A quick round-up of news from the places where we eat out:
This Is The End: Rodney Daylamy had a fun, albeit risqué, idea for the name of his new Gaslamp Quarter bar/restaurant: Happy Endings. Unfortunately, at the 11th hour before opening, he heard about an L.A. bar called The Happy Ending.
“Our lawyer said we could probably go ahead with the name, but we decided not to risk the possible legal expense,” says Daylamy.
The new place (at 717 Fourth Avenue, former site of Blue Ginger) is called taste & thirst. Its happy hour claim to fame is two-for-one drinks every week day from 3-8 p.m. On Thursdays, the two-fers extend all night until closing.
A happy ending for patrons, after all.
See Me: Some of us may sometimes take our city’s scenic nature for granted. Not the users of Open Table, a national reservations software management company. The company polled its 11,000 customers to come up with a 2009 list of the restaurants with the most scenic view. San Diego placed six eateries on the national list of the top 50: Bertrand at Mr. A’s; The Chart House in Cardiff; Island Prime & C Level; Peohe’s in Coronado; The Marine Room; and The Steakhouse at Azul.
Tails Are Wagging: “Canine Cocktails” is the theme for a new happy hour at downtown’s eco- and pet-friendly Indigo Hotel. Every Tuesday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. (starting September 8), the hotel lobby will go to the dogs. There are specialty cocktails for humans; the doggie menu includes bones, snacks and bottled water. The four-legged host of the event is hotel mascot and six-month Labrador mix puppy named Sandie (San Diego sans the “go,” get it?).
Quick Hits: The sixth annual Spirits of Mexico tequila-tasting event is September 12 from 6-9 p.m. at the NTC Promenade. It’s $40 in advance; $50 at the door. Silent auction proceeds go to Sky Ranch Foundation for troubled youth. Info. At polishedpalate.com…New Café has opened at downtown’s 901 E Street. It serves mighty economical American/Asian breakfasts, lunches and dinners. The tiny new eatery doesn’t have a menu item over $10.
Ron Donoho is a regular contributor to NBCSandiego.com, editorial director of “Pacific SD” magazine and a contributing editor to sandiego.com. His Web site (sandiegoDTOWN.com) is dedicated to news, sports, culture, happy hours and all things downtown.
