The Heights, San Diego Dining Group’s new modern Italian chophouse, has opened in Little Italy.
Italian chef Giovani Gargano has worked as a downtown chef at Saltwater and Butcher’s Cut and other local restaurants for 15 years, but The Heights is his first restaurant serving recipes that reflect his European heritage. The restaurant opened earlier this month in the former Cafe Gratitude space at 1980 Kettner Blvd., which closed in January.
Signature dishes include Snake River Farms American Wagyu rib eye, veal chop Parmigiana and cannelloni di aragosta (lobster pasta). The Heights is open from 4 to 10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and 4 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Visit theheights-sd.com.
A crudo dish at the new Salt + Lime Mexican restaurant in Del Mar.
(Courtesy of Salt + Lime)
Salt + Lime debuts in Del Mar
Salt + Lime, a new Mexican restaurant, has opened in the former Cevasco’s space in Del Mar.
Until now, chef-owner Alan Efter operated Salt + Lime as a food truck in North Park, serving tacos, burritos, tostadas and more. The expanded menu at the new restaurant includes heart of palm ceviche, quesa birria, Baja fish tacos, tostadas, sweet and sour popcorn shrimp, potato taquitos and more. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at 1201 Camino Del Mar, Suite 101, Del Mar. Visit saltandlimesd.com.
New restaurants coming to Rancho Santa Fe
The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, which was recently sold for $100 million to Chicago-based GEM Realty Capital, will unveil two new dining venues when the 21-acre property’s final renovations conclude in November.
Clique Hospitality, the San Diego restaurant group behind Serea in Coronado and Lionfish in Downtown San Diego, will operate a seafood restaurant named Lilian’s and a neighborhood bar named Bing’s Bar. The restaurant is named after two local legends — local eco-conscious architect Lilian Rice and the bar after Bing Crosby, the crooner and film star who made his home in Rancho Santa Fe during horse-racing seasons.
Lilian’s will be helmed by chef Moira Hill who will create a menu focused on fresh-catch fish, grass-fed meats and seasonal local produce and other California ingredients. A typical dish will be Monterey Bay king salmon with artichoke puree and lentil salad and citrus slaw. Bing’s Bar will be designed to resemble an old English pub/speakeasy and will serve custom cocktails and light bites.
A selection of miniature doughnuts at Dinky Donut Shack in Coronado.
(Courtesy of Blue Bridge Hospitality)
Dinky Donut Shack debuts in Coronado
Blue Bridge Hospitality has opened a new sweet shop inside its tiki-style The Islander restaurant in Coronado.
The Dinky Donut Shack, which opened Aug. 9, serves a rotating selection of miniature doughnuts baked fresh daily. Specialty toppings include ube, guava, banana-nutella, and peanut butter. Dinky Donut replaces the onsite concept previously known as Dawn Patrol Breakfast Shack, and will continue serving the Dawn Patrol menu, which includes coffee, breakfast plates, burritos, bagel sandwiches and kale & quinoa bowls. Dinky Donut hours are 7 to 11 a.m. daily at 1015 Orange Ave., Coronado. Visit theislander.com.
Néktar opens in Oceanside
Néktar Juice Bar, which serves made-to-order fresh-squeezed juices, smoothies and açai bowls, opened a new location Aug. 5 at 3480 Marron Road, Suite 3B-102, in Oceanside. Founded in Southern California in 2010, Néktar has more than 300 locations either open or in development nationwide. Visit nekterjuicebar.com.
The international spirits collection at Raised by Wolves spirits shop and speakeasy at Westfield UTC.
(Courtesy of Arlene Ibarra)
Raised by Wolves wins two Spirited awards
Raised by Wolves, CH Projects’ retail shop, bar and hidden speakeasy at Westfield UTC, picked up two prestigious awards on July 28 at the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s 17th annual Spirited Awards. In the global categories, Raised by Wolves won the award for World’s Best Spirits Collection. And in the U.S. categories, Raised By Wolves partner Chris Patino was named the Best U.S. Bar Mentor. These awards follow Raised By Wolves being named 19th among the 50 Best Bars in the World earlier this year by the 50 Best ratings organization. 4301 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 2030, San Diego. raisedxwolves.com
Chef Josh Mouzakes in the kitchen at Arlo restaurant, which will host a Bourbon and Blues event on Aug. 31 at the Town and Country Resort in San Diego’s Mission Valley.
(Courtesy of Town and Country Resort)
Dining events
Italian Summer bar pop-up at L’Auberge: L’Auberge Del Mar and Gallery Blu are hosting two Italian summer-themed paint-and-sip experiences where ticket-holders can paint an Italian coastal landscape and enjoy an an Italian-style drink. Brushstrokes & Bellinis will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Aug. 25, and Palette & Prosecco is scheduled from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Sept. 15. $120 each. laubergedelmar.com
Taste of Barrio Logan: Barrio Logan Association and All for Logan present this first-time event with a tasting and experience self-guided tour of 36 restaurants, coffee houses, bakeries, breweries, museums and galleries. Noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 27. $40 in advance, $50 on day of event. (619) 519-0765, allforlogan.com
Santosha Food Festival: Helia Brewing Co. will offer unlimited tastings of vegan dishes prepared by local chefs, live music, sustainable vendors and more. 1 to 5 p.m. Aug. 27. 1250 Keystone Way, Vista. $37-$40. santoshanutrition.com/upcoming-events
Taste of East Village: The East Village Business Associations has announced plans for its inaugural Taste of East Village culinary tour, offering bites and sips from more than 35 neighborhood restaurants and bars, from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 29 and 30. Tickets will be $35. Visit eastvillagesandiego.com.
Bourbon and Blues: Arlo restaurant at the Town and Country Resort and Elijah Craig Bourbon will host a mingling event featuring tastings stations serving bourbon and tapas items prepared by chef Josh Mouzakes (pictured) including smoked white stone sea bass and 48-hour Wagyu coulotte . 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 31. 500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego. $120. towncountry.com/activities#!
Stranahan’s Whiskey dinner: The Desmond restaurant in downtown San Diego will host a five-course pairings dinner featuring dishes by chef Jason Neroni that showcase the versatility of Stranahans whiskeys. 6:30 p.m. Aug. 31. 1047 Fifth Ave., San Diego. $185. sandiegowineclassic.com/pop-up-events.
Del Mar Food & Wine Festival 2023: This inaugural festival Sept. 6-11 will feature six days of food, wine, spirits and sports-themed events taking place at multiple locations in the Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach area. More than 80 restaurant and celebrity chefs will be featured, along with more than 200 wines. Events include multicourse dinners, a pickleball tournament and a two day grand tasting event Sept. 9-10. For details, visit delmar.wine.
Taste of Gaslamp: Now in its 27th year, the culinary tasting tour will feature more than 20 restaurants across 16 blocks of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 9. Tickets are $45-$55. tasteofgaslamp.com
Restaurant Week fall dates announced: San Diego Restaurant Week will return Sept. 24 through Oct. 1, with more than 100 restaurants countywide offering prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus start at $20. In the coming months, participants and menus will be uploaded to the website at sandiegorestaurantweek.com.
San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival: Recently rated the No. 1 wine festival in the U.S. by USA Today’s 10Best Guide, this 19-year-old fall event series returns downtown Nov. 8-12. More than 60 sommeliers, brewers, mixologists and food artisans will be featured at a series of events that draw 11,000 ticket-buyers each year. sandiegowineclassic.com