If you know me, you know I love to tell you about all of my (and Kent's) favorite restaurants, plant stores, wine bars, etc. when I teach my group classes. I have often thought I should put them on my website because I have people texting me all the time for recommendations, soooo... here you go!!
(They're all great and not listed in any particular order, click on button to go to individual websites.)
(They're all great and not listed in any particular order, click on button to go to individual websites.)
Restaurants we like to dine at:
The Cup - locals only (jk) Kent and I walk here at least once a week for breakfast. We share the Breakfast Sammie add avocado on a toasted everything bagel - so good!! I really like their ice tea, it's hibiscus. They also have beer on tap and carry some interesting hard ciders etc.
P.S. Calen (owner's son), his wife and two darling kids live catty corner to us.
P.S. Calen (owner's son), his wife and two darling kids live catty corner to us.
The Miller's Table -
Orfila - Yes, this is a wine tasting room but I have to say Chef Luke is why Kent and I go here often and attend most all of his wine pairing dinners. Chef Luke is a magician in the kitchen making unique and interesting food along with yummy charcuterie boards and delicious flatbreads. His Crispy Brussels are to die for and we LOVE his Japanese Sweet Potatoes!
Wrench and Rodents - Don't even go there with the name (I don't get either?!?) BUT, I do know that this is the VERY best sushi I have ever eaten (and I have eaten a lot of sushi in my life). Davin and Jessica Waite own 3 Oceanside restaurants (the other two are below) and all three are superior. They recently update the interior here and it looks great! They also have more seating then before because you can sit on the back patio for both restaurants now (Whet Noodle shares the building). We almost always order Omakase style, which means the sushi chef chooses what to serve you, and it NEVER disappoints.
The Whet Noodle - The second Waite restaurant and it share the building with Wrench and Rodent. I LOVE the Hungry Vegan Ramen (I add 2 halves of soft boiled eggs to mine). To be honest, Kent usually orders from Wrench and Rodent when we go to the back patio. Isn't it great to have that option??
The Plot - Waite Restaurant #3. This is Jessica's baby and it's completely vegan as is she. They grow much of the produce in the garden that is part of the property and Davin has created a mind-blowing plant-based menu. I'm really looking forward to them adding lunch hours because it's hard for me to get Kent here. He doesn't mind plant-based food (as a side dish) but prefers some animal protein along with it.
We love to hit Grubbys on Sundays and have their Mimosa's (the have 3 different sizes that largest called a "manmosa", served in a pint glass!). My favorite burrito here is the Workout Burrito. It's made with egg whites, spinach, avocado wrapped in a wheat tortilla (of course I add cheese to it). Kent likes the ABC (avo, bacon, cheese) omelet. We love the owners here, Raschelle and Justine and appreciate the support they've have given Be Well in the past!
Privateer - I've known the owners Charlie and Maria from back in the day when I managed Yoga Oceanside. This is by far our favorite pizza (or "pie" as they call it) place in town. Their pizza in cooked in a coal fire oven and it is fantastic! We love the Privateer Pie and Privateer salad but they have LOTS of other delicious items on their menu as well. They also have an extensive selection of wine for sale in their market place and do wine pairing dinners often. Rumor has it Charlie and Maria are living in Mexico and their son, Sage, is running the show.
Local Tap House (LTH) - We had our 2nd date here and took our kids here for shots before our wedding photos (lol). Guess that says a lot about one of our favorites. We love the owner Gabe and his amazing staff (shout out to his manager Jessica) who serve up delicious food and excellent drinks. They have 30 taps that feature a lot of local breweries and they switch them up regularly. We like all of their food but often times go for sharing the French Dip with fries. This sandwich has small crispy onion rings on top, along with Swiss cheese and just the right amount of horseradish. Another local restaurant that has supported Be Well on more then one occasion - thank you!
Craft Coast Beer and Tacos - The first time we ate here I went back the next TWO days for lunch! It's our go to lunch spot on Kent's day off or over the weekend. Be aware that the tourist have discovered this place and sometimes you have to wait to get in :( The owner was once with Pizza Port so you know the beer they brew in house is good and they also have hard kombucha on tap - which I like. The menu is small but tasty. Sometimes we split the nachos, sometimes we each order tacos (get them "craft coast style" with beans and cheese on them) and other times we order the bowls - just depends on our mood. If you decide on a taco try the Birria and add the consommé to dip it in.
Bagby's is one of the first restaurants/breweries to take a chance on Oside and it definitely has succeeded! They were closed for most of Covid and just recently reopened with a new menu. One side plant-based and the other side is pretty much the same choices as the plant said but made with protein. It's a good fit for those of us who like plant-based but can't get the partner on board with that. Of course their beer is brewed in house and they have a LARGE selection. Jeff Bagby was another brewer that came from Pizza Port and his wife Dande is just lovely. They have supported Be Well by hosting our Brewga event 3 times. We'll need to get another one of those going for 2022!
Benito's - This is one of the only "chain" restaurants we regularly eat at. We actually tried it the first time because they deliver to the Coomber wine tasting room across the street and we were pleasantly surprised. Often times we get the antipasto salad but have found their pizzas to be good as well. Give them a try, you'll be happy you did.
Rosewood Kitchen - Order the Lobster Raviolis and thank me for it later. I'm not one that does a lot of pasta but their lobster raviolis are worth the carb splurge! They're made with Maine lobster and a delicious Cognac Pink Cream sauce. They too deliver across the street to Coomber :)a
Blade 1936 - Located in the former Blade Newspaper building this restaurant has a lot of character and yummy food. It's also good to note that you can buy pizza dough here if you like to make pizza's at home - we like to cook them on our pizza stone in Kent's smoker. The Antipasto Misto and Calamari Fritta are two of our favorite appetizers and we like several of their pizzas. They also have a complete plant-based menu as well.
Currently, one of our favs in under construction getting ready to open in their new location on Mission Avenue in Oside. We loved having them so close to us before but we'll still be able to walk to their new home and we are excited with what will be opening in their previous home (see below). The pig is not a place to go if you are counting calories...but if your want some good ole comfort food, they've got ya covered! When your feeling like being bad, the Mac and Cheese is awesome! Kent orders it often and I always sneak a few bites. I love their truffle fries (cause I love all things potato!) and the seared salmon is very tasty. Roddy and Aaron grow a lot of the produced used in their food on their property in Vista. The Pig also has a great wine selection that is reasonably priced.
Chef Willy (formerly with 608 and Mission Avenue) has found his own home and is killing it without even having the front doors open! He is taking over the former Flying Pig building and will have a very elegant Japanese restaurant (Matsu) soon but in the mean time, he's serving up Japanese Fried Chicken as well as "sandos" with some interesting side dishes from a walk up window in the front of the building (Naegi)! Chef Willy bakes the bread for the sandwiches (he sells his bread to other restaurants as well) and it is the bomb! There is usually a line to place your order (no phone orders) and then you have to wait a bit for the order but, believe me, it's worth the wait and inconvenience of not being able to eat it there. Can't wait for the "real" restaurant to open!
Located on the ground level of the Mission Pacific Hotel (Hyatt) this is one of the only beach front restaurants in North County. The view is great and the food and drink are good and reasonable. If you like a tasty burger try theirs - the chef makes his own American Cheese (which I was a fan of until I had his) and it comes with fries (#winning). There's also a rooftop bar in the hotel - excellent view but get ready to pay "tourist" prices for food and drinks ( a glass of "okay" wine = $15). I recommend staying down stairs where the prices are normal and the menu is larger.
So, my comfort food is a bean and cheese burrito (extra cheese please) and this is by FAR my favorite place to have one! You MUST order it wet with green sauce - be prepared to want to drink the sauce - it's that good! It's the only thing I've eaten on the menu and Kent and I share it cause its HUGE, so I can't recommend anything else and why would I?!?! This is a small chain with 4 more locations in the OC. Good to know if your up that way and want a quick meal.
We all have our favorite "drive thru" Mexican restaurant and this is mine. It's located on the corner of Coast Hwy and Topeka and looks like a former old school Taco Bell building with arches in front. I get and bean and cheese there or rolled tacos. The guy that takes the order must recognize my voice (did I just admit that I go there that often?) cause he always includes a salt pack with my order. I used to order one but now I don't have too. Their red and green sauces are on point. Good place to stop on the way home from the beach or farmers market.
Wine Bars, Breweries, Drinking Establishments:
more info coming soon!
Coomber Craft Wine
Orfilia
Living Tea
Stone Tasting Room
Burgeon (not in Oside but Kent's favorite)
Pacific Spirits
Craft Coast Beer and Tacos
Orfilia
Living Tea
Stone Tasting Room
Burgeon (not in Oside but Kent's favorite)
Pacific Spirits
Craft Coast Beer and Tacos
Places I like to shop at:
more info coming soon!
Estate Warehouse
Plantology
Sonora Refillery
Fraizer Farms
Oceanside Farmers Market
Cream of the Crop
Gypsy Den Boutique
Reep and Sow
Plantology
Sonora Refillery
Fraizer Farms
Oceanside Farmers Market
Cream of the Crop
Gypsy Den Boutique
Reep and Sow
Things to do in OmSide:
more info coming soon!
Oceanside Museum of Art
Surf Bowl
The Beach (duh!)
Yoga (Black Sheep, Mission Pacific, Sea Bird)
Sunset Market
Live Music every night at Coomber Craft Wine
Surf Bowl
The Beach (duh!)
Yoga (Black Sheep, Mission Pacific, Sea Bird)
Sunset Market
Live Music every night at Coomber Craft Wine