"San Diego only has a few chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants, and Ironside claims one of them: Jason McLeod, who earned two top marks while working at Chicago's Ria. At Ironside, he presides over the raw bar and seafood menu, which features a shining selection of Kusshi oysters and a gluttonous lobster roll dressed in brown butter mayo—local fisherman catch most of the food and get their own shout-outs on every page. Sample a bit of everything with the $420 "Holy Shit" platter made up of caviar, crudo, ceviche, and a mountain of oysters, mussels and lobster (with a name like that, you know it doesn't disappoint)." - Archana Ram
Zack Benson