Arriving last summer in Old Town Temecula and recently reopened for outdoor dining, this modern bistro house in a renovated historic building is an extension of a local boutique winery and boasts a menu from “Top Chef” veteran Angelo Sosa, who previously gained acclaim for his culinary creations at Death by Tequila in Encinitas.

With two weeks of 100 reservations per night booked even before the restaurant officially opened, it’s safe to say that San Diegans are curious about the latest restaurant from celebrity chef and ‘Top Chef’ veteran Richard Blais. Part of the Park Hyatt Aviara, it’s a steakhouse, of sorts, fueled by a wood-fired grill on the patio, but also houses a tasting bar where chefs plate playful snacks like white chocolate-covered radishes and caviar with fish-shaped pancakes.

Acclaimed chef Claudette Zepeda’s latest, deeply personal restaurant project is Vaga at the new Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas. Though Zepeda originally gained notice for dishes that explored and celebrated her Mexican heritage, this menu reflects the diversity of food the chef has discovered while living and cooking in her hometown of San Diego.

A pair of brothers, vets of the San Francisco pizza scene, bring a much-needed new dining option to Rancho Bernardo. The family-friendly space, which also serves notable cocktails, specializes in deep dish pizza.

Del Mar Highlands Town Center’s new multi-restaurant collective is still filling in, but there’s plenty to eat and drink right now. The Sky Deck spans a beer deck and central craft cocktail bar called Understory, plus other self-contained outposts from local favorites like Ambrogio15 (which introduced new pizzas and other dishes from a Michein-starred chef), KiinThai, and Le Parfait Paris as well as Bay Area transplant Marufuku Ramen.

Chef Steve Brown has landed his wagyu beef butcher shop and burger concept in an expansive new home in Pacific Beach where the restaurant and bar can also host multi-course chef tasting dinner. Brown intends to add a you-call-it steakhouse component based on the extensive meat counter.

CH Projects transformed Soda & Swine on Adams Avenue into a takeout-tailored Chinese American eatery serving up chef Tony Guan’s rendition on classic Americanized Chinese cuisine, including egg foo young, crab rangoon, and General Tso’s chicken.

The group behind Trust and Fort Oak restaurants took over popular butcher shop The Heart & Trotter, expanding beyond its well-stocked meat counter to including sandwiches, weekend specials, and prepared food.

This North Park newcomer is run by veterans of Oceanside’s Dija Mara, Eater’s 2018 Restaurant of the Year. While Southeast Asian cuisine is still in the spotlight here, the focus has mostly shifted to Vietnam and Thailand with modern, SoCal sensibilities applied to traditional flavors.

The brothers behind Il Dandy in Bankers Hill revamped the space into a reflection of Civico 1845, their successful Little Italy restaurant. This location offers favorite dishes, including its well-received vegan menu, as well as both Calabrian and Roman-style pizza.

The long-awaited solo project from Boulud alum and hometown chef Travis Swikard is the hottest reservation in town, with the East Village restaurant and bar earning early acclaim for its skillful and approachable California-Mediterranean cuisine.

Veteran local chef Ronnie Schwandt’s first solo restaurant is a little more than a month old and just added a Sunday-only brunch that includes chilaquiles, shrimp and grits, and a BLT with Canadian bacon as well as early hits from his regular seasonal menu like the deviled eggs and wagyu beef tartare. Sunday drink specials range from white truffle-infused Bloody Mary to a cold brew cocktail spiked with vodka.