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After six years in Mission Hills, owner Trish Watlington has announced that she will shutter The Wellington Steak and Martini Lounge on June 20. The steakhouse, which sits next door to Watlington's other restaurant, The Red Door Restaurant & Wine Bar, will close for a remodel and redesign with a reopening scheduled for July 2016.
The yet-unnamed concept will focus on the bar and a program of interactive craft cocktails, with an upscale shared and small plates menu that's more aligned with The Red Door's farm-to-table focus; Brandt Sternberg will lead the bar program while The Red Door's executive chef Miguel Valdez will oversee the cuisine.
In a release, Watlington said, "We know The Wellington is loved by our community, but the beef-heavy menu no longer fits our commitment to local sourcing. Feedback from our neighbors is that Mission Hills is missing a true cocktail bar and comfortable gathering space, so we’re excited to bring something more progressive to the area. That, and we have to look to the future; what type of food will support a better San Diego ecosystem?"
