San Diego Night Out: Dinner, Drinks, & A Show in Downtown Escondido

We love our beaches, boardwalks, and vineyards, but nightfall brings out another side of San Diego County.

By Cherie Gough | May 31, 2019

CA Center for the Arts

Your night out in Downtown Escondido revolves around a performance at the California Center for the Arts, paired with choose-your-own-adventure pre and post-performance dining.

The lovely Escondido theater books a diverse variety of performers—from acclaimed musicians to dance, theater and local talent. The best part? Many of them are free.

On the first Wednesday of each month, free performances such as upcoming classical music and hip hop dance take place in the theater. Offering a classic, old world feel with vast curtains and plush seats, this intimate 1,523 seat concert hall truly has no bad seat in the house, but you can reserve premium seating online.

Starting in June, the Hidden City Sounds music series will explore a variety of different musical genres every Friday through October held in the outdoor Lyric court, a modern wide open space perfect for lingering with a drink under the stars.

The full bar offers mixed drinks, wine and beers from Stone Brewery and local food trucks are usually on-site offering heartier fare.

Pre-Show Dinner Options on Historic Grand Avenue

Photo 1: Photo credit: Katherine Zimmer/ Escondido Downtown Business Association

Photo 2: Dominic’s Gourmet Italian

Two blocks away, the historic downtown district that runs along Grand Avenue has many dining and drinking options.“The eclectic, diverse mix of eateries, most with great patios...are an easy walk to the Center through beautiful Maple Street Plaza,” explained Katherine Zimmer, Tourism Manager for the city of Escondido.

Iconic family-owned Dominic’s Gourmet Italian recently moved from a mini mall location to claim its spot on Grand Avenue. Attentive, friendly servers bring piping hot freshly made soups, creatively curated seafood specialities, and generous portions of lasagna, perfect to savor with a glass of red.

Photo 1: Burger Bench

Photo 2: Cuscatlan

For a casual, locally sourced meal, Burger Bench delivers a menu built around local seasonal ingredients purchased from surrounding farms and food artisans, including locally produced buns, sausages, cider and mead. They also offer 20 local craft brews on tap.

The handmade slider sampler and truffle parmesan fries followed by one of their ten hand-made milkshakes in flavors like mud pie, is a decadent way to start the evening.

Cuscatlan specializes in Salvadoran food, with homemade traditional pupusas (thick rounds of corn stuffed with savory fillings like chicken, pork, shrimp and cheese) served with mild salsa and curtido, a lightly pickled slaw.

The Mojarra Frita (whole fried fish) is their speciality, along with distinctive Salvadoran refried black beans and mildly sweet crema.

Post-Show Drinks & Dessert

Photo 1: EscoGelato/Image: Olivia Hayo

Photo 2: SIP Wine & Beer

EscoGelato is only open until 9 pm, so start with dessert. At this charming shop, Escondido native Suzanne Schaffner supports neighbor farmers by sourcing as many of her ingredients from local farmers as possible. She makes a rotating selection 18 different flavors of decadent, creamy gelato each day, so be sure to ask which flavors are in-season.

The owner of SIP Wine & Beer, Cassandra Schaeg, grew up in Temecula surrounded by wineries and she now loves sharing knowledge of local wines with neighbors and customers at her bar.

The spot is open late and offers a small menu of charcuterie boards to enjoy along with local Escondido wines from BK Cellars, J. Brix, Espinosa, and Tuscandido.