Hillcrest gets a new pizzeria with some pricey options
Hailing from Vancouver, Canada is Steveston Pizza, which opened recently in the quaint bungalow formerly occupied by Empirehouse Urban Palate.
Just past the options for cheese, pepperoni and classic “Marguerite” pizzas, the menu takes some sensational turns.
All of the pies are 12 inches. Under the “Journey” category you’ll find options such as the “West Coast” topped with smoked salmon, capers and roasted bell peppers— reasonably priced in these inflationary times at $26. Costs inch up a notch in a few ensuing categories, where the pizzas are topped with ingredients such as pesto-marbled tomato sauce, rosemary-smoked bacon, figs, and honey-glazed chicken breast.
But if you dare venture into “The Castle” category, you’ll need deep pockets.
The cheapest pizza in that section is “The Butterly” for $47. It’s crowned with shrimp, prawns and smoked salmon. Proceed further and you’re looking at the “Hurricane” pizza with Canadian lobster tails and other seafood for $130, and finally, “The Forty Five,” which flaunts pesto shrimp, caviar, lobster and creamed potatoes. The price: $345 (gasp). 127 University Ave., 619-230-5330, stevestonpizza.us.
Zero-waste grocery shopping
After permit and construction delays, The Mighty Bin in North Park has finally opened. The zero-waste store is the first of its kind in San Diego, allowing customers to bring in their own clean containers for buying items such as nuts, grains, cereals, produce, oils, and even household and personal-care products. Don’t have a container? The store offers a jar-donation and deposit program—or you can buy them onsite.
“There are many zero-waste stores around the world, but not a lot in the U.S.,” said owner Isabelle DeMillan, who has a background in conservation, sustainability and green building.
“Everything in our dispensers and bins is certified-organic,” she added. “And our produce is all Southern California organic.”
Most items are priced per pound although peanut butter made onsite is sold by the ounce.
The Mighty Bin is about 700 square feet and occupies a portion of what used to be a mattress store. Located in a small strip plaza, its neighbors include Empanada Kitchen y Pure Project brewery. 2855 El Cajon Blvd.
Last pour on Kettner Street
The popular outdoor Carruth Cellars tasting room in Little Italy will serve its final wine flights on June 12 after owner/winemaker Adam Carruth was unable to strike up a doable agreement with his landlord for an extended lease.
As a result, the operation will soon move to the North Promenade of Estación de la libertad, into a 10,000-sqaure-foot wine garden near Stone Brewing World Bistro. Wines at the new location will be served by the flight, glass and bottle, and an enhanced menu will feature freshly made paninis and build-your-own cheese and charcuterie boards.
Based in Solana Beach, Carruth sources its fruit from Northern California and produces a dozen different wines with each vintage. 2215 Kettner Blvd., 619-269-9463, carruthcellars.com.
Take me to Shibuya
The Tokyo-inspired Cloak & Petal in Little Italy has created a separate drinking and dining experience in the back of the building called Shibuya Nights. It is named after a ward in Tokyo and offers a limited cocktail and food menu amid hand-painted wall murals and lounge lighting.
The atmosphere lends itself to lamb lollipops, vegetables with tofu, rum-infused dragon ball tea, and more.
Dining hours at Shibuya Nights are not the same as Cloak & Petal in the front of the house. It opens at 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sunday, although the bar opens at 2:30 p.m. on the weekends. 1953 India St., 619-501-5505, cloakandpetal.com.
Small plates and wine in Golden Hill
An ultra-cozy spot specializing in small plates and vino has opened in Golden Hill under the name Juan Jasper Kitchen & Wine. The menu is ever-changing but has so far seen the likes of chorizo deviled eggs, spicy Caesar salad, chicken liver and apple pate, and crab cakes. A couple of choices for bigger appetites have included Salisbury steak with mushroom-onion demi-glace, and a burger complemented by bordelaise sauce.
The succinct wine list focuses mostly on exclusive labels from California and France, all available by the glass or bottle. A few select craft beers are also in the offing. 1216 28th St.
