333 Pacific
This upscale restaurant is known to be one of the finest seafood eateries in all of Oceanside. The view of the pier from the restaurant's windows creates an impressive, yet relaxing atmosphere, complimented by the subtle, contemporary decor. The food, prepared by Chef Matthew Briggs, is inventive, but never obscure.
For an appetizer, enjoy the $15 hamachi crudo, composed of a fennel salad adorned with thin slices of yellow tail and crispy wontons with an olive vinaigrette. For dinner, try the $30 seared diver scallops with bread pudding, white bean cassoulet, bay shrimp and garlic sausage. If you want to try Brigg's upscale comfort food, consider the blue-cheese-crusted Kobe-beef meatloaf with mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts (prices as of 2009).
333 Pacific
333 North Pacific St.
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 433-3333
cohnrestaurants.com
Rosina's
This romantic Italian restaurant offers classic meat dishes, pastas and salads. Unlike many American Italian restaurants that focus on marinara-drenched spaghetti, Rosina's serves an array of traditional sauces with your choice of pasta, and hefty entrees served with either polenta or capellini pomodoro. Enjoy your dinner in the quiet, intimate dining room or on the outdoor patio beside the bubbling fountain.
For an authentic Italian experience, start off with a fresh salad with wine-poached pears, toasted pecans and gorgonzola cheese ($9). Next indulge in the rich tomato-and-olive-based puttanesca con pollo on penne pasta, about $15. Or, you may consider a meat dish like the $17 saltimboca del oro, a pork tenderloin topped with roscuitto, mozzarella, fresh sage and a white wine demiglaze (prices as of 2009).
Rosina's
3613 Ocean Ranch Blvd. Suite 100
Oceanside, CA 92055
(760) 721-5000
rosinas.org
The Fish Joint
With dark furniture, cool music and funky underground art throughout the dining area, the Fish Joint is one of the hippest restaurants in Oceanside. The small tables create a cozy atmosphere that encourages familiarity and camaraderie.
While the restaurant specializes in sushi, it also serves a few other Japanese mainstays like tempura fish and a mixed-meat-and-veggie stir fry served over rice. The specialty rolls average $13 (as of 2009); one or two roll are enough to fill you up.
The house rolls are delightfully imaginative with fun names like "Scooby snacks" (eel, avocado and spicy tuna tempura fried and served with salsa). If none of the rolls on the menu appeal you can create your own roll and price it according to your ingredients list.
The Fish Joint
514 South Coast Highway
Oceanside, CA 92054
(760) 450-0646
thefishjoint.com
