Favorite Restaurants:

Cucina Urbana

Cucina UrbanaBEST FOR: Lunch/DinnerLocated in: San Diego, CaAddress: 505 Laurel St (Corner of 5th Avenue and Laurel in Bankers Hill)Phone Number: (619) 239-2222
Website: www.cucinaurbana.com
Specialty: Their delicious entrees and great wine selection!What I had: For appetizers, my friends and I split a family-style plate of their cheese ravioli! Goat cheese and marscapone filled ravioli in a white sauce with peas - divine! For my entree I had the roasted chicken which was savory and delicious as well, but I honestly liked my boyfriend’s food better - the pork chop with a three-bean side. Oh my goodness, tasty from start to finish! He cleaned off his plate completely! For dessert they brought out a hazelnut mousse with a candle (it was my birthday) and we also ordered the strawberry tart, which was heavy, but also very good. Don’t forget to check out their wine list (we had a pinot noir that was great) and cocktail list too, my personal favorite is the jalepeno infused tequila mule. Yummmm.Service: Our server was attentive and personable. He did a wonderful job. 
Price Range: We probably spent about $30 per person on average including drinks.

The Barrel Room

BEST FOR: Dinner/Wine/Lounging
Located in: Rancho Bernardo (San Diego) California
Address: 16765 Bernardo Center Drive
Phone Number: (858) 673-7512
Website: www.thebarrelroomsandiego.com
Specialty: Their large array of wines to drink and their delicious (and customizable paninis)
What I had: I had the Zesty Chicken Panini which basically consisted of Ciabata bread, with a creamy pesto sauce, sun dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and chicken breast.
Service: Service was average. But the food made up for it. Maybe it was just because it was incredibly busy, but we had to ask to get our waters refilled, it still took them a few minutes to do that, and they weren’t as attentive as I’m used to at fine dining establishments… but again, it was pretty busy.
Price Range: $15-20 / person on average INCLUDING DRINKS.

Parallel 33 - CLOSED! :(

BEST FOR: Dinner
Located in: Mission Hills/Hillcrest San Diego CA USA
Address: 741 W Washington St 92103
Phone Number: (619) 260-0033
Website: http://www.parallel33sd.com/ 
Specialty: If you follow the 33rd latitude line around the globe, it will hit many countries that have delicious cuisine. Their food offers the flavors of these different cultures in their unique dishes. Hands down, this is my favorite restaurant in San Diego. It’s a little pricey, but I love the food.
What I had: Some personal favorites include their ahi tartare, but my all-time prize-winning dish is actually a dessert: The Date Nut Madelines (with Vanilla Rose Gelato) SOOOOO GOOOOOD! If nothing else, go to Parallel 33 for THIS. It takes my breath away everytime… and remember, always eat a bite of the madeline WITH the gelato… it is essential.
Service: Always great. The staff at this restaurant are among some of my favorites. They tie at the top with the ohana at Roy’s in La Jolla (and downtown)  
Price Range: $30-50 / person on average (including drinks)

Tioli’s CrazyBurger

BEST FOR: Happy Hour, lunch, dinner.
Located in: North Park (San Diego), California
Address: 4201 30th Street, San Diego, CA 92104 (Cross street, Howard. Across the street from the VONS between University Ave and El Cajon Blvd)
Phone Number: (619) 282-6044
Specialty: Their burgers, obviously. But we’re not talking about just ANY burgers, sure, they have the standard beef patty… but they also have unusual finds like kangaroo, alligator, ostrich, venison, even buffalo meat! Pick one, they’re all good. As if delicious and decently priced burgers weren’t enough, they have a wine bar and fine beers (my personal fav: Black Butte) on tap! To make matters better, their specials (happy hour and burger of the day) or my favorite, half off bottles of wine Tuesdays, are pretty tough to beat. This place is an old favorite to the locals of San Diego… for the delicious, reasonably priced food AND atmosphere! Did I mention local art (some for sale, some not) are always on the walls of this cozy spot? :) What more could you ask for?
What I had: I had the venison (deer meat) burger with—get this, whipped cream and plum jelly on it in addition to some of the usual burger components (cheese and lettuce)… Let me tell you, it was delicious, as usual. I know it sounds weird, but… trust. It was good. The rest of the menu is delicious as well. Feel free.
Service: I always feel right at home. The owner is usually there walking around, pleasant, as usual.
Price Range: 5-15 / person on average (depending on if you get alcohol, or if you get a specialty burger—or both)

Roy’s in La Jolla

BEST FOR: Only open for dinner (and lunch on Fridays for the holidays)
Located in: San Diego, California US
Address: 3786 Genessee Avenue
Phone Number: (858) 455-1616
Specialty: Their sushi is delicious, but so is the rest of the menu, really. A very popular fish dish they serve is the Macadamia nut crusted butterfish. They’re also quite popular for their Chocolate Souffle Lava Cake. All delicious
What I had: I have had several things on their menu and all of the items that remain the same throughout all of the Roy’s franchises are absolutely to die for. ENJOY!
Service: Service, at least in my experience has always been superb with Roy’s. I don’t think I’ve ever had a problem with service there. But that probably has a lot to do with the fact that I know a lot of the people that work there.
Price Range: about $50 a person on average… that should include food and drinks. :) Pretty reasonable if you ask me. Especially for the quality of food and service.

RESTAURANT NAME

BEST FOR: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner/Midnight Drunk Snack (or all of the above)
Located in: City, State, Country
Address: on the street, duh
Phone Number: (555) 555-5555
Website: www.restaurantnameandmenu.com
Specialty: what are they KNOWN for?
What I had: i ate this, and tasted that and it was good! om nom nome
Service: were they attentive and helpful? moody? funny?
Price Range: $$$ / person on average

NOTE: Readers, on the off chance you are really, really stupid, I’m letting you know that this is the template for future posts on restaurants… it is subject to change.