Tierra y Mar, an elevated Baja-inspired restaurant opened July 22 at the Harrah’s Resort Southern California in Valley Center.
The 153-seat restaurant-bar was built inside the side-by-side spaces formerly occupied by Salt & Fin seafood restaurant and ‘Ritas Cantina bar. Resort officials said Tierra y Mar offers a more “social dining” experience than Salt & Fin, and its new in-house bar has a “lively” tequila-focused bar program.
The dining room at Tierra y Mar, a new Baja-inspired restaurant at Harrah’s Resort Southern California in Valley Center. (Harrah’s)
Chef Bryan Texis’ menu features taco plates, enchiladas, burritos, birria, aguachile and fresh seafood, as well as soups, salads, shareable appetizers and desserts. The restaurant opens at noon Mondays-Thursdays and 9 a.m Saturdays and Sundays. A brunch menu is offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekends. 777 Harrah’s Rincon Way, Valley Center. harrahssocal.com/dining/tierra-y-mar
El Punto, a new Mexican food concept from City Tacos founder Gerry Torres, will open in October at Liberty Station in Point Loma. (Gerry Torres)
El Punto heads to Liberty Station: The restaurant group behind the San Diego taqueria chain City Tacos will open a new concept, El Punto by City Tacos, in the former Go Go Amigo space in Point Loma’s Liberty Station in October. Company founder Gerry Torres said that El Punto will be similar in style to the company’s OB Playground taqueria, but it will be much larger and with more of a restaurant feel. El Punto will be family-friendly and casual with an enclosed dog park. It will offer only the top five tacos from the City Tacos menu, supplemented by executive chef Eduardo Baeza with full entrées and dishes made with locally caught seafood, including ceviche, oysters and tiraditos. 2885 Perry Road, Suite 102, San Diego. citytacossd.com
Maranello restaurant opened July 22 in San Diego’s Little Italy. (Maranello)
Maranello opens in Little Italy: Less than two weeks after Brisa Bar & Restaurant in Little Italy closed its doors at 2101 Kettner Blvd., the space reopened with a new name, Maranello, and a new contemporary look. Maranello is named for the hometown of racecar maker Ferrari, and its bar has been repainted in the hue of Rosso Corsa, the national racing color of Italy. Maranello general manager Andrea Povino said in a statement: “While Ferrari put Maranello on the map, it’s the culture of hospitality and gathering around the table that defines the town. We’ve created a neighborhood restaurant that reflects that way of life.” The menu features regional Italian dishes including Calabrian charcoal bread, gnocco fritto, ravioli caramella and tortellini prosciutto di Parma. The bar is serving Italian-style spritzes, cocktails, aperitivos and wines. 4-9:30 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays. 4 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. maranellosd.com
Meat, cheese and fruit boards from Graze Craze. (Matthew Pace)
Charcuterie shop opens in Linda Vista: A new franchise location of the retail charcuterie chain Graze Craze has opened in San Diego’s Linda Vista neighborhood. It joins locations in downtown San Diego, Rancho Peñasquitos, Chula Vista, La Jolla and Carlsbad. The new shop, in the Presidio shopping center near the University of San Diego, sells charcuterie boards and boxes featuring meats, cheeses, fresh fruits, vegetables, dips and sweets. The 1,100-square-foot shop is owned by franchisee Lisa Osborn. Shop opens at 10 a.m. Tuesdays-Sundays. 5401 Linda Vista Road, Suite 407, San Diego. grazecraze.com/locations/downtown-san-diego-ca/menu
Chili Coast closing in Vista: Chili Coast Burger, a family-run beer bar and grill in Vista, will close today, July 29, after 20 years. In a letter of thanks to customers posted by the restaurant at 1330 E. Vista Way, Suite 1, earlier this month, the owners wrote that while it was difficult to make the decision to close, they have decided to retire. The restaurant was known for its chili-topped burgers, double-cooked fries, fish burgers, fried onion stacks and tuna melts.