New favorites dominate 17th annual
Readers’ Choice Awards
Voters in our 17th annual Readers’ Choice Awards have spoken, and one of their messages to Restaurant Row seems to be, “Don’t rest on your laurels.” Twenty-three of last year’s 35 category winners — 66 percent — were dislodged in this year’s balloting.
Still, a number of longtime favorites held their ground. Two were Phil’s BBQ in the Sports Arena area and Extraordinary Desserts in Bankers Hill and Little Italy. They easily won the Barbecue and Dessert categories, and this year were the top two vote-getters in the contest. Phil finished with just three more votes than Extraordinary, the top vote-getter for the previous nine or 10 years.
Other longtime favorites also did well. La Jolla’s Marine Room was named San Diegans’ overall favorite restaurant and also its most romantic. Bertrand at Mister A’s captured both the Best View category and the favorite restaurant for Special Occasion dinners.
George’s at the Cove (which includes George’s California Modern and George’s Ocean Terrace) collected two category wins — for Best Outdoor Dining and the favorite place for San Diegans to take Out-of-Town Guests. Rancho Santa Fe’s elegant Mille Fleurs also came up big, capturing the most votes for Best French restaurant and Best Service.
Each year, it seems, the same three steakhouses vie for top honors. This year Donovan’s Steak & Chop House nudged Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and last year’s winner, Ruth’s Chris Steak House.
In a new category — Best Local Hamburger — Hodad’s in Ocean Beach won bragging rights over Rocky’s Crown Pub in Crown Point, Pacific Beach, and the Burger Lounges in Kensington, Coronado, Little Italy and La Jolla.
Category winners are listed first; runners-up follow.
Favorite Chef
Deborah Scott
Island Prime and Indigo Grill
Bernard Guillas
Marine Room
Jean-Michel Diot
Tapenade
Décor
The Prado
Casa de Pico
A.R. Valentien
Fine Dining
SEAFOOD
Fish Market
Anthony’s
Oceanaire
STEAK
Donovan’s Steak & Chop House
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
New (08-09)
Cowboy Star
Casa de Bandini
The Pearl
Best-Kept Secret
Bud’s Louisiana Café
Bernardo’s
International Market & Grill
Euro-Style/Latin Cuisine
FRENCH
Mille Fleurs
Pamplemousse Grille
Bleu Boheme
ITALIAN
Busalacchi’s Ristorante
Filippi’s Pizza Grottos
The Godfather
MEXICAN
Old Town Mexican Café
Casa de Pico
Tony’s Jacal
GREEK
Aladdin
Athens Market
Café Athena
Asian
CHINESE
PF Chang’s China Bistro
Jasmine Seafood Restaurant
China Inn
SUSHI
Sushi Ota
Umi Sushi
Yummy Sushi
JAPANESE
Benihana’s
Sushi Ota
Nobu San Diego
THAI
Taste of Thai
Lotus Thai
Royal Thai Cuisine
VIETNAMESE
Phuong Trang
Pho Convoy
Saigon on Fifth
