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Monday, November 25, 2013

URBAN EXPLORER / NORTH PARK

Look for a second Carnitas Snack Shack in North Park soon
GRAPEVINE GOULASH—Foodie media is abuzz with the owner announcement that the five-year-old Sea Rocket has been sold and will be replaced by a yet to be named restaurant at the same location.  Dec. 8 is reported to be Sea Rocket’s last night.  All best wishes to owners Elena and Dennis.  Word is the new place will be totally remodeled.  Be nice if the landlord painted the structure other than beige.  There are plenty of interesting colors that still make the building be historic and cool...

Yes, just as one place closes here comes a new one in North Park.  Brabant Bar & Café is now open and in the space vacated by Vagabond Restaurant.  The new place will offer Belgian food and beer offerings.  Hopefully, we’ll see those wonderful Belgian frittes served like we had in Brussels last spring.  Brabant is in North Park because it is north of Juniper Street, the city’s dividing line between North and South, but those fun centric SoPark militants will claim it as their own.  Go for it...

Carnitas Snack Shack, the amazing culinary phenomenon on University led by chef Hanis Cavin, will soon open a new and bigger restaurant in North Park near its original location.  Follow them on Twitter for expansion updates: @CarnitasSnacks...

Area 51 arrives at Co-op
Coin-Op Game Room is the name of the former El Take it Easy bar/food joint at 3926 30th Street.  New owners/investors are from the Lion’s Share restaurant team, including at least one major home developer from North County.  I would have named the place it “Tommy” after the pinball wizard...

Waypoint Public at 30th and University is packing them by being open evenings only.  Locals love chef Amanda Baumgarten’s menu.  Can’t stop ordering the burger and fish tacos...

Try and find a seat at Subterranean coffee lounge (across from Saguaros taco shop on 30th) midweek in the lunch hour.  Next time I’ll make a reservation...

Back at 30th and Redwood, the laundromat with the so-so art work (just because it graffiti doesn’t mean it automatically becomes great art) is set to be a restaurant.  Word is it will be called Mid-Park and ownership hails from the Tio Leo’s restaurant family.  Expect a Spring debut...

Construction is going at blur pace on the stylish North Parker Lofts, a Jonathan Segal architect/development project at 30th and Upas and there’s news ramen gurus Underbelly II will be the main foodie entities open there.  Also, set for the North Parker is the intriguing InfluxCafe coffee/café operation. Overheard, the Pearl Hotel foodie gang led by chef Jaisson Burke will be putting together a small taco-style venture in North Parker Lofts called Pearlita’s...

Qincenera cake from Panchita's
in Golden Hill

...Can it be another eye sore bites the dust?  This time at 32nd and North Park Way?  Yippee as work is almost done. It ain’t grand architecture but at least it isn’t a broken down site.  But will it be Panchita’s Bakery or no?  If so, Panchita’s has two other locations in San Diego and will fit in wonderfully in North Park.  

New Piocere Mio on the way
Piocere Mio, where Grape meets Fern Street, is closed and undergoing a remodeling.  Owners Marco and Stefano put together an investment package and will open as an Italian Restaurant with beer and wine offered.  If the new operation comes close to the wonderful personalities of its owners then South Park is set to score another restaurant coup.





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