Island Prime off Harbor Island

Category: Seafood, Steakhouses
Neighborhood: Harbor Island
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
880 Harbor Island Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 298-6802
Price Range: $$$
www.islandprime.com

This review is based on their weekend lunch menu. After a very leisurely hike at Cabrillo National Monument, by leisurely I mean I wore jeans and a button up, we headed over to Island Prime off Harbor Drive.

The first thing we noticed was the view this place had. Once you walk in, over the hostess’ section, you see these huge floor to ceiling windows of the bay. It’s quite the scene. It’s so San Diego.

Luckily they had a table open right next to the window. Outdoor seating is available, but there was a slight breeze and under the shade would have been a bit cold. The first thing I noticed when we sat, aside from the view, was their C Level Lounge happy or “Social” hour menu (pictured above). We’re gonna have to come back for that for sure. The backside of the menu also had some great drink specials.

Wherever we go, I see if they have calamari. I don’t care if we’re at a Thai, Italian, seafood, etc., restaurant. Calamari has a special place in my heart and if a restaurant can get it right, I’m already a happy foodie. So of course, we order that first along with a pomegranate pearl martini (pearl persephone vodka, pomegranate coulis, grapefruit juice, pomegranate molasses swirl) along with a nice refreshing karl strauss amber lager.

The calamari was great. Lightly breaded and fried and came with a really good vietnamese infused dipping sauce. I usually like marinara but this was good as well. Would be nice to get both.

For our entrees we ordered everything crusted ahi tuna with chinese black rice, pineapple salsa, wasabi, soy-ginger reduction and a snake river farms kobe filet burger with garlic aioli, caramelized onions, smoked bacon and cheddar cheese that was split for two people. I love it when restaurants do that for you and loved it when they asked if that’s what we wanted to do. I love variety, so if I can share a meal with someone and get a two for one, I’m all about it. Our burger also came with some delicious herbed parmesan fries.

I highly recommend this place. The only thing we didn’t like was our burger came out well done instead of asked medium well and I probably would have said something, but we were so excited we were half way done with the meal before we even noticed. I guess it couldn’t have been that bad. Plus, the service was most excellent for everything else.

Great place to go and I’m definitely going to ask my boss (hi!) if we could go here for happy hour at our next department outing.

View from the bar

Category: Mediterranean, Italian
Neighborhood: Banker’s Hill
Rating: 4 out of 5
505 Laurel St
(between Horton Ave & 5th Ave)
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 239-2222
Price Range: $$

Let’s start with the important stuff. Happy hour. Everyday from 5pm-7pm. It’s too bad it’s only in the bar area but the deals are pretty good. $3 draft beers, $5 well drinks and $5 sangrias. They also have daily specials and we happened to be there on Thursday which is great for flat bread/pizza lovers. It’s all half off.

Peroni - Local and Italian. Very refreshing.

Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Hillcrest (gayville)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
3739 6th Ave
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 692-4189
Mon-Sun. 6:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

So Mark, Holly and myself went to check out happy hour here yesterday from 6pm-7pm and was not disappointed. Because it was happy hour, we (they) ordered some really crazy shit. The theme of this place is kinda like small À la carte type appetizers on barbecue sticks. Some things you order to share and for your favorites, you make sure to order one for yourself Price ranges from 2-7 dollars per dish with about each dish serving a tasting to 4 people.

First up was chicken skin. Haha, yea… Read More…