SAN MARCOS, CA — November 12, 2009 — Spending time with family and friends and enjoying favorite meals together is one of the special treats of the holiday season. Old California Restaurant Row is North County’s largest dining and entertainment experience with 15 fantastic restaurants serving authentic food from around the world. So whether it’s a get together for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner this holiday season, diners are sure to find the perfect spot at Old California Restaurant Row.

There’s also live entertainment and holiday happy hours offered by many of the restaurants. So make arrangements today to meet your friends and family at Old California Restaurant Row and share some great holiday memories together. Here are some special holiday happenings at Old California Restaurant Row:

• Market St. Café Bistro & French Bakery is bringing the joy of Thanksgiving to many people in need with their Holiday Pies program, supporting the Life Christian Church in Oceanside in an effort to serve dinner to more than 500 people. With help from patrons, the restaurant will donate one of their house-made pies for each five pies they sell. Additionally, the Market Street Café has special orders available for such bakery items as pecan pies, pumpkin pies, apple pies, dinner rolls, cakes and tarts, and breakfast pastries. The restaurant will also offer its annual fare of a Prime Rib dinner for Christmas and a Lobster dinner for New Year’s. For reservations or more information, call 760-471-7646 or visit www.marketstcafe.com.

• Old California Mining Company — Old California Mining Company celebrates Thanksgiving from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a Traditional Turkey Dinner served with all the fixings, Smoked Prime Rib, Whiskey Ribeye, and more. There’s a Junior Feast for children 12 and under, and a fabulous dessert menu. Enjoy a special menu of delicious appetizers like Coconut Crunchy Calamari, Chicken Quesadilla and Coconut Shrimp, and more. Call for information and reservations — 760-761-4900.

• Old California Coffee House — Enjoy live entertainment Friday and Saturday between 7:00 and 10:00 p.m. and there’s free wireless Internet with any purchase. Sandwich platters are available for holiday get-togethers and office parties. There are gift certificates and holiday gift baskets available as well. Visit www.oldcalcoffee.com for more information, and join the coffee club for special offers and updated information.

• San Marcos Brewery — During November, the San Marcos Brewery & Grill features “Beat the Clock (and the Price!) specials. For only $12.99 — diners can enjoy a complete dinner from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday on select menu items and Specials of the Day. On New Year’s Day, there’s a great Sunday Champagne Brunch Menu along with their regular lunch menu served from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Brewery is also a favorite spot for holiday parties with seating from 6 to 14 inside and an outdoor patio for up to 20 people. Call 760.471.0050 for more information.

• During the holidays, Cocina del Charro is featuring its special Sunday Champagne Brunch from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. including favorite entrees and exciting items not on its regular menu. Adults are $14.95 and children 10 and under are $7.95. Separate rooms are also available for holiday parties of 25 to 50 people, including indoor and outdoor patios and semi-private areas. Guests can choose from a variety of special buffet menus, and full service catering menus with rentals and bar services included. Visit www.cocinadelcharro.com or call 760.471.6644.

• Bruno’s Italian Restaurant is featuring Happy Hour drink specials and half price appetizers Monday through Thursday from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Bruno’s famous buffet service is also available Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and the incredible Sunday Champagne Brunch is offered from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Bruno’s also can accommodate holiday parties in their private room. Call (760) 744-7700 for more information.

• This holiday season the India Princess is offering guests a tremendous catering service for all special occasions from 25 people to 500 people. Call the India Princess at 760-744-7599.

• China Wokery has a special holiday party menu that is available for in-house events as well as catering for take out orders. Call 760-471-6066 for more information.

• Acapulco Mexican Restaurant y Cantina has announced a new dinner menu just in time for the holidays, featuring new favorites Fajitas Gigante, Sea of Cortez, Shrimp Enchiladas and Veggie Fajitas.

• The 55 Yardline is featuring weekly lunch specials during the holidays priced at $5.55. During every Monday Night Football Game there’s a giveaway for a pair of Chargers’ game tickets. Tuesdays there’s Karaoke from 7:30 p.m. to close; Wednesday is Trivia Night from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. College Night is every Thursday with beer and drink specials; Friday is TGIF; Saturday is College Football Beer Special, with $2.50 Miller Lite pints all day long; and Sunday is NFL Football Day with all day beer specials. The 55 Yardline also has private parties and catering available during the holidays — call 760-744-1960.

Gift certificates good for all restaurants — The perfect choice for this year’s holiday gift giving is a gift that tastes great — a gift certificate from Old California Restaurant Row. The gift certificate can be used at any of Old California’s 15 distinctively unique restaurants. To purchase a gift certificate, simply stop by Old California Coffee House Sunday-Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday 7:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.

For more information on Old California Restaurant Row, call 760-744-0550 or visit www.oldcalrestaurantrow.com. Old California Restaurant Row is located at 1020 San Marcos Boulevard.