Island Prime & C Level Lounge: Ocean Views in San Diego
After walking a lap around Torrey Pines and getting back to the car, my friend's wife had already made dinner reservations. So we grabbed the kids and headed straight there. I was told it's a seafood restaurant with a great ocean view. If the view is good, it's probably going to be expensive... I would have been perfectly happy with just a hamburger, so this felt like a bit much.
My friend wanted to get gas on the way, but instead of just pulling into any visible station, he specifically hunted down an Arco. He usually gets gas at Costco, but since it was closed for the holidays, he said he was going to Arco, the next cheapest option. Korean Costcos don't have gas stations so this was new to me, but apparently, a lot of people in the US get their gas at Costco. If the gas is cheap enough, I can see how the annual membership fee easily pays for itself. Compared to the US, Costco in Korea feels a bit lacking.
Uniquely, Arco gas stations only accept cash, not credit cards. You don't just pump and pay; you have to buy the gas with cash first (usually at the attached convenience store) and then go back to the pump. It seems like it would be a bit difficult to use when traveling.
My friend went back and forth just to pump gas, which looked annoying and complicated, but he insisted on doing it this way. I used to wonder if living in the US would make you less of a penny-pincher than in Korea, but it seems like it's actually worse.
After getting gas, we arrived at C Level Lounge. It seems like there are two restaurants, Island Prime and C Level Lounge, but they share the same space and use one sign, which is a bit confusing. You can probably just consider it a single restaurant.
Most restaurants in San Diego (and probably most of the US) have a happy hour. Because of this, my friend's family goes to dinner around 5 PM so they can order everything during happy hour. It's hard to find this in Korea, where eating at the proper mealtime is considered important, but it's very common here.
Looking at the menu, I started to understand why. The price difference between happy hour and regular hours is significant enough that you could order about two more dishes with the savings. Just like the BBQ we had for dinner yesterday, restaurant prices here feel quite burdensome. Add in the 10% California state tax and an average tip of 18 to 30%, and it becomes even heavier. The menu prices alone look more expensive than in Korea, but with tax and tip tacked on, it completely makes sense to diligently hunt down happy hours.
The food here is mostly fried. There's a steakhouse attached, so a lot of people were eating steak, too. The taste was decent enough. Since it was fried food, it wasn't incredibly delicious or terrible—just okay. What actually surprised me was the beer, which was supposedly made at a brewery around San Diego; it was unique and interesting. It was an IPA, but it really emphasized sour and refreshing flavors.
True to a restaurant that charges for the view rather than the food, the scenery is spectacular. If you sit by the window, you can eat while watching yachts leisurely pass by. As it gets later, it's a great spot to have a glass of wine while watching the sunset. It's the perfect place for couples to come and be romantic. There were a few tables with family gatherings, but I highly recommend it for couples.
The sunset is especially beautiful. The sunset itself is gorgeous, but downtown San Diego reflecting the sunlight during golden hour is also stunning. You don't just stare in one direction; you can enjoy the view looking this way and that. Because the scenery changes moment by moment as time passes, once you grab a seat, it's easy to spend a good three hours eating, drinking, watching, and falling completely in love with the charm of the San Diego harbor.
I wouldn't necessarily say you have to go just for the food, but if you're visiting San Diego and want to spend a meaningful time, I recommend going in the evening. It's best to book in advance and get a seat by the window. If making a reservation over the phone feels like too much pressure, you can easily book it through Google.