Some Local Restaurants serving Local Food
from San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project

NORTH

A.R. Valentien Chef Jeff Jackson brings more than 30 years experience to A.R. Valentien, the restaurant at the five-star hotel, The Lodge at Torrey Pines. His cooking is market driven and seasonally influenced, largely because of his use of locally farmed and produced food.
11480 North Torrey Pines Road

Stone Brewing Co. Co-founders Greg Koch and Steve Wagner endeavor to use as much in-season, locally and organically grown produce as possible, not just because they believe in the very simple principles of freshness and sustainability, but also because fresh, local and organic tastes better.
1999 Citracado Parkway

Michele Coulon Dessertier They take pride in creating spectacular wedding cakes and desserts that are both applealing to the eye and tantalizing to the taste. All of their cakes are baked from scratch using only the finest natural ingredients, many of them from local farms.
7556 Fay Ave # D

COASTAL

Ocean Beach People's Food Co-op San Diego's only organic food cooperative has been providing healthy food choices for over 30 years, including locally grown organic produce. The deli upstairs in their beautiful green building serves the freshest organic soups, salads, savory main dishes and plenty of sides, many featuring locally grown ingredients.
4765 Voltaire St

Roots Kind Food in Ocean Beach (not associated with San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project) is commited to providing beautifully prepared, superb healthful vegetarian food that includes food prepared from local and organic ingredients.
4976 Newport Ave

DOWNTOWN & SURROUNDS

Modus a casually sophisticated Supperclub, MODUS features a sleek, seductive setting, exceptional wines, serious cocktails and organic, modern european cuisine.
2202 4th Ave

JSix Restaurant Chef Christian Graves' menu features Coastal California cuisine, showcasing fresh, innovative, seasonal foods inspired by the freshest of seafood flown in every day and the artisan produce and ingredients of nearby farms.
616 J St

The Linkery is a neighborhood restaurant in North Park featuring farm-specific all-natural meats, highlighting sustainable farming of heritage breeds; fresh produce, often organic, emphasizing independent farms in our region; our own house made fresh sausages and house cured meats like bacon, hams, and other charcuterie; world-class craft beers, including cask-conditioned ale always on handle; and fine wines from craft producers all over the world, including the city of San Diego.
3794 30th St

Sea Rocket Bistro is a new North Park restaurant serving local and sustainable seafood and other local foods, beers, and wines. Their menu changes as the fish come out of the water and as the vegetables are picked, so stop by and see what they're serving. They've got a menu that is updated occasionally on this website.
3382 30th St

Ritual Tavern is yet another North Park creation, serving gourmet, local pub-style food. They have lots of beers on tap (local and imported), and accompany this with local meat, vegetables, and lots of gluten-free options.
4095 30th St

Spread is a vegetarian restaurant serving local produce. They also make and sell gourmet peanut butters. Also located in North Park, this is one of the first restaurants serving local foods. They continue to excel.
2879 University Ave

Sbicca

I went to Sbicca for the first time this evening. Located in the heart of Del Mar, and with a great website touting fresh California-American cuisine, I had expectations. The atmosphere was good: nice decor, friendly and attentive staff. However, I order the menu was very meat heavy (which I totally respect, but don't indulge in). Okay, fine, my choices are limited. I ordered one of several delicious sounding salads, an appetizer, an entree, and a glass of wine.

The bread came, which was tasty (though could have been warmed). The wine was absolutely delicious. However, the salad was a little too simple (could have made it at home), the appetizer was bland (frilled artichoke... no flavor, and the ranch-style dipping sauce was totally overpowering), and the main course was not very imaginative - eggplant, pepper, tomato, on pasta. It was much better after I added a bunch of extra cheese to it.

Now, I can't rate this place on their meat. Maybe their meat is good, maybe it is not. Regardless, everyone (meat eater or not) should be able to enjoy a good meal of fine vegetables. Unfortunately Sbicca can't provide this.

Instead, go for a glass of wine and enjoy the view.

Sbicca
215 15th St
Del Mar, CA 92014
(858) 481-1001

Sbicca

I went to Sbicca for the first time this evening. Located in the heart of Del Mar, and with a great website touting fresh California-American cuisine, I had expectations. The atmosphere was good: nice decor, friendly and attentive staff. However, I order the menu was very meat heavy (which I totally respect, but don't indulge in). Okay, fine, my choices are limited. I ordered one of several delicious sounding salads, an appetizer, an entree, and a glass of wine.

The bread came, which was tasty (though could have been warmed). The wine was absolutely delicious. However, the salad was a little too simple (could have made it at home), the appetizer was bland (frilled artichoke... no flavor, and the ranch-style dipping sauce was totally overpowering), and the main course was not very imaginative - eggplant, pepper, tomato, on pasta. It was much better after I added a bunch of extra cheese to it.

Now, I can't rate this place on their meat. Maybe their meat is good, maybe it is not. Regardless, everyone (meat eater or not) should be able to enjoy a good meal of fine vegetables. Unfortunately Sbicca can't provide this.

Instead, go for a glass of wine and enjoy the view.

Sbicca
215 15th St
Del Mar, CA 92014
(858) 481-1001

Yogurtland

Ever since yogurt became the new starbucks, I have made it my mission to find the best yogurt shop in San Diego. Ladies and gentlemen, Yogurtland is it.

First of all, the self serve beats the behind the counter service any day. No more trying to explain exactly what proportion you want of each flavor. No more fearing you are annoying the lady behind the counter with your never ending requests. Nope. You just get your giant (and I mean giant) cup, and you fill it as little or as much as you want, with as many or few flavors as you want. And don't forget they have free little sample cups, so you can make sure you want it in the cup first.

Second, no one beats the price! At $0.30 an ounce, it is $0.08 cents an ounce cheaper than the closest competitor (Yogurtworld). This adds up. And there is no question that it beats out the behind the counter service again - you just never know if they are actually going to fill your cup for you! I hate it when they leave a big hole in the middle of your yogurt. And of course the toppings just count in the per ounce price, no rip off $1 or $2 additional per topping.

Third, the labels are well marked, easy to read, and accurate. There are at least a dozen flavors of yogurt, and twice as many toppings, including both "dry" and "fresh" toppings. The place is really clean, the walls, the tables, the toppings counter, everything.

The plain yogurt is a little sweeter and less yogurty than some of the higher end yogurt places, but it's not a big enough difference that those places can justify their price. And on top of the Yogurtland experience is much more fulfilling.

They have easily accessible nutritional info in the shop, and their website is easy to find and navigate. The sugar content is reasonable, and they contain live and active cultures.

Finally, the decor is awesome, with green subway tiles, and mod furniture. And they are open until midnight!!! Midnight, people! You can get your yogurt fix pretty much any time. Yogurtland is number one.


Yogurtland
855 Garnet Avenue
(between Bayard St & Mission Blvd)
San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 581-1700
www.yogurt-land.com/

Hours:
Mon-Thu. 12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Fri. 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.
Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Yogurt World - Kearny Mesa

I have taken on a quest of discovering the best yogurt shop in San Diego. As part of this search, a friend told me that Yogurt World in Kearny Mesa is "The Original - the yogurt shop that started all yogurt shops in San Diego." I definitely had to check it out.

Upon walking in I was initially impressed - they had the full range of flavors, the yogurt was only $0.38 an ounce. I sampled the yogurts (they give free samples), and I made my decisions. Like most self serve yogurt shops, they have only large and huge sized cups. I was used to this, so it was no surprise. I filled my cup with flavors, and then I went to the toppings.

The toppings, to be frank, were a little nasty. They looked kind of old, and things were not clearly or consistently labeled. They did have a large wall of "dry" toppings, like granola, sprinkles, chocolate chips, dried coconut, etc, etc, etc. This looking moderately clean. However the "fresh" toppings, such as the fresh strawberries, bananas, canned pineapple, caramel sauces and such were all kind of brownish. The crushed up butterfingers kind of stuck together in clumps like it had gotten wet. The snickers crumbs had been dropped into the oreos.

I continued onward, and I paid the tab. It was reasonable. The yogurt was pretty tasty. I admired the shop. It was also a little run down, like the toppings. The walls were marred. It was clean enough, though.

The walls boasted all the health benefits of yogurt - clears up acne, improves digestions, and so forth. I inquired at the counter about the nutritional information; it was not available. They gave me a website. I looked it up; it didn't work. They gave me another website. I looked it up. It worked. However, I found out that not all their flavors are yogurt. Some are ice cream; some are custard. This doesn't bother me per se, except that because of the name of the store it is implied that all options are actually frozen yogurt.

The yogurts they sell are certified to contain live and active cultures. They are moderate in sugar content. Most are fat free or low fat (though the ice creams and custards are not).

I also noticed they have only one register, which I suspect is to create an artificial line. This is a southern California practice to manufacture the perception of extreme popularity, and it drives me bonkers.

Overall, this place was okay, but needs to be cleaned, to be better labeled, refreshed toppings, and a second register.

Yogurt World
4646 Convoy St
Ste 113
(between Dagget St & Opportunity Rd)
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 268-1688

Hours:
Mon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.