The 1954 Pizza Co.
165 E. Main St., El Cajon
619-442-5454
Located in the historic district of El Cajon, entering the restaurant is like stepping back into the ‘50s. Life-size statues of Marilyn Monroe and Betty Boop greet visitors as they come through the door. Take a seat at the old-fashioned soda counter or in one of the vinyl booths. The menu features Chicago-style pizza, burgers, hot dogs and hoagies. The “Maltese” fountain offers shakes, malts, sundaes and floats. Kids get a coloring sheet. This is a novel location for birthday parties and other special occasions. Hours: Tuesday - Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Batter Up!
342 Euclid Ave., San Diego
619-262-3333
Open just a few months, this baseball-themed restaurant is already a hit. The menu features burgers, chicken, sandwiches, salads and desserts, all sporting athletic names like The Rookie, the Curve Ball Burger and the Triple Play Combo. Kids can select meals from the Little League menu and each comes with fries, drink and Cracker Jack’s. Everyone is eligible for a birthday dessert. Batter Up! is the ideal location for team celebrations or birthday parties. Call ahead of time to make arrangements. Chef Melvin Johnson also offers boxed lunches, perfect to take along for a day at the ballpark. Hours: Monday - Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday noon to 7 p.m.

Benihana
477 Camino Del Rio South, San Diego
619-298-4666
www.benihana.com
“Itadaki-masu!” (Japanese for ‘Thank you for the food; I will dig in!’)
Benihana is a place for special occasions; the staff sings the Japanese birthday song to celebrants of all ages and snaps photos for anniversary couples. When the chef arrives at the table, you know why diners have chosen to celebrate there. The meal is prepared on a gleaming grill at the table, with a flourish of knife skills, artistry and whimsy.
The cooking style at Benihana is called teppanyaki, better known in the United States as hibachi. This beautiful, expressive form of table-top cooking has a 200-year history in Japan, and the chefs at Benihana are masters of showmanship.

Bistro d’Asia
1301 Orange Ave., Coronado
619-437-6677
www.bistrodasia.com
When the big people want sushi and the kids don’t, this is the place to go. With a variety of dishes like Siam Lettuce Wraps and Waikiki Pineapple chicken to choose from, everyone will walk away happy. Kids eat free on Tuesday nights with purchase of adult entree. Ages 10 and under. Hours: Sunday - Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Bleu Bohème
4090 Adams Avenue
619-255-4167
www.bleuboheme.com
Lunch served seven days a week; no dinner service on Mondays.
The decor mixes the Bohemian sensibility of Paris’s Left Bank with French Country style and succeeds in creating an atmosphere that is casual yet sophisticated. There are two main seating areas in addition to a long and friendly-looking bar and outside patio, and the vibe is upscale without being pretentious.
The two-page menu is split into “La Tradition” and “La Saison,” each with a selection of appetizers and entrees. “La Tradition” features traditional dishes such as French Onion Soup, mussels and Boeuf Bourguignon, while the seasonal menu “La Saison” changes twice a year. There are also daily specials.
Bleu Bohème is in the hip neighborhood of Kensington across the street from the classic Ken Cinema.

Blue Coral Seafood & Spirits
at the Aventine in La Jolla
If you love fresh seafood and are intrigued by infusion vodka drinks, the Blue Coral delivers. Kids are welcome, but the ambience lends itself more to a well-deserved date night.
An open-air fire pit made with blue glass pieces makes it look like flames are dancing on water. A hostess opens the large glass doors with silver wave-shaped handles and invites you into the warmly lit, coolly accented restaurant. Blue tiles cover the walls, large inverted lamps hang from the ceiling and a stunning blue glass sculpture of coral is the centerpiece. Toward the bar, two large-screen TVs seem to have water cascading in front of them.
The Blue Coral concept: the chefs infuse the food with subtle flavors that complement each other. The restaurant specializes in preparing fin fish that is caught daily and shellfish from around the world. The preparation of food is more about science—to get the right blend of flavors at the right temperature—than simply an artful presentation.

Boomers!
6999 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego
858-560-4212
www.boomersparks.com
Boomers! is more of a fun park than a dining experience, but the potential for a good time topped off by a meal at their full-service snack bar is worth a plug. Work up an appetite at their batting cages, bumper boats, go karts, game room, laser tag or miniature golf. Fill up on burgers, chicken strips, hot dogs and pizza, then head back to the fun. Boomers! offers group rates, special package prices and does parties (everything from set up to clean up.) Also in Vista and El Cajon. Hours: Monday - Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Boudin SF
113 S. Las Posas Rd.
7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday
760-761-1150
www.boudinbakery.com
San Francisco sourdough purveyor Boudin Bakery has opened a Boudin SF restaurant in San Marcos (the only one in San Diego County), near San Marcos Boulevard and Highway 78. More full-featured than the smaller Boudin Bakery Cafes located at UTC and Fashion Valley, Boudin SF menus include breakfast and dinner entrees in addition to a full line of sandwiches, soups and salads.
The San Marcos location is currently the only Boudin SF in San Diego County.
Breakfast is served until 11 a.m. Monday through Friday and until noon Saturday and Sunday. Choices include a granola and yogurt parfait, oatmeal and fresh fruit as well as eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, sourdough French toast, three varieties of breakfast sandwiches, four varieties of egg scrambles served with hash browns and toast and a choice of three breakfast pizzas: bacon and tomato, ham and tomato, or vegetable, all made with mozzarella, cheddar and scrambled eggs. The lunch and dinner menu has a good selection of cold and hot sandwiches, entree salads, sourdough pizzas, soups and dinner entrees.
My family and I dined at Boudin SF after taking in a showing of “Wall-E” at the nearby Edwards San Marcos Cinema. My husband Jim opted for a traditional favorite, clam chowder in a bread bowl ($5.99) and augmented it with a small salad of spiced walnuts, blue cheese, dried cranberries, apples, spring mix and balsamic vinaigrette ($3.99). My daughter ordered the kids’ cheese pizza, which came with applesauce, a drink and a cookie for $4.99. I decided to try one of the dinner entrees, and ultimately settled on the beef stew ($8.99) with a side Caesar salad added for $1.99.
Our food came promptly and was hot and well presented. The clam chowder was creamy and rich, and the spring salad was a refreshing blend of tangy and sweet flavors. My beef stew was also served in a bread bowl, which was a nice surprise. The beef, roasted vegetables, mushrooms and a touch of red wine gave it a rich, meaty flavor. The sourdough at Boudin is tangy and chewy with a nicely browned but not-too-hard crust. The Caesar salad was tasty and came with sourdough croutons, but had a tad more dressing than it needed. My stew came with a side of mixed greens with balsamic dressing and was plenty filling, so I would probably forego the Caesar salad in the future. My daughter was favorably impressed with the kids’ cheese pizza, which she said was very flavorful, and “tasted not just like cheese.”
To round out our meal we ordered a double cappuccino ($3.59), single cafe latte ($3.09) and a lemon bar ($1.99) while my daughter enjoyed her very sweet and chewy macadamia nut and white chocolate chip cookie. Unfortunately, our coffee order was forgotten, and when it did come, my latte wasn’t decaf as I’d requested. The lemon bar was more cakey and less lemony than I prefer, but certainly good enough.
All in all, Boudin SF is a good option for a family dinner that’s a step above fast food, with good hearty fare. Curbside delivery and wi-fi are also convenient amenities.

Burger Lounge
La Jolla—on Wall Street, at the northeast corner of Herschel
Kensington –4116 Adams Ave
open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. most days, closing at 8 p.m. on Sunday.
A new location is planned for downtown San Diego and an online ordering system is in the process of being implemented.
www.burgerlounge.com
Chances are you will catch a whiff of Burger Lounge before you actually see it. The aromas drift down the street and, during rush hour, so do the lines of customers hoping to grab a bite at the shop around the corner.
The highlight on the menu at Burger Lounge is the grass-fed beef burger—produced from free-range cows that are hormone and antibiotic-free. Also served are turkey burgers, salads, chicken tenders and a veggie burger made with quinoa, a South American grain cultivated for its starchy seeds that are ground into flour. Quinoa has a high nutritional value and a protein content of 12 to 18 percent.
Along with the Caesar, Burger Lounge serves up a colorful vegetable salad made with baby romaine, tomato, red onion, roasted corn, carrots, sprouts and an aged ricotta avocado ranch dressing.
Not only is the food delicious at Burger Lounge, it also is nicely presented at your table on geometric plates, with sides served in Chinese take-out containers.

Café One Three is located at
4207 Park Boulevard. Call
619-260-1311 or visit
www.cafeonethree.com
Café One Three isn’t your typical café. The brunch, happy hour and dinner menus are filled with eclectic items: the meatloaf scramble with fresh tomatoes, onions and horseradish cheddar cheese, Thai turkey burger topped with Swiss cheese and Asian slaw on a ciabatta bun with a choice of herbed pommes frites or sweet potato fries, or roasted yellow and red beet salad with pancetta and pepato cheese on a bed of mixed greens. The café is named after the owner’s lucky number 13. The restaurant has a neighborhood bistro feel, with an outdoor garden patio. The menu is filled with a combination of global-inspired and down-home Southern style food.
Tuesdays through Fridays from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., the eatery offers a three-course Sunset Prix Fixe Dinner. Have a glass of wine or beer during happy hour and enjoy an awesome choice of reasonably priced appetizers. Closed Mondays.

Commonwealth Café
3408 30th Street in North Park.
619-295-2233
Open everyday from 12 noon to 12 a.m.
Now open for breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
www.thecommonwealthcafe.com
The Commonwealth Café opened on North Park’s Restaurant Row. What you will find at the diner is a fun ’50s vibe with a counter for customers, music and a classic breakfast, lunch and dinner menu. Breakfast features eggs and omelets. The lunch and dinner menu includes such classics as the Western Bacon Burger and Chili Burger, BLT, PB&J and Grilled Cheese sandwiches and Hot Dogs. Specialty burgers like the Mushroom Swiss Burger served with fries are popular. The café also has some fun sides, such as Bleu Fries smothered in bleu cheese sauce, green onions and spice mix, or the Texas Football] made with Fritos, chili, cheese and onions. In addition to some of the items mentioned above, there are other dishes perfect for children. Try the famous Macaroni and Cheese or the smaller Slider Burgers.
The food served at the diner is made everyday from the freshest ingredients available. The meats are all natural and free of antibiotics and hormones.
A commonwealth is defined as any group of people united by a common interest. So if you are interested in tasty food, good service and a nice ambiance for a family, The Commonwealth Café is your place.

Coronado Brewing Company
170 Orange Ave., Coronado
619-437-4452
www.coronadobrewingcompany.com
Casual family dining for friends and families. The microbrewery’s menu offers wood-fired pizza, calzones, seafood, steak, pasta and weekly specials. Tuesdays are kids’ night with free dinners, balloons and coloring sheets. Kids eat free on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. Two children’s meals free with purchase of one adult entree. Ages 12 and under. Free ice cream for everyone on their birthday. Hours: Daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Corvette Diner
3946 Fifth Ave., San Diego
619-542-1476
www.cohnrestaurants.com/cohn/cohnrestaurants/corvette.php
Many of the locals have been to the Corvette Diner once, twice or 10 times. Hugely popular for its over-the-top re-creation of a ‘50s burger joint, adults and kids alike are entertained by the live DJs, waitresses in beehive hairdo wigs who sing and dance, balloon artist, magician and rock n’ roll memorabilia. The menu features classic American comfort food and blue plate specials. A fun place for birthday parties, and kids one to 100 get a complimentary slice of cheesecake. Everything on the kids’ menu is $5.95 (includes beverage). Hours: Sunday - Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Costa Azul Coronado
1031 Orange Avenue
619-435-3525
Open daily from 11:30 a.m. until close.
www.costaazulcoronado.com
Enter the Costa Azul Coronado restaurant, and you’re entering an experience. With the earth tone décor, the blue subdued lighting and the scent of the ocean breeze, you will swear you’re under a palapa on the beach somewhere. Take advantage of the bar, the roomy indoor restaurant or the lovely outdoor patio.
Start your dining experience with one of fifteen appetizers, such as shrimp ceviche or jalapeno poppers. The lunch and dinner menu is chock full of wonderful soups and salads, sandwiches, regional and south-of-the-border specialties, local favorites and combination platters. You will have a hard time choosing between the traditional Mexican dishes, such as beef or chicken fajitas or chicken enchiladas served with rice and beans. Or you might decide to enjoy something from the regional specialties menu, such as New York Steak served with mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables or Tilapia Miguel, tilapia dusted with flour and seasonings, sautéed and served with rice and beans. Ask about the fresh fish specials. Choose from the eight entrees on the kids’ menu like a beef or chicken taco, grilled cheese or mac and cheese with broccoli.
It’s worth noting that the owners of Costa Azul also own Island Pasta, which makes all the fresh pasta for its restaurants.
Need a place to have a party? Costa Azul can accommodate groups of two to 150. Special promotions and discounts are available via their Website.
The next time you’re in Coronado try Costa Azul. You and your family will be glad you did.

Cupcakes Squared
3772 Voltaire Street
619-226-3485
www.cupcakessquared.com
Cupcakes Squared’s mastermind is Robin Wisotsky, baker and co-owner with husband David. Wisotsky creates 21 varieties of cupcakes—species, you might say, for there is something wonderfully alive in her creations. Square and tall, each is wrapped in printed paper that is much easier to unwrap than the traditional corrugated cup. Starting at 6 a.m. on any given day, Wisotsky bakes at least seven types of cupcakes. On the roster every day are Vanilla2 (squared), Chocolate, Lemon and Red Velvet (cocoa and vanilla cake with cream cheese frosting). These excellent staples are joined by rotating flavors, both exotic and earthy.
These cupcakes are amazing—slightly browned on the outside and so moist and chewy on the inside they remind one of old-fashioned honey cakes dripping with honey.
The menu changes every day, with flavors such as Coconut2, Vanilla Chai, S’mores Cake, Cheesecake, Peanut/Chocolate and Chocolate/Peanut, Pumpkin Pecan, Maple Pecan, Chocolate Macadamia Nut, Carrot Cake, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Lemon White Chocolate, and more.
Cupcakes Squared is more of a cupcake pick-up joint than a place to hang out. There is a small bench inside and a couple of chairs outside. While the Wisotskys also sell coffee, tea, milk and soymilk—worthy companions for cupcakes—the place has a specialized and limited vocabulary featuring cupcakes, cupcakes and more cupcakes.
Prices are reasonable. Cupcakes can also be purchased as party favors in small beribboned boxes, with personally monogrammed labels.

Firefly Grill & Wine Bar
251 N. El Camino Real, Suite B, Encinitas
760-635-1066
Open Sun-Thurs 4:30-9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 4:30-10 p.m.
www.fireflygrillandwinebar.com
With epicurean aspirations and a subdued ambiance, Firefly presents a relaxed yet refined experience. Rich, warm terra cotta hues throughout. Fiery metal sculptures adornments are featured throughout the restaurant, including the light fixtures.
Sample dinner appetizers that pair well with the extensive wine selection include smoked Smoked Salmon Slices, Dungeness Crab, Filet Mignon Bites, Tahitian Glazed Grilled Shrimp and Warm Goat Cheese, just to name a few.
Savory entrée favorites on the dinner menu include the Seared Rack of Lamb with mint jus and Israeli couscous, braised celery, dried apricots and feta cheese crumbles and the Bourbon Mustard Brined Pork Medallions that are pan seared over cabbage, bacon, tarragon and roasted fingerling potatoes topped with poached pears. Other offerings include Gorgonzola Crusted Filet Mignon, Crispy Duck Breast, Lemon Glazed Grilled Salmon, Hazelnut Encrusted Shrimp Scaloppini and Squash Roulade for vegetarians.

Fred's Mexican Café
Old Town
2470 San Diego Ave, San Diego, 92110 - (619) 858-8226
Gaslamp
535 5th Ave, San Diego, 92101 - (619) 232-8226
Reservations not taken
Take your out-of-town friends and family for a taste of San Diego at Fred’s Mexican Café in historic Old Town, you won’t be disappointed. From tortilla-making out front to strolling guitar-playing mariachi, the meal and the atmosphere are phenomenal. Tuesdays, tacos are on special for $2 each from 4 p.m. to closing.

Fresh
1044 Wall St., La Jolla
Reservations can be made by calling 858-551-7575
Fresh Seafood Restaurant in La Jolla lives up to its name—fresh ingredients, fresh meat and seafood, and fresh air. The quasi-al fresco atmosphere adds to an exquisite dining experience.
The menu includes oysters, shrimp, Dungeness crab and the like. Ingredients, including meats, fish and veggies, are stored fresh in refrigerators only—there are no freezers on the premises.
Items on the evening menu change slightly each week to reflect the available local seafood and vegetables.

Frida
Otay Ranch Town Center in Chula Vista
With Diego Rivera-style paintings gracing the walls, Frida Mexican Cuisine is a warm, inviting and relaxed eatery, perfect for a first date, anniversary celebration or just a nice evening out. Located in the Otay Ranch Town Center in Chula Vista, the restaurant is gorgeous, the atmosphere relaxing and the food amazing!

Grant Grill
326 Broadway, San Diego
619-744-2077
Reservations are recommended
Inside downtown San Diego’s Grant Hotel. The hotel reopened in October 2006, after a 20-month, $54 million renovation, .
This is no family restaurant, but it is definitely a place to take your family to commemorate a special occasion. It is the kind of place you want to take someone special for a night to remember. There are leather-cushioned booths and a wood-paneled room, adorned with old photos of bygone times that mark the hotel’s history—known as a men’s-only establishment before 3 p.m. until 1969 when a group of women staged a sit-in.
This is a must-see, if not a must-eat, for San Diegans and visitors. Just a block from Horton Plaza, the hotel—originally built in 1910 by Ulysses Grant Jr. in honor of his father, a Civil War general and U.S. president—has been on the National Register of Historic Sites since 1979.

Heaven Sent Desserts
3001 University Avenue, San Diego
619-793-4758
www .HeavenSentDesserts.com
Open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Closed Mondays.
Heaven Sent Desserts is a sweet solution to anyone’s bad day—or good one, for that matter. Teenage heartache? Dive into an Apple Dumpling. Tempering a 2-year-old’s tantrum? Time for Alice’s Tea Party Cupcakes. Loved one back from deployment? Cozy up together with two spoons and a towering Tiramisu.
Heaven Sent Desserts, a glittering café-style pastry palace offers desserts to warm the heart, comfort the soul and celebrate life’s joy and abundance. The brainchild of Lachlan Oliver, a former Air Force medic who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, Heaven Sent Desserts is Oliver’s wise and comforting response to the chaos of war.
With its shiny wood tables, cozy corners and Tiffany-replica chandeliers, Heaven Sent Desserts is as comfortable as a neighborhood Starbucks, but with a sweet touch of humor that tickles the heart as well as the palate. One wall is reserved for screening grainy golden oldies, Charlie Chaplin silent films for the most part, but also seasonal black-and-white classics. What could be cozier than curling up with a tiny Beatrix Potter book while you wait for a pot of tea? Your order number is attached to a book, so you can read a satisfying tale while waiting for your counter-ordered dessert.

The High Dive Bar and Grill
1801 Morena Boulevard in Bay Park.
619-275-0460
Open daily from 8 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, and Friday and Saturday nights until 1 a.m.
The High Dive Bar and Grill combines the intimate, familiar feel of a favorite dive bar, with the cleanliness and great food of a nice restaurant. Indeed you’ll find all those things typical of a sports bar such as music, televisions and enthusiastic sports fans, but you’ll also find some surprises at the High Dive. There’s indoor seating and an enclosed patio with tables and chairs.Tthe menu, what other neighborhood grill offers Arugula and Pear Pizza ($11) or a Caprese Salad ($7) with buffalo mozzarella, beefsteak tomatoes, fresh basil drizzled with olive oil and a side of roasted garlic and onions?
Besides the wonderful surprises on the menu, there are good ol’ standbys, such as hamburgers and appetizers of breaded mozzarella sticks, cheese fries and nachos. Sunday through Thursday nights there are specials available. The daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. offers one dollar off microbrews and house wines.
Desserts, such as the Chocolate Cheesecake with Lindt chocolate shavings ($6.50) or Chocolate Cake made with mayonnaise and sour cream chocolate icing and served with a glass of milk ($6.50), are baked every day. Some people just go down to the High Dive for desser.

Hooley’s Irish Pub and Grill
2955 Jamacha Rd., Rancho San Diego
619-670-7468
www.hooleys.com
Known for their friendly Irish ambiance and classic Irish cuisine, Hooley’s is a comfortable neighborhood restaurant. Place mats keep kids busy with puzzles and coloring activities. There is a special children’s brunch menu for Sundays. Kids eat free all day Wednesday with purchase of adult entree. Hours: Monday opens 4 p.m., Tuesday - Saturday opens 11 a.m., Sunday opens 9:30 a.m. Closing time varies.

Ikea
2149 Fenton Parkway, San Diego
619-563-4532
www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/
What could be more convenient than one stop for shopping and dinner? The Ikea store restaurant is located upstairs. The menu features Swedish food and kid entrees start at $1.99. There’s also a nearby play area. Kids eat free any day of the week after 3 p.m. with the purchase of a hot plate. Hours: Daily 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Jyoti-Bihanga,
3351 Adams Avenue, San Diego 92116
619-282-4116
www.jyotibihanga.com
Jyoti-Bihanga makes all dishes from scratch with fresh ingredients. A number of the dishes are vegan (specified on the menu), which use only plant-based ingredients and no dairy products. They also serve vegetarian items with dairy.

The Longboarder Café
228 N. Coast Hwy., Oceanside
760-721-6776
The location and fun surfing theme of this restaurant combine to make it a good choice for family dining. It’s close to the beach, the atmosphere is casual, and the food is fresh. The menu offers a variety of breakfast items such as homemade granola and oat cakes, and more classic sandwiches, salads and wraps. The café offers a special kids’ menu which includes breakfast options as well as lunch/dinner fare. Hours: Sunday - Tuesday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Thursday - Saturday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Lotsa Pasta
1762 Garnet Ave., San Diego
858-581-6777
www.yumm.com
More than 18 years ago, this delightful restaurant started out as a retail store. When people couldn’t wait to get home to cook up their purchases, owner Carol Blomstrom did it for them. Now diners can custom-order their meal by choosing from nine pastas (with a variety of cuts and shapes) and 18 sauces. Meat and vegetables are optional. The children’s menu offers kid-sized portions and prices. Little ones will be entertained by the crayons and place mat or watching pasta being made. Everyone gets a free dessert on their birthday. Hours: Sunday - Thursday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Lucky Buck’s
1459 University Ave. in Hillcrest.
Open seven days a week—from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on the weekends.
There are many eateries to choose from in trendy Hillcrest, but only one that serves an award-winning burger that’s cooked to order.
Lucky Buck’s Patio Bar & Grill serves up tasty burgers with all sorts of trimmings. Sides of the house-specialty waffle fries come with each order. Customers have the choice of substituting crispy, golden onion rings in place of the fries for an additional buck-fifty.
Walk in through the rolled-up, glass-fronted garage door and head to the counter to order.Not in the mood for American cuisine? Lucky Buck’s serves chicken and veggie burritos and sides of nachos and quesadillas. Salads are also on the menu and you can order a side Caesar in place of fries. You can purchase soft drinks by the can. A full bar is also available.
The weekday five-dollar lunch special includes a quarter-pound burger, fries and a drink.
Patio seating is available as is indoor seating on generously sized wooden booths or counter-height metal tables and stools. The unique décor includes open rafters, a garage-door entryway, polished concrete floors and brick walls adorned with contemporary portraits. There are two flat-screen TVs, a satellite radio jukebox and an electronic game at one of the booths.

Magnolias
342 Euclid Ave., Ste. 403, San Diego
www.magnoliasdining.com
619-262-6005
Magnolias serves lunch and dinner daily except for Mondays.
You’ve heard of Southern hospitality, right? Well, not only does Magnolias restaurant have great Louisiana bayou–influenced food, but the environment is warm and friendly, too. Magnolias promises authentic Southern dining, and it delivers with a menu full of Cajun and Creole favorites, from gumbo and jambalaya to fried chicken and catfish.
Magnolias, named after the state flower of Louisiana, is located on the corner of Euclid and Market, near the trolley stop. It’s nestled in the back of a brightly colored mall. The inside is big and airy and decorated with jazz-inspired paintings and murals of the French Quarter.
There’s live jazz and blues on Friday and Saturday nights from 7 to 10 p.m.
If you’re in the mood for some good Southern cooking served with a smile, then Magnolias is your place.

McDonald’s
Locations countywide
www.sdmcdonalds.com
Kid’s meal Price Range - Prices andages vary
Birthday Treats - Ask about their "Party Pack" birthday party packages
Kid’s Entertainment - Exterior play sets
Features - Happy Meals and McDonald’s Mighty Kids Meal offer a variety of choices. Each meal includes a fun cool premium!

Mimi’s Café
Locations countywide, including Mira Mesa, Mission Valley,
Oceanside, Santee and Temecula.
Hours: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Sunday.
www.mimiscafe.com
New Orleans-style atmosphere.
Mimi’s Cafe has just launched its new, all-inclusive children’s menu.
Besides the kid’s menu, Mimi’s offers an eclectic menu of more than 100 breakfast, lunch and dinner items. Offerings include appetizers, pasta dishes, fish choices, sandwiches, burgers and desserts, as well as a large selection of breakfast items. There also are comfort classics like chicken pot pie, Mimi’s pot roast and center-cut pork chops. Watching your waistline? Try their smaller-bites menu, with items such as petite salads and soup and half-sandwich. A lifestyle menu offering low-carb and low-fat dining options also is available.

Ocean House
300 Carlsbad Village Drive, in Carlsbad
760-729-4131
www.oceanhousecarlsbad.com
Open Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to midnight,
Thursday through Saturday 11 to 2 a.m. and Sunday 9:30 to 2 a.m.
Two blocks from the beach, you’ll find Ocean House restaurant at Carlsbad Village. The Ocean House restaurant and banquet room take up the bottom floor of what was originally the Twin Inns, two buildings that were built in the early 1900s. These Inns were a place where weary travelers could get a meal, even Sunday brunch, and a room. During the 1920s, traffic increased between Los Angeles and San Diego, and deeper south to Tijuana where prohibition drove fun seekers, making Twin Inns even more popular. In 1985, the Twin Inns were restored. Today the look of the original Twin Inns has been maintained. Inside, there are all the amenities of the 21st century including the Ocean House restaurant.
The restaurant is decorated in a beach-inspired way with peach-colored fabrics, a surfboard propped near the stage and surf posters and photographs on the walls. The restaurant is open and airy. During warmer weather, you can even sit out on the patio.
Offered is an extensive lunch, dinner and bar menu, as well as a happy hour. Kids have their own menu with a choice of chicken strips, a hamburger, a grilled cheese sandwich or a cheese quesadilla ($6 each).
The restaurant offers banquet and wedding packages, as well as entertainment on select nights.

Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing Company
at Liberty Station, Point Loma
2562 Laning Rd. at the redeveloped Naval Training Center
(619) 876-5000
www.oggis.com
Oggi’s has a business-casual, sports bar atmosphere. The bar comprises the left side of the restaurant, with the main dining area on the right. There are 22 televisions throughout the restaurant, making it a great venue to watch a Chargers or Padres game.
Don’t let the sports bar ambience deter you if you have kids. Oggi’s is very family friendly.
Appetizer of Calamari Fritta Lightly battered and perfectly seasoned, comes with two dipping sauces – marinara and Cajun Aioli sauce. Buffalo Chicken wraps, crispy chicken pieces coated in spicy hot-wings sauce, lettuce, tomato, avocado and buffalo ranch sauce, all swaddled in a chipotle wrap. It is delicious and spicy! ...and much more!
Oggi's offers pizzas, pastas, salads and more. Of course there is also the micro brewery selection.

Osteria Panevino
722 Fifth Ave. (between F and G Street)
619-595-7959
www.osteriapanevino.com
Specializing in Tuscan cuisine, the restaurant is lovely; murals of Florence and of winemakers stomping grapes.
Osteria Panevino welcomes children, but there is no child’s menu.

Panera Bread Bakery-Café
There are nine locations open throughout San Diego County.
Open Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.,
Friday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
www.panerabread.com
The smell of bread and sights of freshly baked pastries and cookies, as well as friendly counter help. The restaurant is open and airy with golden-yellow walls and paintings reminiscent of an European bistro.
Panera Bread Bakery-Café has an extensive lunch and dinner menu full of café, signature and hot panini sandwiches, as well as seven different salads. But Panera isn’t only about lunch and dinner. Feel like freshly made bread to take home such as asiago cheese or basil pesto focaccia, sourdough, honey wheat, sunflower, or cinnamon raisin? Then Panera has loaves, baguettes, and miches available to purchase. Panera also offers a breakfast menu of spinach and artichoke or spinach and bacon egg soufflés, bagels such as cinnamon crunch, chocolate and everything bagels.

Pat & Oscar’s
10 convenient locations throughout the county
For location and hours, visit their Website,
www.patandoscars.com
A family-friendly perennial favorite. The varied menu at Pat & Oscar’s ensures there’ll be something to satisfy every member of your family. Salads full of fresh lettuce and tomatoes and topped with crunchy croutons, perfectly seasoned and tossed with Pat & Oscar’s trademark dressing, a less caustic version of a typical Caesar dressing. Pizza, Chicken, Ribs and more.

Pinkberry
Downtown, 209 5th Ave., in the Hard Rock Hotel
619-231-4475
Hillcrest, 3795 4th Ave.
619-260-9106
Both locations are open daily from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., and the downtown store stays open until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. More information is available at www.pinkberry.com.
Famed for its cult-like following amongst LA’s famed and fabulous, Pinkberry serves up new concept fro-yo in an ultra-sleek, fun and hip environment. What sets Pinkberry apart from old-school frozen yogurt establishments is the flavor palette. There are only three to choose from: original, green tea, and coffee (the friendly staff will happily offer tastes). The original flavor is what Pinkberry is best known for. They describe it as “plain yogurt,” but the taste is refreshingly delicate, sweet and tart at the same time. All the yogurt is fat-free and low in calories (a small serving of original is around 100 calories). There are a number of toppings: fresh fruit, nuts, cereals and candy bits. Part of the fun of going to Pinkberry is experiencing the ambience of the place. With its clean lines, mod tables and chairs, pebbled floor and exuberant classic rock playlist, the space is a unique blend of space-age/health conscious/eco-green with a twist of ’70s vibe.
There is a tiny parking lot in Hillcrest, but be prepared to hunt for parking at either location. They do not serve any beverages except the smoothies, but they will gladly give you ice water upon request.

Pizza Nova
945 Lomas Sante Fe Dr., Solana Beach
858-259-0666
www.pizzanova.com
Choose from wood-fired pizzas, pasta or salad, then sit back and let your children have a grand time. This is truly a kid-friendly restaurant. Kids can play with pizza dough, do puzzles on their menu or draw on the tables (safely covered in butcher paper). Pizza Nova welcomes team parties, birthday celebrations and has even hosted educational tours for kids’ groups. Kids get a hot fudge birthday sundae. Big folks get to pick a dessert of their choice on their special day. Other area locations include Point Loma and Hillcrest. Hours: Monday - Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Salad Style
located at 807 F Street, San Diego, CA 92101
619-255-6731.
www.saladstyle.com
Salad Style is refreshing from top to bottom, inside and out. Located in a storefront a block south of the downtown public library, Salad Style is a sparkling clean spot in the sometimes-grubby urban grind. With a big window, visual menu showing fresh, sculptural salads, and a friendly yellow-painted interior, Salad Style’s takeout counter makes you feel healthy just walking in the door. Service is quick, and lunches can be ordered over the Internet for pick-up or delivery (for three salads or more) in the downtown area. Salad Style is fast food that makes you want to slow down and savor every bite.
Salad Style is mostly a take-out place, catering to downtown businesses looking to bring in healthy food for lunch. As such, it is only open on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and closed on weekends and holidays. Not convenient for family dining, but great for maintaining the health of parents who work in the area. Diners who want to enjoy the sun can sit outdoors at shady bistro tables under a small mosaic-potted trees.
Salad Heaven
Soup, salad and a variety of other offerings.

The Shores
Nestled within the La Jolla Shores Hotel at 8110 Camino Del Oro,
just one block south of La Jolla Shores beach.
open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Sunday Brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
For reservations, call 858-456-0600.
www.theshoresrestaurant.com
Diners receive three-hour validated parking in the garage.
Executive Chef Bernard Guillas, renowned for his genius culinary creations at The Marine Room, also oversees and creates all menus, the wine list and special events at The Shores Restaurant.
The children’s menu is one of the best around. Creative choices like the Yogurt and Homemade Granola “Banana Split” and Silver Dollar Pancakes are available for breakfast. There is an impressive selection of lunch and dinner entrées, like Grilled Fresh Salmon and Poppin’ Shrimp, as well as favorites like Chicken Fingers and Mac & Cheese with an assortment of delicious sides.
Chef Guillas, along with Chef de Cuisine Augustin Saucedo, have created a dining experience that is in a word ... divine. Start off with appetizers such as Steamed Carlsbad Mussels made with coconut milk, curry and cilantro, or crab cakes. The Louisiana Blue Crab Cakes contain andouille sausage and sweet potatoes topped with a vermouth cream dipping sauce.

South Bay Fish & Grill
570 Marina Parkway, Chula Vista
Open every day for lunch (beginning at 11 a.m.) and dinner, plus a Sunday brunch featuring champagne, drink specials, carving station, omelet bar and live jazz. The lounge and grill is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
www.southbayfishandgrill.com
Finely prepared seafood while watching the sun set over a boat-filled marina – The South Bay Fish and Grill, tucked into the Chula Vista Marina, provides tasty food, perfect atmosphere and outstanding service for a memorable dinner.
Kids’ menu – chicken strips, popcorn shrimp, buttered pasta and fish-and-chips are on the menu and all go for $5.95. Kids also enjoy Wednesday’s “big burger” special for $3.95.

Sushi Fix
1608 India St., Ste. 101, San Diego (Little Italy)
619-237-7878
www.sushi-fix.com
Move over Italian restaurants, there’s a new restaurant in Little Italy, and its name is Sushi Fix.
Its motto is, “We’re the place that other sushi restaurants don’t want you to know about.”
Fresh, delicious sushi you’d expect at a good sushi restaurant, but sold at a substantially lower price.
Sushi Fix has a large menu, including hand rolls, rolled sushi and specialty rolls. Portions are generous and simply scrumptious.
There is delivery and catering for any event, and they have "Happy Hour" from 4 to 6:30 p.m. You can get half-priced beer and sake and $2 hand rolls (regularly $2.95). Or try the popular lunch specials from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wine is available by the glass or bottle. Come in for "Monday Night Football" or other sporting events. Sushi Fix’s staff is very nice and passionate about sushi.

Tender Greens
2400 Historic Decatur Road, Ste. 104, San Diego, 92106
619-226-6254
www.tendergreensfood.com
Open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
In the days of parents searching to find healthy dining choices for their children, there’s finally a solution, Tender Greens! Recently opened, this trendy restaurant is located at Liberty Station Market Place, the former Navy Training Center in Point Loma.
My family and I recently had the pleasure of visiting the new restaurant and I still remember the look on my stepchildren’s faces when we told them that we were going to Tender Greens for dinner. Zakiya (16) and Jahmari (15) were a little concerned by the name because it sounded like their meal choices wouldn’t include a big juicy hamburger or chicken fingers, some of their favorites. Although they were correct, they were pleasantly surprised that even though all of their choices were much healthier than they prefer, they enjoyed their meals.
Zakiya and Jahmari both had the “Rocky Junior” Chicken ($10.00), with a choice of being served as a sandwich or a hot plate, including mashed potatoes and a small salad. They both commented that the chicken was well seasoned and the meal was filling.
My husband, Al, and I liked our meal as well. I had a hearty cup of Roasted Roma Tomato Bread Soup with Basil ($4.00) and Chinese Chicken Salad ($10.00) which was loaded with fresh vegetables, roasted peanuts, onions and cilantro. It was huge, requiring me to solicit help from my husband to eat it all!
Al had the special, a Roasted Salmon Sandwich with a side order of Red and Green Butter Lettuce Salad ($10.00).
I love good food that comes with good service, and Tender Greens didn’t disappoint. The service was outstanding. They were patient and did a great job in telling us about their menu items. Even though the manager told us they were out of Peach Cobbler, their daily dessert special, he graciously reccommended other delectable treats. Zakiya and Jahmari both ordered the Aztec Brownie ($3.00), and after listening to them go on about how good it was, I had to try a piece, and it was amazing! I would visit the restaurant again just for the brownie. I ordered the Lemon Cupcake with cream cheese frosting ($3.00) which was good, but didn’t compare to the brownie. Al had the Chocolate Devil’s Food Cupcake ($3.00) with a toffee crunch topping that was also very good.
For all you dog lovers out there, Tender Greens offers a pet-friendly heated patio, overlooking a warm and inviting courtyard.
The restaurant has counter service, which was great because we didn’t have to wait around for our food. Not only was the food fresh and tasty with a nice presentation, but everything was also reasonably priced, making it easy to take a family of four out for dinner for under 60 dollars. There was also plenty of parking, which is not always the case in San Diego.

Vida Gourmet
7523 Fay Ave. in La Jolla
858-456-8002
www.vidagourmet.com
Tuscan-style restaurant serving breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. Beyond that, the restaurant caters and has a unique take-out/delivery program. It has weekly delivery menus or will work with your own menu, and meals for the day or week can be delivered right to you. 
Comfortable and elegantly casual dining room. On the walls hang several 40-inch LCD screens that display beautiful photography and artwork of European cities and tropical beaches. The art changes periodically, rotating like a slide show and creating different moods. 
Executive chef Rey Knight uses the freshest organic ingredients with health consciousness and flavor in mind. 

Vigilucci’s Osteria
608 Mission Ave., Oceanside
www.vigiluccis.com
The upscale interior has a warm ambience with cloth tablecloths, candles, chandeliers, rich colors and a brick interior wall.
The extensive menu includes an array of offerings for appetizers and salads. Entrees include a variety of Italian dishes featuring chicken, veal and fish.
This newest addition to the Vigilucci group of restaurants is tucked away on Mission Avenue in the redeveloped downtown section of Oceanside. Vigilucci Osteria opened in August 2006 and offers lunch and dinner daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. They also have an extensive wine list.
Their lunch menu features panini sandwiches and pasta entrees with soup or a house salad. A take-out menu is also available.
Weather permitting, there is a small patio in front for diners to enjoy.
Italian cooking is rooted deep in Robert Vigilucci’s genes. He learned how to cook growing up in Milan, Italy in his mother and grandmother’s kitchens. He helped open his first restaurant, Siamese Basil, in Encinitas, in the mid-1980s. He ventured out on his own with his first restaurant, Vigilucci’s Trattoria, in downtown Encinitas. Since then, he has gone on to open Vigilucci’s Cucina on State Street in Carlsbad Village, Robbie’s in Leucadia, Vigilucci’s Seafood & Steakhouse on Pacific Coast Highway, Vigilucci’s Ristorante & Pizzeria in Leucadia and Vigilucci’s Catering.


The Wild Note Café.
143 South Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach
858-720-9000
Open Monday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
www.bellyup.com/WildNoteCafe.com
Located in the heart of the Solana Beach Cedros Design District, the café may be hard to see from the street. But get closer and the smell of grilled meat and spices waft out the door, and you’ll see patio seating so you can watch the goings on of the avenue while you dine. Inside, walls are painted a mellow yellow, with green-tinted tile floors and dark wood tables and chairs. Huge oil paintings of smoky jazz clubs, hang on the walls.
The Wild Note Café offers a large dinner menu and even larger lunch menu, when they do most of their business. They have a full bar. Check out the kid’s menu of a hamburger, a quesadilla, chicken fingers and a brie grilled cheese sandwich.

Yard House
1123 Fourth Ave., in the heart of downtown San Diego.
This Gaslamp Quarter restaurant has lots to offer both adults and kids.
Happy Hour perks—half-prize appetizers and pints of beer. The Yard House is known for having the world’s largest selection of beer on tap. Its name comes from the three-foot-tall glass originally designed in England to hand to stagecoach drivers who traveled in horse-drawn carriages. Those three-foot glasses are still used today in the restaurant for those with hearty hops appetites.
The Yard House has something for everyone. The Kid’s Klub menu is a 12-page activity book featuring eight items from an all-beef hot dog to fish and chips. Side dishes include fries, green salad, mashed potatoes, jasmine rice, fruit or buttered broccoli with melted cheese. A unique feature is the Kustom-Kooler that allows kids to mix their favorite beverage (such as lemonade or root beer) with cherry, grape, orange or vanilla.
The ample selections include appetizers, entrée salads, grilled burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, seafood, steak, ribs and chops.

Zócalo Grill
2444 San Diego Avenue
619-298-9840
www.zocalogrill.com.
Open for lunch Monday through Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Open for dinner Sunday through Thursday 4 to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 4 to 10 p.m. and Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Special sunset dinners are from 4 to 6 p.m. daily.
Located in the heart of Old Town, Zócalo Grill offers a change of taste from traditional Mexican eateries. While his menu lists customary dishes such as nachos, enchiladas and carnitas, Chef Rigo Gutierrez creates fresh and enticing combinations based on the flavors of Central and South America, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Zócalo Grill is a family-friendly restaurant with a variety of seating options, a relaxed atmosphere and an extensive children’s menu. The outdoor patio features two fireplaces while the indoor dining room offers tables or large, semi-private booths. The wait staff is knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. Guests ages 12 and under have eight all-American favorites to choose from, including fried shrimp, pasta, mini burgers, mac ‘n’ cheese, grilled cheese and chicken tenders.