Cafe India

This restaurant is located just a few blocks from the Sports Arena. They offer a regular menu but the wisest choice is their vegetarian buffet. The buffet features several appetizer and entree choices. If you prefer meat with your meal you can order a side of a chicken or lamb curry to supplement the buffet. The buffet also comes with a dessert, but I recommend asking about "the carrot thing" which is a surprising confection of shredded carrot, walnuts, honey and cardamom.

Old Town Mexican Cafe

OTMC is a San Diego institution located in the heart of Old Town. There is a bar connected to the restaurant that specializes in margaritas. There is usually a very long wait on weekends but it is deifinitely worth it. Tortillas are made by hand on a large grill located in the front of the restaurant which can also be seen through the front window. The house specialty is the carnitas.

Indigo Grill

Indigo Grill is another collaboration of the Cohen Restaurant group and Deborah Scott, a clear indication of quality dining in San Diego. The menu is native american/latin fusion based. There is a very extensive selection of margaritas! I highly recommend the vegetarian entree "Good Things Growing".

Kemo Sabe

Kemo Sabe is part of the Cohen Restaurant group and the executive chef is Deborah Scott. This restaurant has an innovative menu of asian fusion items. The nut crusted brie is by far the best appetizer and the chocolate hazelnut napoleon is a great way to finish a fantastic meal.

Kensington Video

This video store is independently owned and has the best selection in San Diego. While not as well-organized as the large corporate video stores, the staff is always willing to help locate a movie. They carry many independent and foreign titles that are impossible to find at other video stores

Kensington Grill

Kensington Grill is located in a great pocket of San Diego. Adjacent to the independent "Ken" theater, it is an excellent restaurant for a "dinner and a movie" date. The restaurant is beautifully decorated in neutral colors. The bar is well stocked and they offer half price bottles of wine on Wednesday nights. They recently added a small boutique of gift and gourmet items in the waiting area.

The menu chagnes through the seasons. I highly reccomend the carmelized onion tart and mango-brie quesadilla for appetizers. The entrees are well done, though the vegetarian options are hit-or-miss.

Moana Hotel And Restaurant Group LLC

Piatti's is located near La Jolla Shores. It is a lovely dining experience away from the chaos of downtown La Jolla. Though it is part of a chain with locations throughout California, Piatti seems like a family run operation. The staff is very professional and always willing to accomodate requests. The patio is a lovely place to dine. The Italian menu is quite extensive. Tables are generously served bread and a house olive oil dip that is truly amazing

Sbicca an American Bistro

Sbicca is located in the heart of Del Mar. The dining area is quite small and the majority of the tables are on a heated patio. There is also a small bar for appetizers and happy hour specials. Don't miss the bathroom! The walls are beautifully tiled, the prettiest restroom I've ever been in. Unfortunately, they only have one restroom per gender so there can be a wait.

The food is reasonably priced for the quality. They offer half-priced bottles of wine a few nights a week. Some of the entrees are surprisingly large for a bistro establishment

Original Paw Pleasers Bakery

This is such a cute store. They recently changed locations to University Avenue. They bake some very special pet treats (tempting even for humans) and also have a lot of great upscale pet merchandise.

Laguna Trends Uptown

This store is great for those last minute gift purchases. The prices tend to run a bit higher than similar stores in the area. The card selection is small but they have original products. Gift wrap is beautiful but pricey.