Old Town sidewalks overflow with people who come to revisit history, to shop and to savor some of the best and greatest variety of food that San Diego has to offer.   While regional and Mexican specialties are not to be missed and present many cooking styles, visitors to Old Town have a wide choice of cuisines. The area has a history rich in diversity so you can also find early California fare along with Italian, Japanese, Creole, Peruvian, and some really great seafood.  There is something for every appetite and budget and every doorway leads to a delectable discovery.   Just a tidbit or two about the food traditions of an area can give an added dimension to the dining experience so here are a few basic historic food facts about California’s cuisine.   There are plenty of great restaurants to choose from, including, Zócalo Grill offers a relaxing, contemporary casual atmosphere; El Agave Tequileria serves Mexican nouvelle cuisine and houses a Tequila Museum; Jack & Giulio’s Italian Restaurant is the place for homemade pastas, veal, poultry, beef, and seafood specialties; Café Pacifica, for seafood, pasta, lamb chops, and steak; Harney Sushi for late nite Happy hour and Sushi til midnight; El Fandango fine Mexican restaurant for the romantic adventurous gourmet; Rockin'’ Baja Lobster, for big buckets of lobster, king crab, shrimp, and carne asada; Old Town Mexican Restaurant, five time winner Gold Medal Award with 'Heart Smart" selections; Spicy Mexical Grill with the largest selection of margaritas; La Pinata Mexican Restaurant, San Diego's oldest and the locals favorite and delicious Mexican Food at the Café Coyote, Freds Mexican Cafe and many others surrounded by fabulous shops. After dinner, Korky’s Ice Cream & Coffee, Cold Stone Creamery, and Churchill Cigar Lounge are open for business. California’s history is inextricably intertwined with Mexico and Spain. The Conquest of Mexico in 1521 gave rise to one of the richest culinary revolutions in history. When the Spanish explorer Cortez and his followers came to the new world in search of fortune, they found a wealth of culinary specialties such as chocolate, peanuts, vanilla, beans, squash, avocados, coconuts, corn and tomatoes.  In turn the Spanish brought to the Americas products such as pork, beef, lamb, citrus fruits, garlic, cheese, milk, wheat, vinegar and wine, add these to the native American and early pioneers traditional foods and you have some of the richest food combinations in the country.   During Mexico’s colonial period 1521 to 1821 is when much of today's Mexican fare was invented, such favorites as chile’s rellenos and guacamole and it was actually nuns who pioneered such now-traditional Mexican fare as buñuelos! In the mid Victorian period Mexico was ruled by the former Austrian archduke Ferdinand Maximilian from1864 to 1867 and though his reign was brief and tragic, French cooking left a permanent mark on many Mexican-restaurant dishes.   Spend your vacation in the heart of San Diego at a one of the may quality hotels in Old Town. Take the time to explore the many historic sites and shop in a variety of stores that can only be found in Old Town. They all offer different types of unique and delicious items just waiting for you to discover! Enjoy the richness of History art and culture that is truly the Flavor of Old Town San Diego.	Cafe Coyote y Cantina Traditional Mexican Food, winner Best Mexican '05,'06,'08,'09, 10 2461 San Diego Avenue SD CA 92110 (619) 291-4695 ___________________________________________________________ Casa de Reyes Mexican Cuisine Mexican Feast and Fiesta, courtyard seating in the Plaza (619) 297-3100 ___________________________________________________________ Casa Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant Mexican Cuisine, Seafood and the Famous Giant Margaritas 4105 Taylor Street (619) 295-5111 ___________________________________________________________ Cold Stone Creamery Ice Cream made Daily, the Ultimate Ice Cream Experience 2448 SAan Diego Avenue SD CA 92110 (619) 543-9057 ___________________________________________________________ Cosmopolitan Hotel & Restaurant Modern tastes with traditional foods of the 1870s 2660 CalhounStreet SD CA, (619) 297-1874 ___________________________________________________________ Gila House Restaurant American Dishes, Breakfast and Dinner Served Daily (619) 260-8500 ___________________________________________________ Harney Sushi Japanese Cuisine 3964 Harney Street SD CA, 92110 (619) 295-3272 ___________________________________________________________ Jack & Guilio's Italian Restaurant Homemade Pastas. Veal, Poultry, Beef and Seafood Specialities 2391 San Diego Avenue, SD CA, 92110 (619) 294-2074 ___________________________________________________________ La Pinata Mexican Restaurant San Diego’s Oldest Restaurant, Fajitas, Tamales, and Lobster 2836 Juan street, SD CA 92110 (619) 297-1631 ___________________________________________________________ Old Town Mexican Cafe Restaurant San Diego Restaurant Gold Medal Award 5 years in a row 2489 San Diego Avenue, SD CA< 92110 (619) 297-4330 __________________________________________________ Pizza Bella Italian Bistro Eat In, Take Out and Delivery 2727 Congress Street SD,CA 92110 (619) 692 4333 ___________________________________________________________ Rockin' Baja Restaurant Southern California's most unique dining - Mexican style seafood (619) 260-0305