BlueBaron6

The atmosphere at Casuelita’s makes it a great place for a date. The bi-level space features a cozy bar on the corner of Western and Vine, and an upstairs dining area. Both are dimly lit, and this is generally a good thing. Service was prompt and though there apparently was a delay in our food order, my party didn’t notice anything amiss.

The kitchen prepares spicy (but not hot) Caribbean cuisine that goes well with the extensive Rum selection and cocktails. Many of the rums are beyond the typical Bicardi gamut, and are worth savoring straight.

Overall, an excellent place to sit down for a drink, this was the first time I sat down for a meal and it was very good and enjoyable.

The food is fantastic, the chef clearly went through trouble to find fine flavor combinations, and then they pile on twice as much food as you would expect. With that in mind, the price is really quite reasonable. The restaurant was a bit dark, but there was still enough light to see the food which was magnificently presented. Service was very attentive, and leave room for desert for it is truly delicious. Reservations are recommended, especially on Saturday.

I think this place is better than Flame Broiler because it it cheaper, and they give you more vegetables and a bigger bowl so it doesn’t spill when you mix the food around. The meat appears to be of similar quality to other places and they are pretty fast. The mall that they are in takes longer to get there than it should from UCSD.

Pizza-Port is appointed with benches to eat rather than tables, and it adds to a lively social atmosphere. The pizza there is fantastic, well apportioned with toppings and cheese and good sauce. There is just the right amount of crust. I would classify it as “California” style pizza because it has the toppings of Chicago, and not too much crust like NY. They also brew excellent beer. The pizza takes a while, but one can sit down at the benches and start chatting with whoever happens to be around you and it becomes a way to meet other pizza minded individuals. Prices aren’t bad when you consider how much you get. They also have salads.

You won’t need reservations to experience this brand of reasonable chinese food. The place is huge. Service is good, and the food has good flavor. It’s not the best, but it always makes for a good evening.

This place has very tasty mexican at rock bottom prices. They use a good array of spices, except I think the chicken burrito is a bit tasteless. If it wasn’t for coating one’s intestines with grease, this place would get 5 stars. The jumbo burrito’s are huge, but beware of Porky’s Revenge.

The new Phil’s has the same great taste without the wait. Orders can be phoned in, but I went to the new Sports Arena location and they had an imposing line, but after 10 minutes we got to order food and it was ready in another 10 minutes. That beats the normal 1 hour wait that they used to have. The kitchen is about 3 time as big.

More importantly, one member of the party had a food allergy and the manager checked on the ingredients by calling the head chef on his cell phone.

The ribs were delicious and the meat fell off the bones, as well as the corn which was sweet and didn’t need the butter. You normally don’t find corn like that here in San Diego. Probably the best Bar-B-que in SD.

From the moment we walked in the fine people at Roy’s were at our service. They gave us water for the flowers that I brought my date, explained things on the menu that we did not understand, and were very attentive to dietary restrictions / allergies. The food was top notch, and the ribs appetizer was better then ribs I find at BBQ joints. They do fish quite well, although my Hamachi was cooked a bit more than it should have been. The numerous raw items on the menu indicate that they are willing to not cook things as well. Portions are also generous, and overall a good value for the price.

Bandar has very generous portions, and two big eaters could not finish a main course and an appetizer. The service was fast and attentive. Food was spiced nicely with pomegranate. The dish we ordered was a stew with tender balls of chicken and fragrant rice. It was a very generous portion. The decor was tasteful, though the music was a eclectic mix of jazz and techno. I would highly recommend this place if you want ethnic food without burning your throat on peppers

Fuddruckers gets burgers right, with flavorful meat, lots of it, and good combinations. You can choose burgers from 1/3 lb to 1 lb, and turkey or buffalo if it is your fancy. There’s a toppings bar where you can choose shredded or whole leafe lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, red or white onions, and add sauces. You can get burger toppings too like mushrooms, avocado, and or bacon for a bit extra but the price is reasonable. The fries weren’t that good, I was not a fan of the seasoning as it took away from the wholesome potato flavor that they should have had. The onion rings are good though. The place has a lot of eclectic junk around, and they must have a full staff at corporate that goes to swap-meets in the South to pick up furnishings like old gas pumps and WWII posters. It appears to be a teenage hangout spot for Mira Mesa. Service was good and they have good cookies for desert.