Flora opens its doors in North Park
Husband-and-wife restaurateurs Ocean Mohamadi and Nino Cusimano have opened Flora, an all-day bistro in North Park. The couple are the co-founders of Rusticucina and Roman Wolves. The 2,500-square-foot restaurant and cocktail bar serves brunch daily and dinner Thursdays-Sundays. Executive chef Davide Sinibaldi (formerly of Cesarina and Elvira) has created a menu that includes matcha waffles, shakshuka eggs, crispy duck meatballs, burrata & pumpkin tortellini and sous-vide duck. 3021 University Ave., San Diego. floranorthpark.com
Tajima opens eighth location: This San Diego-born ramen restaurant chain has opened its newest location in Crown Point. Founded in Kearny Mesa in 2001 by Osaka-born Isamu Morikizono, Tajima is known for its ramen dishes, poke and karaage bowls, fried rice, pork gyoza, chicken katsu and more. The new location is open from 5-10 p.m. daily. 3782 Ingraham St., San Diego. tajimaramen.com
New Cava locations debut: Cava, the Mediterranean-inspired bowls restaurant chain, has opened two new San Diego County locations in the past six weeks. The new spots are at 1011 Union St., Suite 105, in downtown San Diego, and at 573 Grand Ave., Suite 120, in San Marcos. Visit cava.com
P.B. bakery takes a break: Wildwood Flour Bakery, a crowd-funded labor of love that Noah Orloff and Lauren Silver opened in July 2022 in Pacific Beach, closed its doors on Dec. 22. But it’s not the end of the road for the business, which was known for its sourdough breads, pastries and concha. Facing a rent hike on the aging Garnet Avenue building they occupied, the owners opted to close, take a breather and then look for a newer, more affordable location to reopen. For updates, follow instagram.com/wildwoodflourbakery
Fig Tree Cafe bows out of Mission Valley: Rise & Shine Hospitality Group, which owns six breakfast/lunch/brunch restaurant concepts throughout San Diego County, closed its Fig Tree Cafe location in Mission Valley on Dec. 15. The company also recently shuttered its East Village location of Fig Tree but that space will be revamped it another new Rise & Shine concept opening in March called 6th & G Breakfast Co. Fig Tree fans can still find the dishes they love at the remaining Fig Tree locations in Pacific Beach and Liberty Station. figtreeeatery.com
Aldea welcomes new culinary team: Aldea, the California-Baja coastal restaurant that opened last February in the former Alfonso’s/Mermaids & Cowboys space in La Jolla Village, has a new chef and bar director. Executive Chef Augustin “Augie” Saucedo comes to Aldea after 20 years in the restaurant business including La Jolla’s the Marine Room and Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa. Aldea’s new beverage director is Herman Ochoa, whose family has a long history in Tijuana’s restaurant industry. Saucedo’s new menu features dishes including chermoula-marinated Spanish octopus, Baja oysters, Jalisco-style birria and more. 1251 Prospect St., La Jolla. aldealajolla.com
San Diego Restaurant Week returns: More than 100 restaurants in more than 30 San Diego County neighborhoods are set to participate in the California Restaurant Association’s San Diego Restaurant Week promotion, running Jan. 26 to Feb. 2. In the coming weeks, participating restaurants will post menus online for three-course dinners starting at $30. Some restaurants will also offer prix-fixe lunch, brunch and “drink as a course” menus. Diners can shop by neighborhood or by food type at sandiegorestaurantweek.com.
