TJ’s Tacos El Franc to open first U.S. location in National City
Tacos El Franc, one of Tijuana’s most celebrated taquerias, will open its first U.S. location later this month in the Westfield Plaza Bonita mall in National City. The local restaurant will replicate the style and menu of the original shop, with a master taquero behind a charcoal grill, high-top tables and a bar serving Mexican beer, micheladas and clamatos.
The business was started by Don Javier Valadez in 1974 as a street cart, before he opened his restaurant in 1996. It has been recognized by the Michelin Guide Mexico for its adobada and carne asada tacos. The new U.S. venture is headed by Roberto Kelly and Salvador Lombroso, who have plans to open several more U.S. locations.
“When we start seeing familiar faces return week after week, like we do in Tijuana, that’s when we’ll know we’ve made it,” Kelly said. “Our pride and joy is in the quality and taste of our tacos, and we can’t wait to share that with San Diego.”
Tacos El Franc will open at Westfield Plaza Bonita, Space 1108, 3030 Plaza Bonita Road National City, CA 91950. Details at tacoselfrancusa.com.
A.R. Valentien reopening: Following a monthslong closure to renovate and expand its kitchen, A.R. Valentien — the flagship restaurant at the Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla — held its soft reopening Monday. The farm-to-table restaurant, overseen by executive chef Kelli Crosson and new sommelier Schuyler Munroe, now has an expanded pastry area, butcher shop and walk-in coolers and other state-of-the-art tools. To celebrate the reopening, Crosson has introduced new breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert menus, as well as a monthly four-course dinner tasting menu.New hours are 8 to 11 a.m. for breakfast, 11:30-2 p.m. for lunch and 5:30-9:30 p.m. for dinner. Visit lodgetorreypines.com/ar-valentien.
Bar at the Beau offering hearty fare
The Beau Hotel, which opened a few months ago in the newly renovated 1880s-era Leland Hotel in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, will welcome on May 16 an American comfort food restaurant-bar named The Bar at the Beau. Overseen by executive chef Robin James, formerly of downtown’s Top of the Market restaurant, the Bar at the Beau will serve a hearty menu of reimagined classics with dishes like duck pot pie, braised pork shank, grilled octopus, lasagna and pineapple upside down cake. It will also serve Prohibition-style cocktails. The Beau is at 927 Sixth Ave., downtown. Visit thebeauhotel.com/bar.
Decore opens in East Village: The long-vacant Cafe Chloe space in East Village has a new tenant, Decore, an Italian restaurant owned by executive chef Giorgio Corletti (a partner in Coronado’s Nado Republic) and partners Giovanni Siracusa and Sandro Leitner. The restaurant serves appetizers, Roman-style pizzas, pasta, steaks, pork, seafood and chicken and more. The cocktail menu features Italian wines and aperitivo cocktails. The restaurant is open from 4 to 9 p.m. daily at 721 Ninth Ave., Suite 1, downtown. Visit decoresd.com.
A Lo Fresco opens in San Marcos: On April 26, A Lo Fresco opened in the North City area of San Marcos. Owned by Olga Saldivar and Emilio Herrera, the 50-seat restaurant serves healthy, globally inspired cuisine featuring the flavors of Mexico, Cuba, Peru and Korea. The customizable bowls, wraps and burritos are gluten-free, seed oil-free and vegan friendly. The restaurant also serves organic sourdough toasts, sugar-free cold-pressed juices and smoothies with ingredients like sea moss and spirulina. The restaurant is at 250 N. City Drive, Suite 5, San Marcos. Visit alofresco.com.
Talitha Coffee opening in Bankers Hill: On Saturday, the latest Talitha Coffee Roasters location will open in the former WestBean Coffee space at 2550 Fifth Ave., Suite 75, in Bankers Hill. Talitha’s mission is to use its proceeds to provide for survivors of human trafficking. On Saturday, cafe hours will be 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. The first 250 customers will be entered in a giveaway drawing for a one-year subscription for home-delivered Talitha coffee. Visit https://talitha.com.
South American steakhouse opens in Little Italy: Piedra Santa, an Argentinian-style steakhouse has opened at 555 W. Ash St. in San Diego’s Little Italy. The restaurant serves an extensive selection of , dry-aged Argentinian steaks, which are flame grilled and served with Argentinian wines and cocktails. The 3,000-square-foot restaurant owned by Alberto Morreale. It opens at 4 p.m. daily for dinner. Visit piedrasantasd.com.
Venissimo Cheese has new owner: After 21 years operating their Venissimo Cheese business, owners Roger and Gina Freize have sold their company to 17-year employee Rob Graff, who has served as their house cheese monger and director of cheese education, corporate and travel events. The company was started in 2008 in Mission Hills and has expanded to two more locations in Del Mar and North Park. venissimo.com
