" Fine food and a good man go well
together at this Horton Plaza eatery"

The next time your boyfriend or husband suggests "dinner and a movie," go to Horton Plaza, check out the movie menu, then walk over to California Café and peruse the dinner menu. You and I know that he's probably thinking of treating you to the latest Jackie Chan movie and a hot dog on a stick. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

    Skip the film and spend the extra money (the price of the movie you saved) toward dinner at California Café.

    It’s sort of like spending the extra $40 and upgrading to first class at the airline gate. Sometimes you have to shell out just a little bit extra to get a whole lot more. California Café is on the top floor of Downtown’s Horton Plaza shopping center just across the way from a multi-plex movie theater. It’s too nice a dinner house to try and jam it in before a movie. You'll want to relax and enjoy it.

    Definitely California style cuisine, the menu swings all over the place in content. First courses include "Cornmeal Crusted Calamari" with a chipotle aioli, "Chicken Basil Potstickers" with a chile-soy vinaigrette, and "Smoked Chicken Springrolls." I tried all three, and all were excellent. I especially liked the calamari. With only a quick roll in the cornmeal, it was very light, and the chipotle aioli is a perfect side-kick. "Maryland-Style Crabcakes" tops the starters list at $8.95. That seems a bit steep, but you get two great big fat crabcakes on a bed of greens with a delicious mustard sauce; it’s good to share.

    The menu lists several salads and hits all the basics: "Caesar, Oriental Chicken" and a spinach salad. The big winner though is the hearts of romaine with blue cheese, spiced pecans and shaved sweet red onion ($5.95). I split this with my companion and ate way more than my fair share. (I love to say "with my companion" or "with my escort." It sounds so mysterious and exciting).

    California Café offers seven rather exotic pasta dishes, three of which are vegetarian. I liked the "Wild Mushroom Ravioli" with goat cheese and "Shitake Mushroom Chive Broth" ($10.95). I didn’t actually order it myself, but a man sitting at the table next to me ordered it and let me taste his. He was a good man.

    It is very hard to choose a main course; they all sound so good. Prime rib with fresh cut French fries ($18.95), "Grilled Swordfish with Sticky Ginger Rice and Pineapple-Papaya Salsa" ($17.95) or "Grilled Chicken Breast with Wild Mushroom Risotto" ($15.95). I tried the "Oak Roasted Rack of Pork" with sweet corn mashed potatoes ($16.95). It was moist and full of flavor. The potatoes let me down a little, but not enough to keep me from eating almost all of them.

    Chef Joseph Foley knows how to combine his flavors and textures. Even more, he knows how to write and execute a fine menu. The service was excellent. Our server has been with the company for more than five years and was enthusiastic about being there, rather unusual in the very transient restaurant world.

    The California Café is located on the top level of Horton Plaza. Most convenient structure parking is on level 7 Lemon.

by Terryl Gavre

If you've ever wanted to travel to a Far Eastern Japanese city to enjoy original Teppan-Yaki style cuisine, you’re not alone. But if, like me, your pocketbook's not fat enough and your lifestyle's not leisurely enough, here's a solution.

    To experience fabulous Teppan (iron grill) food, head over to Benihana in Mission Valley. Rumor has it, Benihana is more than a haven of exotic tastes and flavors. I’ve heard, from whispering lips and chattering mouths, that Benihana is one big food celebration. And since my recent journey there, I’ve found rumors can be true.

    When I sauntered in, I was taken aback by the sights - dainty waitresses in kimonos, running water streams and banzai greenery beneath wooden bridges, high ceilings adorned with oversized rice paper and wood-carved hanging lamps. I settled into a red leather (Could it have been vinyl?) lounge chair and asked about the house specialty, "Benihana Punch." It is rum, peach brandy, strawberry liqueur, orange and pineapple juices spun with a splash of grenadine. Delicious. My date sipped a "Blue Roof," Benihana's version of a Blue Hawaiian, only mixed with vodka, a bargain at $5 a mug.

    We were whisked to the dining room where the meal is prepared at huge hibachi grill tables right before your eyes. The chef performs a spectacular show of knife mastery and culinary ceremony from behind a bar surrounded by mesmerized diners. Everyone laughs, and I imagine our chef, Jiro, moonlighting as a stand-up comedian. He gets thunderous applause, amazing us with the many ways to juggle shrimp.

    Our dinner began with "Rocky's" ($4.50), a six-piece cooked roll filled with eel, avocado, cucumber and cream cheese. Although it took a while to reach our table, it was worth the wait. (Don't let a little thing like eel scare you off.) For the main course I ordered "Hibachi Chateaubriand" ($23.25), nine ounces of center cut tenderloin prepared in rich garlic butter. I hate clichés, but it really did melt in my mouth. My date reveled in "Benihana Marina" ($21.25), a plethora of shrimp, calamari and ocean scallops - very light, but very tasty.

    Entrées are preceded by onion soup - scallions and thinly sliced mushrooms in a light chicken broth - salad (very typical but the ginger-inspired dressing is a winner) and steamed rice. I suggest upgrading to the chicken fried rice ($2.50), practically a meal in itself. Entrées are followed by ice cream or sherbet and a soothing cup of green tea. Instead, I ordered "Banana Tempura" ($3.75), a lightly fried, tempura-dipped split banana sprinkled with powdered sugar topped with strawberry ice cream. You could then cap the evening with a little sake.

    The rumor is true; Benihana is one big celebration. But you don’t have to take my word for it; celebrate for yourself at Benihana, located at 477 Camino Del Rio South in Mission Valley.

by Jennifer Griffith

For those of us who eat out on a regular basis, Daily's is truly a blessing of delicious food that’s reasonably priced and healthy. Don't shudder at that last word - healthy can be flavorful and interesting. I promise, you won’t find dry bran muffins or cardboard-like rice cakes at Daily's. Having just celebrated its fifth anniversary, Daily's has expanded its list of specials, offering soup, salad, pasta, dessert and at least one special entrée or sandwich each day. (Customer recommendations often lead to specials becoming permanent items. )

    Diners will be pleased with Daily's selection of salads: the "Baja Flavors Pasta Salad" (penne, veggies and/or chicken, and beans in a spicy Baja dressing); the "Turkey Apple Salad" (lettuce with walnuts, apples, and roasted turkey in a nonfat honey mustard dressing); and the "Chinatown Chicken Salad" (grilled chicken breast with greens in a ginger/sesame dressing).

    We enjoyed the "Vegetable Caesar Salad" of grilled zucchini, eggplant and peppers, tossed in homemade dressing. The veggies were excellent, not too cold or charcoal-tasting, and a nice addition to a regular green salad. While it’s not your standard Caesar, the dressing brings it all together with a slightly spicy kick, and the whole dish rings in at only 6 grams of fat.

    We ordered the popular "Cajun Catfish" as our main entrée. Grilled to perfection, the choice cut was moist, fresh and deliciously seasoned and not too spicy. It’s served over black beans and brown rice with a side of corn relish.

    If you'd rather eat a sandwich, try the "Grilled Eggplant and Zucchini" with roasted red pepper spread on a fresh French baguette. It’s filling enough for lunch or dinner.

    Other menu items include the "Pocket," filled with grilled chicken breast, turkey breast, grilled fish, or marinated beef - as well as a chili-stuffed baked potato, garden veggie burger and pizzas. Daily's even has a pizza made with "vegetarian pepperoni."

    For drinks we tried a smoothie and the fresh-squeezed sparkling lemonade. The latter is ideal on a warm summer evening. If you’re a smoothie-lover, Daily's is a good deal at $2.75 for a large glass. Beer and wine are available.

    Don't forget dessert. This is Daily's, so go ahead. A traditional favorite is the "Fudgie Brownie Sundae," a brownie topped with frozen vanilla yogurt that tastes like soft-serve ice cream. (The whole dish contains less than 2 grams of fat.) Another treat is the lemon blueberry bread pudding, which also was topped with frozen yogurt.

    In general, menu items are priced between $3.99 and $5.99. Daily's has a cafe-style atmosphere, with booths inside and tables with umbrellas outside. After pondering the menu, you place your order and wait until your number is called.

    What is better than walking away from a fulfilling meal, dessert included, knowing your doctor would approve your choices? After all, Daily's owner and founder is Dr. Pat Daily, a local cardiac surgeon.

    Daily's is located at 8915 Towne Centre Drive in the Renaissance Shopping Centre. It offers delivery service in La Jolla through Mobile Waiter or takeout through the restaurant, as well as catering.

by Melissa Jacobs