Here’s a quick, fun, cheap, family activity we did today. Even though San Diego has something like 300 days of sunshine, sometimes the grey sets in and you get a little stir crazy.
Let each member of the family buy their own lunch with their $10. (all change goes back to dad)
Have a picnic at Balboa Park.
I can’t speak for all the vendors, but the ones we talked to who asked what we were doing– they loved it!Our kids certainly loved discovering what they could get for $10 at a Farmers Market.
And even though it wasn’t super sunny at the park our kids had a blast!
On top of that, us parents were pleased that the kids found something they each liked, everything they picked out was locally grown or produced, and they got to blow off some steam at a great San Diego gem.
With the Pacific Ocean as it’s backdrop, the Little Italy Mercato is a picture perfect representation of the 40 plus certified farmers markets operating in San Diego County. This is one of the many free gems which make San Diego such a wonderful place to live and visit.
On a recent Saturday morning our family of four piled into the car for a downtown culinary adventure. My husband and I were on a mission to buy farm fresh ingredients for dinner. The kids grudgingly accepted the task. You’d think we were taking them to the dentist.
The Little Italy Mercato is hard to miss because it runs across three blocks. We had no problem locating free street parking right around the corner. I also noticed paid parking for $7. The atmosphere was festive as we approached to market – live music and the mingled scent of food, flowers, and herbs filled the air.
Not just a food market, the Mercato offers something for everyone. I was initially side-tracked by a display of locally made jewelry. With a little help from my family I refocused and let my nose guide me to the heart of the market, the food. Never able to turn a blind eye to food, our kids loosened up when offered samples of juicy softball-sized peaches. It should be noted that the Little Italy Mercato is a great location for selecting locally caught seafood, as well. One unusual sample my husband could not resist was live sea urchin. He’s still alive after trying this spiny wonder! He said it was tasty with the texture of an overripe peach with a hint of brine flavor.
About an hour later our mission was accomplished. We walked away with dinner and several new experiences.
The Little Italy Mercato offers a feel-good feast for the senses. Next time I’ll brave the long line for crepes made on the spot from Le Creperie. My mouth is already watering.
The Little Italy Mercato
Date Street, from Kettner to Union
Every Saturday, year round, 9:00 am to 1:30 pm
Map
Family Friendly
Free
Visitors to San Diego are likely unaware of the burger war going on in our fine city. Being a city by the ocean in Southern California one may gather that our interest is in seafood or even fine Mexican cuisine. And while that it amply available, there is a raging debate about who has the best burger in town.
We’ve already reviewed Hodad’s and Crazee Burger, two of my personal favorite burger joints. And yet the word on the street is that Burger Lounge may indeed have the best burger in town. What makes Burger Lounge unique is that all of their beef is grass feed. Essentially, this means that the meat isn’t fatten on grain nor pumped full of hormones to get them to market faster and fatter. This makes for a unique flavored burger that is both lean and flavorful.
A visit to Burger Lounge is a minimalistic experience. From decor to food offerings the look and feel is quite different from your typical busy burger joint. They have a shallow menu, few tables, and only a few beverage offerings. What they lack in depth they attempt to make up for in quality. The burgers are good, the seating is unique, and the beverage options are great.
I have to disclose, this review took two trips. With much anticipation we visited a few weeks back and it didn’t go well. While the flavor of our food was fine and the quality of the experience was great… we were all disappointed with messy burgers. The burgers simply fell all over the plate and we ended up with a tasty mess that left us disappointed. At the urging on some friends we went back and gave it another shot.
The second trip was great. Our burgers were tasty and our experience was much more relaxed and enjoyable. During both trips we took our kids and the staff was very happy to make it a fun experience for the kids.
I will continue the debate like this. For the one of the best burgers we’ve had in San Diego, head to Burger Lounge. It’s not our favorite overall burger joint experience, but the burgers themselves are tasty and lean. (About the only burger our picky daughter will actually eat.) Fries and onion rings are lacking… like they should take them off the menu! Get a salad to complete the SoCal vibe.
Burger Lounge4116 Adams, San Diego – map 1101 Wall Street, La Jolla – map922 Orange Avenue, Coronado – map $10-$20 per personKid-Friendly
Not just a food market, the Mercato offers something for everyone. I was initially side-tracked by a display of locally made jewelry. With a little help from my family I refocused and let my nose guide me to the heart of the market, the food. Never able to turn a blind eye to food, our kids loosened up when offered samples of juicy softball-sized peaches. It should be noted that the Little Italy Mercato is a great location for selecting locally caught seafood, as well. One unusual sample my husband could not resist was live sea urchin. He’s still alive after trying this spiny wonder! He said it was tasty with the texture of an overripe peach with a hint of brine flavor.
Visitors to San Diego are likely unaware of the burger war going on in our fine city. Being a city by the ocean in Southern California one may gather that our interest is in seafood or even fine Mexican cuisine. And while that it amply available, there is a raging debate about who has the best burger in town.
I have to disclose, this review took two trips. With much anticipation we visited a few weeks back and it didn’t go well. While the flavor of our food was fine and the quality of the experience was great… we were all disappointed with messy burgers. The burgers simply fell all over the plate and we ended up with a tasty mess that left us disappointed. At the urging on some friends we went back and gave it another shot.
