eating out by tim parks
May we recoMMend? Your Pride Dining Out Guide
Now that Pride is actually here and not just around the corner anymore, it’s time to put down that bottle of
Top of the Park
diet water and handful of Tic Tacs you’ve been sustaining yourself on since April. It’s time to eat some real food,
Located atop the historic Park Manor Suites at 525
and let us guide you on where to nosh, nibble and just plain pig out for the month associated with this annual
Spruce Street, Top of The Park offers a two-fold dining
event. No, alcohol is not a food group, but not to worry, drinks are included in this article.
experience and panoramic views of the cityscape.
On that note, while you are out enjoying some quality time at a local eatery, take pause to raise a toast, or
For lunch in the newly remodeled Top of the Park
fork, to the drag queens who started the Gay Rights movement with the Stonewall riots 40 years ago, and to
Penthouse, you can eye the greenery of Balboa Park
our own local community leaders and activists who afforded us the opportunity to come together as one and
on the outside patio, and complement the experi-
celebrate unity, lo, these many years. Let us now show you the hot spots that have become as synonymous
ence with healthy salads, such as the Tuna Nicoise
with Hillcrest and the surrounding area as LGBT is with Pride. Whatever your appetite calls for, just make sure
or a Pesto Salmon salad. There is also the option of
you save room for a safe and happy Pride.
dining indoors among their Hall of Mirrors on sand-
wiches in two poultry forms, with a Pumpernickel
Turkey Club or a California Chicken. Or, if you’d rather
not take a ride in the 1920s style elevator, make your
way to the lower level of the hotel and enjoy various
Contemporary American Cuisine dinners at the Inn
at the Park Restaurant and Bar.
Urban Mo’s
This establishment, formerly known as Hamburger
Mary’s, offers a bounty of ways to get you into Pride-
mode at 308 University Avenue. There are two bars
(one inside, one outside) to help you get your drink
on, a super-friendly wait staff, music that will wash
over you with heavy beats and diva-licious musical
flavors as savory as the food served inside or on the
outside patio. Have yourself a Mediterranean Burger
or Raspberry Chipotle Ranch Salad and perhaps
knock it back with a “Kick Ass Margarita,” and voila,
you can burn off any calories accrued on their dance
floor during their Detour Tea Dance every Sunday at
6:00 p.m.
Bite
city delicatessen & Bakery
Want to watch the portion control before you relin-
A Hillcrest landmark since 1984, City Deli is as comforting a sight on the corner
quish the restraints on your appetite with a Bratwurst
of 6th Avenue and 535 University Avenue as the food inside is. The aroma of a
in a bun at the festival? Then stop into Bite, located at
Spanish Omelet, Macaroni and Cheese or Southern Fried Chicken all mingle
1417 University Avenue. The mid-century-modern
through your nostrils and illicit memories of when your mother would slave over
lounge vibe is matched by a revolving menu of free-
a hot stove for hours preparing just these types of meals. Of course, these items
dom of choices with their tapas-style entrées. One
are served for breakfast, lunch and dinner, respectively. However, breakfast can
can opt to dine upon small “bites,” appetizers or more
be had anytime—perfect for those late nights out! For those of you trying to
ample plate meals from a menu largely influenced by
watch the waistline, there are vegetarian and lower-calorie items available, like
Northern Italian and French Bistro fare. Plus, they have
Spinach Lasagna and Baked Turkey Meatloaf.
a wine bar, sake cocktails and desserts too—oh my!
74 RAGE monthly | July 2009
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118