Tuesday, March 18, 2014

GREAT FOOD SPOTS AROUND SAN DIEGO

One of our favorite things to do on vacation is to try great local cuisine.  Basically, we love good food, and so when we travel and find good spots, we want to be able to pass it along to you so you know the "must-try" eateries.  These are some of the places we went to that I would definitely check out if you are in the San Diego area.  For breakfast head to The Daily News Cafe in Carlsbad.  They have amazing coffee, breakfast burritos, and their "world famous" sticky buns are to die for!



Another great breakfast spot in Carlsbad is Don's Country Kitchen.  This place is much smaller than The Daily News Cafe, but it is oh so good!  I also tried their breakfast burrito and their homemade crumb cake, and would have had seconds of both if I wasn't so full.  Amazing breakfast!!!




While we're talking about breakfast spots, another place that I noticed was always packed on the weekends is Pannikin Coffee & Tea.  We decided to give it a shot, and while I wouldn't recommend going there for a hot breakfast meal (sort of disappointing), I would definitely go there for coffee, tea, bagels and pastries.  They have a huge patio and you can just order inside and grab it to sit outside.

While we're on the subject of breakfast, one thing we did notice is there are so many donut spots in and around San Diego...they must love their donuts!  Leucadia Donut Shoppe in Encinitas is supposedly owned by a local surfer who makes a certain number of donuts for the day, and when they sell out, the place closes and he hits up the beach...gotta love that lifestyle!  By the way, the jumbo-sized donuts (especially the jelly...mmm, my fav), were light, fluffy and delicious.  


A great, casual brunch/lunch spot that I highly recommend is Claire's on Cedros in Solana Beach.   The food is delicious, fresh, full of flavor, and the menu offers a big variety, breakfast or brunch.  Basically everything is good, and you won't go wrong with your menu choice.  Since I was in California, I wanted to opt for a healthy option and order something I don't have all the time, so I went with a quinoa and lentil salad and had a chai tea latte.  The salad was fantastic, and the latte was one of the best ever!






After we had lunch, the family took the kids for a bit and Rich and I got to go on a "day date" (something hard to come by with two little ones).  We jumped at the opportunity, and walked around the shops in Solana Beach.  After some shopping, we wanted to have a drink and stumbled upon Carruth Cellars Winery on Cedros.  It was a cute, little winery tucked away off the main street.  We both had a glass of California Chardonnay and it was delicious and refreshing, plus we got to enjoy it sitting outside next to a palm tree...totally California, and absolutely a perfect little date spot.


Solace and The Moonlight Lounge in Encinitas is a terrific restaurant for dinner.  We went there with one of my best friends, and what a great time we had!  The food is farm-to-table and everything is amazing. I had the Farro sauté with local veggies, smoked tomatoes, parmesan cheese and chicken and it was mouthwatering...all I can say is I want more!!!  Bottom line, Solace is about rich food and creative drinks in a sexy atmosphere.  It was the perfect place for us to go for date night with another couple.  

 We got to try a few other great places to, and I have to say every restaurant we visited in San Diego served excellent food.  Californians definitely know their food, and we can't wait to go back and eat our way through this great city again some time very soon!

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