New, Now, Next: Dining Edition 2025

La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, home to The Marine Room and La Jolla Shores Hotel & Restaurant, has appointed Executive Chef Ananda Bareño to lead culinary programming at the beachfront resort. Bringing experience from top kitchens in Europe, South America, and the Middle East, as well as at Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas, Bareño now works alongside Director of Food & Beverage Amanda Cohen to oversee the development of the property’s dining concepts. New menu offerings include Tasmanian Ocean Trout with coconut salsa macha and cassis chayote; Rose Snapper with piperade and garden sorrel sauce; and a refined caviar service, featuring the “Perfect Caviar Bite” and a curated tasting of estate, reserve, and select roe. 

Lilo is the latest dining destination in SoCal from restaurateur John Resnick and Chef Eric Bost. Located along a vibrant stretch in Carlsbad Village where the duo also own and operate Campfire, Wildland, and the Michelin-starred Jeune et Jolie, Lilo is housed in the same building as Wildland, a former boogie board factory. The intimate, 22-seat restaurant offers a soulful 12-course tasting menu that traverses global seaside regions from California and beyond. Chef Bost combines his extensive fine dining background (having worked with Alain Ducasse and Guy Savoy) with the terroir of the California Coast, while enlisted Chef de Cuisine Dusan Todic (Jeune et Jolie) and Pastry Chef Madeline Biehl (SingleThread) further help to bring Lilo’s vision to life. Guests encircle an inviting open kitchen, which also allows for a sense of interactivity between diners and chefs.

Helmed by husband-and-wife owners Jeremy Simpson and Kirsten Potenza, Little Victory Wine Bar has debuted nearby on State Street in Carlsbad Village. Simpson worked alongside Chef Ori Menashe at Los Angeles landmark Bestia, where he served as Bar Manager when the Italian eatery garnered James Beard Award Nominations for “Best Chef “and “Best Restaurant.” More recently, he served as Beverage Director at Jeune et Jolie and Campfire. With Little Victory Wine Bar, Simpson offers a beverage program emphasizing hospitality and high quality within a warm space. Potenza, an international wellness entrepreneur, conceptualized every element of the bar’s aesthetic, collaborating with hospitality designer Ashley Hohmann and Workshop Valentino to bring a handcrafted intimacy to the space through custom millwork, furnishings, and vintage finds. Culinary direction is led by chefs Elliott and Kelly Townsend, another accomplished husband-and-wife duo whose culinary philosophy blends the sustainability ethos of the New Nordic movement with the agricultural bounty of Southern California. 

In Oceanside, a beloved local landmark is getting a fresh new groove. Jitters Coffee Pub, the city’s oldest coffee shop and a cherished gathering spot for nearly three decades, has unveiled a bold revitalization through a new partnership with culinary visionary Felix Alcaide of One Kitchen Collaborative and Grammy Award-winning musician and local resident Jason Mraz. This next chapter brings a fresh renovation, reimagined menu, and an expanded calendar of events. The new menu emphasizes high-quality, plant-forward offerings including a falafel burger and a rotating avocado toast featuring locally grown avocados. The Jitters Grand Opening Summer Bash will take place on July 12 from 12pm to 5pm, kicking off the upcoming full entertainment schedule that includes live music, comedy nights, DJ sets, workshops, Taco Tuesdays, and more. 

Culinary Dropout, a modern eatery known for its scratch-made dishes, inventive craft cocktails, and live music lineup, has opened a new location at the Del Mar Highlands Town Center, marketing the concept’s 14th outpost nationwide and its very first on the West Coast. Created by Arizona-based Fox Restaurant Concepts and nationally acclaimed restaurateur Sam Fox, menu highlights include Soft Pretzels & Provolone Fondue, 36-Hour Pork Ribs, Korean Style Ribeye Cap, and selections of sushi rolls.

Across the street at One Paseo, Jan’s Health Bar, the Southern California health-forward fast casual concept with a more than 50-year legacy, is bringing its fresh, simple, and nutritious menu to San Diego for the first time. The brand’s eighth location is slated to open at the beginning of the month, marking its first expansion outside of Orange County. From sandwiches and salads to smoothies and wellness-forward bowls and wraps, Jan’s offers a consistent menu of whole ingredient-based options. 

San Diego’s Pure Project Brewing continues to expand its product offerings in a collaboration with the world’s first Regenerative Organic Certified winery, Tablas Creek Vineyard of Paso Robles. Together, they have blended the first of their collaborative Pure Project Cuvées, a Provence-style dry rosé. The Pure Project Cuvée Rosé showcases the vineyard’s expertise in Rhône varietals and dedication to environmental sustainability. It is available by the glass and in bottles to go at all five of Pure Project’s taprooms in San Diego County.

Downtown, The Beau Hotel recently introduced its on-site restaurant and bar, The Bar at the Beau. Originally built in 1886 as the Leland Hotel, the hotel building later became the Beaumanor and even housed a secret speakeasy during Prohibition. Today, careful restoration honors the property’s rich history; the original 1886 bar remains, and the walls feature bricks sourced from Coronado’s PB&Y Company.The Bar at the Beau offers a full-day menu — from breakfast and midday bites to happy hour and dinner — centered around elevated American comfort food. Executive Chef Robin James leads the kitchen, bringing refined creativity to nostalgic favorites like Duck Pot Pie and Braised Pork Shank, alongside shareable plates such as Beef Cheek with crispy chickpeas and fresh Oysters on the Half Shell. 

Restaurateurs Jessica and Davin Waite — the minds behind Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub, The Plot, and Shootz Fish + Beer — invite diners back to where it all began. Hosted inside the original Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub on designated Monday and Tuesday nights through June 24 (act fast!), Waite & Sea is an intimate, boundary-pushing sushi bar experience curated by Chef Davin. The menu consists of 12+ courses designed to excite, inspire, and challenge diners. For those who crave it, a lively conversation will evolve around the tenets of sustainability featured in the meal, the reverence for cultural tradition embedded in the Waites’ ethos, and a rally cry for a bold new future of food. Part tasting menu, part food lab, Waite & Sea is a rebellious journey in a two-hour dining experience.

Incredible food meets live music every Thursday through Saturday at Amalfi Marina Bar at the Lakehouse Resort in San Marcos. Whether you’re a foodie craving wood-fired Italian dishes or a music lover chasing that perfect vibe, Amalfi is where the two collide, offering everything from smooth acoustic sets to high-energy performances. 

Tune in to NBC now through June 30 to watch Yes, Chef!, co-hosted by Martha Stewart and José Andrés. The cooking competition series puts 12 highly skilled chefs from around the country, including Resort Executive Chef Emily Brubaker of Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, through the ultimate test. Each episode ultimately leads to the crowning of that episode’s Most Valuable Chef, who then competes in a cook-off and will be given an important decision to make in the challenge that will have a significant impact on who will be eliminated from the competition that week.

This month, Cucina Urbana marks 16 years of community-driven hospitality and a story of reinvention, risk, and resilience in San Diego’s ever-evolving dining scene. Founded in 2009 by visionary restaurateur Tracy Borkum, Cucina Urbana was born in the wake of the financial crisis, when Borkum transformed Laurel restaurant, a successful pre-theater haunt she had operated since 2005, by gutting the space and starting fresh. She sold the furniture and ditched white tablecloths, replacing them with reclaimed wood, vintage finds, a retail-driven wine program, and rustic California-Italian fare. The concept took off and hasn’t slowed since. Cucina Urbana earned one of California’s first Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand awards in 2019 — an honor it still holds. To mark 16 years of staying power, all Cucina locations in San Diego and Orange County are offering a limited-time “Sweet 16 Anniversary Menu,” available Sunday through Wednesday throughout June, offered alongside the regular menu. Designed as a heartfelt thank-you to longtime guests, the à la carte menu offers signature throwbacks, new creations, and curated sips — all priced at $16 each.

A cross-border culinary experience is coming to La Jolla for one night only. On June 5, from 7 to 10pm, Chef Christophe Cevasco of Beeside Balcony and Chef Antonio Quindere of Valle Omakase and Japas will present Baja Meets Beeside, a collaborative seven-course tasting menu that will take guests’ tastebuds around the world. The progressive menu merges Cevasco’s refined Mediterranean sensibilities with Quindere’s boundary-pushing flavors. Designed for adventurous diners who trust in the chefs’ collective vision, the evening’s menu will be revealed course by course. Guests will also enjoy globally-inspired drink pairings, along with live music rounding out the experience.

Sip, savor, and support at the Encinitas Wine & Food Festival, celebrating its 22nd anniversary on June 7 from 4 to 7pm at Encinitas Ranch Golf Course, with the VIP event starting at 3pm. Enjoy tastings from 50+ local restaurants, wineries, breweries, and spirit vendors, and live music by Celeste Barbier. In partnership with Encinitas Rotary, proceeds support a wide array of local nonprofits focused on youth, education, the arts, environment, animal welfare, and community wellbeing.

Taste of Little Italy returns June 17 to 18 from 4 to 8pm, transforming Little Italy’s 48 square blocks into a dynamic culinary tour, offering a taste of the neighborhood’s most iconic and innovative dishes. Each evening presents a unique lineup of 20+ participating restaurants, ensuring guests can experience new flavors and fresh pairings on both nights. 

Returning June 20 to 21, California Wine Festival presents an unforgettable weekend of exclusive wines, gourmet cuisine, and vibrant coastal entertainment at Park Hyatt Aviara Resort Golf Club & Spa. Highlights include the Sunset Rare & Reserve Tasting on Friday, an intimate evening perfect for discerning wine enthusiasts. The elegant setting under the stars features live music and a silent auction benefiting local charities. The festivities continue Saturday with the vibrant Beachside Wine Festival on the resort’s Heron Lawn. Savor premium wines, craft beers, and gourmet culinary offerings while enjoying panoramic views of the rolling hills and Pacific Ocean. VIP guests gain early access at noon for exclusive reserve wines and additional gourmet delights.

San Diego Brewers Guild’s Fourth Annual SD Beer Weekend, a warmup to San Diego Beer Week in the fall, is scheduled for June 27 to 29. The weekend is highlighted by Rhythm & Brews, a live music and craft beer festival in downtown Vista, on June 28, from 1 to 4pm. More than 30 independent craft breweries will be serving unlimited tasters. SD Beer Weekend will also feature events at individual breweries throughout the county.

The Lodge at Torrey Pines brings back two acclaimed dinner series: Playing with Fire and Artisan Table Signature Wine Dinners. At the Playing with Fire Dinners, Executive Chef Kelli Crosson and Chef de Cuisine Ryan Dzierzawski step out of the kitchen and pair up with some of San Diego’s hottest chefs for this interactive outdoor grilling session. Hosted on The Grill at Torrey Pines’ patio overlooking the Torrey Pines Golf Course, each dinner will also feature craft brews to pair with the delectable woodfired dishes. The lineup includes: Chefs Nic Webber and Jacob Jordan of 24 Suns with Rincon Brewery (June 9); Chef Trey Foshee of George’s at the Cove, Chef Jason Knibb of Nine-Ten, and Chef Jeff Jackson, formerly of The Lodge at Torrey Pines, with Burgeon Beer Company (July 14); Chefs David Sim and Sydney Imlay of Kingfisher with Coronado Brewing Company (August 11); and Chef Drew Deckman of 31ThirtyOne and Deckman’s Restaurant Group with Latitude 33 Brewing (September 8).

At The Lodge’s monthly Artisan Table Signature Wine Dinner Series, guests will enjoy specially crafted communal meals paired with California’s finest wines. Set on the scenic terrace of The Lodge’s newly reopened A.R. Valentien following its renovation, each Signature Wine Dinner begins with a reception, followed by a custom multi-course dinner menu skillfully prepared by Chef Crosson to enhance the wine pairings. Throughout the evening, guests are guided on a sensory journey with insight from A.R. Valentien’s new sommelier Schuyler Munroe and a special guest from the featured winery. The lineup includes Hundred Acre Wines with special guest Dana Manison, Western Regional Manager (June 19); Far Niente Winery (Napa Valley) with special guest Bruce Mooers, President (July 17); Darioush Winery (Napa Valley) with special guest Roman Palumbo, National Sales Manager (August 21); and Patrimony Wines (Paso Robles) with a special guest Eryn Schnitzler, Luxury Sales Manager (September 18).

Chef Accursio Lota and his wife and business partner, Corinne Goria, who own six-year-old Cori Trattoria in North Park, will open their second restaurant, Dora, this fall.  Named in tribute to Lota’s grandmother, Dora is located steps from the La Jolla Playhouse and will serve elevated coastal Southern Italian cuisine in a space where performance, storytelling, and design converge. “Having worked next to the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, I’ve always been inspired by the energy and emotion of performing arts,” says Lota. “With this new concept, we’re excited to bring that same sense of occasion to La Jolla, offering guests a pre- or post-show meal that enriches the overall theater-going experience.” While the culinary vision is rooted in Sicilian coastal traditions, the space is being brought to life by Bells + Whistles, the acclaimed design studio led by visionaries Jason St. John and Barbara Rourke, known for shaping some of the West Coast’s most celebrated restaurants including Jeune et Jolie, Animae, and Starlite.