Elite Traveler November-December 2018

OSCARS MEXICAN SEAFOOD Just off the main boulevard in Pacific Beach, this is the ultimate beachside taco spot. Grab a pair of flip-flops and stroll into this quaint indoor/outdoor order-at-the-register restaurant. Start with a trio of tacos; grilled octopus, smoked fish (which changes seasonally) and shrimp all have uniquely crisp and slightly spicy flavors. Move on to the scallops taco, but don’t forget the traditional battered fish topped with cilantro. The house-made piquant green sauce is not to be missed. oscarsmexicanseafood.com

LOLITA’S MEXICAN FOOD With several locations throughout San Diego county, Lolita’s is family run and all of its ingredients are made from scratch. Don’t be fooled by the unassuming facade, the California burrito made within is crunchy, tangy and perfectly West Coast. Basic ingredients include carne asada, French fries, cheddar cheese and sour cream. Make like a local and add a little avocado. lolitasmexicanfood.com

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BURRITO VS TACO

Prep Kitchen Perched on a corner in Little Italy, Prep Kitchen serves farm-fresh modern comfort food. Head there for brunch, where the stylishly prepared tableside Bloody Marys and cucumber-honey mimosas whet the palate. Chef Joe Elevado’s Loco Moco features a wagyu hamburger steak, perfectly cooked over-easy farm eggs and hand-whisked gravy. His smoked bacon beignets with maple cream are sumptuous, and the hot coffee sundae served in a bento box allow diners to playfully mix and match flavors. prepkitchenlittleitaly.com Ironside From the anchor-themed floor lights to the copper bar, calling Ironside nautical-themed is a bit of an understatement. Linger at the raw bar; the selection of oysters on the half shell, from the creamy Baja Nautilus to the highly briny, wild, beach-raised Reach Island in Washington, are deliciously dynamic. Sample the uni scramble, a brioche topped with chervil and chives. Ironside lists its local fishermen and their vessels on the menu, a small detail that’s curried local favor and granted it the freshest daily catch. ironsidefishandoyster.com EATING AND DRINKING

Herb &Wood Wood-fired is at the center of this industrial-meets- garden-party concept. A splashy opening from former Top Chef competitor Brian Malarkey wowed top food publications, in part due to the menu’s daily changes. Order the off-menu buttery Parker House rolls as well as the bone-marrow pizza, which includes escargot, Gruyère and fine herbs, and pairs swimmingly with the bourbon and thyme cocktail. Stay for the decadently simple chocolate-blueberry soufflé, but opt to leave the

Top to bottom: Herb & Wood’s bone-marrow pizza; oyster bar at Ironside; Prep Kitchen; Level2’s craft cocktail program is inspired by

toppings on the side. herbandwood.com

San Diego’s 23 neighborhoods

Level2 Watch as day calls it a night over the Pacific Ocean at Level2 at George’s at the Cove. The craft cocktail program revolves around a series of beverages named after San Diego’s 23 neighborhoods. La Jolla showcases a lime- and chili-infused tequila along with dehydrated mango, agave and a seaweed-filled ice cube. Ocean Beach, meanwhile, spotlights Calwise Big Sur Gin fat-washed with hop butter, with orange blossom oolong tea, IPA and oleo saccharum. Spirit-forward, more traditional cocktails, as well as a generous list of wines by the glass round out the menu. georgesatthecove.com

Photos Brogen Jessup Photography, Zack Benson