Best Historic Restaurants in University Heights

We had a memorable Thanksgiving Dinner in a remarkable setting with great food, drink, and service! Excellent!

We had a very small and quiet Thanksgiving this year, so we opted to go to a restaurant. We have been to Lou and Mickey’s several times and have always had a great experience. The food was great, we all had steak. The ambiance is lively and made it feel like everything was not shut down for the day. Our server was very pleased and helpful. Overall it was a fantastic experience.

I love The Prado at Balboa Park and have been a frequent diner there for many years. It never disappoints and Thanksgiving Day was no exception. We arrived and were immediately greeted and sat on the patio. I requested the patio. There were several diners but it wasn't busy, yet. We were brought water and our server Kara came over and took our beverage order and let us know about the new cocktails and the pre-fixe menu. She helped us make adjustments with what we ordered. Our first course, the beet salad, came out and we were able to eat and chat and enjoy each bit before our entrees came out. Mom and I had the traditional turkey meal and friend had the prime rib. We all tucked right into our meals and they were all so good. There was plenty of food and there was no way we could finish our delicious meals. Dessert was also packed up to go with our leftovers. More families had come in to dine and the energy on the patio was great. We sat and had another cocktail and had wonderful, relaxing Thanksgiving Day.

First time having dinner at the Grant Grill. We had rib eye and pork chop. Sarah was willing to assist and provide more information because we just couldn’t decide what to order. The food was tasty and delicious. The service by Sarah was superb and not rushed.

What can I say? This is easily one of the best happy hour spots in San Diego! The ambiance is stunning, the service is outstanding, and the food is absolutely incredible. We had yet another fantastic experience here, this time for an early dinner to celebrate my kid’s birthday. The oysters were incredibly fresh, the Japanese sweet potatoes are a must-try, the fish and chips were amazing—so fresh and moist—and the clam chowder was perfection. The smoked trout dip wasn’t my favorite this time, but it was still a solid appetizer. Our server, Mike, was exceptional—attentive, polite, and spot-on with his food recommendations. We’ll definitely be back, and if you’ve never been to this place, make a reservation now. You can thank me later!