Top Rated Restaurants & Cafes in San Diego

This is a great place to enjoy casual dockside dining and watch the fishing boats. The interior is cozy and warm with plenty of windows to watch the sport-fishing action. The outside seating consists of stools on the balcony overlooking the piers. Breakfast offers biscuits and gravy, a deck-hand breakfast and seafood omelets. Lunch includes an array of sandwiches on fresh baked bread, as well as fish platters and salads. Try the Beer Battered Fish, Fried Calamari or Crab Cake. Wine and beers are also available at the restaurant.

Named after an ancient port city on Sicily’s east coast, Catania offers an assortment of coastal Italian delicacies that are sure to delight your palate. Menu offerings include contemporary Italian dishes like Braised Beef Tongue, Crispy Octopus and Wild Boar Pasta. Complement the meals with draft and bottled brews, wines or Italian sodas. Situated atop La Plaza Center, the restaurant also allows you to enjoy sweeping views over La Jolla Cove while you enjoy the creative delicacies and delectable drinks. If you are craving for inventive Italian food, on a clear evening in the middle of summer, it’s hard to think of a better place to be.

Market Restaurant + Bar is a high-end place that specializes in seasonal menus and some fixed menus. Owned by the award-winning chef Carl Schroeder, it is a promising place that assures you of a unique fine dining experience with delectable, world-class food. The ingredients that constitute the meal are fresh and hand-selected by the expert culinary team. The focus of the restaurant is creative cooking which reflects in the ample variety offered on the menu. Some constant favorites are Short Ribs, Satiron Steak and Caramel Souffle. The decor of the restaurant is upscale and welcoming with sufficient lighting and polished wooden furniture, perfect for an intimate dining experience. They offer wines from the world's finest wineries and handmade craft cocktails to go with your exotic meal. The attentive and polite staff pamper you and indulge you in a royal dining experience. The fancy dinner comes at fancier prices but the experience is worth every penny. It is fine dining in its truest form.

Located in the heart of University Heights area, Hanna's Gourmet brings to San Diego a variety of world cuisines. They are open five days a week and they serve lunch, dinner and weekend brunches. They have a constantly changing menu and one can indulge in tasty and innovative dishes from America, Europe, Middle East and Asia. All dishes served are moderately priced and the eatery is an ideal place to enjoy a meal in the company of friends and family.

Ironside Fish & Oyster helmed by Michelin star chef Jason McLeod is the place to visit in Little Italy for a fresh, modern approach to seafood as opposed to some of the more traditional Spaghetti and Clam joints around the neighborhood. The menu changes often since it relies heavily on whatever the catch brings in, but one thing you can always find on the menu is the Lobster Roll. It is served in a brown-butter mayo and a soft bun then topped with chives; definitely one of the highlights. Seafood Paella, Steamed Mussels, Fried Oysters, Rock Fish Ceviche and excellent Peel 'n' Eat Shrimp are just a few of the items on the menu at any given time.

Visit Mendocino Farms for delicious sandwiches, salads, and soup. The sandwich shop on Villa La Jolla Drive has something for everyone. Their crunchy salads with nuts, greens, and several other interesting ingredients are not only nutritious but delicious too while sandwiches are perfect for those looking for a quick meal. Popular among patrons of all ages, this place is a must for days when you wish for something lighter yet delectable.