This fine waterfront eatery at the Paradise Point Resort in the middle of Mission Bay is exactly the touch of class the hotel owners hoped for when they lured celebrity restaurateur Robbin Haas (creator of two Baleens in Florida). With a spectacular bayfront view (and a dining deck that is sublime on warm evenings), it's easy to miss the design details indoors--from a monkey motif that includes simians hanging off chandeliers to specialized serving platters for many of Baleen's artistically arranged dishes.

Start with chilled lobster in a martini glass (avoid sticker shock by asking the price first), a warm salad of roasted mushrooms and asparagus, or fresh oysters delivered in a small cart and shucked table-side. Then savor a selection of seafood simply grilled, wood-roasted, or sautéed with hummus crust, honey wasabi glaze, or ginger sauce. Wood-roasted meats include Roquefort-crusted filet mignon and Sonoma Farms chicken with goat cheese dumplings and forest mushroom sauté. Should you have appetite--and credit--left over, indulge in an intricately rich dessert like chocolate fondue, or the quartet of fruit-infused custards.