Mother’s Day is a little under month away, so its time to lock in your plans for a festive weekend. Whether you’re looking for decadent culinary experiences to share with Mom or a buffet to enjoy with the whole family, we’ve got you covered. Give back to the woman in your life who deserves it the most with a feast at one of these 31 San Diego restaurants on Mother’s Day.
Price: $139 for adults and $49 for kids Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Address: 5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad
Bloom & Brunch at the Marina Kitchen
Celebrate Mother’s Day on the bayfront this year at The Marriott Marquis. On the property, the Marina Kitchen will host its Bloom & Brunch buffet featuring an omelet station, carving station, and plenty of pastel-colored treats. Guests can also enjoy afternoon tea, Petals & Pastries, which features wide variety of herbal teas, brunch cocktails, and freshly baked pastries courtesy of chef Victor Ingram.
Price: Brunch, $80 for adults and $25 for children under 12; Afternoon Tea, $55 for adults and $25 per child 12 & under Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Address: 333 W Harbor Dr, Downtown
Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet at Park Hyatt Aviara
Give your mom a relaxing treat this weekend at the dreamy Park Hyatt Aviara. This North County resort is hosting brunch service at Aviara Salon and will feature an iced seafood display, a carving station, made-to-order omelets, and a variety of desserts. Treat Mom to a spa package at Miraval before the feast to really win some “best child” points. Reserve a table here.
Price: $140 per adult and $60 for kids 3 to 12 Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Address: 7100 Aviara Resort Drive, Carlsbad
Mother’s Day Brunch at Hotel del Coronado
Treat your mom like royalty this year at the historic Hotel Del. The property is hosting its annual Mother’s Day Brunch in the Southpointe Ballroom and will be serving a buffet spread with a seafood bar, carving stations, and a dazzling dessert bar plus a glass of Champagne upon arrival for Mom.
Price: $185 for adults, $95 for children 4-12, and free for kids under 3 Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Address: 1500 Orange Avenue, Coronado
Mother’s Day Champagne Brunch at Oceana Coastal Kitchen
Celebrate Mum at Oceana Coastal Kitchen’s Mother’s Day Champagne Brunch overlooking Mission Bay. Graze on brunch options like toasted cinnamon rolls, smoked salmon, and mascarpone strata along with free-flowing Champagne. The waterfront eatery will also feature live entertainment and a craft corner to occupy the little ones while Mom unwinds.
Price: $120 for adults, $55 for children 5-11, and free for kids 4 and under Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Address: 3999 Mission Blvd, Mission Beach
Mother’s Day Brunch at Piper
Oceanside’s Piper is hosting its annual brunch event with coastal bites to share with Mom. The team at Piper will be serving made-to-order eggs and chilaquiles along with breakfast dishes like their fried chicken and waffles, citrus rum french toast, and egg white frittatas. Reserve a table here.
Price: $110 for adults and $65 for children 5-12 Hours: 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Address: 105 Mission Ave, Oceanside
Happy Mother’s Day at ARLO
Come for Mom’s complimentary Champagne, stay for the bagel bar. Mission Valley’s ARLO is serving up a brunch feast including an extensive raw bar, charcuterie boards bites, made-to-order omelets, braised short ribs, and breakfast pastries galore.
Price: $90 for adults, $30 for kids 5-12, and free for kids 4 and under Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Address: 500 Hotel Cir N, Mission Valley
Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet at Rumorosa
Take the family to Harbor Island to partake in Rumorosa’s Mother’s Day brunch buffet. The bayside locale will offer made-to-order omelets and chilaquiles, a street taco station, a panaderia display of local Mexican pastries, and more. Moms will receive a complimentary rose upon arrival and custom flower crowns will be available for purchase courtesy of K Flowers.
Price: $95 for adults, $45 for kids 6-12, and free for kids five and under Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Address: 1380 Harbor Island Dr, Point Loma
Rancho Valencia Mother’s Day Brunch
This North County resort is hosting a Mother’s day brunch celebration with a little something for everyone. For adults, the brunch buffet will include a wide selection of seafood, carved meats, and brunch cocktails. Kids can partake in a number of festivities including bouquet making, pony rides, face paintings, and a petting zoo.
Price: $$225 for adults, $95 for children 4-12, and free for kids under 4 Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Address: 5921 Valencia Circle, Rancho Santa Fe
Courtesy of Diana Rose Photography
Mother’s Day Specials & Prix Fixe Menus in San Diego
Mother’s Day Brunch at George’s at the Cove
George’s by the Cove is easily one of San Diego’s best restaurants with an ocean view. This La Jolla locale is offering a three-course prix fixe menu Chef Masa Kojima which includes a pastry basket, spring salads, and your choice of an entree. Reserve a table here.
Price: $50 per person Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Address: 1250 Prospect St, La Jolla
Mother’s Day Green Box at Seasons 52
Planning on eating brunch in your pj’s with family this year? Bring the springtime celebration home with Seasons 52’s to-go special consisting of your choice of meat, sides, and mini indulgences. Order this pre-packaged feast (feeds 4-6) by Wednesday, May 8 to pick up on Saturday, May 11. Seasons 52 is also open for dine-in brunch with a la carte options between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Price: $155 for the Mother’s Day To-Go Special Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for dine-in Address: 4505 La Jolla Village Dr, La Jolla
Mother’s Day at The Marine Room
La Jolla’s Marine Room makes for an unforgettable day as you watch the waves, savor in fine seafood, and pop a cork or two for mom. The restaurant is offering a special prix fixe menu with dishes including their truffle risotto with caviar, octopus carpaccio, miso king salmon, and your choice of a blueberry mousse tart or chocolate harlequin cake.
Price: $165 for adults, $60 for children 6-12 Hours: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Address: 2000 Spindrift Dr, La Jolla
Mother’s Day Brunch at Mister A’s
In need of memorable Mother’s Day plans? Indulge in a rooftop meal at Mister A’s in Bankers Hill. This iconic destination is hosting a three-course dining experience ideal for entertaining. Adorn your most dapper attire and munch on dishes like venison tartare toast, scallops and spring pea ravioli, and finish with a Champagne strawberry mousse—the perfect post-meal delectable. Reserve a table here.
Price: $93 per person Hours: 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Address: 2550 Fifth Ave 12th floor, Bankers Hill
Moets for Mom at Provisional Kitchen
Celebrating Mother’s Day downtown this year? Enjoy a bubbly brunch from the Pendry’s Provisional Kitchen featuring a prix fixe menu along with a meat carving and desert stations as well as a chocolate fountain. Mom is the star of the show at this delightful Gaslamp hub, and of course she gets a complimentary glass of Moët & Chandon. Reserve a table here.
Price: $95 per person Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Address: 425 Fifth Ave, Gaslamp Quarters
Mother’s Day Brunch at A.R. Valentien
Celebrate Mom with a picturesque brunch at A.R. Valentine on the fringe of Torrey Pines Golf Course. Indulge in a three-course farm-to-table experience curated by Chef Kelli Crosso paired with free-flowing mimosas. Treat her to a round of golf or a basalt stone massage at the Lodge’s spa afterwards to win her approval until next year. Reserve a table by calling (858) 777-6635.
Price: $135 for adults and $65 for children 11 and under Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Address: 11480 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla
Picnics + Flowers Mother’s Day Picnic at the Carlsbad Flower Fields
Got flowers? Plenty of floral eye-candy awaits visitors of the Carlsbad flower fields this year on Mother’s Day. If you’re feeling bougie, opt for a luxurious picnic overlooking fields of pastel while feasting on a charcuterie board of your choice, enjoying live music, and partaking in plenty of fun activities for the little ones. Book a picnic here.
Price: $140 for adults and $70 for kids 4-12 Hours: 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Address: 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad
Cafe Sevilla’s Mother’s Day Flamenco Show & Champagne Brunch
Complimentary Champagne and live music for Mom? Yes, please. Enjoy a morning of live Spanish flamenco music while enjoying a three-course Spanish brunch at Cafe Sevilla in the heart of the Gaslamp. The brunch consists of avocado toast to start, followed by a breakfast meat paella, and finally a dulce empanada for dessert. There will also be a three-course lobster and Champagne dinner on Mother’s Day for $90 starting at 5 p.m.
Price: $70 per person Hours: 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Address: 353 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
San Diego Mother’s Day Premier Brunch Cruise
City Experiences is hosting a two-hour brunch cruise this year. Treat Mom to a cruise around the bay as you dine on breakfast favorites, pastries, and tri-tip steak paired with unlimited Champagne, mimosas, and sparkling cider. Truly a booze cruise Mom can get behind. Reserve tickets here.
Price: $115 for adults, $95 for children 4-12, and free for kids 3 and under Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Address: 1800 North Harbor Drive, Downtown
Mother’s Day Tea Service at The AubreyRose Tea Room
Don your floral dresses and wide-brimmed hats this May at La Mesa’s elegant AubreyRose Tea Room. This adorable venue is offering a special set of tea services celebrating San Diego moms all weekend. The unique menu will feature brewed tea and various festive treats to indulge in during this sophisticated outing for the matriarch in your life.
Price: $60 for adults and $56 for kids Hours: 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. Address: 8362 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa
Mother’s Day Brunch at The Desmond
Head down to the Gaslamp Quarter for Mother’s Day Brunch at the Kimpton Alma hotel. The hotel’s restaurant, The Desmond, is hosting guests for a three-course brunch ranging from sweets—cinnamon French toast, whipped Greek yogurt bowl—to savories such as lobster omelets and petit filet. A complimentary glass of Champagne or mimosa awaits your arrival as a sign of thanks to mothers locally. Following brunch, make your way up to its rooftop bar, Leave of Absence, for a post-brunch cocktail and a dip in their pool.
Price: $70 for adults and $28 for kids Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Address: 1047 5th Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Mother’s Day Brunch Specials at Little Frenchie
This Mother’s Day, Coronado invites lovers of Le Brunch to Little Frenchie’s Bistro on Orange Avenue. Moms will receive a welcome mimosa for their constant care and love, along with delectable specials like the Tartine D’Asperges or the Floral Cronut. Book your reservations in advance as this little bistro, which is also a Michelin Guide–recognized spot, will likely be busy for this year’s celebrations.
Price: A la carte Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Address: 1166 Orange Ave, Coronado
Mother’s Day Interactive Cooking Demonstration at Hell’s Kitchen
Price: $200 per person Hours: 11:30 a.m. Address: 777 S Resort Dr, Valley Center
Mother’s Day at Solare Ristorante
Get your Mother’s Day brunch fix Italian-style at Liberty Station’s Solare Ristorante. The restaurant is offering a special menu on Sunday featuring entrees like roast rib of beef with truffle mashed potatoes, seared scallops, lobster bisque, and more. Walk off the mimosas and pasta at Liberty Station’s arts district afterwards. Reserve a table here.
Price: A la carte Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Address: 2820 Roosevelt Rd, Point Loma
More San Diego Restaurants to Visit on Mother’s Day
Roy’s Restaurant Mother’s Day Brunch
Indulge in the Hawaiian flavors of Chef Roy Yamaguchi’s restaurant downtown this Mother’s Day. Order an Island Mimosa with pineapple juice and Prosseco and chow down on breakfast favorites like their seafood omelet with scallops, a crab cake Benedict or their haupia brûlée brioche French toast topped with guava jam. How do you say delicious in Hawaiian?
Price: A la carte Hours: 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Address: 333 W Harbor Dr, Downtown
Mother’s Day Brunch at Lillian’s Kitchen
Lilian’s Kitchen is your destination for brunch bliss this year. Experience the newly refreshed luxury resort serving an assortment of brunch favorites along with refreshing mimosas and bloody mary’s at this hidden North County gem. Reserve a table here.
Price: A la carte Hours: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Address: 5951 Linea Del Cielo, Rancho Santa Fe
Manna Altier Mother’s Day Brunch
Treat your ma to brunch at one of North County’s hottest new brunch spots on Highway 101, Manna Altier. Toast just steps from the beach with one of Manna’s energizing vitality tonics before exploring their menu full of unique takes on morningfood classics including their porridge with poached egg or their turkish eggs with chili garlic butter.
Price: A la carte Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Address: 1076 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas
Mother’s Day at Morning Glory
Start a day full of Mother’s Day festivities right with a savory brunch at CH Projects’ Morning Glory. Kickstart your day with Mom by ordering a round of brunch cocktails followed by dim sum appetizers while you wait for your breakfast carbonara, all before the clock strikes noon. Sounds like a Mother’s Day to remember.
Price: A la carte Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Address: 550 W Date St., Little Italy
Mother’s Day Brunch at Cesarina
Pamper the best woman in your life with a gourmet meal at Cesarina in Point Loma. This cozy, authentic Italian restaurant serves endless varieties of pasta made fresh daily con amore. Try their Mortadella e Pere with a glass of fizzy Prosecco for an idyllic afternoon brunch with Mom.
Price: A la carte Hours: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Address: 4161 Voltaire St, Ocean Beach
Mother’s Day at Bencotto
For the late risers and pasta aficionados, Bencotto is dishing up authentic Italian cuisine for those tired of morningfood. Make it a truly memorable Mother’s Day by ordering their squid ink gnocchi, lobster bisque or parmigiano reggiano cheese wheel pasta which is sure to turn heads. Little Italy will be a hot place to be, so book your reservation soon.
Price: A la carte Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Address: 750 W Fir St #103, Little Italy
Mother’s Day Brunch at Nine-Ten Restaurant and Bar
Chef Jason Knibb is putting together a feast of brunch favorites for Mother’s Day at La Jolla’s Nine-Ten. Enjoy a meal with Mom just steps from the cove including homemade rosemary bread, grilled local yellowtail tacos, and Brûléed French toast. Reserve a table here.
Price: A la carte Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Address: 910 Prospect Street, La Jolla
Mother’s Day Brunch at Trust
Give your mom thanks by treating her to a brunch for the books at Trust in Hillcrest. Start with one of their notorious sticky buns followed by chilaquiles rojo or smoked salmon toast and follow it with a pleasant walk through Balboa Park. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Price: A la Carte Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Address: 3752 Park Boulevard, Hillcrest
Mother’s Day at Viewpoint Neighborhood Kitchen
Viewpoint Neighborhood Kitchen, is the place to dine with Mom and take in the sweeping views of East County’s this year. This Sycuan restaurant is serving upmorningfood favorites ideal for fueling up before rounds of Bingo and the Mother’s Day Extravaganza event on the casino floor. Viewpoint restaurants only allow guests 21 and up. Sorry, kiddos.
Price: A la Carte Hours: 24 Hours Address: 5469 Casino Way, El Cajon
Cole Novak is an award-winning writer with a passion for highlighting local figures, small businesses, and nonprofits. Born and raised in San Diego, Cole is passionate about photography, surfing, art, the local food scene, and the great outdoors.
Maren Hawkins is a freelance writer in her last year at San Diego State University. When she is not writing, she spends her time playing beach volleyball, thrifting for the cutest clothes, and traveling whenever possible.
Amanda Parmele is a third year undergraduate student at UCSD and works at SD Magazine as a Photography/Visual Editing intern. She takes photos for her school newspaper, is a writing mentor, and loves surf photography, though she cannot surf to save her life.
When Rigo Munoz opened a weekends-only taco stand on Market Street in 2018, at first, he was just hoping to sell his tacos to however many customers he could. That low-key, word of mouth approach worked well for a couple years. Very well.
“Then, the line started,” he laughs. He began to double his sales week after week, until an influencer from Tijuana paid them an undercover visit in 2024. Munoz was hanging out in his backyard the next Monday when his phone started pinging and ringing off the hook. “So I go onto my social media and there, lo and beyond, the video already had 10,000, 12,000 views in like, less than an hour,” he says. The next day, there was a line of customers waiting for him before he opened at 5 p.m. The Chula Tacos revolution sparked there.
Now, he’s ready to open his third location on August 1 at 4994 Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach. It wasn’t an easy or straightforward path—the city shut down his original location citing too much noise and traffic. But Munoz was looking ahead, already in talks with a restaurateur to take over his space at 1719 Palm Avenue in the Nestor neighborhood of southeast San Diego. From the time he got shut down to getting the keys of his first brick-and-mortar was less than two days.
The second location in Chula Vista caught fire on Valentine’s Day and is slated to reopen later this fall (689 H Street). Munoz says he also plans to open a fourth location somewhere between the Ocean Beach and Morena Boulevard areas, but has aspirations for more.
“I’d like to become the In-N-Out of tacos,” he says. He’s actively looking for places that could support either a drive-thru or the typical fast-casual taqueria style, but no matter what, he’s going to keep his menu simple.
Each location has the same menu, except labio, which are ox lips, and beef intestines. They’re top-sellers at Palm Avenue, but might not translate as well to the OB crowd, he says. But guests can still get their fix of vampiro tacos, tacos de trompo, and from-scratch horchata and jamaica.
Chula Tacos is best known for its kekas (pronounced keh-kuhs), which are extra-large quesadillas stuffed with your choice of meat. “It’s a hefty thing,” Munoz promises. It’s such a trademark that he filed for a patent, which is still pending.
Building a taco empire has been a long time coming. Munoz first started making tacos at age 12, and has operated a number of cafes, delis, and other businesses on both sides of the border ever since. “We’re a family business,” he says. He’s been trying to hit that mother lode for years—and all it took was one video to light the fuse.
The newest location of Chula Tacos opens August 1 at 4994 Newport Avenue, Suite A in Ocean Beach. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to midnight daily. (Opening date subject to change.)
Courtesy of Oceanside Sustainable Food Festival
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
Beth’s Bites
Everyone (clap) watches (clap, clap) women’s sports! (Thunderous applause!) San Diego’s first women’s sports bar, One of Us, opened this week in the former URBN Pizza space in North Park. I stopped by the preview and can confirm the Big Ass Fan is still there, but now there are tons of TVs lining the walls ready to broadcast women’s soccer, basketball, volleyball, and all the other sports events you could ever dream of. (And yes, they’ll be showing the men’s World Cup on Sunday, because I guess people watch men’s sports, too.)
Rolando’s ears must have been burning, because a month after interviewing chef Coral Strong of the now-closed Garden Kitchen, Campus Burgers announced plans to turn the formerly hyperlocal farm-to-table restaurant into a spot for affordable smashburgers. I’m sure the local college kids will appreciate the $1.99 smashburger special—although let’s face it, in today’s expensive times, everyone is ready for a wallet-friendly outing.
A few months ago, I gave Navore Market’s farm-to-front door delivery service a try and as a longtime former CSA subscriber, I have to admit it felt nice to leave the produce purchasing to the pros. But as of July 12, you can now head to Navore’s second community pickup hub at Mission Valley YMCA (5505 Friars Road) every Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Having a centralized drop-off point makes it easy for farmers, and buyers don’t have to commit to a subscription—sounds like a farm-to-table win to me.
Keeping on with the farm-to-table news, the 4th annual Oceanside Sustainable Food Festival is scheduled for July 25 in downtown Oceanside, bringing 50-plus vendors together for a day of global food and drink, artisan products, home goods, live music, and more. The event usually draws in a couple thousand people, so might I suggest arriving close to the 11 a.m. kickoff for the best chance at maximizing your nom?
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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.
There’s a place in heaven for a steakhouse that remakes chicken nuggets but uses Jidori instead of whatever glum bird is proffered in the children’s section. And then they top it with caviar. That, plus an editor with an obsession-level ranking of chai in Carlsbad, and a whole fish from one of San Diego’s OG top chefs who has mercifully returned to the kitchen. These are the very best things we’ve found from another month of eating professionally in San Diego. Go get some.
Stake Chophouse & Bar
Caviar Chicken Nugget
One of my favorite experiences at Stake in Coronado is that—if the patio is chilly enough to warrant heaters—they’ll surround you with towers of flame. Paired with the retaining wall of heat against the glass railing overlooking Orange Avenue, there is so much surrounding fire that it feels like dining in a much nicer version of the Elmo meme, in which the nasally puppet’s whole world has amusingly arsoned.
Three things you have to get here: first, the Wagyu popcorn (kernels popped in melted Wagyu beef fat, salted with paprika); second, the Snake River Farms Wagyu skirt steak (its Gold grade means incredibly high marble), one of the best steaks in the city; third, the Jidori chicken nuggets with herbed crème fraîche, pickle, and a perm of caviar. A childhood food, deliciously adulted. —Troy Johnson
Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen
Tri-Tip Sando
It’s been 15 years since married folk Aaron and Roddy Browning opened Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen in a hidden south Oceanside hovel—using vinyl records as placemats, the decor an assortment of welded metal weirdities. One thing has always remained: Pork is their native tongue.
This sandwich pries open long-dormant pleasure receptors in most alive human bodies. Brandt Beef tri-tip is rubbed with its “Pig Spice” (hint: good paprika and celery seed do wonders), sleeps for 24 hours, then is seared and rested for an hour—sliced and seared again, placed on a mini baguette wet with fresh chimichurri and smoked tomato aioli, then topped with melted aged provolone, grilled peppers, onions, and gremolata (parsley, garlic, lemon zest). Order two, or be prepared to fight. —Troy Johnson
Valentina
Pan Tomaquet
Pintxos are Basque-country bar snacks, finger foods for Real Sociedad games. The appropriate utensils are a couple of fingers and a toothpick. But Valentina’s in Leucadia are done with just enough culinary school ambition (not too much, fuss has no place in pintxos) from exec chef Enrique Ñol, who worked at the estimable Wrench & Rodent.
Its tomaquet (tomato bread) could be underestimated as a stacked pile of quality ingredients, but it’s undeniably great—toasted pan de cristal (light, airy, Catalan “glass bread”) dressed with tomato, garlic, salt, EVOO, and a layer of one of the world’s greatest meats: Cinco Jotas Iberian jamón. Eat it with a minor winefall of porrón, and ask for Todd—a certified sommelier and one of the most knowledgeable food minds in the local scene. —Troy Johnson
Ironside Fish & Oyster
Whole Fish
Get the whole fish. Doesn’t matter the catch, just trust that chef Jason McLeod’s got you. When CH Projects opened Ironside in Little Italy in 2014, the restaurant group took over the old Farkas furniture store and turned it into a replica of an ocean liner, tapping McLeod (a chef who’d earned two Michelin stars in Chicago) to oversee its menus.
It quickly became a San Diego staple for seafood. After leaving for a few years to help concept and launch some big-name restaurants in Vegas, McLeod is back again getting his hands dirty in the kitchen. And his fish? They come in fresh from local fishermen who he’s established relationships with over the years. So yeah, get the whole damn thing. —Nicolle Monico
Steady State Roasting
Indian Summer
I have a running spreadsheet of chai rankings in Carlsbad. The chai that stays on the highest shelf? Steady State’s gingery, nutmeggy Indian Summer with an almond milk base and fresh nutmeg shavings on top. Juiced ginger gives the drink deeper, warmer notes, but not so much spice that your throat closes on the first sip.
Too often, coffee shops advertise authentic chai, then uncork that carton of sugar-bomb concentrate from an artisanal wholesaler called Costco. This is the real deal; it’s mildly sweet, a little more spicy, and in my opinion, best served hot. If I could order a keg of it, I would. (Can I?) —Emma Veidt
After 10 years of rooftop dining and brewing award-winning beers, OB Brewery is for sale. A local fixture on Newport Avenue, OB Brewery owner Mike Tajran is ready to retire and hand over the reins. “It’s got so much potential,” he says, pointing to the accolades the brewpub has collected throughout the last decade (it’s more than a few).
At the 2017 Great American Beer Festival, OB’s Hidden Gem Dunkelweizen won silver in the German-Style Wheat Ale category, followed by a World Beer Cup silver medal as a South German-Style Dunkel Weizen in 2026. In 2018, GABF named OB Brewery Small Brewpub of the Year, brewer Jim Millea earned Small Brewpub Brewer of the Year, and the B. Right On pale ale nabbed a gold medal in the American-Style Pale Ale category. The Elevator Red IPA also took bronze that year at the San Diego International Beer Festival, and earlier this year, they won gold for Couple’s Therapy chili beer and silver for Rauch Me smoked beer at San Diego County Fair Craft Brew Competition.
It’s a solid foundation for the right buyer, he says—someone with brewing and business chops ready for a turnkey operation in a favorable location a block from the beach on Ocean Beach’s busiest street. (And while he’s letting go of the brewpub business, he’s also open to selling the building as part of the deal.)
Originally from Iraq, Tajran’s family ran restaurants in Baghdad, but “they were decimated by Saddam Hussein,” he explains. Once in the United States, he launched Giant New York Pizza at 5050 Newport Avenue in 1984, which eventually became Newport Pizza & Ale House. Newport Pizza felt long ahead of its time, proudly proclaiming they served “no crap on tap” years before the craft beer craze caught fire in San Diego.
Courtesy of OB Brewery
When the building’s owners passed away and their son cut his lease short in 2020, Tajran says he was disappointed, but he had a nagging feeling that would happen eventually—which is why he already purchased 5041 Newport Avenue back in 2009 and opened Ocean Beach Brewery in 2016.
“For 42 years, I have been in this location in this area, the same block,” he says with pride. Ocean Beach has gone through some changes since 1984 (the OB farmers market launched in 1992, Starbucks came in 2001 and left in 2022, ADUs crept in, and the iconic OB Pier closed in 2023), but Tajran says the heart of the beachside town has remained the same.
So has most of his staff. Millea has been brewing since day one, and longtime manager Megan Schuster has worked for Tajran for 19 years, first at Newport, then at OB Brewery. Most of the employees are locals, and Tajran says he doesn’t plan on closing the business until he finds the right buyer to carry on the baton.
The property itself comes with some unique features for the area—three stories with a rooftop deck and ocean views from every level. And if you’re wondering if those uninterrupted views will remain that way, Tajran assures me they will. Part of his original building purchase included language that prohibits the three buildings between him and the ocean from building up. He also leases space next door, which would allow a new owner to expand brewing capacity with more tanks and fermenters.
“I just wanted to make sure this goes in good hands,” he says. He and his wife both hope to retire soon in order to spend time with their children. But he’ll make sure his other baby is taken care of first.
“I love Ocean Beach,” he says. “I can say nothing but thank you, OB.”
OB Breweryis still open at 5041 Newport Avenue. Hours are Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Interested parties should contact Next Wave Commercial.
Along the same vein of iconic businesses, Tribute Pizza is celebrating 10 years in North Park this week with different events every night. Good luck getting a reservation if you haven’t already, but you can still take part in the silent auction on behalf of Feeding San Diego. Owner Matt Lyons’ goal is to raise $100,000 for the nonprofit and is offering some pretty sweet stuff to do so—think a full weekend buyout of Tribute, a private event with Lyons and chef Travis Swikard of Callie and Fleurette, a year of access to a VIP hotline for reservations, and even more. Time is ticking away on your chance to bid, so be sure to make your best offer before time runs out.
La Corriente continues its expansion across San Diego with lucky number three coming to Oceanside. Located next to Tanner’s Prime Burgers and PopUp Bagels, a restaurant rep says that at the rate the restaurant is opening new spaces, it wouldn’t be wild to see a few more pop up along the coast in the future.
Kitchens for Good has big plans on the horizon, including their sprawling new Culinary Impact Center coming to Bankers Hill next year. Now, it should be a bit easier to accomplish their (many) goals with the help of a $50,000 grant from the Jacques Pépin Foundation. Kitchens for Good is one of four awardees this year and will receive the funds over the next two years, allowing them to launch their Market Cafe initiative in the new center and continue their mission of hospitality training programs and ending food insecurity across the city. It’s a pretty awesome award, given by a pretty awesome group to another pretty awesome group, so it’s just mega-awesome all the way around.
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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.
San Diego has lost a number of ambitious concepts lately—Vulture and Dreamboat in University Heights, Wildflour Delicatessen in Liberty Station, Deckman’s in North Park, Matsu in Oceanside. All have different reasons for closing (some outgrew their space, some overshot their costs), but none of them suffered for quality. Ditto for the next casualty. On July 19, Cellar Hand in Hillcrest will close its doors.
Unlike the other closures, there’s actually a silver lining. The Perr family, who owns both Cellar Hand and Pali Wine Co., announced they will relocate Pali’s tasting room from Little Italy to take over the vacated Cellar Hand space.
Cellar Hand opened just over two years ago with a promise to source 100 percent of their produce locally. Ambitious, but admirable. Logan Kendall, the original executive chef, launched with a menu centered around lots of funky fermentation, tinned fish preserved in-house, a bevy of fun dips like labneh and whipped tahini, and a ridiculously fantastic pork chop from Thompson Heritage Farms. Wine Enthusiast named the 120-seat eatery one of the top 50 wine-focused restaurants in the country in 2025—not a shock, considering the mega wine chops behind the project.
Following Kendall’s tenure, chefs Ashley McBrady and then Sable-Tanya Wentwoord took over the reins, keeping things rolling with expanded brunch offerings, chef’s dinners, and all the usual accoutrements of a hyped spot. Before joining the Pali Wine/Cellar Hand team, Wentwoord worked and staged at multiple James Beard Award–recognized and Michelin-starred restaurants in Boulder, Colorado (Frasca Food and Wine); San Francisco, CA (Coi, Che Fico); Providence, Rhode Island (Persimmon); and Fredericksburg, Tex. (Southold Farm + Cellar). She will continue to head the food program at Pali Wine Co.
Bad luck or bad timing, the reasons behind closing Cellar Hand don’t really matter. But I, for one, will really miss that pork chop.
Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos
Still, Cellar Hand’s loss is Pali Wine Co.’s gain, or at least a small balm on the sting of closure. The tasting room in Little Italy opened 10 years ago, bringing its Central Coast wine and vibes to an area smack in the middle of a craft beer boom. When it came time to renew the lease, the Perrs say the landlord did the landlord-y thing and tried to nearly double the rent. (Tale as old as time—just ask Wildwood Flour.)
Rather than suffer a double-whammy, the Perr family instead decided to shift their focus (and finances) to the heart of their businesses: wine. And despite losing a very cool rooftop patio in one sizzling hot neighborhood, they are gaining a pretty prime spot in a different sizzling hot neighborhood with a not-too-shabby patio of its own accord. (One more silver lining: no more jet noise from the airport!)
By moving Pali Wine Co. to where Cellar Hand used to be, they could at least keep a toehold in San Diego, says Nick Perr, managing partner. His family has made wine in Santa Barbara county for over two decades, with 10 of those years in the San Diego market—an investment they refused to lose. “That’s why it’s impossible to separate our winery from our San Diego community,” he explains, adding that the new location will allow Pali Wine Co. to offer programming designed around the nearby Hillcrest farmers market.
Guests can expect the same wine selection, wine club perks, private tastings, and similar food offerings Pali Wine Co. offers in Little Italy to transfer to Hillcrest. And maybe, if we’re lucky, they’ll bring back the pork chop (please?)
“We are extremely proud of what we accomplished at Cellar Hand,” said Perr in a statement. “Running an independent restaurant with real values is hard, and we gave it everything we had.”
Cellar Hand will permanently close on July 19. Pali Wine Co. will cease operations at 2130 India Street on July 19 and will move to 1440 University Avenue.
Pali’s new location in Hillcrest will soft open on August 12 with a grand opening on August 22. Operating hours will be Wednesday through Friday, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. Happy hour will run Wednesday through Sunday (hours to be determined).
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.
The inland North County community of Rancho Santa Fe is often associated with wealth. It’s one of San Diego’s most expensive residential markets and is consistently ranked one of the highest-income zip codes in California and the U.S. Rancho Santa Fe is known for its large equestrian community including riding facilities and horse trails, as well as its country club lifestyle and associated golf courses.
At the center of this luxury master-planned community is a small, walkable downtown area referred to as the “village,” with The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe acting as both a landmark and social hub. Much of the community, including the historic Inn, was designed by acclaimed architect Lilian Rice, one of California’s earliest female architects. The Spanish Colonial-style architecture she brought to the village is still one of its defining characteristics today.
Whether you’re coming to Rancho Santa Fe for golf, horseback riding, or pampering at a resort spa, be sure to start with a short walk around the village to take in the neighborhood’s charm. Plan your next visit here with our neighborhood guide to the area’s best restaurants, things to do, and shopping.
Rancho Santa Fe Restaurants, Bars, and Coffee Shops
The Pony Room
Families congregate at The Pony Room for elevated California ranch-style cuisine. Lamb lollipops, carne asada tacos, burgers, and weekly dinner specials are offered here, alongside an extensive collection of wine and spirits (especially tequila) and sizeable kids menus. As the signature restaurant of Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, this all-day eatery is a lively centerpiece of the local social scene.
5921 Valencia Circle
Mille Fleurs
The piano bar at Mille Fleurs is the buzziest spot to be on Friday and Saturday nights in Rancho Santa Fe. French classics like escargot, lobster bisque, duck confit, and steak frites are the main dinner attractions at this local institution that has been around for more than 40 years. Spring for the four-course prix fixe menu before nabbing a coveted bar seat near the piano entertainer.
6009 Paseo Delicias
Nick & G’s Restaurant
Nick & G’s is one of the most prominent restaurants in the village, with an outdoor patio that overlooks the main thoroughfare. Enjoy modern Italian food, steaks, and seafood dishes here, including homemade pasta, pizza, wagyu beef, and oysters. Be sure to check their live music schedule and events calendar for the latest happenings.
6106 Paseo Delicias
Lilian’s
Named after renowned architect and planner Lilian Rice, Lilian’s is The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe’s flagship restaurant. Their upscale menus feature sustainable seafood, grass-fed meats, local produce, and even sushi rolls during dinner. Outdoor seating provides a bird’s-eye view of the village and an elegant backdrop for weekend brunch. Stop by Bing’s Bar (a nod to Bing Crosby) for craft cocktails, beer, wine, and light bites in a refined setting.
5951 Linea Del Cielo
Thyme in the Ranch
Quaint cafe and bakery Thyme in the Ranch serves a small selection of breakfast and lunch items (don’t miss the tarragon chicken salad), but is perhaps best known for its pastries and baked goods. Cakes, pies, muffins, scones, and cookies fly off the shelves here, where locals come for special occasions, parties, and group catering orders.
16905 Avenida De Acacias
Paseo RSF
Located inside a historic building once home to Rancho Santa Fe’s original schoolhouse, Paseo RSF is one of the village’s newest dining options. The charming American bistro has pasta, salads, burgers, meat and seafood entrees, plus a thoughtfully selected California wine list and new sushi and omakase program. Kids and dogs are both welcome here.
6024 Paseo Delicias, Suite C
Rancho Roasters
Grab a quick coffee to go from this walk-up window in the same shopping center as the post office. Cinnamon roll lattes, cold brew, spiced chai, smoothies, protein bowls, and more can be found at Rancho Roasters, where they brew beans from Dark Horse Coffee.
16950 Via De Santa Fe
Goli Pizza
Casual pizzeria and martini bar Goli is a popular spot for catching the latest sports games. Order one of their unique specialty pizzas like the Casbah with hummus and veggies, build your own pizza or burger, or go with one of their hearty wraps that’s made with an extra thin version of pizza dough.
18021 Calle Ambiente, Suite 403
Cocina del Rancho
Find generous portions of Mexican food at Cocina del Rancho, run by the same owners as Carlsbad’s Cicciotti’s Trattoria Italiana and Village Kabob. Get classic dishes like burritos, tacos, and enchiladas, plus their specialty items including pulpo, carne asada, and fajitas with lobster tail. Don’t skip the margaritas.
Kai Oliver-Kurtin is a San Diego-based writer who covers travel, dining, events, and culture. Her writing has been published in USA Today, Condé Nast Traveler, Fodor's Travel, Marie Claire, and HuffPost, among others.
National Philanthropy Day, presented by PNC Bank, Celebrates the Best of Philanthropy in San Diego
The 53rd Annual National Philanthropy Day Takes Place on November 21. Join us from 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the new Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center!
Once yearly, AFP San Diego joins with others worldwide to celebrate National Philanthropy Day (NPD), a special day set aside to recognize the great contributions of donors and nonprofits that enrich of our community and the world. San Diego’s NPD is one of the largest and most successful in the U.S., attracting nearly 900 participants, including philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, CEOs, board members, development professionals, and business, community, and civic leaders.
Sponsorship proceeds from National Philanthropy Day are reinvested in education, training, scholarships, career development, and the advancement of fundraising professionals throughout San Diego. These resources and training provide fundraising professionals with the tools necessary to support our region’s diverse array of nonprofit organizations, which rely on charitable giving for close to half of their annual revenues.
The National Philanthropy Day Honorees are selected by the NPD Honorary Committee, a group of highly respected, diverse nonprofit and business leaders. Our 2025 Honorees include:
Outstanding Development Emerging Leader – Taylor Thompson Self-Nominated
Outstanding Development Professional – Sharyn Goodson Nominated by: AJ Steinberg & Jeanne Schmelzer
Outstanding Organization for IDEA – Accessity Self-Nominated
Outstanding Philanthropic Institution – Life Science Cares San Diego Nominated by: Blair Search Partners
Outstanding Philanthropist – Dan & Phyllis Epstein Nominated by: CSU San Marcos & KPBS
Outstanding Student Volunteer – Camden Hall Nominated by: Curebound
National Philanthropy Day San Diego provides an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of giving and to celebrate the selfless contributions of individuals and organizations across the region. We look forward to celebrating with you!
Sponsorship opportunities and individual tickets are available. Please visit www.afpsd.org for more information.
