As it becomes increasingly clear that the future of food in San Diego will include a significant fast-casual presence, a new concept from the category launches Tuesday, December 6 in Flower Hill Promenade.
Flower Child, from Fox Restaurants Concepts (True Food Kitchen), will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on weekends for breakfast from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., in a cheery and bright art-filled, two-level space that includes a wrap-around front patio and a large courtyard patio that extends from its lower level dining room. Geared towards healthy eaters with busy schedules, the restaurant has a dedicated area for to-go orders and even, yes, a "yoga mat parking" section where you can store your mat while you eat.
The counter-service menu, served from a bustling open kitchen, caters to vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free lifestyles but also features naturally-raised protein options ranging from sustainable salmon to grass-fed steak. The proteins can top a variety of composed salads and grain bowls or accompany a variety of mix and match sides, from red chili-glazed sweet potatoes to Indian-spiced cauliflower and spicy Japanese eggplant. And there are whole grain wraps, enriched with whole wheat, flax and chia seeds, that range from The Rebel with grass-fed steak, charred onion, port salut cheese, horseradish yogurt and arugula to the Thai Dye stuffed with spicy tofu, Thai basil, avocado, carrot, daikon radish, cilantro and snap pea.
There is local beer, organic wine and kombucha on tap, plus two serve-yourself beverage stations featuring seasonal lemonade flavors and a variety of iced tea.
