Animae, Animae!
Whole fried fish
Neighborhood: Downtown San Diego near the harbor
Price: $$$$
Vibe: Absolutely amazing ambience with beautiful olive velvet rounded booths and gold accents throughout, the vaulted ceilings make it feel fancy and somehow cozy at the same time.
Wow. I love it when a restaurant checks all the boxes for a truly exceptional dining experience: cool ambience, amazing food that leaves you thinking about it (and craving it) days later, and impeccable service. Animae is a special dining experience in an area of downtown San Diego that you typically don’t dine. The concept is brought to us by our beloved Brian Malarkey (Top Chef and local SD restaurateur) and Executive Chef Tara Monsod, who brings her Filipino-inspired dishes to the upscale fine dining scene. Okay let’s get to the good stuff – the FOOD!
The starters on the menu are just fabulous. We tried the Waygu lumpia and the cucumbers. I love it when a chef surprises you with something humble like fresh, crunchy, cucumbers that are just bursting with flavor and brightness. This was the perfect start to our meal, and I found myself hoovering every last morsel. Get them. And how can you go wrong with Waygu or lumpia – and then combined? Yes. Please.
Waygu lumpia
For the entrée we split the whole fried fish and Shanghai crab noodles. The crab noodles were good, but the star of the meal was the whole fried fish. Served on a plate of what I can only describe as a curry-like Thai sauce and tons of fresh herbs. This is the dish I am still thinking about months later…and I am certain I will never be able to try anything else because I will order this again and again and again. What can I say, I’m a creature of habit and I want that fish again!
Whole fried fish and Shanghai crab noodles
For dessert we shared the Pandan Malasadas – which are doughnut-like pastries filled with creamy goodness on a bed of lemon and ginger curd, oh my! What a perfect ending to this scrumptious meal.
Pandan Malasadas
Impeccable service fit for royalty; this restaurant pulls out all the stops. So good you have to say it twice – Animae, Animae! Book your next special occasion here, you will not be sorry.
p.s. parking is not ideal, there’s a paid lot half a block away – do this instead of the $20 Valet, unless you’re feeling bougie.
Marina District, San Diego
969 Pacific Hwy.
San Diego, CA 92101
Check out our recipe section for a little inspiration!
