Welcome to SDM’s Guide to Food + Drink, a series created to help you decide on where to eat in San Diego—curated by the team at San Diego Magazine.
Get the octopus. Check the speakeasy. Eat in your finest flip-flops.
This is Christophe Cervantes. Chef-owner of Beeside Balcony in La Jolla (and Del Mar). Grew up in the south of France, learning to spearfish. Worked in his dad’s kitchen when he was a young kid. Grandad owned a restaurant, too.
He moved to San Diego, after working as a manager for Eddie V’s for years, took a chance on Beeside. He helped serve frontliners during the bad part of the pandemic, gained a following. Now he’s doing the unthinkable and bringing a touch of nightlife in La Jolla (even got a little speakeasy in the back). At his home in north county, a hive of bees took up residency. Now he uses the honey in his cocktails, sells it in jars.
The Thing You Gotta Try
Grilled Spanish octopus with potato fondant, onion and bacon jus, white truffle, arugula salad.
