Restaurant Regulars
Kelly Norman, 39, Solana Beach
The Brigantine Del Mar
Frequency: Several times a week for 15 years
Fun fact: He met his wife, Jessi, at The Brig and married her in the gardens. His horse racing syndicate meets here. “The people, food, and service make this place magic… and it attracts quality characters like Big Wave Dave, another regular.”
Restaurant Regulars
Gary W. Schons, 63, and wife Judy, Talmadge
Waterfront Bar and Grill
Frequency: Every other week since the early ’80s
His order: Chorizo with rice, beans, and flour tortillas; Bud Light in a bottle Ambiance: “The Kettner Street patio reminds us of our languid days at the Bonaparte Café in the St. Germain in Paris. It also affords us up-close access to the motorcycle riders and up-all-night drunks arriving in taxis for Sunday brunch.”
Restaurant Regulars
Dermot Gilligan, 48, Bankers Hill
Cucina Urbana & Cucina Enoteca
Frequency: Six times a week between the two restaurants
Order: At Cucina Enoteca: ricotta cavatelli, prime top sirloin, smoked salmon vasi. At Cucina Urbana: smoked trout vasi, rabbit sausage and ricotta ravioli, whole fish, Duroc pork chop
Fun fact: He refers to the Cucina restaurants as “his kitchen.” Also: “It’s a social environment, and I frequently meet people there who are visiting from other countries.”
Restaurant Regulars
Michael Ratcliffe, 42, wife Reiko, 39, Chula Vista
C Level Lounge
Frequency: Every other week for 10 years
Their order: Michael’s Crispy Artichoke Hearts (named after Michael), seared ahi stack, healthy skirts on fire salad
Fun fact: Michael and Reiko got engaged at C Level Lounge in 2013.
Restaurant Regulars
Andrew, 57, and Heidi Spurgin, Mission Hills
Café Chloe
Regulars since: It opened 10 years ago
Visits: Weekends for long lunches and the occasional dinner. “The food is simple, classic, consistent, and really delicious. You just want to move in and never leave.”
Their order: Always: Vespa rosé (“It’s local and damn good”) and pommes frites to start—”our favorite in town.” For brunch: Bistro salad. Steak frites. Croque Madame. Moules. Charcuterie.
Restaurant Regulars
Jeremy Argent, 76, Carlsbad
Vigilucci’s Seafood and Steakhouse
Frequency: Once a day since it opened in 2002
His order: The house Chardonnay. “The wine keeps me young at heart.”
His spot: “I start out at the bar, looking directly at that big blue ocean. Happy hour can get busy, so I always give up my spot. I relegate myself back to the wall and have my wine.”
Restaurant Regulars
Jerry and Sequoia Neptune, mid-60s and late 30s, Del Mar
Solace and the Moonlight Lounge
Frequency: Every Friday night since it opened in 2011
Spot: A table on the second floor, facing the stairway. “It’s not a table they’ll usually hold for people, but they reserve it for us.”
Fun fact: “They had a special tequila, Alquimia, that I used to really like. They only had one bottle and couldn’t get it anymore, but they special-ordered another bottle just for me.”
Restaurant Regulars
Dorothy Dividian, 84, Little Italy
Ironside Fish & Oyster
Frequency: Three times a week
Spot: At the bar high-tops
Fun fact: The first oyster she ever had was a Kusshi at Ironside. “The first time, it was so noisy. I thought, I’ll never like this. But I started to go back, and the noise didn’t bother me as much. Maybe I’m not hearing that well.”
Restaurant Regulars
Chris and Holly Harris, 48 and 51, Encinitas
Solace and the Moonlight Lounge
Frequency: Every Sunday around 9:30 a.m. for about four years
Their order: They always start with oysters, a bottle of Champagne, and a side of peach puree to make their own Bellinis. Holly recommends the seared albacore chop chop. “If you’re gluten-intolerant, they’ll serve it with cucumber slices… I try to stay away from bread. That thing on the table? My purse looks like a sandwich.”
Restaurant Regulars
Ron Johnson, 82 years young, Pacific Beach
The Cravory
Frequency: Every Tuesday between 10:30 and 11:30, for two years
His order: 1 dozen cookies (3 Lemon Bar, 3 Chocolate Truffle, and 3 of two other flavors).
Cookie goodwill: His absolute favorite flavor is Lump of Coal, but he gets the flavors above each week for the ladies at Project Wildlife, where he volunteers at the Zoo. They call him the “Cookie Monster” (and his volunteer’s nametag reads “Cookie Monster,” too).
More in Best Restaurants 2015:
- San Diego’s Best Restaurants 2015
- San Diego, the next food city
- Say Cheese!
- Come out of your shell
- Buy Local: The Heart & Trotter
- Coming Soon to Little Italy
- Restaurant Chatter
- Scream for Ice Cream
