For a good breakfast or even brunch in North County, the Beachgrass Café in Solana Beach offers good cuisine at mid-range prices. The Café is known for its signature morning dish, the “Pineapple Pancake”. The dish is two plate sized pancakes, with embedded pineapples and a crispy crust that makes the eater hankering for more. If it is possible for a pancake to create buzz and discussion among its eaters, this pancake does so with impeccable taste.

If pancakes aren’t quite your cup of tea, the Café boasts a variety of scrambles, ranging from the standard menu fare to the daily special scramble. Each of these egg dishes is sumptuously prepared, and quite large. Additionally, the Café has a good cup of coffee, from the standard black and hot, to the fluffy mocha. The Café is open for dinner and lunch as well. I would recommend breakfast reservations for the weekend, as the Café is quite popular with the locals and tourists alike.

If you’re like me, you’re always on the lookout to find a place to take your dog to allow them to have a good time. San Diego has many good dog parks, and these two places are great places to let them run around off leash.

The first is located in the North County in Del Mar. It is called “Dog Beach”. All one has to do is exit at Via Del La Valle off of the Interstate Five, and proceed West to the Coast Highway. Once at the intersection, turn South, and the beach is immediately a block to the South. Parking is available, although it is limited along the road next to the beach. Parking immediately adjacent to the beach, although a fee is required by the City of Del Mar. Free parking is available on the surrounding streets. The beach is a great place to go and relax with your dog; dogs are allowed to be off leash, and can do whatever they please.

The second location is the dog park at Balboa Park. Balboa Park is already a great place to go to walk your dog. Just off of Laurel Street, and immediately before the main bridge, there is a Dog Play Area. This grassy area allows dogs to intermingle, play, fetch, and all other activities, again off leash.

Both locales provide trash cans and waste bags for the dogs, and always have a good weekend crowd of owners to discuss dog care, and to laugh at any dog related antics.

Those living in East County who might be craving a good salmon steak or grilled tuna feel that they might have to drive out to San Diego’s Embarcadero to Anthony’s Fish Grotto for some good dining.

That’s not necessary, as there are many good seafood dining establishments nearby. However, Anthony’s is known for their good service and good food and they have the dining awards to prove it. So just drive over to the Anthony’s in La Mesa for a wonderful dining experience (there are a couple scattered in San Diego County).

Everything is nice, clean, and casual. The service is fantastic and your food is served to you in a timely manner. Enjoy your halibut or fish and chips while looking out over at the duck pond nearby. The price is not cheap however it is worth it just to dine there. The portions are very filling and even the appetizers might get you to loosen up the notches in your belt.

The customer service is superb. Anthony’s has won at least eight San Diego Union-Tribune Readers’ awards for best service and seafood. So you’d like to eat Anthony’s food but don’t have the time to sit and dine out? That’s not a problem since the restaurant sells tuna and other kinds of marine foods to go.

Anthony’s is a good place to take the kids. They have an excellent child’s menu and after dinner, take them out to the pond to feed the ducks (there is a dispenser for duck feed at 25 cents a handful).

Anthony’s Fish Grotto is just across the 8 Freeway going toward La Mesa from El Cajon. It’s a great place for a light lunch or a casual dinner and unlike the Embarcadero downtown, there is plenty of parking available.