PlanetEye

No matter where your travels may bring you around the world, when you spot an Irish Pub, it tends to beckon you.  Irish Pubs are a place where great food, conversation, and plenty of Guinness go around.

In downtown San Diego, at the Gaslamp District, you can find The Field Irish Pub, an award-winning establishment. Visitors from all over the world who visit this pub, boast about its authenticity. 

The interior of this pub is turn of the century.  The furniture and accent pieces of what makes a pub Irish, were actually transported directly from Ireland. Sitting inside The Field is being as close to Ireland as you can possibly get.

Dishes like their Guinness Beef Stew, Shepherds Pie, Corned Beef and Cabbage, Fish and Chips and Boxty dishes are mouth-watering.  Their ingredients are fresh, and the dishes are seasoned perfectly.

Like all pubs, The Field offer its visitors their "Pint of Porter."  When your bartender hands you over your settled Guinness, you'll notice it has been decorated with a shamrock.

Guinness, a hearty drink, may not be for all.  So if you're looking for something lighter, the bartender might recommend Harp, a golden lager.

Other beers are also on the menu, too.  There is a nice selection of Irish whiskey and scotch.

Happy Hour is a great time to visit the pub, and it's a popular hub for a good time.

Ready to go back in time and step into a 1950s rock'n' roll diner?  Well you don't need a time capsule for this request.  Just head on over to Hillcrest and step inside the Corvette Diner. 

Aside from the great 50s décor, collectibles and memorabilia, the staff is also in the 50s motif.      

Female servers, clad in poodle skirts and hair toppled up in enormous beehives, are happy to take your order.  Expect them to be chewing bubble gum and blowing bubbles at the table.  

The jukebox plays great tunes, but during dinnertime, the jukebox is replaced by a live DJ playing 50s favorites. He also takes requests.   

This diner is a blast for people of all ages....and most of all, the kids just love it!  On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, a magician entertains the children.  And on Fridays and Saturdays, a balloon maker is there to twist and snap some cool creations for the kids.  

This 50s themed restaurant cooks up those popular American menu items such as hamburgers, fries, sloppy Joes, chicken fried steak and more!  If you're feeling brave, then try the Rory Burger, topped with peanut butter.  Yes, peanut butter.  And if you don't like, you can get another type of burger.

The milkshakes at the Corvette Diner are delicious and creative.  The choco-mint and peanut butter shakes are just a couple of their signature creations.    

After your meal, your gum popping server will throw you some Bazooka Bubble Gum, along with the bill.  

The food quality at this 50s joint is mediocre, but the fun you'll have will outweigh the food critic in you!

Since the 1950s, the Bali Hai Restaurant in San Diego has attracted many visitors with its Polynesian cuisine.  Located on Shelter Island in San Diego, diners have a great view of the relaxing harbor.

On Sunday mornings, you'll spot local boat owners who motor up to backside of Bali Hai, dock their boat and head in for a great Sunday Brunch at the restaurant.    

Bali Hai serves both lunch and dinner on a daily basis.  Expect to see those Hawaiian specialities on the menu.  Their appetizer menu consists of tidbits, such as: Hawaiian Poke, Hawaiian Nachos, Bali Hai Egg Rolls, Pan Asian Steak Rolls, Lobster Won Tons and a hearty Volcano Pupu Platter.

If you want a light lunch, the seared Ahi salad is always a good pick.  In the mood for a burger?  If so, consider the Kona Burger or Lava Burger.  The Kona Burger, has a half pound of burger nestled within a Hawaiian Roll.  The Lava Burger adds some crab cake to it, along with some cilantro aioli.

For dinner, the entrees are really mouthwatering.  Their Flaming Wok dishes include ginger scallops, cashew chicken, beef and pea pods, and lobster in a black bean sauce specialties. 

Their classic dishes include shrimp in their mandarin Bali Hai sauce, Kapahulu Steak and Haole Halibut.

The Firecracker Seared Ahi, Kailua Pork Loin, Salmon Wellington and Island Lemongrass Chicken can be found in their Kona dinner section of the menu.

The ambience of Bali Hai is classical, and to my surprise, the prices were rather reasonable.  A dinner entrée can be purchased for $25 and under, while lunch will be around $10.  If you add on those yummy appetizers and drinks the amount will increase. 

Bali Hai is a great dining spot.  For a quick instant, the blue waters and the sway of palm trees, will make you think your are in Hawaii!

Richard Walker's Pancake House, located in downtown San Diego, has one of the most extensive breakfast menus I have ever seen in my life.  If you are a breakfast eater then you just can't ignore this place!  Richard Walker's Pancake House can be best described as a dining destination for those traditional and gourmet breakfast entrees.  With this said, it's no wonder this place attracts locals and tourists.  

Their java is home brewed, and their orange and grapefruit juice is squeezed fresh every morning. 

Their list of omelettes is impressive, beginning with the popular fresh spinach omelette with cheese or the mushroom and cheese.  The Santa Fe Omelette is a favorite with its mixture of onions, cilantro, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, jalapeno cheese and salsa.

From the Ovens of Brittany, the Baked Cinnamon Pecan Pancake and Walker's Apple Pancakes are really good. Their Gourmet Griddle Cakes include entrees, like, Potato Cakes Swedish Pancakes and Wheat Germ Pancakes.

Their list of yummy traditional griddle flap jacks include, banana flap jacks, silver dollar flap jacks, blueberry flap jacks and cherry flap jacks.

Their East Meets West Crepes are amazing.  The Manadarin Orange Chinese Crepes with  tropical sauce and powdered sugar are a huge hit.  Other savory crepes are the blueberry and sour cream crepes and fresh strawberry crepes.

Richard Walker's Pancake House knows how to prepare those Belgian Waffles, too.  If in the mood for a waffle, do try the Cherry Belgian Waffles or Pecan Belgian Waffle.

French toast is also on the menu, along with other flavorful egg dishes. 

So, if breakfast is your thing, then Richard Walker's Pancake House is calling.....

If you want some special dining while at the San Diego Zoo, then you might consider eating at Albert's Restaurant.  Although the zoo offers your typical fast food fare, Albert's Restaurant provides great food with beautiful scenery.

The restaurant is located in the tree house complex, which you will find adjacent to the Gorilla Tropics.  Their outdoor deck seating is an ideal spot, because you will have a view of a lovely waterfall and exotic plants growing from its rustic rocks.  It's a beautiful location and the sounds of the waterfall will put you in a very relaxed and refreshed mood.

While you are admiring the waterfall, it is the perfect time to sip on a cocktail, don't you think?  Their wine list has some nice choices, as does their beer selections.  Their full service cocktail bar can give you something tropical - a perfect compliment for the waterfall scenery!

Their year round lunch and summer dinner menu is quite impressive, and is not something you would typically see at a zoo.  Their appetizers include some tasty potstickers, empanada, and homemade soups. Their caesar salad is crisp and fresh, and their sandwiches are served up with beer-battered french fries. 

Their oven roasted chicken is great, as is their pan-seared halibut.  Their southwestern chicken and sauteed rock shrimp pasta dishes are unique and delicious.

And if you are a chocolate lover, you must try the chocolate mocha pyramid!

Whatever your food craving, Albert's Restaurant will have something you are looking for.

The price for a sandwich is about $14, their meat entrees are around $20 and the median price for a pasta dish is $15.   

Be sure to call ahead for reservations for summertime dining at (619) 685-3200.     

If you're in the town of Miramar in San Diego, and want to take a stab at an authentic barbecue meal, then head on over to Abbey's Real Texas Bar-B-Q.  This place, has received kudos from local television channels and the print media.

Rather than just slopping on barbecue sauce, this eatery produces a smoked meat that is sensationally tender and juicy. Their meat is slowly cooked for 20 to 30 hours in their own custom ovens.  They claim that their competition cannot even come close to the way they prepare a real Texas barbecue style meal.

Their menu is amazing; their barbecue sandwiches and wraps are a perfect lunch choice, where diners can choose between beef, pork, chicken, turkey, ham or sausage. Their Chuckwagon Special is a good lunch meal.

Abbey's can also serve family style with their platter specials. For example, their Meat By The Pound, says that one pound of their choice meats, including their beef brisket or pork shoulder, can feed two bucking broncos and one lil' dog.  With this type of description, you know that your in for an entertaining and tasty treat.  And plus, the chuckwagon, Texan atmosphere puts you in a fun mood.  

For the amount of food that you get, the prices are really good at Abbey's Real Texas Bar-B-Q.  Sandwiches run anywhere from $3.99 to $12.99, and platter specials start at $15.99. 

For vegetarians, there are a couple of choices, such as a vegetarian special and rice bowl.

This unique, family-style restaurant is opened Monday thru Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In the heart of downtown Oceanside, there is a nice, casual café called the Harbor House.  It's got a real family style feel to it, and the locals often congregate at the Harbor House for their meals throughout the day. 

The Harbor House is a good size café.  They've got a mixture of booths and tables.  There's also a place where you can belly up to the line-cook bar, for quicker service.

With a name like the Harbor House, it's no surprise to find large painted nautical murals in this eatery, along with some surfboards mounted on the walls. 

I recently ate there for a Sunday morning breakfast, and I was surprised at their large breakfast menu.  They had everything listed from different styles of pancakes, waffles, omelettes, scrambles, to fried steak and/or chicken dishes. My choice was the Eggs Benedict with turkey.  

When my entrée arrived, it was a hearty serving, paired with hash browns. The eggs were cooked perfectly, and the hollandaise sauce was just right. 

My other half ordered the biscuits and gravy, and two eggs over-easy.  He gave his dish a  thumbs up.

Our breakfast entrees with coffee were just under $23.00

For a busy, Sunday morning, the service was good, and our coffee was always kept warm with frequent refills.  And I might add that their restaurant was very clean.

I glanced at their lunch menu on the way out, and noticed a variety of sandwiches, salads and other specialities. 

If you're in the Oceanside area, and looking for a quick, inexpensive good meal - then you might want to try the Harbor House.

Harbor House Café

714 North Coast Highway

Oceanside, CA 92054

760-722-2254