Frank Sabatini Jr. | Downtown News
Follow your nose on July 16 to the rooftop LOUNGEsix at Hotel Solamar for its third annual Sausage Fest, which brings together 10 chefs from local restaurants battling for the honors of making the best sausage in town. The $10 admission allows visitors to taste what’s cooking and then vote on their favorite recipes. Participants include chef teams from Jsix, Cowboy Star, Carnitas Snack Shack, and Salt & Cleaver. In addition to the cookoff, Lost Abbey brewery from San Marcos will release its straw-gold lager called “The Road to Helles.” The event takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. 616 J St., 619-531-8744.
Local Chef Chad White is preparing for a mid to late July launch of Comun Kitchen & Tavern in the East Village. The “Baja-inspired gastro bar” will feature an exhibition kitchen, a 10-seat chef’s table and a glass enclosed produce pantry. Rounding out a menu of dishes such as fire-roasted lamb and open-faced tortas are tequilas, mescals and craft beer dispensed from self-serve taps. 935-945 J St., comunsd.com.
Promoters of the upcoming AD Nightclub are describing it as an “intimate adult playground” replete with custom booths for bottle service as well as “design surprises throughout.” The 300-capacity venue, due to open in mid-July, comes rigged with state-of-the-art lighting and sound, and will also operate a kitchen for “sophisticated bites.” AD moves into the space formerly occupied by Red Circle. It is spearheaded by entrepreneurs Bayless Cobb and Chris Martin of Bar West and Stingaree. 420 E St., adnightclub.com.
In honor of National Ice Cream Day on July 20, Leroy’s Kitchen + Lounge in Coronado is rolling out flights of boozy ice creams each infused with a shot’s worth of cherry
liqueur, Grand Marnier and Pedro Ximenez Sherry from Spain. The adult flights, priced at $10 each, will be available from July 10 through early August. At neighboring MooTime Creamery, owned also by Blue Bridge Hospitality, kids and adults alike can cool down with more than 30 flavors of non-alcoholic choices as well as the 15-scoop “crown jewel sundae.” Leroy’s: 1015 Orange Ave. 619-437-6087; MooTime: 1025 Orange Ave. 619-435-2422.
Expect some new dishes at The Grant Grill with the arrival of Chef de Cuisine Sam Burman, who previously served as corporate chef for Whisknladle Hospitality and executive chef at Quality Social. The Ohio native will highlight seasonal ingredients while taking advantage of the property’s rooftop garden. His recent dishes include veal sweetbreads with cherries, hamachi with spiced corn and sea asparagus and shaved celery with blue cheese. 326 Broadway, 619-744-2077.
The popular Greek-fusion Meze restaurant in the Gaslamp District has opened Meze Express in Mission Valley, offering customers fast, casual takes on filet mignon wraps, kabobs and Greek-style tacos and nachos. The new offshoot operates among several other front-counter service eateries in the Ralph’s shopping plaza at 5618 Mission Center Road, Suite 1002, 619-297-0855.
Incoming Chef de Cuisine Laura de Martin is debuting new breakfast, lunch and brunch menus at Andaz San Diego’s RoofTop600. Hailing from the Manchester Grand Hyatt and Sally’s Seafood on the Water, de Martin originally earned her chops at the prestigious Cesare Ritz culinary arts school in Merano, Italy. She will also manage the wine bar and banquet menus at Andaz.
A pre-Summer Pops wine-tasting and barbecue menu is available throughout the summer for $25 at Marina Kitchen. Guests attending the San Diego Symphony concerts at nearby Embarcadero Marina Park South can then return to the restaurant for a complimentary dessert and more live music. 333 W. Harbor Drive, 619-699-8222.