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Look for burrito-size sushi rolls fusing Asian and Mexican ingredients together by the middle of January, as former Project Pie<\/strong> exec James Markham opens Rolled Up<\/a><\/strong> in the heart of Hillcrest, in a space that has housed a number of fleeting, casual eateries over the past decade. The concept will reportedly serve as a pilot for other locations, judging on how well consumers respond to rolls containing everything from crispy beef and pulled pork to five-spice chicken and seasonal vegetables. 3884 Fourth Ave<\/em>.<\/p>\n Replacing the former House of Khan<\/strong> in Hillcrest is Veganic Thai Caf\u00e9<\/a><\/strong>, which opened recently with standard Thai dishes, half of which are vegan and the other half vegetarian. The remodel stands out with colorful murals depicting Thai citizens dressed in ancient garb. 1417A University Ave. 619-230-5540<\/em>.<\/p>\n Get your \u201cthird-wave\u201d coffee drink at the new caf\u00e9 de espino<\/a><\/strong>, which debuted Dec. 20 in North Park, operated by Kevin Redmond and son, Dylan. The aforementioned term translates to medium-roast coffees. \u201cWe\u2019re lightening things up a bit and extracting as many flavors as possible,\u201d Redmond said. \u201cSome of the baristas we hired are familiar with the concept.\u201d The shop, which features communal seating, sources from Flying Goat Coffee<\/strong> in North California and Foxy Coffee Co<\/strong>. in San Diego. 3019 Adams Ave. 619-501-4882<\/em>.<\/p>\n Top of the Market<\/a><\/strong> revealed its first major facelift in the restaurant\u2019s 26-year history upon reopening Dec. 17 after a fire in May closed it down. (The Fish Market<\/strong> downstairs had also shut down, but reopened in August.) The result was $2 million in damage repairs, which included everything from new furniture and wall coverings to fresh lighting and ceiling treatments. In addition, about 75 percent of the menu has been revised with the assistance of new sous chef Stafford Mather, who previously worked in kitchens owned by restaurateur Brian Malarkey.<\/p>\n Through Jan. 17, the restaurant will donate a portion of its proceeds to the San Diego Fire Rescue Foundation, which augments city funds for equipment.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven what we experienced, we are excited to support a cause for our first responders,\u201d said Jim Wendler, president of Fish Market Restaurants. 750 N. Harbor Drive, 619-232-8862. <\/em><\/p>\n Come spring, look for a secluded tiki bar within Little Italy\u2019s Craft & Commerce<\/a><\/strong>, which has been undergoing renovation and will reopen around the same time. Its upcoming Polynesian-inspired addition, named False Idol<\/strong>, brings in creative director Martin Cate, a rum aficionado who owns the lauded Smuggler\u2019s Cove<\/strong> in San Francisco. The hidden space will feature elements by tiki artist Bosko Hrnjak and designer Paul Basile. A menu to match the theme is in the works by newly appointed chef JoJo Ruiz. 675 W. Beech St., 619-269-2202<\/em>.<\/p>\n Replacing Nicky Rotten\u2019s<\/strong> in the Gaslamp Quarter is 1919<\/a><\/strong>, which its promoters are touting as \u201ca different kind of neighborhood sports bar.\u201d Due to open in February, it\u2019s named after the year of the infamous \u201cBlack Sox Scandal,\u201d when eight Chicago White Sox players who were up against the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series were caught intentionally losing games in exchange for money from gamblers. The concept will encompass classic American comfort dishes, creative cocktails, nostalgic design elements, and 25 high-definition flat screens. 560 Fifth Ave<\/em>.<\/p>\n Through experimenting with fermentation, the new lead mixologist at The Westgate Hotel<\/a><\/strong>, Irving Gonzalez, has added novel twists to traditional Mexican drinks such as the tepache and pulque. Hailing from the avant-garde Hacienda Guadalupe<\/strong> in Ensenada, Mexico, he brings to the bar some of his native staples: tamarind, horchata water, and agave. Or if you want to talk beer with Gonzalez, you\u2019re in good hands because he\u2019s also a homebrewer. 1055 Second Ave., 619-238-1818<\/em>.<\/p>\n A unique vegan restaurant flaunting a horned four-eyed wolf as its mascot has soft-opened in the space formerly occupied by Alchemy<\/strong> in South Park. Named Kindred<\/a><\/strong>, the venture was spearheaded by Kory Stetina, a self-described \u201cmetal-head and punk-rock dude of the \u201990s\u201d who got his feet wet running pop-up vegan beer dinners for a few years. The restaurant\u2019s two other partners are acclaimed designer Paul Basile, and Arsalun Tafazoli, who separately operates a cache of local hotspots such as Soda y cerdo<\/strong>, Disposiciones de cortes\u00eda<\/strong> y Noble Experiment<\/strong> under Consortium Holdings.<\/p>\n Basile helmed Kindred\u2019s eclectic design, which meshes together Gothic and French-Victorian elements.<\/p>\n The concept features an ambitious cocktail program as well. Stetina sums up the food as \u201crich and creative.\u201d The meals were created by head chef Jeremy Scullin, a native New Zealander who worked for acclaimed vegan restaurants in London, New York and Philadelphia. But the word \u201cvegan\u201d doesn\u2019t appear anywhere on the menu.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s because we want to destroy the stereotype that plant-based food is somehow less or different than non-vegan food,\u201d said Stetina, referring in part to the chef\u2019s \u201cbig, crushing sandwiches, baked pistachio-crusted tofu, and miso-cashew cheese balls that appear on a charcuterie board.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Saturday-night \u201cfiestas\u201d are being held weekly from 9 p.m. to midnight at puesto<\/a><\/strong> en The Headquarters at Seaport<\/strong>. The new, ongoing promotion provides guests with one free taco with the purchase of a \u201cPuesto perfect margarita.\u201d It\u2019s an unlimited deal that includes such tacos as chicken al pastor, zucchini and cactus, carnitas, and more. 789 W. Harbor Drive, 619-233-8880<\/em>.<\/p>\n
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