Food Reviews

Baleen, Paradise Point, 858-490-6363 - This is an absolute sleeper. We went to Paradise Point Resort, right in the middle of Mission Bay because the In-Laws were in town. They invited us to come over for dinner. What a great surprise a) because they sprang for dinner and b) dinner was at Baleen, right there on the premises. While the prices aren't lean, the cuisine here is worth every pricey, precious penny (that the in-laws spent). Oversize crab cakes, oak-smoked diver scallops, and steakhouse-quality meats are among Baleen's excellent offerings. The Professor had the Chilean Sea Bass and Ms. PN had her usual - the filet. Both Excellent. For starters around the table there were oysters, butternut squash soup and scallops. All uniformly were excellent and the presentation was exquisite. The seafood offerings were as good as any I've seen in town. Dinner only. If you stay at the resort you go to the Barefoot Bar for breakfast or lunch. Take your boat, because there's a dock right there and you can dine inside or outside and the food is excellent - a vast improvement over the dank, dark bar that entertained us old-timers in years gone by.

Barefoot Bar. Paradise Point, 858-581-5960. Manager Ed Sanchez. Top Dog Waiter. TIM. We said we'd mention our waiter - Hey Tim! As locals, this breakfast absolutely snuck up on us. We'd never even thought to try the Barefoot Bar as a place for breakfast. I've been here on my boat over the years for cocktails at noon, cocktails in late afternoon and cocktails in the evening - But breakfast? No way! Boy did we miss out. There menu was topnotch with a very surprising variety of top notch breakfast ideas. Mrs. PN had the omelet, which is standard fare at any restaurant, but this was actually an excellent tasting omelet. Spinach and feta cheese were the ingredients and they tasted just right. I had the French toast and it was as good as I've had anywhere. I peaked at the Breakfast Burrito on the table next to us and it too, looked dynamite. Worthy of a try, whether by land or by sea.

Firehouse American Eatery, 722 Grand Ave., 858-274-3100 - This one is located at the west end of Grand Avenue (Drive west on Grand and when you come to the ocean, you gone a half a block too far. Amazingly enough its right next to the Grand Ave Fire Station - as in with real fire trucks and hoses. This used to be the Fire House Deli which although enjoyable to the Professor, had become kind of run down and long-in-the-tooth. The Eatery is an outstanding upgrade, a snazzy sports lounge and bar downstairs and upstairs they've installed all new furniture, outdoor (since its outdoors) umbrellas and a very stylish bar. You can see the surf from almost any seat on the deck and you'll never get cold. The eggs Benedict was well presented and quite yummy in spite of the fact that the toast was a touch too stiff for a classic Benedict. Again the Cobb Salad was outstanding (Did I mention that we tend to do a late breakfast?). The Bloody Mary and the Mimosa both tested well. For the not faint of hear they offered a Margarita for Two for $29 smackaroos. (2 mini-bottles of tequila, 1 mini-bottle of Grand Marnier and potful of other tasties). We didn't try it this time.

Green Flash, 701 Thomas Ave., 858-270-7715 - It's usually packed and the parking is tough, but it's usually worth hanging around. A "Green Flash" as you "drylanders" might not know is observed at that moment of the departure of the sun behind the horizon. It is best observed with a glass of white wine in hand (not red) and sipped slowly for approximately one-half hour prior to sunset. Unfortunately since the Beach Booze Ban went into effect, you had better be back up on the front deck of someone with a 2 million dollar home. This is to prevent riots at sundown when tourists actually see a green flash. Food, you ask? Good stuff. Solid beach, fare served quickly. I can't say our waiter was particularly friendly at breakfast time, but maybe he'd just gotten up. Seafood omelet was tasty and they always scare me. It was as good as a seafood omelet should be at a beach restaurant. I wouldn't ever order these things on a Ski trip for example. Forty yards from the water - OK. Go there again? Absolutely, if I can find a place to park or if I get on my bike and get moving.

Tower 23, 858-270-5736 - is where everyone says they're going, but actually the hotel is Tower 23 Hotel and the restaurant is Jordan or "JRDN" at Tower 23. Why? The Professor has no idea. Been there a couple of times. Once for my daughter's graduation and another for a very small birthday party. Each time the variety of offerings was outstanding, the presentation was absolutely excellent and the taste was dynamite. "But" you say! But the operation was awful. I did not say servers! I said the organization. Our lunch group was large, so cut them some slack. The servers were dynamite and the tried their darndest to help us along, but they couldn't get food out. This was after staff had lost our called in reservations - not once - but twice. (A phone in several days ahead and a confirmation the day of the lunch). In our four-person, run of the mill dinner on the patio, we endured the longest waits between courses that I have ever suffered through at any restaurant anywhere at any time. In other words they hold the record. I enjoyed the food, but by the time I got it - who cared. You don't pay that kind of money for that kind of service. I'll wait a couple of years and then give it another shot.

Nick's - 809 Thomas Street, 858-270-1730 - Has two giant locations. the original in PB and now the upstairs slot at the foot of OB, across from the pier and Tower 2. Nothing fancy about the menu, but the food was excellent. The omelet and potatoes were basic, filling and tasty. The Roasted, Peanut, Chicken salad with a soy/ginger dressing that was an unusual and attractive presentation that Ms. PN described as "awesome". It was very tasty and kept her quite content. If you like fish this is one place at the beach that serves it fresh. Both Nick's have their bar separate from their dining rooms which is a nice feature if you like to sup without the racket. As the professor gets older and hearing aids are required - this is a nice feature.

Saska's - 3768 Mission Blvd., 858-488-7311 - You know it's been here a long time when it has a "488" phone prefix. Saska's restaurant has been in Mission Beach for 50 years serving up the best fresh seafood and steaks for locals and visitors alike. Saska's is a small family restaurant (it's actually run by people named Saska) which has a very warm and relaxing environment. If you like a dim lit restaurant with warm fireplaces and dark wood decor and comfortable booth seating, this is your place. Saska's has a small bar area which is a favorite for locals to watch sports or enjoy happy hour. Saska's has a second storefront which serves as one of the best sushi restaurants in Mission Beach. Saska's has friendly professional service and always delivers a quality lunch or dinner when you want a sure thing. They serve hot garlic bread while you wait for dinner so be careful not to eat too much and ruin your appetite.

The Firefly Restaurant & Bar - At the Dana Inn on Mission Bay. 1710 West Mission Bay Drive. 800-445-3339. Great location for weddings. Wow, who would believe they have good food at a hotel restaurant? Less than a mile from South Mission, no less! But, it's a fact. The Firefly, located in the newly remodeled Dana Resort and Spa (formerly the low budget Dana Inn across from the Islandia now known as the Hyatt Regency), it comes fully equipped with water side ambiance, posh surroundings, and quality service. That's without considering the chow. Professor Nedley hisownself ordered the spicy sausage with penne, which he dutifully reported to all present was definitely up to his gastronomic standards. The other Vice President of the SMBJA in attendance--Kron--went for the Lamb Shank Osso Bucco in a red wine reduction sauce, which was right up to his "whatever's bad for me probably tastes great" standard. That means some medicinal person probably has declared--or in the next issue of the New England Journal of Medicine will--that Lamb Shank in wine sauce is bad for the diet of SMBJA Judges and/or other meat eating American males. Mrs. Professor Nedley and Mrs. Kron feasted on filet mignon with a Pinot Noir demi glaze which they declared was cooked to perfection. Kron, in his quest to break every one of the foodie naysayers rules also ordered up the Five Cheese Macaroni, which was then shared around. Talk about great Mac--way better than the gold standard Kraft Mac and Cheese! It's highly recommended. If you drop by the Firefly, don't miss the Mac--it's a locals favorite. Finally, the 'Ol Perfessor and his sidekick tried out the Five Onion Soup, another locals fave. Don't look now, but the various onions, with the crustini and cheese was superb. Oh, by the way, they do serve wine and cocktails, but then again the SMBJA doesn't do wine ratings. So, all in all, the Old Perfessor, and the almost as Old Vice President Kron, highly recommend this bayside establishment for both its locale and its edibles.

Seaforth Landing Grille - 1717 Quivera Road. 619-222-3317. This is a classic "Locals" grille. It's been there for years and provided a insiders spot to go have a good, hearty breakfast on your way to a fishing trip or just cruise in a get a good breakfast that is quick and easy. The problem was that they shut it down about 9 months ago to rebuild all of the buildings at Seaforth Landing. IT JUST REOPENED! A quick check assured the SMBJA that all of the same cooks (no thanks to Duncan Hunter or Brian Bilbray) and waitresses were still there and I suspect that they may have even saved the well-broken-in cooking oil. I think I'm kidding on that one. I'll give you just a sampler of the menu. You can have my fave which is the "Jig Strike Special". That's 2 eggs, 2 sausage, 2 bacon and 2 pancakes all for $6.25. Or you can go straight for the carbs and get a more than adequate stack of pancakes for $4.50 and you're outta there stuffed. Don't forget the orange juice in a frosted glass. Nothing fancy - just quick and good.

Ocean Beach is loaded with a lot of good restaurants such as "Third Corner" and "Thee Bungalow" as most old timers are aware, but this little find right at the very "beachiest" part of San Diego is outstanding. Right around the corner you'll find "Hodads" (5010 Newport) - OB's answer to the better known "Kono's" in PB, "South Beach Bar & Grille" 5059 Newport Ave.619-226-4577, "Ortega's Cocina", 4888 Newport Ave., 619-222-4805 and "Craves Deli", as well as "Nati's" Mexican Food (619-224-3369 ) around the corner - all just waiting to be tried.

For the "Newbies" at the "Beach", just take 8 West, until you get to W. Pt. Loma Blvd., take a right, then turn left on Abbot St (a block west of Thee Bungalow). Stay on Abbott until you get to the Lifeguard Station (Bob Baxley's old tower - Tower 2). The restaurants are all right there. After breakfast there's some of the best antique shopping in the city right up Newport Avenue and you'll walk right past the old Safeway store that Wayne Peterson's Dad managed when we were kids going to O.B. Elementary school together.

Hodad's - 5010 Newport Ave San Diego, CA 92107 - (619) 224-4623 One of the legends of OB. OB may be "The Land Time Forgot" but the hamburgers at this place are well worth remembering. It's always a debate over who has the best burgers--Rocky's or Hodad's and even for some The Waterfront. If you're up to it you should beat it over to Hodads right now to do your own research on the subject. The Cheeseburger basket has just the right amount of grease in the burger, and lots of veggies as well. As Mrs. Kron put it, it's a very healthy meal in terms of greens. As Kron put it, "slurp." Oh, by the bye, don't forget the onion rings. Plenty of onion, not just all batter. And to top it off, the batter actually sticks to the onion rings. Hodads really is Old School. Kron.

Shades, Nicks & Tower 2, all at 5083 Santa Monica Ave, - The Professor has scored a "Hat Trick". Deep down in Ocean Beach, at the foot of Newport Avenue, across the street from the OB Pier, lies a triumvirate of great breakfast places. Upstairs where "Quiigs" used to be is "Nick's at the Beach", a second option from their casual dining spot on Mission Boulevard in PB and always good for a spicy Bloody Mary. Downstairs is "Shades Oceanfront Bistro" 619-222-0501, an always crowded choice of the locals. Next to Shades, if the weather is good is "Tower Two Beach Cafe", 619-223-4059, the most casual of the three. You can take your dog and he/she can flop on the deck right next to your outside table. (Heaters provided).

Mrs. PN and the Professor have been to Shades three times since its recent discovery and have had excellent service and food each time. The breakfast is as good as the Professor has seen in the beach area. The variety on the menu was outstanding and the omelets were excellent! Pancakes were too thick to finish. As you would expect at an oceanfront restaurant, there were some fine seafood choices as well, however after a bad experience at "World Famous" in PB the Prof stays away from seafood omelets everywhere now.

Nick's II - 5083 Santa Monica Street, 619-232-7437, While you could find the food and service offered by Nick's at plenty of spots, most of those places have a dress code. If you want great food but can't ditch your sandals, Nick's is for you. One of the best things about Nick's is the variety the restaurant offers. If it's a romantic night for two, the entire restaurant is lined with windows that provide a panoramic view of the ocean and the surrounding beach from the second-story location. Ms. PN and I went there for our usual Sunday morning "Breakfast at the Beach" and we languidly dined on eggs and surfers. This day the surf was up and it was consistent. It was a joy to watch. On several occasions surfers "shot the pier" meaning they caught a smooth riding wave and took it right under the OB Pier. Talk about huevos for breakfast! If you're feeling more rowdy, simply cross through the double-doors that lead from the restaurant into the bar area, where flat-screen TVs and a full bar make Nick's a perfect game-day watering hole. It's amazing how much difference 10' makes, but Nick's is upstairs from Shades and the improvement on the view was spectacular. The food was excellent and the variety was good. I had a Leo Papas special aka the "Greek Scramble" with olives, feta cheese, ham and fruit on the side. Ms. PN had the Carne Asada with scramble. The scramble was excellent tasting and it was something that I'd never had for breakfast before. The carne asada on the other hand was very ordinary. It was thin and kind of flavorless. Not to be recommended. Would we go back? You bet, they're new at the location and it's darn nice place with one of the very best views in San Diego. Their PB location is topnotch, they'll catch up in OB.

Third Corner, 2265 Bacon Street, 619-223-2700 - This is one of those places SMBJA members really like--lottsa wine to choose from. Not only that, they only charge $5.00 corkage. Could it be better? Probably not, for as one of SMBJA's self-taught wine snobs discovered, the prices for wine are really good--having found a bottle of Opolo Zinfandel that he priced the week previous at $24.00 at the winery on sale for $19.00. Wow, with corkage that's a buck less than the winery cost. Considering that most restaurants take the wine price and triple it you can see why SMBJA guys think this is a good spot. Oh, yeah, the food is also in the "Good Eats" column (food's always discussed last, since the food bill never equals the bar bill). The reviewing SMBJA VP ordered up his "usual", the short ribs which were, as always, phantasmagoric. If you're in the cool group you'll probably go for the cheese appetizer also, a worthwhile adventure. Plus, depending on what you're drinking you might also give the olive sampler a shot. By the way, if you do go, go early. If you get there too late, it will probably be too late. 3rd Corner is a hangout for the major slick people who are young, talented, and available. It's where the knowingly cool go to meet and be seen. After 10 the place really rocks, so Be There or Be Square as some of us used to say.

Thee Bungalow now known as Beau Bo and part of the Cohn Group, - 4996 West Point Loma Blvd., 619-224-2884 - A warm, fuzzy old-timer, in the local dining arena. Located at the entrance to Ocean Beach, The Restaurant has been a San Diego dining favorite for over 30 years. The restaurant’s success is unique in that it is located in a quiet San Diego neighborhood away from most tourist destinations. It is best known by the ‘locals’ who have come to appreciate Thee Bungalow for its wonderful food, consistent quality and friendly, caring staff. A wonderful, old, country bungalow, The restaurant consists of four intimate dining rooms just perfect for that romantic rendezvous, specialties include our famous roast duck, rack of lamb, fresh seafood, escargot à la bourguignonne, prime grade beef as well as incredible dessert soufflés. Thee Bungalow’s extensive wine list features modestly priced wines from all regions of the world. We actually ran into Judge and Ms. Midlam last, last New Year's Eve - so it must be good.

Pier One Cafe - Right out in the middle of the Ocean Beach Pier. Just park wherever you can and walk on out. It looks cute and clean and you can't beat the location. Review of the restaurant to come. The food was pretty basic, but the view was absolutely world class. Where else are you going to look out the window and see waves and surfers go by.

Kaiserhof Restaurant & Biergarten - 2253 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., 619-224-0606 - Both American and Genuine German dining. An honest-to-goodness real German restaurant right here in the beach area. Full on bar with an excellent wine selection. The dishes are genuine old country choices including veal, pork, chicken, beef, sausage and seafood of all varieties. The Professor had the Stroganoff and it was excellent with a lot of old-fashioned flavor. The Professors fellow Over-the-Line day laborers enjoyed a variety of brats and wursts, while Mrs. PN sampled the grilled halibut steak with sherry mushroom sauce. It was superb and very fresh. A bracing experience. Put on your lederhosen and give it a try.

Downtown - We may on occasion include a restaurant outside of the beach area IF it warrants inclusion based upon food or drink excellence and/or cost.

Brians' Eatery & Drinkery - 828 6th Avenue. 619-702-5410. The building opened in 1913 as the St. James Hotel (It's now the Ramada Inn serving the Gaslamp District), San Diego's original high-rise luxury hotel, is a beautifully restored oasis of historic style. Guests can sample American comfort food in Brians’. This lobby level restaurant with street views, copper-clad open kitchen, and antique mahogany bar is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Brian and Brian are just a couple of great friends who had an idea for the key to their success: To serve hearty size portions with the highest quality ingredients at reasonable prices. And they continue to do just that! There is a new owner as of spring 2009 and he's continued the generous portions, but with far less waste. The Professor just happened to be downtown one day at the crack of dawn and decided to sample the breakfast at Brians' and was astounded to find the enormity & breadth of the menu for breakfast. There were 10 different types of stylish omelets and all were generous portions without question. This variety holds true throughout the day. One day a judge and the Professor (with little on their brains) counted the crates of eggs being hauled in during the lunch hour. We stopped at 13 crates (boxes). There was little doubt that they were prepared for the morning's breakfast. But make no mistake, breakfast is served 24/7, so never fear. Brians' is a bit out of the way and that is why it's being included in the review - for fear that you might not find it without this helpful push.

*SMBJA is the duly constituted South Mission Beach Judges Association. Judges Phil Sharp, Bob May, Ned Huntington, Bill Kronberger and Larrie Brainard are co-founding members. Honorary members are Judges John Einhorn, Art Jones & Leo Papas. There are many "wannabes" too numerous to mention.