If your idea of a good time is drinking and eating in a wine vault for three hours, Solare Ristorante should be at the top of the list. Our group was willingly sucked into a red wine vortex with no reference of time and no care to know. And oh God, was it good.

A trifecta of perfection, Solare was recently named Best Italian Restaurant in San Diego, Best Chef in San Diego and Best Wine List. Executive Chef Accursio Lotà and owner Randy Smerik know what the hell they’re doing, and they’re doing it right.