Best Restaurants for Birthdays in Hillcrest

Always an amazing time. Such fun at inside out. The ambience the staff the good excellent, never a bad time when we come. Thank you for all you do. One request is to bring back the bolognese. So so good. :)

We had a fantastic time at Herb & Wood. Since we were both busy on Valentine’s Day, we decided to celebrate on Saturday instead. From the moment we arrived, everyone at the restaurant greeted us warmly and made us feel truly welcome. Our reservation was at 5 PM, so the restaurant wasn’t too crowded yet, but even as it filled up, the level of attentiveness remained exceptional. Our waiter, Troy, was friendly, knowledgeable, and offered great recommendations. For appetizers, we had the Sicilian Crudo and one of Troy’s suggestions—a warm dinner bread served with butter, honey, and herbs. I don’t remember the exact name, but it was absolutely delicious! For our main courses, my husband had the Iberico Pork, and I had the Roasted Branzino. The Branzino was packed with herbs and flavors—I usually can’t finish a large meal, but I couldn’t stop eating it. We were too full for dessert, though I wish we had saved room! It was our first time at Herb & Wood, but it’s now on our list of favorite restaurants for special occasions.

Animae for Valentine’s Day was a worthwhile epicurean adventure. Highest recommendation. Was it on the expensive side? Yes. One of the most expensive steaks I’ve ever eaten. Worth it. As the server said…decadent and unctuous. And the bonchon was perfect. Would have preferred to sit next to my date instead of across from, but I totally get it. Only so many tables and so much space. Our server was attentive, engaging, just the right amount of funny, and enhanced the experience. Every plate surpassed expectations by the 4oz A5 Miyazaki steak and deconstructed tuna crudo were my favorites.

Waitress Erin and Chef Jesse are a dynamic duo who made our dinner experience at Benihana the best we’ve ever had! Erin was so attentive to us all, even on one of the busiest days of the year, Valentine's Day. Chef Jesse was a great entertainer, and his food was delicious! This was the first time my kiddo had no leftovers. We had the best time ever, and the food was terrific! Thank you, Erin and Jesse; you guys are the best!

Seneca is the perfect restaurant for a special celebration. I took my good friend there for her birthday and from the moment we were greeted by the smiling hostess until the very end of service, we were treated exceptionally well. The service was extremely professional, yet warm and friendly. The food was phenomenal and we took our time and savored every delicious bite. We never felt rushed, despite it being a very busy night. Our table had a view of San Diego Bay, the airport, and a northwesterly view of the city. It was beautiful. We started with the arancini and scampi, which were both so delicious. We shared two pasta dishes - Cavatelli All Sugo Di Angelo and the Cacio E Pepe. I was a little sad that they changed the style of the Casio E Pepe, it was more like a macaroni & cheese, but was still tasty. The Cavatelli was perfect though! We ordered a dessert and they brought over a complimentary cannoli with a birthday candle for my friend. I highly recommend Seneca to anyone looking for a special place for not only a celebration, but to celebrate a wonderful meal.