26 Best Restaurants in San Diego

What were your first impressions when you arrived?
The newest restaurant from chef Brad Wise (Trust, Fort Oak), Rare Society is a retro-glam steakhouse that has the cozy feeling of a neighborhood eatery. Dry-aged and wagyu cuts of ribeye, filet mignon, New York strip, and pork chops are grilled over open flame and American red oak, and there’s an extensive menu of sides and appetizers, a raw bar, and expertly made classic cocktails.

Can’t decide? Order one of the entree boards (the chef selects a variety of steak cuts and presents them for sharing), or stop in for happy hour on the outside deck. The restaurant’s glowing neon marquee sign and a convivial vibe brings life to a corner of town that doesn’t have much activity at night. The gilded bronze paneling on the interior wall and ceiling, leather banquettes, and retro lighting invites you to order a martini and tuck in for the evening. It’s just a few minutes north of Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo, and there’s usually plenty of street parking in the evenings.

What’s the crowd like? Although it’s a steakhouse, it’s not strictly formal—diners can come as they are, whether that’s dressed for a night out or casually in jeans. On weekdays, it’s a popular spot for young professionals catching up over happy hour at the bar area and outside deck, as well as for family meals. On weekends, it’s mainly couples on date night.

What should we be drinking? Trust Restaurant Group is known for its cocktail program, and a visit to a steakhouse isn’t complete without a good gin drink. Try the Of All The Gin Joints with London dry gin, olive brine, and blue-cheese stuffed olives, or Live at The Sands with gin, salted pistachios and lemon. Vino lovers will appreciate the wine list, which is heavy on big, bold reds from Napa and Washington state, along with bubbles by the glass. Beer drinkers will have limited choices, as there’s only four draft and bottled options on the menu.

Main event: the food. Give us the lowdown—especially what not to miss. You come here for the steak—there’s dry-aged cuts (the ribeye is a crowd pleaser), and wagyu from Durham Ranch. It’s worth it to get The Associate ($101) tasting board if you’re dining with two to three people, that way you can try a few bites of a variety of meats, and the Executive ($179) will easily feed a party of six. Each board comes with a variety of house-made steak sauce, salsa, bearnaise and roasted bone marrow. Several of the starters are also cooked over the wood-fired grill, including the standout Parker House Rolls doused in truffle butter and flecked with sea salt and halved Maine lobster.

Rare Society serves indulgent steak dinners and seafood in an unpretentious environment. The menu, decor, and wine list is sophisticated, but everything is presented without any fuss. The restaurant is popular with the neighborhood and local residents, but it’s still off most tourists’ radar.

And how did the front-of-house folks treat you? Service is warm, welcoming and attentive.

What’s the real-real on why we’re coming here? This is the spot for a cozy date night or family get-together. The bar and lounge is the perfect scene for catching up with friends.