Pinto Thai

Outstanding Yellow Curry and Thai Fried Rice at Pinto Thai in Ramona! First time trying their yellow curry and it was really good. Made with taters, carrots and onion with your choice of protein. Incredibly hearty and richly flavored.

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P. F. Chang’s

Excellent Handmade Pork Dumplings at P. F. Chang’s in San Diego’s Fashion Valley Mall! Such a beautiful restaurant, inside and out, with great service. Nestled in the far off northeast corner of the property, it’s definitely the easiest place to find a parking spot. Especially this time of year.

Mi Guadalajara

Outstanding enchilada and tamal combination plate at Mi Guad in Esco! I’m really looking forward to visiting again in December to enjoy all of their beautiful Christmas decorations and huge centerpiece tree.

Iron Pan Thai Kitchen

First time visiting Iron Pan Thai Kitchen in Poway and I was not disappointed! I enjoyed an order of tasty “Crispy Rolls” and Crab Fried Rice. The fried rice dish yielded an ample amount of leftovers for my teenager. Dining in is super small, however intimate and comfortable. Service was very good and friendly.

D’Carlos

I just have to say, the new “Taco Tuesday” at D’Carlos certainly lives up to the hype! Your choice of two tacos featuring a variety of protein choices, thoughtfully plated with a side of rice & beans (omitted) plus a daub of guacamole and lime wedges. I particularly loved the soft, supple flour tortillas. The standout for me was their surprisingly good house made chips & salsa. Definitely giving Nuevo Girl a run for their money. Icing on the cake was 25% off margaritas all day.

Mamma Ramona’s

Outstanding “Lasagna Al Forno” at Mamma Ramona’s! This place really excels at baked pasta dishes. I’ve had many of them and all are delicious. I love their fresh wooden bowl salads. I think it makes it taste better for some reason. Garlic bread hot out of the oven is always abundant and tasty. And the best deal going right now is $5 glasses of all their wines, everyday! There are a number of nice, local Ramona wines to choose from.

Mariscos Mar de Cortez

Excellent Chimichanga, roughly the size of a small baby, at Mariscos Mar de Cortez in Ramona! It’s a deep fried beef burrito liberally adorned with fresh guacamole & sour cream, plus enough cheese to stop me up for a week. Such a fantastic meal.

The Pioneer Woman Mercantile

Last July, Lady FoodObs embarked on a road trip to Texas to help with some familial things. She detoured her return trip to visit her most favorite small town in North America – Pawhuska, Oklahoma! I’ve been once; she’s been several times. We both dearly adore The Pioneer Woman Mercantile. The Merc’ combines a restaurant, bakery, deli and general store all wrapped in small-town hospitality. Lady FoodObs’ stunning image of her Pecan Sticky Bun in the upstairs bakery was my favorite of her whole trip.

Pernicano’s Ristorante

A San Diego institution since 1946, Pernicano’s has been a staple of family style Italian cuisine. This location here in Rancho Penasquitos was established in 1977. I enjoyed an outstanding lunch portion Spaghetti Bolognese! Includes salad and a side of their legendary house made hot rolls.

Par Lounge and Deck

The Par Lounge and Deck has another new menu that’s recently been met with some controversy. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it! Although I’m sad to see some of their stalwart classics evaporate, I was most impressed with some of their latest contemporary additions. I order steamed mussels all over and their new offering is exquisite! Highly recommended. Thoughtfully prepapred with a flavorful white wine, citrus, butter, chili & herb broth. I’m going to order a double side of that crostini next time to maximize all the soppage. Really impressed by the quality of mussel. Not the typical small, mealy black mussels. These are truly top shelf and a standout for Ramona fare.

Forever a fan of their classic wedge salad, I had to try the new spin, simply called “Blue”. Not shaped like a wedge, but more of a steak or filet of chilled, crisp iceberg. Beautifully topped with avocado, bacon, blue cheese crumbles, tomato, balsamic drizzle and daubs of pesto. No need to order this one “chopped”. It’s easy and fun to eat plus super tasty. Pasta dishes have been reduced to one, the “Bolognese”. My son ordered that and it was outstanding. San Marzano tomato, Calabrian chili oil, and grana padano over rigatoni. Very meaty, a hearty portion and stayed hot throughout. The pasta was slightly past al dente but overall an excellent dish. Nothing bland here, that I can tell you!