%ft%s4%cr%bGrilled food, not expensive%f*%s*%c*%b and other San Diego, CA Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: Marketplace Grille

Walking around Gaslamp Quarter we were looking for a place (outside = to watch people hehe) to sit down and eat something local = Mexican food.
There were not many restaurants with tables outside that time (11 April). But we finally found one free small table in Marketplace Grille - they serve a lot of grilled food like American steaks there and of course Mexican food. Very nice service.

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On May 14, 2004 I received an e-mail from VT member abkindness from San Diego:
Marketplace Grille's menu has changed. Two of the tips don't reflect the new menu and style. In one of your reviews, you refer to them with Mexian food which is wrong.
This is a fantastic restaurant and needs to be represented correctly.

Favorite Dish: Mexican plat - 1 was enough for 2, not very hungry persons :-).

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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (619) 237-6186
Address: 750 Fifth Ave
Directions: Walking 5th Ave from a trolley line on the right.

Restaurant Name: Marketplace Grille

Whenever you are in San Diego you should taste delicious Mexican food there. There is only one question: is it really Mexican or American-Mexican? I do think that it's much easier to find real Mexican food in San Diego than in any other city in the USA - no wander, there are very many Mexican immigrants living there and it's a USA-Mexico border city.
Never mind - it tastes delicious, just ask always to avoid too spicy dishes if you don't like them.

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From Chris (balfor) from Atlanta, Georgia, USA:
Is it really Mexican food or American/Mexican? The answer is yes.... Most of the foods that we consider Mexican are from northern Mexico and the southern part of the U.S. You will also hear this style of food referred to as Tex-Mex, though that is a bit different. Also you will find in many mexican restaurants something called ceviche (I THINK that's how it is spelled) which is a seafood relish with the fish "cooked" with lemon and/or lime juice along with minced vegetables. This is from the coastal regions of Mexico. And you can find authentic mexican food all over the U.S. We have an very large population of Mexicans in the U.S. and in every city there will be restaurants that cater to the people who are first or second generation Americans. If you want the good food, find a Mexican restaurant where you are the only caucasin in the place! (and if you're really lucky, you might find a place where grandma doesn't speak any english so she has to go get her grand-daughter to take your order!)
Thank you Chris!

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On May 14, 2004 I received an e-mail from VT member abkindness from San Diego:
Marketplace Grille's menu has changed. Two of the tips don't reflect the new menu and style. In one of your reviews, you refer to them with Mexian food which is wrong.
This is a fantastic restaurant and needs to be represented correctly.

Favorite Dish: A few common Mexican dishes:
Burrito - large flour tortilla wrapped around a filling
Tortilla - a thin, flat bread made from wheat flour or corn masa
Salsa - Sauce. Usually, refers to a tomato-based condiment used to dip or to accent dishes. If the salsa is uncooked, as in Pico De Gallo, it is referred to as "salsa cruda." If it is processed, in Tex Mex lingo, this is called "chile." If cooked and then bottled, this is called "picante"

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Theme: Mexican
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: 750 Fifth Ave
Directions: Walking 5th Ave from a trolley line on the right.

Restaurant Name: Marketplace Grill

Burrito is a large flour tortilla wrapped around a filling - you can easily find it in each Mexican restaurant - look at my picture.


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Theme: Mexican
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: 750 Fifth Ave

Restaurant Name: Marketplace Grill

When I am relaxed and I am free of driving I usually try to taste the next, unknown for me and rather rare kind of a beer. Hmmm... usually I don't find anything great.
I tasted a Mexican Fire Rock (what a name hehe) Pale Ale by Kona Brewing Co and it wasn't my favourite one but... Mexican food was good, place and service great.


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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: 750 Fifth Ave

Restaurant Name: Marketplace Grill

You can taste some food before entering Marketplace Grill - this guy on my picture (how would you call him in English) invited people to go inside.

From Chris (balfor):
How do we call the guy handing out samples in front of a restaurant to entice you inside? Generally we call him/her the poor sap who has to stand outside giving out samples.... I'm sure that there is a name for that function, but I've never heard it!
Thank you Chris!


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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: 750 Fifth Ave

Restaurant Name: About Polish food

I didn't find any polish food in San Diego but i was very, very touched when I notice what about my friend Linda was reading: The self-sufficient cooking of the country: POLAND.
WOW! I didn't know that Polish cuisine is world known hehe.

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From ciotog from San Diego:
I noted you said there weren't any Polish restaurants in San Diego. There are 2 that I know of...one is called Stella's Hideaway on the north side of San Diego.
The other is just north of downtown on 5th Av. called the Cottage Cafe.
Also check out this web site: Local Wally's San Diego Tourist Guide

Thank you very much for your info. It's a real pity I didn't find them when I was there :-(((.

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Favorite Dish: I would choose: Polish pierogi (with meat and sauerkraut) and Polish military pea soup (grochowka).

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Theme: Other
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter

Restaurant Name: Canyon Cafe

Canyon Cafe features Mexican fare including favorites like tacos, burritos, refried beans, and Spanish rice.

Favorite Dish: Burrito plate with chicken - a burrito served with vegetarian rice and beans ($6.45 + 7,5% tax) - I liked it :-).

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Theme: Mexican
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (619) 234-3153
Address: 2920 Zoo Drive
Directions: Located next to the SBC Giant Panda Research Station at the San Diego ZOO
Website: www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/visitor_info.html#shows

Restaurant Name: Canyon Cafe

Mexican food is relatively cheap but usually delicious in San Diego area.
Enlarge my picture to see how much it is (add 7,5% sales tax) in Canyon Cafe - at the San Diego ZOO = very touristy place :-).

Favorite Dish: Burrito plate with chicken - a burrito served with vegetarian rice and beans ($6.45 + 7,5% tax) - I liked it :-).

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Theme: Mexican
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (619) 234-3153
Address: 2920 Zoo Drive
Directions: Located next to the SBC Giant Panda Research Station at the San Diego ZOO
Website: www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/visitor_info.html#shows

Restaurant Name: Canyon Cafe

Enlarge my picture to see how much beverages are (add 7,5% sales tax) in Canyon Cafe - at the San Diego ZOO = very touristy place :-). Is California really expensive?
Hmm... it is but not always, am I wrong?

From Chris (balfor):
Are beverages expensive in San Diego? If they are charging $2.75 for a Coke and you are NOT at an amusement park/zoo/theatre or something like that, then it is outrageously expensive. However I noticed that there is a souvenir cup for sale which leads me to believe that you were probably at the San Diego zoo or at Balboa park. In that case just be prepared to spend way too much money!
Thank you Chris!

Favorite Dish: Burrito plate with chicken - a burrito served with vegetarian rice and beans ($6.45 + 7,5% tax) - I liked it :-).

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Theme: Mexican
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (619) 234-3153
Address: 2920 Zoo Drive
Directions: Located next to the SBC Giant Panda Research Station at the San Diego ZOO
Website: www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/visitor_info.html#shows

Restaurant Name: Canyon Cafe

Canyon Cafe features Mexican fare including favorites like tacos, burritos, refried beans, and Spanish rice.

Favorite Dish: It seems that ice tea is much more popular among at least San Diego's zoo visitors than in my homecountry. So, although I never drink ice tea in Poland I drank it in San Diego.

Iced tea was invented at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. The British pavilion sold hot tea. Unfortunately, it was in the heat mid summer. Out of desperation to sell tea, the folks who ran the British pavilion put ice in the tea to boost sales. It worked and it has become an American thing ever since.

Btw I noticed that they usually use big plastic mugs in the USA (bigger than in Europe) for drinks and put a lot of ice cubes (not only in hot days :-).

From Chris (balfor):
Ice in the cups - Americans are often shocked when they first go to Europe and either get no ice or only 1-2 ice cubes in their cold drinks. When we do things here, we do it big. None of this 12 ounce cup of coke, give us a 32 ounce, or even in some places a 44 ounce. (1-1.25 litre)
Thank you Chris!

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Theme: Mexican
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (619) 234-3153
Address: 2920 Zoo Drive
Directions: Located next to the SBC Giant Panda Research Station at the San Diego ZOO
Website: www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/visitor_info.html#shows