I consider myself a Downtown girl. I eat, breathe, sleep, play, and work Downtown San Diego. There is so much to do and see, and I get my nerdy history fix with all of the tourist attractions such as the William Heath Davis House, the architecture and stories of The Gaslamp Quarter’s past, the U.S.S. Midway and Maritime Museum, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade. I can’t get enough of the nightlife and dining options…so many things to do!! BUT, it’s important to get out of my comfort zone every once in a while, hence, the reason I started Restaurant Hops in La Jolla and North Park. Both amazing neighborhoods with so much to offer!
I recently hosted my first La Jolla Hop a few days ago for a group of girls celebrating a bachelorette party. They were from Noth County San Diego, and like many people, didn’t really venture out of their respective neighborhoods to explore. Hanging out in other ‘hoods makes you feel as if you’re taking a mini vacay. If I was stuck in San Diego for the rest of my life with no means of traveling to another city, I wouldn’t complain. 
Anyway, they requested that I plan a Restaurant Hop closer to where they were coming from, so I proposed to take them to La Jolla! La Jolla is known as the “Jewel” of Southern California. Geographically, it is breathtaking with the cove, cliffs, and 7 caves you can kayak into, and since the beginning of its development back in the 1880′s, the village has developed into what most people refer to it as the Beverly Hills of San Diego. The streets are lined with art galleries, fine dining restaurants, and great shopping boutiques!
We started off the tour at the oh, so cute Whisknladle Bar & Bistro. If this restaurant were a cute chubby-cheeked kid, I’d pinch the cheeks right off of it! The dining room is situated on a covered patio right on Wall and Girard Avenue, and as you walk into the building, the bar and kitchen take over the rest of the space. It’s a small restaurant, but you really feel like your in someone’s patio. I love it! The girls arrived in their matching pink necklaces, and I escorted them to their table. We got them 2 pitchers of sangria to kick off the night, and soon after the food was out! I got them the signature Caesar Salad which is prepared with their home made dressing, the flat breads that are baked daily a la chef’s will, and the Tagliatelle Bolognese, a must-try! The staff was amazing, and we were soon on our way to the next restaurant!
We walked accross Girard Ave., the “Rodeo Drive” of La Jolla, and through a beautifully lit arcade that resembled an old Spanish mission. The girls took some pictures, and then we arrived at the second stop, Vigilucci’s, an elegant Italian restaurant on the second floor on Prospect.
This restaurant is gorgeous with views to the water, and it doesn’t hurt that the super Italian men are so quick to compliment and kiss familiar faces on each cheek. They really know how to make a girl feel special! We had an area where we sat and sipped on wine and beer and tasted their delicious bruschetta with vegetables that had a medly of mushrooms and peppers, the light and fresh penne con spinaci, and a homemade meatball that literally melts in your mouth. I felt like I was in Italy in this restaurant. They even have a beautiful wine room and a waterfall on the way to the restroom.
After Vigilucci’s, I had planned for the girls to finish the night off at Prospect Bar and Grill. It’s another second story restaurant with a beautiful patio with views to the ocean. When we arrived, there was a girl playing the acoustic guitar and singing on the patio. The amiance in this restaurant is relaxed and modern. On Fridays, a local radio station throws a party there, so people were arriving little by little. You could definitely sense that “the night’s gonna be a good night.”
Once the girl finished her set, they started the DJ with some good reggae beats…people’s heads started boobing and laughter and cheer filled the air. The girls ordered from a choice of well drinks, wine, or beer. They were served the yummy caprese salad, bites of probably the best chicken sandwich I’ve ever tasted, the Chicken Pesto Sandwich, and the cevice, a mixture of raw fish, pico de callo, and lime juice. Yum! The night was still young, and the girls were just getting warmed up. They were having fun, and couldn’t thank me enough for the fun night! My job there was done, and after seeing all of them chowing down on the food, I was pretty hungry myself (I don’t participate on the hops 
).
I headed to Old Town to Harney Sushi because they serve dinner until midnight. Ate, laughed with my friend, and called it a night. Entertaining could be exhausting! Wheew…
If you would like me to plan your “outing” with friends or coworkers, give me a call! I love doing it! (619) 233-8687
