r/FoodSanDiego • u/NamasteInYourLane • 2d ago
Question, Where can I find? Ambiance for the 'uncultured' palate
My husband has the palate of a sheltered, raised-in-a-tiny-town-in-the-Midwest 8-year-old (not even a dig; we laugh about this together). Think cheeseburgers plain 'n' dry, frozen-then-fried chicken strips with french fries and just ketchup, and club sandwiches (no mayo, no tomato). Any steak he orders is gonna be medium well. He's never met an aioli he wants to try ("too fancy"), and pork belly is wasted on him, cuz he'd just as readily accept a well done piece of pork butt smothered in "fresh" from the packet brown gravy.
Where can I take a man with such 'simple' taste that'll have a nice, romantic ambiance for his birthday? He'll do ethnic cuisine (because I like it), but, again it's "simple": chicken teriyaki over white rice at a sushi restaurant, chicken fried rice at Chinese or Thai. Chicken pho, no vegetables or green onions or accoutrements allowed. 😮💨Any ideas for 'simple' but an overall experience greatly appreciated! 🥺🙏 Oh, and I know 'burrito on a blanket on the beach'. . . but we're both spoiled locals that hate the hassle and only visit the beach maybe once a year. . . for our kid. Parking/ walking/ sand isn't our idea of a good time (now's the time to throw the stones 🙈).
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u/jbarinsd 1d ago
Look at any of the Consortium Holdings group of restaurants. They’re all about ambiance. Check out the menus and see if there is something he could tolerate. Honestly it sounds like a really nice/expensive place would be wasted on him. My brother in law is the same way. Palate of a child. Mustard is “too spicy” for him. My sister has given up and for special occasions they’ll go have drinks at sunset somewhere where he can order a Bud Light. Maybe that’s an idea for you too?
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u/Unable_Gas3641 1d ago
Riviera Supper Club? Fun old school steak house vibes lots of easy on the palate sides (mac and cheese, mashed potatoes etc) but great cocktails and a fun night out.
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u/CoysNizl3 1d ago
Divorce
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u/NamasteInYourLane 1d ago
🤣 I was in the restaurant industry when I met him. When I took him out to West steakhouse (RIP) for his birthday and he ordered his steak well done, no butter, A1 on the side, and a draft Bud Light . . .
I DEFINITELY had second thoughts about where the relationship was headed. 🥴
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u/El_Guap 1d ago edited 1d ago
Hunter Steak house in Carlsbad. Very, very classic cuisine. They do a table side salad. My folks from Montana and Minnesota enjoy it. Well, it’s not fancy ambience it’s clean and standard and a solid restaurant without being too foo-foo. He’ll fit right in there.
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u/Economy-Dog6306 1d ago
And it's built on an Indian graveyard.
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u/Coriandercilantroyo 1d ago
It was a pioneer cemetery, not native. And it's technically Oceanside
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u/Economy-Dog6306 1d ago
https://historiesandmysteries.blog/tag/hunter-steakhouse/
Technically South Oceanside, neither Oside nor Cbad.
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u/_sunnysky_ 1d ago
I have the same palate due to sensory issues. My husband's a chef and, thankfully, doesn't judge anyone's taste in food.
Take him to Texas Roadhouse and let him enjoy some chicken critters and rolls.
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u/NamasteInYourLane 1d ago
I think you and another poster are spot on: maybe I'm wanting the ambiance for me, when he'd be pleased as punch celebrating his birthday in a Benihana or Texas Roadhouse. Thanks for your reply that helped give me a different perspective! 🙇♀️
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u/gigantes22 1d ago
Get him the cheese fries with bacon, so amazing. From another person with an 8 year olds palate.
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u/Sweet_Future 1d ago
It's okay to want ambience. You don't need to sacrifice what you want to only please him. Any restaurant could make a plain, basic meal even if it's not on the menu. I think you should pick a restaurant that you would find romantic and he will make do.
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u/Putrid-Influence9909 1d ago
Every single spot that I can think of is also dive-y and not romantic. Super interested in suggestions that might come up, though. Who doesn't love an occasional tendie night out? 🤣
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u/Permanenceisall 1d ago
I was gonna say The Balboa on fifth but, yeah….
Romance is hard when sitting on high stools
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u/paulbears67 1d ago edited 1d ago
The Red Fox in City Heights might fit the bill. You can walk across the street and walk through or have a cocktail at the Lafayette Hotel too.
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u/ned_luddite 1d ago
Kudos to you and you are awesome for the ask.
My relatives are 5th generation Texans, so Tom Hams. Ambience is amazing-food will be OK.
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u/TonyWrocks 1d ago
My only suggestion is the Turf Supper Club in Golden Hill, but my wife and I are also basic like this and we'd never go to Turf because we'd prefer Humberto's or even Luigi's across the street for a burrito or a slice of pizza at 1/3 of the price.
It all comes out the same the next day anyway - regardless of how much you paid for it.
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u/jelloisalive 1d ago
The Remy in mission valley. It’s sign says “cocktails and meat” and it doesn’t disappoint
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u/babypinkbot 1d ago
I think he’d like Turf Supper Club. Grill your own steak with good cocktails. Chill ambiance, retro decor!
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u/Key_Piece_1343 1d ago
Most of the expensive Italian restaurants in Little Italy have a flavor of pizza that is pretty tolerable. Just order them without the novelty ingredients. Usually pretty good, too.
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u/NudeRecreation 1d ago
Congratulations to the Birthday Boy! He doesn’t look a day over 30! (Probably, lol).
For me, Chicken Pie Shop is perfect for that “uncultured” palate. Unfortunately, it has the romantic ambiance of grandma and grandpa’s house. Has parking lot and street parking.
Or Asian style in University City next to UTC : PF Changs is romantic with a dark interior and enough menu choices that you should be able to enjoy whichever you and he decide on
Cheers!
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u/OtherSideReflections 1d ago edited 1d ago
Someone mentioned Fortunate Son, which is perfect—this subreddit hates it, but mostly because it's American-style Chinese food, which your husband will like. Fried rice, lo mein, and stuff like dumplings and kung pao if he's feeling "adventurous." Ambience is great due to the absolutely gorgeous decor.
If he likes pasta, Cesarina is a great option for several reasons: Great pasta, great vibes, extremely accommodating, and they have a "make your own pasta dish" option that's perfect for him.
Mister A's menu is probably a little too highfalutin for him overall, but the panoramic city views are outstanding, they've got steaks, and the mac 'n' cheese might be right up his alley—it's one of the best versions I've ever had.
On the simpler ambience but simpler food side, I can't recommend Common Stock enough. I've been four times and everything I've had is top-notch. They have fried chicken and cheeseburger options which should be good for your husband. Get the brussels too, even if you're the only one who'll eat them. Phenomenal.
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u/ProstheTec 1d ago
What you do is go out to dinner somewhere like La Jolla or North Park, pick a place with some basic bitch food like a tavern or brewery, then go out for fancy drinks.
I recommend Hennessy's tavern in la Jolla, then picking up some desserts and drinks at Le Coq.
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u/Alert-Pressure-567 1d ago
My husband is similar but will venture out anywhere he just eats the most simple stuff on the menu. I vote a steak house or Italian restaurant if he eats pasta.
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u/Missmessc 1d ago
Carvers in Rancho Bernardo. It's a classic steak house with the sides you would expect. No trickery is going on here. Another suggestion is Mystique Dinning in LA Jolla. You will get dinner and a show.
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u/tmoney144 1d ago
South Beach in OB. Has a great view of the water, and you can order nachos, burgers, or fish and chips.
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u/cincacinca 1d ago
Old school place to consider, Cafe La Maze Steakhouse on Highland in National City.
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u/Glittering-Word-161 1d ago
Turf , steak and garlic bread , and a dirty martini that’s all you need
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u/CurReign 1d ago edited 1d ago
Prado has a kids menu.
Also maybe Red Fox Room. It's a dimly lit piano bar with pretty simple meat and potato kind of food.
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u/AttemptVegetable 1d ago
Don't fix him. Buy him canned and frozen food and make yourself good food. Eventually, he'll want a bite.
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u/Saintpatty92 1d ago
The Riviera, Buckboards, Grand Old BBQ, Hodads, Surfrider Pizza, Black Angus, Felipe’s Pizza
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u/Baconfatty 1d ago
why not something like Born n Raised? steakhouse style menu and such, sit upstairs it is absolutely gorgeous.
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u/or6a2 1d ago
I worked at coasterra for a year and while expensive for what it is it hits on everything you want. The kids can get a burger or tenders with fries and your husband can too. Or he can get the flank steak well done with rice and beans. You can get a better quality steak or fish, chicken meal. Call ahead and tell them the occasion and ask for seats outside overlooking the bay and city skyline and I'm sure they will help you out. Best of luck
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u/Trespalmas602 20h ago
I would make food at home. Chicken enchiladas, Pot roast in the crock pot. He may eat veggies if they are cooked all to hell…
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u/chakabuku 14h ago
What about The Butcher Shop in Kearny Mesa? Gets no simpler than steak and potatoes.
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u/LocallySourcedWeirdo 1d ago
- Calls themselves "spoiled locals"
- Cannot think of a single basic restaurant
- Can't be troubled to go to the beach
You guys are paying an awful lot of money to not know or enjoy this area. Maybe have your anniversary in Cincinnati where it's much cheaper to be this basic.
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u/NamasteInYourLane 1d ago
I'm born and raised. I'm self-admittedly spoiled, because the beach has been my backyard since I was born in a beach town in San Diego decades and decades (and decades) ago. HENCE, I prefer mountains and forest trees as 'breath-taking ambiance', vs the view 10 minutes away I literally grew up with. I can think of PLENTY of 'basic' restaurants; I worked in the restaurant industry in San Diego for more years than you've probably even resided here. 😒
My question was for a 'basic' restaurant with a romantic ambiance- if you have no other "helpful" suggestions other than telling me to MOVE FROM MY HOMETOWN to make way for pedantic assholes like you to move in. . . Well, I say you can go back to whatever 'basic' town YOU were born in, and leave the discussion to people who might actually have new suggestions for us to try.
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u/NormanMushariJr 1d ago
To be fair, you did close with "now is the time to throw stones" but I didn't expect to see them slinging one right at poor Cincinnati 😆 their downtown was surprisingly pretty rad the one time I went there for work.
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u/NamasteInYourLane 1d ago
I'd actually LOVE to visit Cincinnati (and Chicago, and Atlanta, and New Orleans, and other big cities I've never had the pleasure of experiencing), just to eat and drink my way through them. 👀
This is my home, however: I was born here, my husband and I both graduated from SDSU, we've built our life here from the ground up, and have fought to be able to raise our kids here (because we had such a privileged upbringing being raised in So Cal due to the culture and weather, and will sacrifice until the end to give that to our kids, too).
Someone suggesting I move from MY HOMETOWN because my husband prefers frozen/ fried 'tendies' to fresh (not farmed! Heathens!) pan seared salmon in a beurre blanc sauce with seasonal vegetables and sauteed fennel really pissed me off (clearly 🙈). Is there no room for the yokel locals anymore??!
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u/NormanMushariJr 1d ago
Maybe take a look at The Butcher Shop Steakhouse? Let the man up sauce up a well done steak with a pile of mashed potatoes, garlic bread, and wash it all down with a Sprite in a dimly lit steakhouse away from prying eyes.
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u/NamasteInYourLane 1d ago
I love this- thank you. I'm looking up each and every one of these 'basic' steakhouses being suggested to me. I really do want this to be exciting and new for us, even if the food kinda sucks when held up to modern day, "foodie" standards.
He sacrifices his enjoyment at 'fancy' restaurants for occasions that honor me; I'm really just trying to return the favor. 😭
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u/ohthewerewolf 1d ago
I’ve been here since I was 5 (37 now) and you’re not alone in not liking the beach. I haven’t stepped on one in like 15 years lmao
I’d rather head to the mountains and desert 🤷🏻♀️
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u/NamasteInYourLane 1d ago
Nice edit to 'have your anniversary in' vs MOVE TO. . . because even YOU realized telling a born and bred local to MOVE because we, as a couple, no longer meet the 'aesthetic' cropping up around us is off putting and elitist. 😒
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u/klughn 1d ago
Does he eat pasta? Maybe a nice Italian restaurant and he can get spaghetti or something.