FIRST LOOK: Catania
La Jolla gets new Italian concept from Whisknladle group
The Best Food & Drink Events This Month: March 2015

Chef Celebration Dinner, Taste of Tuscany, Clos Pepe Winemaker Dinner
Best Things I Ate This Month: March 2015

Egg Tart at 85 Degrees Bakery Cafe, Grilled Quail at Table No. 10, Blueberry Cheesecake Coffeecake at Extraordinary Desserts
Impressions: 85°C Bakery Café

The Starbucks of Taiwan opens first outpost in San Diego
San Diego Will Get Beard Award

Predicting a local win at the JBAs; Phil’s BBQ eyes NorCo; Harney Downtown?
Restaurant Review: Bottega Americano

Bottega Americano is the new breed of highly ambitious American restaurant
La Vida Vegan: Now That’s a Wrap

Spicy salsa balances the sweet corn in a hearty, but meatless, tamale
First Look: Inland Tavern

With Brothers Provisions, Bellamy’s, and now Inland Tavern in the area, culinary options in inland North County are looking up. The new project in San Marcos takes over the space vacated by beloved British pub Penny Lane. At the helm are two San Diego vets, chef Rob Conaway and managing partner Peter Zakarias. Inland Tavern […]
Very Important Taco: Azul Taco

Haggo’s Tacos
10 Hot Plates

San Diego restaurant rumors, openings, & coming-soons in March
Sweet Spot: Chocolate Stout Whoopie Pie

Not much could distract us from the jaw-dropping bay views at Tidal, the recently remodeled restaurant at Paradise Point Resort & Spa. That is, until dessert comes. The chocolate stout whoopie pie is stacked with Nutella marshmallow filling between chocolate devil’s food cakes, then rolled in hazelnuts. It comes perfectly paired with a Hess Umbrix […]
New Restaurant: Oceana Coastal Kitchen

It wasn’t cheap, but it was about time. Evans Hotels built a world-class food reputation at the Lodge at Torrey Pines under chef Jeff Jackson. But their Mission Bay property, The Catamaran, was best known for grassy wedding brunches and tropical 90-oz cocktails. Now they’ve spent $2.1 million to create Oceana Coastal Kitchen, their first […]
Trend: Having a Meatball

In true second-tier fashion, just about two years after the front-runners of the food world were really into meatballs (remember the $20 meatball in Vegas?), San Diego seems to be catching on to the trend, if in a more downscale form. We skipped the fancy meatballs that were a thing in New York and Las […]
Time to Tax Liquid Smokes

Every American city should follow Berkeley and tax soda
Dear Soda

Berkeley is the first U.S. city to tax soda. America’s soda love affair is over.
The Best Food & Drink Events This Month: February-March 2015

Wine & Dine at La Valencia, Dinner at Deckman’s, Kitchen Collaborations at Jsix
Best Things I Ate This Month: February 2015

Baby Kale Caesar at Comun, Maine Diver Scallop at Marine Room, A Burger at Hodad’s
R.I.P.: Mike “Bossman” Hardin

The San Diego restaurant scene lost a legend last week when Mike “Bossman” Hardin—known to everyone in Ocean Beach as the owner/patron saint punk of Hodad’s—passed away. He had tattoos everywhere. A businessman encountering Bossman on the street might pick up his pace. But as soon as he opened his mouth, it was pure grace. […]
Dear Kale

A breakup letter to America’s favorite salad green.
FIRST LOOK: Oceana Coastal Kitchen
Catamaran Resort unveils its new $2.1 million restaurant
You’re Sitting on Pearl Jam’s Flannel

Restaurants’ mismatched chairs are exactly like grunge fashion
Restaurant Review: Común

The East Village’s newest hot spot offers the equivalent of a Mexican food unicorn—light fare
La Vida Vegan: V is for Banh Mi

North Park brewpub offers more than pizza and beer
Very Important Taco: Juan’s Breakfast Tacos

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
New Restaurant: Double Standard

This amply windowed corner spot was once a chain burger restaurant. A nice chain, but that’s like saying “nice minivan.” When that failed, David Mainiero created Double Standard. He left the design to his mother, Lynn. Normally a bad, good-hearted idea. But this place is a looker, with meat-hook chandeliers and perimeter patio seating on […]
Sweet Spot: Chocolate Cup

Turning up the volume on the same ol’ lava cake, Kettner Exchange’s Chocolate Cup combines a molten hot chocolate cake with Nutella powder, vanilla ice cream, and banana foam. Crack through the chocolate disk topper (sprinkled with 24-carat gold leaf) and devour quickly, as the hot-cold combo melts together almost instantly. 2001 Kettner Boulevard, Little […]