Date 34: Craft & Commerce

This great little restaurant reminds me of a library-turned-speakeasy.

It sits on the outskirts of the vibrant Little Italy neighborhood, 

but doesn't take reservations

so I had been waiting for the perfect time to try this place.

We ended up meeting my sister and her boyfriend

for a slightly early Saturday night dinner one weekend.

It was perfect. There was relatively no wait.

But both the indoor and streetside seating were full and lively.

While we enjoyed the entrees we ordered for dinner,

we absolutely loved their creative cocktail menu

and flavorful appetizers.

I'm pretty sure my bacon wrapped date obsession

was born here. 

  

 

Insider Tips: 

Sit up at the bar and watch the bartender mix up 

all sorts of custom drinks with egg yolk and other fun ingredients.

Oh and make your way over to the bathroom... there's a delightful little treat in there. 

Date 33: Gingham

While I'm sure there are a handful of neighborhood favorites,

La Mesa doesn't top my list when looking for good eats.

But a relatively young restaurant on La Mesa Blvd has me looking for excuses to head East.

We've since been to Gingham to try their lunch/dinner menu,

but during our first visit there last summer,

we hit up their Sunday brunch with my sister and her boyfriend.

In the same family as Herringbone, Burlap, Gaberdine and Searsucker

(all on our list of favorites),

this East County eatery serves up a cowboy's take

on some of our favorite dishes.

 

Pulled Pork Eggs Benedict.

Yes, it's just as amazing as you're dreaming about.

Beautiful decor. Fun atmosphere. Unique dishes. 

And oh-so-delicious 

Date 32: Domenic's

Having eaten pasta multiple times a day while we were in Italy,

we were having major withdrawls shortly after we got home.

We had driven past a little Italian place called Domenic's almost daily,

but it's an unassuming place that had never really caught our attention.

Our quest for Italian food brought us there

and HO-LY YUM.  

 

The atmosphere is authentic.

The garlic knots are delish.

And the Spaghetti all'Amatriciana rivals anything we tasted in Italy itself.

I'll cut to the chase.

We don't drive right on past this place anymore.

What a little gem.

And right down the street from our house... :)