San Diego restaurants satisfy every culinary craving imaginable. Mexican and seafood are the area specialties, but many ethnic eateries, including Italian, Thai and Chinese, are award winners as well. The historic Gaslamp Quarter downtown includes dozens of small restaurants on 4th and 5th Avenues that range from sophisticated to funky. Waterfront locations, including downtown’s Embarcadero, Coronado’s resorts, San Diego's beaches and La Jolla’s coast are natural settings for blue-ribbon seafood restaurants. Expect to pay within these general guidelines for a dinner for one, not including drinks, tax or tip:

$ = less than $10
$$ = $10-$20
$$$ = $20-$50
$$$$ = more than $50

Note: Reservations taken and credit cards accepted at all the establishments listed below, except where specified.

BEST IN TOWN

WineSellar & Brasserie -- In the middle of an industrial park, this award winner has a wine list that impresses even the connoisseurs of the industry. Contemporary French cooking. Retail wine shop on premises. Tuesday-Friday 5:30-10 pm, Saturday 11:30 am-2 pm and 6-10 pm, Sunday 5:30-9 pm. You can’t find it without directions, so get them when you call for reservations. $$$. 9550 Waples St., Suite 115 (north on Highway 805, off Mira Mesa Boulevard), just northeast of La Jolla, phone 858-450-9576.

Anthony's Star of the Sea Room -- The waterfront locale, view and elegance (with dress code to match) make the atmosphere at this perennial award winner. A recent makeover gave this local legend a smashing new look. The new chef revamped the menu to update old seafood favorites with a dash of Asian flair. Daily 5:30-10:30 pm. Jackets recommended. $$$. 555 Harbor Dr. (downtown), phone 619-232-7408.

Mille Fleurs -- A menu featuring locally grown produce paired with venison, lamb, quail and other haute cuisine specialties make this spot worth a drive 25 minutes north of downtown. The extensive wine list is another draw. Warmly elegant dining room, reminiscent of a French country inn. The piano bar is a great place to relax with an after-dinner cognac. Lunch Monday-Friday 11:30 am-2 pm; dinner nightly 6-9:30 pm. $$$. 6009 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe, phone 858-756-3085.

Belgian Lion -- This restaurant is almost a secret, tucked away on a residential street, but you can't miss the charming Swiss exterior. Family run and owned, with Papa Don cooking his French-Belgian food and Mom and the kids serving. Expect Don to come out and chat. Specialties include cassoulet, turnip souffle and confit of duck. Thursday-Saturday 5-10 pm. $$-$$$. 2265 Bacon St., Ocean Beach, phone 619-223-2700.

HOT AND TRENDY

Blue Point Coastal Cuisine -- Fresh seafood served in a setting reminiscent of a 1940s supper club make this one of the more elegant restaurants in town. Flavors offer a blend of Asian and Latin flair: sea bass steeped in miso, oysters with jalapeno-laced tartar sauce and swordfish with salsa. Locals know to save room for a decadent dessert. Monday-Thursday 5-10 pm, Friday and Saturday 5-11 pm. $$-$$$. 565 5th Ave. (downtown), phone 619-233-6623.

Laurel -- Chef Doug Hall continues to woo a sophisticated crowd at this elegant dining room with an urbane ambience and French regional Mediterranean cuisine. Feast on grilled boar, roasted guinea hen and duck confit. Sunday-Thursday 5-10 pm, Friday and Saturday 5-11 pm. $$-$$$. 505 Laurel St. (just north of downtown hotels), phone 619-239-2222.

Roppongi -- This hot spot is packed on Saturday nights with locals who come to sip martinis and sample the menu of flavorful 'Asian tapas.' You can order entrees, but the tapas are the way to go if you want to taste the array of what Roppongi has to offer. Don't miss the Dungeness crab napoleon. Reservations are a good idea on busy weekends. Monday-Friday 11:30 am-11 pm, Saturday and Sunday 10 am-11 pm. $$-$$$. 875 Prospect St., La Jolla, phone 858-551-5252.

LOCAL FAVORITES

Epazote's -- Check out the Southwestern appetizer list that's long enough for several meals. We liked the homemade tamales, coconut curry shrimp and Navajo flatbread pizza. Spit-roasted meats as well. Noisy but fun, and the terrace has a view. Monday-Friday 11 am-11 pm, Saturday 10:30 am-11:30 pm, Sunday 10:30 am-10 pm. $-$$. 1555 Camino del Mar, Del Mar Plaza, Del Mar, phone 858-259-9966.

Rainwater's -- Known for its prime steaks, this intimate spot is a popular place for couples before or after the theater. Coat and tie for men preferred but not required. Monday-Friday 11:30 am-midnight, Saturday 5 pm-midnight, Sunday 5-11 pm. $$$-$$$$. 1202 Kettner Blvd. (downtown), phone 619-233-5757.

Point Loma Seafoods -- Locals line up 10 deep at this popular waterside fish market. The specialty is fresh catch from local waters. Best bets: clam chowder, decadent fish sandwiches, ceviche and fish taquitos. Order at the counter and enjoy your feast at one of the outdoor tables or inside the bare-bones dining room. Monday 10:30 am-6 pm, Tuesday-Saturday 10:30 am-7 pm, Sunday noon-6 pm. $. 2805 Emerson St., Point Loma, phone 619-223-1109.

Bahia -- This clean, serviceable cafe in a nondescript location serves up the best Mexican food in town. The enormous US$3.50 burrito supreme, with either chicken or beef, has the rice and beans tucked inside. Worth a trip to North Park, 15 minutes from downtown. Monday-Sunday 9 am-11 pm. $, no credit cards. 1985 El Cajon Blvd. (next to the 7-11 market), phone 619-542-0540.

Chameleon Cafe -- Pacific Rim flavors meet Southwestern zest on the menu at this popular Coronado eatery. Chef-owner Ken Irvine dishes out delightful pot stickers, seafood dishes and Asian-inspired noodles. Check out the creative martini list in the restaurant's groovy Lizard Lounge bar. Monday-Sunday 11 am-2 pm and 5-10 pm. $$. 1301 Orange Ave., Coronado, phone 619-437-6677.

Chilango's -- This unpretentious place serves very interesting, healthy food from Mexico City and the Oaxaca region. Try the huarache, a thick cornmeal pancake topped with beans and lettuce, or a tamale with mole sauce. Monday-Thursday 10 am-9 pm, Friday-Sunday 10 am-10 pm. $, no credit cards. In the Hillcrest neighborhood at 143 University Ave. (about a 10-minute drive from downtown), phone 619-294-8646.

Hops! Bistro and Brewery -- Such good Continental food you won’t believe you’re in a brewery. The beer is wonderful, too. Try the salmon with penne and the grilled chicken salad. Daily 11 am-midnight. $$. 4353 La Jolla Village Dr., University Towne Center, La Jolla, phone 858-587-6677.

Sammy's California Woodfired Pizza -- Creativity can do wonders to a staple food. Brick ovens turn out dozens of interesting toppings, such as duck and smoked chicken, on a special crust. Monday-Thursday 11:30 am-10 pm, Friday and Saturday 11:30 am-11 pm. $. Three locations: 702 Pearl, La Jolla, phone 858-456-5222; 770 4th Ave. (downtown), phone 619-230-8888; 1620 Camino de la Reina, Mission Valley, phone 619-298-8222.

Fish Market -- A multiple award winner, this place offers a rather noisy but fun family ambience downstairs. The quieter and more costly top floor has a sea view. The fish is great and so are the oysters. Daily 11 am-10 pm. $$. 750 N. Harbor Dr. (downtown on the waterfront), phone 619-232-3474.

ITALIAN

Fio's -- The fabulous interior of a Roman courtyard plus classy homemade pasta, bread and desserts. Local professionals adore this place for after-work drinks, chatty meals in the bar and romantic dinners. Monday-Thursday 5:30-10 pm, Friday and Saturday 5-11:30 pm, Sunday 5-10 pm. $$-$$$. 801 5th Ave. (downtown), phone 619-234-3467.

Osteria Panevino -- One of the Gaslamp Quarter's most wildly popular spots, serving superb Northern Italian fare in a Tuscan farmhouse-style atmosphere. Homemade pasta and brick-oven-baked pizzas are cornerstones of the menu. For a memorable meal, try veal chop arrabiata or osso buco. Daily 11:30 am-11:30 pm. $$. 772 5th Ave. (downtown), phone 619-595-7959.

ASIAN

Jasmine -- This 800-seat Chinese restaurant is a touch of Hong Kong in San Diego. The specialty is seafood -- so fresh that diners can select their catch from the tank. Try the dim sum: Just hail the servers as they pass with carts piled high with shrimp dumplings, vegetable pot stickers and other treats. Daily 10 am-11 pm. $-$$. 4609 Convoy St., Kearny Mesa, phone 619-268-0888.

Panda Inn -- This is the most popular Chinese restaurant downtown, with wonderful service and an elegant setting. Hunan lamb, sweet pungent shrimp and moo shu pork are favorites. Monday-Sunday 10 am-10 pm. $-$$. 506 Horton Plaza, Upper Level, phone 619-233-7800.

ADDITIONAL DINING EXPERIENCES

Mystery Cafe Theatre -- Lively, original and spoofy interactive whodun't plays are performed between courses at Imperial House Restaurant. Friday and Saturday curtains at 8 pm. Dinner and show are US$39.50-$43.50. Reservations required. In the Hillcrest neighborhood at 505 Kalmia St. (about a 10-minute drive from downtown), phone 619-544-1600.

Corvette Diner -- Named for that ever-popular Chevrolet car, it's a '50s place with the best burgers and shakes in town. Try the homemade meatloaf and a root beer float. Bubblegum comes with the check. Monday-Thursday and Sunday 11 am-11 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 am-midnight. $. In the Hillcrest neighborhood at 3946 5th Ave. (about a 10-minute drive from downtown), phone 619-542-1476.

BREAKFAST/LATE NIGHT

Hob-Nob Hill Restaurant -- Movers and shakers meet here daily on Bankers Hill to be fortified by some of the best breakfasts in town. Try the filet mignon and onions with eggs or any of the assorted omelettes with Italian sausages. A hangout for judges, lawyers and politicos. Breakfast served all day. Be advised that lines form outside early on Sunday. Open daily 7 am-9 pm. $. 2271 1st Ave. (about a five-minute drive from downtown hotels), phone 619-239-8176.

City Delicatessen and Bakery -- This New York-style deli in the heart of Hillcrest, San Diego’s most cosmopolitan neighborhood, would be right at home in the Big Apple. Favorites include lox and omelettes, whitefish and eggs, as well as pancakes and corned beef hash. Open daily 7 am-midnight, weekends 7 am-2 am. Bakery on premises turns out a variety of pastries and to-die-for New York cheesecake, making it an ideal late-night stop. $. In the Hillcrest neighborhood at 535 University Ave. (about a 10-minute drive from downtown), phone 619-295-2747.

Mission Cafe and Coffee Shop -- The Mission Cafe is great for breakfast. Start your day with blueberry pancakes with swirls of fruit puree or scrambled-egg burritos with black beans. $-$$. Two locations: 3795 Mission Blvd., Mission Beach (15 minutes from downtown), phone 858-488-9060, daily 7 am-4 pm; and 2801 University Ave., North Park, phone 619-220-8992, daily 7 am-3 pm and 5-10 pm.