San Diego Restaurant Week is back after a one-year hiatus! Running this year from Sept. 26 to Oct. 3, San Diego Restaurant Week highlights some award-winning dishes and establishments that are loved across San Diego. With over 90 locations participating, there will be a wide range of cuisine options for every taste. These spots will offer discounted, pre-selected menu options, from three course dinner to two course lunch.
With the summer tourism winding down in San Diego, Restaurant Week typically brings a boost for businesses that might otherwise be slow this time of year. Bryant Villasin, a manager at The Presley in Liberty Station, said they have seen a surge in new customers during this event in previous years
“We see a lot of first timers — people that would normally not come to this side and fall in love with Liberty Station.”
This week, prices vary for lunch ranging from $10-$25 per person and $20-$60 for dinner. No tickets are required to attend but reservations are strongly recommended. Below are some of the restaurants participating in Restaurant Week close Point Loma.
1. The Presley
Located in Liberty Station, The Presley offers American favorites and fresh seafood. With a laidback aesthetic vibe and expansive outdoor patio, The Presley is a great local spot for dinner.
Serving specials from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Choose from a wide variety of choices from calamari and flatbread to burgers and wraps. The $30 meal includes an appetizer, main course, as well as their homemade ice cream sandwich for dessert.
Being one of the closest spots to campus, The Presley could be your new favorite go-to restaurant.
Also conveniently located in Liberty Station, Solare Ristorante serves up contemporary Italian cuisine. They are known for their cozy interior with a classic Italian feel. Additionally, they were also recently named one of the best Italian restaurants by San Diego Magazine.
Solare focuses on fresh ingredients including their pasta, which is made daily. The $40 dinner menu presents a wide range of options across three courses. Some notable choices include artisan linguine and king salmon. The menu even includes some options to share like an Italian charcuterie.
3. Puesto
With multiple locations around San Diego, Puesto is a great spot for a unique selection of Mexican Artisan food. Known for their creative tacos, Puesto is a local favorite for lunch or dinner. If you are looking for one close to campus, check out their Mission Valley or La Jolla location!
For $25, their lunch menu offers plenty of taco options with a frozen horchata for dessert. For $40 dinner, you can get similar options with a few more appetizers to choose from along with a side dish. Kyle Madaffer, a longtime server for Puesto, mentioned some of his favorite options.
“You have to go for the Esquite corn, and then my favorite tacos are the filet mignon and the tamarindo shrimp!”
Tom Ham’s Lighthouse is a historic San Diego restaurant that opened in 1971. Located on the west end of Harbor Island, Tom Ham’s receives their fresh seafood and produce daily and has plenty of free parking. With stunning views of the downtown skyline and bayfront, this place makes a great spot to sit down and try out some lunch specials.
Their $20 menu gets you a starter, an entrée with great seafood options, and dessert. Start with ceviche or oysters and choose from four different main courses. Don’t forget to take some pictures of the skyline before you leave!
5. Café Coyote
Café Coyote is another landmark restaurant that has been around since 1989. Situated in the heart of Old Town, you can choose from a $20 lunch or $25 Mexican dinner. Lunch runs until 4 p.m. and dinner is served until closing. Each is served with three courses including dessert. Marissa Esparza, a manager at Café Coyote, shared her recommendation to try during Restaurant Week
“I always recommend the carnitas plate. They are really good!”
For an authentic Mexican meal in the heart of San Diego history, Café Coyote is a must try! Pro tip: grab some fresh tortillas on your way out!
To see a full list of all the restaurants participating in Restaurant Week, head over to sandiegorestaurantweek.com!
By: Kyle Alderman
Steve Anderson