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333 Pacific: Quality’s Address

May 16, 2012 By

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

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Tapenade: Fantastic French With Passion

May 8, 2012 By

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

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Allen’s Alley: A Breakfast Must in Vista

April 17, 2012 By

This area has a lot of quality options for breakfast, but one name that comes up time and time again is Allen’s Alley. This quaint café located in downtown Vista is the longest continually-operating restaurant in town, and the years of experience have enabled them to offer up a menu loaded down with delightful dishes. The biscuits and gravy here are widely considered to be the best in southern California, with rich, peppery pork gravy blending perfectly with golden, flaky biscuits. To take it a step further, go for the country Benedict, which throws in a poached egg, and ham steak over an English muffin. Hotcakes are also great, cooked to perfection and served with thick-cut, crispy bacon. Lunch and dinner also come highly recommended, with thick, juicy burgers a particular standout. The place is quite small, but tables outside accommodate diners looking to fill their bellies no matter what the weather.

Allen’s Alley
124 Hanes Place
Vista, CA 92084
(760) 726-4433
www.allensalleycafe.com

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333 Steak & Seafood

April 16, 2012 By

Enjoy a sunset dining at 333, for all taste buds they offer a wide variety of foods and drinks to choose from. Come and enjoy Seafood Specialties, Steaks & Chops, and sushi rolls or their amazing happy hour choices, such as; Crab, shrimp and lobster nachos, or Tempura Vegetable Basket served with an amazing chili sauce.

There is so much more, so I can say with experience you must try it out for yourself to understand why 333 is a wonderful choice for Oceanside dining. Great Deals for the month of April Vodka Lounge at 333 Pacific from 4-10pm every Wednesday in April for $5 cocktails featuring Ultimat Luxury Vodka. Try our Arctic Fox, Ultimat Orange Crush and Ultimat Razz. This is for all our Vodka Lounge regulars–we heard you!

For more information, call 760-433-3333.

Normal Happy Hours

Mon-Thurs 4-7 PM
Fri-Sun 3-7 PM

Lounge: M-Th 4pm & Fri-Sun 3pm
Dinner: Nightly at 5pm
Lunch: Fri-Sun 11:30am – 3pm

333 Steak & Seafood
333 N. Pacific St. Oceanside, CA
p: 760.433.3333

 

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Beach Break Cafe: Take a Break For Breakfast

April 10, 2012 By

Widely considered to knock out some of the best morning meals in town, Oceanside’s Beach Break Café has been delivering high-quality breakfasts to locals by the side of Highway 101 for years. You won’t find anything fancy here, but everything on the menu is prepared to perfection. The omelets are amazing, made with four farm-fresh eggs and a rich selection of fillings, like the signature Beach Breaker omelet, stuffed with sautéed bay shrimp and avocado and topped with a mixture of melted cheese. Get a side of biscuits and gravy for a special treat. Regulars also rave about the banana crunch French toast, which is incredibly decadent and delicious. Portions are gigantic, so you’re guaranteed to go home stuffed. The décor is reminiscent of a day at the beach, with surfboards hanging on the walls and flatscreen TVs showing videos of pros ripping curls. The place can get really busy—a testament to its local popularity—so show up early to get a table if you don't want to wait.

Beach Break Café
1802 S. Coast Highway
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 439-6355
www.beachbreakcafe.menutoeat.com

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Rhelm Wine for the Grape Lover in You!!

April 9, 2012 By

RELM ~ Relax, Enjoy, Laugh More is the adage that A Wine,Beer and Bistro lounge for the everyday California dreaming resident. Located just a few blocks from the beach in the beautiful town of Carlsbad, RELM is known for good eats, drinks, and more! Whether your on a date night or out for a girls or guys night this place is for all outings and the prices are excellent. Art and Wine for sale on the spot, come experience this relaxing atmosphere.

Summer Hours of Operation
Sun: 3pm-9pm
Mon: CLOSED
Tues & Wed: 3pm -10 pm
Thu-Sat: 3pm-11pm

NEW HAPPY HOUR
Weekdays: 3-6 pm
Phone: 760-434-WINE (9463)
Email: events@thewinerelm.com
Address: 2917 State Street, Carlsbad CA 92008

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Fish House Vera Cruz: Savor the Bounty of the Sea

March 20, 2012 By

This fantastic seafood restaurant has become a local success story, expanding rapidly since opening its original San Marcos location—and for good reason. The menu is overflowing with amazing delicacies, from the amazing sourdough bread with butter that greets you at your table—rivaling anything that comes from San Francisco’s best bakeries—to the unreal fish dishes. The restaurant features a regular menu, and then offers 15 – 20 additonal varieties depending on what's fresh each day. Regulars rave about the clam chowder, which is expertly prepared, as well as the spectacular shrimp cocktail. For entrees, the “poor man’s lobster," a cleverly-cooked monkfish, is a winner, as is the swordfish. There are also an combos of shrimp and scallops or lobster and king crab, so you can sample an array of seafood delights. One of the best aspects of Fish House Vera Cruz is that nothing is fried, letting you taste the excellent quality of the fish in every meal. For a side, don’t skip out on the delicious Romano potatoes, made with fragrant cheese, as they’re one of the best reasons to go.

Fish House Vera Cruz
360 Via Vera Cruz
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 744-8000 ‎
www.fishhouseveracruz.com

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101 Cafe: Highway to a Heavenly Breakfast

March 13, 2012 By

Starting life as a humble hash house on Highway 101 that was known for all-day breakfast, the 101 Café has become an Oceanside institution in the eighty-plus years it’s been in business. Step inside and you’ll be surrounded by a wide selection of memorabilia that chronicles the growth of the town, which is great to get lost in while you’re waiting for your food. You won’t have to wait long, though, as service is fast and professional. Breakfast is still served all day, and it’s the best stuff on the menu. 101 Café’s omelets are perfect, with expertly-marbled eggs prepared with a wide selection of fillings. More demanding diners rave about the chicken fried steak and eggs, a classic diner-style breakfast that’s executed to perfection. Burgers are also great, with an excellent version served on hearty sourdough bread. Satiate your sweet tooth with a hand-dipped milkshake and go home happy.

101 Café
631 South Coast Highway
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 722-5220
www.101cafe.net

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Pacifica Del Mar: Fantastic Food With Ocean Views

February 21, 2012 By

One of San Diego’s best restaurant views comes at Pacifica Del Mar, a fantastically-located fine dining palace in Del Mar. Overlooking the water, the ambience is spectacular, and the food more than matches it. Pacifica Del Mar specializes in fresh, inventively-prepared seafood, with fantastic oysters, shrimp, and fish dishes winning raves from visitors. The crown jewel of the bar is the International Vodka Bar, which offers a staggering 75 of the world’s best vodkas. Gone are the days when a vodka was judged by how little you noticed its presence—these are artisanal spirits with a variety of tastes and profiles. The bar menu offers snacks made with the same care and craft as the service menu. Drinks are $1 off at Happy Hour. Show up early in the summer months to get a seat on the outside deck and take in a fantastic Pacific sunset.

Pacifica Del Mar
1555 Camino Del Mar
Del Mar, CA 92014
(858) 792-0476
www.pacificadelmar.com

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Karl Strauss Brewing Company: San Diego’s First Microbrewery

February 14, 2012 By

The craft beer craze has hit San Diego just like everywhere else in the nation, but the trailblazers have been Karl Strauss Brewing, which has expanded to include an amazing six brewpubs in the region. Originally started by two college friends in 1989, Karl Strauss has developed a business that produces 30 types of beer a year—six standards and a wide range of specialty drafts. At their brewery restaurants, you can get it straight from the tap or in a “growler” to take home. As for food, it’s quality bar grub, served in sizable portions that are conducive to sharing. The garlic fries are especially raved about, their salt and flavor making a perfect complement to a fresh mug of beer. The atmosphere is friendly and semi-casual, and the place definitely fills up after 5 p.m. as people get off work and want to wash the day away with an amber glass of excellent beer.

Karl Strauss Brewing Company
1157 Columbia St
San Diego, CA
(619) 234-2739
http://www.karlstrauss.com

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