Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in San Diego

OpenTable

Updated 05 March 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in San Diego? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

NM Café at Neiman Marcus – San Diego

5.0

5 (339)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Mission Valley

About the restaurant

THE NM CAFE located in Neiman Marcus SAN DIEGO has been recently remodeled and is now open 7 days a week, 11 am- 4pm.

Laid-back luxe. Experience delightful dishes in a casual, contemporary atmosphere at THE NM CAFE® SAN DIEGO. Muted lighting and understated, modern decor create the perfect environment for a midday retreat. Whether dining with a group or simply ordering upscale take-out, expect delectable food and exceptional service that is synonymous with Neiman Marcus.

Let THE NM CAFE® host your next Baby or Bridal Shower. We pride ourselves on creating the perfect menu and ambience for your event in our chic and inviting atmosphere. Pamper the glowing bride- or mother-to-be in your life with the shower of her dreams or a lavish luncheon.

Top review

CarlaVIP

Dined on 6 Mar 2025

FAVORITE SAN DIEGO SPOT FOR A DELICIOUS LUNCH . Always an extraordinary experience both in cuisine and service. The little cup of hot chicken broth they bring you immediately is sumptuous as is their warm popovers they bring you while you review the menu. My favorite is their chicken salad plate. Always a wonderful treat.

Tavern

4.8

4.8 (778)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Coronado

About the restaurant

Open for Lunch and Dinner. Reservations for Lunch are not accepted, however we do accept walk-ins!

Top review

LeighCM

Dined 5 days ago

We’ve eaten here several times and have always had great service. The food is also good and reasonably priced for a restaurant in Coronado. Had the sliders last night and they were excellent. Was also pleasantly surprised to see June shine on the menu.

Campfire

4.8

4.8 (5373)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Carlsbad

About the restaurant

A New American restaurant and cocktail bar with a focus on market driven live-fire cooking, Campfire is a return to the origins of cooking and hospitality, and celebrates the spirit of the name by creating an environment in which we gather around a fire, create honest food, and share it with friends.

Top review

BonnieVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Unique and fun experience! Everything was delicious. Highly recommend.

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4.7

4.7 (1429)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Little Italy

About the restaurant

Kettner Exchange boasts two levels of indoor/outdoor drinking and dining and Little Italy’s only rooftop patio with spanning harbor views. We feature Progressive American cuisine from critically acclaimed Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski. In 2019, Kettner Exchange was named to Michelin Guide's prestigious Bib Gourmand list. Kettner Exchange has proudly maintained this award every year thereafter. Originally introduced in 1997, the Bib Gourmand category highlights restaurants that serve high-quality meals which include two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less.

Top review

Allison

Dined 2 days ago

We had a wonderful time! Our waiter was very accommodating and the dishes were all incredible! 10/10 recommend and will be back again ☺️

Harlow's Lounge

4.7

4.7 (253)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Bonsall

About the restaurant

Harlow's Cocktail Lounge is a unique restaurant focused on traditional classics with modern reinvention. Through the use of specialized ingredients and techniques, international influence and attention to detail, Harlow's offers adventurous creations rooted in comforting familiarity. Our shareable menu and bar selections are crafted for our guests enjoy on any occasion or outing. Come enjoy the lounge, bar, restaurant and private dining areas with friends and family. Harlow's stage features weekly live music showcasing local talent. Call or visit harlowslounge.com for more details

Top review

Madeline

Dined on 28 Feb 2025

We had a fantastic time! We ordered the non-alcoholic Sangria and an Old Fashioned to start, which were great! When we were ready to eat we had the Elk and the Lamb shareable dishes which were incredibly delicious, Darrien was wonderful helping us with our selections as he also recommended the Sweet Potato Cheesecake for dessert, which was also incredible! Neil at the bar also was such a pleasure to chat with and made a fantastic drink suggestion for my husband, as I wasn't drinking tonight but he enjoyed his suggestions very much so! We can't wait to come back and bring with us some friends and family. Great service, great food, great atmosphere! Highly recommend this hidden gem!

Bouquet Restaurant + Bar at Ponte Vineyard Inn

4.9

4.9 (548)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Temecula

About the restaurant

Enjoy fresh, locally-sourced cuisine fine wines and refreshing cocktails at Bouquet Restaurant, located at our luxurious AAA Four-Diamond Inn. Dine out on the terrace surrounded by manicured Italian gardens with stunning views of the vineyard and our 1-acre pond.

Enjoy live music during brunch Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm-3pm!

Top review

AhooVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Located in Beautiful Ponte Vineyard inn, delicious food, tasty wine and great staff…an amazing food experience. Highly recommend.

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4.7

4.7 (926)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

La Jolla

About the restaurant

Established in the heart of La Jolla’s Bird Rock seaside community in 2005, Beaumont’s Neighborhood Eatery has been a central meeting spot for locals to gather for fabulous food, hand-made cocktails, and top-rated entertainment in a casual, yet contemporary atmosphere earning its title as the “heart and soul of Bird Rock”. Nightly happy hour and a fantastic dinner menu are just the beginning, because a full bar and live local music add to the great vibe. You’ll find Beaumont’s weekends a need to be at event for brunch!

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 1 Mar 2025

We had a great time! Our server was awesome. I wish I could remember her name. The food was delicious. There was a band playing inside so we sat outside on the heated patio. It was fun and lovely. The drinks were great.

Sbicca - Del Mar

4.5

4.5 (2539)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Del Mar

About the restaurant

We look forward to having you join us! San Diego's favorite "Neighborhood" restaurant. Located in beautiful, quaint Del Mar and winner of the "Gold Medallion Award" for Best Neighborhood Restaurant awarded by the San Diego Chapter of the California Restaurant Association. Dine up on the Ocean View deck and take in the blue pacific while enjoying our award winning cuisine or sit on our ocean view sidewalk cafe and sip on one of our Wine Spectator award winning wine list wines.

SPECIALS:
1/2 price on Wine Bottles Tuesdays & Thursdays
Happy Hour Daily 3-5pm (excluding holidays)

Please note we cannot guarantee seating requests, we will do our best to accommodate but it is not a guarantee for inside or outside

Top review

John

Dined on 27 Feb 2025

What a pleasant surprise … the restaurant was recommended by a friend , and we were glad they did . Everything was excellent … food, service .. we loved it .

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Popular dish

Lobster Shrimp Biqsue

Popular dish

Crispy Chicken Buns

Coco Maya

4.5

4.5 (394)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Little Italy

About the restaurant

Nestled in the heart of Little Italy and overlooking the Piazza della Famiglia, Coco Maya offers a contemporary twist on classic American dishes. Our diverse menu ranges from light coastal cuisine to robust, flavorful proteins cooked in a traditional Spanish-style coal-fired Josper oven. Additionally, we pay homage to our neighborhood's roots with several Italian-inspired entrees, featuring unique takes on flatbreads and pastas.

As part of the Grind & Prosper Hospitality Group, Coco Maya is an evolution of our original concept, Miss B’s Coconut Club in Mission Beach. Since our inception, we've continued to explore new flavors and culinary techniques while broadening our scope and enriching our cocktail program. Coco Maya boasts a diverse mezcal and tequila selection, alongside the delicious tropical and rum-based cocktails that have become synonymous with Miss B’s.

Open daily for brunch and dinner, with a weekday Happy Hour from 2-5 pm.

Top review

TalyVIP

Dined 7 days ago

First time!! Great experience !! Our food was delicious and our server Nelson was on point !! We definitely try this restaurant again!!!

Ketch Grill & Taps - Point Loma

4.5

4.5 (68)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Point Loma

About the restaurant

20 Tap Handles featuring our Ketch Brewing beers and several guest taps. Modern Casual Faire overlooking San Diego Bay and the sportfishing fleet of Point Loma

Top review

Crouton

Dined on 2 Mar 2025

The food was delicious, but the service was not as good as the food. I called ahead to confirm our reservation and to check that they saw my note about a quieter table for my dad’s 70th birthday dinner. They confirmed and said they had a nice table reserved at the edge of the inside/outside area. When we arrived, they had reserved that table for a different group who hadn’t arrived yet and gave us the choice between a couch/coffee table and a high top closest to the lobby. So be advised they may not read the “notes” section about your reservation, and they may mislead you about “your” table.

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