Dining Guide - Fancy - Born and Raised
What is the best place to go for a special occasion in San Diego? That is a tough question, one that I have been asked many times. There are tons of phenomenal restaurants in San Diego, but I’ve never been so impressed, well taken care of, and stuffed, than I have been at Born and Raised Steakhouse in Little Italy. Set in the 1920’s with table side preparation, old school classics, and stiff cocktails, Born and Raised is part show and complete excellence.
What to Expect
Expect opulence in the most retro yet modern fashion. Walking in you are greeted with an immediate sense of the finer things, greeted with a framed photo of Eazy E shooting dice. This is where you clearly see the juxtaposition of the restaurant, from the waiters wearing white tuxedos with converse, to the gold toilet seats with “Shit Happens” engraved on it.
The cuisine is classic done right. With dishes such as Beef Tartare and Beef Wellington, you are surrounded by the classics done with the expertise they demand.
Chef Ted Scott, former chef at Craft and Commerce across the street, helms a massive open style kitchen. Complete with a full on site butchery department, slicing up massive bone in ribeyes and thin waygu beef.
The drinks: stiff and well done. A martini cart wheels around mixing up cocktails, while a sommelier helps a guest pick a wine out of their incredibly extensive wine list.
There is something about dressing up, enjoying a classic drink, and eating a well prepared steak. It is a simple yet expensive indulgence that always makes a special occasion one to remember. Born and Raised has perfected this and that is why I come back every year.
What We Love
Cocktails
Born and Raised has no shortage of booze, with a penchant for the classics such as the Whiskey Smash, and the Corpse Reviver; allowing guests to sample what has been popular for so long, yet somehow forgotten on most cocktail menus. Cocktails often are very simple in many bars, you get 2 to 3 “notes”, but At Born and Raised you get so much more. With notes of salinity, spice, and funk, these cocktails are for the beginners and the advanced alike.
Our Favorites:
Corpse Reviver #2 London Dry Gin, Absinthe, House Curacao, Lemon, Rose Vermouth
Born and Raised Old Fashioned Single Barrel Overproof Rye Whiskey, Cognac, Sirop de Champagne, Bitters, Lemon and Orange Twist
Photo by: San Diego Magazine
Starters
Starters are crucial to the meal, without the right few starting bites, you might find that your meal doesn’t feel right or rushed. At Born and Raised there is no shortage off solid choices to start off with.
One of our favorites has to be this delicious Steak Tartare. It is delicate, flavorful, and oh so fresh, cubed evenly and toasted with aromatic vinegar and delicate micro herbs. Paired perfectly with the freshly baked bread and smooth normandy butter.
In the mood for some seafood? We definitely recommend their Crudo. Sliced thinly and prepared with local accruements, we definitely appreciate their effort to use local fish. A great way to support local fisheries.
Our Favorites:
Steak Tartare
Fresh Bread with Normandy Butter
Local Crudo
The Meat
Being a steakhouse, one can expect that the steak will be the main event of the experience. At Born and Raised, their steak is obsessed over, loved, and pampered.
With a large glass encased butcher shop carving up custom cuts and finessed waygu cuts, Born and Raised is definitely not grabbing out of the mass produced boxes coming in and out of so many traditional steakhouses. It takes far more work to break down each individual cut, but the effort is definitely rewarded.
The steaks come in every cut and size, ranging from the classic steakhouse Filet Mignon, to my favorite Dry Aged Ribeye. Sliced thinly, the ribeye is well marbled, seared to a crisp, juicy, and perfectly cooked. Served simple, garnished only with a sprinkle of salt, making the steaks the center piece of a perfect meal. Sauces are complimentary and are so worth it, I particularly love the bernaise (if you haven’t had it before, it’s similar to a hollandaise sauce, but vinegar based not citrus). The bernaise was smooth and velvety, coating the steak perfectly, adding even more lusciousness to the dish.
Feeling like adding even more boujiness to your meal? Try it “Oscar Style” with seared foie gras and truffles.
Our Favorites:
Prime Dry Aged Ribeye
Filet Mignon “Oscar Style”
Photo: Anne Watson Photography
The Sweets
Sweets are the final chorus to the great song that is, dinner. Being the last thing you eat at the restaurant it is vital that it encapsulates the meal and leaves you with the right feeling.
At Born and Raised, the desserts are 1/2 show 1/2 delicious. With a well decorated dessert cart loaded to the brim with sugary delights and boozy liquids, the team whisks around the dining room showing off their wares to the guests. Making everyone ask “Wow! What was that?”
Our favorite dessert is split: the 8 Layer Carrot Cake or the table side ice cream. The Carrot Cake is perfectly balanced and as tall as skyscraper. Where as the table side ice cream, with goat cheese carmel drizzle, is luscious and decadent. The important thing to remember is that no matter what you pick, you will be impressed.
When it comes to dessert, you must try a dessert wine or after drink cocktail. Born and Raised excels at this with a well endowed drink list focusing on the classics. From “Tokaji”, the Hungarian sweet wine, to “The Grasshopper”, a cocktail laced with creme de menthe, there isn’t a bad choice here.
Our Favorites:
8 Layer Carrot Cake
Tableside Ice Cream
Photo: Anne Watson Photography
The X Factor
One of the best thing about a restaurant are the stories you can tell. Born and Raised excels at this to the next level. There are few places in San Diego that are as unique (the few that are, happen to all be managed by Consortium Holdings)
We loved the small touches that made this feel so special, from the gold engraved toilet seats, the rappers on the wall, the subtle touches on the menu, the letter bound books, and by far the coolest, the large 1960’s style fireplace.
At Born and Raised they realize that not only do the guests care about, but appreciate, the small gestures to their experience.
Summary
Overall Review: 4.8/5
Born and Raised is the quintessential restaurant. With a penchant for the over the top, divine, and boozy. Born and Raised is the most well rounded restaurant we have ever been too.
Food Review: 4.5/5
The cuisine at Born and Raised is stunning. From the delicate and playful crudo, to the luscious steaks, there is a plate for everyone and every mood.
Drink Review: 4.7/5
The drinks at Born and Raised are no joke. Be careful, they will rock your world. If there is one thing you can count on is that there is little chance you will be sober after dinner.
X Factor 5/5
The small touches are crucial to the success of this restaurant. The tasteful bathrooms, the fur on the tables, the vintage fireplaces, and the golden glistening chandeliers make this restaurant not just a place for food, but a memory for life.
