Head to the upper level of the centrally located Del Mar Plaza, at Camino del Mar and 15th Street. You'll find Il Fornaio Cucina Italiana (tel. 858/755-8876), for moderately priced and pleasing Italian cuisine and an enoteca (wine bar) with great ocean views; Pacifica Del Mar (tel. 858/792-0476), which serves outstanding seafood; as well as Epazote Oceanview Steakhouse. Head west from the plaza on 15th Street and you'll run into neighborhood favorite Sbicca, 215 15th St. (tel. 858/481-1001), serving modern American cuisine sweetened with great wine deals; and next to Jake's, right on the beach, is Poseidon, 1670 Coast Blvd. (tel. 858/755-9345), good for California cuisine and fabulous sunsets. There are more winning vistas to go along with your wining and dining at lagoon-side Cuvee, 2334 Carmel Valley Rd. (tel. 858/259-5878), a great place to stop after a visit to Torrey Pines State Reserve.
The racetrack contingent congregates at Bully's Restaurant, 1404 Camino del Mar (tel. 858/755-1660), for burgers, prime rib, and crab legs; the gold-card crowd heads for special-occasion meals at acclaimed Pamplemousse Grill, 514 Via de la Valle (tel. 858/792-9090). Also near the track, located in the Flower Hill Mall, is Paradise Grille, 2690 Via de la Valle (tel. 858/350-0808), a casual-but-sophisticated spot for seasonal California cuisine. And if you're looking for fresh seafood -- and lots of it -- make a beeline to the Del Mar branch of San Diego's popular Fish Market, 640 Via de la Valle (tel. 858/755-2277), near the racetrack.
