Wolfie’s Carousel Bar
Pan Roasted Local Halibut with wild mushrooms, green garlic puree, spring vegetables, and shaved radish at Nine-Ten
Cafe Gratitude
Yellowtail in Israeli sauce at Callie
Zucchini taco at City Tacos
Sticky buns at Cardellino
Animae
Et Voila
Beef tartare at Kingfisher
Raised by Wolves
Ube pandesal at White Rice
Carruth Cellars
Madison
Herb & Wood
Mr. Birria
Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub
Wolfie’s Carousel Bar
Overall | Specific Cuisines | Specific Dishes | Ambience | Drinks
Ever walk into a restaurant or bar and get that feeling that it’s exactly the place you need at that exact moment in time? That’s how I feel when I look at the cover of this year’s “Best Restaurants” issue. We’ve tempered our joy for a while now. But nothing is tepid or restrained about Wolfie’s Carousel Bar. Nothing is cautious about a slowly turning carousel that includes a fully stocked bar and ice cubes engraved with pole ponies. It makes me want to stay awhile in the awe of a room that’s actively trying to enchant me; to curate a light buzz, cavort with strangers, loosen the propers.
The comeback has not been swift. Starts and stops. It sometimes feels as if we’re rebuilding Maslow’s pyramid of human needs. And now we’re at the third level: love and belonging. Core to that is connecting, being part of a group, forming relationships. Humanity doesn’t peak without its gatherings.
And—all deference to places of worship and sports teams—restaurants and bars are the gravitational force that pulls us together on the day-to-day. I’ve been naming San Diego Magazine’s critic’s picks for 13 years now, and this year they lean to the spaces that facilitate the gatherings. For “Best Restaurant: Fancy,” Callie chef Travis Swikard has built a beachhead for San Diego farmers and ranchers, fishers, foragers, and foodmakers. I believe the San Diego native and former right-hand of legendary French chef Daniel Boulud will have the city’s next Michelin star. For “Best of the Best: Casual,” it’s hard to explain how much Monarch transformed Del Mar.
Ube pandesal at White Rice
They took one of San Diego’s most prized and frustrating spaces (the location is dreamy, the original design a nightmare) and blew it wide open. I’m not sure they possess a single wall or window. And now it’s a teeming epicenter, a whole community reforming on its rooftop.
In North Park, a vital gathering spot has regained footing at Awash—where the strong Ethiopian community near El Cajon Boulevard can get berbere and injera and other hard-to-find ingredients for cooking the country’s famed dishes. My “Best New Restaurant,” Matsu, is what happens when a chef puts his life savings into honoring his lifelong fascination with Japanese cuisine and culture.
There are a couple hundred ways San Diego shines in this list. A city without Cross Street’s fried chicken sandwich is no place to raise a child. A city without Menya Ultra’s ramen slurps with less vigor and joy in its heart. A city without White Rice’s ube pandesal is less delicious and less purple.
As I always say, this list isn’t about dominating or apexing. For my part, I’m merely pointing at places that really captured me this year. We cover food and drink culture extensively every day at digital SDM. Every day, we poke our heads into new kitchens. But this issue, especially, lets us spend a couple months making restaurants and bars the absolute center of our universe. I urge you to make your own list. Go gather.
Yellowtail in Israeli sauce at Callie
Critic’s Pick: Callie
Readers’ Pick: Callie
Runner-Up: Animae
Critic’s Pick: Monarch Ocean Pub
Readers’ Pick: The Kebab Shop
Runner-Up: Cori Pastificio
Critic’s Pick: Matsu
Readers’ Pick: Wormwood
Runner-Up: Seneca Trattoria
Critic’s Pick: Travis Swikard
Readers’ Pick: Travis Swikard
Runner-Up: Brad Wise
Critic’s Pick: Solare
Readers’ Pick: Solare
Runner-Up: Animae
Pan Roasted Local Halibut with wild mushrooms, green garlic puree, spring vegetables, and shaved radish at Nine-Ten
Critic’s Pick: Addison
Readers’ Pick: (TIE) Vaga & Nine-Ten
Runner-Up: A.R. Valentien
Critic’s Pick: Indulge
Readers’ Pick: The Wild Thyme
Runner-Up: Bekker’s Catering
Critic’s Pick: Deckman’s
Readers’ Pick: Oryx Capital
Runner-Up: Deckman’s
Critic’s Pick: City Tacos
Readers’ Pick: The Kebab Shop
Runner-Up: The Taco Stand
Cafe Gratitude
Critic’s Pick: Café Gratitude
Readers’ Pick: Parakeet Café
Runner-Up: Pacifica Del Mar
Critic’s Pick: Kindred
Readers’ Pick: The Plot
Runner-Up: Kindred
Critic’s Pick: Maya’s Cookies
Readers’ Pick: Casa Ocho
Runner-Up: Milonga Empanadas
Critic’s Pick: Provisional Kitchen
Readers’ Pick: Sunny Side Kitchen
Runner-Up: Parakeet Café
Sticky buns at Cardellino
Critic’s Pick: Morning Glory
Readers’ Pick: Cardellino
Runner-Up: Morning Glory
Critic’s Pick: Wayfarer
Readers’ Pick: Izola
Runner-Up: Le Parfait Paris
Critic’s Pick Serea
Readers’ Pick: Pacifica Del Mar
Runner-Up: Ironside
Critic’s Pick: Rare Society
Readers’ Pick: Rare Society
Runner-Up: Cowboy Star
Critic’s Pick: Le Parfait Paris
Readers’ Pick: Le Parfait Paris
Runner-Up: Extraordinary Desserts
Critic’s Pick: Grand Ole BBQ
Readers’ Pick: Grand Ole BBQ
Runner-Up: Phil’s BBQ
Animae
Critic’s Pick: Animae
Readers’ Pick: Animae
Runner-Up: Glass Box
Critic’s Pick: Caribbean Taste
Readers’ Pick: Miss B’s Coconut Club
Runner-Up: Island Spice
Critic’s Pick: Dumpling Inn & Shanghai Saloon
Readers’ Pick: Zen Modern Asian Bistro
Runner-Up: Dumpling Inn & Shanghai Saloon
Critic’s Pick: Awash
Readers’ Pick: Muzita Abyssinian Bistro
Runner-Up: Awash
Critic’s Pick: White Rice
Readers’ Pick: White Rice
Runner-Up: Starfish
Et Voila
Critic’s Pick: Jeune et Jolie
Readers’ Pick: Et Voilà
Runner-Up: Parc Bistro-Brasserie
Critic’s Pick: Mezé
Readers’ Pick: Olympic Cafe
Runner-Up: Mezé
Critic’s Pick: Himalayan Cuisine
Readers’ Pick: Himalayan Cuisine
Runner-Up: Taste of the Himalayas
Critic’s Pick: Catania
Readers’ Pick: Solare
Runner-Up: Amalfi Cucina Italiana
Critic’s Pick: Matsu
Readers’ Pick: Soichi
Runner-Up: Matsu
Critic’s Pick: Woomiok
Readers’ Pick: Chiko
Runner-Up: Manna Heaven BBQ
Critic’s Pick: Callie
Readers’ Pick: Callie
Runner-Up: Aladdin
Critic’s Pick: Valle
Readers’ Pick: Puesto
Runner-Up: Romesco Mexiterranean Bistro
Critic’s Pick: Tahini
Readers’ Pick: Shawarma Guys
Runner-Up: Sahara Taste of the Middle East
Critic’s Pick: Panca
Readers’ Pick: Panca
Runner-Up: Q’ero
Critic’s Pick: Flying Pig
Readers’ Pick: Bud’s Louisiana Café
Runner-Up: Louisiana Purchase
Critic’s Pick: Cafe Sevilla
Readers’ Pick: Cafe Sevilla
Runner-Up: Costa Brava
Critic’s Pick: The Original Sab-E-Lee
Readers’ Pick: Bahn Thai
Runner-Up: Supannee House of Thai
Beef tartare at Kingfisher
Critic’s Pick: Kingfisher
Readers’ Pick: Shank & Bône
Runner-Up: Kingfisher
Critic’s Pick: Devil’s Dozen
Readers’ Pick: Broad Street Dough
Runner-Up: Devil’s Dozen
Critic’s Pick: An’s Dry Cleaning
Readers’ Pick: Wynston’s
Runner-Up: Stella Jean’s
Critic’s Pick: Shank & Bône
Readers’ Pick: OB Noodle House
Runner-Up: Phuong Trang
Critic’s Pick: Menya Ultra
Readers’ Pick: Menya Ultra
Runner-Up: Tajima
Critic’s Pick: OB Noodle House
Readers’ Pick: Dirty Birds
Runner-Up: Epic Wings
Critic’s Pick: Cross Street
Readers’ Pick: The Crack Shack
Runner-Up: Popeye’s
Critic’s Pick: The Taco Stand
Readers’ Pick: The Taco Stand
Runner-Up: Lolita’s
Critic’s Pick: La Puerta
Readers’ Pick: La Puerta
Runner-Up: Miguel’s Cocina
Mr. Birria
Critic’s Pick: Cocina de Barrio
Readers’ Pick: Tuétano Taquería
Runner-Up: Mr. Birria
Critic’s Pick: Ali’s Chicken & Waffles
Readers’ Pick: The Kebab Shop
Runner-Up: Barrio Dogg
Critic’s Pick: It’s Raw
Readers’ Pick: PB Poke House
Runner-Up: Poki One N Half
Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub
Critic’s Pick: Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub
Readers’ Pick: Sushi Ota
Runner-Up: Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub
Critic’s Pick: Lola 55
Readers’ Pick: Pacifica Del Mar
Runner-Up: Rubio’s
Zucchini taco at City Tacos
Critic’s Pick: Puesto
Readers’ Pick: Puesto
Runner-Up: City Tacos
Critic’s Pick: The Wise Ox
Readers’ Pick: RoVino the Foodery
Runner-Up: The Wise Ox
Critic’s Pick: Buona Forchetta
Readers’ Pick: Amalfi
Runner-Up: Sisters
Critic’s Pick: Starlite
Readers’ Pick: The Friendly
Runner-Up: Rocky’s Crown Pub
Madison
Critic’s Pick: Wolfie’s Carousel Bar
Readers’ Pick: Madison
Runner-Up: Animae
Critic’s Pick: Little Lion Café
Readers’ Pick: Madison
Runner-Up: Understory
Critic’s Pick: The Grill at The Lodge at Torrey Pines
Readers’ Pick: Gravity Heights
Runner-Up: Trattoria Don Pietro
Critic’s Pick: The Dog Society
Readers’ Pick: Pacifica Breeze Café
Runner-Up: Sisters Pizza
Critic’s Pick: Corvette Diner
Readers’ Pick: Corvette Diner
Runner-Up: Flap Your Jacks
Herb & Wood
Critic’s Pick: Herb & Wood
Readers’ Pick: Herb & Wood
Runner-Up: Little Italy Food Hall
Critic’s Pick: Grand Ole BBQ
Readers’ Pick: Barrio Dogg
Runner-Up: Puesto
Critic’s Pick: Vaga
Readers’ Pick: Coasterra
Runner-Up: George’s at the Cove
Critic’s Pick: Mister A’s
Readers’ Pick: Mister A’s
Runner-Up: The Nolen
Critic’s Pick: The Leucadian Bar
Readers’ Pick: Waterfront
Runner-Up: Aero Club
Critic’s Pick: Hash House A Go Go
Readers’ Pick: Great Maple
Runner-Up: Miss B’s Coconut Club
Critic’s Pick: Cantina Mayahuel
Readers’ Pick: Casa de Pico
Runner-Up: Cantina Mayahuel
Critic’s Pick: The Rose
Readers’ Pick: Gianni Buonomo
Runner-Up: Charlie & Echo
Critic’s Pick: Stone Brewing Liberty Station
Readers’ Pick: Gravity Heights
Runner-Up: Stone Brewing
Readers’ Pick: Bivouac Ciderworks
Critic’s Pick: Cafe Virtuoso
Readers’ Pick: Por Vida Café & Galería
Runner-Up: Heartwork Coffee
Raised by Wolves
Critic’s Pick: Raised by Wolves
Readers’ Pick: Understory
Runner-Up: Polite Provisions
Critic’s Pick: Skrewball
Readers’ Pick: Pacific Coast Spirits
Runner-Up: You & Yours
Critic’s Pick: Mujeres Brew House
Readers’ Pick: Hopnonymous
Runner-Up: AleSmith
Critic’s Pick: Embolden
Readers’ Pick: South O
Runner-Up: Rouleur
Carruth Cellars
Critic’s Pick: Carruth Cellars
Readers’ Pick: Gianni Buonomo
Runner-Up: Charlie & Echo
Critic’s Pick: Solare
Readers’ Pick: Solare
Runner-Up: Cafe Sevilla
Critic’s Pick: Parakeet Juicery
Readers’ Pick: Parakeet Juicery
Runner-Up: Choice Juicery
*Bivouac won the readers’ poll for Best Brewpub… but they’re a cidery. So we’re giving them a shout-out with their own category.
