Por Frank Sabatini Jr.

Selina Khan says of her new Pakistani-Indian restaurant in Hillcrest: “It’s a campaign for real curry, the way we make it at home in Pakistan.” Since opening House of Khan in early February in the space formerly occupied by Mama Testa, the full-service restaurant has been serving lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. The big sellers so far are kabob rolls and chicken curry plates. “Everything’s made in-house,” assures Khan, who started the business several years ago as a pop-up eatery in the College Area. In her new space, she’s installed industrial lighting and artwork from the subcontinent. 1417 University Ave., 760-580-9024.

Chef Oz Blackaller of Cueva Bar in University Heights is kicking off a four-part “Meet the Brewer” series beginning March 7 at his restaurant. The featured beers will be paired to various tapas created by Blackaller such as pork belly chilaquiles, rockfish tostadas and crab-stuffed piquillo peppers. First up is New English by Sorrento Valley Brewery. Brewmaster Simon Lacey will be on hand from noon to 3 p.m. to discuss the product. The series continues in April, May and June on dates to be announced. 2123 Adams Ave., 619-269-6612.

The Los Angeles-based chain eatery, Lemonade, will debut two locations in San Diego; first in Hillcrest and then inside University Town Center. Company reps, however, remained vague on their openings, with one of them telling us “summer or late fall” and adding “we don’t want our lemonade to become a consumer focus.” With six hard-to-ignore flavors in the offing, such as cucumber-mint and ginger-peach, the seasonal food menu will encompass a giant selection of “market” ingredients for custom-made salads, plus crafty sandwiches and “land and sea” proteins for meal plates. Its Hillcrest spot will go into the double-storefront vacated earlier this year by Pizzería de la costa este de Amici. 3958 Fifth Ave., lemonadela.com.

San Diegans can soon add “Canadian” to their list of ethnic dining options when Mess Royale Poutine & Bagels opens in Hillcrest in late March (and hopefully no later). The much-anticipated eatery, conceived by an entrepreneur from northeast Canada, will offer poutine made in classic French-Canadian style, which translates to cheese curds and light-brown gravy lopped onto a pile of French fries. Fancier versions using lobster and grilled chicken will be available as well, along with sandwiches made with bagels shipped in from a Montreal bakery. 142 University Ave.

The recently opened tasting room in North Park by Rip Current Brewing now offers salads, sandwiches, pizzas and small plates from Sublime, a local vendor that operates the property’s kitchen. In addition, the San Marcos-based brewer has just re-introduced its lauded double IPA, Red Flag. The tasting room will officially hold its grand opening sometime in March and plans to add five more handles to the dozen-plus lineup. 4101 30th St., 619-793-4777.

Little Italy’s culinary explosion continues with the recent opening of Pan Bon (“good bread”) by sibling bakers Luciano and Giancarlo Anselmi. The brothers previously ran a bread shop in Verona, Italy, although their U.S. venture on the ground floor of Ariel Suites is a massive 10,000-square-foot market of gorgeous confections, deli specialties and prepared foods reminiscent of the displays you’d find at indoor markets throughout Europe. There’s also breads made with wild yeast imported from Italy plus pizzas and various pasta dishes made onsite. 1450 Kettner Blvd., 619-373-5780.

—Frank Sabatini Jr. puede ser contactado en [email protected].