By Frank Sabatini Jr. | SDUN Reporter
Restaurateur Terryl Gavre of Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant has opened ACME Southern Kitchen in the East Village, featuring original recipes inspired by Junior League cookbooks from The South.
Situated in a quaint, corner brick building, the menu pays tribute to dishes that are nearly extinct in urban restaurants such as smothered pork chops, chipped bologna sandwiches on homemade white bread and chicken pot pies nestled in yeast-infused “angel biscuit” crusts. Sidekicks include pimento cheese with Saltines, Southern-style deviled eggs and of course, fried green tomatoes. Gavre is also the founder of Downtown’s Café 222 and co-owner of Market Restaurant + Bar in Del Mar. ACME is located at 901 E St., 619-515-2225.
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Farewell to the cherished Farm House Café in University Heights. The six-year-old French restaurant, run by chef-chocolatier Olivier Bioteau and his wife, Rochelle, has been sold to local chef Mike Almos, who once worked at the now-defunct Vagabond in South Park. For his first solo venture, Almos will reportedly take the American comfort road with his menu while renaming the restaurant, Circa. In the meantime, the Bioteaus are looking for a new location with a larger kitchen within San Diego County. Their last day of service will be February 28. No word yet on when Circa opens. 2121 Adams Ave., 619-269-9662.
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Bring your old LPs to Proprietor’s Reserve Wine Bar in Normal Heights on March 7 for “Vino and Vinyl Viernes,” a monthly event held on various Friday nights from 7 p.m. until closing. Launched by a few devoted patrons several months ago, the albums brought in by customers feature music spanning from the 60s to 80s.
The bar offers discounts on wines by the glass and bottle during the event. Food from the regular menu is also available, which includes steak and fish entrees, chili rellenos, cheese plates and more. 4711 34th St., 619-283-7449.
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Known for its vast selection of vodka, Scotch and toothsome front-counter candies, Servall Liquor in Hillcrest is about to triple its beer inventory with additional local, national and international choices, thus replacing a few aisle’s worth of groceries to accommodate the suds. With dozens of new labels already in stock, the owners say the collection will grow to around 2,500 varieties in a couple of months. 1279 University Ave., 619-692-3225.
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Gelato Vero Caffe in Mission Hills has remodeled its 30-year-old digs while partnering with vegetarian chef and mosaic artist Kristin Green, who developed for the café a weekend brunch menu offering mostly vegetarian and gluten-free options. Among them is Tunisian chickpea stew and Finnish Karelian pies. The two-level space shows off a fresh paint job, new furnishings, a revamped kitchen and a “reactivated” upstairs patio. Brunch is served from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday and Sundays. 3753 India St., 619-295-9269.
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Rumor has it that the space being left behind by Gossip Grill — since moving down the street to 1220 University — might become occupied by an organic burger chain out of Vancouver, Canada. A rep from MO’s Universe, which holds the lease to the property, said “nothing is set in stone yet,” but added that other prospective tenants have so far included an Italian restaurant, a breakfast café and sandwich deli. Regardless what moves in, chances are good that the property won’t sit vacant for very long. 1440 University Ave.
