Where Now

SPRING FALL

DINING DINING

Cali Meets Italy

Taking over the space formerly housing Searsucker, Tao Group Hospitality welcomes you to LAVO San Diego— a refined restaurant and bar serving Cali-Italian cuisine—infusing traditional Italian recipes with local, seasonal ingredients. The spacious, light-filled corner venue boasts 15-foot ceilings, an open kitchen, a wraparound bar, olive trees, antique wood floors, luxe banquettes, artwork by Peter Tunney and a sidewalk dining patio. The menu—created by Tao’s chief culinary officer Ralph Scamardella—offers brick-oven pizzas, house-made pastas, fritto misto (pictured), Old World wines and inventive cocktails. “The Meatball” is a must; weighing in at one full pound, this famous dish comprises a wagyu meatball served with marinara sauce and freshly whipped ricotta. Just be sure to save room for the Nutella budino and 20-layer chocolate cake. (Rumor has it that chocolate devil’s food cake, peanut butter and mascarpone are involved.) 611 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter, 619.762.5286

The remodeled Mediterranean Room at La Valencia

Mediterranean Makeover

Celebrating its 95th anniversary this year, La Valencia Hotel has revamped its signature restaurant, The Med, into the Mediterranean Room. The remodel features an elegant Mediterranean villa-inspired design and panoramic cove and ocean views. Executive chef Fabian Aceves’ dinner menu is a study in exceptional, seasonal coastal fare. Tapas-style starters include clams and guanciale, shawarma-spiced octopus and sunchoke-heirloom-tomato bisque. Carnivores will swoon over the 14-ounce ribeye entree; while vegetarians will love the roasted vadouvan carrots with feta, almonds, pomegranate, dill yogurt, mint and lentils. And pop by Patio Sol; the prime space along Prospect Street has been transformed into a lounge serving the hotel’s signature libations—featuring expanded patio dining as well. 1132 Prospect St., La Jolla, 855.476.6870

BAJA TO THE BAY

Inspired by a classic Pacific Coast Highway road trip, Hudson & Nash is the latest culinary outpost at Hilton San Diego Bayfront. The waterfront restaurant focuses on regional California fare—from as far south as Baja to as far north as the Bay Area—for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Choose from locally sourced seafood dishes, salads, burritos, pizzas and “big plates” like the whole fish taco. Try the Mexicali Burrito for breakfast; the Barrio Logan pizza with tomatobraised-chicken tinga for lunch; and the striped bass with pozole verde for dinner. We also suggest the Fog City clam chowder, smoked swordfish dip, and Parker House rolls with Old Bay butter. To drink: craft beers from local breweries, regionally inspired cocktails, and wines from vintners across the Golden State. Modern, beachy-chic decor, spacious indoor/ outdoor seating and San Diego Bay views complete the coastal road-trip experience. 1 Park Blvd., South Embarcadero, 619.564.3333

The Julian Apple Old Fashioned at Hudson & Nash

WHERE NOW

FALL

ARTS + CULTURE

Artsy Attractions

From New Exhibits to Remodels to Retail Therapy, These San Diego Museums Offer Sights to Behold

DID YOU KNOW that the character created by Marvel’s Stan Lee and Steve Ditko first came to life in 1962? Sharpen your “Spidey sense” at the new exhibit at Comic-Con Museum: Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing—The Exhibition, celebrating 60 years of the legendary web-slinging superhero. The 60-minute, immersive experience features large character photo stations, including a life-size, upside-down Spider-Man; never-before-seen, original comic art; movie props showing Spidey’s evolution into a global icon; and much more. Entry to the exhibit, which is open to all ages, is priced from $18 and includes access to the entire museum. 2131 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park, 619.546.9073

After a two-year closure and $3 million renovation, the Timken Museum of Art has reopened in all its original, midcentury-modern architectural glory. First opened

Clockwise from opposite: Spider-Man graphics at Comic-Con Museum; Carmen Argote’s exhibit at MCASD Downtown; Head of a Woman by Pablo Picasso at San Diego Museum of Art; Salomé by Ella Ferris Pell at Timken Museum of Art; Men Seldom Make Passes at Girls Who Wear Glasses by artist Alexis Smith at MCASD La Jolla.

in 1965, the 10,400-squarefoot museum houses the Putnam Foundation’s collection of Byzantine art, including exquisite Russian religious paintings; plus a rare Rembrandt on public display. To celebrate its reopening, the museum has unveiled two new additions to its permanent collection: Bust of Eve by sculptor Thomas Ball; and Salomé by painter Ella Ferris Pell. 1500 El Prado, Balboa Park, 619.239.5548

The reopened Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) Downtown debuts three exhibits, all on view through Oct. 23: Carmen Argote: Filtration System for a Process-Based Practice, featuring works by Los Angeles-rooted artist Carmen Argote; The Reason for the Neutron Bomb, with works by Chris Burden and Byron Kim; and Figurative Vocabularies: Recent Acquisitions from the Collection, showcasing MCASD’s newly acquired works. The exhibits mark the return of MCASD’s joint exhibition program with its renovated MCASD La Jolla campus—the first time in four years. 1100 Kettner Blvd., downtown, 858.454.3541

Speaking of MCASD La Jolla, have you visited the campus since it reopened in April 2022? After closing for four years to undergo an ambitious $105 million expansion, MCASD’s oceanfront flagship has doubled in size to more than 104,000 square feet—boasting four times more gallery space, a public park and new outdoor terraces. In addition to its stellar exhibits, The Shop at MCASD is a must-visit. The 800-square-foot space greets visitors as they enter Browar Lobby—housing unique retail items reflective of the museum’s exhibitions and permanent collection; as well as its prime coastal location and surrounding SoCal lifestyle. Peruse exquisite handmade earrings, hand-painted scarves, custom-painted vintage skateboard decks, artist-inspired beach towels, specialedition surfboards, gifts and more. Essentially every item is a work of art. 700 Prospect St., La Jolla, 858.454.3541

Remembered as the co-founder of Cubism and famous for his abstract paintings, Pablo Picasso (18811973) was also an accomplished sculptor, ceramicist, draftsman and printmaker. Get to know another side of the celebrated Spanish artist in Picasso: Drawings and Prints, on view through next January at San Diego Museum of Art. The exhibit comprises 17 works on paper and a ceramic piece by Picasso; as well as an ink drawing by French artist Henri Matisse. All works featured are from the museum’s permanent collection. 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, 619.232.7931

PLEASANT SURPRISES

Among Our Favorite Fall Food Finds, These Quaint Outposts Offer Unexpected Delights

by SARAH DAOUST

From Caribbean cuisine in Little Italy, to burgers by the beach in La Jolla, to confections in Coronado, we’ve rounded up an eclectic mix of both new restaurants and established local gems with new reasons to visit—all inviting you to step out of your culinary comfort zone this fall. The rewards are delicious.

| Coco Maya | Be transported to the tropics without leaving Little Italy. Think of Coco Maya as the more sophisticated sibling to the popular Miss B’s Coconut Club in Mission Beach—centered on locally sourced, Yucatán-inspired cuisine. Grind & Prosper Hospitality’s new outpost is an airy, indoor/outdoor respite—with plenty of shaded alfresco dining, muted turquoise accents, walls lined with Latin American-inspired artwork and pottery, lush greenery, and macramé-fringed umbrellas. We’d call it “modern Caribbean chic.” On the daily brunch menu: a selection of bokits, stuffed fry bread from the French Islands of Guadeloupe; Jamaican Saturday soup; Steak Empanizado; and cocktails such as the Morning Trap Mojito and Frozen Caribe Coffee with spiced rum. Come back for dinner and try the smashed cucumber salad; young coconut aguachile; and Cochinita Pibil, marinated suckling pig wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in a clay pot, with a side of grilled plantains. 1660 India St., Little Italy, 619.848.7414

| The Cottage Encinitas | The La Jolla Village brunch institution of 30 years has a new sister. Welcome to The Cottage Encinitas—a quaint “breakfast to lunch” cafe by owner Jason Peaslee, serving SoCal comfort cuisine by executive chef Paolo Chan. Indulge in hearty plates fresh from the griddle: lemon-curd-stuffed brioche French toast with fresh berries; cinnamon-swirl buttermilk pancakes; and lemon-ricotta pancakes. Or choose from an array of omelets, Benedicts, hashes and scrambles; as well as classics such as the Morning Glory sandwich with a fried egg, bacon, smoked gouda and lemon aioli on sourdough. Must-try lunch dishes (exclusive to Encinitas): the leg of lamb sandwich and the cauliflower and red lentil curry. 127 N. El Camino Real, Suite H, Encinitas, 760.854.4212 | Jeffs’ Beach Burgers | Jeff Jacobs, owner of Rancho Valencia Resort, loves a good burger by the beach— so much so that he opened his own burger bar near his La Jolla Shores home. (In fact, if you notice the apostrophe placement in the business name, two Jeffs are actually involved. Jacobs and his business partner Jeffrey Essakow grew up eating at the original Jeff’s Burgers, which closed after 40 years in business.) The menu is straightforward and tasty—featuring a quarter-pound hamburger or cheeseburger, a veggie burger and the half-pound El Jefe burger. A grilled chicken sandwich and hot dog are also available; plus a kids menu; sides like curly fries and onion rings; and milkshakes (try the Jeff’s Bubblegum Shake). And be on the lookout for the adorable pink Jeffs’ mini-truck tooling around town and making special burger deliveries to the beach. 2134 Avenida de la Playa, La Jolla, 888.535.2227

Tacos at Tahona. Opposite: the private-label Bellissimo Chianti at Cesarina.

Vegan linguine, polenta and Insalata Russa at Civico 1845. Opposite: earthymod decor at Craft House; the Tiger Uppercut cocktail at Coco Maya.

| Cesarina | Known for its delectable build-your-own pasta bowls and full vegan menu, the neighborhood trattoria offers seasonal dishes inspired by chef Cesarina Mezzoni’s ongoing travels. Recent dishes have included the prosciutto and melon salad, fig-glazed octopus, and pappardelle with tomato-braised pork shoulder. To drink, try the Lo Spritz Granat and Parenti Serpenti cocktails; or the Bellissimo Chianti—Cesarina’s first private-label wine. Enjoy all inside the bistro-style dining room or on the dog-friendly garden patio. 4161 Voltaire St., Point Loma, 619.226.6222

| Civico 1845 | Cooking Calabrian cuisine for carnivores and vegans alike, Civico 1845 opened in 2015 as the first U.S. restaurant to offer a full vegan Italian menu. Now co-owner and executive chef Pietro Gallo has upped the ante even more—recently debuting a brand-new plant-based menu, incorporating the latest cooking techniques and flavors from his travels. New dishes include vegan risotto, polenta and linguine al verde; along with Cecina, a rich, omeletstyle appetizer; and Zabaglione, a custard-like Italian dessert. 1845 India St., Little Italy, 619.431.5990

| Tahona | After a two-year hiatus, weekend brunch is back at Tahona. The Old Town outpost is well known for its extensive inventory of mezcals, Oaxacan-inspired seasonal dishes, and tacos with hand-pressed tortillas. Brunch dishes by chef Adrian Villareal include the smoked adobada turkey burrito; the Spanish frittata with Iberico chorizo; and the vegetarian Green Goodness taco with grilled nopal, leeks and greens on a Tehachapi Heritage Grain Project tortilla. Grab a seat on the quaint street-side patio for a side of fun people-watching. 2414 San Diego Ave., Old Town, 619.255.2090

| Parfait Paris Coronado | Offering a true patisserie experience, Parfait Paris has opened a new locale at Coronado Ferry Landing. The family-operated bakery owned by Guillaume and Ludivine Ryon is known for its house-made desserts, pastries, macarons, cakes, croissants and specialty confections. The menu also features coffee drinks, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, quiches and more. Go for the Quiche Lorraine with French-imported cheddar and Jack cheese; and the San Daniele Croissant with prosciutto, brie, fried eggs and fig jam. 1201 First St., #104, Coronado, 619.819.7694

| Birdseye | Eat, drink and be merry by the beach at Birdseye: the Cormorant Boutique Hotel’s new ocean-view rooftop bar and restaurant, which recently launched a new brunch menu. Indulge in dishes such as the shrimp frittata, salmon Benedict, pineapple pancakes, chilaquiles and octopus tacos; plus wine, beer and craft cocktails. The mod, open-air space features artdeco accents and a palm-tree-lined view of the Pacific. 1110 Prospect St., La Jolla, 858.203.3565

| The Plot | Founded by Jessica and Davin Waite, this entirely plantbased eatery crafts delicious vegan dishes with nearly zero waste— growing most of its ingredients on the property. The Plot recently launched its newest offering: lunch. On the menu: vegan tacos, sandos, burgers and chorizo burritos; plus salads, sides and desserts. The Lerm Burger is tasty; its patty is made with black beans, sweet potatoes, oats and Lion’s Mane mushrooms— loaded into an oat-milk bread bun. Add a side of sweet potato fries with “cheesy” truffle sauce. 1733 S. Coast Hwy., Oceanside, 442.266.8200

| Craft House | This casual-cool hangout at the Sky Deck at Del Mar Highlands Town Center is a gem—serving New American cuisine infused with Mexican flavors. Sample dishes such as the Oaxacan-braised short ribs with mole; charred octopus with pistachio pesto; whole-grilled branzino; handcrafted “Monster Burgers;” and an herb-butter tomahawk steak. Or grab a seat around the low-lit bar for a specialty cocktail like the Tamarind Painkiller. 12841 El Camino Real, Del Mar, 858.925.7067