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FIRST LOOK: Inland Tavern

Casual gourmet spot with chef Rob Conaway takes over Penny Lane spot

By Troy Johnson | Photography by Sam Wells January 22, 2015

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I often grumble about the lack of culinary options in inland North County because, well, I live there and it’s true. But with Brothers Provisions, Bellamy’s and now Inland Tavern in the area, things are looking up. Inland Tavern is the new project in San Marcos that 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. Conaway is a world traveler, with experience cooking in Dubai and Vietnam, as well as stints with Jeremiah Tower (Stars SF) and Bradley Ogden. He was last seen in San Diego at The Glass Door in Little Italy. Zakarias helped open The W in Downtown before heading up this project. Inland Tavern is designed as a casual gourmet spot with craft cocktails, beer and wine. The menu is a pan-Asian Baja experience, with Vietnamese meatballs, Baja chocolate clams, ginger sesame beef banh mi torta and a beer can chicken with Asian slaw. Plus a few vegetarian options and late-night bar scene for the nearby Cal State San Marcos crowd. Take a gander at its guts: