That’s exactly why Beau du Bois looked to CDMX’s culinary capital—the Roma Norte neighborhood—for the name and inspiration behind Roma Norte, Puesto’s brand-new 21+ bar concept at The Headquarters at Seaport Village, which officially opens Friday, July 26.  

Roma Norte’s sprawling interior spans 2,000 square feet, anchored with a moody dark brown marble bar and seating for 60. The vibe feels mysterious, yet charming, utilizing elements like rich velvet furniture, bronze accents, and antique mirrors for an ambiance inspired by Mexico City’s iconic architecture and melded with a modern San Diego feel.

It’s luxe. It’s intriguing. It’s super sexy, no doubt about it, and best experienced sans sunlight. “The meat and potatoes of its personality is after dark,” du Bois promises. From the moment you step inside, he wants you to feel immersed in the experience, starting with an oshibori hot towel service to start fresh, literally and figuratively. 

The superstar bar director is already the vice president of bar & spirits at Puesto and Marisi and has created award-winning cocktail programs at places like The Restaurant at Meadowood, the three Michelin-starred restaurant at the Meadowood Napa Valley resort. But he says he’s never created anything like Roma Norte before.

Working alongside director of bar logistics, Derek Cram, the final cocktail menu reads like the pages of a well-stamped passport. Nearly 70 unique drinks are divided between what they refer to as “Technique Driven” and “House,” plus four additional mocktails. Du Bois is already known for his Taco Truck cocktail, a riff on a Negroni using mezcal with Campari infused with cinnamon and pineapple. “For the opening of Roma Norte, we did an NA version of that which is really, surprisingly, very, very good,” he promises. 

Developing world-class cocktails with, and especially without alcohol, can be “an extreme challenge,” he says, but one that only helps hone the team’s skills and caters to the growing demand for equally balanced alcohol-free creations. “The tagline for Roma Norte is ‘every day is a school day,’ because we’re just constantly learning.”

Technique-driven dominates the menu, with selections like a Nitro Punch with mango, nitro-muddled hoja santa, lime and lemon juice, Champagne cordial, Park Pineau des Charentes, Macchu Pisco, and singani; or du Bois’ arguably most unexpected addition—his take on a rum and coke that’s perfectly clear. Made with milk-washed Bacardi 8 and Banks 7 rum, house-made cola, clarified lime cordial, and an ice spear, it’s definitely one that’ll use your eyes to fool your tongue. 

Even the House cocktails are anything but basic. From a banana daiquiri clarified using a centrifuge “the size of a Xerox printer” to the Rosetta with unaged apple brandy, milk cordial, and a whole bunch of other amazing sounding things, it’s clear that scientists and spirit lovers alike have something to look forward to. 

That emphasis on innovation in flavor, technique, execution, service, and even technology and equipment is something du Bois says will set his small team apart from anywhere else in San Diego. He admits he’s asking a lot of them, constantly pushing them to evolve, hone their understanding of chemistry, and experiment with unexpected tools (like said centrifuges). But after training at Roma Norte, “they’ll be in the top five percent of bartenders in the country, easily,” he claims. “These things have to be learned. They have to be demonstrated and shown, and it’s just not happening at this level, [with] this many cocktails, at any bar in San Diego.”

Although Roma Norte is a Puesto-adjacent project, don’t expect any overlap from the menu. Alongside du Bois’ concoctions are chef Erik Aronow’s creations, a collection of small plates specifically designed to go along with the star of the show—the drinks. Expect a few heartier plates like a carne crudo, a prime diced hanger steak with birria-spiced aioli, shimeji mushroom, and radish sprout, or the torta de Milanesa that features veal on a potato roll and topped with spicy cabbage, avocado, cilantro green chile aioli, and pickled onions. There’s plenty of seafood, too, like tostadas with scallops or yellowfin tuna specifically designed to be shared.

For the late-night crowd, Aronow has a few lighthearted bites like Flamin’ Hot Corn Nuts served with housemade crunchy hominy and a cheesy spice blend. Du Bois says that appealing to dinner and late-night crowds, as well as industry folks who get off work late at night is something he believes San Diego’s bar scene lacks, especially compared to Los Angeles, New York, and yes, Mexico City. “It’s just not a cocktail bar if you’re not open later in the evening,” he says. “That’s the DNA of a cocktail bar.” Is Roma Norte the answer? du Bois says yes. 

“From the moment you’re seated at Roma Norte, we’re taking you off the streets of San Diego and into the vibrant culture of Roma Norte,” he says. “We want Roma Norte to be a consistent option for people in San Diego to trust that it will be open until two in the morning.”

Roma Norte opens Friday, July 26 at 789 W Harbor Drive, Unit 155 in The Headquarters. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Reservations are available on Roma Norte’s website, OpenTable, and Sevenrooms. Adults 21 years old and up only.

The post First Look: Roma Norte Opening at Seaport Village appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Julien’s Auctions’ Spotlight Series: Harry Potter and Other Heroes

Comic-Con Museum | July 15-28

If you’re a collector, register for Julien’s Auctions’ Harry Potter and Other Heroes auction to get your hands on some one-of-a-kind swag, like signed superhero photos and props shipped straight from Hogwarts. Not in the mood to drop hundreds on an Ollivander’s wand? The Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park has the auction items exhibited from Monday, July 15 to Sunday, July 28. Admission is $25.

2131 Pan American Plaza, San Diego

Her Universe Fashion Show 2024

Manchester Grand Hyatt | July 25

Mattel is back at Comic-Con with their geek-chic Her Universe Fashion Show hosted by founder Ashley Eckstein and actor Michael James Scott. A lineup of 25 pre-selected designers will showcase their work, with two winners coming out at the end based on audience and judging panel decisions. And, of course, it couldn’t be a Comic-Con event without a giveaway on Mattel products, like UNO and Hot Wheels. The show starts at 6 p.m. at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, with first-come, first-serve seating.

1 Market Place, San Diego

Comic-Con 2024 Art Show

Manchester Grand Hyatt | July 25-28

If there’s one thing Comic-Con does well, it’s gathering creatives and giving them a chance to show off their work. The Comic-Con 2024 Art Show features artwork from professional and amateur artists. Exhibits include original sculptures, paintings, jewelry, drawings, and unique items for sales including some comics nominated for this year’s Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. The show is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

1 Market Place, San Diego

Cosplay Repair Station

San Diego Central Library | July 25 – 27

Even superheroes need to repair their costumes sometimes, and San Diego Central Library is opening a cosplay repair station to help. The library’s 4th floor will feature sewing supplies, adhesives, 3D printers, and more to help make your cosplay pop even more. There will also be comic-themed makes and photo ops at the station. For quick fixes on your costumes, the station will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

330 Park Blvd., San Diego

Stern Pinball Arcade 2024

Marriott Marquis and Marina | July 25 – 27

Brush up on your pinball skills at the Stern Pinball Arcade set up at the Marriott Marquis and Marina. Of the several machines to play on, Stern’s new Godzilla 70th Anniversary Premium Edition pinball machine will be available. The arcade will be open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

333 W Harbor Dr, San Diego

Abbott Elementary A.V.A. Fest

Fifth Avenue Landing | July 25 – 28

This is better than your kid’s school fairs. The Abbott Elementary A.V.A. Fest will house a carnival experience inspired by the series, with attractions like Mr. Johnson’s Closet of Curiosities and Principal Ava’s “Finest One In, First One Out” swing ride. There will also be a curated festival playlist by Questlove and hourly performances by the Philadelphia Eagles drumline. The pop-up will be open Thursday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Sunday from 9:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

600 Convention Way, San Diego

Petco Park Interactive Zone

Petco Park Parking Lot | July 25 – 27

Petco Park offers one of the best ways to enjoy Comic-Con without a badge. Head over to the stadium’s interactive zone for giveaways, activations, special fare as well as a look at the new Netflix series Exploding Kittens, based on the popular card game. The interactive zone will be open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

58 Eleventh Ave, San Diego

Adult Swim Pirate Parrrty on the Green

Fifth Avenue Landing | July 25 – 28

The best party for late-nite humor, Adult Swim is back this year from Thursday to Saturday for their Pirate Parrrty. Watch your favorite actors and characters get pummeled by wrestlers, view screenings for new series premieres, and witness Smiling Friends creators Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack do a live-drawing session. The first 1,000 attendees also receive an exclusive giveaway. The party will be from 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, with nightly entertainment from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday.

600 Convention Way, San Diego

DnD-Themed BIOBLITZ

Balboa Park’s Zoro Garden | July 26

Become a hero for nature with the EcoLogik Institute’s DnD BIOBLITZ event in Balboa Park. With this themed event, you’ll knock two activities off your list (looking at you, summer vacationers) and get a chance to explore the park and learn about San Diego’s science community. Fantasy cosplay is encouraged. The event will be held Friday, July 26 from 12 to 4 p.m. at Zoro Garden.

1875 El Prado, San Diego

The post 9 Comic-Con 2024 Experiences You Can Do Without a Badge appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Each year, Comic-Con puts the international spotlight on San Diego, drawing more than 150,000 visitors to our city. This year, Marvel is back with a panel, Game of Thrones returns, and Beetlejuice is all the rage again. It feels like I traveled back in time in the TARDIS. 

Other notable headliners include classic comic writer Mark Evanier, known for his work with comic-book legend Jack Kirby; Jim Lee, chief creative officer of DC Comics; graphic novelist Meggie Ramm, known for Batcat; and comic- and film-writer, J. Michael Straczynski. 

Whether you plan to camp out for the hottest panels at Hall H, craft an all-new cosplay costume, or simply enjoy the people-watching downtown, this guide will ensure you have a super time at Comic-Con 2024.

San Diego Comic-Con 2024 Details

When is San Diego Comic-Con 2024?

Comic-Con 2024 takes place from July 25 to July 28 at the San Diego Convention Center. 

Where do I pick up my Comic-Con 2024 badge?

If you registered for Comic-Con badges in advance, they are shipped 3-4 weeks prior to the event. If you haven’t received your badges in the mail, you can pick them up at the Sails Pavilion within the convention center. You’ll need a valid photo ID and proof of your badge confirmation. 

Can I still get tickets to San Diego Comic-Con 2024?

Unfortunately, badges for Comic-Con 2024 are sold out, but you can get a head-start on securing your 2025 Comic-Con badges by registering on the Comic-Con website. Open registration for Comic-Con 2025 begins in November. Mark your calendars now and make sure to mash your refresh button like the Flash.

How to get to San Diego Comic-Con?

If you’re able to soar through the sky like Superman, transportation during Comic-Con is a breeze. If you’re a mere mortal like the rest of us, transportation is your kryptonite. 

While limited parking is available downtown, ridesharing is highly recommended. A complimentary Comic-Con shuttle will stop throughout Mission Valley, downtown, and various hotels near Shelter and Harbor Island all weekend, arriving every 15 to 30 minutes depending on the time of day. Check the full schedule and map for the 2024 Comic-Con shuttle here.

Will there be road closures during Comic-Con 2024?

To accommodate the increase in pedestrian traffic during Comic-Con weekend, Harbor Drive will be closed from Wednesday July 24 to Sunday July 28. 

Harbor Drive Comic-Con Closure Times

• Wednesday – 2:00-10:00 p.m.
• Thursday – 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
• Friday – 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
• Saturday – 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m
• Sunday – 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

Where to eat at San Diego Comic-Con?

Yes! There are plenty of food and drink vendors within the convention center. The Comic-Con Hospitality Suite at the Marriott Marquis, exclusively for Comic-Con badgeholders, offers snacks, beverages, and an air-conditioned place to relax between panels and treks throughout the exhibition hall. The suite is open from 2 p.m. to 12 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. For more food recommendations, check out our 2024 Best Restaurants List. 

What are the most anticipated panels and exhibits at Comic-Con 2024?

Marvel Studios returns this year with a Hall H panel, likely promoting their upcoming film Deadpool & Wolverine, set to hit theaters July 26. Fingers-crossed that we see a special appearance by Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. 

Comic-Con visitors clamor to collect each year’s exclusive Funko Pops. This year the San Diego–based toy brand is set to return with an all new “Funko International Airport” booth experience. Additionally, Funko will host “Freddy’s Funtastic Voyage,” this year’s pirate-themed Funko Days, hosted at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Friday and Saturday. Tickets for this experience are free and can be reserved here. 

DreamWorks recently announced their 2024 panel promoting the animated show Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, expected to announce a second season. Warner Bros’ much-anticipated Beetlejuice sequel, set to hit theaters September 6, is speculated to have a presence this year. 

The official Comic-Con schedule will be published on July 11, so stay tuned for more updates. View the 2024 Exhibitor list here.

____________________________________________________________________________

San Diego Comic-Con Tips & Tricks

Stay in the Loop

The Comic-Con app is a valuable resource for viewing schedules, maps, and event alerts throughout the weekend. Follow Comic-Con on social media (@comic_con on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook) and unofficial experts like @SD_Comic_Con and @cinebeth. The Unofficial Comic-Con Blog also has a podcast, SD Con Cast, discussing news and updates each week leading up to the event.

Devise Your Master Plan

Comic-Con can be overwhelming and can feel like a time warp drive when you’re in the heart of the action. Use the Comic-Con app’s schedule function to create a plan for your weekend. Prioritize must-see exhibits and panels each day, and fill out your days with lower priority attractions as time allows.

Secure Your Loot

Free giveaways and merchandise on the exhibit floor go fast. Stock up on your must-have freebies first. Consider visiting merchandise booths at the end of the day to potentially score deals from vendors looking to deplete their stock with the added bonus of not hauling cumbersome plushies and figurines all day. 

Shield Your Soles

Regardless if you’re dressed as Furiosa or Moana, you’re going to want to protect your feet. In the exhibit hall, it’s common to have your toes stepped on over and over. Comfort is key, so wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes for standing and walking all day. Packing a bag with water, snacks, band-aids, an extra charger, and anything else you need to keep you your feet. 

Know the Exhibit Hall

The exhibit hall features massive booths from studios, interactive games, and plenty of smaller vendors. Make a list of the booths you most want to visit and map your route based on proximity. Having a shopping list will help you stay focused without getting overwhelmed, or in debt. 

Suit Up

Cosplaying is a huge part of Comic-Con. Prepare your costume and test it in sunny weather. San Diego temperatures in late July hover around the low 80s to high 70s which can cause makeup to run and ruin cosplay dreams. Bring safety pins, tape, and extra makeup in case disaster strikes. Consider emergency cosplay repair kits available online. Lastly, join various cosplay meetups during Comic-Con weekend to get your fill of photo opportunities. 

No Pass, No Problem

The Gaslamp Quarter transforms into a comic wonderland overnight with exhibits and pop-up events. Outside Comic-Con is a great resource for event updates outside of the exhibit halls including movie screenings, themed food and drink offerings, and pop-up events like last year’s Sonic the Hedgehog cafe or Adult Swim’s Festival on the Green. 

Recharge Your Power Levels

Whether it’s the heat, the smells, or the non-stop walking, it’s important to take breaks to avoid burnout. Visit the Marriott’s Hospitality Suite or Seaport Village, just north of the convention center, for bayfront views, restaurants, and a refreshing breeze. 

Take the Trolley In

Avoid driving downtown if possible. Most experienced Comic-Con–goers either take the complimentary shuttle or ride the trolley from outside downtown. 

The Magic of Comic-Con

Comic-Con’s spontaneity makes it special. Be open to discovering new artists or panels you knew nothing about. It’s great to have a plan, but be flexible and embrace unexpected discoveries.

The post Guide to San Diego Comic-Con 2024 appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

“The market’s saturated with breweries now, so people aren’t going to typically go out of their way to go to an industrial park to a brewery tasting room,” says Sean Haggerty, founder and head brewer of Protector Brewery, which opened in Miramar in 2017. 

When he and his wife/cofounder were looking for possible locations, he knew they had to go where people were, whether they be craft beer-savvy locals or curious tourists. As soon as the first-floor bayfront suite inside downtown’s 400-room InterContinental San Diego became available, he knew they had found the right spot. 

Haggerty says they won’t just cater to hotel guests. He wants to ensure they provide a great value to anyone who stops by. “We really want to give people a good deal,” he explains, offering 30 taps of their beer and guest drafts, wine, and thin-crust pizzas from their in-house pizza kitchen. “We’ve learned you kind of have to have it all.” Thanks to the clientele of international visitors to the hotel, he says they’ll also have plenty of local craft beer on draft, familiar brands from overseas, and even a few Lukr side-pull faucets for pilsners and lagers. 

Besides various brews, Haggerty says a big draw will be their bayfront views. Their 1,700-square-foot interior opens onto an additional 500 square feet of outdoor patio space with a fire pit and bay-facing belly-up bar with panoramic views of the water, which he promises are particularly stunning at sunset. It’ll also be a prime location to view the Big Bay Boom fireworks show on the 4th of July, which coincides with Protector’s planned grand opening celebration. 

1To commemorate the new space, Protector collaborated with Societe Brewing on The Hide Site IPA, an unfiltered American IPA. “A hide site is really just an observation point with natural vegetation,” explains Haggerty, a former Navy Seal sniper. 

The brand mixes its military history with a focus on nature and sustainability, which is why the brewery’s production facility in Miramar is 100 percent USDA-certified organic and runs fully on renewable energy. “It was about as hard to get an organic certificate as it was to get a top-secret security clearance in the military,” he laughs, an effort he says is worth it to meet their sustainability goals. 

During the soft opening phase, beverage service will be available starting this weekend, and Protector will launch the full food service at their grand opening on July 4. Haggerty says they don’t mind taking it slow and focusing on the little details. “We really want to do it right,” he says. “We’ve been in business since 2017, and have learned that to make great beer and to serve great beer, it’s a whole experience that customers will really be able to enjoy.”

Protector Brewing at BRIC soft opens tomorrow, Saturday, June 15, at 901 Bayfront Court, Suite 102. Hours will be 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily. 

San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events

The 44th Annual OB Street Fair & Chili Cookoff Returns

On Saturday, June 22, OB’s streets will be swarmed with hungry chili fans, music lovers, and probably more than a few hacky sackers during the 44th Annual OB Street Fair & Chili Cookoff. The festivities start at 10 a.m. and run until 8 p.m., including the world-famous (or at least regionally famous) Chili Competition with categories like the People’s Choice Award, Hottest Chili, and more. The event is free, but it’s $2 per chili entry of $25 to sample everything starting at 11 a.m. 

Beth’s Bites

• This week, both AYCE KBBQ favorite Taegukgi Korean BBQ in Kearny Mesa and Terra American Bistro on the edge of San Diego and La Mesa announced they’re closing their doors for good. One of my favorite pastimes was gorging myself at Taegukgi before hitting the lanes at Kearny Mesa Bowl, and now (sniff) both will only exist in my fond memories. I’ll never forget you, $30 beer tower!
• Coronado’s Little Frenchie has always been chock-full of cuteness, but they’ve managed to outdo themselves. This summer, they’re offering curated picnic baskets with bread, cheese, wine, and other non-negotiables for the ideal picnic outing. Don’t drink? No problem. The restaurant will even swap NA canned wines upon request.
• If ABC licenses are to be believed (and they usually don’t lie), then it looks like Mission Brewery is taking over all of Rough Draft Brewing Company’s locations, including their production facility in Miramar, at Sky Deck in Del Mar Highlands, and the UCSD pub. These will be Mission’s first expansions since taking over Kensington Brewery Company’s space in Kensington last year—big moves for the 17-year-old brewery!

Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].

The post Protector Brewery Opening At The InterContinental San Diego appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

He’s more than up for it—he estimates that during his time at Herringbone, they’d dish to 500 covers every Sunday. “It was crazy,” he laughs. But despite the breakneck pace of brunch, Mendoza has no interest in shifting back to dinner service, a realization he had in the early days of the pandemic.

From the window at Wayfarer, he’d watch people line up around the block for a chance to snag some of the best pastries in the country. Even during the strictest lockdowns, people still sought comfort in his creations. That’s not something he took lightly. Plus, he adds, when his work day ends at 1 p.m. instead of 1 a.m., there’s time to exercise, see friends, and make a meal. “Time is really valuable,” he says, which is why he spends his doing what brings him joy: baking. From the first scoops of flour to the final egg wash, “it just clicks,” he adds.

Knead will operate as a fast-casual bistro, featuring plenty of baked goods and some gluten-free items. (“Our gluten-free focaccia is really, really good,” he promises.) Initially, hours will run Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. to cater to the corporate crowd, but Mendoza says they haven’t ruled out weekend brunch in the future. Until they do start laying down Saturday waffles, he’ll probably be enjoying them on his own.

“I love brunch. [It’s] time you’re able to enjoy with your friends and family,” he says. “What better thing to do than go out and have breakfast together?”

The post Former Wayfarer Pastry Chef Opening New Bakery appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Here is everything to check out while exploring this cultural hub: 

East Village San Diego Restaurant and Bars

Callie

This highly praised Mediterranean restaurant nabbed the top spot on San Diego Magazine’s best restaurants list in both 2022 and 2023. With a Greek name translating to “the most beautiful,”  Callie sources local ingredients to lay down small plates, pasta, fish, and meat, including an oft-praised aleppo chicken.

1195 Island Avenue

The Invigatorium

Sip, devour, or savor next to the most unexpected collab of the century: Ronald Mcdonald and a fire-breathing dragon holding a sign declaring, “No breakfast tacos.” Don’t be frightened by the jarring décor featuring a golden disco ball, beachy vintage touches, and lots of dinosaurs—the menu of coffee, cocktails, and brunch bites will make you grateful you stepped foot into a mini Jurassic World. 

631 9th Avenue 

Bay City Brewing

Downtown offers a seemingly endless lineup of rooftop bars and restaurants all competing for who is the best. Bay City Brewing throws its hat in the ring with crazy happy hour specials: 50 percent off drinks Monday through Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. and 50 percent off your entire tab Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. Why choose between pulled pork sliders, baked wings, or poblano mac n’ cheese when you could order all three without breaking the bank?

627 8th Avenue 

Cowboy Star

Ready to question every vegetarian’s life choices? Head to Cowboy Star, where the open kitchen allows patrons to peek in on the chefs as they slice filet mignon, wood-fire elk, sear scallops, and drizzle on classic steakhouse sauces like bernaise and creamy horseradish. 

640 10th Avenue

Lola 55

Dine at Lola 55 for a more casual Mexican vibe and cheap eats with loads of flavor. Tacos are the star of the show here, from crispy fried fish and mole chicken to pork belly al pastor and tender carnitas. 

1290 F Street 

The Mission

The Mission ramps up its simple and hearty bistro dishes with artful plating. Head in for breakfast or lunch plates like lemon curd pancakes, sweet corn tamales, and tortilla soup, plus entire menus dedicated to vegan and gluten-free eaters.  

1250 J Street

Monzù Fresh Pasta

Dreaming of traveling to Italy to eat fresh pasta for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert? If a European escape isn’t in the cards in the near future, jet to Monzù instead, where husband-wife team Aldo de Dominicis Rotondi and Serena Romano bring Italy to the East Village with time-tested recipes for handmade pasta. 

455 10th Avenue

Sovereign Modern Thai Cuisine

Landing a spot on the Michelin Guide three years running, as well as a visit from Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins & Dives, Sovereign is serving up some of the best Thai food in San Diego. The restaurant incorporates techniques from Laos and Cambodia to create dishes like spicy fermented pork sausage, coconut curry noodles, and crispy duck confit. 

1460 J Street 

Cafe de L’Opera

Legend says you can smell this French bakery’s baked goods throughout the East Village. Set your alarm and roll up at opening time (7 a.m.) to get your hands on croissants and pastries fresh from the oven. The cafe also serves breakfast and lunch staples like sandwiches and quiche. 

910 J Street

Storyhouse Spirits

Storyhouse Spirits and I have one thing in common: the love of gabbing with friends, preferably with a delicious, fruity cocktail in hand. You’ll find small-batch spirits distilled in-house here, which enliven mixes like the Murder on the Dancefloor, made with beet-infused gin and pineapple run. Storyhouse offers food for humans and pets, too.

1220 J Street

Basic Bar & Pizza

Housed in a converted 1912 warehouse, Basic Bar & Pizza holds court as one of the only late-night eateries in downtown. By day, this restaurant serves pizza for visitors of all ages. As soon as the sun sets, it oversees a booming nightlife scene with art shows, private events, and some of San Diego’s hottest DJs. 

410 10th Avenue

Things to Do in East Village San Diego

Petco Park

The arrival of Petco Park in 2004 revolutionized the East Village, drawing the Padres, their fans, and many of the businesses that now serve them to the area. The venue (which also hosts concerts and other events) has one of the best stadium food situations in the country, with Puesto, Din Tai Fung, Grand Ole BBQ, and Hodad’s all slinging snacks here.

100 Park Boulevard

Quartyard

The people behind Quartyard decided to counter downtown’s dearth of backyards by building one for all of San Diego. This event venue and urban park constructed from repurposed shipping containers holds cultural events, outdoor concerts, street markets, and community activities.

1301 Market Street

East Village Tavern + Bowl

Since the dawn of time, families, friends, lovers, and enemies have been brought together (or torn apart) by rolling a ball to try and knock over various objects—a sport otherwise known as bowling. This modernized 12-lane alley is a hot spot where San Diegans come to bowl, eat, drink, and watch sports any day of the week. 

930 Market Street

Pinch

Get up close and personal with some wet clay to create a unique earthen cup that is sure to get visitors asking “Where did you get this?” the second you serve them a drink in it. Pinch’s intimate ceramics classes, taught by one of four instructors, are designed to allow you to move at your own pace.

937 E Street

Fault Line Park

This fun-sized park in the East Village features a kids’ playground and a few rounded sculptures that look like the love children of the spheres outside Target and The Bean in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Relax in the succulent garden here or walk along the paths that follow the curve of the Rose Canyon Fault system. 

1433 Island Avenue 

San Diego Central Library

The San Diego Central Library houses a 2.6-million-piece collection of books, films, magazines, baseball cards, and other items over nine stories. The massive, domed building that serves as the main branch of the San Diego public library system is perfect for studying, browsing, and quietly hanging out.

330 Park Boulevard 

East Village San Diego Shopping & Boutiques

Altered Decor

This Black women–owned small business helps folks spice up their spaces with decorations and scents. Splurge on a bunch of plants to bring some fresh greenery into your life, or check out the cards and other fun collectibles as the perfect gift for a loved one.

1227 J Street 

The Library Shop

Tucked inside the San Diego Central Library, this boutique shopping hub vends trinkets, doohickeys, and gifts galore. The best part of it all? You won’t feel an ounce of guilt for balling out on candles, pins, stickers, soaps, and, of course, books, because every penny goes right back towards the San Diego Library Foundation.

330 Park Boulevard 

Wotown Vintage

Skater boys and street-style lovers, this place is for you. Casual, masculine vintage clothes fill the walls at this small shop, making it the perfect place for those looking for edgier and oversized pieces to enhance any wardrobe. 

730 Market Street

Wild Dove Boutique

Adjacent to Wotown sits a more modern and feminine clothing store, specializing in day-to-night pieces you can rock at your 9-to-5 or out on the town. Stop here to shop floaty dresses, cozy sweaters, office-ready blazers, and laidback jeans at mid-range prices.

740 Market Street

Normal Records

This hole-in-the-wall record shop has jam-packed thousands of records into a closet-sized space, making each visit a treasure hunt for vinyl in a wide range of genres, including hip-hop, rock, electronic, metal, country, soul, and blues. 

550 15th Street

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Sure, there’s a 20-foot mural of a giant cartoon robot above the bar. He appears to be attempting flotation therapy, doing a lazy backstroke among naval ships and 400-foot koi fish. There are also a few colorful toys in a trophy case at the host’s station. But when you name your restaurant “Animae”—in honor of the wildly inventive and occasionally disturbing tradition of Japanese animation—I don’t think it’s unreasonable to demand that I be overstimulated, amused, and terrified. Instead, I just felt sexy.

Well, at least the pork tomahawk is terrifying and phenomenal.

Pork tomahawk (left); whole fried snapper (center); pork belly and calamari (bottom right)

Photo Credit: James Tran and Olivia Beall

Animae is the new $5.5 million project from Puffer Malarkey, the partnership of operations man and designer Chris Puffer and chef Brian Malarkey, the latter known nationally for his recurring role on Top Chef. After Malarkey’s breakthrough restaurant Searsucker was sold to Hakkasan, he and Puffer put everything they had into the massive Herb & Wood in Little Italy and, well, it jackpotted. It’s an excellent, grand thing, and continues to spit out coins for everyone involved. That spawned Farmer & the Seahorse, Herb & Sea, and now this.

Success draws talented people who also enjoy doing well in life. So longtime Cucina Urbana chef Joe Magnanelli defected to Animae, as did accomplished drinks man and GM Lucien Conner (formerly of Puesto). They’re partners, not just employees. Everyone has a stake in this game, is incentivized to excel. You can feel it.

Your search for reasonable parking will be mocked by this corner of Broadway and Pacific Highway. A night’s budget for dinner at Animae will not be small and will most likely include $12–$15 to the Ace Parking valet (before tip).

The restaurant is the ground-floor attraction of Pacific Gate by Bosa, the ultra-luxury condo development on the embarcadero. This part of downtown is where all the new pretty things are being built (including a $2 billion redevelopment of the waterfront), but much of it is still a ways off. Animae is an early adopter, with a well-known brand but little to no foot traffic. Judging by the jampacked Friday night crowd—all in advanced stages of wealth accumulation—Animae doesn’t need it.

Animae’s spin on a dirty martini

James Tran and Olivia Beall

Animae is fully self-aware, intentionally inauthentic Asian food. Before you think that’s a bad thing, let me suggest that authenticity is one of the food world’s dumber demands. The idea that two accomplished chefs named Joe and Brian shouldn’t cook tom yum mushrooms (the major flavors of the Thai soup—lemongrass, lime leaf, onion, and garlic—sautéed and deliciously absorbed into hoji, king, and maitake mushrooms) is about as low-rent and insulting as suggesting a great Thai chef should not cook cioppino. One of the best cheeseburgers I’ve ever eaten was made by a Korean chef who’d never cooked a cheeseburger before.

So, at Animae you get creations like “butter dumplings,” traditional Asian soup dumplings (xiao long bao) filled with escargot and browned butter over a Wagyu carpaccio and a frico (cheese crisp). It’s French food in a Chinese handbag. Browned butter—cooked low and slow until the milk solids caramelize and develop an intoxicating nuttiness—would make mossy river rocks taste delicious. The dumpling is thicker and tougher than traditional bao (it eats like al dente pasta), and that’s probably not their ideal result. But the flavors, abnormal bedfellows though they may be, really sing. You get elotes (Mexican street corn) tossed with housemade kimchi that’s been pureed in aioli, using Japanese togarashi seasoning (chiles, orange peel, sesame seeds, ginger, seaweed) with pickled jicama and Cotija cheese. Be sure to mix it all up. We used to call this kind of thing “fusion,” but in today’s modern, globalized food culture we just call it food.

Xiao long bao filled with escargot and served atop Wagyu beef carpaccio

James Tran and Olivia Beall

Every detail in Animae seems obsessed over. Maybe it’s because the restaurant was delayed so long. (Getting a restaurant finished on time has become a cliché joke, and I’m not going to point fingers… but it’s the city’s fault.) The dirty martini, for instance: Instead of plain old olive juice, they start with dry vermouth and add koji (fermented rice), miso, furikake, dried mushrooms, black pepper, soy sauce, and a touch of Laphroaig scotch for smokiness. The result is a more interesting and delicious cocktail, even if it’s not a dirty martini.

The crab hand rolls are very good, tossed with Madras curry and Kewpie mayo (Japanese mayo, the chef’s mayo, amazing, partially because of MSG), topped with uni, shiso leaves, radish, and crunchy garlic. But it’s the chili garlic ponzu sauce that’s real wizardry. Pour it everywhere, drink it, write it poems. Then order the roasted duck bao buns. You know these by now. The Chinese figured out how to make bread clouds, because they’re Chinese and they’ve been baking bread longer than anyone. The buns are whiter than brand-new veneers. Eating them is a form of ASMR, and Animae makes theirs using duck fat, then adds maple-miso sauce, blue cheese, and persimmon.

Mushrooms cooked with the flavors of tom yum soup and topped with burrata

James Tran and Olivia Beall

The menu has high-end cuisine and dishes that taste like some of the best Asian takeout you’ve had. On the high end, the pork tomahawk is obscene. Juicy marinated pork cubes (loin and belly) are sliced, winding, serpentine, around the plate like some carnivorous hieroglyph. It’s marinated in koji (which gives proteins a sweet, funky umami), drizzled with Madras curry sauce, and sprinkled with fennel pollen. Do not order this massive plate for yourself, unless you are struggling emotionally and need to put those feelings somewhere, or are an offensive lineman. It’s a gaudy retort (really, enough meat for four people) to any plant-based resolutions you may have made in the new year. And it’s worth it.

For more Asian takeout vibes, try the pork belly and calamari. The belly is cured and slow roasted, the calamari is both sautéed clean and deep fried, and it’s rested on egg noodles with yuzu (Japanese citrus) in the dough. Or the fried rice, a Niigata meets Baton Rouge idea, loaded with ham hocks and mustard greens, the rice seasoned with tare (a thick Japanese sauce with miso, mirin, koji, ginger, soy), topped with a fried egg and crispy fried rice tossed with tender rice for texture.

Animae’s entrance on Pacific Highway

Photo Credit: James Tran and Olivia Beall

The only dish we don’t truly enjoy is the one that’s generated the most buzz: the brothless ramen. Chef Magnanelli spent the last decade helming a successful Italian restaurant and this is ramen as a spartan pasta dish. The broth is reduced until there’s nothing left, all the flavor absorbed into the noodles. The problem is the nori (seaweed). While jammed with umami, seaweed is, at the end of the day, ocean weed. If you truly love the taste of nori snacks (they sell them at Costco now, so many of us do), you may enjoy it. I personally love nori, but without a broth to spread its umami gospel (and tone it down), it bullies the other ingredients.

But honestly, that’s the only real miss of our 15 dishes over two nights. And even if you don’t enjoy eating it, anyone can be excited by the idea of a brothless ramen. And a major reason we dine at restaurants like Animae is to taste new ideas. We don’t pay $15 to a restaurant valet to have our expectations met. We pay it to develop new ones.

Malasadas, Portuguese donuts, are served with green curry ice cream.

Photo Credit: James Tran and Olivia Beall

Oh, and for dessert, order the malasadas, soft doughy donuts filled with coconut cream, tossed in a mixture of coffee grounds, sugar, and sea salt, and paired with green curry ice cream (yes, ice cream with lemongrass, lime leaf, galangal, and Thai chile—amazing).

I still want more neon and stunted adolescent weirdness in a restaurant named Animae, but it’s a hell of a restaurant.

The post Chefs Brian Malarkey and Joe Magnanelli Take Fusion to a New Level at Animae appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Taste of Downtown

Where: East Village, City Center, and the Gaslamp Quarter

When: Sept. 13, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Downtown San Diego has far too many eateries to explore at once. The next closest thing to doing that is the Taste of Downtown, a four-hour extravaganza of sample bites from 40 restaurants. Tickets ($40, day of) include free shuttle service around the participating areas. Among the eateries are names like McFadden’s, Gaslamp BBQ, Ciros Pizza, Café Sevilla, Monzu Fresh Pasta, Gaslamp Fish House, Gourmet India and plenty more.

Taste of South Park

Where: South Park at Fern St.

When: Sept. 15, noon to 4 p.m.

Take yourself on a tasting tour of some of South Park’s—and San Diego’s—most notable eateries. Ticketholders will be given a map to 20 participating restaurants, including Buona Forchetta, Kindred, The Rose Wine Bar, Cafe Madeleine, Communal Coffee, and Mariscos Nine Seas. The event is for all ages and limited to 400 people. Purchase tickets here.

Two Food Festivals You Won’t Want to Miss in September

The Daily Scoop is among the participating locations in Taste of South Park

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Michelin-starred, James Beard “Tastemaker” Michael Bao Huynh will head up Sovereign Kitchen + Bar, a new modern Vietnamese restaurant in the Gaslamp. Restaurateur Alex Thao (Rama, Saja Korean Kitchen, Lucky Liu’s) tapped Huynh for the concept, which is slated to take over the marquee corner spot at 5th and Island formerly occupied by Royal Thai Cuisine (467 Fifth Ave.). It’ll be the first and only Vietnamese restaurant in Downtown San Diego outside of pho noodle joints—located right next to the incoming $100-million Pendry Hotel.

Huynh grew up in Saigon and learned to cook at the side of his mother. The family fled Vietnam by boat in 1982 and were rescued from open waters by the USS Midway, now stationed in San Diego. Once landed in New York, he changed his name to Michael (in homage to Michael Jackson), and eventually opened a series of restaurants in New York—Baoguette, Bao 111, Mai House, Bia, Pho Sure, etc.—becoming one of the city’s top names in Vietnamese food.

In a New York Times article five years ago, Huynh was criticized by his former business partners for opening too many places and then moving on. I ask Thao about the chef’s commitment. “He’s committed for at least a year,” he says.

So for a year, at least, Downtown San Diego will get its first real-deal Vietnamese restaurant from one of the top Vietnamese chefs in the world. Not bad news by any means.

Expect some of Hyung’s signature dishes that made him famous in New York (including a two-star review and “Best New Restaurant” nod from former Times critic, Frank Bruni), plus new ideas—like organic chicken clay pot with quail eggs, ginger and caramel; crispy sweet and sour red snapper; BBQ short rib on lemongrass skewer; or his well-loved yucca waffle made with coconut and salted caramel ice cream.

The expected opening date is January 2015.

INCOMING: Sovereign

The post INCOMING: Sovereign appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Michelin-starred, James Beard “Tastemaker” Michael Bao Huynh will head up Sovereign Kitchen + Bar, a new modern Vietnamese restaurant in the Gaslamp. Restaurateur Alex Thao (Rama, Saja Korean Kitchen, Lucky Liu’s) tapped Huynh for the concept, which is slated to take over the marquee corner spot at 5th and Island formerly occupied by Royal Thai Cuisine (467 Fifth Ave.). It’ll be the first and only Vietnamese restaurant in Downtown San Diego outside of pho noodle joints—located right next to the incoming $100-million Pendry Hotel.

Huynh grew up in Saigon and learned to cook at the side of his mother. The family fled Vietnam by boat in 1982 and were rescued from open waters by the USS Midway, now stationed in San Diego. Once landed in New York, he changed his name to Michael (in homage to Michael Jackson), and eventually opened a series of restaurants in New York—Baoguette, Bao 111, Mai House, Bia, Pho Sure, etc.—becoming one of the city’s top names in Vietnamese food.

In a New York Times article five years ago, Huynh was criticized by his former business partners for opening too many places and then moving on. I ask Thao about the chef’s commitment. “He’s committed for at least a year,” he says.

So for a year, at least, Downtown San Diego will get its first real-deal Vietnamese restaurant from one of the top Vietnamese chefs in the world. Not bad news by any means.

Expect some of Hyung’s signature dishes that made him famous in New York (including a two-star review and “Best New Restaurant” nod from former Times critic, Frank Bruni), plus new ideas—like organic chicken clay pot with quail eggs, ginger and caramel; crispy sweet and sour red snapper; BBQ short rib on lemongrass skewer; or his well-loved yucca waffle made with coconut and salted caramel ice cream.

The expected opening date is January 2015.

INCOMING: Sovereign

The post INCOMING: Sovereign appeared first on San Diego Magazine.