"What is it: This lively upscale restaurant from a Top Chef regular is the centerpiece of San Diego's food and drink obsessed Little Italy.
Why go: Though just four years old-and one of the first spots to reinvigorate formerly industrial Little Italy - the airy dining room continues to pack in locals with Chef Richard Blais' continually shifting menu of inventive small plates and culinary inspired cocktails. Recent standouts include a spicy tuna hand roll wrapped in shiso, carne cruda asada - a clever Mexican take on steak tartare - and Filthy Rich cocktail with foie-gras fat washed Japanese whiskey, Sauternes and sea salt."
