Best Historic Restaurants in Shelter Island / San Diego Bay

Valley high is our family San Diego go to restaurant and has been for the last 15 years, possibly longer. What keeps us coming back is the great food and the best mai tai this side of Dukes in Hawaii, paired with spectacular views of the San Diego skyline and Coronado Bay, and great service and affordable prices. The ambience is a wonderful, kitschy throwback to very best that mid-century Tiki has to offer. OpenTable always makes it so much easier, so long as you plan ahead. We’ll be back there again sometime soon! You can count on that!!

Been waiting to try this place since tasting their food during the Taste of the Gaslamp a few months ago. Everything was so good. We sat in the bar at a high top, which is how we roll anyway. We shared the teriyaki filet tips, my husband had the crab cakes and I had the pan seared macadamia halibut, both exceptional as well as we shared the Mac and cheese as our side. We left so satisfied and full. No room for dessert this time, but definitely will return and try some other items but will try to sit outside to take in the whole downtown vibe!

I took my wife for Valentines dinner to Saint James, and it was our first time at the restaurant. It is located in a historic building that we learned was built in 1912 and was at the time the tallest building in San Diego. The service was excellent, the servers and bussers were very attentive, friendly, and always checking to ensure we had what we needed. The food was delicious and very flavorful. I would recommend Saint James French Diner to anyone it was a really great experience!

Great service, amazing food and very attentive. We loved the pizza, salad, appetizer and pasta. Outside is cold and not many seats inside

Had an early lunch reservation for my birthday, seated on arrival. Given a cute birthday menu. Ordered a very strong & delicious Mai Tai, cup of chowder, and lobster rolls with fries. The chowder was very good, just thick enough and great flavor. The biscuit served with the chowed was still warm when it was served. The lobster roll was delicious, but the amount of lobster in the roll was skimpy compared to our previous visits to Ironside. Our server surprised me with a complimentary dessert to celebrate my birthday. My husband said he got a call prior to our reservation asking whose birthday it was and if they had any allergies. Thoughtful. Staff from the host to servers were all very welcoming.