Several new restaurants have opened around the county in recent weeks or are opening soon. Here’s a look at what’s new.
AnniVenti La Trattoria, Lemon Grove
AnniVenti La Trattoria opened this month in Lemon Grove. It’s owned by the three Gagliano brothers who grew up near Palermo, Italy. The local restaurant is named after their family’s original restaurant in Sicily.
Menu specialties include zuppa cozzee e vongole (steamed mussels and clams) , spaghetti vongole e pistacchio (spaghetti with clams and pistachios), paccheri e scampi (pasta with shrimp), gnocchi Sorrentina, filetta di manzo (filet of steak) pollo arrosto (roast chicken) and more. Hours are 4 to 9 p.m. weekdays and noon to 9:30 p.m. weekends at 8099 Broadway, Lemon Grove. anniventitrattoria.com
Bayfront dining at Dockside 1953 restaurant at the Bahia Resort Hotel on Mission Bay.
(Courtesy of Zack Benson)
Dockside 1953, Mission Bay
The Bahia Resort Hotel on Mission Bay has opened its newly renovated and rebranded restaurant, Dockside 1953, named for the hotel’s founding year.
The bayside, all-day restaurant, overseen by executive chef Bryan Stuppy, features coastal-inspired menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast options include butterscotch banana French toast. Lunch dishes include the Bahia wedge salad, rockfish ceviche, fisth tacos and drugstore hamburger. Dinner items include rockfish ceviche, raw seafood tower, Wagyu and lamb meatballs, bistro-steamed mussels, forbidden rice risotto, steak frites au poivre and fresh catch of the day from TunaVille Market in Point Loma. Weekend brunch service begins May 26. Hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. 998 W. Mission Bay Drive, San Diego. bahiahotel.com/dockside-1953
Jolie Coronado
This newly opened restaurant and butchery is co-owned by Orange County chef Jason Witzl and Coronado resident Christian Biafora.
Jolie Coronado is Witzl’s fifth restaurant, joining three restaurants in Long Beach ( Ellie’s Italian restaurant, Lopes de la Mar Mexican seafood restaurant and Ginger’s, a prix-fixe tasting menu-only restaurant) and Bud & Gene’s casual seafood fare in Huntington Beach.
The Jolie menu features an oyster bar, raw seafood starters, salads and entrées of seafood, pork, beef and duck. Hours are noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays. Jolie is at 126 Orange Ave., Suite B, Coronado. joliecoronado.com
Chefs Elliott and Kelly Townsend of Long Story Short, which will launch a long-term residency in August at Little Thief Wine Bar & Kitchen in North Park.
(Courtesy of Long Story Short)
Long Story Short and Mesa Agricola, North Park
Long Story Short, a California cuisine concept run by chefs Elliott and Kelly Townsend, will be the new restaurant-in-residence at Little Thief Wine Bar & Kitchen at 3017 University Ave. in North Park beginning Aug. 2.
Long Story Short will succeed chef Drew Bent’s Papalito, which has been operating as a pop-up concept at Little Thief for the past nine months. Papalito’s last day of service is Sunday before Bent moves into a permanent location in East Village.
Long Story Short will soon complete a 20-month residency at Vino Carta Solana Beach. The Townsends create seasonal menus based on produce at Chino Farms in Rancho Santa Fe.
In the interim between Papalito’s departure and Long Story Short’s arrival, chef Juan Gonzalez of Mesa Agricola will run a pop-up concept at Little Thief, Wednesdays-Sundays, May 24 through July 30.
Chef Juan Gonzalez of Mesa Agricola will replace Long Story Short at Vino Carta Solana Beach in August. Gonzalez and his wife, farmer Megan Strom, own a 1/4-acre farm in Valley Center where they grow the produce used in Gonzalez’s farm-to-table menus.
Underground Burgers in North Park specializes in plant-based burgers, tots, fries and shakes.
(Courtesy of Underground Burgers)
Underground Burgers, North Park
Tacotarian, the Las Vegas-born, plant-based Mexican restaurant chain that opened its first California location in North Park last summer, has introduced a new concept: Underground Burgers.
Underground Burgers serves plant-based burgers made from a mix of Impossible-brand meat substitute, mushrooms and spices, as well as fries, tater tots and shakes. The Underground concept was born at the company’s Southwest Las Vegas location during the 2020 lockdown when company officials were looking for a takeout concept to provide staff with more hours and income.
Underground Burgers is operating in the same building as Tacotarian at 4332 30th St., San Diego. instagram.com/eatundergroundburgers
Farmer Megan Strom her husband chef Juan González run Mesa Agricola restaurant.
(Courtesy of Mesa Agricola)
City Tacos, Ocean Beach
San Diego-based City Tacos will soon open a 10,000-square-foot OB Playground concept that will include a taco shop, coffee shop, flower shop, courtyard with fire pits and lounge seating, oversize lawn games and a fenced dog park. Live music will be offered periodically. The restaurant will open in July at 4698 Voltaire St., San Diego. citytacossd.com
City Tacos is opening its seventh taqueria at a 10,000 square-foot playground lot in Ocean Beach.
(Courtesy of City Tacos)