It’s been a busy summer so far, with nearly a dozen new restaurant openings in just the past month. Here’s a look at 11 new spots now open or coming soon.
Lucien to open July 18: Lucien, the La Jolla fine-dining restaurant from chef/owner Elijah Arizmendi, will open its doors July 18. Reservations are now open for the California micro-seasonal restaurant, which will serve a 12-plus-course tasting menu for $265, with optional beverage pairings for $195. Lucien is on the third floor of La Plaza La Jolla at 7863 Girard Ave., La Jolla. luciensd.com
Frozen cocktails at Fat Tuesday, a new Gaslamp Quarter bar and restaurant in San Diego. (Fat Tuesday)
Fat Tuesday opens in the Gaslamp: Fat Tuesday, a New Orleans-born restaurant-bar chain with 87 locations nationwide, officially opened its first West Coast location on June 27 in the Gaslamp Quarter. The Big Easy-style spot is open for lunch and then transitions to a bar at night with live DJs, karaoke, bottle service, TVs and oversize frozen cocktails. Fat Tuesday, with a full kitchen and weekday happy hours, replaces the former Henry’s Pub. 618 Fifth Ave. fattuesday.com
The main dining room at Lana restaurant in Solana Beach. (Workind Studio)
Lana adds brunch service: Lana, a new California comfort food restaurant that opened last month in Solana Beach, has introduced brunch service. Based in the former California Pizza Kitchen location, Lana is using the pizza oven to fire roast dishes like jumbo Baja prawns and organic half-chicken. Lana is owned by Travis LeGrand and Mark Wheadon with a menu by chef consultant David McIntyre. Bar manager is Brandon Curry. 437 S. Highway 101, Solana Beach. lanasb.com
Former Pioneer Barbeque chef and pitmaster Tim Eylens and his wife, Tara, have launched TNT Q & Catering. (TNT Q & Catering)
Pioneer Barbeque chef goes solo: Pioneer Barbeque in the San Carlos closed its doors on Tuesday after seven years in business. The Lake Murray Boulevard eatery’s executive chef, Tim Eylens, plans to carry on serving local barbecue fans with TNT Q & Catering, a catering company Eylens has opened with his wife, Tara. The menu includes a variety of barbecue dishes, sides and desserts. Details at tntcaterssd.com.
Piedra Santa opens in Little Italy: Piedra Santa, an Argentinian-inspired steakhouse, opened last month in Little Italy. The 3,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor restaurant serves dry-aged steaks, along with Argentine specialties like paisa chorizo, scallops tiradito and bife de lomo. The restaurant has a full bar and offers happy hour specials Sundays-Thursdays. 555 W. Ash St., downtown. piedrasantasd.com
Mastros features 11 choices of hand-cut steaks from the 8-ounce petit fillet to four choices of the popular and ultra high-end Japanese Wagyu steaks. (Courtesy of Mastro’s Steakhouse)
Mastro’s opening downtown: Mastro’s Ocean Club, part of the Mastro’s steakhouse chain with 25 locations nationwide, opens its first San Diego location Fridayat the InterContinental Hotel in downtown San Diego. Mastro’s offers a high-end steak and seafood dining experience with a required dress code. 901 Bayfront Court, Suite 105, downtown. mastrosrestaurants.com/location/san-diego
Better Buzz Coffee Roasters opens in Fashion Valley: This San Diego-based small-batch coffeehouse chain opened its 38th location June 24 in the food court at Fashion Valley shopping center in Mission Valley. To celebrate the opening, the new location will be serving an exclusive drink, White Chocolate Matcha, through July 24. 7007 Friars Road, Suite 855 A, San Diego. https://betterbuzzcoffee.com
A selection of food items from Spill the Beans, which opened its fifth location July 1 in Ocean Beach.(Spill the Beans)
Spill the Beans opens in O.B.: San Diego-based Spill the Beans coffeehouse chain opened its first drive-through location July 1 in Ocean Beach. The company’s fifth location, which also offers patio and walk-up window service, sells specialty coffee drinks, teas, juices, bowls and sandwiches featuring the company’s made-in-house bagels. 4805 Newport Ave., San Diego. spillthebeanssd.com
Bros Kabob opens in Escondido: Bros Kabob, a fast-casual Mediterranean Grill restaurant, opened last month in Escondido. It serves chicken, salmon and kefta kabob plates, flatbread wrap sandwiches and shawarma, gyro and falafel sandwiches and plates. There are also side dishes including baba ganoush, hummus, salads, dolmas and more. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. 343 W. Felicita Ave., Escondido.
Seven Seas opens in Vista: Seven Seas Bar and Grill opened in June in downtown Vista. Owned by Luis Lopez, the full-service restaurant serves fresh fish plates, chowder and cioppino, sandwiches, salads, local and Baja beers, a fresh fish market and grab-and-go takeout service. 324 Main St., Vista. sevenseasbarandgrill.com
Madeleine opens in Barrio Logan: Christine Perez, founder of the 15-year-old Café Madeleine French bakery cafes run by her son Dante Angotti in South Park and North Park, debuted a new concept named Madeleine on June 25 in Barrio Logan. The new eatery serves French-inspired breakfast/brunch food items like crepes and paninis but many dishes also have a Latin flair, including serrano ham Benedict, crepa con rajas, tortillas Espanola and Mexican mocha. 1776 National Ave., San Diego. instagram.com/madeleinebarriologan