Atypical Waffle, the strangely secluded eatery behind a laundromat in North Park, has gone through 12 years in business, two sets of owners, and many waffles. The newest owner, Jill Solomon, says the concept is ready to evolve.
“With rebranding, [I] want to expand the offerings past waffles,” she says. The new name, Good Measure, will come with a broadened menu for a more versatile brunch experience and a community space to host guest chefs, collaborations, and pop-ups. As the former owner of experiential pop-up dinner series Cow by Bear, Solomon says it’s essential for her to provide a space for up-and-coming chefs in the same way she felt supported when she was just starting as a young entrepreneur. “There’s strength in numbers,” she says. “Everyone brings something to the table.”
Solomon and her business partner Jess O’Shae purchased Atypical from the original owners earlier this year, but Solomon will be the sole owner and operator once the new iteration launches in December or January. “There is a lot of gray area right now,” she laughs. Once open, she plans to offer brunch Thursdays through Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and host events on weekends as often as possible, and says she’ll expand evening hours in the future.
She also plans to add more visible signage—a necessity for the tucked-away space. Guests will still enter through the back of the laundromat, though, but Solomon says she’ll add more obvious invitations to enter. The vibe will be “bright, colorful, a kind of mid-century modern aesthetic,” she says, with lots of greenery.
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
Family Utopia Kids & Coffee Opening in Carlsbad
Finally, a place where the “are kids allowed here?” debate falls silent! Kids & Coffee, an 11,500-square-foot indoor playspace and cafe, opens on Saturday, November 9 in Carlsbad. During the pandemic, full-time workers and new parents Vivian Ho and Ken Li experienced a structural lack of family support in their community, so they decided to launch a resource for caregivers and their children.
“Kids & Coffee is unique in a sense that we are one: fostering a safe space for early childhood development, two: we provide a platform and community for the caregivers, and three: we provide the educational resources that the modern parent needs,” says Ho. Mostra Coffee will be the sole coffee provider to the cafe, which will also serve light bites like flatbreads, pastries, sandwiches, and other health-conscious offerings. I personally am ready to try the “Little Beans, Big Dreams” signature coffee blend (but yes, there will eventually be some beer and wine for the adults as well).
Beth’s Bites
- ‘Tis the season for booze and candy pairings, and there’s no one I trust more than Karen Barnett at Ponce’s Mexican Restaurant to guide me on this journey. I’m eyeing the gummy bears with La Flaca, but I certainly wouldn’t turn down a Butterfinger with a Cadillac margarita.
- Say it with me—Board & Brew is finally coming to Mission Valley! The neighborhood is about to get a whole lot tastier. Also, the chain has been around for 45 years?! We love a sandwich success story.
- Lola 55, the Bib Gourmand-recognized taco shop in East Village, is opening its new concept, L55 Tacos, in Westfield UTC this weekend. Well, sort of. It’s technically a friends and family soft opening on Friday, November 1, but all I hear is tacos are coming…
- Goodbye, sweet sushi—Hive Sushi Lounge in East Village closed without warning earlier this week, taking with it the home of Omakase by Ambrely’s pop-up series. Chef Ambreley says she’s looking for a new location to relaunch her concept elsewhere, so drop her a DM if you have a lead.
Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to food@sdmag.com.
