by Frank Sabatini Jr.

—[ top five ]—

The Glass Door
1835 Columbia St. • 619-564-3755
Little Italy’s latest and best-kept secret is about to spring to life as foodies discover this stylish restaurant replete with exquisite views and a menu kissed by Asian-Moroccan-Euro influences. Perched on the fourth floor of the Porto Vista Hotel & Suites, the interior is accented by Moroccan lamps and sliding floor-to-ceiling windows that open to a highly inviting balcony. Both early risers and late nighters are accommodated, as the restaurant operates from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., daily.

Tender Greens
2400 Historic Decatur Road #104 • 619-226-6254
This eco-friendly restaurant opened recently in Point Loma’s Liberty Station to the delight of greenies on the hunt for meals using locally grown produce, humanely raised meats and line-caught fish. Potted herbs decorating the outdoor seating area are plucked daily for cooking. Powered by solar energy, the eatery uses biodegradable materials throughout its operation and features tables made from a broken-down barn in Colorado. Planet earth never looked so happy.

Tango
417 W. Grand Ave., Escondido • 760-747-5000
Escondido’s newbie hotspot rolls out everything from caviar appetizers and root beer floats to beautifully crafted entrees that change daily according to the freshest ingredients on the market. Chef Russell Hawkins is at the helm of the kitchen after acquiring a cutting-edge cooking style gained from working at the world-famous Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago, plus stints at San Diego’s Mille Fleurs, Market and Bertrand at Mr. A’s. Tango’s atmosphere is chic and intimate, a perfect come-on for sampling from a list of global wines and fine cuisine.

The Marble Room
535 Fifth Ave.• 619-702-5595
Look no further than The Marble Room for a historic glimpse into San Diego’s late 19th-century brothel scene. The restaurant-lounge, which opened in October, is housed in a structure that reportedly served as a thriving 20-room brothel run by a fortuneteller named Madam Cora. As customers requested specific girls, they were supposedly given a marble that matched in color the wallpaper of their designated rooms. Today, the token for entry is simply an appetite for shared plates constructed by executive chef Bill Sauer and presented in a contemporary motif that retains a touch of bygone gaudiness.

Mangu
524 Island Ave. • 619-727-4065
The arrival of Mangu this summer affords San Diegans a rare taste of Caribbean cuisine in an airy, modern atmosphere, enhanced by colorful recessed lighting and a unique ceiling-mounted water fountain. Meat and seafood entrees are punctuated by intriguing Caribbean spice blends concocted in-house. Standouts include jerk chicken, whole fried fish with ginger sauce, Dominican-style beef empanadas and Caribbean wings brushed in a hot and fruity glaze. Cuban mojitos extinguish the fires.

—[ Frank's fave ]—

Not all meat and cheese platters are created equally. The one at Olivetto Café & Wine Bar in Mission Hills brims with robust artisan curds, top-quality proscuitto, perfectly cured Italian salami, zesty eggplant relish, meaty olives, fresh bruschetta and the like. Pair it with a bottle of Italian white Falanghina wine, famous for its ethereal essence of banana, and visions of Tuscany and Napa sweep over.

Olivetto Café & Wine Bar • 860 W. Washington St. • 619-220-8222