You deserve the best. San Diego has the best. The best weather, the best beaches, and some of the best restaurants in the world. Here are ten of the best.
Repeatedly voted as the #1 or #2 best brunch places in San Diego, the 94th Aero Squadron has a lot more to recommend it than simply the food. The restaurant is housed inside an amazing replica of a World War I French farmhouse, and patrons will be surrounded by aviation memorabilia and farm relics from a bygone era. With massive stone fireplaces and a dark wood interior, it feels warm and cozy inside no matter what the weather is doing on the outside. The restaurant is smack in the middle of Morley Field, and if you want, you can listen to the FAA control tower through headphones at several of the tables.
The terrific champagne brunch is served every Sunday from 9:00-3:00, and it’s one of the best deals around; early birds pay $18.95 and late risers pay only $21.95. There’s all the usual fixin’s of a good brunch – an omelet bar, eggs Benedict, seafood, meat and salads. The selections go on and on and everything is fresh and tasty.
The 94th is a unique, quaint place to enjoy brunch or dinner with any day of the week.
Cuisine: French, American Price per person for dinner: $25-$30
GRINGO'S COCINA Y CANTINA 4474 Mission Blvd. San Diego, CA 92109 (858) 490-2877 Hours: (Mon.-Sun.) 11:00AM-2:00AM; Bunch (Sun.) 9:00AM-1 Gringo’s is a popular and festival local eatery known for its great happy hours and a terrific brunch. There’s an outdoor patio which is always packed and the bar area is never empty. The menu is all Mexican, and there’s a fun, casual atmosphere. No ties required here; simply come with a hearty appetite and a thirst for good margaritas.
After a two-year hiatus, the Sunday champagne brunch is definitely back, to the happiness of San Diegans county-wide! The Sunday buffet is an all-you-can-eat-and-drink extravaganza. For $19.95, you can drink yourself silly on Mimosa’s (or simply champagne) and fill up on custom made omelets and Mexican fare.
Cuisine Type: Mexican
Estimated cost per person for dinner: $35 - $55
HUMPHREY'S BY THE BAY 2241 Shelter Island Drive San Diego, CA 92106 (619) 224-3577 Hours: (Mon.-Sun.) 11:00AM-1:00AM.
Known to many San Diegans as a premier concert venue from May to October every year, Humphrey’s By the Bay is also an outstanding restaurant. Gorgeous views of the San Diego bay are visible in the main dining room, and the lounge area is a hub for social activity during happy hours and the nightly live musical performances ranging from jazz to disco. The crowd is mostly a 30’s to 40’s scene with occasional 20-something’s popping in to dance the night away to a favorite band.
A little pricier than most at around $30 per person, Humphrey’s Sunday brunch is served every Sunday from 10:00-2:00, and reservations are highly recommended. The brunch is buffet-style and offers many traditional breakfast items as well as various types of seafood, pastas and delicious desserts.
Cuisine Type: Californian, Asian, Cajun
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $35-$45
EL BIZCOCHO 17550 Bernardo Oaks Dr., San Diego, CA 92128 (858) 675-6550 Hours: (Mon-Thurs) 6:00pm-9pm; (Fri-Sat) 6:00pm-10:00pm; Brunch Sunday 10:00AM-1:00PM
Ranch Bernardo Inn’s elegant, formal dining room, El Bizocho serves up contemporary French cuisine every day of the week save Sundays, when a spectacular brunch is served from 10:00-1:00. The buffet brunch is well-known amongst locals and is often touted to visitors as being one of the best in San Diego. Get your fill of champagne and Bloody Mary’s and then head over to crowd your plate with seafood, pasta, waffles and tender meat from the carving station. If you’re somehow not full by the end of the morning, waddle over to the dessert station to select a de4lectable dessert to finish off your meal.
Cuisine Type: Contemporary French Estimated cost per person for dinner = $45-$55
THE CROWN ROOM AT HOTEL DEL CORONADO 1500 Orange Ave. Coronado, CA 92118 (619) 522-8490 Hours: (Mon-Sun) 6:30am-11am, 11:30am-2:30pm, 6:00-10:30pm Brunch Sundays 9-2
Locals call it “The Del,” and the elaborate Sunday brunches once served in the Prince of Wales restaurant are now being served in the beautiful Crown Room towards the front of the hotel. At over 13,000 square feet, The Crown Room manages to fill to capacity its impressive space every Sunday between 9 and 2 for hot buffet brunch. Tasty temptations include eggs Benedict, fresh sea food, quiche Lorraine and various types of pasta. Sushi, Mexican entrees, salads and grilled salmon are available as well, so plan to come with a stomach that’s bigger than your eyes, for once. A polite and friendly wait staff will quickly attend to your every need, including refills of Mimosas.
Cuisine Type: Californian, New American
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $50-$65
ATOLL RESTAURANT AT THE CATAMARAN RESORT HOTEL 3999 Mission Blvd La Jolla, CA 92037 (858) 488-1081 Hours: (Mon.-Sun.) 6:30AM-2PM, 5:30-10PM; Brunch Sun. 10AM-2PM
Located at the beautiful Catamaran Resort in the midst of Mission Bay, Atoll is a relaxed venue that serves up excellent seafood, sandwiches and pasta dishes to a seaside loving crowd. It’s a popular destination with families as well as tourists, and the menu is moderately priced; expect to pay at least $10 for most dishes. On Sundays, there’s a popular champagne brunch for $39.95 which brings quite a crowd in, so get there early. It’s a seafood lover’s delight, with sushi, lobster, salmon and other fish dishes; beef, duck and ribs are almost all on the menu as well. Sit back, relax and enjoy the beautiful view with family or friends.
Cuisine: Seafood, American, Californian Price per person for dinner: $35-$45
LE FONTAINBLEAU At the Wesgate Hotel 1055 Second Avenue San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 557-3622 Hours: (Mon- Fri) 11:30 a.m. to2:00 p.m., (Mon to Sun) 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm This venerable downtown institution had fallen on hard times as the boom in hip new downtown restaurants reached its peak. Once the dust cleared and many of those trendy new restaurants went the way of the Edsel, the stage was set for the return to prominence for this former queen of downtown eateries. With the addition of a new chef, a new menu and an interior innovation, which fortunately did not destroy the historical nature of the Fontainbleau, the Fontainbleu was reborn with its former elegance intact. The menu usually includes over 50 gourmet items including fresh fish, shellfish, sushi, and all things from the blue Pacific. There will be custom made crepes, and hand carved ham and roast beef. The whole family will enjoy an elegant meal at this queen of San Diego dining.
Estimated cost for dinner, $28.00 to $40.00 per person
Holiday schedule: Easter-Open, Mothers Day-Open, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Open, New Years Eve-Open, New Years Day-Open
J. TAYLORS At L'Auberge Del Mar Resort 1540 Camino Del Mar Del Mar, CA 92114 (858) 259-1515 Hours; (Mon - Sat) 6:30 am to 11:00 am, 11:30 am to 2:00 pm, 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm (Sun) 6:30 am to 10:00 pm Chef Tom Atkins and Chef de Cuisine Michael ZonFrilli are putting their own creative stamp on a delicious blend of French and California Cuisine. The food at J. Taylor's does not bang you over the head; rather it slowly seduces you. Your taste buds start to awaken to the subtly of their rich and varied textures. The nuances of the food migrate around your tongue until that flavorful moment of discovery. Once discovered these flavors continue to linger and impress as a fine wine with a long finish. In fact J. Taylor's cuisine is the perfect match for wine and they have a list of wines, which has been carefully chosen to enhance their food. This 140-bin wine list is long on small production boutique wines and therein lies another adventure of discovery. The brunch usually includes the Chefs wonderful Sweet Lobster Bisque with Basil Madeleines and Brandy Crème Fraiche. There are ten choices for the entrée course, among them Fresh Asparagus and Sweet Pepper Quiche with Sundried Tomato Sauce and Port Salut Cheese. Another mouthwatering entrée selection is Grilled Petit Filet with White Truffle Polenta and Bleu Cheese Butter. As you might expect desserts at J. Taylor's are unique and flavorful. Why not try the Chilled Strawberry Soup with Bubbly Mango Sorbet. Ask Maitre'D du Maison, Tom Innocenzi to pair your selections with a unique wine from his cellar, you'll be glad you did.
Estimated cost for dinner, $40.00.00 to $50.00 per person
Holiday Schedule, Open 365 days
AZUL LA JOLLA 1250 Prospect Street La Jolla, CA 92037 (858) 454-9616 (Tues-Sat) 11:30 pm to 2:30 pm, (Sun-Thurs) 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm, (Fri-Sat) 5:30 to 10:00 pm, (Sun) 10:00 am to 2:30 pm Overlooking the La Jolla seacoast is Azul La Jolla. Appropriately named for the deep blue Pacific waters adjacent to this fine Mediterranean restaurant. The brunch at Azul keeps their Mediterranean theme. An a'la carte Champagne Brunch menu is served as well as a fantastic Tapas buffet ($17.95) which Azul creates only on special holidays. Tapas, a large selection of appetizer type finger foods are a Spanish tradition. At Azul the Tapas buffet has a grand selection of fresh salads and spreads served on Country Artisan Breads like Multi-grain, White Cheddar and Scallion or Focaccia. Spreads include Bruchetta, Basil Pesto, Hummus or fire Roasted Peppers with goat cheese and fresh basil to name a few. Tapas salads include Spoon Spinach and Arugula salad with pancetta, Calamari salad with onions peppers and Feta cheese and Marinated Tenderloin salad with carrots mushrooms and onions. There is also a Citrus Cous Cous, a Farfalle Pasta salad and much more. Tapa by its nature Tapas engenders conversation and interaction between you and your guests. Nibbling on small bites of this and that and offering, "Try some of this" or "What is that"? At Azul the formality of dining seems to disappear around Tapas, replaced by a casual, friendly, good time centered on food and wine.
Estimated cost for dinner, $35.00 to $45.00.
Holiday schedule: Easter-Open, Thansgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open, New Years Day-Open
SANTE 711 Hershal Avenue La Jolla, CA 92037 (858) 454-1315 (Mon- Fri) 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., (Mon-Sun) from 5:00 p.m. Tony Buonsante opened Sante restaurant in picturesque La Jolla at the urging of San Diegans who dined at his New York restaurant, La Fenice. When Tony came out to the coast he paid a visit to La Jolla and fell in love. Soon Sante became a well established home for his special brand of Northern Italian Cuisine. With the addition of Chef Luca Mazzolani the vision was complete. Luca enjoys bringing out the natural flavors of the foods he prepares and is loathe to cover them with overbearing sauces. The food is flavorful, light and engaging. Sante has a special a'la Carte menu which features many of his signature dishes and some very special desserts.
Estimated cost for dinner, $28.00 to $35.00 per person.
Holiday schedule; Valentine's Day-Open, Fourth of July-Open, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, New Years Eve-Open, New Years day-Closed
The Top List of Best Brunches - San Diego, CA