Set on the vacant lot just east of Il Fornaio, the forthcoming restaurant marks the San Diego hospitality group’s most ambitious project to date and promises to transform one of Coronado’s most visible waterfront spaces. Construction began immediately following the ceremony, with projected completion in 16 to 18 months.
Social Syndicate CEO and Chairman Brendan Huffman joined Coronado Mayor John Duncan, Port Commissioner Frank Urtasun, San Diego Working Waterfront President Sharon Cloward, and Christian Herrera, Vice President of Development and Operations for Coronado Ferry Landing, to mark the start of construction. Huffman said the restaurant - still unnamed but slated for a full branding reveal in the coming weeks - will be designed “all about the island,” offering a casually elevated destination rooted in Coronado’s identity.
The project has had a long and complicated road. The Port of San Diego first envisioned two restaurants on the waterfront parcel decades ago, though only Il Fornaio, which opened in 1999, ever materialized. The second restaurant site remained undeveloped for more than 25 years, with a formal concept from Social Syndicate approved back in 2018 but repeatedly delayed. Ferry Landing Associates (FLA), which operates the property for the Engel family, has leased the parcel from the Port since 1998. Although the Port recently chose not to renew its separate lease with Port Coronado Associates, the lease with FLA has been extended through 2049, clearing the way for this restaurant to finally move forward.
Social Syndicate, known for shaping neighborhood-centric hospitality concepts like OB Surf Lodge, Monarch Ocean Pub, Wonderland, and The Local, confirmed the new Coronado restaurant will lean heavily into seafood with approachable American offerings such as smash burgers and flatbreads. Huffman described the menu as “elevated yet humble,” with a focus on fresh coastal flavors and craft cocktails. The goal, he said, is to create a neighborhood hangout where guests feel like “members” of the space rather than tourists passing through.
The hospitality group has spent more than four years fine-tuning the concept. Early plans approved by the Port call for a roughly 7,500-square-foot building with a seated capacity of about 300, featuring extensive indoor-outdoor dining and unobstructed views of downtown San Diego across the bay. Social Syndicate’s team previously noted the design would be influenced by the success of their Monarch Ocean Pub in Del Mar, though the Coronado project will have its own distinct identity rooted in the island’s history and culture.
For the Ferry Landing, the groundbreaking represents the start of a long-anticipated new chapter. Christian Herrera of FLA said the project will bring “new jobs, new energy, and a new chapter for the Ferry Landing,” underscoring a broader effort to reinvigorate the eastern side of Coronado with modern food-and-beverage offerings.
Mayor John Duncan echoed the excitement. “Coronado strives to be business friendly, visitor friendly, and resident friendly,” Duncan said at the ceremony. Calling the groundbreaking a “huge deal,” he emphasized that the site boasts “one of the best views in all of San Diego.”
Port Commissioner Urtasun, who has pushed for activation of the waterfront parcel for decades, said the moment has been “a long time coming,” noting that the Port has wanted to see a second restaurant built at the Ferry Landing for more than 30 years.
Construction is officially underway, with the building expected to rise quickly now that approvals, leases, and development rights have aligned. The restaurant is scheduled to open in late 2026, finally delivering the Ferry Landing’s long-promised second waterfront dining destination.
Social Syndicate will unveil the name, design renderings, and more menu details in the coming weeks. For updates, visit socialsyndicate.com.
Originally published on December 2, 2025.
