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Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in San Diego

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OpenTable
Updated February 05, 2025

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants in San Diego? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!


A photo of Harney Sushi Poway restaurant
4.9
4.9 (57)
$30 and under
Sushi
Poway / Rancho Bernardo
About the restaurant
Experience the taste of high quality sushi with a trendy Neo-Asian inspired décor. Harney stands as the top sushi bar and dining destination in San Diego. It's as fresh and innovative as you desire. Here, the spirit of experimentation mingles with joyful revelry, where top-notch dining expertise meets vibrant charm and flair. Our establishment features a private VIP area and an array of over 30 specialty rolls crafted and named by devoted fans. It's a symphony for your taste buds, nourishment for your soul. Since 2001, we take pride in presenting our award-winning, sustainable sushi cuisine rooted in Southern California.
Top review
Brooke
Dined 4 days ago
Excellent service and food!! Reservation was honored and ready when we arrived!
A photo of Ruth's Chris Steak House - San Diego restaurant
4.8
4.8 (5060)
$50 and over
Steakhouse
Downtown / Gaslamp
About the restaurant
Now Open: We look forward to serving you soon.

Ruth's Chris Steak House in San Diego, CA serves the finest USDA Prime beef available, broiled at 1,800° and served on 500° plates, so your steak stays hot, juicy and delicious from first bite to last. Enjoy our New Orleans-inspired appetizers, USDA Prime steaks, fresh seafood, signature side dishes and homemade desserts. All this while you enjoy our warm, inviting atmosphere and Ruth’s Chris’ genuine hospitality. So whether you’re a regular or have just been wondering what all the buzz is about, Ruth's Chris is the perfect excuse to enjoy the perfect night out. Dinner is served nightly, reservations are suggested and private dining and offsite catering may be arranged.


Top review
Ronee
Dined today
Really good steak , perfectly cooked medium well, sides were mediocre , virgin drinks were not good. But overall great experience and great steak most importantly.
A photo of Miss B's Coconut Club restaurant
4.8
4.8 (126)
$30 and under
Caribbean
Mission Beach
About the restaurant
What you’ll find here is classic, Caribbean-inspired American food with tiki flair. Cubano Roasted Pork, Jerk Chicken and Coconut Shrimp are in synch with the mambo rhythm of your appetite, and our house-ground burger is one like you won’t find anywhere in town. Jumbo Coconut Shrimp and a list of Street Cart items will have you coming back to try them all, whether you order something “to go” from our walk-up counter, stay to eat on our spacious outdoor patio, or take a seat inside.

Coconut Club’s décor evokes a celebration of Mission Beach’s nautical and maritime past, which takes form as an inspired interpretation of a 30’s-style sailor tiki club. Rum is the star here, and has a leading role in our creative list of grownup cocktails, which includes shareable, tiki-inspired punches and bowls to drum up conversations and generate a buzz. Coconut Club is also a purveyor of fuel that fires the craft beer frenzy, with 20 local and microbrew tap handles.

Top review
NuiVIP
Dined 7 days ago
The jerk chicken wings are the best! Also love the island salad with its yummy chimichurri dressing. Coconut margarita is my favorite drink. All the servers are fantastic too!
A photo of Shimbashi Izakaya restaurant
4.7
4.7 (990)
$31 to $50
Japanese
Del Mar
About the restaurant
Shimbashi's theme is based on the Izakaya, a Japanese tapas restaurant. We offer a multi-faceted menu that can be used as a pairing with sake for the light eater or sophisticated dinner entrées served in the Japanese tradition. Our menu changes with the season making each dining experience a new adventure.
Top review
VarindaVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Lunch was awesome and Patrick was charming and knowledgeable about the sushi !
A photo of Fortunate Son restaurant
4.7
4.7 (183)
$30 and under
Chinese
North Park
About the restaurant
“Among my chef friends and the epicurean elites, aka “foodies”, the conversation around great Chinese food was always centered around authenticity, with classic American Chinese takeout dishes not considered authentic. But, having grown up in the Chinese American restaurant my parents have worked at for the past 25 years, I’ve always seen it as a by-product of enormous creativity and ingenuity of Chinese Immigrants. They adapted to what was available to them in the early 20th century and created some of the most iconic dishes in the history of this country,
Top review
Audrianna
Dined 7 days ago
I genuinely LOVE every dish I try at Fortunate Son! 10/10 recommend
A photo of Kai Ola Sushi restaurant
4.7
4.7 (11)
$50 and over
Sushi
Oceanside
About the restaurant
California’s best sushi in a laid back, casual atmosphere with Hawaiian vibes.

You will get the freshest, finest, and the best quality sushi at Kai Ola. We serve fresh, unique (as well as traditional) sushi and we take pride in how it tastes. Our chefs prepare top quality creations and we take pride in our work.

Kai Ola is not about the scene. While locals and visitors alike love to dine with us, this is not a fine dining experience. This is about the fish. Sandals, board shorts, and bathing suits are welcome.

Kai Ola has the true Aloha! spirit in everything we do. Please come join us for the best fish and sushi creations you have yet to taste.

Top review
ChelseaVIP
Dined 4 days ago
Great place. Nice ambience. Lighting slightly bright. The nigiri is super fresh and delicious. We got the light omakase and sat at the sushi bar, it all came out at once on a wood platter.
A photo of Collette’s restaurant
4.6
4.6 (1354)
$50 and over
Farm-to-table
Escondido
About the restaurant

We are committed to giving you a French inspired farm to table fine dining experience. We are forging partnerships with local farmers and organizations to bring you good food done well.

We believe that food has the power to bring people together and build community, and we're honored to be a part of that process.

Top review
John
Dined 3 days ago
Great little high end restaurant. Conveniently located in downtown Escondido although currently the road is under construction. No noise in the evening, however. Nicely decorated for ambiance. The staff is so friendly and nice. Casey was our waiter. Excellent service. The food, ( this was a pre-designed meal for Valentine’s Day) was outstanding. It came out in 6 courses, I think. Steak and lobster was very good as the main course. Cocktails were great! It was a bit pricey but other than that, a great experience.
A photo of Hunter Steakhouse - Oceanside restaurant
4.6
4.6 (1002)
$30 and under
Steakhouse
Oceanside
About the restaurant
Welcome to Hunter Steakhouse "serving the best Prime Rib in Town". We embrace our 40 year tradition as a classic steakhouse while continually renewing our commitment to small town hospitality. when you visit us in the City of Oceanside, our staff looks forward to serving you with a smile. We know that you'll find our award winning Prime Rib, hand carved steaks and chops, fresh seafood, and many other home made dishes to your liking. From our table side salad bar to our home made soups and sauces we take a great deal of pride in offering you only the freshest ingredients. We're truly honored to have you as our guests. You're family, You're invited.
Top review
GinoVIP
Dined on Feb 8, 2025
Awesome food- Love the salad wheel!!! Great drinks and desert too. Can’t wait to return.
A photo of Nick & G's Restaurant restaurant
4.6
4.6 (953)
$31 to $50
American
Rancho Santa Fe
About the restaurant
At Nick & G's the good times keep rolling! We bring the taste of Italy to Rancho Santa Fe, serving our community with best-in-class dining, catering, and events. Our restaurant's design showcases a tasteful blend of new and old-world luxury, to reflect the delicate balance of flavors contained in our modern Italian-American cuisine.
Top review
ErikVIP
Dined 4 days ago
Amazing food, amazing service, amazing everything
A photo of The Gutter restaurant
4.5
4.5 (28)
$30 and under
American
North Park
About the restaurant
“We Are All In The Gutter But Some Of Us Are Looking At The Stars” – Oscar Wilde.
Top review
KristinVIP
Dined on Dec 16, 2024
We had a great experience visiting the gutter. Beautiful lanes, quick service (drinks only, no food) and we had a great time
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