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Dining in the North County tends to reflect the land where the restaurant is located. Along the coast, for example, there is one luxury fine-dining spot after another. Most have dramatic water views and offer platters of exquisite fare created by graduates of the best culinary schools. Right next door you can wander into a typic
Dining in the North County tends to reflect the land where the restaurant is located. Along the coast, for example, there is one luxury fine-dining spot after another. Most have dramatic water views and offer platters of exquisite fare created by graduates of the best c
Dining in the North County tends to reflect the land where the restaurant is located. Along the coast, for example, ther
Dining in the North County tends to reflect the land where the restaurant is located. Along the coast, for example, there is one luxury fine-dining spot after another. Most have dramatic water views and offer platters of exquisite fare created by graduates of the best culinary schools. Right next door you can wander into a typical beach shack or diner for the juiciest hamburger you’ve ever tasted. Locally sourced food can be found at restaurants throughout the area, although a few chefs have adopted molecular gastronomic techniques. Backcountry cuisine is generally served in huge portions and tends toward home-style cooking, steak and potatoes, burgers, and anything fried.
Breakfast foodies religiously line up for a table at this cheerful A-frame restaurant for the chance to dig into wholesome food made from scratch like organic quinoa Benedict, multigrain pancakes, and French toast stuffed with fresh ricotta. Built from reclaimed wood and salvaged bricks, the eatery has a green roof, solar panels, and is insulated with recycled denim—all of which helped it earn platinum LEED status. Breakfast is served all day, but you can opt for sandwiches, salads, and burgers for lunch. You also can’t go wrong with the Thai steak salad made with grass-fed Angus or the cucumber and avocado sandwich with a side of homemade potato chips. The attached grab-and-go bakery opens at 7 am for train commuters. There is even a doggie menu for patio-side pooches.
246 N. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach, California, 92075, USA
Over the past decade, this coveted ocean-view spot in Del Mar has seen restaurants come and go, but finally Monarch did it right by transforming an 8,000-square-foot facility into dining space, an entertainment venue, and a sundeck for patrons and their pups. Inside, the California coastal menu itself is as cool as the 1970s decor, with rattan furniture and a poster of Tom Selleck greeting you at the door; outside a bridge connects the restaurant to “Monarch Park” where grab-'n'-go goodies can be enjoyed with live music Thursday–Sunday. Good luck wrapping your mouth around the short rib pastrami sandwich, brined for five days and piled high on toasted marbled rye. There’s no skimping on the lobster and shrimp roll, and the boat fries are perfect for scooping homemade ranch or aioli dip. Burgers, salads, and wood-fired smoked wings are just the right portions to save room for the Hawaiian doughnuts with Tahitian vanilla gelato.
1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, California, 92014, USA
This casual beachy-style eatery offers sweeping ocean views and seasonal Pacific Coast fare that reflects California's Mexican and Asian influences with dishes like seabass tacos and ahi poke bowl. Evenings are a scene, as attractive beachy types sip microbrews and well-priced wines along with morsels from the sushi bar; dinner in the spacious dining room or on the dog-friendly sunny patio brings porcini-crusted scallops with corn-truffle puree, or plum-ginger–braised short ribs washed down with a margarita that sings with fresh lime and lemon juice.
2526 S. Hwy. 101, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, 92007, USA
Get ready for savory perfection with a concept built around locally sourced ingredients from ranchers, fishermen, and farmers who are dedicated to their harvest and sharing the beauty of their bounty. While the all-day breakfasts are a hit, it’s what’s between the bread that matters, like Brandt beef patty burgers, smoked tri trip sandwiches, and beef sliders with house-made chips. Order at the counter for breakfast and lunch, or take it up a notch after 4 pm with full-service dinners offering dry-aged Brand beef with Chino Farms greens. The Chef’s daily Brand Beef Tasting menu is what keeps customers loyal. If you fall in love with a cut, simply order any dry-aged steak from the onsite butcher with a bottle of wine from the in-house market.
512 Via de la Valle, Solana Beach, California, 92075, USA
For inexpensive comfort food, this desert diner serves sandwiches, pasta, burgers, and chicken-fried steak with thick fries. This is the area's best breakfast joint, with menu highlights including cinnamon French toast and smoked salmon eggs Benedict. For super fresh ingredients, request organic goods plucked from their adjacent vegetable garden. The full bar and pet-friendly patio are great on sunny days.
721 Ave. Sureste, Borrego Springs, California, 92004, USA
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