The Dish: Lilo, Lucien named to Robb Report’s ‘Most Beautiful New Restaurants’ list

Two fine-dining restaurants that opened in Carlsbad and La Jolla last year have been named to Robb Report’s list of the 21 Most Beautiful New Restaurants in America for 2025.

Lilo restaurant in Carlsbad was ranked No. 4 and Lucien in La Jolla ranked No. 9 on the list, which also included restaurants in New York City, Chicago, Las Vegas and Washington, D.C.

Lilo owner John Resnick and chef Eric Bost turned the back portion of a long-shuttered Boogie Board factory in Carlsbad Village into this progressive 22-seat tasting-menu restaurant that earned a Michelin star just a few months after opening its doors last spring. Lilo was designed by L.A.’s Bells + Whistles architecture firm. Robb Report digital editor Nicole Hoey praised the restaurant’s Southern California-inspired style of indoor-outdoor living.

Lucien, a 12-course tasting menu restaurant in La Jolla Village, was opened last July by chef Elijah Arizmendi and his partners, and is named after his young son. It features an outdoor garden bar and a dark interior with tables tucked in sea cave-style alcoves. It was designed by the San Diego architecture firm Tecture. Hoey praised the balance and contrast between Lucien’s garden and sea spaces.

Other California restaurants that made the list were the oyster shell-inspired Cento Raw Bar in Las Angeles at No. 4, and in spots 19-21, respectively, were the colorfully eclectic Bar Issi in Palm Springs, boldly artistic Lucia in Los Angeles and Italy-inspired Via Aurelia in San Francisco.

San Diego named top “vegan-friendly” city: Betway Insider, an online sports blog, published a survey last week that ranked San Diego No. 1 on its list of Top Vegan-Friendly Cities in North America. San Diego’s ranking was based on data from Online Live Casino, combined the number of vegan restaurants, top-rated vegan restaurants, vegan stores and positive diner sentiment. San Diego earned 98.51 out of 100 possible points on the 10-city list. In spots 2 through 5 were Orlando with 91.3, Austin with 67.7, Tampa with 53.97 and Cincinatti with 51.91. San Diego only has about 40 all-vegan restaurants, but hundreds of restaurants, pop-ups, bakeries and markets that offer vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Love Letters Pizza opens: The owners of San Diego’s Scrimshaw Coffee opened this new pizzeria in December in the former Alcove Wine Bar & Eatery space right next door to the coffee shop on El Cajon Boulevard at 56th Street. Owner Will Remsbotton worked with baker Sienna Walters of Companion Bread to develop the crust for the restaurant’s Brooklyn-style pizzas.The menu features appetizers, salads, pasta, pizzas, desserts, beer and wine. Hours are 4 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays. 5540 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. 619-539-7666, instagram.com/loveletterspizza_sd.

24 Suns introduces tasting menu: Oceanside’s 24 Suns — a 1-year-old contemporary regional Chinese restaurant named a Michelin Guide recommendation in 2025 — has introduced a new tasting menu option. The 9- to 12-course menu option is priced at $150, with optional $40 caviar course and optional $150 beverage pairing. Chefs and co-owners Nic Webber and Jacob Jordan say the new tasting menu was inspired by chi energies to bring a focal point to each dish, like lake energy for a duck course and mountain energy for the cuisine of Anhui, a mountainous region of China. Open for dinner Wednesdays-Sundays, 24 Suns also offers an a la carte menu as well and full bar service. 3375 Mission Ave., Oceanside. 24sunsdining.com

George’s hires new pastry chef: Zach Schneider, the former pastry chef at 31Thirtyone by Deckman’s in North Park, has been hired as the new pastry chef for George’s at the Cove in La Jolla. Schneider left 31Thirtyone last year during its transition to the more casual concept Deckman’s North at 3131. Schneider replaces Anna Adams, who left in December. A La Mesa native, Schneider previously worked at Michelin-starred Press Restaurant in Napa Valley and later at Kingfisher in Golden Hill before joining Deckman’s. George’s has two La Jolla locations. Its indoor Level2 dining room and bar and its rooftop Ocean Terrace, which will reopen later this month after a major remodel. instagram.com/georgesatthecove

Swell Plates Series kicks off Wednesday: Visit Oceanside will present its second annual Swell Plate Series promotion, running Jan. 14 through Feb. 11. Designed to promote the city’s restaurant scene, the event will feature 16 Oceanside restaurants, each creating a signature dish inspired by the culinary community’s spirit, local ingredients and collaborations. Diners can collect passport stamps by visiting the participating restaurants, take culinary food tours and be entered in a contest for restaurant gift cards. For each signature dish sold, a portion will support Wildcoast’s beach sand replenishment programs. Participants include 333 Pacific, Allmine, Dija Mara, Wrench & Rodent, Flying Pig, 24 Suns, Matsu, Merenda, Jitters Coffee Pub and many more. For the full list and featured dishes and drinks, visit visitoceanside.org/swell-plates-series.