I understand that you really need reservations in the evening, but at lunchtime it wasn't all that crowded. If you plan to take in Balboa Park, schedule lunch or an early dinner with it. It is one of the better restaurants in San Diego.

I decided to treat my boyfriend since he appreciates great food. We went on a Tuesday night so it wouldn’t be so crowded and we could take in the atmosphere of the restaurant. Our first decision of our dining experience was whether we wanted to eat outside on the patio or pick one of two dining rooms inside. John and I decided to eat inside since we spent the entire afternoon outside walking around the park. The room we picked had a very warm feel with gold and maroon curtains that floated over the windows. All the decorations in the room had been meticulously placed and picked out. The room had texture and was visually stimulating. The ceiling was also painted with patterns that made me feel like a little girl staring through a kaleidoscope.

John and I are light eaters and we started with drinks, John had a glass of sangria and I went for a fru-fru girly drink, Strawberry Daquari. The waitress brought out some flat bread with a humus spread that was addicting. We could not tear ourselves away from this to even look at the menu. When we finally made a decision we decided to get two appetizers, chicken empanadas and crabcakes. The chicken was fried in a pastry shell and crumbled in my mouth. I have only had empanadas once before so it doesn’t give me much to compare to, but it was really good. The crabcakes were panko crusted and had real crab meat that were the size of squashed golf balls. The garnishes on the plates were just as delicious so we didn’t leave a crumb behind.

The bill was $50 for the two of us including the tip and it was an enjoyable evening to say the least. You can walk off your dinner in San Diego’s most romantic park, Balboa Park.

Don't let the array of sangrias, mojitos, teguinis, pisco sours, and elaborate margaritas fool you. Or the black bean or tortilla soups. This is not a "just like Spain or Mexico" deal, it's a modern international restaurant in spite of the dark wood and cathedral windows.

You can go the marina route with sashimi or saffron steamed Manila clams for openers, or try the vegetable napolean, chipotle-glazed steak skewers, crabcakes, or charred asparagus and forest mushrooms.

By then you'll be warmed up for things like chicken Milanese, salmon on sweet potato plantain mash, or pork prime rib.

If you're just doing lunch, try their own baked panini sandwiches: balsamic grilled portobello mushrooms and chiles, for instance, or grilled shrimp in smoked bacon. In other words, the cuisine doesn't coast on the matchless setting.

Check the menu at theirWebsite or, to book the place for a memorable wedding or event, this site After eating, wonder the galleries and museums, or simply stroll around the fountain gardens just outside.