A round-up of the top food and drink stories of the week via Eater San Diego
By Candice Woo and Edited by Monica Garske ••
As the leaves begin to turn, the doors will open this fall to some new spots in San Diego’s food and drink scene, including an eatery that specializes in sausages, tucked inside a brewery. Eater San Diego shares the buzz on new bites around town.
North Park Beer Co. Launches On-Site Eatery Mastiff Sausage Company, which runs a popular food truck and is a food hall vendor within Liberty Public Market, has opened a new sit-down, counter service-styled eatery in North Park Beer Co. The menu features its signature housemade sausages and chef-driven seasonal plates, including corn and ricotta ravioli and roasted bone marrow.
Look Inside San Diego's Newest Tiki Bar The companion piece to the recently reopened Craft & Commerce, a hidden tiki bar called False Idol has debuted in Little Italy. The Polynesian-inspired space, which features a flaming volcano, is serving a drink menu of tiki classics and tropical craft cocktails.
False Idol/Arlene Ibarra
False Idol, inside Craft & Commerce, offers exotic, Polynesian-inspired cocktails. The 1,000-square-foot tiki bar launched alongside the recent re-opening of Craft & Commerce – now new and improved after a yearlong, multimillion-dollar renovation.
False Idol/Arlene Ibarra
Patrons can access False Idol by stepping through a “secret entrance” within Craft & Commerce. Once inside, guests are taken to a tropical paradise filled with traditional Polynesian elements of fire and ice, including an indoor waterfall and makeshift volcano, plus tiki carving decorations. Located at 675 W. Beech St., the new spot is open daily from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. The cocktail pictured here is the "Coronado Luau Special."
False Idol/John Dole
CH Beverage Director Anthony Schmidt also leads the charge at False Idol. The collection of spirits that fill the bar includes 200+ rare and vintage rums, plus cocktails that pay homage to some long, lost cocktails from past local hotspots, including the “Coronado Luau Special” (formerly of the Luau Room) and Panther’s Fang (formerly of the Barefoot Bar). A punchbowl-style drink – dubbed “Alkala the Fierce” – includes some interactive bells and whistles. When it’s ordered, False Idol’s makeshift volcano décor erupts and some seats rumble and shake.
False Idol/Kelly Puleio
At the helm of False Idol is Martin Cate – formerly of Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco – and a well-known authority on rum and the tiki cocktail trend in the restaurant industry.
False Idol/Arlene Ibarra
Cate was tapped to create the cocktail menu, which includes 36 tropical creations, many made with rare rums. This is the "Pearl Diver."
Craft & Commerce
The revamp of Craft & Commerce brings an all-new menu created by Executive Chef Ted Smith, including housemade pastas, veggie-focused shareable plates and slow-cooked meats (including porkchops, quail and steaks) complemented by sides made on the eatery’s custom wood-fired grill, such as Fire-Roasted Eggplant Dip, Grilled Oysters, Bone Marrow and Roasted Carrots, to name a few. Dinner at Craft & Commerce is offered daily starting at 5 p.m.; the restaurant is open Sunday through Thursday until midnight, and until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
San Diego's Essential Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants Here's a guide to 21 local restaurants proving that meat-free dining can be flavorful and fulfilling. From Mexican and Asian-influenced menus to fast-food and finer dining, plant-based eateries are making a mark on the San Diego dining scene.
The Hake to Reopen in La Jolla, With New Ocean Views The Hake Kitchen & Bar will reopen this month after a renovation and expansion that features more outdoor seating and a new dining room with stunning ocean views. The Prospect Street restaurant also has a new executive chef, whose menu focuses on seafood and vegetables and takes culinary inspiration from regions around the world, including Mexico, Asia and the Mediterranean.
Sushi Lounge Expands to Point Loma With locations in Poway and Encinitas, Sushi Lounge has opened a third eatery in the heart of Point Loma's Tunaville neighborhood. The restaurant serves the same menu of small plates, nigiri sushi, sashimi and specialty rolls but has a new expanded bar program featuring craft beer, wine, sake flights and soju cocktails.
Candice Woo is the founding editor of Eater San Diego, a leading source for news about San Diego’s restaurant and bar scene. Keep up with the latest Eater San Diego content via Facebook or Twitter, and sign up for Eater San Diego’s newsletter here.
