Cannonball Nearly Ready to Make a Splash in Mission Beach

June 29, 2013

By Megan Gallagher | SanDiegoVille Contributor

With all of the dining options in San Diego, there has always been one big gaping hole - beachfront dining. Sure, there are excellent waterfront options downtown and farther north in places like La Jolla and Del Mar, but for the tourists and residents of Mission Beach, Ocean Beach and Pacific Beach there are few restaurants with a worthwhile, unobstructed view. Eat.Drink.Sleep. Hospitality is about to change all of that with the introduction of Cannonball.  Formerly SoundWave and before that Cane's Bar & Grill, this new restaurant concept will include a sprawling, 6,000 square foot sushi and tapas bar suspended above the Mission Beach boardwalk, adjacent to Wave House and Belmont Park.

Cannonball's Seared Salmon with garlic ponzu, baby
tomatoes, cilantro and green onion.

The latest project in the revamping of Belmont Park, Cannonball is set to open in early July and promises to be a hotspot for locals and tourists alike. The kitchen is being helmed by New Jersey native and Belmont Park Executive Chef Brad Wise. Wise started his SD culinary career at Pacific Beach's JRDN at Tower 23, rising to the sous chef position in just over a year. He then did a stint at The Padre Hotel in Bakersfield before being tapped to head the company’s latest venture. Wise is keeping the menu simple, yet refined, during the first few months of opening, offering many of the same choices for lunch and dinner. Some of the dishes Wise can’t wait to introduce include Duck Buns, house-made duck confit with hoisin sauce served on steamed buns, glazed pork belly served with butter lettuce, and Maine lobster salad, topped with spicy dressing, basil seeds and a red pepper puree.

Wise will be working closely with sushi chef Hugo Arreguin, whose past experiences include Tower 23 and Sushi on a Roll, to create a complementary blend of sushi and tapas options. Bar manager Chris Schatzman brings it all together with his offerings of beach craft cocktails, sake and brews.

Some of the views from Cannonball

Keeping with the aquatic theme, Cannonball is lined with pool tiles displaying signs like “no depth” and “lifeguard off duty.” Just to the left of the entrance is Cannonball’s large, angled bar area, designed to give all diners the oceanfront view they crave. Around the side of the building, seating is designed for interaction, with large fire pits, as well as a central communal table for guests to eat and mingle.

Plans for a raw bar are also in place, but it won’t be available come July. For now, the venue will accommodate 200 guests, while completion of the rest of the space is underway. When all is said and done, Cannonball will have a capacity of more than 400 guests for what is sure to be a beach-goers' haven.

Cannonball is located at 3105 Ocean Front Walk and will be open for lunch and dinner from 11am daily. Can’t wait to jump in!