The 15th Annual San Diego Restaurant Week returns Sunday, January 20th through Sunday, January 27th, 2019 for an edible extravaganza to ring in the New Year! This foodie favorite week is the perfect time to take a culinary tour throughout the diverse and thriving food culture of San Diego. With over 180 participating restaurants offering prix-fixe menu options throughout San Diego County, your toughest decision will be which to pick!
Three-course prix-fixe dinner menus will be on offer for $20, $30, $40 or $50 per person, depending on the restaurant. Or take advantage of two-course prix-fixe lunch menus for $10, $15 or $20 per person. The participating restaurants span across the county from the South Bay to East County and to the borders of Oceanside and Fallbrook to the north. Here are 6 picks for Restaurant Week with ordering recommendations for each course!
Steelhead Trout at The Patio on Lamont
Wine Paired Dinner at The Patio on Lamont
Located a few blocks from the beach, The Patio on Lamont is a cozy, charming, and vibrant neighborhood restaurant. Their SDRW dinner menu features 3 courses for $40 with an optional wine pairing. For your first course, I recommend the Ahi Poke Tacos, the three tacos almost a meal in themselves, fresh and flavorful with napa cabbage, cucumber salad and soy marinade in a wonton shell. For your entree, I enjoyed the Steelhead Trout with poblano purée, kale, sweet potato, butternut squash, apple gastrique, and cilantro. For dessert, go with the crowd favorite – the Twisted Elivis. Its a delicious combinations of house-made banana bread, peanut butter mousse, brûléed banana, vanilla ice cream, and foster sauce.
Dinner with a View at JRDN at Tower23
Come for the view, stay for the food at JRDN in Pacific Beach. Enjoy Chef David Warner’s delicious, California cuisine while soaking in the Pacific views from their oceanfront patio. Take in the view while enjoying a Three-Course Dinner for $50 per person. Start with their Ocean Blvd. Roll with sesame seared albacore, spicy crab, cucumber, avocado, sweet chili ponzu, lemon, and shiso. Indulge in their Lobster Pasta served with butternut squash spaghetti, pancetta, crispy garbanzo beans, porcini mushrooms, and chive. Be sure to save room for their Coconut Panna Cotta topped with pomegranate, mango and matcha crumble.
Brazilian Churrascaria at Rei do Gado
Rei do Gado is a local family owned restaurant that started a traditional Brazilian Churrascaria in Brazil. In 1999, the family started serving San Diego with top grade ingredients and a Mesquite charcoal grill. Churrascaria is a type of restaurant serving various cuts of meats, grilled in a skewer in a traditional Southern Brazil style. In addition to the meats, they offer a seafood bar, fresh salad & hot dishes and desserts. Adding to the Brazilian vibe is live music every night & samba dancer during the weekends. If you’re looking for an all-you-care-to-eat option with lots of premium meat, definitely check out Rei do Gado for Restaurant Week and their $40 dinner deal.
Lavish Lunch at The Westgate Room
Award-winning Executive Chef Fabrice Hardel has created exquisite lunch and dinner menus for gourmets to enjoy an exceptional culinary experience during this special week. Short on time, stop in for their Two-Course Lunch for $20 per person. Choose from their decadent Short Rib Tortellini with Hudson Valley foie gras, truffle jus, and asparagus or their Day Boat Scallop, Baja Prawn with Arroz bomba, Nicoise olives, and saffron tomato broth. Finish things off with their Seasonal Sorbet Sampler.
Fresh Pasta at Bencotto
Known for making over 800 lbs. of pasta a week, Bencotto is a powerhouse that delivers exquisite Italian dishes that capture your heart and belly. Come hungry and enjoy their Three-Course Dinner for $40 per person. Start off with their Calamari Fritti, lightly breaded and fried calamari tentacles served with a lemon garlic aioli. Next try their Lasagna Bolognese, layered pasta with Bolognese, besciamella, mozzarella, and parmesan. Don’t skip dessert and indulge in their Panna Cotta with vanilla cream custard and blackberry puree.
A Milanese Meal at Monello
Monello, located next door to their brother restaurant Bencotto, has 25 different kinds of handcrafted pasta available daily. For a northern Italian experience try Monello’s Three-Course Dinner for $30 per person. Kick things off with their Vellutata di Zucca, homemade butternut squash soup with crunchy bacon. Their Spaghetti Neri entrée steals the show, made with homemade black squid-ink spaghetti, mildly spicy lobster bisque sauce and sautéed octopus. Their house-made Gelatie Sorbetti is the perfect way to top dinner off.
