San Diego Restaurant Week kicks off this Sunday, and to scope out the scene for my very first RW, I checked out what the menu looked like at participating restaurant JRDN, Pacific Beach’s seaside restaurant at the Tower23 Hotel. The restaurant is all about fresh, local California cuisine. Even their menu lists which local farms their meat came from, which was great news for me because I love knowing where my food comes from. (Shouldn’t we all?)
We started with a potato gnocchi topped with super creamy burrata, made our way through a chicken confit and side of fregola (a larger, more chewy Israeli couscous), and ended with my favorite of the night, the coconut pain perdu, which was essentially ladyfinger-size pieces of coconut dough surrounding lime sherbert, goat cheese and chocolate- and coconut-coated macadamia nuts. I could’ve had a three-course meal of just that and been happy. Also, I would love some notes from the chef on how to cook chicken that turns out that juicy.
And while we’re on the subject of beachfront dining, it’s a bit embarrassing to admit that in the year we’ve lived here, this was the first by-the-beach meal we’ve had. But what a good one to start with! In terms of restaurants/bars, JRDN is one of the best places in San Diego to watch a sunset. (I love Sunset Cliffs for a nature-themed spot to watch.) Beyond their formal dining area, they have a stylish garden lounge where you can sit at the bar or at tables and enjoy the sun, sand and many characters of Pacific Beach. If you live in San Diego, you know what I’m talking about.
To find out which 180+ restaurants are participating, check out San Diego Restaurant Week. And scroll ahead for some hunger-inducing food pictures, gorgeous sunset views and a peek at JRDN’s beach-cool interiors.
San Diego Restaurant Week offered me a complimentary dinner in exchange for a review. As always, all opinions are my own.
Wow, as a fellow San Diego newbie, I didn’t even know this place existed. Now I must go! The gnocchi looks amazing.