SAN DIEGO THIS WEEK MAGAZINE - DINING

american

Dick's Last Resort
Fifth Ave. between J & K St. This is the joint your mama warned you about. Dick's serves up buckets of barbecue ribs, chicken, catfish, shrimp and crab legs. Platters include mahi mahi, thick pork chops, steaks and even salads for the wimpy eater. The wait staff is irreverent by design, and the décor is local garage sale stuff. Seventy-four kinds of beer, live music, no cover, no dress code and definitely no class. Open daily, Dick's Last Resort is billed as “The Shame of the Gaslamp Quarter.” 619-231-9100. www.dickslastresort.com.

House of Blues
1055 Fifth Ave. House of Blues brings its signature style and eclectic menu to San Diego. Known for its cool music and atmosphere, HOB is also home to sophisticated dining. From Voodoo Shrimp to their signature Jambalaya, enjoy creative food prepared from scratch. Down home desserts like White Chocolate Banana Bread Pudding and Florida Key Lime Pie get a new twist thanks to HOB’s talented chefs. Don’t miss the Sunday Gospel Brunch featuring a buffet, a gospel choir and, if the mood strikes, a conga line! Restaurant: 11:30 am-midnight; 11:30am-2am Fri-Sat; Music Hall: doors open one hour before show. 619-299-BLUE www.hob.com/sandiego

asian fusion

Roppongi Restaurant and Sushi Bar
875 Prospect St., La Jolla - Roppongi is the artful work of Sami Ladeki of Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza and Hotel Parisi fame. A delightful lunch and dinner menu melds Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Indian flavors with European cooking style. Wide-ranging cuisine, from the lightest fresh fish and flavorful beef to onion rings that melt in your mouth. The condiments are a lesson in how to make your dipping sauces. Award of excellence winner from Wine Spectator and Zagat-rated as one of the top 5 most popular San Diego restaurants. Outdoor patio; underground parking; major credit cards. 858-551-5252.

bbq

Santa Fe BBQ Company
1505 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas - 760-632-5227. www.sfbbq.com. While you’re exploring San Diego north, drop by this acclaimed restaurant. This is “uptown” bbq, with free video games for the kids and banks of large screen plasma TVs. Enjoy competition-quality ribs, brisket, pork and chicken. The ribs are filling third slabs, rather than the usual quarter slabs. Side dishes are made fresh twice daily and there are a variety of combo plates for you to sample. And the aromas…. Parking is plentiful.

breakfast

Richard Walker’s Pancake House
520 Front Street, Downtown San Diego - 619-231-7777. www.richardwalkers.com. Come with an appetite. The portions are large and the taste is fresh – like a wake up call. Richard Walker’s Pancake House is open for breakfast and lunch and features traditional breakfast favorites like fresh juices, Belgian waffles, omelets and, of course, home-made pancakes. Lunch includes soups, salads, crepes and Richie’s BLT with their custom hickory smoked bacon. Dessert lovers will savor the Chocolate Explosion. While you’re savoring the food, enjoy the Frank Lloyd Wright inspired décor.

californian

Sammy's Woodfired Pizza
Seven locations throughout greater San Diego. With a lively, family friendly atmosphere, these restaurants have been local favorites since 1989. Zagat rated and winner of Best Pizza, Sammy's features gourmet pizza, oversize salads and specialty entrees. Items are moderately priced, with generous portions to mix, match and share. Lunch and dinner daily in Carlsbad, Costa Verde/UTC, Del Mar Gaslamp Quarter, La Jolla, Mission Valley and Scripps Ranch.

dessert

Paradise Yogurt
5664 Mission Center Rd., #401. San Diego’s healthy source for non-fat frozen yogurt, including low-lactose, low-carb, sugar-free, and dairy-free tofutti soft serves. Paradise Yogurt has something for every taste. Paradise also boasts the “Best Smoothies in San Diego” with delicious flavors like Strawberry Fields, Cherry-Nana and Big Kahuna, all made with real fruit and juices. An ideal destination for those with a sweet tooth and dieters alike! Open Sun.-Thurs. 11am-9pm, Fri. & Sat. 11am-10pm. Call 619-295-9648 for the daily menu of flavors. www.paradiseyogurt.com

dining / shopping

Coronado Ferry Landing
1201 First St. at B in Coronado. Spectacular bay views everywhere. Lunch and dinner at Peohe's feature fresh seafood, beef and chicken; Bay Beach Cafe serves California-style meals. Fast food, too. 619-435-8895

mexican

Nati’s Mexican Restaurant
1852 Bacon St., Ocean Beach. For 46 years, Nati’s has been a tradition for great Mexican food in colorful, casual Ocean Beach. Just one block from the “O.B.” Pier and on the way to Cabrillo National Monument, Nati’s offers indoor and outdoor dining and home-style dishes made from the freshest ingredients. Of course, you can find tacos, enchiladas, fajitas and burritos, but you should also check out the many house specialties including Nati’s famous chili rellenos. Open daily for lunch and dinner, Sat. and Sun. brunch, cocktails and ample parking. 619-224-3369.

Plaza del Pasado
Old Town. Experience early California in a plaza filled with the aromas of sizzling fajitas, grilled seafood and traditional Mexican favorites. Three heritage restaurants offer menus unique to the tastes of the time. Casa de Reyes-1823, Classic recipes of Mexico served in a peaceful garden courtyard or lively cantina. Jolly Boy Restaurant-1854. Merchant seamen who came ashore in San Diego were sometimes called "Jolly boys." The menu reflects their tastes in seafood and traditional Mexican meals. The Cosmopolitan-1869. One of Old Town's early hotels and the main stagecoach stop for Los Angeles back in the 1800s. The menu reflects the tastes of the "new Westerners," with roots in the East as well as traditional Mexican dishes. 619-209-3525.

seafood

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant
675 L Street, downtown San Diego (at the Omni Hotel). Connected to Petco Park via a sky-bridge, this restaurant is home to fresh seafood lovers as well as Padre fans. Enjoy local catch and more than 30 varieties of fish – it’s so fresh, they print the menu twice a day! Pasta, poultry and beef specialties round out the selection. Lively bar with handcrafted cocktails, beer and an extensive wine list. The professional staff will accommodate intimate dinners and large private parties. Breakfast, lunch and dinner served daily. Free parking. 619-645-6545. www.McCormickandScmicks.com.

sports bars / bar & grill

The Local
1065 4th Ave. The Local offers what San Diego is known for: great food and great music in a casual atmosphere with a surfing theme. The Local serves up some of the best food in town without the hefty price tag, plus local drafts, live music, plasma screens, DJs, dancing and no cover charge. Enjoy beautiful photography, cool surfboards, surf videos, great eats and a staff that will make you, too, feel like a local. Open Mon.-Sat., 11am-2am with food served until 11 pm on Fri. & Sat. 619-231-4447 www.thelocaleatery.com

steakhouse

Fat City Steakhouse
2137 Pacific Hwy. Settle into a comfortable booth, admire the 1890s bar (as seen on many a TV series) and contemplate how, for just $16.95, you'll enjoy a USDA choice New York Steak grilled over mesquite charcoal. Flavorful, juicy and accompanied by your choice of potato, it's one of the best bargains in San Diego. Or, dig into the salmon, chicken, pasta, nightly specials or unique specialty steaks. This local tradition features a Tiffany dining room, tropical outdoor courtyard and art-deco building. Full bar, major credit cards, free parking. Open 5pm-10pm nightly. Located at Little Italy by the Bay. 619-232-9303