Jaunted

· Cucina Urbana
This contemporary Italian joint is the most talked-about restaurant in town. Favorites like the fried squash blossoms and short rib pappardelle keep diners talking. But the delicious, light apple date bread pudding is also worthy of conversation, with its amaretto sabayon, vanilla bean caramel and candied pecans.

· Cowboy Star Restaurant and Butcher Shop
If you couldn't tell by the name, this place is for carnivores. The only non-meat items on the Restaurant Week menu are desserts. So get your arteries ready for lamb short ribs with potato dumplings doused in a whiskey-currant sauce and cider-brined Niman pork with bacon-pomegranate relish.

· The Prado at Balboa Park
This restaurant is always a sure bet. Aside from the scenic Balboa Park setting, you'll get to feast on seared Kobe beef carpaccio and pan-roasted striped bass with cauliflower puree, rapini and garlic crushed potatoes.

· Whisknladle
Diners flock to this American-Californian restaurant in lovely La Jolla because it serves up comfort food like house-cured salumi and made-from-scratch pasta. Try the chorizo date fritters and tagliatelle Bolognese.

· Suite & Tender
Housed in the Se San Diego, this steakhouse is so serious about its meat that you get a selection of designer knives to best cut your NY strip loin. But the real attraction is the slabs of maple syrup-glazed bacon with frisee and chives. You'll want to use your fingers to eat these so that you can lick them afterward.

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· Book These Top Five NYC Restaurant Week Reservations Today [Jaunted]
· Restaurant Week Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Jennifer Kester]