By Frank Sabatini Jr. | SDUN Reporter
An all-you-can-eat deal from a menu card, not a buffet, is available at RB Sushi, which replaced Lotus Café in the Village Hillcrest shopping plaza on Fifth Avenue a few months ago. Guests can order endlessly from a wide selection of hand rolls, nigiri and other Japanese fare for a flat price of $20.95 (for lunch) or $24.95 (for dinner). Everything is made to order. But listen to your stomach before proceeding with additional dishes because in the end visitors are charged for what they can’t finish on their plates, right down to the rice. 3955 Fifth Ave., Suite 100, 619-269-9900.
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Back by popular demand, KPBS Television has given the green light for a second season of “Savor San Diego with Su-Mei Yu,” allowing the Mission Hills restaurateur to focus this time around on the local craft-brewing scene, various coffee roasters and the foods and wines emerging from Mexico’s nearby Guadalupe Valley. Yu has been credited for bringing authentic Thai cuisine to San Diego when she opened Saffron Grilled Chicken at 3731 India Street 28 years ago. She has since expanded into the adjoining space with Saffron Noodles & Sate, and authored several cookbooks that include the recently released “The Elements of Life: A Contemporary Guide to Thai Recipes and Traditions for Healthier Living.”
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After a long run in Old Town, the outdated El Fandango restaurant will become a Mexican barbecue house under the holding of Old Town Family Hospitality Corporation, which will rename it El Vaquero, meaning “the cowboy.” Renovations are expected to be complete by May, giving way to a new bar area and an open kitchen specializing in assorted meats smoked over pecan and apple woods. 2734 Calhoun St.
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The culinary journey around the world continues into the New Year and beyond at Gourmet de Hanna in Normal Heights, where chef-owner Hanna Tesfamichael features dishes from a specific country each week with notable accuracy. Running until Dec. 29 is “American comfort food” that includes meatloaf, green beans and creamy potatoes. The first week in January spotlights “Basque Country” dishes such as spinach-cauliflower soup and cod with braised peppers. The theme will be followed by specialties of Indonesia. 2864 Avenida Adams, 619-280-5600.
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The national organization, GlutenFreeSingles.com, has named its top 10 picks in San Diego for gluten-free dining. Among them is Wellington Steak & Martini Lounge in Mission Hills; Stacked y True Food Kitchen in Fashion Valley Mall; plus Sea & Smoke, Cita Del Mar and the “superfood-charged” Beaming Café, all in Del Mar.
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Look for a yakatori grill and oodles of ramen when CH Projects opens Underbelly II in the North Parker Lofts this spring. The restaurant promises more seating than its flagship bajo vientre in Little Italy, but with a similar menu. The company operates several other hotspots such as Soda y cerdo y Disposiciones de cortesía in Normal Heights and Craft & Commerce in Little Italy, where it will open yet another kitchen (by late January) called Ironside Oyster. The latter will focus on seafood and share space with an in-house bakery. Locations are 3000 Upas St. and 1654 India St., respectively.
