"With abundant outdoor seating, this North County restaurant off the 101 has the vibrations of a small wine bar in somewhere like La Barceloneta. Valentina’s solid wine list (along with its off-the-menu bright Aperol spritz cocktail) pairs well with Mediterranean specialties like gambas al ajillo and Mediterranean sashimi. This is an idyllic early evening stop on a trip down from Los Angeles to San Diego, or vice versa." - Helen I. Hwang, Candice Woo