Places to eat in Coronado

3 more images

There are a few fast food stalls throughout the Ferry Landing Market Place, and though it's not exactly a stall, the healthiest of the fast food choices is Spiro’s Gyros, serving Greek fast food. I'm only calling it fast food because quite a few people just order to go and then eat in the park watching a group of musicians entertain. They offer a very small inside dining area and a huge outside patio that is covered and popular. I always prefer outside, so suggest that.

Convenient and inexpensive. Eat at one of their tables outside on their big patio area or walk over to the park or onto the sand to enjoy the ocean breeze and the sites. Also there are coffee kiosks for something lite after your meal.

Favorite Dish: Hummos and the Greek Salad are my favorites here.

They also offer Gyros, souvlaki, tzatziki, seafood, chicken, lamb, and beef on the menu, so you'll surely find something that you like too.

The Market Cafe is one of three restaurants at Lowes Coronado Bay Resort that is open to the public as well as to the guests of the resort.

Lowes is a Resort Hotel at the southern end of Coronado, about three miles south of the center of town. Also, it is isolated from the shopping and dining found in the city. To make up for this, lowes has offered a friendly atmosphere with shopping and dining options that seem self-sustaining.

The name, Market Cafe, is appropriate. It is sort of a combination, convenience store, deli and an elegant, but casual, full service restaurant. The restaurant is a bit separated but to get there you do walk through the store/deli. They offer indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor section is small so not always available.

I especially like the dockside terrace seating over looking the marina but dining inside next to a big window will give about the same view of the marina..

The others to choose from are Mistral; La Cantina Bar & Grill, located poolside.

Favorite Dish: Market Cafe opens at 6 a.m. and closes at 10:00 p.m. During those hours breakfast, lunch and dinner are served. Brunch is offered every Sunday.

The food is really nice. My favorite was their huge Cobb Salad with a glass of white wine. They give bread at seating and the service was efficient and friendly.

This is a relatively new restaurant in the Ferry Landing Market Place, but has been here a while now and seems very popular. It is not a place I would normally go to, but as my granddaughter's birthday party was held here I, of course, did come here and shared in a meal.

The location is convenient and is especially good for people who want to order something to-go and eat on the grass or sand near by. Also it is a great venue for large parties. It is very casual and the employees are very accommodating and friendly.

The dining area is a huge outdoor, partially covered, patio and heaters are supplied for those colder days/evenings. The whole patio is surrounded by a wall of glass, so the wind doesn't pose a problem.

At dinner time on a Friday night the wait for a table was about 45 minutes and the wait for a pizza was 45 minuts but I think that is not the norm during the week.

Favorite Dish: The food was good enough, but not the flavors I paricularly prefer. Everyone at our table commented how good things tasted.

The menu offers lots of choices, some are not the usual fare at most Pizza places, but interesting nonetheless. I just ordered their house salad with basalmic vinaigrette on the side. It was very tasty and more than lettuce and tomatoes. I tasted a bite of my sister's Eggplant Parmigiana, my granddaughter's Fettuccini Alfredo with chicken and had a slice of the huge (28 inches) pizza, my son and daughter-in-law ordered. The Eggplant was bland as was the marinara sauce on the spaghetti. The Fettuccini Alfredo had some extra herbs/spices from what I'm used to and the items on the pizza were different from what I would normally order. Having said that, I will say that the food was not bad, just not my personal preference.

If you are not picky as I seem to be, I'd say that it's a good place to go, especially because the employees are so welcoming and helpful.

A few tables along Orange Avenue and ten or more linen covered tables fill the interior of this smaller sized restaurant. Understated is the word that comes to mind.

How it got it's name I haven't a clue. (Thank you Shrimp56!! She just answered my question and said, "The Rhinoceros Cafe is named after a play by Eugene Ionesco." Thanks Sally!!)

Rhinoceros has been in Coronado for about 16 years and it seems to attract more locals than tourists and even famous people--once I saw Shari Belafonte come in for dinner. The food is good and though the atmosphere reeks "class," the employees are very sweet and casual, making this a comfortable dining experience.

Favorite Dish: What to order? Anything on the menu!

The chef is an excellent cook and the flavors are impressive. Penne a la Vodka, their specialty is what I'd suggest, $9.95 on the lunch menu and $15.00 at the dinner hour.
Sautéed mushrooms in a vodka-tomato cream sauce makes this Penne dish memorable. Other lunch items I've had over the years are, Rhino Burger and Cobb Salad.

At dinner I've enjoyed the Thai Chicken salad, Filet Mignon, Poached salmon in wine and of course the Penne a la Vodka.

White zinfandel by Beringer goes for $28.00 a bottle and $8.00 a glass. My other favorite, Gewurtztraminer, is the same price.

3 more images

On the southeast corner of Orange Avenue and First Street this coffeehouse offers a resting place after the long walk from the Hotel Del to the Ferry Landing Market Place.

The view would be spectacular had they not built the huge condos on the bay side of First Street.

However, sitting outside of Tartine you can have a glimps of the bay/San Diego skyliine if you stretch your neck. Don't despair, there is a small park next to this condo complex and if the view is what you want, order your coffee and walk across the street to enjoy both the coffee and the view.

I've eaten in the dining area inside, only once when it was really rainy and windy. I didn't particularly care for it but lots of other people seem to prefer it.. The staff is young and brisk, but not unfriendly. Sometimes, if you order a meal it will take a while, but I think that is usual at coffee house type places anyway.

Favorite Dish: Tartine sells gourmet sandwiches, salads, wine, pastries and desserts, but it is the coffee I go for. Okay. Sometimes the decadent desserts too.

Update:

Tartine now serves dinner as well as breakfast and lunch.

New sidewalk cafes and coffee shops are popping up along Orange Avenue almost every time I drive up the road. A few years ago there were only a few, but now there are so many being added that I can't keep track. Some of these are full restaurant type cafes and some are simply a coffee shop. Which ever, they are great for a refreshing stop while shopping and interesting for those who enjoy people watching.

I have two favorites, the one shown in the photo, which is located on a small side street off Orange Avenue. It is part of the El Cordova complex across the street from the Hotel Del. It's a quieter place, but the scene on this part of Orange Avenue can still be seen. The other I especially like is located at the other end of Coronado on the corner of First and Orange. it offers coffees, teas a few lunch type items and really nice desserts. There is a partial view of the San Diego skyline from here and if you wanted a better view order to go and take it across the street to the park.

There are many more but can't name them all. Take a look and choose the one you like, then relax. This is a gracious town with many lovely things to see while having a meal or sipping a cafe mocha.

Favorite Dish: My favorite thing to order is a Cafe Mocha or espresso and a rich dessert after having lunch at another place.

2 more images

This, as the Bay Beach Cafe, was one of my favorites for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The decor was nautical, heavy on sailing/yacht racing memorabilia, with outside dining on the deck over looking the San Diego Bay and the food was good, not too expensive.

Now it is a Mexican restaurant uniquely offering a Nouvelle cuisine. Located on the northeast shore of Coronado Island, on the San Diego Bay side. This restaurant still has the wonderful view of the San Diego skyline and is just off the Ferry Boat Landing Pier. The style of the place is very different from before but intriguing nonetheless.

I happened to be in the area the other night and noticed something interesting. Candela's in Coronado offers a really nice and unique dining experience for larger groups. They will cater a party right on the sand outside of there restaurant if you'd like. I don't know the specifics, but saw one of these parties and thought it was great. Cloth covered tables, a full bar, a small group of musicians to entertain and waiters to take care of every one.

There is also a Candela's in the downtown area near The Gaslamp:

416 3rd Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 702-4455

Just to let people know, the Bay Beach Cafe has closed, but the view of San Diego’s skyline is awesome still. Especially at night with the city glowing in lights.

Favorite Dish: I haven't eaten here yet but it looks interesting. I've heard some pretty good things about Candela's but keep in mind that it is not the average Mexican cuisine you'll find here.

At first I had the impression that the prices were really high here. I stopped by the other evening and took a look at their menu and the prices were about right, not too high at all.

They do offer an Early Bird special and Happy Hour, which drops the price of things 50%. So if their menu prices are a bit much for your budget, these are great ways to sample the experience of dining here.

Once I have the oppotunity to try out the menu, well, I mean check out the food, I'll let you know.

Not only is this a sports bar, but they are opened for breakfast too.

Breakfast:
Saturday & Sunday of the College & NFL season
from 9:30 AM til Noonish!

Happy Hour:
4-6 PM Monday - Friday
(Except Holidays)