8 replies to this topic

[amccomb]

Hello!

My husband is going to a conference in a week, and is looking for some good restaurant suggestions near his hotel:

Best Western Seven Seas
411 Hotel Circle S

He likes pretty much anything. Cheap, ethnic, gourmet are all good. He can do one really expensive dinner, but would love some great local cheap eats as well.

Also, any good coffee places, or night life nearby?

Thanks!!

[Carolyn Tillie]

Does he have a car? Because -- I am sad to say -- that Hotel Circle is not an area known for good eats. The restaurants in the area are mostly known to provide cheap, mediocre food for convention goers while the better food in the city is in Hillcrest, downtown, and near the beaches. There is really nothing in walking distance...

[Tela T]

Would concur with the first comment - however - you can easily get a cab and all three areas mentioned are a very short ride away. Hillcrest is just over the hill and there are any number of restaurants with a 'wide' variety of choices - great place to get out and walk, with bookshops, cute shops (not that your hubby's into that ), etc. too. (Sorry, used to live there and partial to it!!)

[kalypso]

Hello!

My husband is going to a conference in a week, and is looking for some good restaurant suggestions near his hotel:

Best Western Seven Seas
411 Hotel Circle S

He likes pretty much anything.  Cheap, ethnic, gourmet are all good.  He can do one really expensive dinner, but would love some great local cheap eats as well. 

Also, any good coffee places, or night life nearby?

Thanks!!

With regard to food, Hotel Circle is often thought of as one of Dante's circles of hell. Yeah, it's not great, but it's not impossible either especially if he's got a car.

Bully's East on Camino del Rio South is a good place for Happy Hour and some sports bar type night life. It's 2 exits east of your husbands hotel. It's an old school, clubby steak house that actually specializes in prime rib. It's pretty solid from the food stand point but not particularly inexpensive.

The Better Half on University between 1st and 2nd in Hillcrest is currently running a $15 Blue Plate special. The Better Half (name because it serves only 1/2 bottles of wine) is a very good restaurant and this is a very good deal.

Terra in the Uptown shopping center is wonderful and next door to it is Aladdin's which does a very nice job with (Americanized) middle eastern food.

University between Park Blvd. and 1st Ave - a stretch that is probably 3-4 miles long - is restaurant row in Hillcrest. Parking is a pain, but there are probably almost 100 restaurants to choose from in almost every price range.

Jayne's Gastropub on 30th at Adams Ave has good food in a nice setting. I think it's a bit spendy for what you get.

Mayahuel on Adams just west of 30th serves up some really decent mole and great tacos. It's about 4-5 miles from the hotel.

There is a surfact street about a block or 2 west of the hotel that goes directly up into Mission Hills (I'm sorry I can't remember the name of it). This will put your husband very close to Parallel 33 which is at Washington and Goldfinch. Oliveto is in the same area, it's fairly new, not a lot of buzz about it yet.

Your husband's hotel is on one of the major East/West freeways in San Diego, I-8, on the North side of the freeway (the hotel is on the south side), he can find a King's Fish House (pretty decent, moderate to moderately high), Fuddruckers (don't laugh, this location is pretty good) and a Gordon Birsch.

On Friar's Rd. on the north side of I-8 are 2 major shopping centers. Fashion Valley has a PF Changs and Cheesecake Factory if he gets desparate, and truth be told, neither one is bad. There is a new restaurant called Bing Crosby (yes, like the crooner) in this complex serving fairly upscale meals. Further east along Friars is a shopping center anchored by a Ralph's and Long's. There are several small mom and pop places here. El Portal is probably the best of the lot, though the Indian place wasn't too bad last time I tried it.

Your husband can also take state route 163 north to the Mesa College Drive exit. Turn left at the top of the exit, cross the freeway and go to the first stoplight and turn right. This is Linda Vista Rd, it will eventually become Convoy St. which is where the majority of Asian restaurants in SD are located. Emerald, Jasmine and China Max are 3 of the better known, easier to find places. You can find just about anything on Convoy St.

Try these two links for local restaurants

SignOnSanDiego Click on the entertainment link

San Diego Reader Scroll down to the restaurant link

On either site you need to look at Hillcrest, East (or central) San Diego for options closest to the hotel. Hotel Circle was built a long time ago and mostly for lodging not food. It's not an easy location for food oriented people.

[martha]

I believe there is also an In N out burger on the other side of I-8. Cheap and good. Also, the Reader reviewer, Naomi Wise, seems to really like Roseville in Point Loma. It's certainly on my 'to do' list this year.

We tried the blue plate special at the better half a few weeks ago and it was great. We had a delicious meatloaf and a game-based chili with tons of flavor.

[AVFOOL]

Hello!

My husband is going to a conference in a week, and is looking for some good restaurant suggestions near his hotel:

Best Western Seven Seas
411 Hotel Circle S

He likes pretty much anything.  Cheap, ethnic, gourmet are all good.  He can do one really expensive dinner, but would love some great local cheap eats as well. 

Also, any good coffee places, or night life nearby?

Thanks!!

I hope I reply in time for your husband to go to some of my suggestions.
1. Arridavecci is a good Italian restaurant on 4th in Hillcrest.
2. Yakitori on 6th in Hillcrest is a good Japanese Yakitori place with cheap food and great beer and sake
3. Emerald Chinese Restaurant 858-565-6888 on Convoy is a good chinese restaurant. They have a special late night menu after 9pm that is really cheaper ($5 to 8 per entre)
4. Thai House on Convoy is also good
5. Celadon on 6th in Hillcrest is another good Thai Restaurant.
6. Give Blue Point 5th downtown a try. Jan 11 to Jan 16 is Restaurant week and they have $30 - 3 courses meal that you should try
7. For high end try Bertrand at Mr. A (downtown SD) for view and great french food. Good deal during restaurant week - $40 for 3 courses.
That takes care of one week.

[Carolyn Tillie]

2. Yakitori on 6th in Hillcrest is a good Japanese Yakitori place with cheap food and great beer and sake

You reminded me of Ichiban -- are they still in business? 20 years ago, I ate there once a week....

[AVFOOL]

2. Yakitori on 6th in Hillcrest is a good Japanese Yakitori place with cheap food and great beer and sake

You reminded me of Ichiban -- are they still in business? 20 years ago, I ate there once a week....

I never been to Ichiban so I don't know.

[Kouign Aman]

Both locations of Ichiban are still going strong (Hillcrest, PB). Same menu & prices, and they swear they are not affiliated. Go figure.
Hillcrest offers an early bird special M-?Th? (maybe Friday) - from 4 - ?6? sushi orders are half price, limit 4 orders per person.
As you can tell from my excellent grasp of the details, a visit to their website would be wise for planning purposes.

If husband is into steak, Hunter's is at the west end of the mission valley hotel circle circuit. Good baby back ribs too.