Farm House Cafe Restaurant And Kitchen 1540 Restaurant And Prepkitchen Restaurant And Roseville Restaurant In San Diego, CA
Four newcomers are boosting SoCal's culinary cred
Farm House Café At this countrified South Park restaurant, French-born chef Olivier Bioteau pays homage to his roots with contemporary cuisine steeped in classic technique. Escargots get lavish treatment in a creamy risotto ($10), sweet white shrimp and lobster mushrooms lounge atop pillowy ricotta gnocchi ($20) and house-made fettuccine and Moroccan-spiced lamb Bolognese come together in savory symbiosis. 2121 Adams Ave., San Diego; 619-269-9662 or farmhousecafesd.com
Kitchen 1540 At this restaurant inside Del Mar's L'Auberge resort, you can snack on artful small plates–like scallops with popcorn puree ($13) or bison tartare with bacon sabayon ($14)–in an outdoor cabana or adjourn to the wine room for a multicourse feast, which might include whole-roasted branzino with tempura sea beans ($28). 1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar; 858-793-6460 or laubergedelmar.com/kitchen1540
Prepkitchen The team behind La Jolla's buzzy whisknladle has opened this eat-in/take-out spot (pictured) that serves homey entrées like roasted Jidori chicken ($14.50) and heirloom tomato lasagna ($14). The house-made charcuterie and mozzarella–as well as the sticky salted-caramel pecan brownies ($3)–make for a perfect grab-and-go picnic to take to the beach. 7556 Fay Ave., La Jolla; 858-875-7737 or prepkitchen.com