Restaurant to Watch: Mess Hall
Browse this year’s list by category:
Overall | Atmosphere | Specific Dishes | Specific Cuisines | Drinks
A Word From Food Editor Troy Johnson
Santa taught me everything I needed to know about making lists. My first Christmas wish lists were epic, Ulysses-esque tomes. I asked for everything under the sun, and the sun itself. My single mom just smiled at my early-onset materialism, and cautioned that Santa doles out gifts with a tad more restraint. And so it is with our annual Best Restaurants feature.
Every year, it is my job to eat at between three and 12 restaurants a week (my record is five lunches in a single day, for our 2012 guide to Asian food). I make notes throughout the year, reminisce about my most memorable meals and the restaurants that floored me, and come up with my own personal best. And then I start cutting. Some of my favorite restaurants get shaved off. Would I love to have Yakitori Yakyudori on this list, since I dream of their beef tongue skewers with gossamer ribbons of dried tuna? Yes. Sab-E-Lee is incredible Thai food, but this year, the freshness of Suppanee’s ingredients from their own garden made me lean their direction. I’d also love to see Aqui es Texcoco on this list. Their lamb barbacoa is the soul mate for your salivary glands.
And how in the world do I not have Sushi Ota as the ultimate sushi restaurant, its greatness cemented and beautifully fossilized? Well, that’s because, for me, sustainable seafood is of utmost importance. Our fishing reserves are scarily scant. And chef Rob Ruiz of The Land & Water Co. is one of the foremost sustainable sushi experts in the country at this point. I eat with my mouth—and my ethics.
Choosing only one per category drives me insane.
Talking to San Diego chefs this year, the one thing that they tell me over and over is—San Diego is in the midst of a restaurant glut. There are too many good options, and restaurants are struggling to draw a large enough share of the city’s available diners. That’s lucky for us eaters, not so lucky for the chef-owners.
But the best will survive the eventual shakeout. From a truly selfish diner perspective, it’s a pretty wonderful problem. And it’s a pretty great time to be eating and drinking in San Diego. I hope you enjoy my picks, listed alongside the winners and runners-up of our readers’ survey. Let’s grub.
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Overall
San Diego’s Best Restaurants 2016
Best New Restaurant (Critic’s Pick): Bracero Cocina
Best New Restaurant (Critic’s Pick): Bracero Cocina
Best of the Best
Readers’ Pick: Juniper and Ivy
Runner-up: Truluck’s
Critic’s Pick: Juniper and Ivy
Best New Restaurant
Readers’ Pick: Coasterra
Runner-up: Bracero Cocina
Critic’s Pick: Bracero Cocina
Best Service
Readers’ Pick: Cucina Enoteca and Cucina Urbana
Runner-up: Meze
Critic’s Pick: Addison
Best Chef
Readers’ Pick: Accursio Lota, Solare Ristorante
Runner-up: Joe Magnanelli, Cucina Urbana
Critic’s Pick: William Bradley, Addison
Best Happy Hour
Readers’ Pick: Monello
Runner-up: Searsucker
Critic’s Pick: Monello
Best Cheap Eats
Readers’ Pick: The Kebab Shop
Runner-up: Carnitas’ Snack Shack
Critic’s Pick: Carnitas’ Snack Shack
Best Late-Night Menu
Readers’ Pick: Meze
Runner-up: Searsucker San Diego
Critic’s Pick: Starlite
Best Hotel Restaurant
Readers’ Pick: Tidal and A.R. Valentien (tie)
Runner-up: Nine-Ten
Critic’s Pick: A.R. Valentien
Best Food Truck
Readers’ Pick: Super Q
Runner-up: Miho
Critic’s Pick: Miho
Best Restaurant in Baja
Readers’ Pick: Finca Altozano
Runner-up: Oryx Capital
Critic’s Pick: Deckman’s en el Mogor
Best Desserts
Readers’ Pick: Extraordinary Desserts
Runner-up: Le Parfait Paris
Critic’s Pick: Nine-Ten
Best Taco Shop
Readers’ Pick: City Tacos
Runner-up: Tacos El Gordo
Critic’s Pick: TJ Oyster Bar
Best Indulgent Eats
Readers’ Pick: Carnitas’ Snack Shack
Runner-up: Extraordinary Desserts
Critic’s Pick: Addison
Best Healthy Eats
Readers’ Pick: Tender Greens
Runner-up: Café Gratitude
Critic’s Pick: Tender Greens
Best Food/Drink Event
Readers’ Pick: Celebrate the Craft
Runner-up: Best of North County
Critic’s Pick: Celebrate the Craft
Atmosphere
San Diego’s Best Restaurants 2016
Best Design (Critic’s Pick): Herringbone
Best Design (Critic’s Pick): Herringbone
Best Design
Readers’ Pick: Cucina Enoteca
Runner-up: Herringbone
Critic’s Pick: Herringbone
Best Special Occasion
Readers’ Pick: Truluck’s
Runner-up: Herringbone
Critic’s Pick: George’s California Modern
Best View (Urban)
Readers’ Pick: Mister A’s
Runner-up: Top of the Hyatt, Manchester Grand Hyatt
Critic’s Pick: Mister A’s
Best View (Water)
Readers’ Pick: Coasterra
Runner-up: C-Level
Critic’s Pick: Coasterra
Best Outdoor Patio
Readers’ Pick: Coasterra
Runner-up: Oceana Coastal Kitchen
Critic’s Pick: Jaynes Gastropub
Best Kid-Friendly
Readers’ Pick: Corvette Diner
Runner-up: Station Tavern
Critic’s Pick: Waypoint Public
Best Place to Watch the Game
Readers’ Pick: Kaminski’s BBQ
Runner-up: Barleymash
Critic’s Pick: Wonderland
Best Date Spot
Readers’ Pick: Bleu Bohème
Runner-up: Herringbone
Critic’s Pick: Cafe Chloe
Specific Dishes
San Diego’s Best Restaurants 2016
Best Burger (Runner-up): The BH Burger at Bankers Hill Bar & Restaurant
Best Burger (Runner-up): The BH Burger at Bankers Hill Bar & Restaurant
Best Sandwich
Readers’ Pick: Rubicon Deli
Runner-up: Board & Brew
Critic’s Pick: Cucina Urbana
Best Pizza
Readers’ Pick: Napizza
Runner-up: Buona Forchetta
Critic’s Pick: Buona Forchetta
Best Burger
Readers’ Pick: Burger Lounge
Runner-up: Bankers Hill Bar & Restaurant
Critic’s Pick: Rocky’s
Best Taco
Readers’ Pick: Puesto
Runner-up: Tacos El Gordo
Critic’s Pick: Galaxy Taco
Best Fish Taco
Readers’ Pick: Rubio’s
Runner-up: Puesto
Critic’s Pick: Puesto
Best Burrito
Readers’ Pick: Lolita’s
Runner-up: Lucha Libre
Critic’s Pick: Lucha Libre
Best Chips and Salsa
Readers’ Pick: Miguel’s Cocina
Runner-up: Puesto
Critic’s Pick: Ranchos Cocina
Best Fries
Readers’ Pick: Searsucker
Runner-up: Burger Lounge
Critic’s Pick: Searsucker
Best Sushi
Readers’ Pick: Sushi Ota
Runner-up: Sushi Deli
Critic’s Pick: The Land & Water Co.
Best Salad
Readers’ Pick: Napizza
Runner-up: Tender Greens
Critic’s Pick: Urban Solace (watermelon salad)
Best Small Plates Menu
Readers’ Pick: Meze
Runner-up: Tidal
Critic’s Pick: Tidal
Best Ramen
Readers’ Pick: Underbelly
Runner-up: Tajima
Critic’s Pick: Underbelly
Best Bacon Dish
Readers’ Pick: Pork belly app, Carnitas’ Snack Shack
Runner-up: Maple bacon donut, Great Maple
Critic’s Pick: Maple bacon donut, Great Maple
Best Ice Cream
Readers’ Pick: Hammond’s
Runner-up: Bobboi Natural Gelato
Critic’s Pick: Pappalecco
Best Donut
Readers’ Pick: Donut Bar
Runner-up: Nomad Donuts
Critic’s Pick: Donut Bar
Best Pancakes
Readers’ Pick: Snooze
Runner-up: Richard Walker’s
Critic’s Pick: Snooze
Best French Toast
Readers’ Pick: Snooze
Runner-up: The Mission
Critic’s Pick: The Mission
Best Eggs Benedict
Readers’ Pick: Snooze
Runner-up: Breakfast Republic
Critic’s Pick: Little Lion
Hall-of-Fame Dish
Readers’ Pick: Spinach and ricotta ravioli, Solare Ristorante
Runner-up: Kung pao chicken, Szechuan Mandarin
Critic’s Pick: Jamaican jerk pork belly, Nine-Ten
Specific Cuisines
San Diego’s Best Restaurants 2016
Best Italian (Readers’ and Critic’s Pick): Solare Ristorante
Best Italian (Readers’ and Critic’s Pick): Solare Ristorante
Best Middle Eastern
Readers’ Pick: Meze
Runner-up: The Kebab Shop
Critic’s Pick: Khyber Pass
Best Italian
Readers’ Pick: Solare Ristorante
Runner-up: Cucina Urbana and Cucina Enoteca
Critic’s Pick: Solare Ristorante
Best Greek
Readers’ Pick: Meze
Runner-up: Cafe Athena
Critic’s Pick: Cafe Athena
Best Mexican
Readers’ Pick: Talavera Azul
Runner-up: Puesto
Critic’s Pick: Bracero Cocina
Best French
Readers’ Pick: Bleu Bohème
Runner-up: Cafe Chloe
Critic’s Pick: The Marine Room
Best Indian
Readers’ Pick: Bombay
Runner-up: Royal India
Critic’s Pick: Taste of the Himalayas
Best Chinese
Readers’ Pick: Szechuan Mandarin
Runner-up: Dumpling Inn
Critic’s Pick: Dumpling Inn
Best Japanese
Readers’ Pick: Sushi Ota
Runner-up: Blue Smoke
Critic’s Pick: Wa Dining Okan
Best Thai
Readers’ Pick: Supannee
Runner-up: Amarin
Critic’s Pick: Supannee
Best Vietnamese
Readers’ Pick: Le Bambou
Runner-up: Saigon on Fifth
Critic’s Pick: Saigon on Fifth
Best Korean
Readers’ Pick: Manna Korean BBQ
Runner-up: Tofu House
Critic’s Pick: Do Re Mi
Best Filipino
Readers’ Pick: Tita’s Kitchenette
Runner-up: Manila Sunset
Critic’s Pick: Tita’s Kitchenette
Best Russian
Readers’ Pick: Pomegranate
Runner-up: Pushkin
Critic’s Pick: Pomegranate
Best Ethiopian
Readers’ Pick: Muzita
Runner-up: Red Sea
Critic’s Pick: Muzita
Best Vegetarian/Vegan
Readers’ Pick: Café Gratitude
Runner-up: Civico 1845
Critic’s Pick: Café Gratitude
Best Barbecue
Readers’ Pick: Phil’s BBQ
Runner-up: Coops West Texas BBQ
Critic’s Pick: Coops West Texas BBQ
Best Steakhouse
Readers’ Pick: Cowboy Star
Runner-up: Donovan’s
Critic’s Pick: Cowboy Star
Best Seafood
Readers’ Pick: Ironside FIsh & Oyster
Runner-up: Truluck’s
Critic’s Pick: Mitch’s
Best Breakfast/Brunch
Readers’ Pick: Talavera Azul
Runner-up: Snooze
Critic’s Pick: Café 21
Drinks
San Diego’s Best Restaurants 2016
Best Cocktails (Critic’s Pick): Polite Provisions | Photo by Paul Body
Best Cocktails (Critic’s Pick): Polite Provisions | Photo by Paul Body
Best Wine List
Readers’ Pick: Cucina Urbana and Cucina Enoteca
Runner-up: Solare Ristorante
Critic’s Pick: Addison
Best Beer Selection
Readers’ Pick: Hamiltons
Runner-up: Regents Pizzeria
Critic’s Pick: Hamiltons
Best Cocktails
Readers’ Pick: Searsucker
Runner-up: Polite Provisions
Critic’s Pick: Polite Provisions
Best Coffee
Readers’ Pick: Dark Horse
Runner-up: Bird Rock
Critic’s Pick: Caffé Calabria
Best Mocktails
Readers’ Pick: Café Gratitude
Runner-up: Lemonade
Critic’s Pick: Prepkitchen Little Italy
Best Brewpub
Readers’ Pick: Ballast Point
Runner-up: Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens
Critic’s Pick: Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens
Best Wine Bar
Readers’ Pick: Village Vino
Runner-up: Wine Steals
Critic’s Pick: 3rd Corner
Best Juice Bar
Readers’ Pick: Papayas Juice Bar & Fruiteria
Runner-up: Sacred Juice
Critic’s Pick: Farm to Fork
Best Margarita
Readers’ Pick: Puesto
Runner-up: Cafe Coyote
Critic’s Pick: Puesto
Best Mule
Readers’ Pick: Starlite
Runner-up: Uptown Tavern and West Coast Tavern (tie)
Critic’s Pick: Starlite
Best Old-Fashioned
Readers’ Pick: Seven Grand
Runner-up: Cowboy Star
Critic’s Pick: Cowboy Star
Best Local Craft Beer Brand
Readers’ Pick: Ballast Point
Runner-up: Stone
Critic’s Pick: Green Flash
Best Pale Ale
Readers’ Pick: Big Eye, Ballast Point
Runner-up: .394, AleSmith
Critic’s Pick: Alpine
Best IPA
Readers’ Pick: Sculpin, Ballast Point
Runner-up: Stone IPA, Stone
Critic’s Pick: Sculpin, Ballast Point
Best Stout
Readers’ Pick: Peanut Butter Milk Stout, Belching Beaver
Runner-up: Speedway Stout, AleSmith
Critic’s Pick: Speedway Stout, AleSmith
Best Porter
Readers’ Pick: Smoked Porter, Stone
Runner-up: Victory at Sea, Ballast Point
Critic’s Pick: Smoked Porter, Stone
Best Sessional Beer
Readers’ Pick: Mosaic, Karl Strauss
Runner-up: Even Keel, Ballast Point
Critic’s Pick: Session IPA, Duck Foot
Best Wheat Beer
Readers’ Pick: Orange Avenue Wit, Coronado
Runner-up: Fortunate Islands, Modern Times
Critic’s Pick: Cali Creamin’, Mother Earth
Best Brown Ale
Readers’ Pick: Nut Brown, AleSmith
Runner-up: Speedo’s Tiki Love God, Fall
Critic’s Pick: Board Meeting, Port
Best Red
Readers’ Pick: Red Trolley, Karl Strauss
Runner-up: Mermaid’s Red, Coronado
Critic’s Pick: Red Trolley, Karl Strauss
Best Belgian-Style Beer
Readers’ Pick: Cali-Belgique, Stone
Runner-up: The Harlot, Societe
Critic’s Pick: The Harlot, Societe
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Restaurant to Watch: Mess Hall
