Harbor Fish and Chips (Oceanside)

SB and I recently met a friend visiting from LA in Oceanside. First we hit Red Velvet yogurt (lots of delicious choices, and a convenient location near the beach, the Amtrak station, and lots of parking make it a great place to hang out and wait). Then we hit the pier - the playground is gone for repair!! - but the swingset is still there. SB tired himself out running up and down the ramp.

Then our friend wanted seafood, so we headed over to Harbor Fish and Chips, a place recommended on Yelp. We're not in the 92130 anymore! This place had an authentic old school feel rather than a shiny new facade. I took one bite of my friend's fish - too deep-fried and gross for me. But my grilled fish was fine. Both portions were ridicuolously enormous for under $10, and they came with two sides (I picked sweet potato fries and salad). SB announced that it smelled like dead fish outside (it was a harbor) but he was ok inside -lots of cool murals on the wall, fake spiders hanging from the ceiling, lots of things to catch a preschooler's eye. Certainly a decent choice in the area - beautiful view outside of the harbor and sunset too!

San Diego: A Pizza Town! (Carmine's in Oceanside)

Todder yumminess!

SuperToddler earned himself a ride on the Coaster today by going diaper free for 5 whole days. You go, kid! Since there was to be 3 hours between the northbound and southbound rides, and you can only play at the pier for so long, I scouted out the grub near the train station in advance. Was hoping for something halfway decent.

Carmine's: what an awesome surprise! San Diego is really turning into a pizza town. (yes, Oceanside is not really SD, but let's not be technical - good pizza is busting out all over the county).

We went a good 10 yrs in Ca. with no good pizza (at least not good NY pizza). Now we have:

--Sicilian Thing (North Park)
--Bongiorno's Miramar
--Bongiorno's Solana Beach
(Bronx: we don't go there but I know it's fine)

And....Carmine's in Oceanside. The crust is not quite in the same league, but my veggie pizza (white, sundried tomatoes, peppers) was absolutely delish, and the cheese slice was very respectable (CH was less enthused about the slice than me, but agreed that the cheese and sauce were just right - he just thought there wasn't enough sauce and the crust kept it out of the league of the others I mentioned).

But it was super-yummy, cute (brick walls)....and if you're so inclined, they also have a great beer and wine selection (since North County really is the craft beer capital of the country). Carmine, the owner, is the real thing...he's from Cleveland (Cleveland? I guess there are Italians there too) but he says ricotta properly and makes good pizza.

Definitely worth a visit, esp. if you are having a pier or Coaster outing!