Refreshed Craft & Commerce To Introduce Tiki-Inspired 'Secret' Bar Concept False Idol | An Interview With Tiki-God Martin Cate

Martin Cate

December 30, 2015

Tapping one of today’s foremost authorities on rum and the current tiki-cocktail movement, Southern California hospitality collective CH Projects (Polite Provisions, Noble Experiment) is partnering with bar owner, educator and author, Martin Cate, to launch bar concept False Idol in San Diego. Secluded within Craft & Commerce restaurant in Little Italy and slated to open doors in spring 2016, False Idol will allow Cate - who built the largest rum selection in the United States at his internationally acclaimed bar, Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco - to spread his passion to an all-new, Polynesian pop inspired tiki temple. In anticipation of the opening of False Idol, we interviewed Cate about his love for tiki, his inspiration to venture into America's Finest City and more!

Duke’s La Jolla Unveils New Lunch And Happy Hour Menus

December 29, 2015

Duke’s La Jolla has introduced the start of its lunch and Pau Hana happy hour menus, which are meant to celebrate the melting pot of cultures and cooking techniques of Hawaii and California. Both menus are available daily and offer some of Duke's top items with a view to match.

San Diego Brew Festival Returns On January 16 | First 100 Purchasers Save On Passes With Promo Code SDVILLE

December 28, 2015

The first craft beer festival of 2016 will take over Point Loma's Liberty Station on Saturday, January 16 for a day devoted to San Diego's top industry. The San Diego Brew Festival Winter Edition will unite craft beer lovers from near and far at NTC Plaza to sample unlimited offerings from 70 local and international breweries. There will also be a dozen of the top San Diego food trucks in attendance, entertaining lawn games to play, and live bands rocking out throughout the day. America's Finest City is the craft beer capital of the United States, so what better way to celebrate the start of a new year than with unlimited beer tastings? In addition to giving you all the juicy details on the event, we're also offering promo code SDVILLE for $5 savings per pass for the first 100 tickets purchased, as well as a chance to win 2 VIP tickets!

San Diego's Rich Sweeney To Wed Longtime Partner On 5th Episode Of Bravo's Top Chef California | Airing January 8 At 10pm

Steve Farrow, Padma Lakshmi and Rich Sweeney

December 27, 2015

Waypoint Public's Executive Chef Rich Sweeney, who was a contender on Season 5 of Bravo's Top Chef, will again appear on the popular culinary competition, but this time, he won't be doing any cooking. Sweeney's wedding to his longtime partner Steve Farrow will be a central part of the January 8 episode of Top Chef California, officiated by none other than the program's host and judge Padma Lakshmi and catered by the cheftestants, including former San Diego chef Chad White.

Chef Rachel King Leaves NINE-TEN in La Jolla

December 17, 2015

Today was the young and talented Chef Rachel King's last day working as the pastry chef for La Jolla's NINE-TEN restaurant, where she has worked with Executive Chef Jason Knibb for the past two-plus years. Rachel has not revealed her future plans but has indicated a desire to expand her culinary prowess beyond pastry.

After Fire Forces Seven Month Closure & Complete Renovation, Top Of The Market To Reopen December 17

Top of the Market's new spiced lamb shank dish

December 15, 2015

A May 26 kitchen fire resulted in over $2 million in damage repairs to downtown San Diego's The Fish Market and its upstairs eatery, Top of the Market. The Fish Market reopened this past August, but Top of the Market had to remain closed for a total of 7 months. After a full restaurant refresh, Top of the Market will finally reopen for business on December 17 with a new chef running the kitchen and additions to the restaurant's seafood-centric menu. The restaurant's new debut will coincide with its 26-year anniversary as an icon of the downtown culinary scene with breathtaking bay front views.

Vegan Fast Food To Debut First Location In San Diego's Ocean Beach Neighborhood

December 14, 2015

A new vegan fast food concept will open its first location in San Diego's Ocean Beach neighborhood this January. From the owner of Evolution Fast Food in Hillcrest, Plant Power Fast Food will premier at 2204 Sunset Cliffs Boulevard and will offer an entirely plant-based menu that features burgers, shakes, fries, tacos, wraps, smoothies, salads, and fresh juices from a Sonic-style drive up eatery. A second location is planned for Encinitas for a Spring 2016 opening, with hopes of creating a regional chain of vegan fast food eateries over the next few years.

Miss B's Coconut Club Takes Over The Boardwalk Space In Mission Beach For Anticipated March 2016 Opening

December 13, 2015

San Diego is going retro and honoring the past with the opening of Miss B’s Coconut Club at the former The Boardwalk location on the corner of Santa Clara Court and Mission Boulevard in the heart and soul of Mission Beach. Coconut Club is expected to draw in crowds from its prime spot nearly beachside, only a block down from San Diego's historic Ocean Front Walk. The bar and restaurant is set to offer island-inspired eats, tiki cocktails and even a life-sized mural depicting the alluring pin-up girl, Miss B, whose beauty was used to market the historic neighborhood nearly a century ago.

After 2 Years In Business, South Park's Brabant Bar & Cafe Announces Impending Closure

December 12, 2015

Brabant Bar & Cafe, a traditional Belgian beer bar and restaurant in San Diego's South Park neighborhood that opened in November 2013, took to social media today to announce that it will close for business as of December 30.

Pan Bon Introduces Unlimited "Giro" Pizza Wednesdays

December 11, 2015

From Margherita and Vegana to Prosciutto e Funghi, Pan Bon’s pizza offerings will leave you kneading more! Join Pan Bon in San Diego’s Little Italy every Wednesday for Giro Pizza night, a chance to taste a sampling of all-you-can-eat selections of chef's choice craft pizza. The Old World Italian eatery features pizza made with Lievito Madre, a starter-type yeast that rises for over 48 hours, a process that helps break down the gluten which allows for easier digestion and a lighter, crispier crust.

San Diego Travel & Adventure Show Returns January 16-17 | Enter To Win 2 Tickets

December 10, 2015

Planning your next big vacation has never been easier. The third annual San Diego Travel & Adventure Show is returning to San Diego Convention Center this coming January 16 & 17, featuring a larger expo hall with more travel destinations and expanded content and seminars than ever before. America’s favorite Travel Show Series is sure to spark your wanderlust. We are raffling off 2 one-day passes to attend, so read on for all the details and be sure to enter!

1919 Takes Over Former Nicky Rottens Space In Downtown San Diego

December 9, 2015

There’s a brand new scandal brewing in the Gaslamp, and its namesake is 1919, due to open in February of next year at the former Nicky Rotten's space. 1919 aims to be a different kind of neighborhood sports bar, hoping to offer a down-home vibe with local comforts in the heart of San Diego's downtown.

Yard House Announces Permanent Closure Of Downtown San Diego Location After Extensive Flood Damage

December 8, 2015

A literal shitty situation has resulted in the closure one of downtown's original beer meccas. Yard House has announced that its downtown San Diego location at 1023 4th Avenue and Broadway will remain permanently closed following a recent flood which caused extensive damage to the restaurant. The downtown location, which opened in 2003 as the 4th Yard House restaurant in the United Stated (there are now over 60), closed November 1 due to a water main issue that caused a sewage tsunami within the restaurant, even displacing numerous residents of the Viridian Lofts, situated directly above the restaurant.

San Diego's Biggest Openings And Most Surprising Closings Of 2015

December 7, 2015

Quite astonishingly, another year is almost behind us! San Diego's hospitality industry certainly had its ups and downs in 2015. We mourned the loss of Hodad's exuberant owner Mike 'Bossman' Hardin. Ramen shops popped up all over town. High-end Mexican food continued its steady rise in popularity and availability. We saw that San Diego's East Village still has a lot of growing to do before it can support top notch eateries. The term 'craft' was applied to EVERYTHING. We had many grand restaurant openings and regrettable closings. In this post, we run down the 10 biggest restaurant openings and 10 most surprising closings of 2015.

Eight San Diego Sushi Restaurants Convicted Of Fraud For Lying About 'Lobster' Rolls

December 6, 2015

‘Tis the season for California Spiny Lobster catch, but an investigation by the City Attorney’s Office found lobsters don’t always make their way into the “lobster rolls” at local sushi restaurants. Eight San Diego sushi restaurant owners have been convicted of fraud after investigators found their lobster rolls were fishy. Instead of lobster, the rolls were stuffed with less expensive seafood such as crawfish or pollock. Is your favorite sushi restaurant on the list?

VAVi Offers Two Very Different But Equally Awesome Parties For An Unforgettable New Year's Eve | Save With Promo Code SDVILLE!

December 5, 2015

VAVi is making planning for New Year’s Eve easy this year. How can New Year’s Eve get any better than celebrating it at the beach or from a yacht in downtown San Diego? Either choice is a win! VAVi Sport & Social Club, San Diego’s premier coordinator of social events, charity opportunities and adult sports leagues, is presenting two options to ring in the new year 2016 - the New Year's Eve Beach Party at the Catamaran Resort, Hotel and Spa in Pacific Beach AND the New Year's Eve Yacht Party on the Hornblower Inspiration Yacht. As usual, we want to hook up our followers, so promo code SDVILLE saves on tickets to both. Read on for all the details and start planning your entry into the new year.

URBN Brewing's Chef Alex Carballo To Open Gourment Sandwich Shop In Encinitas | Moto Deli To Offer Wholesome Artisan Sandwiches Starting January 2016

December 4, 2015

Chef Alex Carballo, known for his roles as former Executive Chef at Stone Brewing Co. and chef/partner at URBN Brewing in El Cajon, along with local entrepreneur Mario Warman, are gearing up to open a motorcycle-inspired sandwich shop in the heart of Encinitas. The duo have acquired the lease to a 1,200 square foot property at 810 North Coast Highway 101 to open Moto Deli, set to debut in the beginning of 2016. Drawing on the trademark outdoor lifestyle synonymous with Encinitas, Moto Deli inspires to be a hub for the active community to congregate and connect with chef-driven deli fare made entirely from scratch, local craft beer and close proximity to beaches.