SD Restaurant Week Picks!

Cucina Urbana - sandiegorestaurantweek.com

San Diego Restaurant Week is almost upon us (Jan. 17-22), and I can’t wait! Having ate my way through the twice-annual event for the past few years, I know from experience that it can very overwhelming to choose the best restaurants out of the expansive list. So if you’re wondering what MY picks would be, I’ve narrowed it down to my top eateries (and even top courses out of the 9 options) in three different categories: Oldies But Goodies, Newbies and Second Chances.

Check ‘em out, after the jump!

Oldies But Goodies

• Café Chloe ($30): I mean, this goes without saying. Favorite restaurant in San Diego. Hands down. Please, for the love, go there during restaurant week and have a three course meal for $30 – they are practically GIVING away the food. And split a bottle of reserve wine on Half Off Wine Wednesday while you’re at it. Recommended courses: salad – farm lettuces with aged goat cheese vinaigrette, cara cara oranges, grapefruit, tangerine and fennel carpaccio with meyer lemon oil; steak frites – with rosemary-garlic butter pommes frites and ragout of winter squash, haricots verts and caramelized onions; and pot de creme - bitterweet chocolate with whipped cream and brandied cherries.
• Cucina Urbana ($30): It’s very important that you visit this restaurant ASAP. Formally Laurel, it’s changed for the better. Much better. And try getting a table any day of the week without a reservation and you’ll know what I’m talking about! (P.S. The chopped house salad? Best. Salad. Ever.) My courses: chopped house salad with fresh express seasonal greens – soppresata, pepperoni, olive, asiago, pepperoncini; braised black cod – pistachio caper crust, smashed potato, peperonata, limoncello butter; and tiramisu parfait – espresso, kahlua, espresso shortbread cookie, mascarpone mousse.
• Nobu San Diego ($40): Am I disappointed that they didn’t put black cod with miso (arguably one of the best dishes ever) on their Restaurant Week menu? Yes. But is the lightly battered rock shrimp tempera tossed in a creamy spicy sauce a delicious consolation prize? Absolutely. I first experienced Nobu in all its glory in New York City several years ago, and was happy to see a new location land in the Hard Rock Hotel downtown. It’s pretty pricey, so the $40 prix fixe price is a great deal. Courses I’d choose: rock shrimp tempura with creamy spicy sauce – with shiitake mushrooms, served on a bed of mixed greens; Chilean sea bass with jalapeño miso – broiled Chilean sea bass filet marinated in sweet jalapeño sauce, served with pickled jalapeño and steamed rice; and mochi ice cream – strawberry, dark chocolate and pistachio.

• Bleu Bohème ($30): This is one of the many local restaurants we always say we need to try, but still haven’t. Maybe this will be the year we actually take the plunge! (Especially after our favorite French restaurant in Hillcrest closed. R.I.P. La Vache.) My courses: “amuses gueules” de charcuterie et fromage (a board of “mouth pleasers”) – dried sausage marinated in olive oil, small Parisian ham and cheese toast or a toast of dried cured ham, roquette lettuce and parmesan cheese; petit carré d’agneau au poivre vert - a half roasted rack of lamb brushed in dijon mustard with thyme and rosemary and finished with a cognac and green peppercorn sauce and served with fresh herbs mash potatoes and green beans; and “bombe” au chocolat - dark chocolate mousse and marinated cherries, crème brulée, crispy hazelnut bottom.
• Nine-Ten ($40): This La Jolla restaurant always has a good-looking Restaurant Week menu, and it’s another one of those “We really need to try that place out” eateries. The tasty-looking courses include: Maine lobster and corn tortellini - chino farms corn, lobster mushrooms, chives; port wine braised beef short ribs – roasted shallots, brussel sprout leaves, roasted salsify, horseradish emulsion; and almond tart – figs, mascarpone, honey.
• Suite & Tender ($30): The buzz about this restaurant has been good, and the Restaurant Week menu is enticing…ummm, bacon as an appetizer? Yes, please! The juicy courses: maple syrup glazed bacon – frisee, chives; sea scallop and venison – brussel sprout puree, sour cherry, barley grains, spice chocolate venison jus; and warm chocolate truffle cake – Mexican chocolate truffle, powdered chocolate, cocoa caramel.
• Voyeur ($20): We’ve been intrigued by Voyeur ever since hearing that some former Jack’s La Jolla (also dearly departed) people are involved. Not quite sure how I feel about dining in a dance club, but they had me at grilled cheese. The courses I’d go with: antipasti salad – grilled and chilled vegetables, balsamic dressing, baby spinach; smoked gouda grilled cheese – house-pickled jalapenos, apricot spread; and mini gelato cone – chocolate dipped, vanilla gelato.

Second Chances

• Acqua Al 2 ($40): Here’s the deal. This was my FAVORITE restaurant in Florence when I studied abroad there many moons ago, but the one time I went to its downtown San Diego location, I was sorely disappointed. I’m willing to give it another chance though. While my top choice second course isn’t on the Restaurant Week menu (fileno al mirtilio: fillet mignon with blueberry sauce), the filleto al aceto balsamico is a close runner-up. Here’s my course recommendations: assaggio di primi - a sampler of five from the first course list, chef’s choice; filleto al aceto balsamico - fillet mignon topped with a balsamic vinegar glaze; and tiramisu - lady fingers soaked in espresso topped with mascarpone cream.
• Quarter Kitchen ($30): With raving reviews, we had high expectations for this downtown restaurant, located in the Ivy Hotel. But it just didn’t “wow” us. A couple years later, I’m ready to give this place a shot again. The courses I would vote for: aged goat cheese – crust of brioche, oven-dried tomatoes, black olive tapenade; red wine braised short ribs – seasonal baby vegetables, button mushrooms, mashed potatoes; and strawberry semi-fredo - light semi-frozen cream topped with a strawberry gelee, strawberry balsamic gastrique, pistachio cookie, garnished with fresh strawberries.

Tags: 2010, acqua al 2, bleu boheme, Cafe Chloe, cucina urbana, dining, jan. 17-22, nine-ten, nobu, quarter kitchen, restaurants, san diego restaurant week, suite & tender, voyeur