronomically, but darned if McCormick doesn\u2019t serve them both, along with about 30 other seafood entrees. There\u2019s steak, too, and the cocktails will make you darn proud to wash it all down. McCormick & Schmick\u2019s 675 L St. 645-6545 www.mccormickandschmicks.com American Urban Solace (see entry under Restaurant) Dakota Grill & Spirits Skirt steak. Mashed potatoes. Prime rib. Mashed potatoes. Cheddar biscuits and goat cheese. Mashed potatoes. Plank salmon and crushed halibut. Mashed potatoes. Piano playing in the background. It doesn\u2019t get much more down-home than this, except maybe your meal could use a few more mashed potatoes. Dakota Grill & Spirits 901 Fifth Ave. 234-5554 www.cohnrestaurants.com BBQ Kansas City Barbeque There\u2019s a reason that the bar at Kansas City Barbeque is called the Top Gun. Turns out it was the setting for a couple scenes in the Tom Cruise movie of the same name. But it\u2019s the aroma that draws the patrons, inasmuch as it wafts all the way down Market Street. Barbecued beef, pork, chicken and all the sides are here for ya. Tom, however, is not. Get over it. Kansas City Barbeque 610 W. Market St. (619) 231-9680 www.kcbbq.net House of Blues Yeah, you know this venue for its great live acts and its parent company\u2019s place in the public mind. But check this out: HoB\u2019s passion for the South has guided the creation of its unique barbecue menu. Its chefs have developed artistic adaptations of traditional southern favorites such as Creole jambalaya and barbecue babyback ribs. HoB takes pride in serving those entries with soulful southern hospitality. House of Blues 1055 5th Ave. 299-2583 www.hob.com Asian Fusion Red Pearl Kitchen Tim and Liza Goodell had long sought the perfect location for their second Red Pearl Kitchen, and they found it in the heart of the Gaslamp. Their original Red Pearl Kitchen has been a mainstay of the Huntington Beach dining scene, and the San Diego restaurant follows suit, combining authentic Chinese\/East Asian recipes with a hip, contemporary bar scene. Red Pearl Kitchen 440 J St. 231-1100 Nobu Nobu, the world’s most recognized Japanese restaurant known for its innovative new-style Japanese Cuisine, launched here about two years ago at the Hard Rock Hotel. With the original in New York, the Nobu brand is now an empire that spans the globe, offering dishes such as yellowtail with jalapeno, tiradito Nobu style, rock shrimp tempura and blackcod with miso soup. The local entry even has a private room. Nobu 207 Fifth Ave. 814-4124 www.hardrockhotelsd.com Thai Lotus Thai With more than 40 combinations of noodle, stir-fry, curry and traditional entr\u00e9es and your choice of meat, seafood or vegetables and sauce, Lotus Thai has you covered in every respect. Just don\u2019t forget to order something with peanut sauce. Otherwise, it\u2019s not real Thai. Lotus Thai 906 Market St. 595-0115 Rama, a Thai Restaurant Amid its museumlike setting and its designers\u2019 eyes for architecture, Rama has staked a claim as among the finest Thai restaurants in town. In fact, the decor is almost a dish in itself. Ask to sit in the back room, with air chilled by a waterfall that flows over a towering rock wall. Rama, a Thai Restaurant 327 4th Ave. 501-8424 www.ramarestaurant.com Chinese Red Pearl Kitchen (see entry under Asian Fusion) Gen Lai Sen Seafood Restaurant Park Boulevard, of course, is the Downtown gateway to University Heights, sort of like Gen Lai Sen is your gateway to the wonders of Chinese fare, at least if you\u2019re uninitiated. And since Gen Lai Sen is on Park, that means a lot of gateways are flying around. Pay them no mind as you savor dishes like Hakka (stuffed tofu) and the seafood hot pot. Gen Lai Sen Seafood Restaurant 1065 Park Blvd. 239-5478 www.restaurantplace.com French Caf\u00e9 Chloe Caf\u00e9 Chloe likes to think it\u2019s where the East Village meets Paris chic. And by any definition, the comparison is pretty darn close. Check out the “Urban Tea” feature, which includes an assortment of sandwiches and housemade cakes. You\u2019ll see what they mean. Caf\u00e9 Chloe 721 9th Ave., #1 232-3242 www.cafechloe.com Currant (see entry under Sunday Brunch) Indian Masala \u2013 Spices of India If you don\u2019t try the Love Story at Masala, this newspaper can\u2019t be held responsible for what happens. How a simple bread and curried dip entry can make such an everlasting impression defies description. Maybe it\u2019s the hummus. Or the garlic. Or the other spices. Anyway, go find out. Masala \u2013 Spices of India<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Restaurant Urban Solace Downtowners are a curious bunch. We know this because sometimes that curiosity takes them off the beaten center-city path. Their favorite restaurant, after all, isn\u2019t even in Downtown; it\u2019s in North Park, which has a dynamic all its own. Urban Solace, founded two years ago, doesn\u2019t sit still any more than its […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":726,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"11556","_seopress_titles_title":"And the winner is... all of you! Here's the definitive 2009 list of the best Downtown eateries and drinkeries as reflected in our October hardcopy edition. Bon appetit!","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[11556,11547,11593,11550],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-301142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-downtown-news","category-features","category-no-images","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/301142","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/726"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=301142"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/301142\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=301142"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=301142"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=301142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}