I don’t hand out five-star reviews much. BO-beau kitchen + bar in San Diego earned one.
Five of us went early on Saturday evening after a play at the Old Globe — no wait at around 5:30. Beautiful evening, sitting outside on the patio near the fire. They had heaters too, which were a bit much for me but the women appreciated them. Our waiter Steven was great, aside from the fact that he was cute and my mom was nearly flirting with him.
We spent a while reading the menu and watching flatbread being made in their pizza oven. Lots of shareable dishes, which is the right way to run a table.
Here’s my theory about great restaurants: they should be able to prepare a dish you don’t like, and have you like it. Of course no one likes Brussels sprouts. Theirs were great, as advertised. The flatbread with beets and jalapeños — even those of us who don’t like beets or jalapeños liked it. We had mussels with french fries, french onion soup, and several different salads. Everything was top-notch. My mom liked the fact that the menu recommended some wines under the category “cheap.”
For dessert we had cobbler and the “ménage à trois” sampler — perfect for five people to share, along with very good coffee.
The atmosphere was friendly and non-snooty. Like a French countryside café, rather than some elegant nose-high white-tablecloth dining room. We spent several unhurried hours on the patio in the San Diego weather, and nobody rushed us out.
★★★★★ (5.0) — Ocean Beach, San Diego