Actually, we don't even need to wait for a game. Today, we're going to highlight three restaurants -- El Vitral, Cowboy Star, and Phi -- that are marvelous East Village dining options. Each is open for lunch and dinner. And, they're all walking distance from Vantage Pointe. Now, they're not the only options out there by a long shot, but we need to start somewhere as we periodically share some of our favorite downtown dining spots. And these three are great places to start.
Now look at that patio. Just to the left is a view right into Petco. We're at El Vitral, which is at 815 J St. between 8th and 9th Aves. It's a beautiful restaurant with its bright and bold modernist flair and the food, too, is a modern twist on classic Mexican flavors. There's not a bland or greasy dish on the menu. Some favorites include any of the delightful ceviches; okay, we're partial to the Ceviche de Camaron, with shrimp, roasted tomatillo, onion, poblano chile, and orange and lime juices and the Ceviche del Almeja with clams, baby scallops, tomato juice, cucumber, and celery. Then there are the tacos -- like the unusual Salmon al Pastor with salmon, pastor adobo, grilled pineapple, onion, and cilantro on a corn tortilla. And any of their moles!
El Vitral is also known for its vast selection of tequilas. In fact, every first and third Thursday of the month they have a tequila tasting and food pairing dinner they call "Tequila 101."When you walk into Cowboy Star, don't be surprised if you want to break into "Home on the Range" or, better yet, "Don't Fence Me In." It's cowboy chic the way you remember it from the movies only with a 21st-Century twist. Located at 640 10th Ave. just above Market St., Cowboy Star is both a restaurant and butcher shop. Yes, folks, you have a neighborhood butcher shop!
That's executive chef/owner Victor Jimenez above showing off some of the marvelous grass- and corn-fed cuts of meat you can buy. But you'll also find him in the open kitchen directing his team of chefs as they work their magic not just on meat but magnificent poultry, pork, lamb, and even seafood. Sure, order a mouth-watering grass-fed beef burger or 14 oz. American Bison Ribeye, or 10 oz. American Wagyu Skirt Steak. Or, consider pan-seared Alaskan halibut or Hudson Valley Duck. Favorite starters include Niman Crispy Pork Cheeks with porcinni mushroom polenta, broccoli rabe, and pork jus; American Wagyu Carpaccio with shaved parmesan, crispy capers, wild arugula, and a toasted baguette; and Heirloom Tomato Salad with gooseberries, mache, endive, and verjus vinaigrette.San Diego has a number of terrific hotel restaurants and you can count Phi Bar and Bistro at the Hotel Indigo among them. Just a block away from Petco Park at 509 9th Ave. at Island Ave., Phi is a shiny modern little gem featuring seasonal vegetables from local Crows Pass Farms and cheeses from Venissimo (just up the street at 9th and G). Start with a plate of spicy hummus, pita chips, and spiced olives or the sweet potato fries tossed in white cheddar cheese and served with chipotle aioli. Move on to the roasted chicken flatbread served with ricotta, California blue cheese, pecans, applewood bacon, and mozzarella, topped with arugula and a sweet red chili sauce. At lunch, we liked the green salad served with chicken salad sliders. We want to return for dinner to try the pan-seared scallops with sweet corn puree, bacon Brussels sprouts, and roasted fingerling potatoes.
And, while you can enjoy all this ground-floor dining, you can also head up to the 9th floor terrace bar for a splendid view matched by equally splendid drinks and eats.
Do you have any favorite dishes at any of these three restaurants? How about recommendations for other East Village spots? Share with the neighbors!






















