Road Tested: San Diego

Although this blog is first and foremost about Los Angeles dining, I ocassionally hit the road and would like to share some not-to-miss spots in areas outside of the city. This week, San Diego, and more specifically, the adorable town of Hillcrest. Here are two breakfast spots and a sushi restaurant that you must try if you're in the area.

CREST CAFE
A popular local haunt, Crest Cafe is a great eggs place - and you have plenty of options. I'm a fan of Mexican, so if I can get my "A.M. Ole" (as the menu section is so cleverly called), then I am a happy girl. Carolenas Corn Tortilla consists of 4 lightly fried corn tortillas filled with scrambled eggs, fresh salsa, jalapeno jack cheese, and avocado with a side of chopped mangos (which I sprinkled on top of the individual tortillas). This dish was a great mix of sweet and savory and didn't weigh me down. The salsa was fresh and chunky, as it should be (no Pace in sight) and the cheese was perfectly melted and gooey good!


You also can't go wrong with Cafe Eggs, which are scrambled with cheddar cheese, scallions, and bacon, served on a croissant. You have to be ready to make a mess with this flakey sandwich. Crest lets you choose between house potatoes or fresh (and they mean it!) fruit as a side.


Another great b-fast sandwich is the Morning Scrambled, taking the Cafe Eggs up a notch. Scrambled eggs are mixed with avocado, mushrooms, jack and cheddar (because two cheeses are always better than one), bacon, scallions and tomatoes. Now you're in the driver seat with the bread, choosing from wheat to a croissant and almost all that's in between.


Crest Cafe
425 Robinson Avenue
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 295-2510
$

THE MISSION*
You can smell the baker racks filled with freshly baked rosemary bread as soon as walk in the door. Prepare for at least a 20 minute wait, and they definitely won't seat you if your whole party isn't present. But trust me, the wait is well worth it. Unlike Crest, The Mission specializes in items fresh off the griddle. The Mission French Toast is as light and fluffy as French Toast can get. Not overpowered with an eggy taste, the cinnamon bread really shines in this dish. Every plate at Mission is a work of art, almost too pretty to eat. The restaurants signature berry puree dances against the white plate - and it tastes pretty darn good too.


The Cornmeal Blueberry Pancakes are moist and good to last bite. Served with two eggs and bacon, you better come hungry.


If you're feeling a little feisty, try the Plato Verde con Huevos. I'm not going to lie, these just barely missed the mark, but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. The one thing that brought this dish down were the slightly dried out sweet corn tamales. The tamales are served with black beans and two eggs over medium with a tangy roasted tomatillo sauces coating the eggs. Even with the slightly overcooked tamales, I managed to make this dish disappear pretty fast.


Other notable treats: $3 Cinnamon Roll or $2.50 Pecan Banana Bread

The Mission
2801 University Avenue
San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 220-8992
$

*technically located in North Park, about a 5 minute drive from Hillcrest


SUSHI DELI ONE
You know the saying, "you get what you pay for" - well, at Sushi Deli, you get a lot more. The most reasonably priced and great-tasting sushi I've had in a long time. Whether you're in the mood for a $2.95 California Roll, or one of their specialty rolls (most between the $5 and $9 mark and all unique), you really can't go wrong. Their creative menu includes tempura sweet potato rolls and Mexican inspired, cilantro infused, sushi. Delicious and worth every penny and then some. Get your Japanese fix without breaking the budget.

Sushi Deli One

228 West Washington

San Diego, CA 92103

(619) 231-9597

$