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Where should you grab a quick bite, or wine and dine an important client while attending the Biotechnology Industry Organization 2014 convention (#BIO2014) next week? Here are the San Diego Biotechnology Network’s suggestions, and we’ve limited it to places we’ve tried personally, or have heard a lot about. Use the map above or the list below to navigate. Sadly, we are unable to recommend a Mexican place at this time (although you can get fish tacos at Tin Fish), but there is still some time to do some “research,” stay tuned and we may be able to update the list. Also, if you have a car, San Diego has several entries in Nate Silver’s data driven “top burritos” list, check them out! Use the table below which lists the “fanciness” level, and is sorted by the distance from the convention center. There’s plenty of great craft beer on tap downtown, and check out this list for the best ranked breweries and if you have a car to visit their tasting rooms (Stone Tap Room downtown is a must-visit, see below).
| Name | Fanciness 1-4 | Description | Distance from SDCC (mi) |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Convention Center | 1 | Believe it or not there’s a fairly nice cafeteria-style restaurant in the convention center. It’s called Tides and it’s near the “A” hall close to where you enter the convention center nearest Harbor Drive (northernmost entrance). Great if you want a hot sandwich and don’t want to walk far. | 0.00 |
| Tin Fish Gaslamp | 1 | A favorite, this restaurant is very close and you can get San Diego’s famous fish taco here. | 0.15 |
| The Old Spaghetti Factory | 3 | Got pasta? This place is a very quick walk from the convention center and has hearty food (try the lobster mac-n-cheese) and a great bar on the top floor, Dussini Loft. | 0.16 |
| Gaslamp Strip Club – A Steak Place | 3 | This place is not what it seems, but you’ll have fun stealing some matches from here and telling your friends. It’s a cook-your-own steak place with fantastic drinks. Bonus points if you catch the “Christmas Story” tie in. | 0.19 |
| Berkeley Pizza | 1 | Can California do Chicago style pizza? You betcha! Go here for a casual meal but be warned that pizzas take a long time to bake, call ahead for best results. | 0.28 |
| Cafe 222 | 2 | California breakfast at its finest, and they also serve lunch. | 0.29 |
| Burger Lounge | 1 | Nouveau burgers anyone? This chain makes you feel like eating a burger is a healthy move, and they also serve great veggie burgers and trendy drinks. Be the ultimate burger hipster and try it out! | 0.31 |
| The Field Irish Pub | 2 | If you came to San Diego for that great Irish Pub experience, this is the place! Have a Guinness and fish and chips in a cozy?corner or on the patio. | 0.32 |
| Stone Brewing Tap Room | 2 | You want to taste San Diego craft beer? Look no further, Stone put us on the map with excellent beer and a collaborative style to brewing the best we have to offer. | 0.33 |
| Searsucker | 4 | Famous chef Brian Malarkey’s restaurant, take that big client here to impress them without looking like you’re trying too hard. | 0.37 |
| Ralphs | 1 | If you’re tired of boxed lunches and restaurant food, you can walk to Ralph’s grocery store and stock up on “real food” and they also have a nice salad bar. | 0.40 |
| Basic | 2 | This pizza joint is a bit of a walk but has a cool warehouse feeling and sells some craft beer. | 0.41 |
| Neighborhood | 2 | If you’re a beer lover, this spot is for you. Lots of great beers on tap and satisfying pub grub. Walk with a friend at night. | 0.48 |
| Westfield Horton Plaza | 1 | Horton plaza has a food court and, well, it is what it is–a big variety of mall food. However, if you’re looking to kill two birds with one stone and get some gifts to take home, here’s the spot! Fun fact: Horton Plaza’s interesting (and sometimes confusing)?layout was designed by science fiction author Ray Bradbury! | 0.50 |
| Seaport Village | 1-4 | More restaurants here than you can shake a stick at, and lots of souvenir shops too. Oh, and did we mention it’s right on the water? | 0.52 |
| Cafe Chloe | 3 | A bit out of the way, but if you’re looking for some French eclectic food in a charming environment, look no further. Try the pommes frites with dipping sauces (fancy French fries). Walk with a friend at night. | 0.53 |
| Kansas City Barbeque | 2 | Famous for being one of the filming locations for the movie Top Gun, you can really get your tourist fix?here. | 0.54 |
| The Cheesecake Factory | 3 | So new we haven’t checked it out yet, but it’s part of a well known restaurant chain in the region with an extensive menu and of course great desserts. | 0.57 |
| Yard House San Diego | 3 | A downtown favorite, worth the walk. Extensive menu and lots of local craft beers on tap. | 0.65 |
| House of Blues | 3 | A bit out of the way, but filling “suburban soul food” and a great atmosphere if you like rock-n-roll. Great place to buy souvenirs for the kids. | 0.69 |
| Hodad’s | 1 | Hodad’s burgers are a San Diego staple, starting in Ocean Beach. This out of the way place would be best traveled to over a long lunch or with a friend at night. | 0.71 |
| The Fish Market | 3 | A bit of a walk, but well worth it if you want to get great seafood and sit on the ocean. You just may see a seal swimming by! | 0.89 |
Do you have any restaurants or pubs to add? Comment below or give your recommendations to @sdbn on Twitter.
Candelas for fine dining. French/Mexican fusion. Yum