Danny and Dante Romero, the San Diego brothers who have run their Two Ducks pop-up restaurant concept in the second floor loft of the Lion’s Share restaurant-bar in downtown San Diego since early last year, are moving downstairs.
The Romero brothers have purchased Lion’s Share from its operating partners Carlos Valente and Roy Leda and business partner Darius Yasiejko. The owners decided to approach the Romeros rather than put the business up for sale because they knew the brothers would preserve the legacy of the popular 14-year-old bar, which is decorated like a lounge for big game hunters.
Brothers Dante, left, and Danny Romero of the Two Ducks pop-up restaurant concept have purchased The Lion’s Share restaurant in downtown San Diego. (Two Ducks)
Dante Romero, who has served as Lion’s Share executive chef since April 2024, will carry on in that role and the restaurant’s general manager and bar manager will also stay on. Meanwhile, operations management is being assumed by Service Animals, the restaurant company the Romeros helped launch last year. Lion’s share is at 629 Kettner Blvd.
“I have always loved and respected The Lion’s Share,” says Danny Romero. “It’s rare to find a place whose legacy you’d actually want to be part of, but this is one of those places. They laid a great foundation, and we are planning to continue building on what they started.”
A steak dish and cocktail at The Henry, which opened its second location Wednesday in Carlsbad. (The Henry)
The Henry opens in Carlsbad: Fox Restaurant Concepts opened its second San Diego County location of The Henry, an American-style all-day restaurant, in The Forum Carlsbad on Wednesday. The Henry Carlsbad takes over a former Panera Bread location. The first Henry opened on Orange Avenue in Coronado in 2019.
The Henry serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with weekend brunch service and a full bar menu. The new restaurant seats 101 indoors and 125 outdoors at 1935 Calle Barcelona, Suite 17, Carlsbad. https://www.thehenryrestaurant.com
The interior of Witherby Bar at the Beau Hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter. (Ollie Paterson Photography)
Gaslamp Quarter bar renamed: Just six weeks after it opened, the bar inside the new Beau Hotel in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter has been renamed. The owners of the Beau, which opened May 16, decided to rename their restaurant-bar Witherby. The new name is an homage to the historic 1886 hotel building’s first tenant, Henry Witherby. Witherby serves breakfast and dinner, along with daily happy hour and late-night bar service. The Beau is at 927 Sixth Ave., downtown. thebeauhotel.com
Fonda del Barrio heads to Barrio Logan: Fonda del Barrio, a new Mexican restaurant concept from City Tacos founder Gerry Torres, will open in mid-August in the former Barrio Dogg space at 2234 Logan Ave. in Barrio Logan. The 95-seat restaurant will serve a wide variety of regional dishes including enchiladas de cochinita pibil, pollo al chocolate, huevos motuleños, arroz con leche, cafe de olla and tamales en hoja de platano. Visit fondadelbarrio.com.
The exterior of the Fish Shop restaurant in Encinitas. The company’s fourth location will open this fall in Oceanside. (Fish Shop)
Fish Shop heads to Oceanside: San Diego-based Fish Shop, with restaurants in Encinitas, Pacific Beach and Point Loma, will open a fourth location this fall at 236 S. Coast Highway in Oceanside. The fast-casual restaurant with full bar service will serve the same menu of build-your-own fresh seafood plates, tacos and sandwiches, as well as Cajun shrimp boils and $1.25 oyster nights. To follow the new location’s progress, visit thefishshops.com.
Raising Cane’s opens in Poway: Raising Canes, the national fast-food chain known for its crispy chicken fingers, opened its ninth San Diego County location on Tuesday at 12665 Poway Road in Poway. A 10th county location is now under construction at 3720 Camino Del Rio West in San Diego’s Midway District.
Urban Teri Kitchen opens in Vista: This family-owned quick-service Asian fusion opened in June in Vista’s Shadowridge community at 160 S. Melrose Drive. The restaurant’s specialties include Spam musubi, teriyaki plates, Korean fried chicken, ramen, gyoza, bulgogi and more. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays.