SoCal Seafood Sensation Slapfish Swims Into San Diego In 2017

December 13, 2016

Known for its "boat to plate dining" and an incredible social media following, Southern California based Slapfish Restaurant Group is hunting a San Diego space as part of its plans to open more than 50 franchised locations in six states in the coming years. The company has confirmed that it plans to open its first Slapfish eatery in America's Finest City by the end of 2017.

Port Of San Diego To Test Bay For Future Oyster Aquafarms

December 12, 2016

The Port of San Diego has announced that it is working on an Oyster Nursery Research Project as part of efforts to explore new aquaculture and blue technology opportunities. Small amounts of oysters will be grown in a controlled environment in San Diego Bay to test them against health standards. This is the first of six local sites where oysters will be grown for this research to see if there is a potential for future aquafarming.

Dave & Buster’s, Yardhouse & Cheesecake Factory Coming To The Shoppes At Carlsbad In 2017

December 12, 2016

Dave & Buster’s will open its 93rd "gamebar" and second San Diego area location this January at The Shoppes at Carlsbad and is currently looking to hire nearly 300 people. A Yardhouse location and a Cheesecake Factory restaurant is also planned for late 2017 openings at the North County shopping plaza, which was purchased by Rouse Properties last year and is in the midst of a major overhaul and multi-phase renovation.

El Zarape To Open Chic New Adams Avenue Location On December 12

December 11, 2016

A staple for Mexican food in San Diego for nearly two decades, El Zarape will unveil its sister restaurant El Zarape Mexican Eatery in the former Casa Adams space at 3038 Adams Avenue in North Park on December 12.

Little Italy's Ironside Fish & Oyster To Host 'Chinese Pop Up' On Christmas Day

December 10, 2016

Ironside Fish & Oyster in San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood will host a multi-course, family style Chinese supper on Christmas Day, tapping into the tradition held by many of going out for Chinese food annually on December 25.

The Sausage Party Has Come To An End | Hillcrest's Salt & Cleaver Announces Closure

December 10, 2016

This will be the second San Diego sausage shop to close within the past month. Salt & Cleaver in Hillcrest, which opened in April 2013, has announced that it will end the sausage party on December 21.

Famous Filipino Fried Chicken Returning To San Diego In 2017

December 9, 2016

Philippines-based Max's Restaurant is returning to San Diego and has secured a space in Chula Vista, with the hopes of opening a total of three outposts in America's Finest City. The Filipino fried chicken destination, which started in 1945, currently has more than 200 locations around the globe.

Bao Beach Unveils In Mission Beach | The Patio Group Opens Asian-Inspired, Fast Casual Eatery

December 9, 2016

The Patio Group has once again teamed up with Chef Antonio Friscia's Legal Restaurants for the opening of Bao Beach in San Diego's Mission Beach neighborhood, set to debut softly on Saturday, December 10. Located nearly across the street from The Patio's historic Saska's Steak & Seafood, Bao Beach will offer a menu of Asian-inspired street food from its fast-casual, 600 square foot space on Mission Boulevard.

Another 'Top Chef' Touches Down In San Diego | Chef Casey Thompson Takes The Lead At The Inn At Rancho Sante Fe's Morada

December 8, 2016

We have more than our fair share of former Bravo TV Top Chef contestants cooking up a storm in America's Finest City. There's Brian Malarkey (Season 3) at Herb & Wood, Rich Sweeney (Season 5) at Waypoint Public, Giselle Wellman (Season 13) at Pacific Standard, and Richard Blais (Season 4, All-Stars) at Juniper + Ivy and The Crack Shack. The latest former cheftestant to enter San Diego is former Season 3, Season 8, and current Season 14 competitor Casey Thompson, who recently accepted the role of Executive Chef at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe’s Morada restaurant.

Queenstown Public House Transforms Into Life-Sized Gingerbread House To Benefit Little Italy Holiday Toy Drive

December 8, 2016

Queenstown Public House has transformed into a charming, life-sized gingerbread house to celebrate the holiday season and gather donations for the Little Italy Association’s annual toy drive for the foster children of New Alternatives, taking place until December 20. Stop by the New Zealand-inspired and American fare restaurant located inside a quaint, historic craftsman cottage in San Diego’s Little Italy, and be sure to bring an unwrapped toy for donation.

Stuffed Burgers To Open Brick-And-Mortar Location & Donut Shop In Pacific Beach

December 7, 2016

Adding to its Liberty Station hub, AG Industry Concepts will expand its Stuffed! burger concept with the opening of a second location in Pacific Beach. The local restaurant group will also tap into the donut trend and open Frat Boy Donuts in the neighboring space within the new shopping plaza at 1380 Garnet Avenue, which we recently reported will also house a Mission Brewery tasting room.

Chef Aaron Obregon Out At North Park's Beerfish

December 7, 2016

It's always a curious thing when a new restaurant parts ways with its launch chef, especially when that chef was recently nominated by one San Diego publication as a contender for Chef of the Year honors. We have received word that Aaron Obregon has parted ways with North Park's Beerfish, which opened this past June, and RoseAna Peyron will take the lead in the kitchen.

Harrah's Resort SoCal Debuts Area's First Casino Brewery | SR76 Beerworks Is Now Open

December 7, 2016

Harrah’s Resort Southern California has opened SoCal's first tribal-owned brewery! SR76 Beerworks is a new 5,000-square-foot, 15 barrel brewery situated adjacent to the resort and casino, inspired by the ten-thousand-year ancestry of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians and named after State Route 76, the original footpath along the San Luis River that led the tribe to the coast each season. The same road will now guide beer-lovers east from the Pacific to the brewery.

Seaport Village's Upstart Crow Bookstore & Coffee House Announces Impending Closure

December 6, 2016

Sadly bookstores are becoming a thing of the past. A Seaport Village fixture for 35 years, Upstart Crow Bookstore & Coffee House took to its social media this week to announce that it will close for business at the end of the month.

Chef Steve Brown Taps Into The Future Of Fine Dining With Permanent Pop-Up Restaurant | Cosecha To Launch Inside Former Shima Steakhouse Location In Coronado

December 6, 2016

We broke the news earlier this year that Chef Steve Brown was returning to his hometown of Imperial Beach from Los Angeles to open a monstrous shipping container constructed restaurant - The Shipping Yard. We have also reported about several of his Cosecha pop up dinners, including the incoming Wagyu & Whiskey Dinner on December 17. We now learned that the talented chef has found a permanent home for his Cosecha pop up concept within the former Shima Steakhouse space in Coronado and will soon tap into the future of fine dining - ticketed specialty suppers.

After More Than 10 Years In Business Heaven Sent Desserts Says Goodbye To North Park | Cafe Figaro To Take Over Space For Figaro Desserts

December 6, 2016

After more than a decade serving up hand-crafted sweets in San Diego's North Park neighborhood, Heaven Sent Desserts has closed for business. Downtown coffee shop Cafe Figaro will take over the space and operate Figaro Desserts where it will continue to offer Heaven Sent prepared desserts and pastries.

Dirty Birds Lands In Liberty Station | Popular Chicken Wing Sports Bar Opens Third San Diego Location

December 5, 2016

San Diego's king of chicken wings has opened its third location! Dirty Birds has unveiled it's Liberty Station branch, which features the restaurant's signature lineup of more than 30 flavors of wings, as well as a 3,000 square sports bar filled with high definition televisions and a large outdoor patio looking out on The Loma Club golf course.