Arlo Aims to Bring Destination Dining to Hotel Circle

It’s not an easy time to be opening a new restaurant anywhere, let alone one in an area that’s not typically thought of for its cuisine. But Arlo, which debuts today in Mission Valley at the revamped Town and Country resort, is hoping to attract local diners to Hotel Circle. At least, that’s the goal for chef Josh Mouzakes (Joël Robuchon at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, The French Laundry, and Hotel del Coronado), who wants to bring more culinary prestige to the neighborhood.

Counting itself lucky to have a large, 100-seat outdoor patio, the restaurant is starting off with dinner service but will eventually offer lunch too.

Arlo’s menu, based on a wood-fired grill and a social, eclectic style of dining, includes Baja-inspired ramen, chickpea fries with harissa aioli, flat steak carne asada, and grilled pork belly with cumin cilantro granita, heirloom carrot, and caramelized yellow peach.

The wine list highlights wineries from the Valle de Guadalupe and Mouzakes says he’ll host future wine dinners with local vintners. He plans to do cooking demos out on the restaurant’s patio, utilize a Santa Maria grill.

Mouzakes is also in charge of the food at two other spots on site — MRKT is an all-day gourmet market and eatery offering coffee, pastries, and breakfast burritos as well as beer, wine, wood-fired pizza, sandwiches, and salads while the Lobby Bar is a mid-century indoor/outdoor lounge with a menu of small bites and retro drinks like a Harvey Wallbanger and Don Draper’s Old Fashioned.