Chipotle Mexican Grill on Torrey Pines Road near Girard is part of a chain of fast food Mexican takeout restaurants now owned by McDonald’s. The idea that started it all was to offer gourmet burritos, based on organic and local produce and the best sustainably raised food possible, with great taste, nutrition and value. The first Chipotle opened in 1993 in Denver, Colorado. Since then, the chain has grown to include 900 locations. Its success, however, has not compromised its dedication to serving the tastiest and healthiest food possible. The Chipotle menu includes burritos, burrito bowls, crispy and soft tacos, with a choice of carne asada, chicken or steak, salads, chips and guacamole.

Don Carlos Taco Shop on Pearl is very popular with the lunch and dinner crowd as well as students making their way home from school. With indoor and outdoor seating, Don Carlos offers a large menu with many vegetarian options, including mushrooms, tofu, spicy potatoes and soyrizo (a tofu/chorizo substitute). They also offer many breakfast burritos and at least half a dozen choices of fresh tamales daily, such as red sauce pork, the jalapeno cheese, and pineapple tamales. All food is prepared with the freshest ingredients.

Ortega’s Place, also on Pearl, offers a full menu of fresh Mexican food ranging from tacos and burritos to enchiladas and quesadillas. Ortega’s menu includes daily specials, including tacos with rice and beans and rolled tacos. Three popular burritos at Ortega’s are the California burrito (steak, eggs, potato and cheese), the carne asada and the chile relleno burrito.

Puesto Mexican Street Food on Wall Street offers a variety of freshly made and unusual items. Puesto (meaning stand or station in Spanish) has recreated the colorful streets of Mexico in its casual décor where patrons can sit at the windows looking out over the sidewalk. The fare is authentic Mexican street food made with natural ingredients, including hormone-free poultry and meats, sustainable seafood and freshly made tortillas and salsas. The menu includes tacos, bowls, salads, street sides (beans, rice, corn, chips and guacamole), desserts such as seasonal fruit or frozen horchata (made with rice, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon) and drinks (sodas, hibiscus tea, beer, wine or margaritas).

Porkyland on Torrey Pines Road has won several awards for its tasty offerings, including best chicken quesadilla and best burrito. At Porkyland you can choose from up to 20 burritos, or build your own burrito or burrito bowl. Porkyland also offers many other items all made with the freshest, natural ingredients, including fajitas, tacos, enchiladas, burgers, and several combination plates or meals for children. In addition to regular tacos made with meat, chicken, fish or shrimp, Porkyland serves rolled and mini tacos.

Rigobertos, with two locations on La Jolla Boulevard, serves a full Mexican menu of tacos, burritos (including breakfast and fish burritos), quesadillas, salads, and sides such as beans, rice and fries. All items are made with fresh ingredients, including the salsa, which is prepared daily. The drive-through location on the east side of La Jolla Boulevard near Marine Street is open 24 hours. The other location across the street near Westbourne has a walk-up window.

La Jolla, Saturday-Sunday 1-4pm
7734 Hidden Valley Court
4BR/3.5BA $3,100,000,
Vince Crudo 858-518-1236

La Jolla, Sunday 1-4pm
1672 Via Corona
4BR/3.5BA $2,485,000
Linda Daniels 858-344-2230

La Jolla, Sunday 2-4pm
7569 Pepita
5BR/5.5BA $4,295,000
Virginia Luscomb 619-981-2323

La Jolla, Sunday 1-4pm
1228 Park Row
3BR/3.5BA $2,200,000
Vonnie Mellon 858-395-0153

 
La Jolla, Sunday 12-2pm
7770 Sierra Mar Dr
4BR/3BA $3,495,000
Ed Mracek 858-382-600

Great Gatsby Night @Manhattan of La Jolla
Travel back to the 1920′s flapper-era with dinner, cocktails, wine and music. Come dressed as your favorite Gatsby character. Prizes for best costume. Live music by:Tad Sister playing in the “speakeasy” lounge. May 16, 2013 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Murals of La Jolla Tour
Take a curated walking tour of the Murals of La Jolla hosted by The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. This is a FREE event. May 16, 2013 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

SATURDAY
15th annual Secret Garden Tour of La Jolla
Enjoy an exclusive invitation to stroll behind the garden gates of some of La Jolla’s loveliest, secluded gardens. May 18, 2013 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Art Museum Day MCASD
MCASD is one of hundreds of art museums across the country offering free admission as part of Art Museum Day. Also enjoy free exhibition tours at 2 PM, as well as a special gift when you become a Member. Click the link above to see participating MCASD Museums. May 18, 2013 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

SUNDAY

La Jolla Open Aire Market
Every Sunday, the upper playground at La Jolla Elementary is transformed into a colorful, friendly and wholesome Farmer’s Market. May 19, 2013 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

The Burger Lounge, located at the corner of Silverado Street and Herschel Avenue, always draws a crowd. With seating both indoors and outdoors, it is open daily for lunch and dinner. They offer several handcrafted burgers, including beef, turkey, and quinoa veggie. Burgers are served with organic white cheddar or American cheese, fresh or grilled onion, organic ketchup and the Burger Lounge’s own house-made 1000 Island dressing. The free range turkey burger is accompanied with fresh basil. Seasonal burgers are also available, such as spring lamb with asadero cheese, jalapeno relish, and tomatillo green chile mayonnaise. Other dishes include chicken tenders, gourmet salads, onion rings, french fries, milkshakes, desserts, beer and wine. Children’s meals are also available and you can even hire the Burger Mobile Lounge to cater your next party.

Jeff’s Burgers in La Jolla Shores is popular among locals and surfers as well as vacationers. Jeff’s Burgers serves four sizes of freshly-made hamburgers, from regular to jumbo. You can order the hamburgers alone or in several combination plates with fries, onion rings and drinks. Other side dishes include green, macaroni and potato salad. Jeff’s also offers several hot and cold sandwiches, such as chicken fajita, grilled fish, gyros, carne asada, grilled cheese, pastrami, tuna melt, baked ham, turkey, Italian, vegetarian burgers, falafel, and hot dogs. To complete your meal, you can top it off with an ice cream or a variety of shakes and floats. From Thursday to Sunday between 8 and 10 a.m., Jeff’s also serves breakfast, which includes eggs, omelets, egg sandwiches, breakfast burritos, pancakes, french toast, oatmeal, and fresh fruit.

Smashburger La Jolla, located on Prospect, offers your choice of several gourmet burgers or the option to build your own burger. All are smashed, seared and seasoned to order, using fresh 100% certified Angus beef. Their gourmet burgers include the San Diego (avocado, cilantro, pepper jack cheese, chipotle mayo), the Classic, the All American cheeseburger, Avocado Club, Spicy Baja, and Mushroom Swiss (vegetarian, with sautéed baby portabella mushrooms and aged Swiss cheese). Add-ons include bacon, chili, fried egg and guacamole. Building your own Smashburger includes selecting any bun (such as multi-grain, egg or torta roll), a filling (beef, chicken or black bean) and your choice of sauces, toppings and cheese. Side dishes include Smashfries (tossed with rosemary, olive oil and garlic), regular fries, sweet potato fries, chili cheese fries, onion rings, fried pickles and flash-fried carrot sticks and green beans. You can also order salads, hot dogs, children’s meals and Haagen-Dazs shakes and malts, soda floats, iced tea and beer. Smashburger is open daily for lunch and dinner.

Taking place on Wednesday May 22nd at 7pm, A Dishcrawl is an event where people from the community gather together and explore 4 local restaurants by foot trying a large trio sampling from each location. The concept, starting in San Jose, has spread across the US, and continues to impress. Unlike traditional dining, Dischcrawl breaks the norm by bringing chefs, restaurateurs, and the community together in a single night, giving them an opportunity to bond over their universal love of food. Many refer to the event as a restaurant week pub crawl hybrid!

Cravings by the Cove will begin at Finch’s Wine Bar and Bistro: 7644 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037. Voted best Wine Bar in La Jolla two years in a row, Finch’s embodies La Jolla charm, with an adorable sea side cottage feel and lit up patio. Did I mention they also have live jazz? At 6:30 they’ll be providing a happy hour to kick off the event, and at 7pm the chef will grace the guests with an impressive array of dishes including an ahi poke wonton, topped with avocado crema, garnished in napa slaw, and drizzled in a teriyaki glaze.

In addition to Finch’s, attendees will be guided by foot to 3 other locations, which are being kept secret until the night of the event. However, it is no secret that guests should expect to be wowed by the flavors of La Jolla. A limited amount of tickets are left and can be purchased at www.dishcrawl.com/cravings. Make sure to type in the code “imhungry” when checking out and receive $5 off and follow @dishcrawllj for exclusive updates.

If you’re a San Diegan/ La Jollian, or Visitor, who is ready to embrace your inner foodie, Cravings by the Cove will be sure to provide you with an ultimate night of palate pleasure.

11th Annual SDSU Art Council Recipients
The Athenaeum presents for the eleventh consecutive year an exhibition of artwork by scholarship winners of the San Diego State University School of Art, Design and Art History. Opening reception: Friday, May 10 at 6:30 p.m. A short ceremony in the Rotunda will honor the winners.

Gator by the Bay – Zydeco Blues and Crawfish Festival
Gator By The Bay is the West Coast’s Premier Annual Cajun/Zydeco, Blues & Crawfish Festival – every Mother’s Day weekend in San Diego! May 10-12th.

SATURDAY

Women Rule on Upper Girard!
Kick off Mother’s Day weekend with a shopping spree with mom! On Saturday, May 11, from Noon to 5 p.m., fifteen female business owners on upper Girard are joining together to celebrate women with many special offers, from art and beauty, to fashion, fitness, and food. Saturday, May 11, 2013.

The American Tapes @MCASD La Jolla
The La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art invites you to an exclusive West Coast screening of The American Tapes. from American filmmaker Louis Hock, creator of The Mexican Tapes. Now he presents a new perspective on the lives of Mexican immigrants in America. Grab a beer and food during a screening break from 7–8 PM. This program is free for Members; $5 non-members. Saturday, May 11th @5pm.

SUNDAY

Mothers Day Brunch in La Jolla
Looking for an ocean side brunch for Mother’s Day? We put together the top brunches happening in La Jolla for Mother’s Day.

La Jolla Open Aire Market
Every Sunday, the upper playground at La Jolla Elementary is transformed into a colorful, friendly and wholesome Farmer’s Market. Come experience the community feel, live music, creative artisans, diverse food court, and local farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Every Sunday 9am to 1pm @Corner of Girard Av and Genter St.

The Marine Room
Sunday, May 12, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Celebrate Mom with an à la carte menu featuring Organic Sweet Corn Blue Crab Bisque, Skuna Bay Salmon, Colorado Lamb Osso Buco, Carlsbad Strawberry and Peach Cobbler, and more. Complete menu.

Herringbone
Sunday, May 12, 2013 10 a.m to 2 p.m.
Your mom deserves to be spoiled. After all, she is the one that brought you into this world! This Mother’s Day, take her somewhere she can sit back, relax, and be treated like royalty. Herringbone is celebrating with a special Mother’s Day Brunch, and even providing complimentary roses during her visit. Menu info.

The Shores Restaurant
Sunday, May 12, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Treat Mom to a special brunch featuring Red Wine Braised Chicken, Angus Prime Rib of Beef, Celery Root Soup, Herb Crusted Albacore Nicoise, and more. Cost is $46 per person, $23 children 6 to 12 years, $4 per year children 5 and under. Complete menu.

Nine-Ten Restaurant
Sunday, May 12, 10:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Celebrate the most important woman in your life…*MOM*…and treat her to a spectacular Sunday Brunch at NINE-TEN. Complete menu.

George’s at the Cove
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Treat mom to brunch with a beautiful ocean view on her special day. Our Mother’s Day menu has something for everyone, including breakfast and lunch favorites like Brioche French Toast with Chino Farms strawberries, Eggs Benedict with fresh Dungeness crab, Spring Garlic and Pea Soup with prosciutto and mint, and much more. Complete menu.

Brockton Villa
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Treat your mother like a Queen this year, by treating her to a brunch overlooking beautiful La Jolla Cove. Mother’s Day Queen Bee Special $25 per person. Complete menu.

Cups Dining & Drinks
Sunday, May 12, 2013.
Executive Chef Donald Lockhart and his team are putting together a great buffet for you and your mom. For $35 indulge, savor, and smile while taking it the most amazing dining view in La Jolla. Kids under 12 eat for only $10. Get mom one of our refreshing brunch punch pitchers or enjoy one of Nate Howell’s hancrafted cocktails. Not in the mood for something so serious, we’ll have bottomless mimosas for $12 per person.

Piatti Ristorante & Bar
Sunday, May 12, 2013.
Treat your mom to Mother’s Day at Piatti. We’ll be featuring special seasonal, holiday-inspired Mother’s Day additions to our brunch/lunch menu.

Flemming’s Prime Steakhouse
Sunday, May 12, from 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
Make this Mother’s Day even more memorable with a special brunch for a special woman. Our chefs are preparing a three-course menu every mom will love for $36.95* per guest. Our regular and children’s menus will also be available all day and evening. Complete menu.

The Patio on Lamont Street
Sunday, May 12, 2013 starts at 9 a.m.
Special prix fixe dinner menu by Chef John Medall . $40 per person.

Costa Verde may be on the smaller side, but it doesn’t lack for shops, restaurants and other businesses. With more than 40 retail shops and services and 13 restaurants, the center offers something for everyone and makes one-stop shopping easy.

For example, if you need groceries or are planning a dinner party, stop in at the center’s gourmet market, Bristol Farms, the only one in San Diego. Here you’ll find friendly customer service and the finest meats, seafood, delicatessen, cheese, bakery, produce, catering, sushi and specialty groceries. The award-winning staff can help you plan your party, pick out your wines and even cater your event. Bristol Farms also offers ongoing cooking classes and wine tastings.

If you’re stopping to eat, whether for a quick bite or a leisurely meal, you’ll find something to savor at Costa Verde. There’s Roy’s (Hawaiian fusion), La Jolla Strip Club (steaks), Appollonia Greek Bistro, KI Sushi & Saki Bar, Coco’s, Five Guys Burgers and Fries and Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza. For takeout, try Baskin Robbins, McDonalds, Robeks Juice, Starbucks or Subway.

If you’re watching your weight or working out, Costa Verde includes a Jenny Craig Weight Loss Center, with personal weight loss counseling, and The Boxing Club, with boxing, yoga, pilates and cardio fitness workouts. After your workout you may want to enjoy a manicure, a massage, or a haircut, easy to find at Costa Verde Nails, Massage Envy or Supercuts. And, if you’re looking for advice on vitamins and other supplements, you’ll find the guidance and products you need at Nutrimart.

Costa Verde also offers many services, including Allstate Insurance, Computerized Cobbler (shoe, handbag and luggage repair), two banks (First Citizens and Wells Fargo) Costa Verde Car Wash, Go Wireless (Verizon cell phone plans, cell phones and accessories), La Jolla Cleaners, and a U.S. post office. Medical and dental services include The Classical Eye (optometrist and optician), Costa Verde Dentistry and Orthodontics and Integrated Medical Centers (chiropractor).

Costa Verde’s shops include the Active Foot Store (custom orthotics and comfortable shoes and arch supports), Bookstar (a great bookstore with many discounts, books on all topics, magazines, newspapers, books on tape, maps, calendars, and gifts), Classique Fine Jewelers, The Men’s Wearhouse, Sleep Train Mattress Center (mattress sets and beds) and two large consignment clothing stores, My Sister’s Closet for women and Well Suited for men.

Before heading up to Costa Verde, be sure to browse their website for many special offers and discounts.

Bahia Resort Hotel Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet
Sunday, May 12, 10:00am–3:00pm (last seating 2:30pm)

The Bahia Hotel Mission Bay Ballroom will feature a superb buffet in celebration of Mother’s Day. Guests will savor both a glorious view on the Bay in addition to a wide variety of salads, seafood, main dishes, sides, and desserts. A few of the many delectable menu offerings include: Belgian Waffles with Strawberries and Whipped Cream, Made-to-Order Omelets; Smoked Salmon; Bay Shrimp Ceviche; Fresh Cheese & Fruit Platters; Slow-roasted Prime Rib; Miso Glazed Salmon; Herb Roasted Turkey Breast; Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes; Baked Penne Pasta; and several dessert options including Bananas Foster; Apple Cobbler; German Chocolate Cake; and a wide variety of tarts, mini pastries and chocolates. A special “knee-high” buffet will offer a variety of kids’ specialties. Cost is $46.50 adults & $22.50 for children 5-12 (children under 5 eat free).

Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa Mother’s Day Champagne Brunch Buffet
Sunday, May 12, 10:00am–3:00pm (last seating 2:30pm)

The Catamaran’s bay front lawn and the elegant second floor Banquet Rooms will overflow with succulent dishes to delight Mom on Mother’s Day. Families can enjoy sampling a wide variety of culinary items that include salads, seafood, carved meats, main dishes, side dishes, and desserts. Some of the outstanding menu selections include: Cheese Blintzes with Berry Sauce; Assorted Quiches; Grilled Vegetables; Prime Rib Au Jus; Kale Salad with Apple, Radish and Spiced Walnuts; Crab Salad; Prime Rib Au Jus, Baked Salmon; Herb Crusted Pork Loin; Spinach Gratin; Peel & Eat Shrimp; and Toasted Linguini with Greens. Guests can also indulge their sweet tooth at the Dessert Buffet featuring chocolate dipped strawberries, berry cobblers, and assorted cookies and cakes. The children’s “Knee-High” buffet menu offers a wide variety of kids’ selections such as Grilled Chicken and Zucchini; Baked Macaroni; Pee Wee Potatoes; and green salad and fruit. Cost is $52.00 adults & $24.50 for children 5-11 (children under 5 eat free).

To add to the ambiance of Mom’s special day, both buffets will feature live piano entertainment.

Bahia Belle/William D Evans Cruise Schedule
As part of the day’s festivities, guests can enjoy a FREE cruise with a paid brunch buffet on the Bahia Belle and William D Evans sternwheelers, which will sail between the Bahia and Catamaran hotels throughout the afternoon beginning at 11:30 am and ending at 6:15 pm.

For Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet reservations at both hotels, please call 858-539-8666