A San Diego Restaurant Review Blog

in which the author chronicles her efforts to indulge her foodie inclinations amidst her working-mom-of-a-toddler lifestyle



(with some reviews for with toddlers, others for date night, and others for a delicious solo lunch on the run, plus occasional quick-notes on SD theater!)

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Avenue 5 (Banker's Hill)

It's been a few weeks since I was last there, but since I was just singing its praises to a friend (hi!), I wanted to make sure I honored it here. Avenue 5 rocks! It does not have the buzz and glitz and glamour of some other places downtown or even in the neighborhood, but Colin MacLaggan, the chef, is a god in my personal pantheon. The food can't be called cutting-edge, but it is solid and extraordinarily delicious California-French food. Plus it's an excellent value, esp. if you go to happy hour instead of sitting in the dining room. Some of my favorite dishes are the mushroom tortellini (grapes, grilled corn, madeira broth), *any* of the salads (the grilled caesar and red bliss salad are both outrageously good), and the smoked trout. Very nice atmosphere too (again, I prefer the bar area to the dining room). Great for a fun date night that does not break the bank but is still absolutely delicious! Plus the service is always super friendly for such an elegant atmosphere, with no attitude.

(That is, it is exactly the inverse of what we experienced at the too-trendy-for-its-own-good joint down the hill, Starlite, where the host was so rude we did not stay, despite my being very excited to go, what with all the Michael Stebner alums working there....).

Avenue 5 forever!

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