As a working mom, life gets pretty busy. I am constantly trying to find the balance between #momlife, #wifelife, and #melife. So in this blog post I am focusing on, yep you guessed it, me. Me and my girlfriends, to be more specific, and enjoying a little time away from momming, diapers, and boogers. And what better way than brunch! Right in the middle of your hectic Sunday morning, and hopefully extending well into naptime.
As everyone knows, San Diego is a huge city and the neighborhoods are very spread out. You can easily drive an hour to get to your friend’s house on the other side of town, or in North County like myself. My girlfriend group is spread out, so picking a central brunch spot can be tricky. Instead, we go on a “tour de San Diego” and try some of the best and most fun spots in town! And they are not family friendly for us at least. 🙂
Herringbone – La Jolla
One of the newer restaurants in the La Jolla area, Herringbone is in a very cool 1930s-era renovated warehouse on Herschel Ave about 2 blocks from Prospect St. It’s easy to get to and has plenty of parking too. If you’ve got a large group of gals looking for a place to chat, ask for the private table upstairs overlooking the bar for some extra special flair!
Bottomless mimosas, bloody marys with bacon (yes please!), seafood-paired breakfast entrees, pecan sticky buns to share — this place has it all and it doesn’t include Mickey Mouse pancakes. A nice change of pace for those hard-working moms out there!
Reservations recommended, especially if you want the private balcony table.
Jasmine Seafood Restaurant – Kearny Mesa
Dim sum – yes sum! Less brunch, more lunch, but oh so fun for you adventurous eaters. If you haven’t had traditional Hong Kong dim sum, it is basically small plates of food and appetizers served via carts driving past your table. Each cart has its own specialty foods and you just have to flag them down and grab a plate. The experience is as much fun as the food – and Jasmine Restaurant is one of the best dim sum restaurants in San Diego.
Try fresh dumplings and warm sticky buns, egg cakes, fried seafood, and make sure you get tea for your table too. Everything is served via a lazy susan in the middle of your table for easy sharing and tasting new delicacies. But don’t go there expecting “Chinese food” – this is more like side dishes that you can sample. Very cost-effective and the cart waiters and waitresses are friendly and speedy!
Reservations recommended, but they can easily fit large groups in their gigantic restaurant.
LIPS Gospel Brunch – North Park
Bring your singles! And get ready to laugh your @ss off. This is a Sunday morning brunch your group will never forget, and these “ladies” will make it extra special for your group from awesome service and bottomless bloody Mary’s and mimosas to singing, dancing and performing for 2 hours. You get your money’s worth! I love the chicken and waffles, and they also have great breakfast, salads, and burgers too. And everything is the same price. Keeps it simple when splitting the bill!
Be prepared to get out of your comfort zone a little and have some fun. You’ll be asked to participate in singing, tossing singles on the stage, and general hooting and hollering for the LIPS Gospel Brunch performers.
Reservations are required with a credit card hold, and they can easily fit large groups.
Davanti Enoteca – Del Mar
Three words for you: Bloody Mary Bar. This is one of my favorite restaurants in North Country for brunch and it all starts with the Bloody Mary bar. They’ll fill a glass half-full of vodka for you and then you get to add all the pickled goodies, hot sauces, and spices your little heart desires. It’s interactive and fun! They also do the same for mimosas and you can mix your own juices and fruits into your champagne.
Outside of the drinks, the food is also impeccable. Huge portions and Italian-inspired breakfast and lunch options are all delicious. The specials of the day may be your best bet! And some of the nicest servers and owners if you get a chance to chat with them.
Reservations recommended for large groups, but usually not too busy.
Pacifica Del Mar – Cardiff by the Sea
One of the only restaurants on the water in the Cardiff/Encinitas area, you’ll love Pacifica Del Mar! Once again, we had a large group of 10 moms so we were given the private room overlooking the ocean. But the restaurant has a lot of tables for large parties all focused on the view. Gorgeous! They also offer outdoor seating, but beware it can be a little stinky from the ocean smell at times of the year (summer). Not their fault, just based on location.
You’ll enjoy many seafood-infused breakfast options with crab and lobster mixed throughout the menu. We tried the crab cake and lobster Benedicts and loved them both! And they have a large menu of hand-crafted drinks, but nothing bottomless here. It’s a treat to eat at the ocean so not a lot of extra gimmicks or cheap eats.
Reservations recommended and can be easily done via their website.
