The husband-and-wife team behind downtown San Diego's Métl Bar & Restaurant are expanding their brand to North Park, taking over the space last occupied by Two Blue Ducks to open a daytime-focused, Southern-style restaurant and boozy ice cream shop.
In December 2019, the Gaslamp space previously occupied by The Hopping Pig became agave-fueled drinking house and comfort food eatery Métl Bar & Restaurant. San Diego restaurateur Djani Ivanov - who also operates Farmers Bottega in Mission Hills, Two Blu Ducks in North Park and previously owned Olivetto Cafe & Wine Bar and Aqua Blue - partnered with with his longtime general manager Jenna Elskamp on the new gastropub and live music venue. For the new project, dubbed Métl in honor of the Aztec term for the agave plant, Elskamp also brought in her husband Randy "Randyman" Elskamp, who was the face of North Park's Cantina Mayahuel for more than 8 years.
In December 2019, the Gaslamp space previously occupied by The Hopping Pig became agave-fueled drinking house and comfort food eatery Métl Bar & Restaurant. San Diego restaurateur Djani Ivanov - who also operates Farmers Bottega in Mission Hills, Two Blu Ducks in North Park and previously owned Olivetto Cafe & Wine Bar and Aqua Blue - partnered with with his longtime general manager Jenna Elskamp on the new gastropub and live music venue. For the new project, dubbed Métl in honor of the Aztec term for the agave plant, Elskamp also brought in her husband Randy "Randyman" Elskamp, who was the face of North Park's Cantina Mayahuel for more than 8 years.
"Being members of the North Park community for many years, we have always wanted to find the right location and concept to bring to our favorite neighborhood," MétlBar Creamery & Cafe founder Jenna Elskamp. "After pivoting our downtown restaurant and live music venue to offer cocktail ice cream and a more southern style menu during the pandemic, we have been presented with the opportunity to expand our growing brand. "When we started making custard style ice cream we found ourselves with an abundance of egg whites so we thought what better than to pair the ice cream brand with brunch.
Touted as "Daytime Métl", the new MétlBar Creamery & Cafe is opening in the 3,500 square-foot space that last housed Ivanov's Two Blu Ducks restaurant. MétlBar will start serving brunch beginning in March and once the recently-purchased liquor license is active, owners plan to move the creamery operations to North Park and will offer all 50+ cocktail ice cream flavors. Expect a Southern-style brunch menu featuring burritos, chilaquiles, brunch boards, hand pies, and more, as well as boozy milk shakes, ice cream push pops and other desserts.
MétlBar Creamery & Cafe is expected to open for outdoor dining next month at 2835 University Avenue in San Diego's North Park. For more information, visit metlsd.com and check out the menu below.
