CORONADO SOUTH. Azzura Point features an elegant yet simple interior with bleached woods, banquettes, softly lit wall sconces, and potted palms. Its polished, professional service and an extensive wine list set the tone for refined California-Pacific cuisine. In addition, nightly prix fixe dinners offer multicourse tasting menus that are a restaurant signature. End your evening on a decadent note with chocolate truffle cake! Located five miles south of downtown Coronado.

HILLCREST / BALBOA PARK. Bertrand at Mr. A's opulent decor is surpassed only by its stellar view of the coast. That, along with infallible service and fantastic food makes it a favorite for special occasion and celebration dinners (reservations are tough to get), although most would say any time is a good time to dine here. Baked oysters on the half shell with champagne sabayon, oven roasted bass with morel sauce, venison loin with crépinette, beef tenderloin with gorgonzola sauce are all prime examples of the kitchen's talents with traditional and more modern cooking.

CORONADO. This French restaurant occupies a picturesque Victorian cottage situated just away from the hustle and bustle of Orange Avenue. Fortunate diners enjoy classics like salmon roasted with a horseradish crust, seafood cassoulet, rack of lamb and beef bourguignon in one of the most romantic settings in the area. An impressive wine list and delectable desserts are just two more reasons to love the restaurant. Three-course prix fixe menu $38-45. Early dinner menu available 5pm-6pm.

GASLAMP QUARTER. This elegant restaurant and bar is the perfect place for a business lunch. Owned by American bullfighter Paul Dobson, its cuisine is Californian with Continental flair and features specialty salads, soups and sandwiches boasting fresh homemade sourdough bread. In addition, you'll find heartier traditional fare like steaks, lamb, chicken, pork, veal, seafood and wild game. A bustling bar scene attracts local power brokers, and dining there on Fridays demands reservations well in advance.

HILLCREST / BALBOA PARK. Karen Krasne, the chef and proprietor of this delectable confectionery, earned a Certificat de Patisserie from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, and it has put her in good stead with gourmets in the area. Shop creations are made daily on-site, and island-influenced ingredients like macadamia nuts, ultra-fresh coconut, passion fruit and pure Kona coffee are incorporated into many desserts. Presentation and taste are both flawlessly executed, as is evident with one nibble of a cake, tart, pudding, pastry, cookie, cobbler or ice cream. Premium coffees and teas are apt companions. Public transportation: Bus 1, 3 or 25.