Free Barbecue at Coaster Saloon

Texas barbecue giveaway at Coaster Saloon

After 35 years in Mission Beach, Coaster Saloon was purchased by David Cohn of Cohn Restaurant Group last summer and given a top-to-bottom design refresh. The eatery also brought in a new executive chef, Tim Eylens, whose experience with Texas-style barbecue has transformed its menu. In honor of its milestone anniversary and National Barbecue Month, Coaster Saloon will give away 100 free plates of barbecue starting at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 8. The sampler platters will include baby back ribs, pulled pork, and brisket with mac and cheese, baked beans, pickles, and bread.

Location Matters

Shorehouse Kitchen debuts in Carlsbad

Downtown Carlsbad’s main thoroughfare has a new restaurant addition; Shorehouse Kitchen has opened at 2833 State Street. The 1,850-square-foot space, which features a large patio, was formerly the Village Grille. This is the second location for Shorehouse Kitchen, which first opened in La Jolla Shores in 2014; it serves a menu that offers an all-day breakfast and salads, sandwiches, soups, and more for lunch. Location Matters’ Mike Spilky represented the tenant and landlord in the transaction.

Hotel Republic launches brunch paired with yoga and live music

Perched on the hotel’s patio deck, Topside Terrace Kitchen & Bar has a new weekend brunch from executive chef JC Colón (Urban Kitchen Group, Blue Bridge Hospitality) that includes Jidori chicken chilaquiles with salsa verde, pico de gallo, cilantro avocado crema, queso, and poached eggs, a porchetta “medianoche” sandwich on challah with cotto, swiss, sweet pickle, sunny side egg, red onion, and mustard and chicharrones and guacamole with sea urchin paired with lavender, cucumber honey, or rose-flavored mimosas priced at $11 each or bottomless for $18. Every Saturday, there will be a pre-brunch free yoga session offered starting at 8:30 a.m. while Sundays will feature live acoustic music from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dine in the dark at Uptown Tavern

A new monthly dinner series starts on Wednesday, May 9 that will feature a five-course tasting menu from executive chef Mark Molina. Held in the Arrow Lounge, Uptown Tavern’s private dining room, and dubbed “Darkroom - A Dinner Series”, diners will eat in complete darkness for a “heightened sensory dining experience”. Priced at $49.95 per person, dinner is limited to 20 seats and reservations are required.

Local chef cooks for Outstanding in the Field

Known throughout the country for its multi-course farm dinners, Outstanding in the Field is coming to Southern California on Sunday, May 27 for an event that will feature an all-female team of leaders from the culinary realm. Hosted at Autonomy Farms in Bakersfield, CA by farmer/owner Meredith Bell, the dinner will feature Samantha Sheehan of Napa Valley’s POE Wines and a chef trio comprised of Los Angeles chefs Bricia Lopez of Guelaguetza and Otium’s Allison Osorio plus recent Top Chef competitor Claudette Zepeda-Wilkins, a local chef who is gearing up to open El Jardin in San Diego.