With the major overhaul taking place at Belmont Park, renovations wouldn’t be complete without a unique new dining concept to draw residents and visitors to the beach for some top-flight fare. Cannonball, situated on a 6,000-square-foot rooftop and overlooking Mission?Beach, is bringing Pacific Rim-inspired cuisine to the complex. Though it officially opened the weekend of July 4, part of the facility is still undergoing upgrades, after which it will function at its full huge capacity.
The menu’s offerings are essentially two-fold: one side features small-ish plates meant for sharing, with dishes running the gamut from steamed mussels with a Thai basil coconut broth to chicken osso bucco with a chile glaze, or grilled scallops with chorizo, corn and pasilla peppers to a seared ahi salad.
The other side of the menu features sushi and rolls — though many of them are not your typical sushi offerings. Chef Brad Wise, formerly of Pacific Beach’s JRDN, said his Latino sushi chef often infuses his creations with a decidedly Hispanic flair — and it works. The Enfuego roll (crab, avocado, torch-seared salmon and roasted garlic aioli) is a favorite, and the lobster roll (lobster, avocado, eel sauce and aioli, with a light and crispy tempura wrap) blends flavors one wouldn’t expect to find in a sushi restaurant. Wise said the menu will change occasionally with the seasons, though the most popular favorites will remain. His inspiration comes from an eclectic mix of flavors that combine to create a truly unique menu. The eatery’s cocktail menu offers inspired creations, as well. The Bellyflop, with Grey Goose vodka, watermelon purée, lemon juice, simple syrup and cucumber is a particularly tasty treat on a hot day. The menu also offers top-notch beers and wines to pair with the savory fare. The restaurant is designed to resemble an empty swimming pool, with pool tiles, lounge chairs, fire pits and depth indicators (4 ft., 5 ft.). Servers seem ready to come to your rescue in pool lifeguard-type wear. Though the entire restaurant is located out in the open, there exists some overhead cover for inclement weather and heat lamps for cool evenings. The people watching, meanwhile, is unparalleled, with views onto both the boardwalk and the beach.
Cannonball is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.cannonballsd.com or call (858) 228-9283.