San Diego Travel Forum

My family is meeting in San Diego in September'09 to celebrate my mother's 70th birthday. She loves San Diego and we want to take her out for a special birthday dinner. She isn't into high tech cuisine, but she's is a good cook who appreciates good food. She's not a big seafood fan (except for salmon and shell fish).
We're looking for a restaurant that is classy without being pretentious with a warm and inviting atmosphere and really great food. Any suggestions?

Your question has got me thinking. First, I don't really know what "high tech cuisine" is so am not sure if my suggestions would fall into that category or not.

Thinking of a special birthday dinner, The Marine Room in La Jolla comes to mind. It's not exactly cozy, but the employees are welcoming and the service is very accommodating, the view is awesome, especially if you are there during high tide. The ocean waves actually hit against the windows. The food is really creative and well flavored.

Georges at the Cove and the restaurant at the Valencia Hotel, both in La Jolla, also might work for you.

In the downtown SD area, I thought of Rei do Gado, a Brazilian barbecue, all meats--no fish. It's an "all-you-can-eat" pricing system but not typically so. You can eat as much as you'd like at one price for all, in a nice dining room situation. Also, at the top level of Horton Plaza the Panda Inn is an excellent Chinese restaruant.

Croce's downtown is popular, the food is good and next door the bar offers live jazz for entertainment.

On Harbor Island there are several places to choose and my favorite is Island Prime, indoor/outdoor dining relaxed atmosphere and good food.

On Shelter Island I really like Bali Hai, which offer's Polynesian cuisine, good views of the Bay and SD Skyline as well as good food.

You can read more about these places on my La Jolla and San Diego pages under Restaurant Tips.

This restaurant in the gas lamp district may fit your requirements:

Cowboy Star
640 10th Ave. (between G & Market Sts.) San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-450-5880

Maybe less formal but I think it would still fit your bill:

http://www.hashhouseagogo.com/

Thanks for all the great restaurant suggestions. I checked the website for Bali Hai before and it looks like a great dining experience and the fact that you've confirmed that the food is good as well makes it a likely choice for a special dinner. I love the fact that it's on an island. I'll check out the others you suggested as well. Cheers.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Thanks. I'll check it out.

Chinese: Panda Inn atop Horton Plaza is a great place to celebrate birthdays. They have a private room oat the back that can accomodate 10-12 people. It's perfect if you have kids with you as then they can be noisy without annoying other diners.
There's also Bucca di Beppo (a chain restaurant) that has a larger room.
The Marine Room is great but pretty pricey. There's also a lot of steps for your mom to navigate. The atmosphere is one of those hushed ones that calls for no noise.
Good luck