About December 1, the back tower lobby space of The Westin San Diego at Columbia and C Streets opens as Esquires where judges, attorneys, jurors and the rest of us can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner. San Diego native Frank Terzoli, aka Frankie the Bull, who has cooked around the world, is the guy with the concept of a diner/deli for breakfast and lunch and chop house for dinner. Look for the bar to be a great gathering place for the downtown community.
In the same area, Jonathan Pflueger’s Currant American Brasserie opened in the recently redone Sofia Hotel (formerly Pickwick) with a menu of fresh seasonal food, American style, for lunch and dinner. Don’t be put off by the restaurant’s immediate neighbor–the Greyhound bus station–the area is also home to a Peet’s coffee and the court house. Buzz hasn’t had a chance to scope it out–have you?
Hillcrest is jumping these days as Zubin Desai, former general manager and sommelier at Blanca in Solana Beach, moves into the former Russo’s to open his restaurant, The Better Half that will feature American/French bistro fare to pair with half bottle wines. Expect a mid November opening. In the same block, Seasons 142 moved into the space that formerly housed Brazil on the Hill.
The popular Arrivederci will open a second location on 30thStreet in North Park just north of University Avenue and next door to coffee roaster and coffee house, Caffe Calabria, Buzz’s favorite place for a proper one ounce pull of espresso. A block south on 30th is Heaven Sent Desserts, and Urban Solace that opened for lunch and dinner with a menu of contemporary American comfort food served in a neighborhood setting. Another place Buzz has yet to experience.
I had a finger lickin’, napkin flickin’ bartender at Currant. This guy flung each cocktail napkin like a whirling dervish at each customer but not before licking his fingers each time. YUCK!!!!
Doesn’t he know that that is a health code violation YUCK!!!!!
YUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!