Fig Tree Cafe

When I was getting my hair done a couple of months ago, I told my braider about all the brunch spots I had been to and how I was running out of new places to try.

She recommended Fig Tree Cafe, and I vaguely remembered passing by their Mission Valley location a few times in the past. It didn’t look super exciting from the outside so I never had the desire to go in. She assured me the food was bomb, so I made it a point to go as soon as I could!

My friend and I decided to go there for brunch this week, and I was delighted to find out they had a much prettier location in Pacific Beach.

Walking onto the patio of the cafe feels like walking into a peaceful garden. There are plants growing freely on the walls and hanging across the ceiling. There’s a surfboard suspended up above. The sign for the cafe is even hanging from a large tree that covers the front part of the restaurant. It’s like a little forest in the middle of a beach town. They also have gorgeous indoor seating if you’re looking to avoid the cold air.

Fig Tree Cafe has 4 locations: Mission Valley, Pacific Beach, Liberty Station, and East Village. They are open daily from 7AM – 3PM, with the exception of the East Village location which closes at 2PM. Their menu is available online.

The food? Phenomenal.

Mimosa Flight

First things first — drinks! My friend and I both ordered a mimosa flight, which consisted of 4 different flavors (from left to right): cranberry, pineapple, grapefruit, and classic OJ. This is a pretty basic flight considering there aren’t any other special juices or flavors you can order. However, what they lack in variety they make up for in quality.

The mimosas tasted SO good and the champagne-to-juice proportion was perfect. Not to mention it only costs $15, which is one of the best deals I’ve seen for a flight of 4 drinks in reasonably-sized glasses.

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

These were like heaven in my mouth. The tangy lemon curd and sweet honey ricotta were a match made in heaven. Truly some of the best pancakes I’ve ever tasted, and I’ve had a LOT of sweet and fruity pancakes in my years of brunching.

The pancakes hit all the right notes: sweet, sour, creamy, fluffy, buttery, even crunchy. The pistachio brittle topping gave each bite a different texture and complemented the dish so well. I didn’t even need the syrup; the toppings did what they needed to do.

My friend ordered one of their signature items, the Fig Jam & Ricotta French Toast. I didn’t get a picture of it, but she said it was really good and she seemed to enjoy it!

I ordered my dish with a side of maple-sage breakfast sausage and scrambled eggs, and my friend ordered a side of arugula potatoes. Everything was super tasty and we left very, very satisfied.

I will be back ASAP to get another taste of those delicious lemon pancakes, and then I’ll be back again to try some of the other mouth-watering items on the menu. I’ll update this post once I try more food, but based on my initial visit this cafe has solidified itself as one of my new favorite brunch spots in San Diego. From the yummy food to the affordable drinks to the calming atmosphere, it’s a place you’ll want to return to again and again!

February 14, 2024 0

Eclipse Chocolate Bar & Bistro

When my friend told me her aunt recommended this place for brunch, I was surprised. Judging by the name it seemed like a dessert bar that might have a few sandwiches. I was wrong!

Walking into Eclipse Chocolate in South Park feels like walking into a room in Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. With its shimmery glass panels and whimsical candy displays, the aesthetic alone is enough to cure any sweet tooth.

Biscuits & Gravy (with Panko Crusted Chicken)

It may look like a regular brunch dish, but don’t let appearances fool you. Eclipse puts their chocolate-y twist on every dish, and this was no exception! The star of this dish was the sausage gravy, which was infused with toasted white chocolate. This gave it a hint of sweetness that paired perfectly with the hickory salted sausage and spicy chicken.

It was really cool experiencing white chocolate in a savory way like this. The garlic parmesan biscuits were fluffy and lightly flavored, setting the perfect stage for the sausage gravy to dance on the tastebuds.

I would definitely recommend ordering the Panko chicken on the side like I did to balance out the richness of the dish. It didn’t bother me at all, but I thought the chicken was a nice complement. The menu mentions towards the bottom that the side of Panko crusted chicken comes tossed in a vanilla honey sriracha sauce, which I think is important to note!

Salted Dulce de Leche Cacao

I asked the server which drink from their extensive sipping chocolate list he would recommend, and he first asked me what my favorite chocolate was. Upon hearing I prefer white chocolate, he recommended this. It was love at first sip.

It was so smooth, creamy, and just the right amount of sweet! I loved the hints of caramel and vanilla in every sip. I finished one and immediately wanted more. Lucky for me, they sell sipping chocolate to-go as well!

This bistro is an essential stop for chocolate enthusiasts in San Diego. The staff are super friendly and enthusiastic about discussing their menu and ingredients, and there are so many opportunities to learn more about cacao and all its uses. One wall in the restaurant is dedicated to showing the step-by-step process of creating chocolate, and they even sell real cacao beans! If you are in the South Park area and hoping to satisfy your sweet tooth, this is the place to go!

January 5, 2024 0

The Lion’s Share

I lost a bet to my boyfriend a couple of months ago — I can’t remember what it was about, but the loser was supposed to take the winner to dinner. Weekends came and went and we forgot about it for a while, but last weekend I randomly remembered.

We were trying to figure out what to do for date night, so I asked him what dish he had been craving lately. It didn’t take him long to name drop the elk flank he had had at Lion’s Share, so we decided to go there. He talks about this place super often and I had only been there once for appetizers, so I was excited to try a main dish!

Established in downtown San Diego in 2011, the restaurant prides itself on “offer[ing] food and cocktails with only the best ingredients, prepared meticulously for your enjoyment,” per the website. It’s a vision they absolutely live up to; dining here is a thrill for the senses from start to finish. They specialize in exotic meats, so you’re guaranteed to see something on the menu that will stir your curiosity.

The Lion’s Share is open Tuesday through Sunday from 4PM to 2AM, with Happy Hour from 4PM to 6PM. The full menu is only available until 11PM. After hours, you can still order their “late night food” until 1AM. It’s the perfect place to sober up on gourmet finger food after a night of clubbing downtown.

Plan ahead and make reservations on The Lion’s Share website to save a little wait time!

When I started reading the menu I realized there were a lot of ingredients I had never seen before. I had no way of predicting what anything was going to taste like, but everyone’s plates looked delicious. I was torn until the very last second between the lamb chops and the duck breast. Luckily, choosing the appetizer was easier. Read on to see what we ordered!

Salt & Pepper Frog Legs

There were a lot of tasty looking items on the appetizer list. I was trying to take risks with every dish this night, so my boyfriend suggested I try frog legs. Considering how the animal looks I couldn’t imagine how those would taste good, but I decided to trust the process.

When the appetizer came, I was shocked by how great it tasted. The meat melted in the mouth and the breading was paper thin, light and well-seasoned. Salty, but not so much as to take away from the meat’s natural juices. The frog legs were prepared tempura style, tossed with fried garlic and scallions, and accompanied with a mild chili sauce.

With or without the sauce, the appetizer provided a wave of flavor that served as the perfect introduction for what the restaurant had to offer.

Sumac Rubbed Elk Flank

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the dish we came for: elk flank served with eggplant & chile puree, crispy potatoes, and shishito relish. I almost ordered this but I figured my boyfriend would let me have a bite of his, which he did.

I hate to be dramatic but my immediate thoughts were that I could taste the woods in this dish. Like, I tasted the elk’s entire experience in one bite. Does that even make sense? Well that’s how it felt. I had never tasted anything like it before.

The meat was smoky and so so tender, and the garnishing added the extra pop of flavor it needed to take it over the edge. Not to mention the plating was gorgeous. I was in love, will definitely be ordering this one next time!

Seared Duck Breast

Finally, the dish I decided on: seared duck breast served atop Sichuan eggplant, haricot vert, beech mushrooms, duck jus and scallions. It smelled phenomenal. It looked like it was about to fill me up and take my senses for a ride.

In my first bite, I made sure to get a forkful of everything the plate had to offer — the duck, the mushrooms, the eggplant and that rich glaze pooling at the bottom of the dish. The texture and flavors were different from anything I had ever had before and totally different from the elk. The duck was more of a fatty meat, not as tender. Almost uncomfortably so, until I figured out the correct way to eat the dish.

After the first few bites, I started eating the things on my plate separately. I was confused because the duck was suddenly a little hard to chew, something I hadn’t dealt with in the first few minutes. I almost started to regret my choice, then it clicked. The glaze (I’m assuming this is the duck jus?) was pretty acidic. When I ate the duck dipped in glaze and paired with the other ingredients on the plate, it suddenly melted in the mouth.

This is why I say that the plate was a ride. It was a carefully curated experience and honestly one of the best dishes I’ve ever had.

I don’t know if I would have ever randomly decided to try duck or elk; I like to stick to the classics and play it safe. Dining here ignited a fire to step out of my comfort zone and try new foods. Although on the pricier side, The Lion’s Share is worth every penny. From the fascinating art to the one-of-a-kind food and drinks, you’re guaranteed a unique experience from the moment you walk through the door.

February 3, 2023 0