Guidebook for Santee
Food Scene
Cute and affordable Italian restaurant with handmade pasta. Feels like a fancy restaurant without the big price tag. Has outdoor seating. Located in a trendy neighborhood where free parking is generally easy to find.
We love the tagliatelle with bolonese (this is the only place we order such a simple dish), the mushroom ravioli, and any of their daily specials.
125 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Piacere Mio
1947 Fern StCute and affordable Italian restaurant with handmade pasta. Feels like a fancy restaurant without the big price tag. Has outdoor seating. Located in a trendy neighborhood where free parking is generally easy to find.
We love the tagliatelle with bolonese (this is the only place we order such a simple dish), the mushroom ravioli, and any of their daily specials.
Amazing Vegan restaurant even meat eaters will love! Great selection of craft cocktails, interesting decor. We love the beet risotto.
140 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
KINDRED
1503 30th StAmazing Vegan restaurant even meat eaters will love! Great selection of craft cocktails, interesting decor. We love the beet risotto.
Our favorite nearby spot. Features hand tossed, wood-fire pizza and craft beer. We particularly love their wings - regular dry rub with hot sauce on the side. Locals love the baked potato pizza.
9 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
URBN El Cajon
110 Magnolia AvenueOur favorite nearby spot. Features hand tossed, wood-fire pizza and craft beer. We particularly love their wings - regular dry rub with hot sauce on the side. Locals love the baked potato pizza.
Fantastic menu, affordable prices. They feature whole sale prices on wine stocked throughout the restaurant with only a $5 corkage fee (no corkage for bottles to go). The kitchen is open late. You can find yourself a high quality $10 bottle of wine and order a steak at 1 am. They also feature Sunday brunch until 3 pm with endless mimosas and equally great prices.
180 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
The 3rd Corner Wine Shop & Bistro
2265 Bacon StFantastic menu, affordable prices. They feature whole sale prices on wine stocked throughout the restaurant with only a $5 corkage fee (no corkage for bottles to go). The kitchen is open late. You can find yourself a high quality $10 bottle of wine and order a steak at 1 am. They also feature Sunday brunch until 3 pm with endless mimosas and equally great prices.
Hands down... best coffee is San Diego. Anyone who moved here from Seattle will tell you this.
124 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Caffè Calabria
3933 30th StHands down... best coffee is San Diego. Anyone who moved here from Seattle will tell you this.
Fantastic view of Downtown and great food. You can find things that aren't too pricey on the menu, but if you want a really fancy night out, this is it. Lobster mac & cheese, fish, pasta. Right on the water. Walk-ins only. Don't sit on the side that takes reservations... the best views are on the C-Level side, specifically at sunset or after dark.
130 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
C Level Lounge
880 Harbor Island DrFantastic view of Downtown and great food. You can find things that aren't too pricey on the menu, but if you want a really fancy night out, this is it. Lobster mac & cheese, fish, pasta. Right on the water. Walk-ins only. Don't sit on the side that takes reservations... the best views are on the C-Level side, specifically at sunset or after dark.
Ocean side restaurant, 3 levels, each with great views. The menu can be a bit pricey. If you want a table, you have to order lunch/dinner. We often just order drinks on the 3rd level where you can still enjoy the view. We love their espresso martini.
248 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
George's at the Cove
1250 Prospect StOcean side restaurant, 3 levels, each with great views. The menu can be a bit pricey. If you want a table, you have to order lunch/dinner. We often just order drinks on the 3rd level where you can still enjoy the view. We love their espresso martini.
Ocean view seafood restaurant with great happy hour specials that can make for an affordable meal in a high priced area. Happy hour is 3pm - 7pm daily.
10 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Crab Catcher
1298 Prospect StOcean view seafood restaurant with great happy hour specials that can make for an affordable meal in a high priced area. Happy hour is 3pm - 7pm daily.
Ocean side seafood restaurant, worth the price! Best scallops in San Diego. Bring beach attire and swim in the ocean before or after your meal. More affordable during lunch or mid-day happy hour, but we love their dinner menu.
110 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Jake's Del Mar
1660 Coast BlvdOcean side seafood restaurant, worth the price! Best scallops in San Diego. Bring beach attire and swim in the ocean before or after your meal. More affordable during lunch or mid-day happy hour, but we love their dinner menu.
Our favorite sushi spot in Ocean Beach. The owner is a pescetarian and cares deeply about the quality of the fish.
78 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
The Joint - Award Winning Sushi, Tapas, Brunch, & Craft Beer
4902 Newport AveOur favorite sushi spot in Ocean Beach. The owner is a pescetarian and cares deeply about the quality of the fish.
Best Mediterranean restaurant in San Diego. Everything is house made, even the tzatziki sauce. Salmon dishes are medium rare, which we love. Share the Bees Board with a bottle of wine! Features views of the ocean from the second floor. Primarily outdoor seating. Make a reservation for sunset.
9 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Beeside Balcony
1201 Camino Del MarBest Mediterranean restaurant in San Diego. Everything is house made, even the tzatziki sauce. Salmon dishes are medium rare, which we love. Share the Bees Board with a bottle of wine! Features views of the ocean from the second floor. Primarily outdoor seating. Make a reservation for sunset.
Great place to stop on your way back from San Diego. Local pub with inventive burgers, sliders, and sandwiches. Try the Grilled Soy Ginger Wings! Sometimes we just order 2 of those and nothing else. Nothing fancy, which makes it great after a day at the beach or after a hike.
34 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
The Hills Local Pub
8758 La Mesa BlvdGreat place to stop on your way back from San Diego. Local pub with inventive burgers, sliders, and sandwiches. Try the Grilled Soy Ginger Wings! Sometimes we just order 2 of those and nothing else. Nothing fancy, which makes it great after a day at the beach or after a hike.
Ethiopian food served over injera bread. Casual dining. Everything on the menu is delicious! No silverware, use your hands with the injera bread to grab your food. They'll bring additional rolls of injera bread if you run low. Reheats well for great leftovers.
57 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Muzita Abyssinian Bistro
4651 Park BlvdEthiopian food served over injera bread. Casual dining. Everything on the menu is delicious! No silverware, use your hands with the injera bread to grab your food. They'll bring additional rolls of injera bread if you run low. Reheats well for great leftovers.
Travel channel food critic, Andrew Zimmerman deemed this his favorite Ramen in the US. Walk-ins only. Use the iPad just outside the entrance to add yourself to the waitlist. Lowest wait times are at lunch and during the week. If going during busy times, arrive early, add your name to the list, then grab a drink at the Bull Pen while you wait. Watch the waitlist on your phone closely... get back when there are 8 guests ahead of you. They turn tables over fast and you don't want to miss your name.
24 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Menya Ultra
8199 Clairemont Mesa BlvdTravel channel food critic, Andrew Zimmerman deemed this his favorite Ramen in the US. Walk-ins only. Use the iPad just outside the entrance to add yourself to the waitlist. Lowest wait times are at lunch and during the week. If going during busy times, arrive early, add your name to the list, then grab a drink at the Bull Pen while you wait. Watch the waitlist on your phone closely... get back when there are 8 guests ahead of you. They turn tables over fast and you don't want to miss your name.
Best Italian restaurant in Little Italy, and also the most affordable.
77 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Bencotto
750 W Fir StBest Italian restaurant in Little Italy, and also the most affordable.
Pricey French restaurant, but if you can get there for the happy hour, it's affordable and well worth the bay and skyline views from the rooftop of a tall building near Balboa Park. Watch planes fly between the buildings of downtown and land at the San Diego airport. They're only open for dinner, call and ask about their happy hour a few days ahead, as it tends to change throughout the year.
152 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Mister A's
2550 Fifth AvePricey French restaurant, but if you can get there for the happy hour, it's affordable and well worth the bay and skyline views from the rooftop of a tall building near Balboa Park. Watch planes fly between the buildings of downtown and land at the San Diego airport. They're only open for dinner, call and ask about their happy hour a few days ahead, as it tends to change throughout the year.
Fantastic brunch with endless mimosas. Also great for happy hour near dinner time. The Monday night oyster happy hour is fantastic. They have more than just oysters on their happy hour menu on Mondays. Their space features crates of puffed-up puffer fish, a whale skeleton above one of the bars, plenty of art, and trees growing through the middle of the restaurant.
99 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Herringbone La Jolla
7837 Herschel AvenueFantastic brunch with endless mimosas. Also great for happy hour near dinner time. The Monday night oyster happy hour is fantastic. They have more than just oysters on their happy hour menu on Mondays. Their space features crates of puffed-up puffer fish, a whale skeleton above one of the bars, plenty of art, and trees growing through the middle of the restaurant.
Sightseeing
Drive to the top for a stunning panoramic view, no hiking necessary. Great way to say goodbye to San Diego before you leave. Suggested for sunset.
25 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Mount Helix
Drive to the top for a stunning panoramic view, no hiking necessary. Great way to say goodbye to San Diego before you leave. Suggested for sunset.
Getting Around
Closest trolley from the townhouse, located in the middle of a shopping center. Features plenty of shopping, Starbucks, and a variety of restaurants. Green line will send you straight to Fashion Valley Mall, Old Town Trolley Center, and Downtown.
23 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Santee Trolley Square
9888 Mission Gorge RdClosest trolley from the townhouse, located in the middle of a shopping center. Features plenty of shopping, Starbucks, and a variety of restaurants. Green line will send you straight to Fashion Valley Mall, Old Town Trolley Center, and Downtown.
Access to several buses, trolleys and train that will take you just about anywhere in San Diego. Free 24 hour parking. Close walk to historic Old Town park and great Mexican restaurants.
100 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Old Town Station
4005 Taylor StAccess to several buses, trolleys and train that will take you just about anywhere in San Diego. Free 24 hour parking. Close walk to historic Old Town park and great Mexican restaurants.
Drinks & Nightlife
Extensive list of craft beer, including flavors that are sure to please even those who claim they don't like beer. They have wine for those who can't find something they like. Large indoor and outdoor space. Good food as well.
182 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Ballast Point Brewing Little Italy
2215 India StExtensive list of craft beer, including flavors that are sure to please even those who claim they don't like beer. They have wine for those who can't find something they like. Large indoor and outdoor space. Good food as well.
Fancy craft cocktails in a hidden speakeasy with an interesting ambiance. This place is located inside The Neighborhood, a craft beer bar and eatery with a great burger menu. Head toward the bathrooms and look for the "wall of kegs." Pull on them to find the hostess who will put you on the list to get a table or a spot at the bar. Cocktails can run between $12 and $20, but they're strong. You won't want more than 2. Best for small groups. Noble Experiment opens at 7 pm. The Neighborhood is open all day.
116 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Noble Experiment
777 G StFancy craft cocktails in a hidden speakeasy with an interesting ambiance. This place is located inside The Neighborhood, a craft beer bar and eatery with a great burger menu. Head toward the bathrooms and look for the "wall of kegs." Pull on them to find the hostess who will put you on the list to get a table or a spot at the bar. Cocktails can run between $12 and $20, but they're strong. You won't want more than 2. Best for small groups. Noble Experiment opens at 7 pm. The Neighborhood is open all day.
Great craft cocktails, about half the price of Noble Experiment. Fancy ambiance. One of the few places where you can get a delicious craft cocktail for $8. Connected to Soda & Swine where you can order delicious meatballs in a variety of ways. I love the chicken meatballs over pasta. They also have a ton of delicious appetizers. They have plenty of vegetarian options as well. Soda & Swine will deliver your order to you at Polite Provisions.
245 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Polite Provisions
4696 30th StGreat craft cocktails, about half the price of Noble Experiment. Fancy ambiance. One of the few places where you can get a delicious craft cocktail for $8. Connected to Soda & Swine where you can order delicious meatballs in a variety of ways. I love the chicken meatballs over pasta. They also have a ton of delicious appetizers. They have plenty of vegetarian options as well. Soda & Swine will deliver your order to you at Polite Provisions.