Jack's At this brand-new, three-level space, Jean-Georges Vongerichten protégé Tony DiSalvo oversees an elegant restaurant, a groovy lounge and a casual café that serves small plates like tuna tartare with ginger vinaigrette. You can choose your own flight of three wines for $13 (7863 Girard Ave., La Jolla; 858-456-8111).
Nine-Ten This hotel restaurant offers great food from chef Jason Knibb (poached lobster in spicy pumpkin-seed broth). Plus the wine list has a cute Last Call section of wines that are almost sold out—at good prices. We had an aromatic 2002 Martinelli Gewürztraminer from Russian River Valley for $36; it's usually at least 10 bucks more on restaurant lists (910 Prospect St., La Jolla; 858-964-5400).
162' at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel Part of the hotel's recent $40 million renovation, the new restaurant 162' stands 162 feet above the ocean. The lunch menu has both a good burger with all the trimmings and a nice wines-by-the-glass list; on the dinner menu, the burger is still there but the list changes to half-bottles (1 Ritz-Carlton Dr., Dana Point; 949-240-2000).
Ocean Terrace At the upstairs café at George's at the Cove, you can eat the best fish tacos ever from chef Trey Foshee with any wine from the restaurant's 500-bottle dining room list. Krug Champagne tastes even more luxurious when it's paired with a 180-degree Pacific Ocean view (1250 Prospect St., La Jolla; 858-454-4244).
Venissimo Cheese A new store with more than 100 great-quality choices, such as the creamy, truffle-flecked Italian goat cheese caprino cremoso. Sales receipts include a description of each cheese as well as wine pairing suggestions (754 W. Washington St., San Diego; 619-491-0708).
Return
Become a fan
Follow us