Diners' Choice: American restaurants in San Diego

OpenTable

Updated November 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall American cuisine in San Diego? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Lemon Grove Bistro

4.9

4.9 (81)

$30 and under

American

Lemon Grove

About the restaurant

In addition to offering comforting American favorites, our menu provides a selection of flavors inspired by our chef’s culinary experiences, ranging from classic Spanish fare to Italian favorites. Our menu changes seasonally to feature the freshest ingredients and provide an exciting dining experience throughout the year.

The Lemon Grove Bistro is in a historic mission-style building in the heart of Lemon Grove. Since 1912, it’s been a place where locals meet and build connections, whether they were picking up their mail at the Sonka General Store in 1944 or ordering custom cakes at the Grove Pastry Shop in 2012.

Come for the food. Stay to experience the inviting ambiance of the historic building and its new garden. Let’s build community--together.

Top review

Deborah A

Dined 4 days ago

Excellent food, reasonably priced, and homey vibe. Jazz music made the experience even better.

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Experience

Weekday Happy Hour

Nick’s on State

4.8

4.8 (1810)

$30 and under

American

Carlsbad

About the restaurant

Classic American comfort food, crave-able bar snacks, plus unique cocktails & an extensive wine list in an upscale yet casual environment. Our intimate restaurant features a chic island bar, walls of glass and a spacious covered patio, perfect for people watching. Our exhibition kitchen highlights the talents of our passionate culinary team.

Nick’s is dedicated to perfecting the dining experience through continuous innovation, offering the highest quality food and beverage, and executing impeccable standards of hospitality. The deeply instilled Nick’s culture is personified by its Ladies and Gentlemen – professionals who share a single focus and are inspired and committed to offering great service and creating positive, memorable experiences.

Top review

TOM

Dined 4 days ago

Great food (Scottish salmon & maple meatloaf dinners) and super service on the covered patio area. Exuberant ambiance, so it's a bit noisy, but hasn't disappointed after several visits. Highly recommend!

The Pony Room

4.8

4.8 (1472)

$50 and over

American

Rancho Santa Fe

About the restaurant

The Pony Room is a favorite among locals and resort guests alike. In addition to an extensive selection of all expressions of agave spirits, it is also home to one of Southern California's most impressive wine and hand-crafted, seasonally inspired signature cocktail lists. The Pony Room serves exceptional, American inspired comfort classics with daily specials.

Live Music 7 nights a week

Join us every Saturday and Sunday for Brunch on our beautiful hacienda inspired terraces from 11am to 2pm.

Top review

Mindy

Dined 7 days ago

Our waitress was great and we had a wonderful time celebrating on the grounds. Everyone was so kind and accommodating to a lovely afternoon.

Rancho Santa Fe Bistro

4.7

4.7 (333)

$30 and under

American

Rancho Santa Fe

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Rancho Santa Fe Bistro located in the heart of the beautiful downtown Rancho Santa Fe, CA. Our unique bistro offers an amazing menu and a superior wine selection for any lunch or dinner occasion.

Owner / Chef Mozy Jahanguiri, who has run restaurants in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Dallas, has opened The Rancho Santa Fe Bistro in the space formerly occupied by The Pantry on Paseo Delicias. Mozy has prepared a menu that offers a wide variety of healthy and stylish fresh grill and more offering a balanced approach to food and wine along with bistro favorites including Oysters Rockefeller, traditional escargots, baked brie with grapes and honey and more for starters. Entrees to satisfy any taste of carefully sourced meats, seafood and much more. Be sure to check out Bistro's beautiful wood wine cellar, housing an extensive collection that spans an impressive 100 years (1897-1997) at a variety of price points.

Top review

Robert

Dined on Oct 23, 2024

What a wonderful bistro. Dishes were superb, dish plates “licked@ clean. A true gem

Great Maple San Diego

4.8

4.8 (4363)

$30 and under

American

Hillcrest

About the restaurant

We Serve Dinner, Lunch, Brunch and Weekday Breakfast. We are a modern American eatery featuring seasonal fare, fresh house made pies, and local produce cocktails. We have a full bar and a social wine list. Open for Outdoor dining!

Top review

Lynnvip

Dined 4 days ago

We were greeted nicely. I fell down on the way to the restaurant and hurt my finger. The restaurant staff offered me a bandaid and some cream. They also checked on me during our meal! That’s an excellent compliment to them! Thank you so much!

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Popular dish

Maple Bacon Doughnuts

Popular dish

Great Maple French Toast Logs

Popular dish

Key Lime Pie

Nick's Del Mar

4.8

4.8 (1366)

$30 and under

American

Del Mar

About the restaurant

Top review

Patricia

Dined 1 day ago

Stopped by for a late lunch and really enjoyed the delicious French Dip. Our waitress was very sweet and gave us excellent service. Nick's is always a great choice for dining in Del Mar!

Tavern

4.8

4.8 (525)

$30 and under

American

Solana Beach

About the restaurant

Newly remodeled, the much airier Tavern is all about art, music, and above all great food. Open for lunch and soon to include evening dining, the Tavern adds a distinctly Mexican/Pacific Coast set of flavors to the local fine dining scene.

We are located in the heart of the Cedros Design District, within walking distance of the Amtrak station. The style is casual with indoor and outdoor dining ( plus bar seating). The patio, which can accommodate 18 guests, looks out onto the shop-lined Cedros Avenue and can be separated from the main dining area for private events.

*Please note* Our restaurant welcomes walk-ins during our Lunch hours from 11:30 am- 3:30 pm.
*Tavern restaurant will be closed for dinner (Lunch will remain open Monday and Tuesday when the belly up is dark)
*Please check our website for the most up-to-date hours*

Top review

Elizabeth

Dined 3 days ago

The special menu item, surf & turf, was delicious! Tender fillet, scallops and shrimp with broccolini and mashed potatoes—all tasted divine. A special thank you goes out to Joy who personally contacted me to accommodate an earlier reservation time.

Seasons 52 - San Diego - UTC

4.8

4.8 (4956)

$31 to $50

American

University City/Golden Triangle

About the restaurant

Seasons 52 is a Fresh Grill and Wine Bar offering a seasonal menu that is naturally lighter and always flavorful. Our seasonal menus feature ingredients at their peak of freshness, oak-fire grilled or brick oven roasted (without a fryer in sight) to be naturally lighter and more flavorful. We also offer an extensive list of wines by the glass and bottle. Here, you'll always feel free to enjoy every bite, every sip, every moment. Lunch and dinner daily with happy hour Monday-Thursday from 3-6PM.

Top review

OpenTable Dinervip

Dined 4 days ago

The food & service were excellent!

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4.7

4.7 (518)

$31 to $50

American

Temecula

About the restaurant

Taking flight November 2018. We are a group of creatives, students, parents, sons and daughters of all things FINCH. Come on a tasting journey of dishes with influences from around the world. No Passport Required.

Top review

Ginavip

Dined on Nov 11, 2024

Boho restaurant, I love the vibe! The food, service and ambiance are excellent!

Mission Avenue

4.5

4.5 (51)

$30 and under

American

Oceanside

About the restaurant

We opened our doors in August 2014 with a vision of greatness: great drinks, food, and atmosphere, with a chill, unassuming vibe. A come-as-you-are locale, where everyone — from local to the traveler — is welcomed. Insider or outsider, there’s a seat at the bar just for you.

Located just blocks from the Oceanside Pier, join us in our industrial-chic lounge with two large garage doors which make you feel like you're dining outside, or on our heated and dog-friendly patio, from lunch to late night. Be sure to check our daily happy hours, midweek lunch specials and weekend brunch. Come see us. Pull up a seat and make yourself at home.

Top review

Vivianvip

Dined 7 days ago

Service was great and the ambiance is nice. It was our first time here. We will be back

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Experience

Industry Sunday Night

Experience

Mezcal Monday

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