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Where To Eat Right NOW; Updating The Eater Heatmap

by Candice Woo Dec 5, 2013, 2:00am PST

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by Candice Woo Dec 5, 2013, 2:00am PST

More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater have just one question: Where should I eat right now? Restaurant obsessives want to know what's new, what's hot and what to try. And while the Eater 38 is a great resource that covers old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it's not a chronicle of the 'it' places of the moment.

Thus, we offer the Eater Heatmap, which will change continually to highlight the latest openings that are generating serious buzz. See who made the list in this month's Heatmap update.

Know of a new restaurant with a good amount of heat that should be added to the list? Send us a tip!

12/05/13: Added: Pizzeria Mozza at The Headquarters, Puesto at The Headquarters, MARKET Del Mar

11/07/13: Added: BO-beau Kitchen + Garden; Ballast Point Tasting Room and Kitchen; Waypoint Public

10/03/13: Added: Fogo de Chao; CUCINA enoteca; American Voodoo

08/01/13: Added: Sea & Smoke; Searsucker Del Mar; Bang Bang

07/11/13: Added: Southpaw Social Club, Tender Greens Downtown, Blue Ribbon Artisan Kitchen, The Hake

06/06/13: Added: Salt & Cleaver, Magnolia Tap & Kitchen, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens - Liberty Station

05/02/13: Added: Queenstown Public House, Hubcap.

04/04/13: Added: The Haven Pizzeria, Amaya La Jolla.

03/07/13: Added: Soda & Swine, Great Maple, Heights Tavern, Project Pie.

02/07/13: Added: Eclipse Chocolat, Buona Forchetta and Fathom Bistro.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Buona Forchetta

This corner joint boasts a real deal Neapolitan pizza oven. The small size of the restaurant combined with lots of initial buzz makes for frequent long waits for a table.

3001 Beech Street, San Diego, CA 92102

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Also featured in:

Fathom Bistro, Bait & Tackle

A craft beer vet transforms a Shelter Island bait and tackle store into a beer bar and eatery with a great tap list, kimchi-topped hot dogs and burgers, and a killer bay view.

1776 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92106

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Soda & Swine

A choose your own adventure meal, starring meatballs. The sides shine, including crispy polenta with burrata. Hop next door for a cocktail at Polite Provisions (bring your food or have it delivered).

2943 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Great Maple

A longstanding diner gets a swanky mid-century modern makeover from Johnny Rivera (Hash House, The Tractor Room). The desserts and homemade pies are standouts.

1451 Washington St., San Diego, CA 92103

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Queenstown Public House

Queenstown is a New Zealand-inspired spot with thoroughly San Diegan priorities: patios, burgers and Sunday brunch. The striking design of this repurposed house ensures that every seat's got great-looking view.

Open in Google Maps

San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens - Liberty Station

Our largest craft brewery finally debuts their second brewery restaurant in Liberty Station - 23,500 square feet of dining rooms, outdoor space and lots and lots of beer.

2816 Historic Decatur Rd #116, San Diego, CA 92106

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Southpaw Social Club

Chef Rich Sweeney and Good Time Design are hoping for a home run with this ballpark-adjacent restaurant and bar whose comfort food cuisine gets a dose of Southern hospitality.

815 J St., San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Hake

The raw and gently cured seafood preparations are the way to go at this stylish new La Jolla restaurant with Mexico City roots. Linger over a craft cocktail or delve into their collection of smoke mezcal.

Open in Google Maps

1250 Prospect St, Ste B10, San Diego, CA 92037

Also featured in:

Sea & Smoke

Matt Gordon's third restaurant, a stylish and sprawling showpiece in Del Mar, is getting good marks for its wood fired oven-powered all-day menu. Don't miss the shell-baked Diver scallops with black olive crust.

Open in Google Maps

2690 Via De La Valle Suite D210, Del Mar, CA 92014

Visit Website

Searsucker

The decision to swap out Burlap for a new North County version of Searsucker seems to have been a good one; Eater readers are liking the new menu and the efforts to make the space more inviting.

12995 El Camino Real, Del Mar, CA 92130

Visit Website

Also featured in:

CUCINA enoteca

This latest addition to the Urban Kitchen Group is a beauty, and the accessible Italian-inflected menu offered here is already a proven hit at their CUCINA urbana.

2730 Via De La Valle, Del Mar, CA 92014

Visit Website

Also featured in:

American Voodoo

The eclectic artwork at this neighborhood-y new eatery is a conversation-starter, and the upscale comfort food menu makes you want to stay awhile.

4655 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA

Also featured in:

BO-beau Kitchen + Garden

The Cohn Restaurant Group brings their eclectic bistro concept to the restaurant landscape of La Mesa. Find three renditions of mussels and fries, flatbreads and a new craft cocktail program

8384 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Ballast Point Tasting Room and Kitchen

Ballast Point's first brewery restaurant is a certified hit, thanks to its Little Italy location, 50 taps of beer and a beyond the traditional brewpub menu by chef Colin MacLaggan.

2215 India St, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Waypoint Public

The craft beer list, in bottles and on tap, is well-curated to pair with chef Amanda Baumgarten's menu that include house made charcuterie, burgers, fried oyster tacos and more.

3794 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Pizzeria Mozza at The Headquarters

Reservations are essential at this bustling eatery with a celeb chef pedigree. The kitchen is getting increasingly deft in their handling of the pizza oven and desserts, from their famous butterscotch budino to the housemade gelato, are a must.

789 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Puesto at The Headquarters

Puesto provides a seriously stunning setting for a menu that showcases its signature tacos as well as Mexican small plates and inspired craft cocktails.

789 W Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Market Restaurant & Bar

A just-redesigned dining room and a newly-installed pizza oven mean it's about time to revisit this chef-driven restaurant, which has reopened after a quick redo in November.

3702 Via De La Valle, Del Mar, CA 92014

Visit Website

Also featured in:

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Buona Forchetta

3001 Beech Street, San Diego, CA 92102

This corner joint boasts a real deal Neapolitan pizza oven. The small size of the restaurant combined with lots of initial buzz makes for frequent long waits for a table.

3001 Beech Street, San Diego, CA 92102

Visit Website

Fathom Bistro, Bait & Tackle

1776 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92106

A craft beer vet transforms a Shelter Island bait and tackle store into a beer bar and eatery with a great tap list, kimchi-topped hot dogs and burgers, and a killer bay view.

1776 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92106

Visit Website

Soda & Swine

2943 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116

A choose your own adventure meal, starring meatballs. The sides shine, including crispy polenta with burrata. Hop next door for a cocktail at Polite Provisions (bring your food or have it delivered).

2943 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116

Visit Website

Great Maple

1451 Washington St., San Diego, CA 92103

A longstanding diner gets a swanky mid-century modern makeover from Johnny Rivera (Hash House, The Tractor Room). The desserts and homemade pies are standouts.

1451 Washington St., San Diego, CA 92103

Visit Website

Queenstown Public House

San Diego, CA 92101

Queenstown is a New Zealand-inspired spot with thoroughly San Diegan priorities: patios, burgers and Sunday brunch. The striking design of this repurposed house ensures that every seat's got great-looking view.

Open in Google Maps

San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens - Liberty Station

2816 Historic Decatur Rd #116, San Diego, CA 92106

Our largest craft brewery finally debuts their second brewery restaurant in Liberty Station - 23,500 square feet of dining rooms, outdoor space and lots and lots of beer.

2816 Historic Decatur Rd #116, San Diego, CA 92106

Visit Website

Southpaw Social Club

815 J St., San Diego, CA 92101

Chef Rich Sweeney and Good Time Design are hoping for a home run with this ballpark-adjacent restaurant and bar whose comfort food cuisine gets a dose of Southern hospitality.

815 J St., San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

The Hake

1250 Prospect St, Ste B10, San Diego, CA 92037

The raw and gently cured seafood preparations are the way to go at this stylish new La Jolla restaurant with Mexico City roots. Linger over a craft cocktail or delve into their collection of smoke mezcal.

Open in Google Maps

1250 Prospect St, Ste B10, San Diego, CA 92037

Sea & Smoke

2690 Via De La Valle Suite D210, Del Mar, CA 92014

Matt Gordon's third restaurant, a stylish and sprawling showpiece in Del Mar, is getting good marks for its wood fired oven-powered all-day menu. Don't miss the shell-baked Diver scallops with black olive crust.

Open in Google Maps

2690 Via De La Valle Suite D210, Del Mar, CA 92014

Visit Website

Searsucker

12995 El Camino Real, Del Mar, CA 92130

The decision to swap out Burlap for a new North County version of Searsucker seems to have been a good one; Eater readers are liking the new menu and the efforts to make the space more inviting.

12995 El Camino Real, Del Mar, CA 92130

Visit Website

CUCINA enoteca

2730 Via De La Valle, Del Mar, CA 92014

This latest addition to the Urban Kitchen Group is a beauty, and the accessible Italian-inflected menu offered here is already a proven hit at their CUCINA urbana.

2730 Via De La Valle, Del Mar, CA 92014

Visit Website

American Voodoo

4655 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA

The eclectic artwork at this neighborhood-y new eatery is a conversation-starter, and the upscale comfort food menu makes you want to stay awhile.

4655 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA

BO-beau Kitchen + Garden

8384 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942

The Cohn Restaurant Group brings their eclectic bistro concept to the restaurant landscape of La Mesa. Find three renditions of mussels and fries, flatbreads and a new craft cocktail program

8384 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942

Visit Website

Ballast Point Tasting Room and Kitchen

2215 India St, San Diego, CA 92101

Ballast Point's first brewery restaurant is a certified hit, thanks to its Little Italy location, 50 taps of beer and a beyond the traditional brewpub menu by chef Colin MacLaggan.

2215 India St, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Waypoint Public

3794 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104

The craft beer list, in bottles and on tap, is well-curated to pair with chef Amanda Baumgarten's menu that include house made charcuterie, burgers, fried oyster tacos and more.

3794 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104

Visit Website

Related Maps

Pizzeria Mozza at The Headquarters

789 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101

Reservations are essential at this bustling eatery with a celeb chef pedigree. The kitchen is getting increasingly deft in their handling of the pizza oven and desserts, from their famous butterscotch budino to the housemade gelato, are a must.

789 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Puesto at The Headquarters

789 W Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA 92101

Puesto provides a seriously stunning setting for a menu that showcases its signature tacos as well as Mexican small plates and inspired craft cocktails.

789 W Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Market Restaurant & Bar

3702 Via De La Valle, Del Mar, CA 92014

A just-redesigned dining room and a newly-installed pizza oven mean it's about time to revisit this chef-driven restaurant, which has reopened after a quick redo in November.

3702 Via De La Valle, Del Mar, CA 92014

Visit Website

Related Maps