Island Prime isn’t the kind of restaurant that you simply stumble upon while traversing the Gaslamp. It’s the kind of place that you seek, that you hear rumors about, that you promise you’ll try on your next payday.

 
Located just south of the airport on Harbor Island, Island Prime boasts a spectacular view of the downtown skyline. From the restaurant’s waterfront locale, a larger-than-life postcard of the city of San Diego sparkles at you.

 
While Island Prime offers top seafood, people rave the most about its steaks. The prime filet mignon and prime New York cuts are tender and savory. Sides must be ordered separately, but do offer a complementary taste to your dinner. The proscuitto-wrapped asparagus is a unique alternative to the side of standard mashed potatoes—though at Island Prime, they’re anything but standard and come with an array of available toppings, from black and white truffle to Maytag blue cheese.

Insider’s Tip: C-Level, Island Prime’s outdoor restaurant, features the same remarkable skyline views with a noticeably more affordable price tag. For an even better bargain, head to C-Level during happy hour.

--Jessica Nager