The Dining Room at Jack's

Strolling through the village, window-shopping and watching Lamborghinis and Ferraris growl slowly by, you can work up an appetite. Fortunately, there's a terrific spot right in the center of the action. You'll recognize it by the cunning canopied banquettes on the sidewalk. Passersby stop for espresso or an Italian soda.

That little coffee stand is part of Jack's La Jolla, a restaurant complex that opened late last year. Inside the huge, open and airy multilevel space are four bars, among them a wine bar and a raw bar, plus three restaurants: a steak house (Jack's Grille), a casual spot looking over Girard Avenue and the ocean beyond (Jack's Ocean Room) and a special occasion spot, the Dining Room at Jack's.