Cohn Restaurant Group Expanding to Mission Valley

A new Cohn Restaurant Group concept coming Mission Valley

David and Lesley Cohn of Cohn Restaurant Group (Coasterra, Tacos Libertad, The Prado) have purchased another property at 5351 Adobe Falls Road for $1,850,000. The 1950s era building spans 5,485-square-feet and sits on a 43,124 square-foot-lot in East Mission Valley. Initially, the group will use the space as a commissary kitchen for its family of restaurants but future plans include a new hospitality project once the Cohns determine the appropriate concept for the site. Originally housing Nicolosi’s Italian Restaurant for over 50 years, the building was more recently occupied by Junk House Restaurant. Location Matters’ Mike Spilky represented the seller in the transaction.

Pacific Del Mar’s longtime chef has returned

After a four-year hiatus, Pacifica Del Mar’s executive chef and partner Chris Idso is back with the North County restaurant. Idso ran Pacifica Del Mar’s kitchen for half of the restaurant’s 30-year tenure before leaving San Diego to work in Hawaii and Los Angeles. He returns to oversee its menu of classics with plans to roll out new dishes in the next few weeks.

Amplified Ale Works opens new tasting room

The Pacific Beach brewery has grand opened an intimate tasting room below its larger brewpub space. Dubbed Amplified BackStage, the 800-square-foot tasting room features a 20-foot wraparound bar and 16 rotating taps. Inspired by the brewery’s love of music, the space is decorated with concert posters, vintage speakers, and over 2,000 cassettes that can be played by customers upon request. Open from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday and from noon to midnight Friday and Saturday, BackStage will also allow the brewery to accommodate a variety of private events for up to 50 people as well as occasional live music shows.

Pendry San Diego launches guest bartender afternoons

The Pendry Hotel continues its New Orleans-themed Sunday Delight Guest Bartender series, held at lobby bar Fifth & Rose. From 2 to 6 p.m. every Sunday, bartenders from some of the city’s top cocktail spots will be in residence creating speciality cocktails, which will be featured along with bites of creole cuisine and a New Orleans Brass Band. Upcoming guests include Kindred’s Dave Kinsey on April 22, Eric “Shrimp Toast” Long of False Idol on April 29, and George’s at the Cove’s Stephen Kurpinsky on May 6.

Searsucker debuts new downtown happy hour

The Gaslamp’s Searsucker San Diego has a brand new weekday happy hour, offered Monday to Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Featuring $9 Old Fashioneds, ranging from the classic version to a riff on PB&J made with peanut-infused Elijah Craig bourbon, fassionola syrup, and strawberry, the happy hour menu also includes $7 house infusions, wells drinks and wine, $6 drafts, and $5 cans. Snacks, from house pickles to the eatery’s popular duck fat fries, start at $2.