California’s Jamul Casino has won a personal record of nine “San Diego’s Best” Awards in the San Diego Union-Tribune Readers Poll. The publication announced the winners of the 27th edition of the awards on Sunday, with readers choosing top selections for over 200 products and services in San Diego, ranging from restaurants, entertainment, real estate and legal services, among others.
Jamul Casino’s 2023 “San Diego’s Best” winners:
- Best Sports Bar for Tony Gwynn’s Sports Pub (sixth consecutive year)
- Best Pho/Noodle House Restaurant for Loft 94 Yakitori | Noodle | Craft (third consecutive year)
- Best Romantic Restaurant for Prime Cut Steak & Seafood (second consecutive year)
- Best Bartender for Jessica Green at JIVe Lounge (third consecutive year winning this category)
- Best Restaurant Server for Laura Donathan at Tony Gwynn’s Sports Pub (third consecutive year winning this category)
- Best Chef for Rogelio Hernandez at Tony Gwynn’s Sports Pub
- Best Hamburger at Tony Gwynn’s Sports Pub
- Best Sushi for Loft 94 Yakitori | Noodle | Craft
- Best Scenic Spot for The Rooftop at Jamul Casino
In addition to winning the most votes in nine categories, Jamul Casino had 18 other top contenders voted as a “favorite” in their categories.
In terms of dining awards, Jamul notes that Gwynn’s Sports Pub has been achieving Best Sports Bar every year since 2018, having become one of the casino’s most popular eateries. “Tony Gwynn’s offers a casual atmosphere, large screens to watch a game, and mouth-watering cuisine paired with local brews,” says the casino.
This year, the sports bar earned its first award for Best Hamburger. The bar also offers various dining menus with a different theme for each day of the week, such as “Surf and Turf” or “Baja Lobster Latin Night.”
For its part, Loft 94 Yakitori | Noodle | Craft earned its third consecutive award for Best Pho/Noodle House Restaurant and its first award for Best Sushi. Loft 94 is famous for its craft cocktails and Asian-inspired noodle dishes such as Tori – Chicken Katsu Ramen, Ronin – Spicy Curry Ramen, and Super Seafood Udon.
The casino’s scenic views also played a part this time around. This is the second year that Prime Cut Steak and Seafood has been named Best Romantic Restaurant. The restaurant features gourmet steak and seafood entrees, over 300 bottles of wine in its wine cellar, and panoramic vistas of the Southern California mountains. The fine dining spot has also received a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for six years running.
For its part, in addition to being named Best Scenic Spot for the first time, The Rooftop at Jamul Casino has also been recognized numerous times in recent years as the Best Place to Get Married. The amenity features “sweeping backcountry views, outstanding cuisine, and inspiring atmosphere in an open-air.”
The casino has also received awards recognizing its team members in recent years. While three of its team members received the most votes for Best Bartender (Jessica Green), Best Restaurant Server (Laura Donathan), and Best Chef (Rogelio Hernandez), an additional eight team members were also voted as favorites in these categories.
“Congratulations to Jessica, Laura, Rogelio, and the entire Jamul Casino team. Your commitment to exceptional service has helped make us San Diego’s top destination for dining, gaming, and fun,” said Mary Cheeks, the President and General Manager of Jamul Casino. “And thank you, San Diego, for voting Jamul Casino ‘San Diego’s Best’ nine times over! We’ll continue working hard to be your top choice!”