San Diego, CA: East Village's Unique Restaurants

When one thinks of San Diego's downtown, it's hard not to mention the rows of restaurants and cafes that line the famous Gas Lamp District or the old world cuisine of Little Italy.

However, the East Village community has gone through a massive redevelopment and now offers a wide array of fine dining, breweries, wine bars, and coffee shops. One of San Diego's largest communities, East Village stretches from the Gas Lamp District to the west to the I-5 Freeway to the east. It's home to Petco Park where the San Diego Padres play and is a short walk to the Convention Center, the waterfront, and Balboa Park.

Knotty Barrel

Knotty Barrel, East Village, San Diego

Knotty Barrel, one of East Village’s newest gastropubs, features fine, locally-sourced dining and the area's largest selection of craft beer, with twenty-two taps and nearly sixty in bottles.  Partnering with local farmers and vendors that deliver the freshest ingredients possible, some signature ingredients their Consulting Chef, Ted Witte, especially enjoys working with include fresh heirloom tomatoes, Duroc bacon, all natural chicken, and CAB beef.  Just a few blocks away from Petco Park, Knotty Barrel offers an eclectic respite for baseball fans before or after the game.

Evening hours at Knotty Barrel heats up with week long activities including Live Prize Trivia, oyster shooters, table shuffleboard, and live music on the weekends.  Along with seasonal "beer school", and the liveliest parties running past midnight, Knotty Barrel is East Village's favorite hangout to unwind.

Our Favorites: Knotty Wings with Spicy Sweet Chili Sauce, Bison Burger with Stilton bleu cheese, red onions, on egg bun, Chipotle Glazed Meatloaf with Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes.

Knotty Barrel
844 Market Street
San Diego, CA 92101
619-269-7156
http://www.knottybarrel.com

Village 631

Village 631, East Village, San Diego

Folks who need their morning coffee and pastries will find a breath of fresh roast at Village 631.  Considered by East Village locals as the favorite hangout for java and exotic tea against the much homogenized franchise coffee shops, Village 631 places emphasis on fresh and homemade.

Pastries and croissants are baked on the premises each morning.  Nothing is purchased frozen, but sourced fresh from seasonable, sustainable, organic local growers.  Breakfast sandwiches, scrambled eggs, and green smoothies are enjoyed in the morning.  For lunch, customers select from fresh salads, hot sandwiches, and assorted pies and cupcakes.  In the evenings, sit at the bar over their selection of craft beers and fine wines.

Our Favorites: Brioche Sandwich (morning): Spinach, arugula almond pesto, Tomato, Mozzarella, Farm Fresh eggs.  BLTA Sandwich (lunch), Apple Smoked Bacon, house made tomato jam, house made garlic aioli, avocado, crisp romaine.

Village 631
631 9th Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 255-9405
http://www.thevillageat631.com/


Cafe Chloe

Cafe Chloe, East Village, San Diego

Fine French dining can be found on the corner of 9th & G in the heart of East Village.  Coveted by nearby residents and San Diego's foodie fans, Cafe Chloe was founded by three partners, Tami Ratliffe, John Clute and Alison McGrath, who wanted to bring a little French culture to East Village with a passion for food, beer and wine.

French bistro tables accommodate lunch-hour customers with cups of tea and plates of cheese.  In the evening hours, regulars drop by for a bottle of their favorite French wine varietals and authentic Parisian-style cuisine.  Cafe Chloe is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Our Favorites: Smoked trout salad with apple, fingerlings, almonds, & apple vinaigrette, Lamb cassoulet-house merguez sausage, braised lamb, pork belly confit, white beans, & suzie’s squashes.

Cafe Chloe
721 Ninth Ave #1
San Diego CA 92101
619-232-3242
http://www.cafechloe.com/

Bub's at the Ballpark

Bub's at the Ballpark, East Village, San Diego

With the San Diego Padres calling East Village its home, it's hard not to find a sports bar nearby, and Bub's at the Ballpark holds the crown for hosting the liveliest sports venue in town. Bub's is a place where locals and visitors alike enjoy one-of-a-kind entertainment and food. Follow several games at once across their vast array of plasmas and projectors, take shots on their in-house basketball court, and enjoy table shuffleboard.

Known for their baskets of tater tots, Bub's has a fun and catchy menu that takes timeless pub fare standards and turns them into eclectic gastropub dishes that rival any five-star restaurant in San Diego. Every Saturday & Sunday locals come to Bub's for their famous Bloody Mary bar, offering the largest choices of mixes, spices, sauces, and garnishes, for a breakfast of champions in true East Village form.

Our Favorites: Mac & Cheese Scramble, where macaroni & cheese meets eggs & potatoes, Pittsburgh Steak Sandwich with chipotle aioli sauce, Bub's Downtown Pasta with Madiera cream sauce.

Bub's @ The Ballpark
715 J Street
San Diego, CA 92101
619-546-0815
http://bubssandiego.com/

Cowboy Star

Cowboy Star, East Village, San Diego

Cowboy Star is the first restaurant in San Diego’s East Village to serve up a unique dining experience by combining contemporary American cuisine with a western flare. Winner of the 2008 Orchid Award for Interior Design, the restaurant features exposed beam ceilings‚ cowboy accents‚ and classic landscape photography giving Cowboy Star a welcoming atmosphere where locals gravitate.

A stunning display kitchen is the focal point of Cowboy Star, offering an insiders view of the action. The bar at Cowboy Star offers a stylish and cozy environment complete with large leather booths, a fireplace and hand-crafted cocktails. Working with a palette of the finest ingredients available, Executive Chef Victor Jimenez creates menu masterpieces which embody the spirit of the American West and utilize the season's freshest offerings.

Cowboy Star's steaks are hand cut in house, and are sourced from independent, family owned ranches. They select only “Natural” programs, no antibiotics and no growth hormones are used. Cowboy Star is also recognized by Humane Farm Animal Care for our support and dedication to the Certified Humane Raised and Handled program.

Our Favorites: 14 oz. Ribeye Steak, remarkably tender and flavorful, is PRIME Natural from Meyer Ranch in Nebraska and aged for 21 days. Pork Duo, a duo of Salmon Creek Farm pork plated with a
cauliflower puree, baby broccoli, grilled mushroom polenta and meyer lemon gremolatta.

Cowboy Star
640 Tenth Ave.
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 450-5880
http://www.thecowboystar.com/