Elizabeth B.'s Profile

Yay!  Oceanside has an upscale restaurant!  The room is cosy and elegant with sunset pier views from what seems to be every table.  The service is superb-  hosts & wait staff are eager to be accommodating!
The food is good. The calamari starter was the best- perfectly prepared and the sauce is ultra yum., spicy & flavorful.  The entres & sides are good, though I do not recommend the gouda mac and cheese, that was very disappointing. they had a good wine selection.  The baked Alaska was nice.  
I am so happy that Oceanside has a good restaurant to show off it's beach & pier and the glorious sunsets.
Though we weren't wowed by the food, I will return because the staff, the room  the atmosphere was wonderful!
Next time we will try the experience of their their vodka bar!

Hurray for Hensley's!
Live music all the time, no cover. Pool tables & darts.
Yummy food- burgers, French Dip, salads & I LOVE their shoestring potatoes. The staff is attentive & friendly.
The new decor is great.

Of course you are going to Ruth's Chris for the star of their show the beef  entrees  
Great big, melt in your mouth hunks of meat in a puddle of rich, savory juices with that beautiful sheen.  I'm making myself hungry just writing this.
But the side dishes are mouth watering too.
I tried the sweet potatoes & they easily could've been dessert!

I took a friend from Ireland in to this Trader Joes telling him this was truly a SoCal experience.  I remember him grinning from ear to ear at the customers & the store announcements over the PA.  He got the biggest kick out of going to a grocery store!
They are  a friendly crew!
But i wanted to give a big time Yelp about my newest addiction- Trader Joes Thai Lime & Chili Cashews!!!  They have a delightful "Fruit Loops" flavor.  Spicy too!  I can eat a whole bag by myself.
You gotta try 'em.

We went to see Chris Botti last Sunday at Thornton's for their Champagne Jazz concert on the patio at the winery.  
We were disappointed that the wine tasting room, gift shop & restaurant were closed  that day in prep for the concert.  I'm sure Thornton management have thought that plan through, but I would think that it would be to the advantage of the winery to sell their wines & food on a Sunday.

When the doors opened for the concert wine & bistro nibbles were available.  We enjoyed a Sauvignon & a fruit salad (we succumbed to hunger after finding out the restaurant was closed & went to town for a meal)
The concert was divine. Chris is so talented & he tells fabulous stories & his band really has chops.  His setlist is always a little different from show to show but he did play my favorites Halleluyah & What'll I Do?  The stories & intros to his songs are so personable.  He goes out into the audience to play and he even assisted in a marriage proposal!  The opening artist, Peanuts Whalum had a beautiful voice & was a charm monster. He sounds just like Nat King Cole.   Chris also comes to his merchandise booth after the show to sign autographs.

It was announced that after the show the gift shop would be open & we intended to visit it to buy our favorite sparkling wines, but alas after all that good wine & good music we just forgot.
Hmmmm... maybe Thornton should rethink their plan & open before the show.
Oh,  & maybe adding more patio cover & those misters like they have in Palm Springs & Vegas.

Oh yes, you'll have to make reservations.  But it is worth the extra effort, otherwise the wait could be long.  Which is amazes me because Stone Brewery bistro has no signage, no advertising;  Stone Bistro patrons are there because of word of mouth.  
In fact you could easily drive right by it & never know what you are missing from the industrial looks of outside of the building located right across the street from the power plant.

So what is the reason for all the hub bub?  
You are in for a treat at Stone Bistro-   World Class dining & beer!

Stone Bistro is located onsight of the actual brewery.  The large stainless beer vats are in full view in the restaurant where you can watch the brewers climb the ladders & check temperatures & gauges.  The decor is modern stonework with floor to ceiling windows and touches of warm wood.  Dark, neutral colors & lots of natural soft light gives an open & inviting feeling.
There are outdoor gardens where you can sup & drink. Afte your dinner you can just hang out in the gardens on one their many benches & seating areas including an open firepit bar.
Restaurant ambiance & service is superb.
There is a delightful gift shop as well.
Now for the food-
you already know about the beer.  My favorite is Levitation, my friend Larry recommended it & I've been a fan ever since
We started out with the Really Soft & Stinky Cheese Plate & Arogant Bastard Onion Rings.  We all recommend!
Then we ordered our entrees & they were all are heartily endorsed!!!
We were all saying "oh you gotta taste this'  & putting little nibbles on each others' plates.
We ordered the Tilapia, Mesquite Ribeye, Garlic Bomb Chicken,  & i had the Buffalo Burger.
And the Stir fried green beans & mushrooms was the BEST side dish in our opinion.
The dessert menu was not elaborate but they were divine!

Stone Bistro uses foods produced locally & organic whenever possible.  But they state on their menu " we are not health food nuts, we are quality nuts"  Stone Bistro is involved with the Slow Food movement, the antithesis of fast food.

So you just have to try this North San Diego AMAZING homegrown eatery. Even if it's just for " Things You May Want to Eat Before and/or After other Things" and beer at the outside fire pit bar.

Throughout the entire tour I kept asking myself & my friend "what kind of person would want to go to work each day to disect & preseve a dead human being?"  Dude, one display had the entire body's nerve network separtated out,  another had the entire artery & vascular system separated out!  Yet I was more fascinated than grossed out.
Even in the Embryo / Fetal exhibit... now that was one room that I thought I would have issues, was fascianting & informative.
Anyone with tendencies toward hypochondria should take caution- many diseased, damaged body parts are on display.  You may go in not even knowing that you have a  hypothalamus, but you may talk  yourself into beleiving it's falling to the wayside!
The last exhibits are kickers!!! Examples of what an MRI looks like (my friend Larry mused that I would look sooo tall if I volunteered for that) and a person's skin.... can you say Silence of the Lambs?
And the display off the bone protheseis- complete with themuscle spreaders... ya-hah!
I walked out of the exhibit determined to practice yoga more often & a resolve to let my stomach have more Rugae time.
Afterwards we had a glass of wine & a Prawns Martini  at the Poisidan and we toasted that we were so glad that we learned that our livers were designed to take a lot of abuse before it shows any damage!!!!

This is where the locals choose to go on a regular basis!  Ok, i live in Carlsbad, so calling myself an Encinitas local is pushing it.  Even on a weekday evening into the night the restaurant is busy, but the staff usually can seat you quickly & your food & drinks are served lickedy split!
Food is divine- the Fried Calamari is tender, tasty & HUGE.  And try the Tampiquena... muy ricos!
I am not a lightweight by any means but El Callejons marguertas  are very hearty too!!!
If the parking lot is full just park at the Coaster station & walk down the stairs

Resist the urge to turn on Regis & Kelly & just wait for Oprah to come on in the afternoon and get yourself over to the Career Center.
If nothing else it will give you a reason to shower & get dressed before noon.
Unemployment happens & if it happens to you ( like it did to me) the Career Center has a resource referrence room staffed with counselors to help you get out& map out your job search.
The Center has workshops, classes to brush up your computer skills & job fairs all free!
There are several in the county.  So check 'em out & "Get a job, na na na na, na na na na na"

A seafood restaurant in Clairemont... right!
No really,  RIGHT!
Get there for their Happy Hour menu!
A friend of mine took us there for happy hour fish tacos & calamari & beer!
The room is cozy-friendly but  roomy enough.  I love the memorabilia on the walls and they have outdoor seating as well.  The service is very quick & friendly.  Neighborhood ambience, superb, delicious fresh fresh fish dishes.

Wish I lived closer.