Another Award for Cafe Pacifica!

Cafe Pacifica recently achieved that rare distinction, making it one of only 723 restaurants in more than 300 North American cities to do so. The DiRoNA Award was established in 1990 to promote distinguished dining throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Its influence and stature, and the prestige of its award program, reflect a growing trend among consumers to seek restaurants that combine superlative experiences with excellent value. Cafe Pacifica along with George's at the Cove, Anthony's Star of the Sea, the Grant Grill, The Marine Room, Mille Fleurs, El Bizcocho and Rainwater's will be honored in Montreal, Canada, at the Grand Awards Gala ceremony September 26, 2001, and will receive the prestigious DiRoNA Award, presented by Distinguished Restaurants of North America. Clearly in that league, Cafe Pacifica first had to pass the rigorous 75-point criteria evaluation program conducted anonymously by one of DiRoNA forty independent inspectors.

Cafe Pacifica's Owner Keeps Tradition

One of the premier area restaurants of the last couple of decades is Cafe Pacifica, a delightful and award-winning restaurant housed in a landmark cottage in Old Town. Lauded by critics across the country as one of San Diego's very best, Cafe Pacifica was recently sold by the original owner to Frank Busic, who had been GM of the restaurant for almost nine years. Frank's intent is to be an "at the door" hands-on owner, greeting patrons, building rapport and overseeing operations.

This kind of personal attention translates into service and quality at its best. Cafe Pacifica is "where the natives go for fresh fish" as their slogan proclaims, and it's not just ordinary fish.

The menu here has always been a "cut above" featuring innovative preparations and presentations of seafood, some of it hard to come by in commercial circles.

You'll also love the ambiance here; intimate and charming, trimmed with tiny white lights, white linen and napkins and candlelight. The menu sparkles with delicious creativity. Take the appetizer highlights: Lobster Potstickers with Asian slaw and ginger dipping sauce; Shrimp and Crab Cakes over a papaya with mint and triple sec sauce; or the luscious Green Lip Mussels steamed in chardonnay/garlic and herbs.

Caesar Salad purists will more than approve of Cafe Pacifica's version with sourdough croutons, if they are not tempted instead by the incredibly tasty Sliced Pear and Caramelized Walnut Salad with farm greens and crumbled bleu cheese.

For your main course we suggest the Spicy Garlic Seafood Fettucine; Seared Swordfish over sesame rice and soy peanut glas; Seared Halibut stuffed with marinated ginger and crusted with sesame seeds over wasabi vinaigrette; and classic Bouillabaisse complete with lobster; Pan-Seared Sea Bass; and a legendary signature item, the Hawaiian Ahi (seared rare with shiitake mushrooms and ginger butter -- first created in the early-eighties by then chef Neil Stuart). Pasta, chicken and steak entrees are also featured. One of the specials here is the Prix Fixe Theatre dinner for $19, if ordered by 6:30pm. These dinners include soup or salad and a choice of several superb entrees. Enjoy this masterpiece of a restaurant at 2414 San Diego Avenue. Call (619) 291-6666.

Fodor's 2003 Restaurant Review Guide says:

"The airy Cafe Pacifica serves eclectic contemporary cuisine with an emphasis on seafood. Fresh fish is grilled with your choice of savory sauces. Other good bets include the Griddled Mustard Catfish, Bouillabaisse and Roasted Chicken rubbed with a Moroccan marinade.

The Creme Brulee dessert is worth blowing any diet for. Cafe Pacifica's wine list has recently received kudos from Wine Spectator Magazine."

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San Diego Magazine continually
names Cafe Pacifica as the city's

"Best Seafood Restaurant"

in the
Critics' Picks
(in the year 2000, too)