Fresh Fare Come hungry to these 19 new eateries JAMES VERNETTE COURTESY OF THE HAKE
I
t’s an exciting time to be a foodie in San Diego. In the past few years, the region’s restaurant scene has become a boom town of sorts. New eateries are popping up in the usual trendy neighborhoods or revitalizing and rejuvenating others.
Mess Hall 2820 Historic Decatur Road, messhallsd.com
It seems every week, some hot (or cool) new place opens that is worth trying. Keeping track of each one is daunting, but let us steer you toward the most notable openings of the past 12 months or so.
Mess Hall is probably the place for foodies to see what is fresh and in season in San Diego. The menu items change frequently depending on what is available at Liberty Public Market. Each item can be paired with a recommended wine or beer, and you get the booze in taster portions so you don’t get paired with a DUI on the way home.
Trust
Los Pinos Seafood
3752 Park Blvd., trustrestaurantsd.com
Located just south of University Ave., Trust is as good a blend of casual and upscale as San Diego is going to get. The menu is divided between farm, ocean and ranch choices with enough choices to please vegetarians and meat eaters alike. They do octopus wonderfully here. The brunch menu is spectacular with perfectly blended mimosas with ever-changing flavors.
Herb & Wood 2210 Kettner Blvd., herbandwood.com Many people think Brian Malarkey’s newest San Diego restaurant is his best, thanks to his clever takes on classic touches with unique variations. Seafood dishes like the roast branzino are getting the raves here. For a quick casual meal, Herb & Eatery in the front sells great salads and sandwiches, especially the Tuna Albacore melt.
5575 Baltimore Drive, La Mesa This is a small, slightly out-of-the-way hole-in-the-wall, but it has some of the finest seafood tacos in the region. The octopus/ bacon taco is the thing to get, but the shark taco or beer-battered shrimp burrito are close behind. So filling you won’t need rice and beans.
Tajima North Park 3015 Adams Ave., tajimasandiego.com The latest addition to this local ramen chain and, like the others, it’s nice and homey with warm, soothing ramen soups and Japanese-themed specialties like the tempura Brussels sprouts. Beer selection combines local favorites with Japanese classics.
Carne Prima 314 5th Ave., carneprima.com The Gaslamp spot for people who want to splurge on great big hunks of red meat with bold Italian red wines. Dry-aging adds a parmesan cheese essence to the steaks here and the Class A service makes everyone feel like they are the grand poobah.
Banzai Bar 3048 Midway, banzaibar.com Banzai has great drinks, especially the tequila-based Smokeshow, in a neighborhood that has been lacking great bars. Poke bowls of every type here, but even meat eaters will love the deep-fried artichoke tacos with jalapeno peppers.
Ambroglio15 926 Turquoise, Pacific Beach, ambrogio15.com A pizza place that could easily have been transported directly from Milan right into Pacific Beach. Besides the crisp, thin pizza, diners can order focaccia, which has a thicker, crunchier crust. The toppings are key, with lots of high quality ingredients like San Marzano tomatoes, imported cheeses and salumi.
COURTESY OF PACIFIC STANDARD