Banzai Bar in San Diego's Midway District will soon be replaced by La Barca Restaurant & Bar, a new Mexican seafood restaurant set to open this fall.
San Diego's incoming La Barca restaurant is the product of Oceanic Enterprises, a company that has several other restaurants, hotels, and bars in the San Diego area. Manoj Chawla, Managing Partner at Oceanic Enterprises, has a long history working with hospitality projects. In 2016, the company acquired the La Jolla Inn and began an extensive renovation and rebranding to transform it into Cormorant Boutique Hotel. Oceanic Enterprises was founded in 2011 and has over 14 other properties around the country. Chawla was on a bar and restaurant buying spree around San Diego during the pandemic. In the last couple years, he has acquired Martini's Above Fourth in Hillcrest, Mikami Bar & Revolving Sushi in Clairemont, Banzai Bar in Midway District, and Star Bar in downtown San Diego.
Oceanic is nearly finished renovating the former Banzai Bar with a street art vibe and will soon reopen it as La Barca. The new restaurant will serve a menu centered around Baja-inspired Mexican mariscos made with seafood sourced from throughout Baja Norte. Expect dishes like ceviche, aguachile, seafood cocktails, whole grilled fish, and even a variety of tacos. There will even vegan and vegetarian options, as well as a full bar with beer, wine and cocktails. La Barca is also partnering with the San Diego Gulls hockey team, which play their home games at nearby Pechanga Arena, and will host pregame specials throughout the season.
La Barca restaurant & bar is anticipated to open in November at 3048 Midway Drive in the Midway District of San Diego's Point Loma. For more information, follow La Barca on Instagram.
