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Earlier this year, we told you about a new restaurant being planned for Pacific Beach at 877 Hornblend Street, in a spot long occupied by the China Inn.
Experienced restaurateur Mark Oliver, once a partner at George's at the Cove, is behind a complete renovation of the 5,900-square-foot site, which he promised would add a full-service, upscale dining option to the neighborhood.
Now, Oliver has revealed the concept and name of the project, which will likely open in the first part of 2016. Pueblo will bring a bit of Baja to the beach, with a menu that brings together traditional dishes derived from the coastal communities of Baja and contemporary chef-driven plates fueled by regional ingredients, with an emphasis on seafood and lighter preparations. The restaurant's bar will pour beer and wine from both sides of the border and offer a good selection of tequila and agave-based spirit cocktails.
Given the culinary world's serious crush on Mexico right now, Oliver says that he wants to create a piece of the Baja coast in San Diego for Southern California diners. With BlueMotif Architecture, he's building a restaurant that has most of its seating laid out an open courtyard and on a rooftop deck; the design will be modern, but informed by the Southwestern style of architecture that inspired the Pueblo name.
