As you reflect on San Diego’s blues skies, sandy beaches and the deep Pacific Ocean remember that our coastline is more than just a view, for many Californians, it is a great buffet! We love our seafood here in on the west coast and lucky for us (and you!) Gaslamp's bounty of restaurants are stuffed to the gills with great selections from the sea.
The message “To Taste an Oyster is to Kiss the Sea on the lips” adorns the wall at The Oceanaire Seafood Room at 4th & J Street. If that is true, than a night at Oceanaire is like a sensual rendezvous with the bountiful charms of the Ocean. The Big “O” is our most decorated award winner, with an outstanding reputation for excellent service and a divine menu that is printed fresh nightly. The restaurant is famous for the clean interior look of an elegant cruise liner and an amazing array of options from raw bar to shellfish tower to sophisticated entrée. Their happy hour is brief but decadent and happily affordable. If you enjoy oysters, this is a great destination for a variety of types and they often promote delectable pairings with crisp and refreshing wines.
Rivaling the national chain is local favorite, Blue Point Coastal Cuisine from San Diego's own Cohn Restaurant Group. CRG is known for developing gorgeous venues with top-notch service and cuisine. This well respected family has several great restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter and each location has its own unique style - there are certainly no cookie-cutters here. The Grand Pappy of them all is Blue Point! Located on our marquis corner, 5th & Market, under a flickering gas lamp with an outdoor patio featuring superb people watching, Blue Point mixes supper club sophistication with award-winning style. Fresh seafood dishes, an oyster bar, caviar treats and frequent special offers like multi-course menus and seasonal incentive deals have helped to keep Blue Point in at the top of the food chain when choosing a night out for fine seafood. Their special summertime Sunday Feast will make your whole crew feel like they are a member of the Cohn's Special family
Speaking of names that have an excellent reputation, Donovan's is quite the heavy hitter. Their impeccable Steak & Chop Houses are legendary and true staples in the San Diego dining scene. Frankly, they dominate when it comes to steakhouses. Rich Decor, the highest quality service and simply amazing cuisine are their wheelhouse. It only makes sense that their next venture would include a menu that caters to San Diegan's other favorite flavor. Donovan's Prime Seafood has a wide open patio near 5th & K Street and an elegant dining room & lounge beyond the cheery glass doors. From Bacon wrapped Scallops to Wild Caught King Salmon, Donovan's does not disappoint. They feature the best of both worlds, as you can still get a premium steak but now you can complement it with sweet crab legs or tender shrimp. You might enjoy a martini in their cocktail lounge while listening to a blues piano. You might enjoy a private party in the exclusive back room. You might want to look into getting reservations!
Gaslamp is also home to some big names in the industry that have rock star status for great seafood. Both McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant and Palm Restaurant are in the neighborhood and while they are very different locations, they both have excellent seafood options and are both known for having amazing deals on Lobster, when in season. If the King of Crustaceans is your craving, it is worth the time to check their websites for info on market pricing and specials. Our Gaslamp Quarter Palm Restaurant has been blessed by the Comic-Con gods, as each year more of Marvel's best talent grace their animated walls with new heroes. Our McCormick's is basically Home Plate for Petco Park as it resides in the Omni Hotel San Diego and literally connects to the San Diego Padres home field. They are just as popular before the games and they are afterwards. They serve hungry fans till midnight.
Named after the exotic caviar from Sturgeon “Osetra” is a true Fish House with all of the favorite standards available daily - Oysters, Salmon, King Crab and Cioppino. Famed for their wine tower with an extensive wine collection, the staff or “wine angels” are hoisted up into the air to get the bottles as they are ordered. The restaurant was a bank at one point in our History and now the building is restored to show its gorgeous Victorian detail. They have a friendly bar and lounge as well as private and romantic spaces for guests to enjoy. Be sure to sample their specialty seafood dish the "Trio of Tartare" it features sashimi grade tuna nestled with layers of avocado, crabmeats and drizzled with a kick of wasabi oil.
Ocean Room Oyster Bar and Lounge is a hidden gem with a contemporary exhibition style kitchen and the stainless steel "Kettle Steamers", that perfume the space with delicate aromas. You can try their Steamer Kettles with Fresh Clams, Mussels or Bouillabaisse style or the Pan Roasted Kettle version with Crab, Shrimp or Seafood Gumbo style. They offer a wide selection of popular sushi rolls and oyster on the half shell.
Next time lunch is on order or you’re looking for something light look for Tin Fish near the Gaslamp archway at 5th & L St. This café has outdoor seating in the shadow of the convention center, Petco Park and the Hard Rock Hotel. There is a walk-up counter for placing orders and a tiny bar in the back, Hepburn’s, if you need a secret nook to hide in. It seems that Tin Fish is always busy and that is a great sign for freshness. Try the tacos, burritos, crab cakes or fish & chips without hesitation!
A conversation about seafood in the Gaslamp would not be complete without boasting about some of our more unique options with local influence. Any excuse to visit La Puerta at 4th Ave & Market St is a good one but a craving for their for their Surf & Turf burrito is the best reason. It’s SoCal Mex Cuisine at its’ finest! They stuff it with Steak, Ranchero Shrimp, Avo and delicioso Chipotle Sour Cream. Muy Bueno! You can enjoy great seafood AND enter another world at newly relocated Café Sevilla. Try the Traditional Paella Valencia, a wonderful rice dish loaded with Mussels, clams, calamari, shrimp and scallops along with roasted chicken and Chorizo Riojano sausage. Amazing flavors to be found in a gorgeous new space on Fifth Avenue.
Our hot summer nights cry out for chilled Ceviche and our international location, Tabule has a collection of Six Ceviches for you to mix and match. The highlights are a White Sea Bass & Serrano chili version, Tuna next to black Kalamata olives & avocado and then there is Salmon with mango and cilantro.
So take a bite from the deep cold waters of the ocean while you are here in Gaslamp and consider it, eating like the locals. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
