Wide, wide open
• Denver-based Smashburger opened here last week, bringing its 100 percent certified Angus beef patties, raft of Häagen-Dazs shakes and roster of local microbrews to burger-loving San Diegans. Because man doesn’t live by burgers alone, this fast-casual eatery also serves Smashdogs, Smashsalads and Smashchicken sandwiches.
1000 Prospect St., La Jolla; smashburger.com
• Owner Carlos De Narvarez and chef Kevin Cedillo have opened SOHO Restaurant, bringing a mix of Southern food with South American influences to North Park. Fried cactus and surf and turf bone marrow patties, anyone?
3025 El Cajon Blvd.; (619) 764-5475.
• Canapés is now offering a small-plate culinary experience with more than 30 bites from around the world and 120 wines and beers.
1032 W. San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos; (760) 510-2088.
• Barona Resort & Casino is now dishing up Mexican fare, including tamales and ceviche, at El Rancho Grande Restaurante in the space formerly occupied by the resort’s signature steakhouse. (Barona Steakhouse has moved into roomier digs next to the new Italian Cucina and Seafood Plaza restaurants.)
1932 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside; (619) 443-2300.
• Red Velvet Wine Bar is up and pouring.
750 W. Fir St. Suite 101, Little Italy; (619) 733-9181.
• The Smoking Goat and Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef Frederick Piehl are dishing up a French-inspired menu, including Burger on Brioche, Steak au Poivre and Duck Fat Truffle Fries.
3408 30th St., North Park; (619) 955-5295.
• Lady Lasagna — offering 10 lasagna varieties a day, including seafood and vegetarian — has opened its flagship store.
10585 Scripps Poway Parkway, Suite D. Call: (858) 271-1144.
Coming attractions
• Patrick Ponsaty, chef supreme of Mistral at Loews Coronado Bay Resort, has partnered with the owners of Vagabond to create Café Madeleine. While he won’t be doing the cooking, Ponsaty has created the menu for this French creperie, featuring sweet and savory crepes, panini, salads, desserts, coffees and teas. A planned mid-March opening has been pushed to April.
30th and Juniper streets, South Park.
• Fans of Isabel Cruz (Isabel’s Cantina in P.B., Coffee Cup in L.J. and Seaside Cantina in P.B.) can cheer olé for her newest venture, Barrio Star, in Bankers Hill. The authentic Mexican eatery features tamales, healthy options and décor by a local tattoo artist.
2706 Fifth Ave., Bankers Hill, isabelscantina.com.
• The talents behind Whisknladle and Prepkitchen in La Jolla are flexing their culinary muscle with plans to open a second Prepkitchen this summer in Del Mar. The new location will be larger than its La Jolla forebear and will feature a full dining room, patio seating and the same seasonal menu items.
12th Street and Camino Del Mar, Del Mar.
• Con Pane Rustic Breads & Cafe (the makers of killer sammies and a pretty wicked Rosemary Olive Oil loaf) are moving into more spacious quarters in Liberty Station this June. The relocation from their current spot in Roseville will double their space.
2750 Dewey Road, Point Loma
Morsels
• David Abella, former exec chef at Roy’s La Jolla, has started Ate-Comfort-Cuisine,cq a new gourmet comfort food business in which he cooks a different dinner entrée every day and delivers it to homes or offices for $10 a portion. A recent Monday night had Abella whipping up roast chicken with polenta. Check out www.atecomfort.com.
• Beginning April 3 and continuing the first Saturday of every month through the summer, Saffron will feature authentic Thai street foods made to order on the restaurant’s patio from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kanom buang yeun, an old-fashioned Thai crepe filled with shrimp or chicken; and Hoy Tod, Thai-style fried oyster pancakes, will be among the offerings.
3731 India St.; (619) 574-0177.
• A big birthday shout out to Nati’s Mexican Restaurant. The Ocean Beach eatery at 1852 Bacon St., (619) 224-3369, turns 50 this spring.
• All 17 King’s Seafood Co. restaurants have discontinued charging corkage fees for wines brought in from the outside.
• Mille Fleurs has revamped its bar menu, offering “petit* plats” from 3 to 11 p.m. daily, priced between $3 and $14.50.
6009 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe; (858) 756-3085.
• Executive chef Matt Smith and pastry chef Sara Hauman of WineSellar & Brasserie at 9550 Waples St., (858) 450-9557, have successfully completed the introductory sommelier course with the Court of Master Sommeliers. This brings the number of Court alums to seven in WineSellar’s restaurant and store.
• San Diego’s iconic Bali Hai Restaurant has gotten a new face-lift and a new chef. San Diego architect Graham Downes has refurbished the 55-year-old restaurant with a new lounge featuring a honey onyx bar and stylized Hawaiian light fixtures, among other transformations. (Don’t worry. He kept the restaurant’s collection of more than 100 Polynesian artifacts, including tiki figures, ocean charts and wood weapons.) Chef Chris Powell, formerly of Rancho Valencia, has created a Pacific Rim menu with Hawaiian flair.
2230 Shelter Island Drive; (619) 222-1181.
• P.F. Chang’s China Bistro has expanded its Gluten Free Menu. By adding five new beef entrees, the restaurant chain now has 28 gluten-free dishes. pfchangs.com
