SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE BEACH & BAY PRESS
And the Winners Are... ..the entire communities of Pacific Beach, Mission Beach and Mission Bay. With what seems like an endless list of great restaurants, boutiques and retail shops, everything you need can be found in our vibrant slice of America's Finest City. Categories in the first Beach & Bay Press Readers Choice Awards cover the sunniest corner for your coffee wake-up call to the smoothest spot for a soothing nightcap - and everything in between.
day and inspire new businesses to reach the heights. Because both the nominees and winners were chosen by the people who live and work here, the Readers Choice Awards shows a true insider’s look at the best of what Pacific Beach, Mission Beach and Mission Bay have to offer.
These awards recognize the people and places that make our beach communities truly extraordinary. Some of the winners may surprise you; others have enjoyed sterling reputations for years and even decades. We hope these awards will delight those who aspire to excellence every
The 2009 Readers Choice Award winners were selected by Beach & Bay Press readers!
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READERS CHOICE AWARDS 2009
AUGUST 20, 2009
Beach & Bay Press
Thanks for Voting Us #1 Lunch at the Beach!
Readers Choice A W A R D S
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PHOTOS BY CASEY DEAN | THE BEACH & BAY PRESS
Awards for Dining CATEGORY
GOLD
SILVER
Overall Restaurant Overall Restaurant Service New Restaurant Breakfast Lunch Dinner Family Restaurant Restaurant w/ Wine Select. Take Out Sunday Brunch Beer Selection Sports Bar Place to People Watch Pet Friendly Restaurant Best Place to Dance Live Music Happy Hour Best Comfort Food Late Night Eatery Place to go on a Budget Place for a Birthday Party Most Romantic Best Ocean View Appetizer Burrito Burger Fish Taco Desserts Margarita Martini Specialty/Trademark Pizza Sandwich Steak Sushi Seafood American BBQ Vietnamese Thai Chinese Restaurant French Greek Irish Italian Mexican Restaurant Bakery Bar Cafe Catering Coffee shop Juice Bar Donut Shop Bagel Shop Deli Ice cream/Frozen Yogurt Vegetarian/Vegan Patio Dining
Cantina Nick's Fig Tree Cafe Fig Tree Cafe Cass Street Bar & Grill Firehouse Lotsa Pasta Lamont St Grill Zanzibar Fig Tree Cafe Tap Room PB Bar & Grill Lahaina's Fig Tree Johnny V's 710 Beach Club Latitude 32 Bub's Nick's Latitude 32 Jrdn Costa Brava Tower 23 Jrdn Mi Casa Bareback Grill RT's Longboard Grill French Gourmet Gringo's Tower 23 The Atoll Hoboken Pizza Which Wich Saska's Sushi Ota The Fishery Firehouse Tony Roma's Pho Sao Bien Kafe Yen Great Plaza Buffet French Gourmet Cafe Athena Hennessey's Mama Mia's Gringo's Charlie's Best Bread Shore Club Zanziber French Gourmet Turquoise Coffee Big Squeeze Linda's Einstein Chalkboard Deli Bogart Yogurt Vegan Zone Fig Tree
The Fishery Jrdn Dirty Birds Kona's Dirty Birds Lamont St Grill Marino's Italian Chateau Orleans Wich Which Catamaran Millers Field RT's Longboard Grill Boardwalk Cafe 976 Typhoon Saloon Cane's PB Ale House Good Time Charlie's Saska's Bub's Firehouse Lamont St Grill Green Flash Cafe Athena Taco Surf Rocky's PB Bar & Grill Nick's at the Beach Tavern @ The Beach
Filippi's Pop's Cheesesteak Lamont St Grill Surfside Sushi Joe's Crab Shack Baleen Pho Time Lanna Thai Cuisine China Inn
Pernicao's Margo's French Gourmet PB Ale House The Mission Fig Tree Java Jone's Chronic Smoothies Lucky Donuts Brugger's Chronic Smoothies Dolci Mango Synergy Cafe 976
Shopping and Services CATEGORY
GOLD
SILVER
Antiques Art Gallery Bookstore Chiropractor Furniture Store Place with Unusual Gifts Auto Repair
Olga & Stella Aztec Graphics Open Door Books Lifeforce Yorkshire Pine Pangaea PB Foreign
Pennywise Dr Libbs Underground Patina Robert's
• Awesome Menu • Call in Your Order to
Dine In or Grab-n-Go! • Daily Specials • Happy Hour • Pool Tables
You love the food at Cass Street, now try our award winning menu in our new Bird Rock location! Cass Street Bar & Grill 4612 Cass Street 858.270.1320 Cass Street Cafe & Bakery 5550 La Jolla Blvd. 858.454.9094
CATEGORY
GOLD
SILVER
Bank Hotel Children's Apparel Men's Apparel Women's Apparel Best Place to Buy Jeans Eye Wear Swimsuits Jewelry Store Shoe Store Dry cleaners Florist Grocery Store Travel Agency Pet Hospital/Vet Hair Salon Day Spa Health Club Yoga Facility Senior Living Facility Tanning Salon Printer Nails Shipping/Packaging Dentist Pharmacy Electrician Contractor/Construction Optometrist/Ophthalmologist Bicycle Shop Scooter/Motorcycle Smog Check Fast Oil Change Pet Store Resale Shop Surf Shop Skate Shop Tattoo/Piercing Gardening/Nursery Pool Care
Comerica Tower 23 Forget Me Not Raw Scenario Raw Sun glass City Gone Bananas Pangaea Forward Footwear Liz & David's Impulsive Trader Joe's STA Travel Turquoise Animal Hosp Beli Beli Renew Health Center Fitness West East West Yoga Sunrise Hollywood Tan North Shore Mingle Salon UPS Store Dr Maroon My Health Mart Beach Electrical Armstrong Construction Dr. Deborah Prince Pacific Coast Pacific Beach Cycle Smog Express Firestone Noah's Ark Cream of the Crop Surf Club Soul Grind Guru Green Garden's Pacific Paradise Pools
Home Bank Catamaran
Raw Buffalo Exchange Eyeglasses Galore Sun Splash Atomic Shoes Martinizing Flower Girls Henry's Travel Depot Cheshire Cat Garage Salon Catamaran American Boxing PB Yoga Wesley Palms I Tan PB Printing Turquoise Nails Surf n' Post Pacific Dental Arts
Rusty Spokes PB Scooter PB Smog Evan's Tires The Buff PB Surs Shop Core PB Garden's
READERS CHOICE AWARDS 2009 DINING
THURSDAY AUGUST 20, 2009
Beach & Bay Press
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Jrdn (see entry under Best Place for a Birthday Party)
Overall Restaurant
Isabel’s Cantina
New Restaurant
At Isabel’s Cantina, you can expect a fusion of Latin and Asian cuisine that’s remarkably addictive and surprisingly healthy. From spicy pork carnitas to tofu, the staff creates a vegetarian’s haven as well as a meat-lover’s paradise. The exotic dining space is at once dramatic and hip, with its 15-foot Buddha staring down at the dining room. Casual booths, stark lines and warm colors create an atmosphere not found elsewhere in Pacific Beach, attracting crowds for brunch, lunch, and dinner.
Fig Tree Café
Isabel’s Cantina 966 Felspar St. (858) 272-8400 www.cantinacollective.com
The Fishery (Sea entry under Seafood)
Overall Restaurant Service
Nick’s at the Beach This neighborhood restaurant has made a name for itself by serving the best seafood in a comfortable, casual environment. It’s also no stranger to press accolades - a local magazine once rated it the top neighborhood eatery. The sidewalk café can accommodate up to 20 people, and the Sports Bar upstairs touts a large outdoor oceanview deck and 29 - TVs. But what’s on the menu counts, too - like the tortillacrusted mahi mahi, pastas, dinner salads, sandwiches and Chilean sea bass, a huge local favorite. Add the banquet facilities and take-out service, and you’ve got Nicks, now 12 years on and nothing in its way. Visit Nick’s at the Pier in Ocean Beach, too! Nick’s at the Beach 809 Thomas Ave., (858) 270-1730 www.nicksatthebeach.com
Fig Tree Café has intertwined casual PB dining on its spacious, outdoor patio under a large Ficus tree with Mediterranean cuisine. Fig Tree Café serves largely organic, California/Mediterranean food like smoked salmon omelets or, on the hippy side, blue corn pancakes and whole grain granola. Twenty-seven-year-old Johan Engman opened the restaurant in October of 2008 with the intent to focus on organic, locally sourced ingredients. Among its most popular dishes are the organic, veggie-filled Windansea omelet comprised of locally raised free-range eggs, and a BLT served on a croissant with the unexpected addition of turkey and avocado. Engman oversaw the remodeling of the former Rafaela’s Italian restaurant. The patio now features a wooden canopy and stonewall fountain, and the interior has been painted with Tuscaninspired vineyard scenes. Fig Tree Café 5119 Cass St. (858) 274-2233
Tower 23 Gold Medal for Best Ocean View, Gold Medal for Martini, Gold Medal for Hotel. JRDN Gold Medal for Best Place for a Birthday Party, Gold Medal for best Appetizer and Silver Medal for Best Overall Restaurant.
Breakfast
early morning on the waves.
Fig Tree Café
Kono’s Surf Club Café 704 Garnet Ave. (858) 483-1669 www.sdbeachlife.com/kono.htm
(see entry under New Restaurant)
Kono’s Surf Club Cafe Dirty Birds For a place with a name like this, things inside look immaculate–sweeping wooden beams and stanchions with cool beachy art on the walls. And Dirty Birds throws you a few odd looks, too—turkey chili fries and fried cheese sliders are just a couple quirky entries on the menu. This eatery has been open for all of about 10 minutes, but it does everything like it’s been in the neighborhood forever. Dirty Birds 4656 Mission Blvd. (858) 274-2473 www.dirtybirdspb.com
If you like a little dinner with your breakfast, Kono’s is your place. That’s because nobody does potatoes like this eatery, with cheese, bell pepper and whatever other topping you can think of to boot. If you like a little view with your morning meal, you could do worse. Cross the boardwalk and sit on the modest patio that overlooks the ocean; you’ll see firsthand why you live in Southern California. And if you like quotes on the wall of your eatery, you’re in the right restaurant as well, with a little erudition adding to the flare of the décor. There’s a laid-back surfer vibe amid it all as well, which makes it perfect for Pacific Beach and the surfer crowd that stops off after an
Lunch
Cass Street Bar & Grill Cass St. Bar & Grill is the neighborhood bar where regulars and newcomers alike come to hang out, eat large platters of fresh, homemade food, drink from the large selection of microbrews, play pool or shuffleboard and have a good time. Happy hour happens every weekday night and patrons sit sidewalk side at the open air bar. Popular dishes include the hollowed-out fresh baguette with charbroiled chicken, topped with avocado, salsa and lettuce for $7.95. The charbroiled fish burger comes with the in-house tartar sauce. The oriental chicken salad – with a choice of charbroiled fish or
chicken – is a huge hit and all the dressings are made fresh onsite. The photos of local fishing personalities hanging on the walls and large replicas of fish reminds everyone who arrives in sandals with sand still in their hair: Cass St. Bar & Grill is the beach town bar. Of course, NFL and other sports get their fair coverage from the TVs hanging over the bar. Cass Street Bar & Grill 4612 Cass St. (858) 270-1320
Dirty Birds (see entry under New Restaurant)
Dinner
Firehouse American Eatery + Lounge Located next to the Pacific Beach fire station and just steps away from the beach, Firehouse mixes downtown-
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Beach & Bay Press
over marvelous house-made fresh pasta. Salmon over fettuccine in a delicate dill cream sauce is especially fine. The huge array of desserts is housemade too, with something for every palate. The most desirable tables are on the lovely fireplace-heated patio, not far from the full bar. Lamont Street Grill 4445 Lamont St. 270-3060 www.lamontstreetgrill.com
Chateau Orleans
Dirty Birds – Silver Medal for Best New Restaurant and Silver Medal for Lunch type luxury (leather sofas, fire pit bar, patio seating) with PB casual—board shorts, flips-flops and the usual beachtown trademark sartorials. Foodwise, it’s all about appetizers like fondue, quesadillas and mini-corn dogs. Along with the sandwiches, salads and lighter dinner fare is a small dessert menu that even includes chocolate chip cookies and milk.
cess with a humble beginning in a small house on Balboa Avenue. Owner Carol Blomstrom is an active member of the community and was an honorary mayor of Pacific Beach.
Firehouse American Eatery and Lounge 722 Grand Ave. (858) 274-3100 www.firehousepb.com
A cozy, secluded place to find tasty pizza, pasta and salads. The charming interior satisfies more than just the stomach. Open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Marino’s is the place to go for a quick snack or a late-night meal.
Lamont Street Grill (see entry under Rest. with Wine Selection)
Family Restaurant
Lotsa Pasta The difference between freshly made pasta and the dried version equals the contrast between a home cooked meal and a frozen dinner. Lotsa Pasta rolls out nine different flavors of freshly made pasta from plain semolina to red chili pepper and offers 18 different freshly made sauces from its vodka version to the chipotle sauce. The restaurant has had two decades of suc-
Lotsa Pasta 1762 Garnet Ave. (858) 581-6777
Marino’s Italian restaurant
Marino’s Italian restaurant 4475 Ingraham St. (858) 490-0168
Chateau Orleans has transplanted the spirit of southern Louisiana to Turquoise Street. Renowned blues musicians play live music on Fridays and Saturdays while patrons dine on a Cajun feast of frog legs and catfish nuggets for starters, and the Orleans BBQ plate or Fire in the Hole catfish for the main course. Mardi Gras masks and brightly colored beads hang on the walls. Couples or singles can sit at the bar that opens onto a patio outside and any seat is within earshot of blues gurus Tomcat and Robin Henkel. The atmosphere is mellow; the music is smooth; and the bar carries two types of micro-brews from Louisiana - Abita and Dixie. The wine list is not overwhelming but thoughtfully chosen based, in part, on the owner's palette check out the watermelon wine for a refreshing twist. Chateau Orleans 926 Turquoise St. (858) 488-6744 www.chateauorleans.com
Take Out
Restaurant with Wine Selection
Zanzibar Cafe
Lamont Street Grill
(see entry under Cafe)
Lamont serves California comfort food, punctuated by bold and sometimes strange Mexi/Asian/Cajun flavors, in a rambling converted residence with several rooms and levels for gazing into certain eyes and popping certain questions. Dinners come with soup or salad, and many entrées are served
Catamaran (see entry under Hotel)
Beer Selection
Tap Room The Tap Room is the place to go for good beer and good American food. The beer list is extensive – check it out online if you’re looking for something in particular, plus want to know who the brewer is. Here’s just a tantalizing few from the list: Smoked Porter, Alpine Ale, Pure Happiness, Hop Head Red, Windansea Wheat and Old Rasputin. On the menu, the Tap Room offers hand-tossed pizzas, Greek pie or Buffalo BBQ chicken, as well as salad, subs and pastas. Tap Room 1269 Garnet Ave. (858) 274-1010 www.sdtaproom.com
Miller’s Field Yep – this is a sports bar. Just don’t let the chief chef hear you say that. At Miller’s, you can enjoy a wide variety of unique entrees each expertly prepared with the highest quality ingredients. Whether it’s lunch, dinner, happy hour or late at night, it’s a great time to sit down to one of our hearty appetizers. Signature flatbread pizzas. Huge burgers and sandwiches made fresh, by hand. Crisp salads, piled high. Savory soups, made fresh daily. Delectable deserts or any of our other fresh food creations. Miller’s Field 4465 Mission Blvd. (858) 483-4143 www.millersfield.com
Sports Bar
Pacific Beach Bar and Grill Which Wich (see entry under Sandwich)
Sunday Brunch
Fig Tree Café (see entry under New Restaurant)
This venue, also popularly known at “the Grill,” is located two blocks from Crystal Pier, and the patio is about the size of the pier itself. The Grill offers a full-service menu featuring a serious selection of appetizers, salads, Mexican entrees, pizza, pasta, burgers and sand-
wiches. It caters to the gamers in no less a fashion - it features pool tables, darts, interactive TV and 72 televisions for watching just about every sport that satellite carries (four of the screens are 8 feet wide). If sports isn’t your thing, there’s always dancing - and that’s when Club Tremors comes in handy, just a few feet away. There’s something for everybody here. Pacific Beach Bar & Grill 860 Garnet Ave. 272-4745 www.pbbarandgrill.com
RT’s Longboard Grill (see entry under Sports Bar)
Place to People Watch
Lahaina’s Beach House If you want a taste of all walks of life under one roof, this is where you go. Bikers, legendary overimbibers, ditzy chicks, high-rolling real estate agents, PR people, friends you haven’t met yet: Lahaina’s is a veritable Petrie dish of the public marketplace, especially if you’re prepared to pay cash only (no credit, thanks). Lahaina’s Beach House 710 Oliver Ave. (858) 270-3888
The Boardwalk The Boardwalk restaurant in Mission Beach transformed from a bistro to a full service restaurant in May of 2007 when Patrick Walsh assumed ownership. The Boardwalk offers a full platter of choices - omelets, Mexican food, sandwiches, burgers, salads and soups, as well as imported and local beer. The mission of the Boardwalk is to offer high quality food in a relaxed atmosphere. The Boardwalk is home base to KU fans. The restaurant is also proud to announce it owns the Safari Buck Hunter arcade game. The Boardwalk 3704 Mission Blvd. (858) 488 9484 www.boardwalkmissionbeach.com
THURSDAY
READERS CHOICE AWARDS 2009 Pet Friendly Restaurant
Fig Tree Café (see entry under New Restaurant)
Café 976 Half this iconic eatery’s name betrays the home-style vibe inside and out. “976” is actually a street address, and no wonder – the venue is a converted Craftsman house built about 80 years ago and surrounded by every tree that’s ever been grown in recorded history. You’re invited to choose from any number of nooks and crannies at which to sit and enjoy the generous breakfast and lunch choices from the remodeled counter – and you simply must wash down your meal with a Nutty Irish man espresso, replete with hazelnut and mint. 976 is pretty un-PB for PB, but PB wouldn’t be PB without it. Café 976 976 Felspar St. (858) 272-0976 www.cafe976.com
Best Place to Dance
Johnny V’s For better or worse, Pacific Beach is known as the place where the younger generation goes to party. For the better, Johnny V is the next step – it brings the Gaslamp Quarter to the beach in appearance and style without the expense and attitude. A dress code is enforced after 9 p.m. and is at the discretion of management. This place does not allow hats, T-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, athletic wear or excessively baggy clothing. We require men to wear a collared shirt or a nice sweater. Hardly run-of-the-mill around these parts. Johnny V’s 945 Garnet Ave. (858) 274-4833
Typhoon Saloon With four levels of action and a huge dance floor in the back, it’s hard not to have fun busting a move at this Garnet hot spot. Feeling swanky? Typhoon has a reservation-only mezzanine lounge for group parties. Sports fans need go no farther than the front patio, as Typhoon boasts more than 30 televisions and serves as San Diego fan headquarters for the San Francisco 49ers and California Golden Bears, in addition to showing the Chargers some love. Typhoon Saloon 1165 Garnet Ave. (858) 373-3474 www.typhoonsaloon.com
Live Music
710 Beach Club The thing that sets 710 apart from the other venues is probably Pacific Beach itself. The club is directly off Crystal Pier, which is about as PB a landmark as you’ll find. A look at the online photo
Fig Tree Cafe, owner Johan Engman, Gold Medal for New Restaurant, Sunday Brunch, Breakfast, Patio Dining, Pet Friendly, Silver Medal for Catering. gallery shows just how raucous things can get, but what the pictures don’t show is that everything’s all in fun. Live music every weekend, a great lineup of special and weekly events, Monday Night Football and more: 710 has everything PB demands and the ocean right out the door to boot. 710 Beach Club 710 Garnet Ave. (858) 483-7844 www.710beachclub.com
Cane’s Bar and Grill Recent entertainment at Cane’s includes bands like Ozomatli, Zero 7 and MIA. Not only is the slate of performers among the best, but Cane’s is more like an informal club than a concert venue. Underneath it all, something insidious is fueling that success, and it’s probably the killer calamari appetizer Somebody in the kitchen has a bead on the secret to good calamari — you can only deep-fry it for under two minutes to prevent it from getting too tough. Your palate will take it from there for an appetizer experience you won’t soon forget. Even the 25 TVs crammed with sports are insufficient distractions. Cane’s Bar and Grill 3105 Ocean Front Walk (858) 488-1780 www.canesbarandgrill.com
Happy Hour
Latitude 32 William Walker opened Latitude 32 on Cass Street 13 years ago after managing Cass Street Bar & Grill for nine years. Walker intended Latitude 32, named after the latitude in which San Diego falls, to resemble the sort of English pub that sits on every neighborhood block in England, which originated as a public house where men would meet to discuss politics, business and women. More than a dozen English and Irishmen have made the Cass Street pub
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their home, which they visit everyday for a drink or two and to hang out by the jukebox. The pub also took on an Irish character on its own accord. Walker casually hung an Irish flag; the sign and carpets are, by chance, green and so Walker eventually sealed the deal by adding a few Shamrocks to the sign. The pub caters to singles or couples seeking a reasonably priced dinner – not just a bowl of chili. The menu varies but Mondays were meatloaf night, Tuesdays – pork chops, Wednesdays – lasagna and so on. The serendipitous Irish flag also sparked a collection of flags after a donation and now more than 60 flags from around the world hang from the ceiling. The only stipulation is that the flags must be purchased from their place of origin. Another quirk is the photos on the wall of patrons on their travels around the world holding cardboard signs inscribed with the Latitude of their location. Latitude 32 5019 Cass St. (858) 273-0501
Pacific Beach AleHouse (see entry under Bar)
Best Comfort Food
Bub’s Dive Bar & Grill Last May, Bub’s had a chicken wing eating contest that lasted 15 rounds – and since chicken wings are an official comfort food, Bub’s must have some kind of handle on just this kind of fare. Chipotle fish tacos, onion rings, brownies, even mash balls (spiced mashed potatoes): Bub’s carries them and more, catering to every fiber of your being that craves empty calories as a matter of survival. Saner stuff, like fruit bowls and steak and eggs, is also available, but it’s not nearly as much fun. Bub’s Dive Bar & Grill 1030 Garnet Ave. (858) 270-7269 www.bubsdive.com
Good Time Charlie’s A sports bar is a sports bar is a … except when it’s Good Time Charlie’s, which serves the best calamari sandwich in the history of the universe. And the cheesy garlic bread is both cheesy and garlicky like you won’t believe. If those aren’t enough to persuade you that Chuck’s ranks with the great comfort food eateries, try the potato salad. End of discussion. Good Time Charlie’s 910 Grand Ave., Ste. 101 (858) 274-3834
Late Night Eatery
Nick’s at the Beach (see entry under Overall Restaurant Service)
Saska’s Steak & Seafood
ristorante italiano pizzeria
GRAZIE! For making Mamma Mia the #1 Italian Restaurant for the 2nd time in a row.
(see entry under Steak)
Thank You loyal friends, customers and everybody who voted! C O M I N G
S O O N !
Opening in September adjacent to Mamma Mia, you must experience the ambiance of this authentic osteria featuring fine Italian wines and small bites.
1932 Balboa Ave , 858-272-2702, www.mammamiaitalianrestaurant.com Latitude 32, Gold Medal for Happy Hour and Best Place to Go on a Budget
Mamma Mia, Francesco & Cinzia Mezzetti, Gold Medal for Italian Cuisine
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Place to go on a budget
Thank you PB for voting us your choice as best place to buy jeans, best place for mens apparel and a favorite for womens apparel
20% OFF
Latitude 32 (see entry under Happy Hour)
All Regular Priced Merchandise*
Through September 30
(see entry under Best Comfort food)
Place for a birthday party
JRDN
Juicy Couture • Frankie B • Hudson Ben Sherman • 7 Diamonds And more of your favorite brands
(858)483-9112 940 Garnet Ave
Bub’s Dive Bar & Grill
*excludes eyewear, watches & jewelry
www.rawclothing.com
Here’s where chef David Warner fuses the best of contemporary steak and seafood restaurants. He uses handselected, all-natural meats, the finest sustainable-source seafood and locally grown organic produce to create a uniquely modern California cuisine. Birthday boys and girls will enjoy the magnificent Pacific Ocean view while sipping on signature cocktails, nibbling on sushi and exploring one of San Diego’s most creative wine lists. JRDN 723 Felspar St. (858) 270-5726 www.jrdn.com
Firehouse American Eatery + Lounge
inviting and the crowd is hip yet mellow -- everybody gets to enjoy an ocean view while sipping signature cocktails and nibbling on sushi. Tower Bar and Lounge 723 Felspar St. (866) TOWER23 www.tower23hotel.com
The Green Flash The name makes you think of a superhero theme, doesn’t it? If that’s what you were looking for, you’re out of luck, A green flash is an optical phenomenon that occurs at sunset when the sun’s upper rim touches the horizon. Experience your own green flash while feasting on one of the eatery’s veggie quesadillas or sucking down a great Mimosa at the bar. If you don’t see a flash this time, you will always have a chance on your next visit.
Costa Brava Spanish Restaurant Delicious food abounds in Pacific Beach but Costa Brava is a culinary gem with an old world heritage at its table: Spanish culture and food. Costa Brava dedicates an entire web page to explaining its tapas (small bites) - from empanadas, grilled shellfish and potato omelets to simple ingredients that hold their own on the plate - jamon Serrano, chorizo sausage, or unique Manchego cheese. The restaurant has won awards for its tapas, paella and Spanish wines. The servers are very knowledgeable about the Spanish cuisine. The difficulty in finding a table on a given night speaks for the consensus in the community that Costa Brava is a top choice.
Thank you for voting
TACO SURF
A Favorite for Burritos in Pacific Beach
Costa Brava Spanish Restaurant 1653 Garnet Ave. (858) 273-1218 www.costabravasd.com
Lamont Street Grill (see entry under Rest. with Wine Selection)
Best Ocean View
Tower Bar and Lounge
Bring this ad in for
$1.00 OFF your next burrito purchase.
4657 Mission Blvd. San Diego, CA, 92109
(858) 272-3877
(at Tower 23 Hotel)
You can actually credit the Tower's creative wine list to another establishment in the same hotel. It's JRDN (or "Jordan," for the purists who prefer the phonetic pronunciation), a very highend restaurant that swears by the magic it performs on beef and other meats. Red wines go swimmingly with that kind of thing -- and that translates to a comprehensive selection at the bar (the powers that be didn't forget the whites, either). Meanwhile, the bar offers a casual yet sophisticated experience. The atmosphere is warm and
Appetizer
Jrdn (see entry under best place for a B-day Party)
Cafe Athena (see entry under Greek)
Burrito
Mi Casa Comida y Cerveza You’ll probably recognize the last word in the name of our next venue – it translates to “beer,” and there’s plenty of that here. But it’s the burrito that makes this place special; you can get them any way you want here, and for many people, that makes this place a Mexican restaurant versus your typical taco stand. Mi Casa Comida y Cerveza 1775 Garnet Ave. (858) 272-0567 www.micasatacoshop.com
Taco Surf The burrito is to fast Mexican cuisine what the hamburger is to the uneducated American palate. Each item is incredibly tasty when it’s done right — and in the case of the former, Taco Surf has it knocked. There’s not much to the decor of the place other than a pick-up counter and a few small tables — but the ceiling is lined with some sweet classic surfboards to fuel the local flavor. The burritos, tacos and fajitas are big and fat to boot, and you get to experiment with a massive choice of toppings. You reportedly can’t go wrong with the California burrito, topped with hashed browns. Taco Surf 4657 Mission Blvd. (858) 272-3877 www.tacosurfpb.com
Burger
Bare Back Grill Those aren’t manhole covers on top of your plate, you big silly. Those are the two giant organic beef patties that come with the Bare Big & Dirty, the
Bare Back Grill 4640 Mission Blvd. (858) 274-7117 www.barebackgrill.com
Rocky’s Crown Pub
The Green Flash 701 Thomas Ave. (858) 270-7715 www.greenflashrestaurant.com
(see entry under Dinner)
Most Romantic
central jewel in the Bare Back Grill’s amply adorned crown. And that’s not a piece of driftwood sitting on your placemat, you big silly again. It’s the menu, hand-cut and laminated by Bare Back co-owner P.J. Lamont himself. Lamont is one of a trio of New Zealanders who built a lot of this place from the ground up - but that was fine by them, because the final product was that much more genuine. They tout their lighter dishes like chicken and fish sandwiches with the same enthusiasm they do their beer and wine and burgers - they even serve beet root as one of their gazillion toppings on the latter.
Nothing fancy or schmancy about this place. Just expect a big, juicy, great burger, the way Rocky’s has been making them for centuries. One customer reported he went back after years away from PB and found the place just as awesome as before he left; another said Rocky’s is the reason he’s no longer a vegetarian. A lot of it has to do with the bun; the things are so fresh and warm they fall apart in your hands. The bar may be on the smallish side, but a cold beer and a cheeseburger make up the best meal in the history of the universe — so the bar doesn’t really need to be much larger, now, does it? Rocky’s Crown Pub 3786 Ingraham St. (858) 273-9140
Fish Taco
RT’s Longboard Grill Nightly drink specials, live music, televised sports, cheap pool and palmthatch tables color the budget-intensive effect at RT’s — it’s comfortable and unpretentious here, replete with surfboards and a neon sea above the square bar. If you’re watching pennies, you’re strongly encouraged to try Open Mic Night on for size. It’s on Tuesdays, and it features fish tacos for $1.25 and Corona beer for $3. The very friendly service has its roots in the surfer community. The bar is in fact a memorial to Ron Trenton, a lifeguard and pilot whose plane disappeared in 1997. His brothers opened RT’s to fulfill his dream — ownership of a laid-back beach bar. RT’s Longboard Grill 1466 Garnet Ave. (858) 270-4030 www.longboardgrill.com
Pacific Beach Bar and Grill (see entry under Sports Bar)
Desserts
The French Gourmet (See entry under French)
Nick’s at the Beach (see entry under Overall Rest. Service)
1808 Garnet Ave. Pacific Plaza II OPEN Mon CLOSED Tues CLOSED Wed 10:30am–6pm Thurs & Fri - 6am–6pm Sat & Sun - 6am–5pm
858-272-3521 Real Sourdough • Crusty French • Sourdough Walnut • Spinach Feta Nine Whole Grains • Hallah Egg Bread • Banana Chocolate Chip Apple Cinnamon Walnut • Black Forest Chocolate Cherry Pumpkin • Fruit n’ Nutz • Maple Walnut • Cheddar Jalapeno Fat Free Muffins • Exceptional Biscotti • Cream Cheese Scones
Awesome Tasting • All Natural • Scratch Baked • Organic Flours
Free Giant Cinnamon Roll or Muffin or Cookie or Scone with Purchase of a Loaf! One Coupon Per Person Per Day. $5.00 Minimum Purchase. Expires 09/31/09
Cass Street Bar & Grill, Gold Metal for Best Lunch
THURSDAY
READERS CHOICE AWARDS 2009
AUGUST 20, 2009
Beach & Bay Press
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Shore Club - “sunsets served daily” - Gold Medal Best Bar
Margarita
Gringo’s Cantina (see entry under Mexican Restaurant)
Tavern at the Beach Tavern at the Beach is a casual but bustling neighborhood bar just a stone’s throw away from the ocean. There is always something going on at Tavern, which offers pool tables, more than 40 TVs, resident DJs seven days a week and outdoor patios. On Aug. 26, Tavern at the Beach will throw its MTV Grind Beach Party so all beachgoers are invited to stop by after a day in the sun. Taking silver in best margarita for Reader’s Choice, you’ll just have to try that one for yourself. Tavern at the Beach 1200 Garnet Ave. www.tavernatthebeach.com
Martini
Tower Bar and Lounge (see entry under Best Ocean View)
Specialty/Trademark Drink
The Atoll (at the Catamaran Resort Hotel)
The Atoll has won a local magazine's first-place Sunday Brunch nod for three of the last 10 years. You apparently feel the honors are deserved, because you've followed suit for 2007. This Sunday brunch features generous Champagne pours and mounds of sushi, the popular raw fish usually relegated to roadside haunts and cafeteriastyle eateries. This restaurant provides fine dining with exceptional service amid the tranquil vista and the tropical breezes of Mission Bay in San Diego. Pacific Beach is known for its occasionally roughhewn demeanor -- but The Atoll is a world apart, especially on late Sunday mornings. The Atoll Catamaran Resort Hotel 3999 Mission Blvd. 539-8635 www.catamaranresort.com
Pizza
Hoboken Pizza and Beer Joint Hoboken is perhaps the only pizzeria in Pacific Beach where you can go for a slice of east coast pizza, drink a beer, listen to Frank Sinatra and watch surf videos. Regulars aren’t just eating pizza three times a week, however; the menu includes pasta platters, subs and salads. Hoboken also doesn’t close until 2 a.m. so it’s a fine place to end the evening. The owner was born and raised in Hoboken where he starting sweeping floors at the pizzeria on his street for two slices of extra cheese, and eventually earned enough respect from the Italian family to start rolling dough. If you’re looking for an authentic joint with good homemade pizza, walk over to Hoboken’s. Hoboken Pizza and Beer Joint 1459 Garnet Ave. (858) 270-7766 www.hobokenpizza.com
Filippi’s Pizza Grotto In name, Filippi’s has been in San Diego since 1950, which makes it older than most of you. The thing is, it didn’t
start out as a pizza restaurant at all. Its origins were in Little Italy, where Vincent dePhilippis and Madeleine Stefani ran a deli grocery — the couple’s business savvy fed on itself until Filippi’s pizza took hold. Fifteen delicious pizza entries, with mountains of the traditional toppings, spearhead a menu that includes lasagna, ravioli, spaghetti, soups, salads and subs. If you’re not satisfied with that, you can always go back for more somewhere else. Filippi’s has venues from Temecula to Chula Vista. Filippi’s Pizza Grotto 962 Garnet Ave. (858) 483-6222 www.realcheesepizza.com
Sandwich
Which Wich? Which Wich features 51 varieties of customized, toasted “wiches.” The concept is known for its ordering system. At Which Wich, customers place their orders by using red sharpie pens to mark up pre-printed menus on sandwich bags. The customer selects a sandwich from ten different categories divided up by principal protein source (typically meat), chooses between a variety of breads, cheeses and vegetables and, finally, selects the desired spreads and sauces. All Which Wich locations feature music from Aware Records, newspaper reading stations, and Wi-Fi internet access. Which Wich 1001 Garnet Avenue (858) 270-WICH
Pop’s Jersey Style Cheese Steak What makes a Jersey style cheese steak sandwich different from a Philly style one is bread that is toasted a little longer to give it a crispier texture. Also setting a Jersey sandwich apart is the standard peppers, onions and mushrooms. August marks the one-year anniversary of Pop’s Jersey Style Cheese Steak at its location in Pacific Beach. Serving up these tantalizing sandwiches are two boys, a mom and one pop. Pop’s Jersey Style Cheese Steak 1730 Garnet St. (858) 483-2600
Saska’s – Gold Medal for Best Steak and Silver Medal for Best Late Night Dining
Steak
also offers an engaging variety of fresh seafood entrées in addition to a great selection of pastas. Saska’s Steak & Seafood 3768 Mission Blvd. (858) 488-7311 www.saskas.com
Lamont Street Grill (see entry under Rest. with Wine Selection)
Sushi
Sushi Ota The coolest thing about Sushi Ota is that it relies on the sushi tradition, not the trendy fusion concept, to see it through. The menu is short because the regulars look to the daily specials posted behind the counter. The chefs turn the day’s catch into artful little bundles accented with spices. Seafood, teriyakiglazed meats, feather-light tempura and a variety of small appetizers dot the rest of the menu. It’s located about three seconds from the I-5 — no romantic views of the ocean here — then again, you’re not going in for a view of the concrete expanse. Sushi Ota 4529 Mission Bay Dr. (858) 270-5670
Seafood
The Fishery In 1979, fisherman Judd Brown founded a shellfish company in the spirit of the family members whose sepia-toned pictures line the walls. In the late 1990s, it morphed into The Fishery, where product sustainability is a company philosophy. Wherever possible, the venue procures its product locally. Its harpooned swordfish, sardines, rockcod, shrimp and California spiny lobster are seasonal delicacies coveted by savvy chefs. The Fishery has earned a distinction as a beautiful Pacific Beach landmark, and freshness is the hallmark of its success. A remodel begins early next month. The Fishery 5040 Cass St. (858) 272-9985 www.northpb.com
Joe’s Crab Shack Somewhere between the dance lights, sirens and ear-splitting music, a conga line will form and weave its way through the throngs to wish you many happy returns. Crab claws, shrimp and other juicy entries like Buffalo wings and corn on the cob dot the menu here, a fitting complement to the ice cream and cake you would have had at home. Joe’s is popular with the college folks, just so you’ll know what you’re getting into on the big day. Joe’s Crab Shack 4325 Ocean Blvd. (858) 274-3474 www.joescrabshack.com
Saska’s Steak & Seafood
American
All of 58 years ago, Joe Saska opened this simple restaurant with the idea of offering quality steaks and real Roquefort salad dressing to his customers. Today, Saska’s offers a distinctive dining experience in a quaint, intimate atmosphere. Steaks have always been the main draw to this place—the juicy, expertly cooked “Duke” is one of the most delicious in San Diego. Saska’s
Firehouse American Eatery + Lounge
THANKS PB FOR VOTING US BEST BAR IN PACIFIC BEACH! BEST VIEW IN PB • EPIC SUNSETS CLASSIC ROCK N’ROLL 20 DRAFTS • 2 FULL BARS KILLER FOOD • MONSTER BURGERS KITCHEN OPEN LATE ALL SPORTS PACKAGES KARAOKE SUNDAY 9PM - 1AM
BREAKFAST SERVED SAT & SUN 8AM-3PM! for information: 858.272.SURF PBSHORECLUB.COM MYSPACE.COM/PBSHORECLUB ON THE BOARDWALK WHERE GRAND MEETS THE SAND 4343 OCEAN BOULEVARD • PACIFIC BEACH, CALIFORNIA
Thanks PB for voting us your Favorite BBQ Restaurant in Pacific Beach for Join us & Ribs as it Margar days s e on Tu
(858) 272-7427 4110 Mission Blvd. San Diego, CA Free 3 hr. parking.
Since 1962
“Thank you PB for voting us as one of your favorite surf shops”
• bikes • surfboards • blades • body boards • sandals • clothing
(see entry under Dinner)
Baleen San Diego Baleen San Diego is the fine-dining restaurant at Paradise Point sitting on the sparkling waters of Mission Bay with a Polynesian motif. Named after
858-373-1138 4150 MISSION BLVD. #161 SAN DIEGO, CA 92109
THURSDAY
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READERS CHOICE AWARDS 2009
AUGUST 20, 2009
Beach & Bay Press
the baleen whale’s method of filtering food through its comb-like plates, the restaurant offers a wide selection of Pacific fish, as well as land animals: slow-roasted chicken, apple pork chops or the Australian rack of lamb. Nominated for best American cuisine, head chef Megan Reischman pairs the Pacific catch with Baja flavors. Take the diver scallops wood roasted with kumquats and chardonnay. Interested patrons can observe the hustle and bustle of the exposed kitchen firsthand, which adds a warm touch with its copper hooded fireplace. Baleen San Diego 1404 West Vacation Road (858) 490-6363 www.paradisepoint.com
BBQ
Tony Roma’s It’s pretty much about the ribs at Tony Roma’s — baby-backs, St. Louis style, rib combos and more line the menu, straddled by an array of salads and soups, sandwiches, chicken entrees and more. The best news is that you don’t have to go to Tokyo or Madrid or anywhere else to join in on the fun and food. Tony Roma’s 4110 Mission Blvd. (858) 272-7427 www.tonyromas.com
Vietnamese
Pho Sao Bien Vietnamese restaurant Pho Sao Bien is known for its rice noodle soup, called
Pho, that visitors from the north rave about, which is saying something since the competition up there is more fierce between Vietnamese restaurants. The salad bowl is also popular, which consists of vermicelli noodles topped with lettuce, mint, bean sprouts, peanuts and a choice or combo of chicken, beef, pork, tofu or shrimp. The restaurant also sells a Vietnamese coffee with a French influence – served with a strainer and condensed milk on the side. A selection of beer is also available. Lunch goers shouldn’t expect to wait more than five minutes for their meal, and homebodies can place an order and carry out their food. Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Thai
Pho Sao Bien 1958 Garnet Ave. (858) 272-9612
If peanut sauce whets your appetite, Thai cuisine is for you. It’s premiere among the billions of spices and herbs that make Thai among the most popular with American palates. The chefs at Lanna Thai know this and know it well – in fact, they encourage you to specify the level of your taste for spice (from 1 to 10), peanut sauce and all. The restaurant’s Island Treasures, a young coconut stuffed with veggies, or the charbroiled, prime-cut Bangkok Steak are two delicious places to start. Lanna Thai uses local products wherever possible – hard to believe that the result yields such exotic fare.
Pho Time With bright green bamboo signage to initially attract hungry eyes, there is an array of good eats at this new pho spot. The wonderful pho soup aroma wafts inside the restaurant, which helped earned them a Readers Choice award this year. The broth is not too oily and even referred to as golden and sparkly, a perfect formed and tasty concoction. With tender steak and finely cut tripe and tendon, the Pho Time soup is a standout. Pho Time 1820 Garnet St. (858) 273-1664
Eclectic selection of reading material for all ages and interests. Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday from 10am - 5pm Closed Monday, Friday, Saturday
4761 Cass Street in Pacific Beach • Corner of Cass & Missouri (858) 270-8642 • www.opendoorbooks.com
V
V
VOTED
BEST CATERING, BAKERY, FRENCH RESTAURANT & DESSERTS 2009 BEACH & BAY PRESS READERS CHOICE AWARDS
Kafe Yen This unassuming little place serves great selections to a fault, even if Thai isn’t your fare of choice. It serves Indian and Japanese curry as well as noodle dishes from Malaysia, Singapore and China. You can add chicken, pork, beef, seafood and, for the more adventurous, duck to your dish. You can even custom-fit your food to the preferred degree of spiciness. Everything’s in place, especially the Thai. Kafe Yen 4516 Mission Blvd. (858) 373-3936 www.kafeyen.com
Lanna Thai
Lanna Thai 4501 Mission Bay Dr. (858) 274-THAI www.lannathaticuisine.com
Chinese Restaurant
Great Plaza Buffet 1840 Garnet Ave. (858) 273-6868
China Inn How this place charges almost nothing for its food and at the same time maintains its flashy decor is beyond us. The funksters that populate this place, young and usually without a lot of money, can expect to let go of less than $10 for generous helpings of Chinese staples such as egg foo yong, chow mein, chop suey and variations on chicken and beef dishes (prices for the Imperial Lobster and Peking Duck are somewhat higher). If you have even less to spend, you’re welcome to spend time at the full bar — cocktails, like the rest of the fare, are anything but pricey. China Inn 877 Hornblend St. (858) 483-6680
French
The French Gourmet
It’s Always a Delicious Day at…
The French Gourmet! Catering u Restaurant u Bakery u Wine Boutique • California-French Cuisine in a casual setting. • Retail wine boutique with very competitive pricing. • Traditional French pastries, baguettes, croissants, pâtés, cheeses, and more!
The Gourmet’s traditional bakery is renowned for its outstanding French pastries. It’s also a showcase for fullservice catering and wedding cakes, which many consider to be the best in the history of the universe. The Gourmet’s selection of breads, breakfast pastries, cookies and cakes include the French Gourmet chocolate mousse and the strawberry bagatelle — layers of white sponge cake dabbed with syrup, filled with Bavarian cream and fresh strawberries and topped with a thin layer of marzipan. Wash it all down with an espresso drink or a glass of wine, or keep the experience moving with pâté, quiche or imported cheese. The French Gourmet 960 Turquoise St. (858) 929-1984 www.thefrenchgourmet.com
Greek
Cafe Athena
Celebrating 30 delicious years! Breakfast & Lunch Served Daily 8am – 3pm Dinner Tues - Sat 4pm-Close
T HE F RENCH G OURMET Catering • Restaurant • Bakery • Wine Boutique
960 Turquoise St. • San Diego, CA 92109
Call for reservations:
(858) 488-1725 www.thefrenchgourmet.com
The Greek cuisine at this spot is so good, and its reputation so formidable, that it’s probably best to make a reservation. If you don’t, you may wait a while on the area’s most comprehensive Greek menu, which includes terrific gyros, souvlaki, moussaka and no fewer than 1 million desserts. The three-room decor is tasteful yet upscale and reflects a Greek islands motif. The cuisine is shaped by simplicity and spawned by ingenuity. Simple, unpretentious foods such as grains, pasta and legumes are enriched by the pun-
gent flavors of garlic, onion, eggplant and artichoke and by the essences of olive oil, lemons and raisins. The best Greek cooking is tied to nature and to the seasons, and it flourishes accordingly. Cafe Athena strives to serve its dishes with the same elemental quality.
family home. Check out Margo’s website for happy hour information and free coupons.
Cafe Athena 1846 Garnet Ave. (858) 274-1140 www.cafeathena.com
Bakery
Irish
Hennessey’s Tavern (Pacific Beach)
Did you know that more than twothirds of all new restaurants fail within the first year? The Hennessey’s Tavern chain won’t hear of it—it’s proven to be a resounding success, demonstrating atypical longevity and prosperity. Since its 1976 founding, the chain has grown from a single location in Hermosa Beach to a 10-venue operation, owing to its selection of authentic Irish fare and grog and outstanding service. You only need go to the Pacific Beach locale to see why. Hennessey’s Tavern Pacific Beach 4650 Mission Blvd. (858) 483-8847 www.hennesseystavern.com
Italian
Mamma Mia The left hand definitely knows what the right one’s doing at this place. The servers’ suggestions are spot-on – listen and heed them when they recommend Italian staples like lodigiana salad, lasagna and ravioli al casale. You simply can’t go wrong with those choices. Neither will you shirk at the sight and smell of the handmade pasta or the idea of exclusively in-house preparation. There’s quaint all around, too – Mama Mia’s is located in an old wood house, lending new life to the term “home cooking.” Mamma Mia 1932 Balboa Ave. (858) 272-2702 www.mammamiaitalianrestaurant.com
Pernicano’s Family Restaurant Looking for a large platter of homemade meatballs and pasta, or a side of fried shoestring potatoes? Feel like a family-size meal? Pernicano’s has you covered. Specialties include pork chops, calamari Venesia and eggplant parmigiana. For dessert, you’ll find your sweet buds are lovingly satisfied: choose between caramel pie, canolis, spumoni ice cream and tiramisu. Pernicano’s Family Restaurant 711 Turquoise St. (858) 488-2900 www.pernicanos.com
Margo’s Mexican Grill 2015 Garnet Ave. (858) 581-1408 margosmexicangrill.com
Charlie’s Best Bread If the smell at the front door doesn’t entice you inside, the myriad samples surely will. You could fill up on those alone. But don’t – otherwise, you’ll miss your shot at the zucchini bread, chocolate bread, a million kinds of cookies and sunflower seed dinner rolls. Charlie’s also offers lots of vegan options, and if you ask nicely, the accommodating staff will even make bread from your own recipe. The locals swear by this place – and although we don’t advocate dirty language, we certainly wouldn’t let a little thing like that discourage you. Charlie’s Best Bread 1808 Garnet Ave. (858) 272-3521
The French Gourmet (see entry under French)
Bar
Pacific Beach Shore Club You guys can’t drink on the beach anymore, unless you want a big fat ticket from a big fat cop. The law, however, doesn’t say you can’t drink near the beach – and that’s what makes Pacific Beach Shore Club’s locale so convenient. The flat-screen TVs are only feet from the water to boot, as are the great Happy Hour deals, goldfish races, Karaoke on Sunday , Red Bull slushies and ’tater-tots. Pacific Beach Shore Club 4315 Ocean Blvd. (858) 272-7873 www.pbshorecllub.com
Pacific Beach AleHouse PB AleHouse isn’t your dad’s Pacific Beach bar – it’s every bit a world-class microbrewery and restaurant. Handcrafted burgers, fries, pizza and a diverse menu make PB Ale House a destination location for the beer connoisseur, tourist and San Diegan. The place brews a gold, wheat, pale ale, amber, IPA, porter and stout – and as if that weren’t enough, it hand-patties each hamburger. Its fries are cut daily from fresh Idaho potatoes. Each pizza is handcrafted. It has more than 15 big fat TVs. Do not pass “go” – stop here. Pacific Beach AleHouse 721 Grand Ave. (858) 581-BEER www.pbalehouse.com
Cafe Mexican Restaurant
Zanzibar Cafe
Gringo’s Cantina
Zanzibar Café has been serving coffee to the locals for more than 17 years and doubles as a friendly neighborhood café and a tourist destination. The people who run it are having such fun that they thought they’d open another location – so they did, in downtown San Diego’s East Village. Both places boast killer java, which you’re welcome to drink in the restaurant and wine bar, where the eatery offers many wines exclusive to the business. Zanzibar’s gourmet market next door carries salads and entrees by the pound, homemade baked goods, coffee, tea, chocolates, olive oils and vinegars – quite a potential haul for a coffee shop.
The secret to any successful happy hour is its people — and you can bet the crowd at Gringo’s doesn’t disappoint. It’s very young, very lively and very Pacific Beach, which means it knows its wines, margaritas and tequilas. The wine list tends toward the South American stuff, which begs for companionship with food like the venue’s very good chili verde. $3 draft beers, a house wine and house margaritas sweeten the deal; weekly specials abound, like Margarita Mondays ($2 Imperial beer and half-off Margaritas all night) or Wine Wednesdays (halfpriced bottles of wine). Gringo’s has thought of everything — the least you can do is oblige. Gringo’s Cantina 4474 Mission Blvd. (858) 490-2877 www.gringoscantina.com
Margo’s Mexican Grill Margo’s is a family-run restaurant that opened in 2006 and prides itself on its original Southern California burrito – with its own added twist of course. A meal at Margo’s is not the same as grabbing a burrito – rather, it’s partaking in the comfortable atmosphere of a
Zanzibar Café 976 Garnet Ave. (858) 272-4762 www.zanzibarcafe.com
San Diego Coffee Tea and Spice This café has been brewing and wholesaling invigorating elixirs since 1978. San Diego Coffee Tea and Spice won their customers over by roasting premium specialty coffees with excellent customer service. By selecting the finest coffee beans from around the world and roasting them to perfection,
THURSDAY
READERS CHOICE AWARDS 2009 choice blends are brewed and bound to have you percolating in no time.
Donut Shop
San Diego Coffee Tea and Spice 5026 Cass St. (858) 581-1933 www.sandiegocoffee.com
Patrons love this old-fashioned donut shop for its early hours – open by 5 a.m. – and late hours – closed by 10 or 11 p.m. The donuts are not small and the selection exceeds more than two dozen with chocolate glaze and the apple fritter a few of the favorites. The only way to get a good grasp on this sugary treasure is to stop by for yourself and have a taste.
The Mission The Mission is a concept of a cafe specializing in simple, healthy, tasty food with a whimsical edge and a focus on artful presentation at an affordable price. The simplicity and fresh ingredients are produced with dedication to the cause of living a more conscientious lifestyle. This modern concept in healthy dining, combined with pleasant surroundings, is their specialty. The Mission is open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Mission 3795 Mission Blvd. (858) 488-9060
Catering
The French Gourmet (See entry under French)
Fig Tree Café (See entry under New Restaurant)
Coffee shop
Turquoise Coffee Turquoise Coffee in North PB offers much more than the ordinary cup of joe. The coffee shop and online retailer sells organic free trade coffee from countries all around the world, including Brazil, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Yemen and Zimbabwe. Turquoise Coffee 841 Turquoise St. (858) 488-4677 www.turquoisecoffee.com
Java Jones Java Jones collects fair trade, organic beans from all over the world – from Peru to Ethiopia – and roasts them downtown for a fresh cup of java everyday. The store opens at 5:30 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. so there is plenty of time to sit, relax, enjoy the artwork hanging on the walls, and the friendly staff who take a few moments to socialize. Most importantly, the coffee shop offers free Internet so students and freelancers can work all day and never be far from a refreshing pick-up. The coffee shop also serves sandwiches and salads. Java Jones 4978 Cass St. (858) 274-0028
Juice Bar
Big Squeeze Juice Bar Need help getting enough vitamins and nutrients? The Big Squeeze is the place for you. This juice bar offers fresh squeezed smoothies, vegetable juices, wheat grass, tropical juices and fruit bowls. Start out with the Breakfast of the Gods – a blend of strawberries, peaches, blueberries, bananas, apple juice, orange juice and nonfat plain yoghurt. The veggie juice will give you a kick with its mixture of carrots, celery, parsley, beets, spinach, cucumber, broccoli and apple juices. The store also sells purified water, frozen yoghurt and wheatgrass.
Linda’s Donut Shop
Linda’s Donut Shop 1888 Grand Ave. (858) 274-4004
Lucky Donuts House Wait. Hold it. Stop right there. Do not pass go. Just enjoy any of the 1 million cream-filled doughnut varieties here. Lucky’s has every variety of bearclaw you can imagine as well – and the best thing about it is its locale. It’s three blocks from the ocean, which means you’ve got a built-in place to work off all that sugar. Lucky Donuts House 909 Grand Ave., Ste. 8 (858) 273-3829
Bagel Shop
Einstein Bros Bagels Einstein is a corporate chain with darn good bagels. Forget the cream cheese (unless you want something simple), Einstein offers a lox-topped bagel, egg sandwiches, egg panini, egg wraps and yoghurt – just for breakfast. For lunch there is offerings of pastrami and swiss and albacore tuna salad, to name a few. Grilled sandwiches, pizza bagels, nacho bagels, soups and salads are also in the mix. Einstein Bros Bagels 1772 Garnet Ave., suite F (858) 272-9321
turkey and roast beef. Fidel Castro takes marinated turkey breast and cooks it in salsa. Donald Trump knows how to bring home the bacon, lettuce and, apparently, the tomato as well. Sandwiches range in price from $6.50 to $9. The deli is also a mini juice bar. The Thomson’s squeeze oranges and carrots for fresh juice, as well as wheat grass. The deli offers strawberry banana smoothies, banana and chocolate smoothies and banana, chocolate and peanut butter smoothies. A late breakfast includes BLT and egg salad sandwiches. Chalkboard is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays.
Modern Furnishings • Custom Sofas Come See Our Showroom at: 1345 Garnet Ave 858.581.0229 www.undergroundfurniture.com
Chronic Smoothies (see entry under Juice Bar)
Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt
Bogart Yogurt The length of your sweet tooth doesn’t matter; Bogart Yogurt has you covered better than the rest. The trick, see, is to serve yogurt that doesn’t stand out in the sugar department – that way, you’re free to add toppings to taste. Some of the flavors here change regularly, but there’s always a staple or two, like vanilla, peanut butter and chocolate. The cake batter flavor will speak to your childhood, when you used to filch from the kitchen; meanwhile, the venue’s California Killer Cookies are freshly made and will make quick work of whatever sugar fix you have left. Bogart Yogurt 910 Grand Ave., Ste. 108 (858) 581-0202
Bruegger’s Bagels achieve a bagel with a crusty outside and chewy inside by using fresh dough, kettle boiling it and baking them on a stone-hearth – not a rake – so that they bake evenly. Nonprofits should check out Bruegger’s donation policy: the corporation will donate a matching amount of bagels to those purchased – as long as the bagels are not resold. Bruegger’s sells 20 different varieties of bagels and 13 different toppings so the bagel never gets boring.
Dolci Mango offers a European-style frozen yoghurt desert that is a low-fat alternative to ice cream with all the health benefits of yoghurt. Dolci means delicious in Italian and mango is known for its exotic taste, hence the name of the shop. There are more flavors than just mango, however; Dolci Mango offers plain, green tea and eight flavored yoghurts – from honeydew to blueberry cheesecake to cappuccino. Dolci Mango has four branches in San Diego and opened in Pacific Beach three years ago.
Bruegger’s Bagels 1886 Garnet Ave. (858) 273-3836 www.brueggers.com
Dolci Mango 1420 Garnet Ave. (858) 483-6265 www.dolcimangousa.com
Deli
Vegetarian/Vegan
Chalkboard Deli & Coffee Shop
Vegan Zone
For 14 years, Bill Thomson of Mission Beach has layered Boar’s Head deli meats onto sandwiches, spun smoothies and assembled salads behind the counter of Chalkboard Deli, while his wife runs the orders. The duo named all their sandwiches after famous people: Howard Stern packs in the ham,
GREAT FOOD
LL I H EAT DR INK & C
UNIQUE BURGERS WINGS BREAKFAST Served ‘till 3pm Daily
THANKS PB for voting us a favorite new restaurant and a favorite lunch! M-F 3PM-6PM HAPPY HOUR
½ PRICE PITCHERS / ½ OFF ALL WINGS $1 OFF Bottles, Mugs & Wine 4656 MISSION BLVD. PACIFIC BEACH 858.274.2473 • DIRTYBIRDSPB.COM
Actually, this restaurant probably belongs in another classification. Veganism is a step removed from vegetarianism - the word connotes a way of living that seeks to exclude all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. Pretty radical philosophy, but one worthy of pursuit in many circles. That doesn’t mean that the fare is at all exot-
Thank You Pacific Beach! It is a great honor to win the silver medal for best sandwiches in our first year.
Big Squeeze Juice Bar 1826 Garnet Ave. (858) 273-1001 www.bigsqueezeonline.com
Love, Pop, Mama and the boys
Chronic Smoothies Chronic Smoothies is habit-forming. Try it for yourself. This smoothie joint offers an acai smoothie, a mocha mix, coconut crème or a blend of orange juice, mangoes, peaches, strawberries and bananas. Three guys opened the shop in 2000. And if you need more than a smoothie in the morning, Turquoise Coffee is only a few feet away. Chronic Smoothies is also open all day for those who have formed a serious habit: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. Chronic Smoothies 841 Turquoise St. (858) 488-6420 www.chronicsmoothies.com
Beach & Bay Press
Thank You for Choosing Us as Your Modern Furnishings Outstanding Furniture Store
Chalkboard Deli & Coffee Shop 1146 Garnet Ave. (858) 274-8819
Dolci Mango Bruegger’s Bagels
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AUGUST 20, 2009
Free Delivery
HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Limited area See our menu on Yelp.com
10% OFF Your next order Please present coupon when ordering. Expires12/31/09
1730 Garnet Ave. • 858.483.2600 Pops' Jersey Style Cheese Steaks, Guadagni family,"Pop", "Mama", Antonio, Benito Jr, Silver Medal for Sandwich
In the Vons shopping center next to Lotsa Pasta
Mon.-Fri. 9am to 8pm Sat. 9am to 7pm
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READERS CHOICE AWARDS 2009
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Beach & Bay Press
ic or remote – Vegan Zone has lots of starters, salads, sandwiches, soups, noodle and rice dishes, curries and sushi rolls to suit any taste. Vegan Zone 859 Hornblend St. (858) 272-1913
Synergy Raw Bakery Synergy Raw Bakery is an oasis for vegans and health-conscious folk who live in PB. On a street that serves plenty of burgers, tacos, pizza and sandwiches, Synergy serves up vegan wraps, raw and vegan ice cream, assorted raw vegan pies, granolas and a variety of healthy drinks like fermented tea called Kombucha and juices. The small store also sells eco-friendly clothing, recycled rubber accessories and organic body care products. Synergy Raw Bakery 1419 Garnet Ave. (858) 490-2144
Patio Dining
Fig Tree Café (see entry under New Restaurant)
Café 976 (see entry under Pet Friendly)
SHOPPING & SERVICES Art gallery
near San Diego State University 26 years ago, hence the store’s name, and moved to Garnet Avenue 18 years ago. The most popular poster sold is a black-and-white photo of Highway 1 that runs from La Jolla to Del Mar. Despite the poster business moving to the Internet, Rick said that customers still want to see the color and look of a poster in person. Aztec Graphics 1439 Garnet Ave. (858) 272-7760 www.posteramerica.com
Gallery at Land’s End Gallery at Lands End has a tract record of 35 years in custom framing that ranges from a simple, clean metal molding to elaborate, water gilded corner fames. Check out the website for a photo of a 40 pound bronze relief framed for a local La Jolla Gallery. The store offers more than 3,000 molding options and 500 matting choices. Jay and Vicki Ford ran the gallery until they sold it to staff member Thayne Yungman two years ago. The Fords are enjoying semi-retirement. Gallery at Lands End is currently showcasing two local artists Deb Schwedhelm, a photographer, and John John, an oceanloving painter. Gallery at Land’s End 4984 Cass St. (858) 270-7820 www.galleryatlandsend.com
Aztec Graphics
Chiropractor
Aztec Graphics has found its niche as one of the few remaining poster/frame shops in the county. While the store does sell some giclees – limited print editions of artwork – most of its business focuses on custom framing and its sale of 4,000 different posters. In the recession, customers still want to decorate but can’t afford to drop $200 on a custom frame, but may be willing to spend $50, said Barbara Bailey who runs the store with her husband, Rick. The couple opened Aztec Graphics
Lifeforce Health Chiropractic Lifeforce Health Chiropractic offers a variety of solutions to building health that include chiropractic adjustment, corrective exercises to realign the skeletal, muscles and connective tissues and coaching on nutritional supplements and healthy food choices. The center also provides acupuncture, muscle activation techniques, massage and myofacial release. Chiropractor Peter Seguinot, a graduate of LifeWest Chi-
ropractic College, opened the clinic in September of 2008 to treat patients with a myriad of health issues from backaches and sciatica to headaches, neck pain and stress management. Lifeforce Health Chiropractic 1707 Grand Ave. (858) 273-6700 seguinotwellness.com
Libs Chiropractic Center The Libs – a husband-and-wife team – have run Libs Chiropractic Center since the early ’80s. Dr. Lori Libs has been practicing since 1979 with a focus on family care. She continues to study gentle chiropractic techniques. Dr. David Libs has been a practicing chiropractor since 1982. He has advanced training in the Gonstead Technique and is a qualified medical examiner. Dr. David specializes in working with accident/worker comp cases and severe lower back pain patients. The center also offers Vax-D treatment to treat herniated discs, as well as massage therapy, nutrition consultation and acupuncture. Libs Chiropractic Center 4410 Lamont St. (858) 483-8500 libschiropractic.com
Furniture Store
Yorkshire Pine Yorkshire Pine furniture is inspired by the casual lifestyle of America’s coasts, and carries the new Coastal Living Collection. The collection features laidback elegance for any room in your home including multiple style options and a palette of 14 different seaside color. Coastal Living marries color with the warm patina of English pine. What a great combination! Yorkshire Pine 5171 Santa Fe St. (858) 270-7463
Underground Furniture You never know what the future holds. Just ask the peeps over at Under-
ground Furniture, where the inventory is clean-lined and modern, like it was in the ’50s and ’60s. This place is always trying to keep that aspect in the store, and that’s the way it’s been since its opening 10 years ago. And in all that time, you’ve responded so well that Underground is inviting you to get into the act. You can now build your own sofa – custom colors, sizes and everything else – if you ask. Underground Furniture 1345 Garnet Ave. (858) 581-0229 www.undergroundfurniture.com
Place With Unusual Gifts
Pangaea Outpost Once upon a time, Pangaea was the center of the world, a colossal land mass that contained anything and everything its inhabitants needed, including the trinkets. Pangaea’s gone ahead and split into seven continents in the last little while – but the Outpost has kept the name and spirit alive with all manner of gifts from all over the world. Fancy kitchen utensils, Eastern cultural artifacts, baubles, bangles and even beads: Pangaea’s the place to duck into for a look at the world as it was and is. Pangaea Outpost 909 Garnet Ave. (858) 581-0555 www.pangaeaoutpost.com
Patina Patina is an old fashion gift store that carries delectable items like Annie Glass serving pieces, Huile d’olive soaps, positively green cards and the Bunnies by the Bay baby line. The artwork and quality of the ware will charm you and make sweet presents for a wedding, baby shower, dinner party, housewarming gift or just a token of appreciation. Visit Patina’s website for a full list of their products, colorful photos and, even, online shopping. Born and raised and living in La Jolla, Barbara Holz and her husband,
Paul, ran Patina in Point Loma for 12 years before setting up on Turquoise Street a year ago. Patina 957 Turquoise St. (858) 488-4488 www.patinagiftstore.com
Hotel
Tower Bar and Lounge (see entry under Best Ocean View)
Catamaran Resort Hotel At the Catamaran, the biggest draw isn’t the beautiful studios and suites. It’s not even the tropical garden. And it certainly isn’t the placid setting along Mission Bay’s sandy shores. It’s the birds – namely the lobby’s longtime parrot-family members who entertain the guests with their antics and vocal refrains. They’re a nice touch to a nicer venue, one that features surprisingly affordable rooms. And then there’s always the spa. Catamaran Resort Hotel 3999 Mission Blvd. (800) 422-8386 www.catamaranresort.com
Bookstore
Open Door Books If you’re looking for certain mainstream titles, Open Door may not be your first choice. This venue’s mission is to encourage understanding and acceptance of all people regardless of creed, race or sexual preference by offering a wide selection of reading material. Its fare features, but is not limited to, books on mainstream Christian churches, Eastern philosophies, Judaism, Buddhism, Native Americanism, feminism, family, marriage and parenting. It also touts quality fiction and nonfiction books and the greatest respect for the power of the pen. Open Door Books 4761 Cass St. (858) 270-8642 www.opendoorbks.com
THURSDAY
READERS CHOICE AWARDS 2009 Pennywise Books If you ever had a bookcase made of cinder blocks and plywood, you probably know something about how Pennywise Books looks inside. This is a totally nofrills shop, with nary an information booth in sight, and that’s part of the charm. The non-descriptness leaves your imagination free to discover the wonders within – there are enough used books here to keep readers enraptured for months. The new stuff’s available too, and at less cost since you’re not paying for a lot of overhead. Pennywise Books 1331 Grand Ave. (858) 270-1640
Auto Repair
PB Foreign & Domestic Car Repair At PB Foreign & Domestic Car Repair you’ll feel you’ve left your car in the hands of some pretty knowledgeable folks. Not only has this shop been open since 1981, it’s family owned, which translates to a solid investment in the business’ credibility. The staff will get you rolling – after all, it’s a family tradition. PB Foreign & Domestic Car Repair 4570 Mission Bay Dr. (858) 480-3637 www.pbautorepair.com
Roger’s Auto Body Quick repair and honest estimates have kept Roger’s Auto Body in service and in reputable standings with Pacific Beach residents. No frills, no hassles; they get you in and get you out with excellent service and knowledgeable mechanics. Roger’s Auto Body 4837 Cass St. (858) 483-2432
Bank
Comerica Bank Rooted in Detroit and headquartered out of Dallas, the 160-year old Comeri-
ca Bank has established its footprint in southern California. Within the past nine years, the bank has set up 100 branches in the region, including seven branches that opened in San Diego in the past two years. Comerica Bank has operated on Garnet Avenue for the past two years and bank manager Val Paraiso said its strength is in its attention to small businesses. Paraiso said the bank attempts to be proactive by visiting businesses and residents at their location, as well as offering full services to its banking clients. As a bonus, Paraiso said there is never a long line for service. Comerica Bank 1802 Garnet Ave. (858) 274-4693 www.comerica.com
Home Bank of California Have you noticed how hard it is to squeeze a cashier’s check out of a teller these days? Either the bank doesn’t sell them or they cost the equivalent of a second mortgage. Home Bank of California goes against the grain in this respect. In fact, Home Bank goes the extra mile in most respects – and these days, with so much riding on every financial decision you make, it’s good to know PB has a friend like that in its corner. Home Bank of California 875 Garnet Ave. (858) 270-5881 www.homebankofcalifornia.com
Men's apparel
Raw Clothing (see entry under Best Place to Buy Jeans)
Children's apparel
Forget Me Not Forget Me Not sells specialty toys from Europe and wooden toys, as well as high-end resale clothing. The store aims to create a hub of children’s activity and will launch a reopening Sept. 19 to introduce music and arts classes. The candy store within is a bonus attraction
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for the tots. Owner Ingrid Kua donates 10 percent of her profits to her adopted son’s refugee camp in Liberia. The store has already set its footprint in PB with five years under its belt. Forget Me Not 5005 Cass St. (858) 272-5622
Women's apparel
Scenario Cindy Gappy opened Scenario, a boutique-size store with a lounge atmosphere, this past February across the street from her sister’s smoke shop, The Godfather. The store sells clothes that can be dressed up or down for a night on the town or a stroll to the neighborhood eatery. The clothes target women aged 15 to 60 and range in price from $30 to $100, and plenty of accessories are available to go either way. If all goes well, Gappy hopes to open another store downtown. Scenario 1135 Garnet Ave. (858) 274-4411 scenariopacificbeach.com
Raw Clothing (see entry under Best Place to Buy Jeans)
Best Place to Buy Jeans
Raw Clothing Raw opened its doors in the summer of 1992 in crazy ol’ Pacific Beach. The staff chose the beach so it can hang out there before and after work and sometimes during work. During the last 13 years, it’s had thousands of happy customers and only two unhappy ones. After SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo, Raw is the most popular tourist destination in all of San Diego (kidding). In any case, go check out the wide range of clothing and footwear—the peeps’ll treat you to a cappuccino from neighboring Zanzibar Café for your trouble. Raw Clothing 940 Garnet Ave. (858) 483-9111 www.rawclothing.com
P.B. Foreign & Domestic, Gold Medal for Auto Repair
Buffalo Exchange Buffalo Exchange works to protect the environment by reusing and recycling clothing. With all that activity, the inventory — including designer wear, vintage, jeans, leather and one-of-akind items — is ever-changing and plentiful. You’ll also find new merchandise and accessories to choose from. Buffalo Exchange offers great finds at low prices — here, recycling is always in style. Buffalo Exchange 1007 Garnet Ave. (858) 273-6227 www.buffaloexchange.com
Eyewear
Sunglass City Don’t tell us. Let us guess. You were just walking onto the beach when you realized you left your prize sunglasses on top of the microwave at home, along with your wallet. The folks at Sunglass City can’t do anything about
Full Menu 'Till 1am Nightly
the wallet part, but they can get you up and running otherwise. They’re an authorized dealer for Ray Ban and more than 20 other brands of eyewear. Now, if only you’d remembered your money... Sunglass City 1478 Garnet Ave. (858) 272-6401 www.pbsunglasses.com
Eye Glasses Galore Eye Glasses Galore sells a variety of sunglasses and eyeglasses to keep you seeing well, looking stylish and handling the bright, San Diego sun. Prices for the glasses range from $70 to $425. You can also find cords to keep your glasses around your neck, clip-on’s to swing between indoor and outdoor light and cases. Eye Glasses Galore 1772 Garnet Ave (858) 270-9320
Now Serving Breakfast! Saturday & Sunday 9am-2pm
Thanks for Voting Us Best Overall Restaurant Service Best Late Night Eatery & Favorite for Desserts! Have Lunch in the SUN!
Happy Hour in Lounge Areas Only Must Be 21 with Proper ID to Enter Upstairs Bar
809 Thomas Ave • Pacific Beach • 858.270.1730
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Swimsuits
Gone Bananas Beachwear This place has one up on the other beach clothing stores in the area. It takes its fashion cues right off the beach. It’s just off the boardwalk, after all, and it has everything you need for a day on the sand - cover-ups, bikinis, one-piece suits, sandals, beach bags and more. All this stuff comes in designer or more affordable models. And you’re so close to the beach that you don’t even have to take your purchase home first.
torso, and slimming styles. Sunsplash has it all! The store’s collection is continually being updated and changed with recent swimwear fashions to bring the latest trends and styles to you. Their swim wear specialists are trained to assist you in finding the perfect swimsuit to flatter your figure! Sunsplash Swimwear 979 Garnet Ave. (858) 581-3400 www.sunsplashswimwear.com
Pangaea Outpost (see Place with Unusual Gifts)
Sunsplash Swimwear
Forward Footwear
Shoe Store
Sunsplash Swimwear provides a full selection of international swimwear. The offerings include runway styles for juniors, gorgeous bikinis, contemporary one-pieces, stunning missy, fun mix & match, daring d-cup, lovely long
Forward Footwear 1061 Garnet Ave. (858) 490-0411 www.forward-footwear.com
Atomic Shoe Store and Trading Company
Jewelry Store
Gone Bananas Beachwear 3785 Mission Blvd. (858) 488-4900
Michael Antonio and NYLA, creating an awe-inspiring selection. The best part of the experience is the personalized customer service with shoes affordably priced.
This chic Pacific Beach boutique carries more than 200 styles of shoes and accessories by a variety of brand manufacturers like Steve Madden, Chinese Laundry, Jessica Simpson, Jeffrey Campbell, Restricted, Dollhouse,
Remember the scene from “The Shawshank Redemption” where inmate Andy Dufresne walked by a guard, undetained, in a pair of non-issue shoes? The folks at this venue wouldn’t let that happen to you – they know that you know that others notice your footwear, and that’s why they strive to carry every size and style imaginable. If they don’t have it, they’ll find it. It’s a cinch Dufresne would have come here if he’d been on parole. Atomic Trading Company and Shoe Store 1036 Garnet Ave. (858) 272-8822
Dry Cleaners
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Liz & David's Experience, quality, handwork, sensitivity and sterling service are hallmarks of our trade. Experts in tailoring, dry cleaning and bridal apparel specializing in alterations, custom designs, restyling new or vintage heirloom garments, beading and intricate embellishments. No requests too large or too small. All services are guaranteed by owner.
%
OFF Custom Frames Selected Styles and Mouldings through November 15th
Liz & David's 5011 Cass Street (858) 483-8604
Custom Framing up to 50% off Aaron Bros. and Michael’s Ready Made Frames • 4,000 Posters in Stock Tropical, Surf, Local Art • 50% OFF Greeting Cards
www.posteramerica.com 1439 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach
Cass St. Cleaners
858 272 7760
Thank you
Need a quick place to dry-clean your shirt or hem your pants? Cass St. Cleaners is the perfect location with store front parking and enough coffee shops on the block in case you decide to wait. The service is friendly and pro-
Beach & Bay Press readers
Cafe Athena Pacific Beach’s Best Greek Restaurant Outstanding Appetizer
for voting
fessional and the readers have made this spot a top choice.
tive” food items (like the strawberry balsamic vinegar you’re been looking for) and basics like bread, cereal, eggs, dairy, coffee and produce. The chain has nearly 300 stores, mostly in Southern California — but it’ll never grow too big for Pacific Beach.
Cass St. Cleaners 5010 Cass St. (858) 483-3911
Florist
Impulsive Flowers
Trader Joe’s 1211 Garnet Ave. (858) 272-7235 www.traderjoes.com
The Internet has changed business but flowers have not gone out of style – you can just order them through the Internet now. Impulsive Flowers sold outside Henry’s Market offer creative arrangements for the usual occasions – weddings and funerals and romantic surprises – but you can also choose from a traditional, contemporary or exotic look, or just skip the petals and go for the gourmet basket. Take time to stop by and smell the roses. The side store is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
Henry’s Farmers Market At first glance, Henry’s looks pretty much like any other store — but the similarity ends there. Your browsing will yield a different impression about the chain’s commitment to valueminded, health-conscious patronage, especially in the personal care department. Regular health-screening events complement the free tastings that frequently spring up. Henry’s has you covered.
Impulsive Flowers 1260 Garnet Ave. (858) 274-4333 www.impulsiveflowers.net
Henry’s Farmers Market 1260 Garnet Ave. (858) 270-8200 www.henrysmarkets.com
Flower Girls Flower Girls is all about spreading peace, love and flowers throughout the world and bringing a fresh, sleek approach to floral design. Its configurations incorporate the finest flowers available, and the gals are versed in the traditions of many cultures and can meet the needs involved in many types of celebrations. But the proof is in the petals – so come see and hear more at this cozy venue in the heart of PB.
Travel Agency
STA Travel STA Travel has never been known to turn down a client - but if you’re a student, it can find you some exceptional deals. Show proof of your status, and STA will issue you an International Student Identity Card, a vital tool in finding some of the world’s deepest travel discounts. These people know travel as much as they love it and can especially help with travel insurance, something you think you don’t need until it’s too late.
Flower Girls 4645 Cass St. (858) 273-0023 www.flowergirls.biz
STA Travel 953 Garnet Ave. (858) 270-6401 www.statravel.com
Grocery Store
Trader Joe’s By now, this place is a staple among PB’s grocery-shopping iconoclasts. Products include gourmet foods, organic foods, vegetarian foods, unusual frozen foods, imported foods, domestic and imported wine, “alterna-
Travel Store
Travlers Depot Travelers Depot is a wise place to stop before you travel to ensure you have
Thank you San Diego for voting us best – in the beach Most Romantic • Dinner • Steak • Wine Selection
LAMONT STREET G
R
I
L
L
Est. 1985
Casually Elegant Dining 4445 Lamont St., Pacific Beach Between Grand & Garnet (858) 270-3060 www.lamontstreetgrill.com
(858) 274-1140 Complementary 1846 Garnet Ave Pacific Beach in Pacific Plaza II (Next to Kinkos)
www.cafeAthena.com
Spanakopita with purchase of two entrees Limit one coupon per table. Not valid with any other offer. Expires 11-30-09
READERS CHOICE AWARDS 2009 everything for your journey. Travelers Depot sells luggage, travel books, maps, purses, handbags and backpacks. As you will have to rely more on your feet during your travels, Travelers Depot also stocks comfortable sandals and Keen shoes – a waterproof, nonslip, comfortable shoe for professionals and travelers alike with weary feet. Travlers Depot 1655 Garnet Ave. (858) 483-1421
Pet Hospital /Vet
Turquoise Animal Hospital Turquoise Animal Hospital understands the profound value you place on your pet, and it’s prepared to care for it accordingly. The state-of-the-art labs and surgical facilities are designed for expert work on dogs, cats and smaller pets – and the hospital goes just about everybody one better with its spaying and neutering service, puppy obedience classes and ID service, involving chip implantation for instant identification of your animal. Turquoise Animal Hospital 950 Turquoise St. (858) 488-0658 www.turquoiseanimalhospital.com
Cheshire Cat Clinic Cheshire Cat Clinic understands the value you place on Felix, and it’s prepared to care for it accordingly. Advances in life-changing surgery haven’t left grass-roots pet care out of the equation here. Cheshire Cat Clinic 1945 Garnet Ave., Ste. B (858) 483-1573
Hair Salon
Belli Belli Slang for beautiful, Belli Belli has glamorized its clients for five years with fullservice hair styling and treatments, skin care, eyelash and waxing services, massage and wedding and event preparations. Belli Belli describes itself as classically organic where the staff blends Cheers with Nordstrom in its approach: everyone knows your name and you’re always right. Choose between senior stylists with five years and more under their belts or regular stylists that charge less. Belli Belli 3461 Ingraham St. (858) 270-2288 www.bellibelli.com
Garage Salon Garage Salon exclusively uses Aveda products that are 30 percent organic with a flower and plant base and infused with essential oils. Kikki Irigoyen, 28, opened Garage Salon two-and-a-half years ago after seven years in the industry in Los Angeles. Irgoyen trained at the Aveda Institute in Minneapolis, where she graduated with the first 4.0 in three years. Garage Salon offers hair services – cuts, finishing color and highlighting, as well as facial services. Each guest receives a complementary neck and shoulder massage as well as an Aveda hand ritual. Garage Salon 4502 Cass St. (858) 490-0363 www.garagesalon.com
Day Spa
Renew Integrative Health Center Renew Integrative Health Center offers two floors of medical professionals that approach healthcare through a holistic lens. Practitioners range from doctors to chiropractors to acupuncturists and marriage therapists. For Reader’s Choice, Renew stood out for its day spa. Being healthy is sometimes also about cultivating health and the massage therapy and detox programs will help you find that path. Renew Integrative Health Center 2206 Balboa Ave. (858) 866-6688 renewhealthcenter.com
Catamaran (see entry under Hotel)
Senior Living Facility
Sunrise Assisted Living of La Jolla Sunrise Senior Living offers a variety of options for the elderly, and, at the location in north Pacific Beach, a charming space with patios and a lovely, large dining room and living room. The residence offers assisted living for those who need help with day-to-day tasks. The residence also focuses on giving care for residents with Alzheimer’s, as well as hospice care. The residence also offers short-term stays. Sunrise Assisted Living of La Jolla 810 Turquoise St. (858) 488-4300
Wesley Palms (silver medal) Wesley Palms 2404 Loring St. 858-274-4110 www.wesleypalms.org
Tanning Salon
Hollywood Tans Hollywood Tans is for hotties that travel. The tanning company has 300 locations nationwide so members can find a quick, clean tan at any sunny location they found themselves in. Fifteen tanning booths are offered at each location so no appointments are necessary. Hollywood Tans offers four options for achieving the sunny glow: a high pressure booth that only requires 2 to 3 vis-
its per month to maintain the desired shade; the eight minute tan requires 3 to 4 sessions; the 10-minute ten needs 4 to 5 visits; and the 11-minute option will provide a base tan in 5 to 6 sessions. UV-free tanning is also available through misters and moisturizers. Hollywood Tans 1321 Garnet Ave. (858) 490-0555 http://hollywoodtans.com
i-Tan The ‘i’ in i-TAN stands for “indoor” — exactly as you thought. In this case, “indoor” means inside any of the firm’s six levels of tanning beds. You should see the level-five bronzing bed, as it’s called. It looks like it’s ready for a trip to the sun. A few minutes inside this state-of-the-art machine, and you’ll look like you went with it. i-TAN also provides airbrush tanning, mystic tanning, body wraps, skin treatments and teeth whitening. i-TAN 1764 Garnet Ave. (858) 581-9060 www.itansandiego.com
Health Club
Fitness West Fitness West is a family-owned health club that has been in business since 1985. Fitness West offers eight different types of workout classes: boot camp cross training, yoga, group cycling, cardio kickboxing, body sculpting, aerobics/step, Pilates and High
Energy Athletic Training, which is 60 minutes of strength and cardio training. Upstairs offers a variety of exercise equipment from treadmills and stair climbers to rowing machines and free weights. Fitness West 1880 Garnet Ave. (858) 272-9378 www.fitnesswestpb.com
American Boxing MMA & Fitness Center American Boxing MMA & Fitness Center has kicked open the door to every age level, gender and ability to offer its students strength, agility, coordination and defense skills. Exercising at a gym will keep a person healthy; training at American Boxing will make a person fit. The studio teaches classes in Muay Thai Kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, mixed martial arts (MMA), personal training and cross fit classes. Cardio kickboxing will tone every muscle in the body. High school wrestlers can continue their training with submission wresting. The class size never exceeds 15 people so that students receive personal attention. American Boxing MMA & Fitness Center 2710 Garnet Ave., Suite 205 (858) 581-2694 www.americanboxing.net
Yoga Facility
East West Yoga & Health Center East West Yoga & Health Center pro-
THURSDAY AUGUST 20, 2009
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vides a wide selection of eastern traditions and western techniques to cultivate health of mind, body and spirit. The offerings include seven varieties of yoga practices: bliss, flow, Iyengar, True Balance Yoga, Yoga for a healthy back, prenatal yoga and Yoga therapy. Pilates and core challenge are also offered. Practitioners in acupuncture, massage and skin care are also available. The center also provides Feldenkrais lessons with Sanna Sammons, which is a hands-on technique that works with the skeletal structure to promote a more organized posture and sense of balance. The technique aims to help overworked muscles move with more efficiency and grace. East West Yoga & Health Center 1356 Garnet Ave. (858) 334-4313 www.eastwestyoga.com
PB Yoga and Healing Arts PB Yoga and Healing Arts offers six styles of yoga, including Svaroopa yoga, Svaroopa yoga for seniors, Vinyasa flow, Anusara yoga, postural yoga and yin yang yoga. Svaroopa uses poses to help open the deepest layers of muscle tension. Ansusara is a heartoriented and alignment-based practice to help its practitioners to see the good in all things. Postural yoga aims to correct disparities in the musculo-skeletal system, beneficial for people who use computers frequently or suffer with chronic pain. Six therapists also call PB Yoga home with expertise in massage,
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herbs, acupressure, Feng Shui and holistic health.
services to needy people in developing countries.
Nails
Pacific Beach Dentistry
Mingle Nail Salon
PB Yoga and Healing Arts 961 Turquoise St. (858) 488-7774 www.pbyogaandhealingarts.com
Optometrist/ Ophthalmologist Dr. Deborah Prince 1890 Garnet Ave. (858) 274-3777
Printer
Shipping/Packaging
This is a full-service nail, waxing and skin-care salon, and it runs on a wide variety of services. The professional techs are ready to give you the best possible service available and to create a vibrant social atmosphere and place you in a blissful state. Bikini waxing, nail design, even nail removal: Not much you can’t find here, with the possible exception of bikinis.
96 Hornblend Street (858) 273-7900 www.pbdentistry.com
North Shores Printery No job is too small for the North Shores Printery that has served the community since 1980. North Shores Printery offers services in off-set and digital printing, finishing, full capability binding, drilling and folding. A graphic designer can create logos or identity packages for customers. Jay Brewer and Jeremy Sessions manage the store. North Shores Printery 926 Turquoise St. (858) 488-4871 www.northshoresprintery.net
PB Printing / SDprint.com PB Printing cares for the environment by using soy based inks, Green Seal Certified paper and through its recycling programs. PB Printing 853 Hornblend St. (858) 273-8335
Optometrist / Ophthalmologist
Dr. Deborah Prince Before opening her ophthalmology office in Pacific Beach in 2006, Dr. Prince served on active duty in the US Navy, and was the recipient of the Armed Forces’ Optometrist of the Year in 1999. Dr. Prince is a graduate of Washington and Jefferson College and the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Dr. Prince offers a novel alternative to Lasik surgery or glasses: corneal reshaping. The patient wears a rigid contact lens while sleeping to help reshape the cornea – similar to wearing an orthodontic device to reshape teeth. Dr. Prince also volunteers regularly with Vision Health International, an organization that brings vision care
UPS Store What can brown do for you? At this location across from Broken Yolk, brown can take care of any printing and copying needs, ship a package, and even issue a mailbox with a real street address. Feeling anxious about an upcoming move? The UPS Store also provides supplies, packing help and freight services. UPS Store 1804 Garnet Ave. (858) 237-6661
Surf & Post Surf & Post is your one-stop shop for personal mailboxes, Fed Ex and UPS Shipping, packaging services, blackand-white and color copies, faxes, and Notary services. Surf & Post also offers short-term storage, as well as loan signing services. Located across from the Post Office in Pacific Beach, it’s a far quicker way to send anything. Open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Ask for Steve!
Mingle Nail Salon 955 Garnet Ave. (858) 273-5928 www.minglenailsalon.com
Angelic Nails & Spa Angelic Nails & Spa keeps those in the North PB area looking right from head to toe. It’s has been on Turquoise Street for a couple of years and offers nail salon and day spa services. Angelic Nails & Spa 841 Turquoise St. (858) 488-0756
Dentist
San Diego Dental Arts
My Health Mart is run by pharmacist Mark DeWoskin who aims for his store to offer a relic of the past: a mom-andpop pharmacy where the pharmacist knows your name and cares about you personally – not the bottom line mentality of the corporate chains. The store is dedicated to the communities of Pacific Beach and La Jolla, which it has served for the past 40 years.
Dr. John Maroon and his wife Dr. Manijeh Maroon have run the Pacific Beach branch of San Diego Dental Arts for one year, and operate two branches in Chula Vista. Dr. John Maroon has a fellowship from the International Congress of Oral Implantology, and is a member of four different associations for oral treatment, including the International Association for Orthodontics. In his spare time, Dr. Maroon is a painter and sculptor. Dr. Manijeh Maroon attended Loma Linda University where she received the prestigious award for Excellence in Clinical Achievement. Dr. Manijeh Maroon was a clinical instructor at Loma Linda University and held a staff position at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage.
My Health Mart 1015 Turquoise St. (858) 274-6762 http://myhealthmartpharmacy.com
San Diego Dental Arts 2168 Balboa Ave. (858) 273-2800 www.sandiegodentalarts.com
Surf & Post 4629 Cass St. (858) 272-8656 www.surfandpost.com
Pharmacy
My Health Mart
Electrician
Beach Electrical Service Just because you can’t see electricity doesn’t mean it’s not there (if you don’t believe us, ask Benjamin Franklin). Messing with the unknown is never as simple as it looks, and that’s where Beach Electrical Service comes in. Underscore “Service” here – Beach Electrical can recommend exactly the right utilities for your home wiring or other electrical project. Heck, it can even contract it for you if you’re unsure about what to do next. Don’t be foolhardy, like Ben. Let a professional step in, before you get the shock of your life. Beach Electrical Service 1777 Missouri St. (858) 488-3962
Contractor / Construction
Armstrong Construction Inc. President of Armstrong Construction, Tom Armstrong began at the base level at the age of 15 as a laborer, carpenter, framer and layout worker. He worked his way up from there – two years later he was specializing in stairway construction and then building roofs. A couple more years later he supervised construction phases, and soon, Tom went solo in the designing and remodeling business. Tom’s goal is to make the community a beautiful place to live and his handicraft – mostly two or three bedroom town homes – can be viewed on his website. In his work, he aims to capture as much sunlight and ocean view as possible. Armstrong Construction Inc. 755 Turquoise St. (858) 488-3465 www.armstrongbuilt.com
Bicycle Shop
Pacific Coast Bicycle The logo for Pacific Coast Bicycle says
it all: a stick drawing of a bicycle in the shape of a Harley Davidson – high handles and a low ride. This bicycle shop is in the know about the latest BMX and cruiser trends, and offers either a cruiser ready to roll, a custommade bike or modifications to your old baby. If you don’t have wheels to ride by the shop, check out some BMX choices online that include the Redline, Free Agent, SE Bikes and Mongoose selection. Pacific Coast Bicycle 1637 Garnet Ave. (858) 581-2453 www.pacificcoastbicycle.com
Rusty Spokes For a smooth riding beach cruiser or to equip your wheels with a kickstand that resembles a double barrel shotgun, check out Rusty Spokes bike shop at 1344 Garnet Ave. Shop owner and bicycle scientist David Morrow seems to turn out fresh inventions on a regular basis, like his recently patented softcruise line of beach cruisers. Superior customer service also sets this shop apart. You can stop in for a quick chain repair or to pump your tires for no or small fee. Rusty Spokes 1344 Garnet Ave. www.rusty-spokes.com (858) 581-1931
Scooter / Motorcycle
Pacific Beach Scooters Pacific Beach Scooters offers customers scooters perfect for a cruise – you can drink a cold one and ride up to 30 miles without refueling – or ready for a cross-country trip: TBG scooters are coast-to-coast certified although it may take a while to drive across. Customers can also choose the electric bikes that run at 20-30 miles per hour with a battery life of 20 miles that can be plugged into a wall socket to recharge. The nice thing about electric bikes, said coowner Christina Delaney, is that if you run out of power, you can always pedal
THURSDAY
READERS CHOICE AWARDS 2009 the bike! Delaney runs the store with Ruston Youngblood and Tim Foley. Pacific Beach Scooters bought out PB Cycles and West Coast Scooter and Cycle to consolidate the businesses into Pacific Beach Scooters this past June. Most warranties on the scooters last a year or more, and the shop handles the repairs. Pacific Beach Scooters 2280 Garnet Ave. (858) 272-3717 westcoastscooterandcycle.com
San Diego Scooter Need to get somewhere quick, find parking fast and save gas? Check out San Diego Scooter for their range of motorized vehicles. You’ll feel like you’ve taken a trip to Europe – and like you might just be helping the earth with your new wheels. San Diego Scooter 1880 Grand Ave. (858) 829-2316
Smog check
Smog Express Smog Express offers standard smog inspections for new owners of an old car, as well as gross polluters certifications, without the need to make an appointment. Smog Express is the oldest test-only station in Pacific Beach. Check out the website for a $10 coupon. Smog Express 4435 Ingraham St. (858) 270-0361 http://smogexpress.net
Fast oil change
Firestone Complete Auto Care Firestone Complete Auto Care won the award for the fastest oil change. The award speaks for itself and patrons will have to try out the service to see the results for themselves. Firestone Complete Auto Care 1245 Garnet Ave. (858) 272-9232
Evans Tires Evans Tires sells and replaces tires, but also works on any other vehicle-related problem. Visit Evans if you need your oil changed, your wheels realigned, your brakes checked, new shocks or struts, a transmission flush, and so on. Evans Tires has 75 branches across California and opened on Garnet Avenue in 2006. Ask for general manager Larry Annear. Evans Tires 1530 Garnet Ave. (858) 270-7631
Pet store
Noah’s Natural Pet Market We’re not just talkin’ any pet. We’re talkin’ yours. Noah’s Ark understands that and has schooled itself accordingly. It prides itself on its product knowledge and its friendly, helpful approach to pet care. Healthful food is the shop’s stock in trade – “green” products and a new line of nutrition-based goods for dogs and cats are set for sale soon. You figure in the equation too; an enewsletter is on the horizon. Noah’s Natural Pet Market 4431 Cass St. (858) 270-8161 www.noahsnaturalpetmarket.com
Resale shop
Cream of the Crop Whereas Buffalo Exchange has several excellent stores along the West Coast, Cream of the Crop is family run and has found its success by playing things close to the vest. In fact, vests are probably as likely found here as anywhere else, and at prices that don’t include overhead costs. There’s also a dog on the premises, but he’s not for sale. Cream of The Crop Boutique 4683 Cass St. (858) 272-6601
The Buff The Buff is the place to go for resale
and costumes all year round. Whether you’re looking for a complete outfit or just a mask or wig or very long eyelashes, you’ll find it at the Buff. The store also caters to all income levels – from handmade leather masks or fancy Venetian masks to $13 accessories. And The Buff has all the eras covered – from the ’60s to the ’80s. Currently, the store is selling costumes for The Burning Man, but Halloween is right around the corner. The Buff is a longtime staple of Pacific Beach with 20 years under its belt. The Buff 1341 Garnet Ave. (858) 581-2833 www.thebuffcostumes.com
Surf Shop
Surf Club Surf Shop We're stoked to win the Best Surf Shop Award for Pacific Beach. We were voted by you guys, so we must be doing something right! 29 years of business has been great, we love what we do and the town we do it in. We've made it a point to personalize our service so we can get to know our customer. Jasmin Nelson and our staff has had a great eye on styles and products we know that you'll like. From beachware, to surf supplies, we've got what you need to have fun at the beach. Thanks again for your loyalty - JK (Jeff Kinney) Surf Club Surf Shop 952 Garnet Ave Pacific Beach, SD, CA 92109 858-483-4854 www.surfclubsurfshop.com
Pacific Beach Surf Shop Selection is everything at Pacific Beach Surf Shop — so don’t let terms like “thruster,” “egg,” “funshape” and “:long board” throw you during your visit. It’s just the staff up to its old tricks, talking the same shop that’s made this place a hit in PB for the last 45 years. The big pick of wetsuits, footwear, sun products, beach accessories and optics also ensure that the shop is your new best friend for all things surfing. Pacific Beach Surf Shop 4150 Mission Blvd., Suite 161 (858) 373-1138 www.pacificbeachsurfshop.com
Skate Shop
Soulgrind The part of a skateboard on which the user stands is called the truck. You’d have known that if you’d spent any time at all at Soulgrind, your choice as Pacific Beach’s best skate shop. Skateboards by Gravity, Sector Nine and other famous makers abound here — and the skateboarding lessons themselves may be the most important in Soulgrind’s slate of services. Wouldn’t want any trucks careening out of control on the open road, now. Soulgrind 4627 Mission Blvd. (858) 581-2468 www.soulgrind.com
Tattoo / Piercing
Guru Tattoo Want to casually meet the staff of Guru Tattoo all at once and learn everything about them – their height, age, years in the tattoo business and view some photos of their work? Visit gurutattoo.com to see caricature mug shots and autobiographies of the motley crew. Patrons can also purchase the artists’ work printed on t-shirts, on canvas or on skate decks. A picture is worth a thousand words, so check out the website for the full story.
school. Leo Cadenazzi specializes in traditional Japanese tattoos, a style he appreciates for its distinct, nonabstract form that portrays images of nature, warriors, religion, people and gods. Cadenazzi, a transplant Brazilian who practices Buddhism and has lived in PB for the past 11 years, believes the Japanese artwork works well with the body. Funhouse Tattoo 1837 Garnet Ave. (858) 483-7828 www.funhousetattoosd.com/pb myspace.com/coretattoo
Gardening / Nursery
Green Gardens Nursery Green Gardens Nursery is the neighborhood stop for a wide choice of plants, organic and non-organic fertilizers, imported pottery, specialty fountains and garden décor. A garden in its own right, the Backus family has run the nursery on Cass Street for the past 30 years. President Paul Backus offers a complimentary rose consultation to help buyers choose the perfect site for their thorny plant, prepare the soil, set up irrigation and mulching and so forth. Green Gardens Landscape & Design, a landscape design company that serves residents and businesses, is also run through the nursery. Green Gardens Nursery 747 Turquoise St. (858) 483-8803 www.sdgreengardens.com
Pacific Beach Gardens Pacific Beach Gardens has been in business for 50 years. Leny Olson’s grandfather and grandmother took over the business nearly 40 years ago. Many may remember Olson’s grandfather Lane DeBoer. Pacific Beach Gardens offers a large variety of plants (colorful plants like salvia, marigold and Echinacea are most popular right now), succulents, herbs and vegetables. With a heritage in the gardening business, Olson can provide consultation on landscaping and irrigation, as well as make referrals to gardeners, sprayers and tree trimmers with decades of experience in the industry. While the store doesn’t sell furniture onsite, it can order pieces through a catalogue for home delivery at a wholesale price. Pacific Beach Gardens 910 Turquoise St. (858) 488-0614
Pool Care
Pacific Paradise Brian Costelloe has splashed color onto the tiny cottage that houses Pacific Paradise Pools & Spa on the corner of Cass and Wilbur streets, and transformed a dirt lot into a decorative garden to market his pool, spa and landscaping products. Costelloe bought the retail store – formerly known as La Jolla Pools for 40 years – this past October. Within the year Costelloe plans to expand his business to installing ponds. Costelloe, 50, started a pool servicing business six years ago in Serrano Valley – following a career managing restaurants – that has expanded from maintaining 30 pools to 240 pools.
Guru Tattoo 1122 Garnet Ave. (858) 270-1070 www.gurutattoo.com
Funhouse Tattoo Patrons don’t pick a tattoo off the walls at Funhouse Tattoo; the artists custom design tattoos for each client. Established in 2000, Funhouse Tattoo offers a variety of styles from the detailed, flowing work of Japanese art to the abstract, organic forms of biomechanical to the vibrant, bold designs of new
Soul Grind – Gold Medal best Skate Shop
AUGUST 20, 2009
Beach & Bay Press
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Turquoise Animal Hospital wants to thank everyone for voting us
“Best Pet Hospital” in Pacific Beach
Treating Cats, Dogs & Exotics 950 Turquoise St. (858) 488-0658 2009 Reader’s Choice Winner “Thank you for making us a success in our first year”
Life Force Health Chiropractic Wellness Care for the Entire Family
DR. PETER SEGUNOT, D.C.
Save the Date: 09/18/09 For Our 1st Anniversary Party
Specializing in: Feet, Knees, Shoulders, Hands
$99.00
Special
$250.00 Value
Includes: Initial Consultation Exam, Nerve Scan & X-Rays. Expires 10/31/09
LAURA WHITE
Licensed Massage Therapist
$50.00
Special
$80.00 Value
Includes: 1 Hour Massage • 1st Time Clients Only. Expires 10/31/09
1707 Grand Ave. (at Jewel) 858-273-6700 seguinotwellness.com
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THURSDAY AUGUST 20, 2009
Beach & Bay Press
R EADERS C HOICE AWARDS 2009 Thank You for Honoring Us
Best Contractor / Construction “I love being an integral part of the community, doing what I do best to make our community a more beautiful place to live.” – Tom Armstrong
Armstrong designs and builds exceptional homes. We create additions that blend beautifully with the original homes and construct kitchens that fit your lifestyle and baths that fulfill your dreams.
• Custom Homes • Home Remodels and Additions • Kitchens and Baths
We develope custom, multifamily and commercial projects, each with a unique Armstrong Construction signature style. We know how to get the most out of a property and focus on the things that make living comfortable, that capture as much view and sunlight as possible, working well with our clients in describing our ideas visually.
• Insurance Restorations
We take everything into account – the purpose or function of the remodel or addition, the location of it, what our client likes and how our client lives.
755 Turquoise Street Pacific Beach • 92109 858-488-3465 armstrongbuilt.com
One of San Diego’s Top Builders Since 1980
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HOME BANK OF CALIFORNIA
Please call HOME or visit us for investment opportunities,financial services and your credit needs
875 Garnet Avenue, 858.270.5881
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Cafe Athena
“The closest thing to Santorini is here in San Diego…” Zagat Survey. Cafe Athena specializes in the art of Greek and Eastern Mediterranean food with excellent service.
1846 Garnet Ave. (Pacific Plaza II), 858.274.1140
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Filippi’s Pizza Grotto
Congratulations 2009 Reader’s Choice Winners
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Smoke Zone
BUY LOTTO HERE
ANY MARLBORO CARTON $39.99
Free CIGAR CUTTER with Any CIGAR Purchase
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2015 Garnet Ave. #104, 858.483.3745
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PB Foreign & Domestic Car Repair Serving PB since 1981. All work guaranteed, 6 months or 6,000 miles, all makes and models. Check our coupon at pbforeign.com, visit
George & Arron at 1727 Garnet Ave., 858.270.1142
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710 Beach Club 710bc.com
AWESOME FOOD - FULL BAR - SPORTS All packages including UFC • LIVE ENTERTAINMENT•PRIVATE PARTIES PUB CRAW•FOOD & BEER TO-GO
PB Ale House
13 Home of the infamous "Border Bastard" Join us for Happy Hour from 4-7 7 days a week. All New England Patriots, & Boston Red Sox Games NFL Sunday Ticket & Free pool all day sunday. Brand new food menu served from open to close!
2263 Garnet Ave., 858.273.9181
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25% OFF Second Pair of Sunglasses of Equal or Lesser Value
$1.00 MOVES YOU IN! CALL FOR DETAILS.
sdstorage.com- 4595 Mission Bay Drive, 858-273-1717
FREE FAX Fax 1 Page Get 1 FREE
1772 Garnet Ave., 858.459.2020
50% OFF
Any Style Cardboard Box
1804 Garnet Ave., 858.273.6661
United Cerebral Palsy Thift Store
Clear out your old items you no longer need and bring them to the UPC Thrift Store in PB!
SD Storage
Convenient, secure storage right here in PB! Open 6am-6pm Mon-Sun. Variety of sizes to suit your needs.
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Eye Glasses Galore
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La Jolla Auto Body
20% OFF
“Since 1968” Scotty - Paulette - Kenny – Jose Specials: $25.00 Off your next auto “Detail”, 10% Discount on your total “labor” costs on any estimate.
Excluding Red Ticket Items. Cannot be Combined with Other Discounts or Offers.
1454 Garnet Ave., 858.490.6400
710 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach • 858.483.7844
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Eyeglass repairs, prescription and designer sunglasses, sunglass replacements, contact lenses and unique sunglass accessories available.
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Thursday nights are now home to an exciting new event in northern Pacific Beach. Numerous North PB bars and restaurants will be offering discounts and specials on Thursday nights, while retail shops keep their doors open longer with exclusive after-hours specials. San Diego, meet the city's new Thursday night hot spot, North PB all along Turquoise and Cass St.
The best cigar and cigarette prices in PB. Our "Walk in humidor" preserves all our premium cigars .
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North PB Nights, Thursdays 5 pm to 9pm
962 Garnet Ave.(corner of Cass & Garnet), 858.483.6222
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Voted Best in the Beach!
Open for lunch and dinner. Quality Italian food in Pacific Beach for over 40 years!
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4620 Mission Bay Dr., 858.270-6821
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Weight Watchers
PB Ale House is a great new restaurant and bar in Pacific Beach. Located at the end of Grand Avenue, close to the boardwalk. The restaurant is stylish and comfortable and includes a rooftop deck with ocean views.
PB’s ONLY CrossFit Training Center! Located inside American Boxing MMA & Fitness @ 2710 Garnet Ave. inside PB Gateway Center across from Weinerschnitzel near the I-5 Freeway
45 Minutes A Week Can Change Your Life! Pacific Beach Weight Watchers is now open. Join now and to receive FREE REGISTRATION. Meetings Friday 9 am
721 Grand Ave., 858.581.BEER (2337) www.pbalehouse.com
www.crossfitpacificbeach.com
1675 Garnet Ave. San Diego CA 92109 1.800.379.5757
858-581-2694