San Diego's Best Bites

Turf Supper Club - Stay Classy San Diego

2010-06-21T16:03:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I had dinner with some friends at the Turf Supper Club in Golden Hill. This restaurant has been a mainstay in San Diego for as long as I can remember. Before the idea of grill-your-own steaks became trendy, the Turf Club was there, unassumingly and quietly creating a legacy. I'm pretty sure the decor hasn't changed since then either. From the wallpaper with horses wearing suits to the Pepto-Bismol pink walls in the ladies room, this place screams campy. The red leather booths up the ante when it comes to old-school lounge decor. But that's what makes it cool. A lot of new restaurants spend good money to achieve this aesthetic - the retro-chic look. But this place isn't "decorated" retro, it is retro. If Ron Burgundy were a real person, he would definitely be a regular at the Turf Supper Club.

The menu is limited, but the food is good and surprisingly cheap for what you get. We had a group of 8 people and we all had entrees, salads and at least one drink and the bill was under $200. The filet mignon was flavorful and tender, and since I grilled it myself, it was cooked just like I like it. The bloody Mary was just spicy enough and was served with two big green olives in it. Our waitress was even kind enough to bring us a few extra blue cheese stuffed olives to snack on. The salad was average, but then you don't really come to a steak place to eat salad. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meal and we all agreed that if you live in San Diego, you have to visit this San Diego classic.

Turf Supper Club
1116 25th St
San Diego, CA 92102
(619) 234-6363
http://www.turfsupperclub.com

Vagabond: Food to Satisfy Your Wanderlust

2010-02-04T10:32:00.000-08:00

If someone asked me how to describe the cuisine at Vagabond, I would explain it like this: If you were backpacking across Europe and stopped off at a small country inn for a bite to eat in the Alps in Switzerland, and then did the same thing in France, Spain, Italy and Germany, the combination of dishes you would have tasted could be placed on the menu and served at Vagabond.

When we first walked in, I noticed some writing in Spanish on the wall that loosely translated to "Here it is!" I asked my girlfriends if this was a Spanish restaurant, and they weren't sure even though at least one of them had been there before. When I looked at the menu, it didn't clear up the mystery. They served a random assortment of appetizers from pita and hummus to mussels and scallops. The entrees varied from pasta to beef with chimuchurri sauce to pork with plantains. Was it actually South American cuisine? Argentinian or Brazilian perhaps? We ordered the hummus and pita bread which came with large grilled shrimp on skewers. Maybe Mediterranean? They served warm crusty break like I remember having in Germany... but with an aioli garlic dipping sauce instead of butter. I decided not to worry about the type of food and just enjoy my meal. I ordered the Slow Roasted Peruvian Pork. The pork was juicy and tender and there was plenty of it. It was served atop sweet potatoes and garnished with thin sliced plantains. I had eaten plantains (a relative of the banana but less sweet), but usually as a side dish rather than as part of the meal. We ordered red and white wine, my preference being for the Riesling which complemented the sweetness of the pork. I ate way too much and felt absolutely stuffed afterward. We would have liked to stay longer, but the place was filling up and we didn't want to occupy a table unnecessarily.

Before leaving, I stopped by the ladies room. The decor reminded me of an old French farmhouse. It was so quaint I had to take a picture of the sink. I felt like I was in someone's home. I will gladly visit this place again, though having been there I'm still not entirely sure what type of cuisine we had. I guess it doesn't matter as long as we enjoyed our meal and left with full bellies.

VAGABOND: Kitchen of the World
2310 3Oth Street, San Diego CA 92104
Tel: 619.255.1035

Cheeburger Cheeburger may be missing an "S", but satisfies nonetheless

2010-01-13T13:10:00.000-08:00

During Lunch Week (the week between Christmas and New Year's), my coworkers and I went to a burger joint in Rancho Bernardo called Chee Burger Chee Burger. Apparently it's a chain, but there is only one in California. It's located in a strip mall on Carmel Mountain Road. The place is small and was really crowded so we had to wait a long time to get seated. It's decorated 50's style complete with a giant Betty Boop outside holding a serving tray.

There were a bunch of high school kids there that day, so perhaps they had a soccer game and were celebrating a win or something. By the time we were seated we were starving. We all ordered burgers and a big basket of French fries and another one of onion rings. There were 6 of us and it was plenty to split 6 ways. I ordered the bacon burger with grilled onions. It was big, meaty and delicious. Their burgers come in 3 different sizes, and I got the smallest one (1/3 lb.) It was plenty of food. Some of my male coworkers got the larger size and some got the smaller one with a shake. The burger was extremely messy which usually means it's greasy, but in this case I didn't mind. It really hit the spot. The fries and onion rings were good too, although I could only eat one onion ring due the amount of oil dripping off of it. Cheeburger Cheeburger is definitely not for the health conscious diner, but if you are really hungry and want a big, satisfying meal, then you won't be disappointed. Just be prepared to wait a while if you have a larger party.

Is it the best cheeseburger in San Diego? Perhaps not, but maybe the best in North County. Stay tuned for reviews of other burger joints that claim to have the best burger in San Diego.

The Kebab Shop takes the "o" out of kabob but puts flavor in your mouth

2009-12-21T16:59:00.000-08:00

My coworkers have an annual tradition called "Lunch Week". The week between Christmas and New Years is known as Lunch Week because the office is mostly empty, the managers are all on vacation, and the poor souls who stay behind to work like to take extended lunch breaks in order to visit new and interesting restaurants that might normally be out of range for a one-hour break. Even though lunch week doesn't technically start until next week, this year we started early. The first spot we hit up was The Kebab Shop downtown on the corner of 9th and Market. This is one of our favorite places for lunch and we'll drive a long way to get it.

Most people think of grilled meat on a stick when they hear the word "kabob". However, this isn't your standard kabob. The Kebab Shop serves Turkish döner kebabs which are popular all over Europe. Kebab shops in Germany are akin to our taco shops here in San Diego. Aside from being spelled differently, a döner kebab is more like what we think of as a gyro. The lamb döner kebab has the same style of seasoned meat that is cooked slowly on a rotisserie. However, the difference between a gyro and a döner kebab is the bread. Döner kebabs are wrapped in a thin, warm crispy flatbread that resembles a tortilla. (I am reminded of that SNL skit for Taco Town... If you don't know what I'm talking about, you can watch it on Hulu.com.) They serve it with lettuce, tomato, onion, cucumber and a delicious garlic yogurt sauce. They have both spicy and regular lamb döner kebabs, and I've tried both. I prefer to order the regular and then ask for a side of spicy sauce. That way I can spice it just the way I like it. They have a variety of sides such as tabouli, caprese salad, Greek salad, hummus and French fries. But unless you're really hungry, a kebab will probably fill you up all by itself. I can't recommend this place highly enough. I tell people about it every chance I get, but to really appreciate it, you just have to try it yourself.

The Kebab Shop - Downtown
30 9th Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
map

Phone: (619) 525-0055

Jersey Mike's sub sandwiches will blow your socks off

2009-12-15T10:26:00.000-08:00

A few months ago a coworker introduced me to Jersey Mikes. He said that they had the best sub sandwiches in town. Not being much of a sandwich person, I was not all that excited about it. However, he dragged us all there even though it was 20 minutes from our office. They had only been open for a few weeks at that location but already there was a line out the door. This is always a good sign, so I went in with an open mind.

He was not kidding. This place has amazing sandwiches. I ordered a turkey and provolone sub "Mike's Way" which means lettuce, tomato, mayo, onions, oil, vinegar, and oregano. The bread was crunchy on the outside but soft in the middle just like I like it. The turkey tasted like it was just carved on a Thanksgiving dinner table, and the toppings complimented the entire sandwich perfectly. This isn't a low cal sandwich with the cheese, oil and mayo, but you have to get it Mike's Way the first time and then you can start experimenting with your own combination of toppings.

They currently only have two locations in San Diego, one in Mission Valley and one in Mira Mesa. But judging by the line out the door, the quality of the food and the speedy customer service, I wouldn't be surprised if they open up more locations soon. And if not, trust me - the drive is worth it.

Jersey Mike's Subs - Mira Mesa
10764 Westview Parkway
Suite 101
San Diego, CA 92126
map

Phone: 858-578-0588

Under the Bridge Downtown... is Las Cuatro Milpas

2009-12-07T14:18:00.000-08:00

Two words to describe the food at this hole-in-the-wall near the Coronado Bridge - great tacos. There is not a lot else on the menu, so if you don't like tacos or are vegetarian, this probably isn't your kind of joint. They only serve pork or chicken tacos, burritos and tamales. But if you are a Mexican food purist, then it doesn't get any better than this. Even the rustic setting feels like Old Mexico.

The tortillas are homemade and the salsa is nice and hot. It's a unique blend of oily and spicy unlike any other place I've ever been to. I still haven't figured out what the gelatinous chunks in the hot sauce are, but it doesn't matter because they taste great. So grab yourself a canned soda to wash it down. Go early and plan on waiting in line as word has gotten out about this place and the line usually wraps around the building.

Las Cuatro Milpas - Barrio Logan
1857 Logan Avenue
San Diego, CA‎ 92113-2111
map

Phone: (619) 234-4460‎

Experience Russian-Georgian cuisine at Pomagranate

2009-12-04T23:54:00.000-08:00

If you've never had Russian food in San Diego, you're not alone. San Diego has more than it's share of taco shops, Italian trattorias, and even a good variety of Asian restaurants. But when it comes to eastern European cuisine, it's a little harder to find. So when my husband's Ukrainian coworker recommended a Russian-Georgian Restaurant in North Park, we were eager to give it a try. Having never been exposed to Russian food, I didn't know what to expect. I pictured goulash and beef stroganoff even though goulash is actually Hungarian. We had a hard time finding the place because for one thing we had the address wrong, but for another it's small and the sign isn't easy to see from the street. It turns out it's on El Cajon Boulevard right next Dao Son, a favorite Vietnamese restaurant of mine.

We met our friends there and they were drinking Russian Baltika beer, so of course we had to try it. I ordered a wheat beer, but they were out. So I tasted the pilsner, the amber lager and the light beer. I settled on the light beer because the others were a little too bitter for me. The light beer was delicious and quite large. Since nothing looked familar on the menu, I asked our friends and the waiter to recommend some dishes for us. We tried a few different appetizers including the Khachapuri cheese pie and the Vareniki, a potato and cheese dumpling. Both were delicious. I could have easily filled up on appetizers but I wanted to save room for my meal. Between the beer, the appetizers and the soft, warm bread with garlic herbed butter, I was already getting full.

Next my husband and I split a bowl of Borscht which is a beet soup with cabbage and beef. It was bright red, full of vegetables and very flavorful. We are both big fans of beets so the soup really hit the spot. I was a little worried that it would be too much dairy for me because the menu said it was served with a dollop of sour cream, but it wasn't enough to bother me.

For the main course I ordered Shashlik which is similar to a shish kabab. It comes in pork loin, chicken or lamb variety and is only served on Friday and Saturday nights. I ordered the chicken at the recommendation of the waiter. He also told me that when they served it they would ask me if I wanted the pomagranate syrup and I should say yes. My husband ordered the Russian Barbecue. When my dish arrived it was on a long skewer and they slid each chicken chunk onto the plate for me. As directed, I opted for the pomegranate syrup. The chicken was cooked just right--nice and tender but with a little bit of char. It was served with a pile of red onions, a grilled zucchini and a marinated tomato. No carbs in this meal which was a bonus for me as I'd been trying to avoid them. Everything was delicious, except for the marinated tomato which was a little too salty.

Although I have nothing to compare it to, I would definately recommend Pomegranate for a good, hearty meal that tastes like it was homemade. I imagine this is what my mom's cooking would taste like if I were Russian. I plan to return to try the beef stroganoff and some other things that looked intriguing but which I can neither spell nor pronounce. If the unfamiliar menu is intimidating, just ask the waiter for help choosing a dish. Ours was very helpful and his recommendations all proved to be good choices. I walked away satiated, satisfied and slightly tipsy from the very large beer. And although it wasn't cheap (our bill for 4 people came to $130), it was money well-spent for the unique experience and a chance to try something new.

Pomegranate
2302 El Cajon Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92104
map

Phone: (619) 297-4007‎

The Mission - Best Cinnamon Toast in Town

2009-10-31T16:02:00.000-07:00

Today my husband and I had breakfast with some friends at a quaint little place on Mission Blvd in Mission Beach which is aptly named "The Mission." There was a fairly large group of people waiting outside, so we were afraid the wait was going to be too long. However, the hostess told us it would only be 20 minutes so we decided to wait. And boy was it worth the wait.

The Mission has a great breakfast menu with a Latino breakfast section as well the traditional fare such as pancakes and waffles. They also have a great little coffee bar inside the restaurant which serves all sorts of fancy coffee drinks including soy cappuccinos which, being lactose intolerant, I was very happy to discover. I chose the chicken andouille sausage and eggs breakfast. The waitress brought out a giant plate of scrambled eggs, Adelle's chicken andouille sausage and crispy fried potatoes along with thick slices of what looked like homemade cinnamon toast. Normally it comes with rosemary toast, but a friend had told me about the amazing cinnamon toast so I had to try it. It did not disappoint. My husband had the soy chorizo and eggs which was served with black beans and tortillas. Everything was delicious, but I have to say my favorite was the toast. The cappuccino was equally amazing. It was so much food that we had to take about a third of mine home. I highly recommend this place if you are hungry and not in too much of hurry. There is no parking lot, so parking can be a hassle, especially on a weekend. But if you like good hearty food, strong coffee, and a funky beach town ambience, you will love The Mission. Happy dining!

The Mission - Mission Beach
3795 Mission Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92109
map
(858) 488-9060

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2009-10-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

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