It's not that the restaurants in San Diego are bad, it's that we have less to choose from than San Francisco, Los Angeles, or New York. This is not a place where eating out is a way of life, the way it is in the above places. In the wide scheme of life this fact should matter about as much as a speck of dust.

Daimyo- have you tried Maxim's in City Heights for non dim sum Chinese? Also, you mentioned a Pho Hoa in Linda Vista, are they affiliated with the Pho Hoa on El Cajon Boulevard?

Dining Diva- Have you eaten at Casa Sanchez in East County? If not, give them a whirl. I would like to know your opinion.

I have been thinking abut this exact subject for about a week.

My fiance' and I consider the process of eating to be a "dining experience", and a necessary part of our life; and I mean necessary like sex and breathing. We approach a meal with a purpose, whether it's in our favorite 24 hour diner, a noisy pizza shack, our usual breakfast or dinner place, or a white tablecloth room. The purpose, cut down to it's most basic element, is to provide energy for the machine. But consider the dining experience beyond the molecular level, and you delve into, what Making Sense just mentioned above, a Social Experience.

The individual experiences have their own unique beauty and depth. The loud, fast, down and dirty-lets-throw-our-jeans-on-and-grab-a-pepperoni-pie is a fun end to a busy day. After we have been house-hunting all day (which is a demoralizing process in Southern California), our favorite pizza house is a place we can just sink into like a down comforter. The experience is casual, delicious, and simple. On a more regular day, we will take more care and time to get "dressed for dinner". We will dine late at one our local haunts. This experience is quieter, slower, more conversational; a necessary moment of carving another nuance into the road. And the new places! We dress appropriately for the room. We arrive ready to soak up a new menu. We ask questions. We eat slow. New restaurants have provided us with mostly delicious meals and excellent service; the few bad places have given us hilarious stories. Whether excellent, good, or mediocre, each dining experience provides another stitch in the fabric.

This ritual of dining, is as much a part of us as our skin. It is part of the act of living. I suppose this is why the majority of our dining times are positive. We dine to feed the body and mind, not to torture the waitstaff and rip into the chef. This is not only about attitude, it's about ritual, good manners, being social and creating living framework.

Blue Point on 5th and Market could be a fun choice. The atmosphere is very old school-supper club; plenty of cherrywood and swing music to boot. They have an extensive list of creative mixed drinks. Ask for a booth, as they are large enough for 4 people, yet provide an intimate feel. The food will be a bit more of a basic style than what you are used to in SF, but the quality is good, and the service is excellent.

J-Six is straight up awesome awesome food and excellent service. The atmosphere is a bit on the calm, quiet side, whereas Blue Point is more appropriate for raucous laughter.

So, if your quartet wants to behave like mature adults, dine at J Six....:) If you are all feeling slightly madcap, dine at Blue Point or Stingaree....;>

Be sure to save room for Extraordinary Desserts on Sunday morning.

Dagney

The Cliff House in Mussel Shoals is fun and slightly hidden. The restaurant is mediocre, but the hotel is ON the beach. Take your own wine and cheese and soak in the perfection.

In Santa Barbara, you absolutely MUST eat Mexican food at La Super Rica. It's this shack, practically the size of a matchbox. The food is addicting.

I think someone on the board mentioned Hoppe's. I ate a lovely dinner there about 7 years ago. Unfortunately I have not been back since, but I do remember the food and service were solid.

Oh! One more, if you are inclined to go for a loud, raucous, microbrew, and bucket of mussels kind if time, then try Brophy Brothers in Santa Barbara and or Mother's in San Luis Obispo.

Dagney

Per Chow folks, I ate at Spread tonight. The owners are a husband-wife team that are committed to serving high quality food. They are accomodating and extremely gracious. The decor of the room is simple and quiet; they have made their food the number one priority. The menu changes daily and is written on a chalkboard.

They have created a line of "butters"; all organic and homemade. I don't even know where to start, everything from peanut butter-chocolate-cinnamon creations to more pesto-esque arrangements.

Dagney

Tacos El Panson is on El Cajon Boulevard at Highland Avenue in City Heights. Their shop is small, friendly, efficient, and delicious. Etna is directly next door, they have a wonderful thick crust pizza. Al's Cafe is a fun diner in Carlsbad; excellent service! Titanic Mariscos is on Fairmount Avenue, and I think...Dwight Street? Anyway it's around 3500 Fairmount Avenue. It's this weird little hole-in-the-wall place with outrageous Mexican seafood. Canada Steakburger is at 3600 University Avenue. Massive hamburgers. Western Steakburger is farther west on University Avenue, I have forgotten the address. They have a good Philly Cheesesteak. The Little Dumpling is north of Jasmine on Convoy, they are small and hard to find, but the food is insane. Janet's Cafe is in Alpine, and is a good country-esque diner with a basic menu but efficient service.

Dagney