Bringing a chef-driven food infusion to Hillcrest is TRUST Restaurant, which debuts tonight at the corner of Park and Robinson as the anchor tenant in Jonathan Segal's recently completed "Mr. Robinson" building (another ground floor space will be filled by a coffee and crepe cafe). The 2,687-square-foot restaurant is the first solo project for executive chef Brad Wise and general manager Steven Schwob, who both spent close to a decade with local hospitality group Eat.Drink.Sleep. (Tower23, Belmont Park). Wise and Schwob worked with Segal to develop the space from the bottom up, making sure the mid century-inspired design included their ideal restaurant components; for Wise, it was an open kitchen that features a wood grill and for Schwob, having a spacious outdoor patio (1,300-square-feet) was key. The restaurateurs, who tell Eater that they plan on opening multiple concepts in San Diego, say that they chose to locate TRUST in Mr. Robinson to provide Hillcrest with a fresh food option and because the location's proximity to other neighborhoods, including North Park and University Heights, should make it a good launch pad for an evening out or an attractive place to cap off a night.
Wise shared that his 'urban rustic food' menu is built the way he likes to cook and eat, offering a variety of affordable, shareable plates centered around seasonal ingredients. He plans on swapping out dishes on the regular, and doing major menu refreshes quarterly. The beverage program from bar manager Juan Sanchez (Kettner Exchange) includes a global wine list, eight craft beer taps and a cocktail menu that mixes modern takes on the classics with a few original concoctions. Open nightly at 5 p.m. for dinner and serving weekend brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, TRUST will also offer a 5 to 6 p.m. weekday happy hour with $5 cocktails, wine and draft beer.
