Mabel’s Gone Fishing, a 10-month-old North Park Iberian restaurant that specializes in gin cocktails, was awarded a prestigious Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand honor on Tuesday morning.
Mabel’s is the only San Diego County restaurant to earn this honor for 2023. Mabel’s was previously recognized in March with a Michelin recommendation, which is the first entry point to the Michelin restaurants awards program. On June 18, Michelin will announce its California 2023 Michelin Star winners at an evening celebration in Oakland.
Review: A taste of Mabel’s, San Diego’s newest Michelin Guide-recommended restaurant
Until 2019, San Diego County restaurants weren’t eligible for consideration by the elite and secretive ratings organization’s awards. Since then, 54 San Diego County restaurants have joined the California Guide, including four Michelin Star honorees: three-star Addison, and one-star Jeune et Jolie, Soichi Sushi and Sushi Tadokoro.
An interactive map to San Diego County’s 54 Michelin-awarded restaurants
Dishes at Mabel’s Gone Fishing in North Park.
(Courtesy of Kimberly Motos )
Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand is the second-highest honor its anonymous inspectors awards to restaurants. Created in 1997, this distinction represents a restaurant that serves high quality food at a reasonable price. Generally this means it’s possible to order two courses and either a glass of wine or dessert for about $40 or less, not including tax and tip. The name comes from the character known as Bibendum, who Americans know best as the Michelin Man, a cartoon tire character inspired by Michelin’s tires.
Before today, San Diego County had 11 Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants, which earned their awards in 2019 and 2021. Michelin did not do its awards during 2020 because of the pandemic, and it didn’t choose any new Bib Gourmand winners in San Diego last year.
North Park Mabel’s Gone Fishing restaurant earns Michelin Guide recognition
Mabel’s Gone Fishing in North Park was one of six California restaurants to receive recognition on Wednesday, March 8, from the Michelin Guide.
(Courtesy of Kimberly Motos )
San Diego County’s other Bib Gourmand eateries are Callie in East Village; Campfire in Carlsbad; Cesarina in Point Loma; Ciccia Osteria in Barrio Logan; Cucina Urbana in Bankers Hill; Dija Mara in Oceanside; Morning Glory in Little Italy; Solare Ristorante in Liberty Station; Lola 55 in East Village; Kettner Exchange in Little Italy; and Juniper & Ivy in Little Italy. Cucina Sorella in Kensington was also awarded a Bib Gourmand in 2019, but the restaurant closed on July 4.
The other nine California restaurants recognized Tuesday with a Big Gourmand award are Bansang in San Francisco; Bombera in Oakland; Carnes Asadas Pancho Lopez in Los Angeles; Cobi’s in Santa Monica; Eat Joy Food in Rowland Heights; Maligne in Seaside; Petiscos in San Jose; Snail Bar in Oakland; and Villa’s Tacos in Los Angeles.