More Openings, Closures

A few more restaurants have gone out of business. Blanca, a very upscale restaurant in Solana Beach, has finally closed its doors. The principals say they are looking for a new location. Another restaurant that just closed is the second location of Beachgrass Cafe. This is the one that was just behind Maria's Mexican restaurant at El Camino Real and Encinitas Blvd. This location just never caught on. For me it might have been the decor. It had no ambience, in my opinion.

With every negative there is a positive. Swami's will be opening in the space formerly occupied by Beachgrass Cafe. This is Swami's third location. They also have a fairly new location in Carlsbad.

Burlap is the new hot spot in Del Mar. Acutally, it's in the shopping center where the new fancy theatres are, at Del Mar Heights and El Camino Real. I have not had an opportunity to dine there yet, but the reviews seem positive, and I will try it soon.

Another new place that I want to try is called Stacked. It is in the Fashion Valley Mall. It features burgers, pizzas and salads, but with a twist. Every table has an iPad, where you build your own burger. You put your order in at your table, with all the specifics you want. A little gimmicky, but it sounds fun. The owners were the two men that started BJ's back in the early 1990's. They are no longer involved in BJ's, and started Stacked in Torrance, and have now expanded to San Diego. Their concept is to free up their waiters to give excellent service and not have to worry about taking food orders. Several other restaurants in the area have also introduced iPads to their restaurants. Candelas, Naked Pizza, Toast Enoteca and Cucina and Aqua Al2 all use iPads in order give the customers a different experience and to provide better service for their patrons. Servers are being replaced with technology.

I'm trying to keep you updated on new restaurants in North County, but I know I don't mention many new places (and closures) in Carmel Valley and La Jolla. I would like to, so if you have places you know are opening or closing, please let me know. For now, these new places I mentioned should keep your stomach happy.