Rare Society is your next meat party

Neighborhood: University Heights neighborhood, San Diego

Price: $$$

Vibe: Modern, fun ambience with great decor - this place has a great vibe that is somehow upscale and homey neighborhood at the same time

We stumbled across Rare Society when we realized that we forgot to make a reservation at another restaurant for a birthday celebration, and we could not have been happier with our backup restaurant option. Sometimes mistakes turn out to be the best surprises! Located in University Heights in the old 100 Proof location (before that, it was S&M Sausage and Meat), Rare Society is an upscale steakhouse serving mouthwatering steak and seafood dishes, in a totally unpretentious and casual environment. It’s a “come as you are” kind of place, and while the food says, “fine dining”, the restaurant itself is super cozy and feels like a little neighborhood joint. Brought to us by the folks from the Trust group, this one really hits it out of the park with the food and the vibe, and I’m already counting down the days to my next visit.

The decor is comfy and chic and makes you kind of want to hang out all night

We had a group of 3 and got seated in a cool leather booth with a view of the bar. The restaurant atmosphere was warm and bustling, but not too loud to enjoy the conversation with your tablemates. The wallpaper and tiled ceilings, with gold mirrors adorning one of the walls, were all in great taste and really added to the atmosphere of this neighborhood steakhouse.

Because this was a Food Club birthday situation, we did not hold back on the ordering and decided that we were going to splurge and try as much as we could possibly fit into our bellies. And we did good.

Oysters and champers

We started with some champagne and oysters on the half shell, because why not? The waiter offered some great recommendations that we probably wouldn’t have tried otherwise - most notably, the simply named “bacon” dish, which was so good we didn’t even get a picture of it whole. A delicious slab of pork belly, slow cooked in a sweet and tangy BBQ-like sauce, it fell apart with a fork and was the perfect foreshadowing of the meats to come - delicious and perfectly cooked.

Our failed attempt at picture of the bacon, it went too fast!

Next course was the Wood Grilled Maine Lobster, which was taken out of the shell, chopped and tossed with garlic, parsley butter and breadcrumbs (oh my!) and placed back into the shell. The sauce was rich and paired perfectly with the sweet lobster. We had to order the Parker House rolls, cooked in a skillet and smothered with butter just to sop up what was left of the sauce.

Wood Grilled Maine Lobster

Parker House rolls

For our main course, we ordered the steak sampler called “The Associate”, and I highly, highly recommend this for a group of 3 or more! It’s a chef’s choice sampling of the steaks, and ours came with the tri-tip Wagyu and the Denver Wagyu (okay, now I get the hype around Wagyu, wow) and the prime “bullseye” ribeye. Each steak was cooked and sliced and served with the suggested sauce pairings, it was a really great way to sample each of these delectable meats. Served on their own Rare Society-branded lazy Susan which made it easy to share/fight over the different offerings. We had to try to Mac n cheese and Caesar salad as our sides, which were good, but the proteins were the shining star of the night - as it should be.

Steak sampler with pairing sauces

Because this was a “birthday” food club we HAD to order dessert, so on the recommendation of our server, who did not steer us wrong all night, he suggested the butter cake. Wow, so simple yet so divine!

Butter cake with sour cream ice cream

This was one of the best steak dinners I have ever eaten. One of those meals that we all texted about the next day, and I feel like I got to relive again just by writing this all down for you. If you haven’t checked out Rare Society, you must. Go now.

Rare Society

4130 Park Blvd.

San Diego, CA 92103

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.

Animae

Marina District, San Diego

969 Pacific Hwy. 

San Diego, CA 92101

619.432.1225

Check out our recipe section for a little inspiration!