Quintessential San Diego Burger Joint. That’s the phrase that comes to mind about for our families visit to Hodad’s in Ocean Beach. Our morning started off with a walk out to the end of Ocean Beach Pier and we got back just in time for lunch.

By 11:45 AM the place was packed! We waited a couple of minutes and soon found ourselves in a booth, menus in hand. As we placed our drink order we began to take in the decor. Man, this place is a place to explore! My kids counted 7 surf boards hanging from the ceiling or plastered to the wall. There are literally hundreds of license plates and beach signs plastered everywhere.The decoration even extends to the bathrooms!

A few minutes after we placed our order the food started to arrive. Seriously, lightning quick food and great servers! Three of us ordered burgers, which were great, and my son ordered a side of fries. All of us were completely full. We all felt like the fries were the highlight of what we ordered. On our next trip we will try the onion rings, we’re told they are fantastic as well. I also enjoyed a pint, which seemed to amplify the whole experience just a enough. (Great selection of beers on tap!) This is another one of those places where the experience is half the fun. We were there for an early lunch and there was an electric atmosphere.

Overall, I think Hodad’s lives up to the hype. It exceeded our high expectations! A lot of people call this one of the best burger joints in town and I have to agree. When you come make sure you leave yourself with plenty of time as there is often a line going down the street.

Located in North Park, Urban Solace provides a unique combination of fine dining and American comfort food. That isn’t a combination you often hear about. Yet, it is a fun combination that both warms the heart and satisfies the taste buds.

With unique menu items like Duckaroni (Cheese, pasta, and duck) and “Not Your Mama’s Meatloaf” you know you’re in the hands of an experienced, confident chef. (Both of those entrees are great!) There are just enough menu items here to give everyone in your party something fun to enjoy without overwhelming you with a million choices. Add to that very reasonable prices and live music and I’m confident you’ll be pleased with a trip to Urban Solace.

But this isn’t just a place for foodies to oogle over. This is an approachable neighborhood restaurant which feels miles away from the touristy areas of the city. Located just off of University on 30th Street, it’s really easy to get to. You’ll find a combination of neighborhood residents, tourists, business folks, and locals people enjoying great food, fantastic wait staff, and a fun-loving vibe nestled into an intimate bistro-like setting.

When planning a visit to Urban Solace I’d recommend calling ahead to reserve a table. If the weather is nice I highly suggest being seated outside. Come early, enjoy a pre-meal glass of wine and save room for dessert.

Extraordinary Desserts is a dessert lover’s paradise. While there are other items on the menu, dessert takes center stage. The desserts are homemade and the menu changes daily. The best word to describe the desserts is intense. Presentation is part of the package. Desserts are garnished with the likes of fresh fruit, colorful flower petals and sculpted chocolate. They are a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach.

On my last visit I ordered a scoop of homemade Very Vanilla Bean Ice Cream served with a generous heap of fresh raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. (I’m a self-described chocoholic but I was counting on my younger child not being able to finish his sinfully rich chocolate mousse…lucky for me, I was right.) Needless to say I walked out, better make that waddled out, with a happy belly.

Extraordinary Desserts is a unique stop for your next visit to downtown San Diego. Here are a few things you should be aware of before you visit:

• Extraordinary Desserts has two locations in downtown San Diego – Little Italy and Balboa Park (original location)
• Parking is limited to metered street parking
• Both locations are popular; prepare to wait in line to be seated
• A dessert and coffee may set you back about $10; in here it’s about the total experience