January 17-22: La Jolla Restaurant Bargains

Welcome to San Diego Restaurant Week. From January 17-22, many local restaurants will be offering 3-course meals for $20, $30, or $40 per person.

LA JOLLA RESTAURANTS

Some of La Jolla's best places to eat are participating in this special promotion. These include George's, Nine-Ten, The Marine Room, Tapenade, Roppongi, The Steakhouse at Azul, Whisknladle, and Trattoria Acqua.

This is a just a sampling. To see all the participants, go to the San Diego Restaurant Week website. (www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com). It's set up so you can search by location, cuisine, or price.

I can't imagine an easier way to get a good deal on a great meal.

Photo courtesy George's at The Cove.

Where NOT to eat in La Jolla

This won't make me popular with a couple of local restaurateurs, but I have had two very disappointing meals in the village recently.

Until they mend their ways (hire a new chef?), I suggest you avoid Bistro 101 and Alfonso's - both restaurants are on Prospect Street.

I don't like reporting negative experiences, but the whole point of this blog is to help you get the most out of your time in La Jolla -- and that includes leading you away from cold soup and cardboard burritos.

San Diego Food Finds

My friend Maria Desiderata Montana writes a blog about San Diego restaurants, and I want you to know about it should you decide to venture outside La Jolla for a meal.

San Diego Food Finds (http://www.sandiegofoodfinds.com/) includes restaurant profiles for great places to eat all over San Diego County. Some of my favorites are: Fidel's (Mexican) in Solana Beach, Quarter Kitchen in downtown San Diego, and Con Pane (bakery/cafe) in Point Loma.

Maria is Italian, and in "cent’anni" (Italian for "May you live 100 years"), she shares recipes from her own kitchen as well as some of her chef friends. Her site also keeps foodies up-to-speed on local food "happenings."

I know La Jolla inside and out, but when I have a need to eat elsewhere, I rely on Maria's sage advice.

Pictured above: Seared Hamachi with fresh arugula salad and strawberries, available at The Loft restaurant at the Montage Laguna Beach. (Photo by Maria Desiderata Montana)