Tags
Cucina enoteca, del mar, encinitas, escondido, firefly, firefly grill and wine bar, food, gaslamp, Jolly Roger, Marine Room, menu, north park, oceanside, prix fixe, restaurant week, san diego, sd restaurant week, solana beach
For those that aren’t already in the know, who’ve been salivating over this opportunity for months in advance, it is once again time for San Diego Restaurant Week!
From now until Sept. 26, 2014 over 200 San Diego County eateries up and down the coast (and inland too) are offering two course prix fixe lunches for $10, $15, and $20 and three course prix fixe dinners for $25, $35, $45. Most menus consist of multiple selections for each course prepared with only the finest and freshest ingredients available.
Amongst the participants are some of the county’s most well known and well loved establishments with menus ranging from Mediterranean to Mexican and French to Fusion, and of course every conceivable manner of cuisine in between.
We here at Chow NCOIC have long been fans of this time honored tradition as it allows us to eat like royalty without having to pawn the crowned jewels.
Some of our faves on this tour of decadence include:
CUCINA enoteca – Del Mar: CUCINA enoteca is a California inspired Italian kitchen that is one part urban kitchen with a dash of dashy upscale wine shop. They also make an amazing cocktail. You can quote us on that!
Firefly Grill and Wine Bar – Encinitas: Firefly is a smartly appointed joint with a lighting scheme to match that just oozes sex appeal and makes a great date night. In order to seduce your palette may we note that on offer as one of the appetizer choices is a creamy lobster risotto. Amongst the dinner selections, guests can look forward to getting their forks into some braised wild boar served with black olives, rosemary, swiss chard, and parmesan polenta.
Jolly Roger – Oceanside: Overlooking Oceanside Harbor from a nook on it’s north end and ensconced by Camp Pendleton you’ll find the Jolly Roger a long time haunt of Marines and civilians alike. This time around Jolly Roger is throwing us a curve ball and offering a menu that aside from the Herb Crusted Pacific Snapper and Clam Chowder are decidedly for the landlubber in you. While they will not be hosting any entertainment as is normal on the weekends, we at Chow NCOIC have been informed that a whole new entertainment program will be launched in the next few weeks. Gone is the karaoke. Coming soon: live bands!
It is our custom during Restaurant Week to pick a wild card that we have never eaten at before. This year’s lucky winner will be The Marine Room in Del Mar. They promise a Farmer’s Market Sweet Corn Coconut Bisque made with heirloom bacon, stuffed pepitas, and Espelette vanilla oil that sounds like it is worth the drive to Del Mar regardless of where you are coming from! Be sure to get a reservation if you plan on eating here though, The Marine Room need not look for a few good diners, this booming business has found them in droves!
Restaurant Week is coordinated by The San Diego County Chapter of the California Restaurant Association. The San Diego Chapter feels strongly that it is important to give back to our community. This past September 2013, San Diego Restaurant Week and the California Restaurant Association were able to donate over $5,000 to various charities including the American Red Cross and several area food banks. In our opinion contributing to charity never tasted so good.
For the official word on Restaurant Week including a list of participating restaurants and the available menu choices go to: http://www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com/