{"id":300433,"date":"2025-10-13T17:13:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T17:13:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/300433\/"},"modified":"2025-10-13T17:13:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T17:13:12","slug":"orexi-opening-inside-the-courtyard-by-marriott-san-diego-san-diego-magazine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/300433\/","title":{"rendered":"Orexi Opening Inside the Courtyard by Marriott San Diego\u00a0| San Diego Magazine"},"content":{"rendered":"

This November, Little Italy<\/a> is adding one more destination to my lodging-and-libations list when Orexi<\/a>, a Mediterranean-California fusion restaurant, opens inside the Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown Little Italy<\/a> (formerly The Little Italy Hotel). The name comes from the Greek word for \u201cappetite\u201d or \u201cdesire\u201d (I like that the two seem synonymous, but I digress), and the menu will blend coastal ingredients from both California and the Mediterranean via from-scratch seasonal plates and shareables.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Orexi will be open for breakfast and dinner, the former featuring the usual suspects\u2014omelettes, pastries, and so on\u2014but also shakshuk and an egg bowl<\/a> that comes with a tahini vinaigrette. Dinner starts with dips like whipped feta and garlic hummus; small plates like beef kofte sliders with cumin spiced meatballs, tomato sauce, and feta; and burrata Mediterr\u00e1nea with heirloom cherry tomatoes, marinated artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives and roasted red peppers. Entrees run the gamut from fairly light (seared Pacific salmon) to hearty (grilled butcher\u2019s steak), and I\u2019ve really got my eye on the desserts. Olive oil and chocolate chip cookies<\/a> or sweet honey donuts? Yes, please.<\/p>\n

On the drinks side, expect local beer from breweries like Societe Brewing Co., AleSmith Brewing Co., and Harland Brewing Co., plus wine, mocktails, and cocktails like the Hotel California with Patron Silver tequila, Illegal mezcal, chile-infused Aperol, lime, pineapple, and Fever Tree club soda. Design-wise, Orexi leans fully toward San Diego\u2019s sandy beaches and greenery. Premier Design + Build Group<\/a> used neutral tones and natural textures inspired by both coasts and added lots of hanging plants, and the space seats 89 guests at a time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Food and beverage director James Yata comes from both a hotel and local restaurant background as the former F&B manager at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa and general manager for Trust Restaurant Group, and it runs in the family. \u201cMy dad was a chef, so I grew up knowing that nothing brings people together like a good meal,\u201d he says. \u201cThat\u2019s what got me into this industry\u2026 Little Italy has such an incredible food scene, and I feel really lucky to be joining it with a fresh concept that mixes Mediterranean flavors with coastal ingredients.\u201d<\/p>\n

Orexi opens at the Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown Little Italy (1646 Front Street) late November. Daily hours run 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for breakfast, and happy hour and dinner from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events<\/p>\n

Juniper & Ivy Hosts Cayuse Vineyards For a Rare Wine Dinner<\/p>\n

Cayuse Vineyards\u2019 head winemaker Christophe Baron made a name for himself by planting vineyards in a weird, stony plot of land in a little town called Walla Walla, Washington nearly 30 years ago. Today, it\u2019s one of the United States\u2019 top wine regions (largely thanks to Baron\u2019s gamble) and now wine collectors can\u2019t always get their hands on bottles of Cayuse Vineyards<\/a> coveted wines. But you can for one night\u2014Thursday, November 3, at Juniper & Ivy<\/a>, during a four-course wine pairing guided by Baron himself. This rare opportunity to hear from Baron and enjoy a meal designed specifically to pair with his wines doesn\u2019t happen very often, so grab a ticket<\/a> before they\u2019re gone.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Beth\u2019s Bites<\/p>\n