SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE PENINSULA BEACON READERS CHOICE AWARDS 2010 BEST RESTAURANTS ...all of you! You, the readers of the Peninsula Beacon, are the ones who have enjoyed great ser- vice, friendly assistance above and beyond the norm, unusual selections, mouthwatering menu items and more at restaurants all around town — and you, our readers, let us know about it. We are proud to present the results of the third Peninsula Beacon Readers Choice Awards. Our categories cover the sunniest corner for your morning coffee to the smoothest spot for a sooth- ing nightcap and everything in between. These awards recognize the people and places that make the Point Loma and Ocean Beach areas truly extraordinary. From Euro chic to American casual, you can find any dining option in these dynamic beach communities. Ballots were printed in the Peninsula Beacon for seven weeks beginning in January. Some read- ers mailed their ballots while others chose to vote online. The votes have since been tabulated and the results presented inside this special supple- ment. Some of the winners may surprise you; others have enjoyed sterling reputations for years and even decades. We hope these awards will encour- age those who aspire to excellence every day and inspire new businesses to reach new heights. Although we are all sometimes crushed by the daily grind, it’s gratifying to know that kindness, care and a bright smile do not go unnoticed. The Peninsula Beacon would like to thank all the readers who took the time to single out the businesses and merchants who make Ocean Beach and Point Loma such rich and unique communities. Congratulations! Kevin McKay, Editor, Peninsula Beacon And the Winners Are... The 2010 Readers Choice Award winners were selected by Peninsula Beacon readers!
Transcript
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE PENINSULA BEACON
READERSCHOICEAWARDS
2 0 1 0BEST RESTAURANTS
...all of you! You, the readers of the PeninsulaBeacon, are the ones who have enjoyed great ser-vice, friendly assistance above and beyond thenorm, unusual selections, mouthwatering menuitems and more at restaurants all around town —and you, our readers, let us know about it.
We are proud to present the results of the thirdPeninsula Beacon Readers Choice Awards. Ourcategories cover the sunniest corner for yourmorning coffee to the smoothest spot for a sooth-ing nightcap and everything in between.
These awards recognize the people and placesthat make the Point Loma and Ocean Beach areastruly extraordinary. From Euro chic to Americancasual, you can find any dining option in thesedynamic beach communities.
Ballots were printed in the Peninsula Beaconfor seven weeks beginning in January. Some read-ers mailed their ballots while others chose to voteonline. The votes have since been tabulated andthe results presented inside this special supple-
ment.Some of the winners may surprise you; others
have enjoyed sterling reputations for years andeven decades. We hope these awards will encour-age those who aspire to excellence every day andinspire new businesses to reach new heights.Although we are all sometimes crushed by thedaily grind, it’s gratifying to know that kindness,care and a bright smile do not go unnoticed.
The Peninsula Beacon would like to thank allthe readers who took the time to single out thebusinesses and merchants who make OceanBeach and Point Loma such rich and uniquecommunities.
Congratulations!Kevin McKay,
Editor, Peninsula Beacon
And the Winners Are...
The 2010 Readers Choice Award winners were selected by Peninsula Beacon readers!
We’re Stoked, Dude!Thanks for making us the #1 Readers’ Choice
for Burger & American 3 years in a row!
Plus, #1 place to watch people in Ocean Beach and Point Loma!
Come on down & “grind” with thisspecial “Thank You” offer. Order up!
(619) 224-4623
5010 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach
Buy 1 Lunch or Dinner
entree Get 1 FREEof equal or lesser value (up to $9 value only)
Not valid with any other offer.
ReadersChoiceA W A R D S 2 0 1 0
Category Gold Silver BronzeOVERALL RESTAURANT Nati’s Mexican Restaurant Red Sails Inn Joao’s Tin Fish
AMERICAN RESTAURANT Hodad’s Nick’s at the Pier Corvette Diner
APPETIZER The Arizona Café Island Prime The Brigantine
BAGEL SHOP Point Loma Bagels Newbreak Coffee & Café Einstein Bros bagels
PET FRIENDLY Tower Two Beach Café Blue Parrot O’Bistro Cafe
PIZZA The Venetian Pizza Nova Newport Pizza & Ale House
PLACE FOR A BIRTHDAY Corvette Diner Tower Two Beach Café Chuck E Cheese’s
PLACE TO DANCE The Harp Winston’s Gallagher’s
PLACE TO GO ON A BUDGET Da Kine’s Nico’s OB Noodle House
PLACE TO PEOPLE WATCH Hodad’s Sunshine Company Saloon WOW Cafe
RESTAURANT SERVICE The Venetian Solare Thee Bungalow
WINE SELECTION 3rd Corner The Vine Thee Bungalow
SALAD BAR Souplantation Sizzler
SANDWICH Olive Tree Marketplace Poma’s Italian Delicatessen Gaglione Brothers
SEAFOOD Pt. Loma Seafood South Beach Bar & Grill
SENIOR SPECIAL Denny’s Margarita’s
SPECIALTY DRINK Tony’s / Martini Bali Hai / Mai Tai
SPORTS BAR Sunshine Company Saloon Nick’s at The Pier Oggi’s Pizza and Brewing Co.
STEAK Fiddler’s Green Island Prime-C Level Portugalia Restaurant & Pub
SUNDAY BRUNCH Bali Hai Humphreys O’Bistro Cafe
SUSHI Sapporo’s Japanese Restaurant Sushiya Kirin Sushi
TAKE OUT The Venetian Con Pane Poma’s Italian Delicatessen
THAI Thai Time Bistro Meechi Thai Cuisine Antique Thai Cuisine
VEGETARIAN OB People’s Organic Foods Co-op Ranchos Cocina Naked Cafe
VIETNAMESE OB Noodle House
WINE BAR Tie: 3rd Corner and The Vine The Wine Pub
WINE SHOP 3rd Corner Wine Steals Tie: Barons and Olive Tree Marketplace
Congratulations to the following businesses who were chosen by the readers of the Peninsula Beacon.Readers were asked to cast ballots for their favorite choices. This was no simple task! With more than 71 categories,
our readers came through with overwhelming response. We wish to thank all the readers who took the time to recog-nize these businesses which do so much to make Ocean Beach and Point Loma such wonderful communities.
3THURSDAY
APRIL 22, 2010The Peninsula BeaconREADERS CHOICE AWARDS 2010
Overall Restaurant
Nati’s Mexican RestaurantThe votes are in, and the readers havechosen Nati’s Mexican Restaurant asthe best local restaurant for the sec-ond year in a row! It’s no wonder, asNati’s has been serving the finestMexican dishes made from scratchwith fresh ingredients for 50 years.The owners pride themselves on serv-ing virtually every dish made to order,including their delicious chili rellenosmade with fresh chilies while provid-ing patrons with affordable prices.They offer a variety of margaritas,Mexican and American beers, cock-tails and wines. Diners may enjoyindoor dining or patio dining. Nati’sis open daily at 11 a.m. for lunch anddinner with plenty of parking avail-able. Hours vary with the season. Be
Hodad’s“If this isn’t the best burger you’veever had,” declares an electronic pagedevoted to Hodad’s in Ocean Beach,“we really don’t want to hear about it.”The staff wouldn’t have time to listenanyway – everybody’s too busy serv-ing up OB’s favorite burger. No lessthan the peeps over at Fodor’s travelguides call the Hodad’s bacon-cheese-burger “awesome,” and there’s even agrilled cheese sandwich on the menufor those desiring lighter fare. Theywere also featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives”. You can get beer and
malts to go with it all – the importantthing, though is that you show up.
The Arizona CafeThe “AZ” is the place to mingle foranyone who wants a real taste of thebeach scene. An Ocean Beach land-mark, the Arizona Cafe offers a 1940satmosphere with a contemporary flare— even the ceiling reflects the artisticdetail of the era. Check out the dailyhappy hour featuring $3 food anddrink specials. The menu offers burg-ers, sliders, sandwiches, salads, appe-tizers and more – incredibly tastyvariety that’s easy on the wallet. Orgrab an order to go from our takeout
THANK YOU FOR VOTING US#1 in Pt. Loma & Ocean Beach
Full Bar & Large Covered Patio Wine Cellar / Dining Room
1stPLACE
2010Family
RestaurantTake-out
Restaurant Service
1stPLACE
PizzaItalian
3663 Voltaire St., San Diego • (619) 223-8197
3 Straight Years!
Visit our Tequila Bar featuring over 30 types of Tequila or try our Mega Margarita44oz. with 5 shots of Tequila…you may want to share this with a friend!
(619) 222-66335001 Newport Ave. Ocean Beach
Thanks for voting us a Readers Choice for
Mexican Restaurant & MargaritaIN APPRECIATION
BUY 1 GET 1 FREEBuy 1 BRAVO’S COMBO at regular priceand get 1 free (same or lesser value)Excludes seafood combinations. Expires 5/4/10
THANKYOU!
Thanks to all who voted for
Juli as BEST BARTENDERI love & appreciate all my friends for their support
window. Satellite sports on big-screenplasma TVs and Internet jukebox andpool tables make this a great place togo and a hard place to leave.
The Arizona (AZ) Cafe1925 Bacon St., Ocean Beach(619) 223-7381 www.theazcafe.com
Bagels
PL Bagel P L Bagel is a wonderful little ma andpa bagel store that offers food as goodas any of the popular chain places forliterally half the price. Love bagels?You’ll soon be hooked on these littlelife savers! You’ll score big at the officewith a couple tubs of your favoritecream cheese and couple dozen hand-made bagels– that is, if you feel likesharing.
PL Bagels3704 Voltaire St., 107, Point Loma(619) 223-4788
Bakery
Con Pane RusticBreads & CafeWhen Beacon readers crave the smellof freshly made bread, cinnamon rollsand cookies, they head to Con PaneRustic Breads & Cafe. The bakerymakes 24 varieties of Artisan bread,including traditional Frenchbaguettes, pain au levain, raisin-hazel-nut batard and sourdough, as well assweet treats like brioche cinnamonrolls, chocolate twists and scones. Forthe caffeine crowd, Con Pane offersespresso drinks and coffee, whilepatrons looking for lunch will find avariety of sandwiches. Visitors seemespecially enthusiastic about theTurkey Cobb sandwich and the“Almost Grilled Cheese,” a delectablecombination of Brie and Gorgonzolamelted between slices of Rosemary-Olive Oil Boule.
Con Pane Rustic Breads & Cafe1110 Rosecrans St., Suite 100(619) 224-4344
Bar
The Arizona Cafe(see entry under Appetizer)
Bartender
Juli Giacalone, Lucy’s TavernJuli Giacalone, day bartender at Lucy’sTavern, has been working in the SanDiego bar business for more than twodecades. Originally from Boston, sheis well known for her charming accentand her devotion to Tom Brady, aswell as the birthday parties she throwsfor her regular customers. She hasbeen at Lucy’s for 11 years, and seemsto be enjoying herself. “I am a ChattyCathy; I love to talk!” she said recent-ly. When she isn’t dazzling her cus-tomers, Juli is giving back to the com-munity; she completed the breastcancer three-day walk and Rock n’
Roll Marathon last year, and she hashosted numerous fundraisers to sup-port her community involvement.
Lucy’s Tavern4906 Voltaire St.(619) 224-0834
BBQ
Phil’s BBQFor the past 10 years, BBQ loversacross San Diego County have turnedto restaurateur Phil Pace to satisfy asingular craving: mesquite grilledbabyback and beef ribs, chicken andsandwiches. Serving thousands ofcustomers a day from a diverse clien-tele of skateboards to Bentleys, Philhas built his foundation on consisten-cy, quality, freshness and friendlyservice. Phil has been a pioneer offast, casual dining since the openingof the first restaurant, giving San Die-gans what they want — great BBQ.Taking care of, satisfying cravingsand supporting customers has alwaysbeen Phil’s No.1 priority.
Sunshine SaloonThe Shine, as some call it, has beenan Ocean Beach institution since1974. It offers up daily happy hours,an ocean view deck, sports TVs,pool tables and–most importantlyto Beacon readers – great pints.Sunshine Saloon’s unique two-story, open-air design allows spacefor all — downstairs under the sun-roof and upstairs on the outdoordeck. One of the largest and mostspacious bars in Ocean Beach, Sun-shine Company has plenty of roomfor smokers and nonsmokers alike.Whether you’re taking in the niceweather and a distant ocean view,watching sports or playing pool,this is the place to be. Get yourfavorite brew at the daily happyhour from 5 to 6 p.m., which fea-tures half-price pitchers.
Sunshine Company Saloon 5028 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach(619) 222-0722
Best Chef
Deborah ScottAs Executive Chef of three Cohn Grouprestaurants, Deborah Scott has madeher mark on the San Diego restaurantscene and become a favorite of Beaconreaders. She has become well-knownfor her creativity and attention todetail, and her eclectic creations on themenus at Island Prime & C-level,Kemo Sabe and Indigo Grill are sure toplease a diverse array of palates. Debo-rah has a long history of receiving dis-tinctions; as a student at BaltimoreInternational Culinary College, shewon the gold medal in the school’scooking competition, and she received
Thanks for making us the
#1 Readers Choice for
• Happy Hour Daily 5-6 p.m. for 1/2 Price Pitchers of Beer!
• Satellite Sports on Plasma TV’s• Smoking in 2 Outdoor Areas• Ocean View Deck • Pool Tables, ATM• 28 Beers on Tap• Internet Jukebox
A Fine Bar in Ocean Beach
• MARTINIS• CLASSIC COCKTAILS
• MARTINIS• CLASSIC COCKTAILS
619-222-0722
Happy Hour Daily from 5-7 p.m. Over 30 Specialty Martinis
12 Beers on Tap • Internet Juke Box Smoking Allowed on Our Outside Patio
Pool Tables • ATM
619-223-0558www.tonysbarob.com
An Ocean Beach Landmark
The Arizona Café thanks you for voting us:
40’s Atmosphere witha Contemporary Flair
Burgers, Sliders, Sandwiches, Salads, Appetizers & More
• Satellite Sports on Twelve 42” Plasma TV’s • Internet Juke Box • Pool Tables • ATM
APRIL 22, 2010The Peninsula BeaconREADERS CHOICE AWARDS 2010
two awards from the American Culi-nary Federation for a recipe she creat-ed using only a shopping bag full ofunrelated food items.
Island Prime880 Harbor Island Dr., Harbor Island(619) 298-6802www.cohnrestaurants.com
Best City View
Bali Hai RestaurantThe Bali Hai Restaurant has been afavorite in San Diego for more than55 years, and it’s no wonder, with oneof the most spectacular views of SanDiego Harbor. The circular architec-tural design and floor to ceiling win-dows promise diners great seatingand views. Another one of the greatamenities the Bali Hai Restaurant hasto offer is the boat dock out on thebackside of the restaurant. EverySunday, many boat owners in thecommunity come to the Bali Hai anddock to have Sunday Brunch–forsome, it’s a Sunday ritual. If you owna boat, and are considering comingover for Sunday Brunch, we suggestyou get there a little early to get aplace on the dock. Sometimes boatsget docked two deep on Sundays!!Mahalo – and enjoy!
Bali Hai Restaurant2230 Shelter Island Dr. (619) 222-1181 www.balihairestaurant.com
Best Ocean View
Nick’s at the PierTake Nick’s at the Beach (arguably thearchetypal Pacific Beach eatery) anddrop it on the Ocean Beach Pier;oddly enough, Nick’s at the Pier mate-rializes, with the same vibe and com-mitment to quality you’ll find at thePB staple. The fried calamari, thepapas quesadilla, the crab cakes andsteamed mussels – they’re all here,along with a killer wine list, a seriousbanquet menu and a stratospheric 23big-screen TVs. Nick’s at the Pier hasthought of just about everything.There’s a reason it all looks familiar –but don’t worry. You’ve come to theright place.
Nick’s at the Pier5083 Santa Monica Ave.(619) 222-7437www.nicksatthepier.com
Breakfast
Red Sails InnRed Sails Inn is located on beautifulShelter Island with a patio offeringbayside dining and a great view of SanDiego Sport Fishing Fleet. Serving thearea for more than 50 years, Red SailsInn has been a local watering hole andis widely known for family dining andgreat early-bird specials! Famous fortheir breakfast, Red Sails also offerslunch and dinner menus with every-thing from sandwiches to freshSeafood, Steak and Lobster. They alsohave a special menu just for kids.
Red Sails Inn 2614 Shelter Island Dr., Point Loma(619) 223-3030 www.theredsails.com
Burger
Hodad’s(see entry under Best American)
Burrito
Nico’s Mexican Food“I’ve never loved anything in thiscrazy world,” one partisan says, “asmuch as I love a Nico’s bean andcheese burrito. “Anything”? That’squite an endorsement, especiallywhen you consider that this crazyworld has lots of cool stuff in it –like this eatery’s legendary hotsauce and the way it piles on thebeans. The chicken taquitos ratehigh as well, as does the veggie bur-rito and the refried fare. In a citythat touts close to five million Mexi-can restaurants, Nico’s must indeed
be unique in this crazy world — orin crazy OB at the very least.
O’Bistro CafeThe patio dining and refreshing menuat this cafe have made it a top pick forreaders, and owners Brenda andJongo Park have clearly paid a lot ofattention to the dining experience.Enjoy a delicious meal in the cozy cafearea or on the inside or outside patio.You’ll be delighted by the variety ofdishes prepared by executive chefJohn Mann, like seafood, steaks,pasta, salads, sandwiches, sushi, ribsand more. Lunch and dinner areserved daily - be sure to try theirfamous lobster bisque. Breakfast isserved on weekends from 9 a.m. to 2p.m. Dogs are welcome. Just two
blocks from the beach, with plenty ofparking in their private lot.
Da Kine’sFew restaurants in San Diego offerauthentic Hawaiian cuisine, and evenfewer can provide large quantities ofthe unique island flavors for partiesand events. But Da Kine, whichopened in San Diego in 1997, hasfound a winning formula for makinghigh-quality, high-volume food. Cus-tomers can choose from menu optionsthat include Kalua pig with cabbage,sweet and sour spareribs, chickenkatsu, teriyaki beef and the ever-pop-ular poi, a Hawaiian staple made ofmashed taro. And not only does DaKine serve delicious food, they also
ITALIAN
DELICATESSENPOMA’S
Since 1965
“HOME OF THE ROAST BEEF”1846 BACON ST., O.B. (619) 223-3027
DELI & SANDWICH
We are proud to be your favorite neighborhood deli for the past 45 years.
deliver, taking all the hassle out offeeding a large group.
2400 Historic Decatur Road Liberty Station, Point Loma(619) 269-4561www.dakines.com
Chinese
Little ChefOne local tells of an innocuous run-inwith Little Chef that speaks volumes.Not only was the food delicious, it wasstill hot when her boyfriend brought itto her at work. Now that’s fresh.They’ve been at the same location formore than 20 years and haven’tchanged their prices in over 10 years!That means not only does Little Chefhave the best Chinese, but it will bereally tough to beat their prices! Some60 chicken, beef and shrimp dishesdot the menu. Add the daily specials,and there’s not a lot Little Chef ismissing as a restaurant or a communi-ty service.
Little Chef4910 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach(619) 222-6627
Chinese Take-Out
Little Chef(see entry under Best Chinese)
Coffee Shop
Jungle JavaJungle Java is a coffee shop with ashot of tropical paradise, so it is nowonder that readers named it theirtop destination for a java jolt. Patronscan grab a cup of their favorite brewand sip it in the quaint courtyard,which is filled with exotic foliage andfestive patio furniture. Located onlyhalf a block from the ocean, JungleJava combines the best of the beachwith a unique tropical atmosphere andfriendly service. Even better, the shopsells not only quality coffee, smoothiesand food, but also gardening supplies,
plants and international goods fromMexico, Indonesia, Africa and the Ori-ent, which is why the café calls itself “alush and tropical retreat from the con-crete jungle outside.”
Olive Tree MarketplaceOlive Tree Marketplace, OceanBeach’s only upscale, independentlyowned grocery store, offers patrons avariety of quality fare, including wineand cheese, locally grown produceUSDA Choice grade beef and fresh-baked goods. Their wine and beerselection is truly impressive. But Bea-con readers were most impressed bythe store’s deli, which uses the store’sbest ingredients to craft mouthwater-ing sandwiches. Meat lovers will wantto try the “Manhattan,” a hot pastramisandwich smothered with melted pro-volone cheese and served on a toastedonion roll, while vegetarians willappreciate the Euro Veggie, a combi-nation of chopped Kalamata olivesand chives, sprouts, tomato, cucum-bers and feta cheese served on warmpita bread. In all, the deli serves morethan 20 sandwiches and more than adozen varieties of salad.
Olive Tree Marketplace4805 Narragansett Ave.(619) 224-0443www.olivetreemarket.com
Desserts
AzúcarAzucar communicates the Cuban ori-gins of Owner/Chef Vivian Hernan-dez-Jackson — producing Cuban
Thank you for voting us
Best Dinner twoyears in a row!
Joao’s Best Fish & Chips& Readers Choice for Fish Taco
Joao’s, San Diego’sFinest Seafood
• Breakfast on Sundays
• Happy Hour 3-6 Mon-Friday
• 3-close on Sundays
• 15 beers on tap
• Sports package & plasma T.V.s
• Patio dining
THANKS FORVOTING FOR US!
Readers choice Best:• Catering• Comfort food• Lunch• Place to go
on a budget
FREE COD TACO w/ ad
w/ purchase of equal orgreater value. Expires 6/1/10
BUY 1 PLATE LUNCHGET 1 FREEDoes not include combo plates. Expires 6/1/10
APRIL 22, 2010The Peninsula BeaconREADERS CHOICE AWARDS 2010
inspired favorites like the lightcoconut cupcakes and red velvet cake-or the unique mojito cookies. Otherfare include specialty Cuban itemssuch as Cuban sandwiches with turkeyand pork, papa rellenas (stuffed pota-to balls), corquetas (small friend rollscontaining minced meat, mashedpotatoes, and or shell fish and vegeta-bles), pastelitos (baked puffs with fill-ing), Azucar brings a taste of ethnicityto an ordinary lunch or snack inOcean Beach. Whether you’re in themood for a Cuban sandwich or a deli-cate cupcake, this papaya-green estab-lishment will always bring an exoticflavor to the table.
Joao’s Tin Fish Bar & EateryA historic fisherman’s restaurant. Visi-tors to Joao’s Tin Fish Eatery in PointLoma cannot stop raving about the
establishment’s fish and chips plate,and many claim that they have neverfound a better version of the dish any-where else. The restaurant’s entiremenu consists of fresh-caught seafoodthat is brought to the restaurant daily,and much of the food is sourced local-ly. Although the fish and chips plate isone of restaurant’s most popular dish-es, guests also love the fish tacos,salmon omelette, crab cakes andgrilled halibut. No matter whatseafood you are craving, the Tin Fishhas one goal: to make you happy.
Joao’s Tin Fish Pub & EateryLiberty Station, Point Loma(619) 794-2192www.thetinfish.net
Donut Shop
OB Donuts OB Donuts is a great little shop toindulge your sweet tooth! Traditionaldonuts include glazed, chocolate, jelly,maple and chocolate bars– all freshlybaked and mouth watering! They alsocarry great breakfast sandwiches,including bagel and croissant and yourchoice of ham, Canadian bacon and
Full Menu'Till 1amNightly
Now Serving Breakfast!
Saturday & Sunday 9am-2pm
Happy Hour in Lounge Areas Only
Must Be 21 with Proper ID to Enter Upstairs Bar
5083 Santa Monica Ave • Ocean Beach • (619) 222-PIER
lox! This locally owned and operatedbusiness has been a donut-lovinghaven serving the Peninsula for years!
OB Donuts1830 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., Ocean Beach(619) 222-0298 www.obdonuts.com
Early Bird Special
Denny’sDenny’s, home of the grand slambreakfasts, where breakfast is served24/7. A favorite among families andfor value, variety. Healthy, heart-friendly choices and senior discountsmake this a favorite among localsenior citizens. Always friendly, fastservice and a great cup of joe.
Denny’s3704 Camino Del Rio West, Sports Arena(619) 295-9200
Family Restaurant
The VenetianEven after receiving numerous awardsthis local Point Loma restaurant is stillhumbled by the continued recogni-tion. This little Italian restaurant hasstayed true to its family recipes morethan 40 years, pleasing generations offamilies. The Venetian encompasses agreat family atmosphere and if youstop in enough you will feel like familytoo. Owners Frank and Joe appreciatethe local business and enjoy meetingthe community that helps theirrestaurant prosper. The food has bestbeen described as California-Italian,which simply means you can expectgreat fare without a lot of heavy sauce,the way some other places think Ital-ian should be done. The pastas andchicken entrees will command yourserious attention, as will the tidy barand the family-style menu.
The Venetian3663 Voltaire St., Point Loma(619) 223-8197www.venetian1965.com
Fish & Chips
Joao’s Tin Fish Eatery(see entry under Best Dinner)
Fish Taco
South Beach Bar & GrilleAnybody who knows anything aboutcoastal San Diego knows that the fishtacos here are the best in the history
of the universe. But did anybody everthink about what kind of fare restsinside that delicious shell? SouthBeach Bar & Grille can only speak foritself on that score – and the Mahitaco, at an absolutely unbeatableprice, speaks volumes for South BeachBar & Grille. This place has lots ofstellar values on everything else – it’sall part of doing business on the coast,which is already overrun with com-petitors. When it comes to a cheap,great taco, South Beach has it made.And if you visit, so do you.
South Beach Bar & Grille5059 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach(619) 226-4577www.southbeachob.com
French
Thee BungalowThis old country bungalow featuresfour intimate dining rooms perfect forthat romantic rendezvous, small partyor business meeting. The attentivestaff, wine selection and consistentquality is what keeps locals, who havecome to appreciate its wonderful food,coming back. House specialtiesinclude roast duck, roast lamb, freshseafood and killer dessert soufflés –one taste of anything on the menu,and you’ll be coming back too.
Thee Bungalow4996 W. Point Loma Blvd.(619) 224-2884www.theebungalow.com
German
Kaiserhof RestaurantKaiserhof is a great family owned andoperated German restaurant. A Ger-man restaurant would not be com-plete without wiener schnitzel or jagerschnitzel. It doesn’t get much betterthan the wurst platte which includes:bratwurst, knackwurst and bauern-wurst with sauerkraut and red pota-toes and a good German beer. Otheritems include beef goulash, beefstroganoff, Bavarian-style sauerbrat-en, and the stuffed rolled beef special-ty called rouladen. American styleentrees include broiled lobster tail,grilled halibut steak, poached salmonfilet with hollandaise, filet mignonMadagascar with peppercorn/brandysauce, or a New York strip steak. Dinein or enjoy the beer garden, a lovelyoutdoor heated area where you cansip a German brew and enjoy a tradi-tional German and American meal.Full bar available.
The Village Kabob The Village Kabob offers the typicalGreek fare: falafel, moussaka, gyros,kabobs and sandwiches. The sand-wiches are delicious and fresh. The
APRIL 22, 2010The Peninsula BeaconREADERS CHOICE AWARDS 2010
Greek fries are a great complement toa meal served with a sweet chili sauceand tatziki, or try the colorful Greeksalad with the tangy dressing.
Village Kabob Greek Restaurant. 4902 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach(619) 222-3255www.village-kabob.com
Happy Hour
Sunshine Saloon(see entry under Best Beer Selection)
Hot Dog
OB’ Kanobe’sMany hot dog vendors focus on carry-ing one or two of the most popularbrands at their shops, but notOB’Kanobe’s. Owner Bob Allen pro-vides dogs from industry scions likeHebrew National, Sabrett and Viennafor the old-school crowd, but he hasalso thrown in varieties like the Jen-nie-O turkey dog and a soy dog formore health-conscious customers. Ifhealthy isn’t your style, feel free to pileon one of OB’Kanobe’s delicious sides,like bacon bits, chili or mozzarellacheese, and make it a meal by addinga bag of chips and a soda for $1.
OB’ Kanobe’s4949 Santa Monica Ave.,Ocean Beach(619) 213-3984
Ice Cream/Yogurt
LighthouseIce Cream & YogurtThe Lighthouse serves up some of thebest ice cream and yogurt in OceanBeach, now featuring double rainbowsuper premium, all natural, glutenfree and certified kosher ice cream –but if you already read the name ofthe venue, you got the idea. But theLighthouse also has something thatthe other places don’t – a hot waffleice cream sandwich, which includesyour favorite ice cream stuffedbetween two Belgian waffles and putin a special iron. Reportedly, the heatdoesn’t even melt the ice cream – thatmeans this place is worth a visit forthe scientific phenomenon alone.
Punjab Indian RestaurantThe Punjab region of India is a hub ofcultural activity, and this restaurant inthe heart of Midway lives up to thespirit of its name by providing a mul-titude of authentic Indian dishes.Customers can choose from Tandoorispecialties, regional fare and vegetari-an, chicken, lamb and seafood entreesthat are served both buffet style andas part of a sit-down dinner. Everyitem on Punjab’s menu is available fortakeout, so patrons who crave the fla-vor of Indian food can enjoy it in thecomfort of their homes. Throwing aparty or planning an event? Punjabalso offers catering.
Gallagher’sThis Irish-owned and operated pub inOcean Beach has created a uniqueenvironment that replicates the atmo-sphere at the best pubs in Ireland witha fun, friendly, exuberant vibe and acommitment to remain passionateabout the pint. The bar is home to avariety of live music, although it exclu-sively reserves Saturday for Irishbands. If the pub isn’t hosting a liveperformance, it pipes in lively Irishmusic. The walls are covered withcrests, collectable bottles, pictures andsigns that reflect the owners’ Irish her-itage, so customers who visit theestablishment after a day at the beach
The Venetian (see entry under Best Italian Restaurant)
Juice Bar
Jamba JuiceThis California-based chain churnsout more than 20 kinds of fruitsmoothies from behind cheerily color-ful pink, green and yellow facades.Pick from ingredients that includefresh fruit, veggies, nonfat frozenyogurt, soy milk and dairy-free sher-bet. Or order the coldbuster, a blendof orange juice, peaches, bananas and2,000 percent of the daily recom-mended amount of vitamin C. Inaddition to smoothies, it also offers ashort menu of soups, low-fat breadsand pretzels.
Jamba Juice3305 Rosecrans St. Ste A, Sports Arena (619) 523-2800
Late Night Eatery
Nick’s at the Pier (see entry under Best Ocean View)
Live Music Venue
Winston’sYou already know that Winston’s isthe most popular live music venue inOcean Beach. It’s been that way foralmost all of its 22 years and thingsaren’t expected to change in the fore-seeable future. What you may nothave known is that Winston’s alsohosts many special shows, such as itsown film festival and an array of bustrips, and works to support local caus-
es and charities on behalf of commu-nity members who’ve suffered injury,affliction or loss. Winston’s is proudof its work with the Ocean BeachMainStreet Association and many SanDiego-area organizations in the inter-est of a better community.
Tony’s BarStep into Tony’s and you’ll take a nos-talgic trip back to a simpler time.
Tony’s 1940’s cocktail lounge uniqueatmosphere loaded with vintage pho-tos of Ocean Beach. It is the place tobe in OB! Savor a classic cocktail orspecialty martini while relaxing in oneof the booths listening to the Internetjuke box or playing a game of pool.Don’t miss happy hour every day from5 to 7 p.m. for half-price pitchers ofbeer, $2 off all martinis and $1 off allcocktails. Your favorite sports on big-screen tv’s, a smoking patio and ATMmake it an all around great place tohang out.
Tony’s Bar 5034 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach(619) 223-0558
Mexican
Miguel’s CocinaMiguel’s Cocina in Point Loma has allthe dishes customers love to see onthe Mexican food menu with a few
special touches that keep visitorscoming back for more. Nearly every-one who visits Miguel’s raves aboutthe jalapeno white cheese sauce; it isso popular that Miguels’ has started tosell it in their restaurant, and it willsoon be available in stores as well.The perfect pairing for that spicy dipis an award-winning margarita, anhonor that Beacon readers havebestowed on Miguel’s for the secondyear in row. This restaurant servesthem big and bold, with the tequila,triple sec and other ingredientspoured to order.
Miguel’s Cocina2912 Shelter Island Drive, Point Loma(619) 224-2401www.brigantine.com/miguels
Mexican Fast Food
Nico’s(see entry under Best Burrito)
Most Romantic
Bali Hai(see entry under Best City View)
New Restaurant
Daddy-O’sPut on your poodle skirt, slick backyour hair and take a trip to Daddy-O’s, a fun, 1950s-60s retro diner inPoint Loma. The restaurant opened inJanuary, and it is already a neighbor-hood favorite. Customers can choosefrom one-of-a-kind burgers like TheSmoker with jalapenos, cream cheeseand jalapeno jelly on a jalapeno bun,or The Gonzo with caramelizedonions, gorgonzola cheese and hicko-ry smoked bacon, or they can buildtheir own burger or hot dog with avariety of toppings. The milk shakesare hand crafted and the cookies arehome made, so sweet treats are also a
Thanks for making us TOP DOG!Voted #1 Hot Dog
OB’ Kanobe’s
KING OF BEACH CITY HOT DOGS
to show our apprieciation:
BUY 1 HOT DOG GET 1 FREE**Equal or Lesser Value. Expires 5/21/2010. Not good with other offers.
All American Hot Dogs & Veggie Dogs
1. Nathan Premium Frank $3.252. Coney Island Chili Cheese Dog $4.203. Sabrett Famous Beef Frank $3.504. Hebrew National Monster Dog $4.605. Vienna Chicago Style Hot Dog $4.606. Vegetarian Dog w/ The Works $4.757. Rasta Dawg $4.75
4976 Newport Street, Ocean Beach • Walk Up or Drive UpNext to OB Surf & Skate
good option. Adults are free to checkout the restaurant’s beer and wineselection, while children are encour-aged to play in the designated kidszone.
Daddy-O’s3960 West Point Loma Blvd.(619) 222-3122www.daddyosdelux.com
Omelete
Shades Oceanfront BistroShades is a family owned and operat-ed restaurant located across from thePacific Ocean with a fabulous view ofthe Ocean Beach Pier. Enjoy the casu-al atmosphere and dog-friendly patiofor dining al fresca. The big hit atbreakfast involves something calledSalmon Scrambles, which should tideyou over until lunch and that veggiesandwich with goat cheese andsprouts you’ve had your eye on. You’llenjoy the excellent food, unique cock-tails and quality service and the oceanview never stops. For early birds, you’lllike the fact they open at 6:30 a.m.
Shades Oceanfront Bistro5083 Santa Monica Ave., Ocean Beach(619) 222-0521www.shadesob.com
Patio DiningShades Oceanfront Bistro(see entry under Best Omelete)
Pet Friendly RestaurantTower Two CaféFresh air, fresh food and fido! TowerTwo offers pet-friendly dining on theirpatio, so whether you’ve come forbreakfast, lunch, dinner or cocktailsthis restaurant won’t disappoint. Thelarge portion meals include Mexicancuisine, classic American foods, andseveral seafood meals that are sure toplease your palate. So next time
you’re out for a stroll with the pooch,make sure you make a point to strollon over to Tower Two Café and say“Hi” to owners Tim & Debbie Nolan.
Tower Two Cafe5083 Santa Monica Ave., 1B, Ocean Beach(619) 223-4059www.towertwocafe.com
Place for B-Day PartyCorvette DinerRock ‘n’ roll, burgers and shakes ruleat the 1950s-themed Corvette Diner.Beacon readers named this spot thebest place for a birthday party, partlybecause of the restaurant’s sassywaitresses in poodle skirts and partlybecause the restaurant features a5,000-square-foot arcade with everyimaginable game, including air hock-ey, pinball, Guitar Hero and skeeball. Children and adults alike withappreciate the fun-loving atmo-sphere, the friendly wait staff, and ofcourse the juicy burgers, made toorder. Ask the wait staff to seat youin one of several themed rooms,including a black-light room withmenus that glow in the dark, for anextra special experience.
Corvette Diner2965 Historic Decatur Road,Liberty Station, Point Loma(619) 542-1476www.dinecrg.com
Place to Dance
The HarpThe Harp offers a warm Irish wel-come with friendly staff serving upgreat drinks and conversation. Deco-rated with autographed pictures ofIrish sports stars, this is a good spot towatch sports on the plentiful flatscreens. Grab a seat at the open win-dows and enjoy an afternoon of peo-ple watching while eating some finecomfort food, including Shepherd’spie, fish ‘n’ chips, Irish stew, etc., witha pint of the black stuff. Great venueto watch local bands and get your jig
on the dance floor!
The Harp4935 Newport Ave. Ocean Beach(619) 222-0168
Place to Go on a Budget
Da Kine’s (see entry under Best Catering)
Place to People Watch
Hodad’s (see entry under Best Burger)
Overall Service
The Venetian (see entry under Best Family Restaurant)
Wine Selection
3rd Corner Wine Shop & BistroYour first glance at this OB wine barmay prompt a certain confusion. Youwon’t know whether you’ve walkedinto a bar that dabbles in retail salesor a wine cellar with a drinking license— such is the level of attention thisestablishment renders both services.Hundreds of bottles from around theworld are there for the taking, sur-rounded by funky-colored walls andmaps of the world’s most well-knownwine regions. 3rd Corner serves din-ner, too, and many patrons make ahabit of ordering a meal and then vis-iting the racks to pick the wine thatgoes best with their food. You’ll comeaway with a very decent bottle of wineand you won’t be paying an inflatedprice just ’cause you’re at a restaurant.
The SouplantationSouplantation is a healthy and freshalternative for lunch and dinner. Theall-you-can-eat cafeteria-style restau-rant offers a choice of soups — suchas Irish potato leek, turkey vegetable,or spicy four-bean minestrone, withwarm cornbread or focaccia on theside. Pasta selections like lemon orzoand pesto pasta salad are flavorfuland filling. But, a favorite is the saladbar. It’s huge, offering almost any-thing you can imagine putting on let-tuce. The staff does an admirable jobof keeping the salad bar clean, attrac-tive, and well-stocked. Souplanta-tions can get crowded, especially dur-ing Friday lunch hour and on theweekends (lots of families), so goearly or late to have an easier timemoving through the line.
Souplantation 3960 W. Pt. Loma Blvd., Sports Arena(619) 222-7404
Sandwich
Olive Tree Marketplace(see entry under Best Deli)
Pizza
The Venetian (see entry under Best Family Restaurant)
Sea Food
Point Loma SeafoodPoint Loma Seafood has the freshestand tastiest seafood. Voted “BestFish & Chips,” Point Loma Seafoodis a fish market selling wines, sea-sonings and sauces plus the freshcatch. Eat in or take home yourfavorites. For seating there are pic-nic tables outside in the sun or in acovered area on the side of thebuilding, or fill up your picnic basketand find a grassy spot near the waterand enjoy!
Point Loma Seafood2805 Emerson St., Point Loma(619) 223-1109www.pointlomaseafoods.com
THANKS FOR POURIN’ ON THE PRAISE…
BEST BEERSELECTION
BEST PIZZA
…WE’LL KEEP POURIN’ OUT THE BEER
2010 PENINSULA BEACON READER’S CHOICE:
5050 NEWPORT AVE. • OCEAN BEACH • 619.224.4550
No Crap on Tap!
21 CRAFT BEERS ON TAP • 100 BOTTLED BEERSPIZZA BY THE SLICE Free Delivery in OB
NEWPORT PIZZA & ALE HOUSE
LITTLECHEF
OB & Point Loma
Thank Youfor choosing usthe Readers Choice for
CHINESEand
CHINESE TAKE OUT
We appreciate your support over the last
20 years!4910 Newport Ave. Ocean Beach, CA. 619-222-6627
APRIL 22, 2010The Peninsula BeaconREADERS CHOICE AWARDS 2010
Senior Special
Denny’s Restaurant (see entry under Best Early Bird Special)
Specialty Drink
Tony’s Bar(see entry under Best Martini)
Sports Bar
Sunshine Saloon (see entry under Best Bar)
Steak
Fiddlers’ Green RestaurantFiddlers’ Green provides outstandingquality of food and service in a warm,casual and nautical atmosphere. Thecuisine is prepared daily using thefinest seasonal ingredients, local andorganic produce, farm-raised meatsand very best fish the oceans have tooffer. Quiet, inviting, cool in summer,with a nice fire in the winter. Greatsteaks and prime rib, excellent shrimpcocktail, good service. Here’s an“insider” secret: the house-label winesare excellent, as good as anything onthe menu.
Fiddler’s Green 2760 Shelter Island Drive., Point Loma(619) 222-2216
Sunday Brunch
Bali Hai Restaurant(see entry under Best City View)
Sushi
Sapporo’s Japanese RestaurantDim lights and Japanese decor pro-vide appeal to this intimate sushi spotin Ocean Beach. Sapporo’s prime loca-tion and great sushi make this afavorite for local sushi enthusiasts.You’ll find traditional nigiri sushi liketuna, yellowtail and scallops, alongwith other specialty rolls like the Mex-ican roll, which consists of octopusand a spicy sauce at reasonable prices.
Sapporo’s Japanese Restaurant5049 Newport Ave. Ocean Beach(619) 222-6686
Take-Out
The Venetian(see entry under Best Family)
Thai
Thai Time BistroThai Time Bistro is known for itsfresh ingredients and reasonableprices, as well as its clean, sophisticat-ed atmosphere. Food is always servedhot, and the chefs don't resort to usingcanned veggies to speed up the cook-ing process. The menu is filled withappetizers, soups and entrees thatmeet restaurant patrons' high stan-dards for traditional Thai dishes likecurry, Tom Kha soup and Pad Thai.Those looking to up the ante on theirusual Thai food routine should try thespicy seafood soup, a delectable com-
bination of green mussels, crab, cala-mari, shrimp, lemongrass, mush-rooms and cilantro. Thai Time Bistroalso has affordable lunch specials; cus-tomers can get soup, salad and a maincourse for just $6.95 Monday throughSaturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Thai Time Bistro1830 Sunset Cliffs Blvd.(619) 223-5000
Vegetarian
Ocean Beach People’sOrganic Food Co-opOcean Beach People's Organic FoodMarket co-op offers an extensiveselection of organic produce, grocery,dairy, and bulk foods and herbs, aswell as vitamins and homeopathics,cruelty-free bodycare, and aromather-apy products. Enjoy a full service sit-down deli featuring a delicious selec-tion of home-style vegetarian andvegan entrees, salads, sandwiches,freshly prepared baked goods,desserts, and more! At People's, SanDiego's only community owned gro-cery store. Nearly 40 years old now,they are still buying and selling withthe same healthful option in mind.
OB Noodle HouseThis restaurant, run by the sons ofthe owners of OB Donut, special-izes in pho. The soup dish comeshighly recommended in two sizes.Enjoy a hearty broth and “mix-ins,” including sprouts, basil, limeand jalapeño. Choose from steak(well-done or rare), rib-eye, meat-ball or tripe. Also on the menu,you’ll find broken rice, fried rice,some vermicelli dishes and a kore-an barbecue rib plate. They have
appetizers (like fried dumplings,spring rolls and egg rolls). Theyalso have a good beer selection,with many imports from Asia.Prices are reasonable. It’s locatedon Cable Street between Voltaireand West Point Loma, and they’veeven expanded next door and addeda sushi bar you’re sure to love.
OB Noodle House2218 Cable St., Ocean Beach(619) 450-6868www.obnoodlehouse.com
Wine Bar
The Vine Wine Bar & CafeLocated just a block from the OB pierin the heart of Ocean Beach, The Vineis a great place to enjoy a glass ofwine and tasty foods. If you are look-ing for an extensive variety of winesand beers from around the world, thisis the place. They have special inter-ests in small production, high qualitywines and hand-crafted beers. Thecafe-style menu includes eclectic dish-es and twists on old favorites you'resure to enjoy. The atmosphere is pureOB — a comfortable, easy-goingneighborhood bar where the staff isn'tjust your friendly servers, they're yourneighbors and fellow OBeacians! Sopull up a chair, grab a glass of wineand hang out with friends. What couldbe better?
The Vine Wine Bar & Cafe1851 Bacon St., Ocean Beach(619) 222-8463theobvine.com
3rd Corner Wine Shop & Bistro(see entry under Best Wine Selection)
Wine Bar 3rd Corner Wine Shop & Bistro(see entry under Best Wine Selection)
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