San Diego & Around - California - page 1550

( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 619-239-2222; 505 Laurel St, Bankers Hill; mains lunch $10-23, dinner
$12-28; 11:30am-2pm Tue-Fri, 5-9pm Sun & Mon, 5-10pm Tue-Thu, 5pm-midnight Fri & Sat)
In this corner place with modern rustic ambience, business gets done, celebrations get cel-
ebrated and friends hug and kiss over refined yet affordable Cal Ital cooking. Look for
short rib pappardelle, pizzas like foraged mushroom with taleggio cheese and braised
leeks, and smart cocktails and local 'brewskies'.

Fred's MEXICAN
( GOOGLE MAP ; 619-858-8226; 2470 San Diego Ave; mains $9-15; 11am-11pm Sun, Mon, Wed

& Thu, to midnight Tue, Fri & Sat)
Every night, party people on a budget crowd into raucous Fred's.

Old Town Mexican Café MEXICAN
( GOOGLE MAP ; 619-297-4330; www.oldtownmexcafe.com ; 2489 San Diego Ave; mains $4-16;

7am-2am; )
Rowdy and always crowded.

El Agave MEXICAN
( GOOGLE MAP ; 619-220-0692; www.elagave.com ; 2304 San Diego Ave; lunch mains $12-20; din-
ner mains $22-40; 11am-10pm; )
Subdued, sophisticated El Agave has superb mole and a whopping 1500 different tequila
varieties.

North Park & Hillcrest

San Diego's restaurant scene is booming in these neighborhoods north of Downtown.

Bread & Cie BAKERY, CAFE
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; www.breadandcie.com ; 350 University Ave, Hillcrest; mains $6-11;
7am-7pm Mon-Fri, to 6pm Sat, 8am-6pm Sun; )
Aside from crafting some of San Diego's best breads (including anise and fig, kalamata
black olive and three-raisin), this wide-open bakery-deli makes fabulous sandwiches with