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Say "bonjour" to this delightful French restaurant with a Breakfast at Tiffany’s vibe, where pink velvet booths and a center bar with an absinthe tower will leave you thinking you’ve died and gone to Paris. The French-inspired, four-course menu changes with the season, but expect labor-of-love cuisine like veal tartare, rabbit with spring peas, or duck with fig and black truffle; embrace the moment with ibérico ham and caviar or fresh-shucked oysters. Add the wine pairing for $75 and savor your meal beneath olive trees and twinkling stars.
2659 State St., Carlsbad, California, 92008, USA
Known For
- Cocktails inspired by the French Belle Epoque
- Raw oyster bar
- Four-course tasting menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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The elegant, dinner-only restaurant at Barona Resort is one of the few fine-dining venues east of San Diego. It caters to high rollers whose culinary choice often involves steak, thus the menu here lists a large selection of USDA Prime, including dry-aged porterhouse and buffalo rib eye, but there are seafood options, too.
1932 Wildcat Canyon Rd., Ramona, California, 92040, USA
Known For
- Dry-aged steaks
- Seafood options
- Remarkable rack of lamb
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Wed. No lunch, Reservations essential
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With its flowering trellises and vineyard views, the spacious patio at Thornton Winery's café is the perfect place to lunch on a sunny day. The kitchen, which faces the French country–style dining room, turns out lobster ravioli, margarita flatbread, sandwiches, and other hearty fare. The reasonably priced wines include the winery's signature sparklers.
32575 Rancho California Rd., Temecula, California, 92589, USA
Known For
- Bacon cheeseburger
- Sunday brunch
- Live music weekends April–Sept
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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Paying tribute to community around the campfire, it’s all about connecting here, both with the cool crowd and with the distinctive cocktail and dinner menus. Throughout the restaurant, subtle hints of the camping theme—canvas-backed booths, servers in flannels, leather menus branded with the Campfire log—are visible, but it’s the food that will leave you setting up camp, as chefs work their magic behind glass walls grilling, roasting, and smoking almost every dish including the oysters warmed over coals. The fire-roasted cabbage has a crunch, and the smoked brisket with coffee rub delivers with polenta and pickled tomatoes. Topping off the meal are tableside mini-Dutch ovens of hot coals for DIY s’mores with vanilla marshmallows, graham cookies, salted caramel, and chocolate ganache.
2725 State St., Carlsbad, California, 92008, USA
Known For
- Smoky cocktails
- Wood-fired American fare
- Innovative seasonal menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No lunch
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Situated next to grassy Powerhouse Park, Jake's feels like Southern Californian dining at its best—a beachfront location coupled with beautiful ocean views and the freshest ingredients. In a true aloha spirit, friendly servers are ready to tempt with cucumber margaritas and starters like macadamia-crusted calamari as well as items from the main menu, which is split "by garden," "by sea," and "by land," with options like the seafood pot, the chef's burger, and the barbecued ribs. Just steps from the sand, this is one of San Diego's best restaurants for mai tai sunsets.
1660 Coast Blvd., Del Mar, California, 92014, USA
Known For
- Prime beachfront location
- Iconic Hula Pie dessert, a thick wedge of macadamia nut ice cream on a chocolate cookie crust that's topped with chocolate fudge, whipped cream, and more macadamia nuts
- Sunday brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch on Mon.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Sample finger sandwiches, scones topped with whipped cream, and lavish sweets, which are served during afternoon tea inside the Clarence King House, built by Will Bosnell in 1898. Regular sandwiches, soups, salads, and a children's tea are also available. Seatings are at 11:30 am, 1 pm, and 2:30 pm. The attached shop sells soaps, cards, stationary, books, linens, and all things tea.
2124 3rd St., Julian, California, 92036, USA
Known For
- Homemade lemon curd and scones
- Bottomless tea
- Charming turn-of-the-century home
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed. No dinner, Reservations essential
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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
Known For
- Romantic waterfront dining
- Fresh oysters and sushi rolls
- Stunning sunsets
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The view of the shimmering Pacific from this lovely restaurant perched atop Del Mar Plaza is one of the best along the coast, and complements the simply prepared, beautifully presented seafood. The highly innovative menu is frequently rewritten to show off such creations as barbecue sugar-spice salmon with mustard sauce and soy-glazed halibut. The crowd ranges from young hipsters at the bar to well-dressed businesspeople on the outdoor terrace overlooking the surf, where glass screens block any hint of a chilly breeze. For something more casual, head to Pacifica's Breeze Cafe on the ground floor for breakfast and lunch.
1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, California, 92014, USA
Known For
- Incredible views of the Pacific
- Ever-changing, creative seafood menu
- Sunday brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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One of North County's best restaurants, across the street from the Del Mar Fairgrounds and racetrack, offers French cuisine with California flare. Chef-proprietor Jeffrey Strauss brings a caterer's sensibilities to the details, like a mix-or-match selection of sauces—such as wild mushroom, béarnaise, au jus, grain mustard, or peppercorn—to complement the simple but absolutely top-quality grilled meats and seafood. Appetizers can be very clever, like the Kim Chee seafood martini. Whatever you do, save room for dessert; you can watch the pastry chef build it for you at the demonstration area in the dining room. Popular sweet endings include apple tart tatin and chocolate peanut-butter bombe. The comfortable rooms are painted with murals of bucolic country scenes, and the service is quiet and professional.
514 Via de la Valle, Solana Beach, California, 92075, USA
Known For
- Exceptional service
- Comprehensive wine list and great martinis
- Traditional French sauces to accompany entrées
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential
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$$$ | Del Mar |
The menu at this American bistro changes quarterly but the clientele is here to stay, especially during summer months when people-watching becomes a sport. Grab a seat on the terrace if you’re lucky to enjoy such magical cocktails like a cucumber crush of grapefruit, vodka, and elderflower, and menu mainstays such as buttermilk-fried Jidori chicken, braised short ribs, and seared ahi tuna. For a collision of textures, try the sticky steam buns with crunchy chicken, or the crispy calamari with chipotle crema. This is a popular spot for weekend brunch.
215 15th St., San Diego, California, 92014, USA
Known For
- Half-off wine Tuesday and Thursday
- Truffle fettuccine
- No cork fee on Monday
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Cleverly drawing inspiration from near and “farms,” Chef Claudette Zepeda boldly colors outside the lines with a variety of dishes influenced by her travels to Mexico, Morocco, Philippines, and beyond. Grab a seat in the chic dining room where a crew of cooks in an open kitchen fire up a seasonally changing menu that features dishes like beef tartare topped with caviar, clams in a birria broth, or Brandt Farms rib eye with heavy marbling. You’ll be lucky to see the Iron Chef star in the house, since her nickname “Vaga” given by her grandmother, holds truth with this vagabond who works her way around the globe one kitchen at a time.
2100 N. Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas, California, USA
Known For
- Farm-fresh cuisine
- Menu by James Beard semifinalist, Claudette Zepeda
- Ocean-view dining
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$$$ | Carlsbad |
Restaurateur Roberto Vigilucci's fell in love with San Diego in the '80s and decided to bring Milan to North County with three eateries that are fine-dining experiences without the stuffiness. While each has its own character, Vigilucci's on historic State Street has an authenticity that’s hard to beat, right down to its street-side patio, bustling servers with thick Italian accents, and wine list that will leave you appreciating la bella vita. Roasted artichokes are blanketed in melted mozzarella, and paper-thin carpaccio is topped with a mound of peppery arugula. Edible orchids adorn entrées like the pan-seared scallops in truffle and brandy cream sauce, and fresh ravioli pocketed with homemade ricotta and spinach. Pace yourself for the crème brûlée with vanilla custard and a burnt sugar crust.
2943 State St., San Diego, California, 92008, USA
Known For
- Classic Italian menu
- Bustling outdoor patio
- Extensive wine list
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Step into South Coast Winery's dimly lit restaurant, where prices are high but wine pours are generous. Wooden pillars divide L-shape booths, and stained-glass windows of red roses that pay tribute to the name are the backdrop to a menu that delivers favorites like the charcuterie platter, Jidori chicken, and roasted salmon with heirloom tomato marmalade; hearty eaters will appreciate the selection of pork chop, Scottish salmon, and grilled filet mignon. Outdoor tables overlooking the lawn illuminated with market lights are equally romantic. Guests at South Coast Winery, or neighboring Carter Estate Resort, can charge their bill to the room.
34843 Rancho California Rd., Temecula, California, 92591, USA
Known For
- Generous portions
- Good service
- Steak and frites
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
