It may be Liza Tsolirides and Brooke Saunders’ first time as restaurant owners, but it’s hardly a new gig for the space they’re taking over. J-K’s Greek Cafe first opened in La Mesa about 40 years ago, offering standard Greek dishes like gyros, salads, and the like. But since closing its doors in 2024, La Mesans and Greek-food lovers wondered what would happen to the diminutive, but beloved restaurant.
Its closure happened to fall smack in the middle of Tsolirides’ search for the pair’s first restaurant to open together. They’d known each other for 10 years, working in restaurants like Cucina Urbana, Snooze A.M. Eatery, and Sisters Pizza. Tsolirides says she was casually browsing restaurants for sale online, and when this popped up, “it lit the fuse,” she explains. It felt like fate—she is Greek, after all.
Courtesy of Liza Tsolirides
After lots of scrubbing, painting, and getting the 950-square-foot space up to code, the new iteration of J-K’s Greek Cafe will open on Tuesday, August 19 for lunch and dinner. They decided to keep the name as-is after meeting with the original owner’s son, who shared that the initials J-K stand for his father and uncle, Jacob and Kostas.
“My son’s name is Jacob, and my brother’s name was Kostas,” she laughs. “We kept it because we felt like there’s a history to it, and if we change the name, then we’re a whole new restaurant.”
Some things will change (guests will be able to see out the front windows, for one), but much of that original essence will remain. Some classic menu items will stay—like the roasted chicken, gyros, moussaka, dolmas (both with meat and vegetarian), and souvlaki made with pork, chicken, lamb, and beef. But Tsolirides says they’ll introduce made-from-scratch garlic dip, tzatziki, spicy feta, and beet dips, plus a few more Greek dishes not as common on typical menus.
Courtesy of DoorDash
There was one thing they couldn’t bear to let go of—and it probably isn’t what you’d expect.
“The restaurant had these vintage vinyl pink chairs—they’re kind of like this blush color that you’d find in an old ’50s diner. And from the moment we walked in, we just loved the chairs,” she says. “They don’t fully go with the aesthetic, but they were just something that we just couldn’t take away.”
The rest of the vibe reads taverna near a Greek beach rather than the typical blue and white color scheme, but since the restaurant only fits around six tables, Tsolirides says they anticipate doing a lot of takeout.
Courtesy of Liza Tsolirides
The new J-K’s hopes to revive a beloved gathering space with new life, and with new friends in a changing neighborhood. As members of the LGBTQ community, they were pleasantly surprised by the welcome they felt from the locals.
“Once we were here and kind of had a chance to look around, [we thought] ‘Wow, this is a great place to be,’” Tsolirides explains. “After a while, and after a lot of support from people in the neighborhood, we realized that we wanted to actually be as open and authentic as we could possibly be. So, yeah, so it feels really good.”
J-K’s Greek Cafe re-opens at 7749 University Avenue in La Mesa on Tuesday, August 19. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
Del Mar Wine + Food Brings Food Network/Top Chef Stars Together San Diego’s Favorite Restaurants
It’s the month ramping up to the third annual Del Mar Wine + Food Festival. Thrillist named it one of the best food festivals in the country—a weeklong celebration of San Diego food and drink culture. The Grand Tasting is the 100-plus chef event on the grass in Del Mar, the big show (September 13 and 14). Three dinners and parties you should check out through the week: Opening Night rooftop party honoring classic San Diego restaurants (Dobson’s, Rudford’s, Hodad’s, etc.) with pro soccer team, San Diego FC (Sept. 10) at Monarch Ocean Pub; “Game Changers” dinner with Alex Morgan and chefs from Food Network, Top Chef, plus a James Beard nominee (Sept. 11) under the stars at Fairmont Grand Del Mar; and “Cluckfest”—an after-party hosted by Michael Voltaggio featuring some of the city’s top restaurants, all doing chicken dishes (at the Fairmont Grand as well).
Pali Wine Co. Says There’s Still Plenty of Summer Fun To Be Had
There’s still some summertime left—in fact, local’s summer has barely begun. But if you’re already tired of doing the stingray shuffle at the beach, you can instead head to Pali Wine Co.’s Summer Sessions Backyard Bash on Sunday, August 24. The ticketed event runs from noon to 3 p.m. with wine pairings and plates made by guest chefs like Ashley McBrady (Cellar Hand), Rob Striker (The Friendly), Vanessa Corrales (Michi Michi), Anders Rubini (Paradisaea), and more. Proceeds go to Berry Good Foundation and Zero Foodprint, and yes, there will be plenty of wine as well.
Barrio Logan is throwing a party to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, and we’re all invited. Barrio Logan Cultura Fest starts at 11 a.m. on Sunday, September 14 and runs until 4 p.m., with plenty of vendors, music, coffee, art, and more in between. (I don’t know about you, but I definitely feel the need to celebrate in solidarity with our Mexican brothers and sisters right around now…)
If you can’t wait that long for Baja-inspired bites, head to Baja Street Food Fest at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa on Thursday, August 21 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event in collaboration with Baja Wine + Food is pricey, but curated to a T (think Michelin-level cuisine and plenty beer, cocktails, and wine from the Valle de Guadalupe). Honestly, it sounds like a heck of a party, and you can’t beat the venue.
Friends of Finca is going in full force, and the first event is already stacked. Dante Romero, who recently became co-owner of The Lion’s Share, will join Finca’s chef/owner Joe Bower for a Porrón Party. What’s a porrón, you might ask? It’s a glass wine pitcher that is certainly not shaped anything like what you could smoke out of (sarcasm) and it’s a fun way to communally drink with friends without swapping cooties. Liquid is generally poured from high up for guaranteed splashing, laughter, and yes, some natural carbonation. Anyway, it’s super fun, and if you’re curious, you should make a reservation for Tuesday, August 26 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Listen Now: The Latest in San Diego’s Food and Drink Scene
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Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
Implementing a farm-to-table model hardly deserves acknowledgement these days. It’s not a stretch. It’s not innovative. “It’s the bare f**king minimum,” says Herb & Sea‘s executive chef Aidan Owens.
When I arrive at the Encinitas restaurant, I’m ready to talk sustainability, farm-to-table stuff, with Owens. “Did you see the chin on that?” he says of the extra big jiggly chin on the sheephead that just arrived with the day’s fresh catch. I did. It was Jay Leno adjacent.
I learn quickly that he somehow oozes both charm and stone-cold honesty. Maybe he could construct a new dish with chin goo, like he did when he had a bunch of tuna scraps and voila’d it into a smooth and crowd-pleasing ‘nduja. “I want to know what’s in there,” he says.
Courtesy of Herb & Sea
The instinct to look closer, to dig into what others might discard, says a lot about the chef’s approach. I guide him back to our topic, but he has something else on his mind. “We’re overcomplicating food—what happened to just cooking good food and having fun with it?”
Owens grew up on a farm in Byron Bay, Australia, where sustainability wasn’t a concept you chat about so much as a way of life. Think dirt roads, backyard chickens, pulling vegetables straight from the ground, and a mother who believed that if you couldn’t pronounce the ingredients on a package, you shouldn’t eat what was inside.
Food wasn’t precious or performative. Making it was what you did because you were hungry and that’s still what inspires Owens today. “I like to cook good food because I like to eat good food,” he says.
His approach to sustainability at Herb & Sea began so naturally that it felt just like instinct. “I was just like, ‘Let’s order food from the people who live and work here,’” he says.
Courtesy of Herb & Sea
And why wouldn’t he when lives in San Diego? Cities all over the world vie for our goods. Our tuna is sent overseas. Our spiny lobsters hit dinner plates in China and Japan. Not to mention California’s producing a third of the country’s vegetables and three-quarters of its fruits and nuts.
“Why would we outsource when it’s all here?” Owens asks.
Sustainability, in this context, is about cooking what exists in abundance, nearby, right now. “I love the local fish here. It’s f**king delicious and San Diego citrus, I mean, it is so f**ing good,” he says.
Instead of importing ingredients, Owens also looks for nearby alternatives. “You can find really cool things in the local waters,” he says, pointing out that stingray cheeks taste similar to scallops.
Courtesy of Herb & Sea
Whatever he finds in that sheephead chin might just be the next substitute for marrow. But to make this work, it means getting diners amped up about the slightly unfamiliar.
Tasting menus, where diners are completely in his hands, become an opportunity to gently push boundaries. “I’ll serve mackerel, because people think they hate it,” Owens says, noting that the abundant local fish can have some fishiness. “But when it’s fresh, it’s arguably one of the best fish in the ocean.”
He also tweaks the language on the menu so people might feel more compelled to give dishes a try without preconceived notions. He might use “lengua” instead of “tongue.” “Whelk” instead of “snail.” When he puts “stingray throat” on the menu, he disarmingly calls it “skate.”
To reduce waste, scraps aren’t always discarded but rather turned into something new. Sometimes they’re smoked, cured or fermented. Apples going bad turn into apple ponzu. Lemons turn to marmalade, which stretches their usefulness far beyond peak season. “And it’s super tasty on our pizza,” he says.
What makes the food even richer, is the relationships he’s built with farmers. Though it didn’t always feel natural, Owens sought personal connection first. He recalls approaching a fisherman at the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market. “I was awkward,” he says. “I went up to him and said, ‘I like your fish.’”
Owen’s is now so close to his suppliers—like fishermen Ryan Sebo and Joe Daly—that he gets texted pictures of fresh catches right as they flop on the boat. The messages always ask if he wants first dibs. “I say yes to a lot of fish,” Owens says, noting that Herb & Sea can go through 2,000 pounds of seafood a week.
Courtesy of Herb & Sea
The next evolution of sustainability, in his view, will be chefs working directly with producers such as his alliance with Sebo, cutting out middlemen and purveyors where possible. “It will put more money in the pockets of the people doing the work,” he says.
It will mean that chefs can’t just know their local farmers and producers, but they’ll choose to work with the ones who have the best practices. Dining and sustainability will become much less about the final plate. “It will be more about the impact that plate has on the Earth,” he says.
Ultimately, he believes sustainability doesn’t need to be loud. It doesn’t need hashtags. It just needs to be honest.
“We aren’t saving lives. We’re feeding people good food,” he says.
And yet, in feeding people well—simply, thoughtfully, responsibly—something meaningful happens. Guests leave satisfied. Ingredients are respected. Local ecosystems are supported and food returns to what it has always been at its core: nourishment, pleasure, and a quiet reflection of the place it comes from.
The iconic 1,200-acre preserve’s history dates back more than 150 years, evolving from a scrub-filled plot atop a mesa overlooking what’s now Downtown to an urban oasis—the largest of its kind in the country—filled with an array of museums, attractions, gardens, trails, restaurants, and more. Balboa Park is an epic playground where San Diegans and visitors alike can experience the great outdoors just as easily as they can enjoy a world-class performance or explore groundbreaking discoveries.
Tucked away in the Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture are 18 diverse museums that allow visitors to spend the day learning about, well, anything. A great place to start is the San Diego History Center. Located in the Casa del Balboa building, the museum tells the story of the city’s past, present, and future through photographs and art, clothing and textiles, and interviews with people who witnessed history-making events firsthand. The San Diego Natural History Museum takes visitors even farther back with interactive exhibitions that show what the region was like up to 75 million years ago.
Blast off on a simulated trip to space at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, then check out artifacts from aviation legends, including the Wright brothers, Amelia Earhart, and Buzz Aldrin. Discover new perspectives revolutionizing the science world, learn about an often overlooked but overutilized utility, and exercise your creativity at the Fleet Science Center.
Calling all theater-lovers, Balboa Park has something for you, too. The San Diego Junior Theatre will present their musical take on beloved children’s book A Bad Case of the Stripes from June 26 through July 12. And laugh, cry, and marvel in awe as the pros of The Old Globe perform Kim’s Convenience, the award-winning comedy that inspired the popular series, from May 15 to June 14.
There’s nowhere else in Balboa Park quite like WorldBeat Cultural Center. The institution celebrates African diaspora and indigenous cultures around the world using art, music, dance, and education. The building, a renovated water tower covered in colorful murals, houses a performing arts center, museum, gift shop, cafe, and outdoor classroom.
If you’d like a side of nature with your culture, Balboa Park has you covered there, too. Stroll through the gardens of the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum, a monument to the relationship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama, Japan. Inspired by traditional Japanese design dating back centuries, the 10-acre respite features a living exhibition that showcases plants native to both cities.
If there seems like a lot going on in Balboa Park, it’s because there is. Let theBalboa Park Cultural Partnership be your guide. The organization is the umbrella for 24 of the park’s institutions and offers an Explorer Pass that allows visitors to access multiple museums for one affordable price. The hardest part is picking where to start.
16 Museums, One Pass
Save on admission to San Diego’s top museums with the Balboa Park Explorer Pass. Explore 16 museums of art, science, history and culture across Balboa Park — all with one affordable pass. Choose the option that fits your pace: the Limited Pass (one day for up to four museums), the Parkwide Pass (seven consecutive days of access to all 16 museums) or the Annual Pass (365 days of unlimited exploring).
Looking for an experience-driven gift? Let the museum lover in your life enjoy their favorite museums all year with a Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass gift voucher.
Bigger experiments, brighter ideas, and boundless curiosity await at the newly reimagined Fleet Science Center. This summer, the Fleet debuts Element 8 Cafe, an expanded theater queuing and concessions space, two new gallery spaces, and, for the first time, a free entrance gallery exploring science in and around San Diego. The transformation marks a new chapter for the Fleet, keeping it a vital, innovative, and accessible science hub for the region. Visitors are invited to explore the experience this summer and connect with the power of science like never before.
Address: 1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:FleetScience.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Phone: 619-238-1233
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum
An accredited cultural gem, the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum brings traditional Japanese garden design to life with koi ponds, curving walkways and layers of greenery. Guests explore bonsai trees, streams and peaceful nooks while taking part in exhibits, educational programs and festivals that illuminate Japanese culture. Situated in the heart of Balboa Park, the garden doubles as a meditative retreat and a dynamic gathering place, welcoming visitors to slow their pace and connect more deeply.
Address: 2215 Pan American Road E, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:Niwa.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; last admission at 6 p.m. Phone: 619-232-2721
The Old Globe
A San Diego summer favorite, The Old Globe invites audiences to experience a beloved local tradition in its outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.
This summer, the 2026 Shakespeare Festival presents two thrilling tales of power, passion and romance. Measure for Measure, running June 14 through July 12, 2026, is a riveting story of justice and hypocrisy that asks who holds power, who is punished and what it truly means to be virtuous. Much Ado About Nothing, playing Aug. 2–30, 2026, is a classic rom-com packed with schemes, sparks and laughter as opposites attract. Audiences can enjoy both shows for $44.
Address: 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:TheOldGlobe.org Hours: Box office open Tuesday–Sunday, 1 p.m. to final curtain Phone: Box office, 619-234-5623
San Diego Air & Space Museum
Aviation and space exploration come to life at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. See an airworthy replica of the Spirit of St. Louis, a Gee Bee racer and historic aircraft from World War I, World War II and the Korean and Vietnam eras. Get up close to the Apollo 9 command module — one of only 11 of its kind in the world — along with Mercury and Gemini capsules, Mission Control and space shuttle simulators, and a selfie spot beside a lunar lander on the moon. Running through 2026, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brings oddities from around the world to Balboa Park.
Address: 2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:SanDiegoAirAndSpace.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 619-234-8291
San Diego History Center
History belongs to everyone. At the San Diego History Center, two experiences bring that history to life this summer: America at 250 and the Center for Women’s History. America at 250 traces San Diego’s place in 250 years of U.S. history, while summer programs invite children to learn and explore. The Center for Women’s History amplifies the voices of women whose leadership and creativity have shaped our region.
By understanding our past, we build a more vibrant and inclusive community together. These vital educational experiences are only possible through generous community support. Discover your roots, spark meaningful dialogue, and help keep San Diego’s stories alive for future generations.
Address: 1649 El Prado, Suite 3, San Diego, CA 92101 Website: SanDiegoHistory.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday–Sunday Phone: 619-232-6203
San Diego Junior Theatre
Junior Theatre is San Diego’s longest-running youth theatre program, empowering students ages 4 to 18 to explore storytelling, performance, and collaboration in a supportive environment. Through classes, camps, and productions, young artists build confidence, creativity, and lifelong skills onstage and off. Each season features a wide range of opportunities, from introductory experiences to advanced training in acting and musical theatre.
Looking for a summer adventure? Junior Theatre’s Summer Camps deliver dynamic programs for grades K–12, including musical theater intensives, acting academies and immersive JT Studio experiences. It’s a place where imagination truly takes center stage.
Address: 1650 El Prado, Suite 208, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:JuniorTheatre.com Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 619-239-1311
San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
This summer, The Nat is talking trash—literally. Their newest exhibition, Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea, features larger‑than‑life marine sculptures made of ocean debris collected from beaches. It invites visitors to explore the impact of plastic pollution and discover ways to take action.
But the experience doesn’t stop at the gallery doors. Friday nights, the exhibition transforms into an ocean-themed “dive bar” during Nat at Night. Select Sundays bring something brand new: a rooftop brunch with sweeping Balboa Park views. Add two new giant-screen films and five floors of nature to explore, and The Nat is shaping up to be one of the season’s must-visit destinations.
Address: 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 Website: SDNat.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays in summer Phone: 619-232-3821
WorldBeat Cultural Center
The WorldBeat Cultural Center is a nonprofit multidisciplinary cultural organization dedicated to promoting, presenting and preserving Indigenous cultures worldwide through music, art, dance, education, sustainability and community programs. WorldBeat elevates multicultural artists, expands opportunities for cultural enrichment and fosters deeper understanding across traditions. WorldBeat offers a holistic cultural experience that inspires pride, unity, connection and belonging for all ages.
Address: 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101 Website:WorldBeatCenter.org Hours: Classes: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 6–9 p.m. Exhibits and café: Friday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Phone: 619-230-1190
Event Calendar
Throughout 2026: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!
Step into a world of the weird and wonderful at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park. Explore hundreds of bizarre artifacts, interactive displays and unbelievable stories that celebrate the curious and the extraordinary.
Presented in partnership with the San Diego Museum of African American Fine Arts, San Diego’s Lost Neighborhoods uses augmented reality, oral histories, and archival materials to explore communities and residents displaced by redlining, freeway construction, and other discriminatory policies.
Spend a summer night at The Old Globe. The Lowell Davies Festival Theatre stages Measure for Measure (June 14–July 12) and Much Ado About Nothing (Aug. 2–30), offering two unforgettable Shakespeare productions for just $44.
The Old Globe | 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101
June 8–Aug. 7: Theatre Summer Camps
Summer camps at Junior Theatre spark creativity for grades K–12 with hands-on training, musical theatre intensives, acting academies, and JT Studio experiences.
A museum visit turns into a Sunday Funday with the addition of rooftop brunch, featuring mimosas, bloody Marys, and brunch bites from Wolfish by Wolf in the Woods (June 14, August 9) and Hash House a Go Go (July 12).
Nagashi at the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum by floating a lantern to honor loved ones who have passed. Stroll merchant booths, enjoy cultural performances in the Inamori Pavilion, and sample food vendors plus a beer and sake garden in the lower garden.
Explore arts, science, history, and culture in the Balboa Park Cultural District with one convenient, affordable Pass. The Balboa Park Explorer Pass is your ticket to up to 16 museums and endless fun! Purchase your pass at BuyMyExplorer.com.
In the heart of Pacific Beach, bar Ella debuted in 2023 with Executive Chef Brendan Nugent at the helm. Drawing on experience from both coasts, Nugent crafts a sustainable, seasonal menu inspired by his Northeast childhood and master‑gardener grandmother. Expect East Coast classics like lump crab cake, garlic shrimp in Old Bay broth and scratch‑made spaghetti with clams. Nugent’s commitment to using every part of each ingredient keeps waste low and the cooking sustainable. At bar Ella, first‑time guests become family.
Try This!
Lamb Lollipop: 24-hour buttermilk and za’atar marinated lamb, roasted, seared and finished with housemade chermoula.
Giuseppe Annunziata, General Manager; Emiliano Muslija, General Manager; Marcello Avitabile, Executive Pizza Chef; & Joseph Serra, Pizza Manager
At Amalfi Cucina Italiana, dining is a celebration of Italian tradition, hospitality and craftsmanship. General managers Giuseppe Annunziata and Emiliano Muslija have created a welcoming atmosphere where every glass of wine and plate of pasta reflects Italy’s culinary heritage.
Executive chef Marcello Avitabile, a five-time world pizza champion, and pizza chef Joseph Serra bring craftsmanship and soul to every dish through handmade pastas, artisan pizzas and authentic Italian flavors. all.
Try This!
Margherita Pizza: With San Marzona tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil, extra virgin olive oil, and prosciutto.
Jeremy Ogorek, Owner & Arturo Aguilar, Chef du Cuisine
At VanMan’s Kitchen, guests can enjoy grass-fed smash burgers, tallow fries, and milkshakes, all prepared with the same the commitment to quality San Diegans have come to expect from VanMan’s soaps and skincare products. That means everything is prepared in-house—and we mean everything, from the ketchup to the mayo to the pickles—and made from organic, natural ingredients. In fact, the fries are cooked in the same high-quality suet tallow that’s used for the company’s skincare products. That’s because when VanMan’s says you shouldn’t put anything on your body you wouldn’t eat, and you shouldn’t eat anything you wouldn’t put on your body, it’s not a cute marketing gimmick. It’s a commitment to always providing customers with the best possible ingredients. Another non-negotiable for VanMan’s Kitchen? Keeping all of this accessible. Expect a welcoming, laidback vibe and price tags that make eating organic food affordable to all.
Try This!
Classic Smash Burger: 100% Grass-fed beef, American cheese, organic lettuce, organic tomato, organic sliced onion, house pickles and burger sauce on a potato bun. Best with a side of tallow fries.
VanMan’s Kitchen
1380 Garnet Avenue, San Diego, California 92109 858-203-3795 | vanmanskitchen.com
