San Diego has a booming restaurant scene anchored by some great establishments, and 33 Pacific is near the top of that list. This high-quality American steakhouse under the guidance of chef Brian Hyre has built a serious fan following since opening a few years ago. His cuisine takes traditional favorites and executes them to perfection. Regulars rave about the spectacular steaks, cooked to order using high-quality cuts that practically melt in your mouth. If you’re not a fan of meat, the seafood options are equally excellent, with wonderful calamari, exceptional scallops, and very good sushi. The ambience is great, with a waitstaff that is warm, friendly, and very well-informed about the menu. Smart diners stop in at Happy Hour to sample some of 333 Pacific’s signature cocktails and appetizers. Their martinis are spectacular, flavored with a number of exotic infusions. The restaurant has also recently resumed serving lunch, satisfying a more casual crowd.

333 Pacific
333 N. Pacific Street
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 433-3333
www.cohnrestaurants.com/menu-restaurants/333-pacific

Wishing all of the mothers a very happy and relaxing Mother's Day surrounded by the ones you love.

There’s a large number of gifted French chefs who have made their way to Southern California in recent years, lured by the beautiful weather and availability of all kinds of fantastic ingredients. Tapenade’s Jean-Michel Diot steeped himself in the French culinary tradition, moved to New York to open famed restaurants like Les Halles and then decamped to the San Diego area to open his own restaurant in 1998. Tapenade is serious business all the time, from their fantastic tasting menu to their excellent and reasonably priced tapas. Menu items are traditional but creative, with some unexpected flavors mixed in. Ingredients are sourced locally and organically whenever possible, and dishes avoid the French stereotype of excessive butter and saucing. Prices are high, especially for the region, but you’re getting exceptional food and service. The location is a little off the beaten track, but it’s certainly worth the trip.

Tapenade
7612 Fay Avenue
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 551-7500
www.tapenaderestaurant.com