Whether you are looking to dine in Coronado at Peohe’s, 1500 Ocean at the Hotel Del, or Coronado Boathouse 1887, George’s at the Cove or the Marine Room in La Jolla, or maybe Jake’s or Pacifica in Del Mar, the Chart House in Solana Beach, or Blue Fire Grill in La Costa, there are options for everyone!

Now, in its fifth year, San Diego Restaurant Week is an absolute hit. This was started in 2004 to bring patrons to restaurants for a week after the summer boom, when kids are back in school, and business is typically down. Popular, exclusive restaurants started offering three course prix fixe menus consisting of an appetizer, a main course, and dessert for either $20, $30, or $40.

If you look at many of the restaurants’ menus, you will find that many of them are offering the entire three course meal for less than just the main course on a typical night. For those of you who know me and Mike, you know, we love to do nice things on a budget. I guess it is that financial advisor in me! So, we look forward to San Diego Restaurant Week each year. We always use it as an opportunity to visit some old favorites – or take a new culinary adventure!

This year, due to the lagging economy, the restaurants added a second San Diego Restaurant Week. According the San Diego Restaurant Week published reports, the January 2009 week was the most successful ever – with over 180 participating restaurants and a 22% increase in diners over the 2008 event!

At the San Diego Restaurant Week’s website, you will find a comprehensive list of participating restaurants that can be sorted by price, type of cuisine, or location.  Have fun and happy dining!

If you have anything you would like to see covered in our blog, please let us know.  We are always here to answer questions and meet your San Diego real estate needs.

 The Counter is conveniently located at the front of the  Carlsbad Forum, immediately to the right of Jimbo’s, in the space formerly occupied by Sushi on the Rock.

The Counter menu is interesting, and if you like burgers – very diverse.  You build your own gourmet burgers – from beef, to turkey, to ahi, to veggie – with tons of toppings to choose from.

So, as you are out in Carlsbad doing your Christmas shopping, swing into the Carlsbad Forum for a burger.

The Counter menu is pretty interesting – build your own gourmet burgers – from beef, to turkey, to ahi, to veggie – with tons of toppings to choose from. So, as you are out in Carlsbad doing your Christmas shopping, swing into the Carlsbad Forum for a burger.

We were so excited earlier this year to see that Carlsbad would be getting a new PF Changs AND a BJ’s Restaurants!  Right across the street from the Carlsbad Premium Outlets, we drove by about once a week to see the progress!  As BJ’s Restaurants and PF Changs have been open less than three weeks, they seem to always be busy, often with some substantial waits.  Also, as we entering the holiday shopping season, expect much of the traffic from the Carlsbad Premium Outlets across the street to make the restaurants even a bit busier than normal. 

The BJ’s Restaurant menu is diverse and substantial, and everything we have ever eaten at a BJ’s has been fabulous.  Their salads are super fresh, and the portion size on everything we have ever seen is huge!  Again, this is one of those restaurants that you could go share something and still be plenty full! 

At a time when Carlsbad families are typically being a bit more frugal, it is great to have a couple more moderately priced family restaurants!  Go try BJ’s Restaurant out, either on its own, or as a part of your holiday shopping.  I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

Click below for menu, etc.

But right across the street from the Carlsbad Premium Outlets, we have had both a new PF Changs and a BJ’s Restaurant open in the past few weeks, just in time for the holiday rush.  As PF Changs has been open less than three weeks, it has been packed every time we have gone in.  Also, as we are in November, and the real holiday shopping starts this week across the street at the Carlsbad Premium Outlets, expect
PF Changs to be busier than normal.

PF Changs’ menu is diverse enough for any Carlsbad foodie!  They offer Gluten-free options, vegetarian options, and then your typical Asian fare.  You can order a meal large enough to share for under $15 - or you can order your own and have leftovers for days!  At a time when Carlsbad families are typically being a bit more frugal, it is great to have a couple more moderately priced family restaurants!

Encinitas, CA

Being new to the scene, Bentley’s is hoping to bring you in with coupons in the Carlsbad Clipper or other nightly specials.  The Carlsbad Clipper actually has a coupon for dinner for two for $59.99 – a pretty great price for an upscale North County San Diego Steak House.

The Bentley’s Steak House menu is huge and extensive, and the food is great! 

Dinner is served nightly. 
Lunch is served Tuesday through Saturday. 

Some of their specials are:
½ Price Wine on Monday and Tuesday Nights
Free Wine Corkage Wednesday 
$5 Well Martini Thursdays
Happy Hour

For more information, go to www.bentleyssteak.com or call at 760-632-9333.

As Carlsbad real estate consultants, we believe that much of our job is about knowing our area – homes, shopping, restaurants, and other amenities that future residents may find helpful.  If there is anything you would like to see covered in our blog, please let us know.  If you have any Carlsbad, La Costa, Del Mar, Oceanside, or San Elijo real estate questions, please contact us.

Gusto Trattoria is a small, quaint restaurant on Encinitas Boulevard in the shopping center with the newer Smart and Final. It is almost immediately behind Coco’s. The inside of the restaurant is quiet, and simple. The outside patio seems like its own little world, lit with white lights through the trees and shrubs around you.

The Gusto Trattoria Menu (and food) is AMAZING and very reasonably priced. The portion sizes are generous. Gusto Trattoria prides themselves on making all the sauces, dressings, and breads completely fresh. The fluffy italian bread was good – the sun dried tomato tapenade that came with it was AWESOME!

On their website, Gusto Trattoria posts their weekly ads/specials. On our visit, they were offering 20% off the food bill, a free bruschetta appetizer, or half off a bottle of wine. We had a bottle of Orfila Sangoivese for $17 – SUBSTANTIALLY less than you would pay to buy the bottle of wine in the local winery.

You have probably driven by Gusto Trattoria many times in the past without ever noticing it, but we do have to tell you, it is really a wonderful local restaurant. Erwin, the owner, will stop by your table and ask about your meal and your experience. I always like that touch. If you are looking for a great little restaurant with good prices, fabulous food, and just a wonderful environment, try Gusto Trattoria. It was a lovely little date night!

As Carlsbad and Encinitas Real Estate Consultants, we feel it is important to know about your community. If there is anything you would like covered in our blog, please contact us. We look forward to helping you with all your Encinitas and Carlsbad Real Estate needs.

Located on the water, right in the heart of Del Mar, near the Del Mar Village and the beautiful L’Auberge Del Mar, you are guaranteed to have a lovely night out with fabulous views.  When the restaurant was designed, they took great steps to ensure that as many of the tables as possible have wonderful ocean views.  With a back wall of glass pane windows, the restaurant steps up as you get farther from the window, allowing you to see over the other patrons – right to the ocean.

The food was wonderful.  We each had a crab cake for dinner and the Brandt Farms New York for our entree.  We shared their signature dessert, the Hula Pie.  First, let me tell you that the crab cake was one of the best I have ever had.  It was cooked to perfection, with tons of crab, and minimal amounts of breading (just how a crab cake should be)!  The Meyer Lemon Remoulade was creamy, with just a bit of kick!

The steaks were each cooked as ordered, and a nice quality of tender, flavorful meat, with sauteed veggies and yummy mashed potatoes. 

Now, in its fifth year, San Diego Restaurant Week is an absolute hit. This was started in 2004 to bring patrons to restaurants for a week after the summer boom, when kids are back in school, and business is typically down. Popular, exclusive restaurants started offering three course prix fixe menus consisting of an appetizer, a main course, and dessert for either $20, $30, or $40.

Whether you are looking to dine in Coronado at Peohe’s, 1500 Ocean at the Hotel Del, or Coronado Boathouse 1887, George’s at the Cove or the Marine Room in La Jolla, or maybe Jake’s or Pacifica in Del Mar, the Chart House in Solana Beach, or Blue Fire Grill in La Costa, there are options for everyone!

As Carlsbad real estate consultants, we believe that much of our job is about knowing our area – homes, shopping, restaurants, and other amenities that future residents may find helpful.  If there is anything you would like to see covered in our blog, please let us know.  If you have any Carlsbad, La Costa, Del Mar, Oceanside, or San Elijo real estate questions, please contact us.