Dining Alone Restaurants

Trattoria Acqua promises to whisk diners off to the Mediterranean, mirroring Italian seaside restaurants in cuisine, ambiance, and proximity to the water. The restaurant’s practically unrivalled location overlooks the crashing waves of the Pacific at La Jolla Cove; the dining room’s rustic charm and the courtyard’s lush greenery both offer a tranquil atmosphere with a hint of old world charm. Chef Damaso Lee’s menu of Italian coastal cuisine emphasizes fresh seafood, although also offers decadent pastas, meats, and game dishes. The award-winning cuisine is inventive, the ingredients fresh, and the selections decadent. An outstanding wine list adds perfection just when …

Roppongi Restaurant and Sushi Bar is recorded closed at this location! Everybody likes options, especially when it comes to food. At Roppongi Restaurant and Sushi Bar in downtown La Jolla, Asian fusion prepared with a French flair gives diners plenty of choices. Twenty-four different tapas like Ahi Poke, Mint Curried Lamb, Hamachi Tacos, and vast amounts of soups, salads, entrees, sushi rolls, sashimi, and steaks provide any patron an alternative to the mundane. Executive Chef Stephen Window takes tremendous pride in using local, seasonal, ingredients when creating his menu items. His passion for fresh fare has garnered a “World’s Top …

A dining experience at Royal Thai Cuisine is casual yet refined, in the Thai tradition of gracious hospitality. Popular favorites like Pad Thai noodles and Kang Ped (red curry) are expertly prepared and artfully presented in generous portions. Accompaning the menu are a wine list well-suited to Asian cuisine and a large specialty drink menu including alcohol-free fruit smoothies! Décor is tasteful and tranquil, with fresh sprays of orchid blossoms adorning each table, a monumental water sculpture in the center of the dining room, and a wall of tropical fish. A treat for the senses at a reasonable price!

Executive Chef and Partner Deborah Scott’s faithful friend is Kemo Sabe Restaurant, in Hillcrest. The Pacific Rim-inspired décor and cuisine reflects an appreciation for unique cultural perspectives, and melds textures, colors, and flavors into artful culinary masterpieces. Diners may not only feast on the exquisite tastes of each dish, but their imaginations will be fueled by the visual intricacies Chef Scott arranges on the plate. The flash-fried Whole Tilapia is simply statuesque, and the desserts are scandalously seductive. Each element on the menu strives to be a faithful friend to the taste buds, and keep you coming back for more.

Croce’s Restaurant & Jazz Bar is full of contrasts that meld and combine for a gratifying result, from the sweet and savory blends throughout the menu to the elegant dining room flanked by the cozy jazz bar. Here, Ingrid Croce’s vision of creating a space to celebrate her late husband Jim Croce’s memory has been fully realized since the restaurant was opened in 1985. She has managed to combine her passions of food and music, while lending her warmth and generous spirit, to offer a sensory experience for patrons focusing on delectable dishes and a harmony of flavor and sound. …

As cool and bright as the food it serves, Aqua Blu offers diners a refreshing taste of local and imported seafood. Located in the heart of Downtown San Diego, conspicuous under a large turquoise awning, Aqua Blu is a welcome oasis in the center of the ordinary. Relying on the experience of Chef Christopher Powell, they are serving up a paramount selection of Pan Asian Inspired dishes such as traditional Roasted Sea Bass, and the more adventurous Squid Ink and Wasabi Ravioli. With such an enthusiastic chef at the helm it is no surprise that the menu features some of …

At Gringo’s, diners will find enticing traditional Mexican dishes with a modern flair. The unique setting is one of the most dramatic in Pacific Beach, a blend of modern architecture and artisan décor. Chef Victor Jimenez’s menu blends the cuisines of Mexico, Spain, and the United States, with highlights such as Oaxcan Mole Sampler, Yucatan Salmon, and Carnitas. The drink menu offers an enticing array of creative concoctions, such as pomegranate margaritas or premium tequila flights, allowing diners to sample from the list of premium tequilas. The upscale setting, elegant dishes, and fun libations combine to make Gringo’s a truly …

Do you want oysters on the half shell by the fire, a Kirin with sashimi while watching the game on a big screen, or hand rolls served to you in an intimate room, surrounded by Shoji screens? Nobu Gourmet in Encinitas is your place for all of these culinary cravings. At Nobu Gourmet – a sushi bar with several personalities and extensive menu of noodles, grilled fish and meats, not to mention the sakes available – there are almost too many good things to choose from, and enticing fare for everyone.

While Sushi Itto of Hillcrest offers an extensive selection of traditional Japanese fare, it is not your typical Japanese restaurant. The menu is filled with inventive twists on the traditional, often incorporating ingredients from Western cuisines. The highlight of the extensive sushi and sashimi menu is the Specialties section, which includes exceptionally unique sushi rolls such as the Mexican-inspired “CuauhtemItto,” with breaded crab surimi, chives and avocado with manchego cheese, sautéed chili and chipotle sauce. In addition to sushi, the restaurant offers a modest selection of appetizers, as well as noodle, rice, and curry dishes. Elaborate presentation and innovative parings …

THIS RESTAURANT IS NO LONGER OPEN FOR BUSINESS. - Georges on Fifth offers two things not common in the San Diego restaurant scene: dining in the company of San Diego’s elite and a twelve-ounce Prime Filet Mignon of Certified Angus Beef ®. The first takes the form of a vibrant mural of accomplished San Diegans which adorns the restaurant’s two-story walls; the latter is one of the most exceptional cuts of meat in the city. Georges’ menu, with culinary highlights that include USDA Prime steak, day boat scallops, and the highest grade sushi, prioritizes quality ingredients highlighted by beautiful presentation. …

Housed in a small cottage in historic Old Town, Café Pacifica offers a welcome taste of elegance, sophistication, and delicate creativity. The fresh, contemporary menu features a dazzling array of fish and shellfish, which Chef Eddie Zamarripa prepares in his exquisitely innovative style as well as “simply grilled.” A modest selection of chicken, steak and vegetarian options are offered, as are daily specials showcasing seasonally available, and often exceptional, fish. The noticeably cultured wine list, prepared by Owner Frank Busic, offers wines by the glass, half bottle, and bottle, while the Pomerita—the restaurant’s signature twist on the traditional margarita—garners national …

Delirio's is a new addition to the La Jolla/Bird Rock area, bringing an elegant setting, bold cuisine, and a unique wine list to an unsuspecting location. Executive Chef Aaron La Monica's menu is peppered with fresh, local, and organic ingredients, which he skillfully and artfully weaves together into unique presentations that promise to delight the senses. His approach celebrates the best Southern California has to offer, in a style which he describes as "California Cuisine, Baja Flavors." Wine director Jerome Astolfi, who joins Delirio's from Jack's La Jolla, has created a worldly wine and beer list to perfectly accompany Chef …

The flagship restaurant of the Busalacchi family has been serving up authentic Sicilian cuisine since 1986. Housed in a quaint converted house, the restaurant boasts an elegant welcoming setting indoors, and a cheerful, a charming patio for fair weather dining. The extensive menu is peppered with flavorful favorites such as Scallops alla Romana, featuring plump scallops wrapped in pancetta and served in a cream sauce, and Gnocchi alla Busalacchi, potato pasta in a pesto and sundried tomato sauce. As with all Busalacchi restaurants, the service is gracious, and the staff is waiting to cater to your every need.

True to its name, Haru, meaning “spring” in Japanese, is a refreshing and invigorating dining experience. Its verdant walls and floral-theme décor evoke the spirit of new growth, while the elegant artistry of its Japanese culinary presentations and fresh ingredients translate the feeling of spring to the taste buds. The menu is blend of the familiar and the unexpected, with staples like Chicken Teriyaki and Veggie Tempura sharing space with Jalapeno rolls and Chilean Seabass. An exceptional collection of sakes complete the crisp, clean flavor experience. Tucked inside a quaint and quiet shopping center in Kearny Mesa, the new Haru …

There is a surplus when it comes to the average run of the mill “Bar and Grill” in San Diego. Fortunately, if you’re looking for one that will satiate your craving for some good ol’ American comfort food while still receiving fine dining service, then Urban Bar and Grill is right up your alley. Outside, the patio seating area is filled with content Happy Hour goers imbibing as they dive into their starters. This seating is ideal for out-of-towners and locals alike who wish to be at the center of the stimulating streets of the Gaslamp Quarter. Inside, flat screens …

This restaurant is no longer open! - Red Pearl Kitchen is serving up Pan-Asian cuisine set to a striking décor that includes a black-pebbled floor, vibrant red and gold walls, and a “Chef’s Table” located right in middle of the bustling kitchen! Located in the bustling Gaslamp District of downtown and boasting a delicious spread that includes entrees such as the Chili-Caramel Prawns with Long Beans and Shaking Kobe Beef with Papaya and Mint. Owners Tim and Liza Goodell have pulled out all of the stops to make their second location just as memorable as the original Huntington Beach hotspot.

Located inside the newly renovated Liberty Station in the heart of Point Loma, Point Loma Sports Grill and Pub is an upscale bar and ideal place to catch the game and grab a brew. With an endless variety of items for lunch and dinner, they have a full bar and a wide selection of domestic and draft beers as well as signature cocktails and fine wines. They even offer their ever popular “Beer Pong Tournaments,” hosted every Friday night at Midnight. Come and see what the buzz is all about at Point Loma Sports Grill and Pub.

Inspired by the seemingly endless combinations of tastes and smells that create flavors we love, Flavor Del Mar captures the essence of uncomplicated cuisine. The menu prizes quality and simplicity above the overwrought styling of presentation and taste that is found all too often these days. Chef Brian Redzikowski expresses his keen eye for detail, and artful enthusiasm on every plate. Specialties like the Crispy Pork Belly and the Basil Crusted Local Bass introduce guests to newly interpreted flavor components that complement familiar elements on the plate, and with the stunning Del Mar coastline as a backdrop, guests are sure …

Come discover La Playa Bistro, a restaurant that will surely redefine your classic California dining experience. The contemporary Point Loma dive is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, serving well-balanced comfort food with a flair for the flavorful. Delightful fare options range from the typical like the Calamari to the exotic like the Barramundi, an Indonesian fish presented over thinly sliced celery roots wrap with a side of sundried tomato pesto. La Playa Bistro is also the ideal destination if you want to mingle with other guests at the L-shaped bar whose wonderful selection of beers and wines will …

Donovan’s Prime Seafood upholds the same high standards of service and cuisine as its Steak and Chophouse counterpoints. As the latest addition to the Donovan’s family of restaurants, Donovan’s Prime Seafood specializes in serving the freshest sustainable seafood and shellfish on the market. The restaurant couples its commitment to sustainably sourced seafood with its promise to use local produce and ingredients. What results from such thoughtful practices is a distinguished and flavorful menu served up in an equally sophisticated and charming dining space. Classic in design, the Donovan’s Prime Seafood dining room suites its downtown location and urban vibe brilliantly. …