Coyote Ugly to Open in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter on February 5 | Bartender Auditions are Set for January 25th and 26th

January 8, 2014

Things are about to get ugly in San Diego. Coyote Ugly Saloon founder Liliana "Lil" Lovell announced today the most famous bar on the planet is opening on February 5 in the historic Gaslamp Quarter. The popular chain’s first Southern California outpost will be located at 820 5th Avenue, taking over the space previously occupied by Frauds and Swindlers. In order to find the appropriate staff (see photo to right), Lovell will host auditions for bartenders on January 25 and 26 from noon to 5 p.m. at the saloon.

Gaslamp Quarter’s Beloved Jimmy Love’s To Emerge as “New Venue” Spring 2014

January 8, 2014

Jimmy Love’s, located at 672 Fifth Avenue in the Gaslamp Quarter, will be closing its doors Monday, January 13 to undergo an extensive conceptual and design renovation and reopen Spring 2014 as a new venue. Jimmy Love's will be celebrating their final weekend before closing this coming Sunday, January 12, with a party with the Gaslamp Quarter community Friday & Saturday, and a final Closing Party, invite only, on Sunday, January 12.

Encore Champagne Bar & Dining Room Set to Open Its Doors on January 15 | The Highly Anticipated Encore Gaslamp Will Kick Off 2014 With a Sparkling Debut

January 7, 2014

The first champagne-centric destination to launch in San Diego, Encore Champagne Bar & Dining Room is officially set to open on Jan. 15, 2014. The Gaslamp District’s newest, most buzzed about venue, will feature an extensive selection of fine champagnes and sparkling wines, from classic to rare vintages, accompanied by a full bar of classic cocktails, craft beer and a variety of seasonal champagne cocktails.

Local Chef Jonathan Hale of Prado to Represent San Diego at Super Bowl XLVIII's 'Taste of the NFL'

January 6, 2014

Highly acclaimed local chef Jonathan Hale of the award-winning Prado Restaurant is bringing his culinary expertise across the country to New York for the 23rd Annual “Taste of the NFL”.  Hale is honored to be the only San Diego chef selected for this year’s “Party with a Purpose” – an annual strolling food and wine experience that takes place in the host city of the Super Bowl each season in an effort to raise awareness of hunger issues throughout the country.

Dlush Opens First Campus Flagship Lounge at UCSD's Price Center

January 6, 2014

Dlush, San Diego-based luxury beverage and food brand, is set to open a campus flagship lounge on Monday, January 20 inside UC San Diego’s Price Center. Dlush’s 2,000 sq. ft. location at center-court inside the UC San Diego Price Center will serve the 38,000 students and faculty, and an estimated 18,000 daily visitors. A coveted location, campus leaders selected Dlush over mainstream national brands as part of a larger campus initiative set to align with local, creative, socially innovative brands.

Fiesta De Reyes Celebrates 5 Years in Old Town With Special Offerings All Month Long

January 5, 2014

Fiesta de Reyes is celebrating its fifth year of being in business with a month full of special offers and discounts for its customers. Located in the northeast corner of the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, Fiesta de Reyes includes two authentic Mexican restaurants, Casa de Reyes and Barra Barra Saloon, and 19 locally owned shops. The dining and shopping plaza pays tribute to early California with festive live Mexican music and folklorico dancing.

SEA180° Coastal Tavern Now Open In Imperial Beach

January 1, 2014

Located just steps from the sand and minutes from Mexico, David and Lesley Cohn of The Cohn Restaurant Group, along with Chef and Partner Ken Irvine, are pleased to announce the official opening of SEA180° Coastal Tavern, a new multi-million dollar South County dining destination. As part of Pier South, the $28 million boutique hotel launching at a later date, SEA180° has opened its doors to the public for lunch and dinner, with breakfast coming soon.

Polite Provisions Honored as "Cocktail Bar of the Year" for 2014 by Imbibe Magazine

December 20, 2013

Normal Heights cocktail bar, Polite Provisions, has been named "Cocktail Bar of the Year" by one of the foremost authorities in the national beverage industry, Imbibe Magazine.  More often than not, these national "Best Bar" awards go to the major players in markets like NYC, Chicago, and LA. This is a HUGE honor and quite a big moment for San Diego's cocktail industry.

What's New For 2014? Many Changes and New Businesses to Take Over San Diego's Cityscape

Roosterfish is only one of the new restaurant locations set to
open in 2014

December 19, 2013

San Diego may look like a whole new city in 2014, as many changes are set to take place, with restaurants closing, eateries changing hands, and a whole host of new businesses popping up around America's Finest City.  We have a forecast of what's new, from rumors to realities, so keep reading and start planning all the fun adventures you'll have in 2014!

Jsix Announces Temporary Closure for Extensive Renovation

December 18, 2013

Jsix Restaurant, known for its modern coastal California cuisine, has temporarily closed its doors to undergo major renovation this winter, the first overhaul in its nearly 10-year history. The downtown restaurant is slated to debut its updated look and concept modifications in mid-February. Renovation plans call for a completely redesigned interior for Jsix, including the layout of the space. The dining room will become smaller, and more intimate, while the bar will double in size.

Urban Street Angels & Love Cupcake Café Partner to Donate Sleeping Bags to Homeless Youth This Holiday Season

December 18, 2013

Urban Street Angels, a nonprofit organization, and Love Cupcake Café are joining forces to donate sleeping bags to homeless youth on Friday, Dec. 20 and Tuesday, Dec. 24 in the communities of Downtown San Diego and Ocean Beach.    The first event in Downtown San Diego will take place on Friday, Dec. 20 at 5:30pm between 16th Street and Island, and the second event is scheduled to take place at the Ocean Beach Dog Park parking lot at 6:30pm, located at West Point Loma Boulevard and Voltaire Street. Urban Street Angels will be handing out a total of approximately 850 sleeping bags to homeless youth.

Holiday Cooking Tips from BO-beau's Chef Katherine Humphus

December 17, 2013

As many of us know, cooking a big feast for the family can be one of the most enjoyable part of the holidays but it can also be one of the most stressful.  With so many things to keep in mind and so much that can go wrong, it’s important to come up with a game plan to put you at ease when your guests arrive at the door.  Executive Chef Katherine Humphus of BO-beau kitchen + bar is no stranger to cooking for large crowds.  From her years of experience, she’s rounded up a list of expert tips to help your readers put their worries aside and go into the kitchen more confident than ever this time around.

San Diego Restaurant Week Celebrates 10 Years in 2014 | Winter Installment Returns January 19-24

December 16, 2013

Join San Diego this January in celebrating the most exciting culinary season for the City! San Diego Restaurant Week returns for its winter installment from Sunday, January 19 - Friday, January 24 to kick off 2014 with delectable appetizers, scrumptious entrees and tasty desserts. This twice yearly event showcases the season’s freshest ingredients and the world’s most delectable restaurants. Only during this week of delicious dining will San Diegans and visitors alike have the opportunity to choose from over 180 of San Diego’s most appetizing eateries.

Acclaimed Chef Jason McLeod Opens Ironside Fish & Oysters in Partnership With CH Projects | Coming February 2014 to Little Italy

December 15, 2013

A thriving fishing colony in the early 1900s, Little Italy is one of San Diego’s oldest and most storied neighborhoods. Nestled in the heart of this flourishing district is a 4,500 square foot 1920s-era warehouse, previously occupied for decades by Ironside, the former wrought-iron gate-makers. The structure is the last industrial space in the immediate area to be redeveloped, and will soon open doors as Ironside Fish & Oyster, a raw bar, bakery and restaurant launching in February 2014.

Released Today - The First "San Diego County Breweries Deck of Cards" by Craft Company To Feature Golden Ticket Opportunity for Ultimate Beer Experience

December 14, 2013

Craft Company is a local, creative beer project that manufactures and distributes high quality craft beer products on the market.  Their first creative project is the San Diego County Breweries Poker Deck of Cards, which have been released for sale today, December 14, just in time for Christmas!  In the spirit of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, five of Craft Company's first 2000 decks will contain a golden ticket, entitling the holder to an exclusive Grand Brewery Package.

Mille Fleurs Makes Open Table's 2013 Best Restaurants in America

December 13, 2013

San Diego’s Mille Fleurs restaurant has beat out nearly 19,000 restaurants to be awarded placement on the coveted Open Table 2013 Diner’s Choice Award’s list of Top 100 Restaurants in America. Restaurants are selected based off of more than 5 million Open Table diner reviews submitted for restaurants throughout the country. A Wall Street Journal article provides a helpful breakdown of the criteria for selection.

San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter to Debut City Sights at “Bottoms Up” NYE 2014 Extravaganza

December 13, 2013

The San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter will host its signature “Bottoms Up” New Year’s Eve bash on Tuesday, December 31 beginning at 8pm. Guests will be in for a welcome surprise this year as the acclaimed ALTITUDE Sky Lounge debuts City Sights, an indoor rooftop venue offering spectacular views from the West Coast’s tallest rooftop lounge.

BlueFire Grill's Land to Linen Dining Experience | A Breath of Fresh Air

December 12, 2013

By Megan Gallagher | SanDiegoVille Contributor

There is one word that echoes in my head as I reflect on my experience at BlueFire Grill’s “Land to Linen” dinner that took place on Thursday, Dec. 5 at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad- authentic. I have never had a dinner experience that was just so real, from the fresh ingredients that comprised each dish, to the genuine company with whom I had the pleasure of sharing the experience, and of course, the remarkable passion exuded by Chef Gregory Frey, Jr. From the very beginning, I knew that this wasn’t just another gimmicky "organic" ploy. The “Land to Linen” dinner is the culmination of the ideas of like-minded individuals who wish to really see a shift in what and how we eat.

The Five Chef Societe is Back and Better Than Ever! Five Inspired Courses of Duck Paired With Societe Beer

December 11, 2013

The bad boys of Mission Valley's Handlery Hotel - Executive Chef Karl Prohaska and Food & Beverage Manager Gus Thompson - are back in the dinner-pairing and event business, and these guys definitely know how to throw a party! On December 5, San Diego's Culinary Rat Pack took over Postcards at the Handlery and rocked out 5 delicious courses of duck, each paired with a craft beer offering from Societe Brewing.  Chef Karl was joined by a stellar lineup of chefs that included Matt Richman of Table 926, Hanis Cavin of Carnitas' Snack Shack, Daniel Barron of La Valencia Hotel, Rich Sweeney of R Gang Eatery/Southpaw Social Club, and Matt Morrison of Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens Liberty Station. The result was a one-of-a-kind meal that enhanced everyone's appreciation of duck, craft beer and fun, down to earth chefs.