The Smoking Goat is a French inspired bistro located in the North Park area of San Diego…read more Reservations can be made on OpenTable. We Ubered everywhere on this evening so I can't comment on the parking situation, but it looked like street parking only.
Seating options include the bar half of the restaurant with seats at the bar and cushy looking booths against the wall, or the main dining room. We sat in the main dining room which is quaint, and not necessarily upscale, but it does have a classy feel. The wall is brick, and the space is lit slightly dim. The kitchen is open and can be seen from the dining room. There was a nice mix of music playing in the background.
I asked if they offered bread and butter, and they do not. But you can order an off-menu half French baguette for $5, served hot from the oven, with butter.
We started by splitting the poached pear salad ($16). This was a delicious salad with local greens, blue cheese, fresh poached pears, and a champagne vinaigrette dressing. It was a pretty big salad, perfect to share between the two of us.
For my entrée, I had the pasta seafood special with shrimp, salmon, and mussels in a lemon crème sauce ($42). Everything on the plate was delicious, and it had a generous amount of seafood. The lemon crème sauce had the perfect amount of flavor without overpowering the dish.
She had the Scottish Salmon ($39). The salmon is topped with a lemon beurre blanc sauce, and is served on a bed of spinach and lentils, sitting on top of a parsnip puree. She loved it.
Our server Ryan was very polite and professional and provided excellent service.
We really enjoyed our meal here, and would definitely return.