Sibling chefs Danny and Dante Romero - both respected names in the local culinary scene - have acquired the Marina District staple alongside their longtime collaborator, Darius Yasiejko. The trio now holds majority ownership, marking a new chapter for the 13-year-old establishment.
The restaurant was originally opened in 2011 by industry veterans Hassan Mahmood and Roy Ledo, who envisioned a warm, owner-operated bar and restaurant rooted in hospitality and community. Inspired by Aesop’s fables, The Lion's Share quickly developed a loyal following for its whimsical decor, thoughtful craft cocktails, and exotic game-meat-driven menu. It played a pivotal role in helping shape San Diego’s now-thriving cocktail culture, alongside peers like Noble Experiment and Starlite.
The Lion's Share's distinct identity - quirky taxidermy, upscale bar fare, and a focus on storytelling through food and drink - was matched by its commitment to independence. Mahmood and Ledo famously eschewed loud music and TV screens in favor of iPods and conversation, creating an intimate, unpretentious gathering space just off the trolley tracks on Kettner Boulevard.
In addition to launching The Lion’s Share, Mahmood and Ledo later co-founded the successful Coin-Op Game Room chain, which started in San Diego’s North Park in 2013 and expanded to multiple California cities including San Francisco, Sacramento, and Temecula. The Coin-Op concept brought together retro arcade nostalgia, inventive cocktails, and elevated bar food, further cementing the duo’s influence on the West Coast’s bar and hospitality landscape.
The Romero brothers, both alumni of the three-Michelin-starred Addison and Wormwood, are no strangers to reinvention themselves. After stints with pop-up concepts like Tortoise and Two Ducks (which briefly operated from The Lion’s Share’s upstairs loft), Danny co-founded the Service Animals hospitality group and launched Ponyboy at The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma. Dante, who has been serving as executive chef at The Lion’s Share, will remain in that role under the new ownership.
While changes are expected to evolve gradually, the incoming team has made clear that The Lion’s Share will retain its core spirit. General Manager Joshua "JB" Becker and Bar Director John Gibian are staying on, and the eclectic menu and cocktail program will continue to reflect the tastes of San Diego’s hospitality insiders and locals alike. The upstairs loft may eventually become the permanent home for Two Ducks, but for now, the pop-up series is on hiatus during the transition.
Over the next six months, the restaurant’s operations will be gradually handed off from management company The Sporting Fraternity to the Service Animals team. For fans of the venue’s fabled charm, the new owners promise an evolution—not a reinvention.
The Lion's Share is located at 629 Kettner Boulevard in downtown San Diego. For more information, visit lionssharesd.com.
Originally published on June 25, 2025. Information first reported by Beth Demmon for San Diego Magazine
