lixeylibrarian

yes--what a great restaurant. We have lived in PHX for a month and just finally got there yesterday for lunch. We had the spring rolls, the seafood pho and a pork noodle dish. All were amazing! We met some wine people at Mondavi and they really like it because it's BYOB? is that true? if so how awesome!

I live in San Diego and one of my new favorite places is Chef Lau's. http://entertainment.signonsandiego.com/profile/271234 It's great Asain Tapas at a really reasonable price. Dumpling wrapers and noodles are made fresh--they claim they are one of the few in the US who make these from scratch. Atmosphere is great, and not your typical paper placemats with Chinese birth signs on it. Another great place is Region. www.regionrestaurant.com Region is seasonal regional cuisine and strictly goes by this philosophy. It is really reasonably priced and on Tuesdays there is a prix fix - three course for only $31. However, you cannot chose your own dishes on Tuesday, which can be a drag because all the food there is so good. El Indio of course is a classic http://entertainment.signonsandiego.com/profile/86646 Great Mexican and the nachos come with cheese sauce (my embarassing weakness) Mmmmm......cheese sauce Point Loma does have the best seafood. One of my classmates (I'm a culinary student) works there and can filet a fish like a........you finish the metaphor. Cafe Cerise http://www.cafecerise.com/ Although I have not personally been here yet, I have only heard amazing things about this place and even better I heard it is a great lunch spot. No lunch on Sat., which makes it hard for me to get to.

Five Feet Restaurant 328 Glenneyre St. Laguna Beach, CA 92651 949-497-4955 The best duck I've ever had. And the wine brats call it a savvy spot. (I actually went there because of the wine list) And the Travel Channel said this about it: Best Original Eurasian 5'0" (Five Feet) Where: 328 Glenneyre, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 Phone: 949-497-4955 Hours: Sun - Thu 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; Fri - Sat 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Prices: $18 — $30 entrees When 5'0" (Five Feet) made its culinary debut, the restaurant offered a rarely seen blend of Asian techniques and ingredients and California cuisine, helped create the title "Eurasian," and sparked a culinary outbreak of copycat restaurants around the country. Today, the food fusion may seem less unusual, but the flavors are no less incredible. The menu changes daily, but regularly features delights such as crispy catfish and a stir-fried chicken in a savory curry-mint sauce. Back to Top Although this talks about another location that opened it gives some insight: http://www.coastmagazine.com/cuisine/cuisine_403.html Javier's is the best Mexican in town--get the ceviche. Las Brisas--I actually think that it is owned by the people who own El Torito--the chain. I took some friends their from out of town and no one was that impressed.

Yes to Region! Although the acoustics are terrible on busy nights it really is the best dining in San Diego. Tuesday is the night to go as that is when the ingredients are at their freshest. Why I love Region: The first time we went was a Saturday, and with a group of people I was just meeting for the first time. Although the food was AMAZING the experience was less than perfect due to the fact that I could hardly hear what the person next to me was saying. But a few weeks later, the chef came to the school I work at--to talk to a class. The students were all excited about this restaurant, so I had to try it again. My partner and I went on a Saturday. It was busy but talking across the table wasn't so bad this time. Chef Michael came out to our table and talked to us and we chatted about Chino Farms. He told us to come back on Tuesday when the ingredients were fresh. After our meal we got a tour of the kitchen. We then made reservations for Tuesday. We went back the following Tuesday and got Trust the Chef--a four course meal with the courses chosen by the chef. We made friends with the sommelier and also spoke with our server from the previous Sat. On our way out Chef Michael caught us and apologized for not coming out to our table before. He asked us how our meal was and we told him we especially enjoyed the strawberry dessert. Guess what? He went up to his kitchen and brought us down a basket of strawberries. We have standing reservations on Tuesdays. Also one of the Tuesdays we were there we invited a Culinary Student with us. Again he came out to our table and invited her (and us) back into the kitchen for a tour--super deluxe this time because there was a future chef with us. The staff is great and the food is organic, fresh, and from local farms. It is also a slow food restaurant. So, San Diego might not be the most evolved culinary city, however I think that with two culinary schools and the recent progess it has made in terms of restaurants like Region it is making strides to become better than mediocre.

Sushi on the Rocks in La Jolla is very good and great atmosphere and in the Village. Carolyn, thanks for the welcome. I just moved to La Jolla, and am a librarian at a culinary school in Mission Valley. I came across eGullet in my research---

Candela's in the Gaslamp has hands down the best service in town. Although a little spendy for Mexican, it is amazing, romantic and unique. My favorite place for a good first drink out of work is at The Bitter End. They have a black martini, which is espresso and booze. Picks you up and puts you down. Lou and Mickey's also has some classic cocktails that cannot be beat---several from which more than one person can drink. Taka Sushi really is the best Sushi in town and it happens to be in the Gaslamp. Here is their website: http://www.takasushi.com/ Wahoo's although a chain, still my favorite fish tacos. There is one in La Jolla, a block from where I live so I eat them at least once a week. Anthony's Fish Grotto is the classic San Diego seafood joint. http://www.gofishanthonys.com/ And finally, what I have deamed as my best overall dining experience in San Diego---dum.dum.dum The Marine Room. It's in La Jolla so you would have to take a cab but they have a great tasting menu and paired with wine it really is a great deal. In addition they are right on the beach and during high tide the waves actually crash against the windows. I've been meaning to get to the Beach at the W--the roof top bar and Chive is on my list of must get to restaurants. Everyone I talk to says it's good. Have fun!