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The closure of Wellington Steakhouse may be a sign of the world to come
Where’s the Beef?
Photo by Sam Wells
Photo by Sam Wells
Before you bludgeon me with marrow bones, know that I am an omnivore. Sure, I eat mostly veggies and grains two-thirds of the day, as recommended by experts far smarter than myself. But pork belly and rib-eyes and roasted chicken are firmly fastened to my food soul. I’d have to switch jobs and families to become a full-time vegetarian, plus take an online course in piety. I am, however, someone who studies the sustainability of food. In that pursuit, I’ve found that ignorance is by far the tastiest option.
Here’s a sample of the statistics on animal agriculture:
Does this mean we should all file our incisors down and eat nothing but crickets at Tacos Perla? Monkishly pursue life as human Priuses? Not necessarily. Even vegans drive cars, which aren’t exactly a B12 shot for the environment. Every human makes their own choices on what sort of tattoo they will leave on the planet. But, from an environmental and health standpoint, evidence suggests meat—especially lamb or beef—should be a side dish, not the whole show. Show me a climatologist who suggests eating more meatloaf, and I will show you a climatologist in ethical decline.
It means we’re gonna have to pump the brakes on burger mania at some point. And, one day, steakhouses may struggle to maintain regular clientele.
It also means things like this happen. Trish Watlington just shut down her Mission Hills steakhouse, Wellington Steak + Martini Lounge, converting it into Bar by Red Door with casual bites. You could argue that the Wellington was an unwise use of space—charming room and good food, but not enough tables to be financially productive. You could also cite the fact that restaurants need to sell alcohol in order to survive, and the bar will now serve as a complement to her restaurant next door, The Red Door.
But Watlington, one of the city’s strongest advocates for sustainable food, says she couldn’t ethically justify operating a steakhouse anymore—especially in San Diego.
“You evolve over time,” she explains. “And we got to the point where if we’re truly going to be a regional restaurant, beef is the wrong product. Getting beef out of Wellington is not only better for the environment. But you can’t get local beef. San Diego doesn’t have grass because it doesn’t have water. It’s a never-ending frustration. And you certainly can’t get it on a level you need for a steak house. So you end up having to buy meat that I don’t want to put on the table.”
And so come late August, in its place will sit The Bar by Red Door, a farm-to-glass cocktail hangout with small bites from exec chef, Miguel Valdez. It’s probably a better complement to her business, and a more profitable one. But knowing Watlington’s track record of sustainable food activism, her statement about wanting to cut down her beef options doesn’t read like spin. The Red Door still serves a beef entrée, but she’s moving farther and farther away from the beef business.
And she’s not alone in that pursuit.
Top farm-to-table restaurant expands its ethos to the glass
The Red Door has been at the forefront of farm-to-table restaurants in San Diego since they opened. The lesser-known other half of their eat-drink haven was always The Wellington next door—a small, intimate, sexy little steakhouse.
And now owner Trish Watlington is getting out of the meat business, for ethical and practical reasons (meat being a pretty big tax on American ecology). So they took months transforming the place into Bar by Red Door.
It’ll have small plates, like a quinoa sope topped with Mary’s chicken, shallots, cilantro and poached egg; cactus salad with feta, jalapeno, garlic, shallots and strawberries, and grilled carrots with burrata, carrot-top pesto, Meyer lemon balsamic and toasted almonds.
But the focus will by farm-to-table cocktails from bartender Cervantes Magaña—ingredients from the garden (Red Door has their own and grow about half of the produce for the restaurant), house-made syrups and bitters, plus Southern California spirits.
It’s opens tonight. And here’s a sneak peek of the design.
FIRST LOOK: Bar by Red Door
FIRST LOOK: Bar by Red Door
FIRST LOOK: Bar by Red Door
FIRST LOOK: Bar by Red Door
FIRST LOOK: Bar by Red Door
FIRST LOOK: Bar by Red Door
FIRST LOOK: Bar by Red Door
FIRST LOOK: Bar by Red Door
FIRST LOOK: Bar by Red Door
FIRST LOOK: Bar by Red Door
FIRST LOOK: Bar by Red Door
The Red Door's Re-Source dinner sheds light on how much damn food we waste
The stats on food waste are staggering. Almost 40 percent of the food in the U.S. is never eaten. In 2010, America wasted 33.79 million tons of food. That’s enough to fill the Empire State Building not once, not twice, but 91 times. If the U.S. wasted just 5 percent less food, it would be enough to feed 4 million people.
When you consider one in six Americans face hunger on a daily basis, the stats seem especially grotesque, if not cruel.
There are many reasons: preparing too much food and not eating the leftovers; throwing out food past its “use by” or “best by” date; badly prepared food, etc. But one of the more vapid and ridiculous reasons are that supermarkets refuse to sell “ugly” fruits and vegetables.
“Ugly” food, and food waste overall, is the driving ideas behind the upcoming “Re-Source” dinner on April 6 at The Red Door restaurant in Mission Hills. The four-course dinner (with bonus bites) will use perfectly good food that would otherwise go to waste.
Red Door owner Trish Watlington explains:
What’s the idea?
It’s a dinner made completely from food that would be unwanted, discarded or thrown away. The purpose is to demonstrate that the 50 percent of food that’s thrown away in the world doesn’t have to be—especially in light of all our talk about how we need to feed billions of people. So it’s to bring awareness to the issue and raise money for the SD Food System Alliance.
What kind of unused food?
We’ll be using pastry scraps from Cardamom Café, and citrus and bananas from Whole Foods in Del Mar. We’re not really sure, because we’ll have to wait until the day before to know what food is slated to be wasted. We have a great relationship with the farmers markets. You’ d be amazed at what the farmers markets throw away at the end of the day because the fruit or vegetable is bruised or cracked or a little soft in one spot. That’s food that’s perfectly fine. You could cut around the bruise or put them into dessert or applesauce.
Who else is involved?
Kitchens for Good. They’re a catering company and culinary education program. Their catering menus are predominantly made using food “waste” that’s donated to them—like crates of oranges that have fallen from trees.
How can the average joe waste less food.
If people would buy from farmers markets, a lot more food wouldn’t get wasted. Standard size doesn’t apply at farmers markets. For fruits and veggies to go to the grocery store, they have to be a standard size, or they go into the trash. So that’s an opportunity.
Why’s it important to you?
Food waste is near and dear to my heart. My mom was raised in the Depression. She had the ethic of ‘you can’t waste anything, because we don’t have anything.’ In Europe, the ethic is that you only use what you have. We have gotten so far away from that as a society. Fortunately for me, our chef Miguel Valdez grew up the same way in a poor family, so he learned to make something out of nothing.
You can buy tickets to the “Re-Source” dinner by clicking here.
An ugly carrot, and a funny one.
Drink 182 will pair pop-punk nostalgia with New England-style pizza starting this summer
If you’ve ever squeezed yourself into a pair of black skinny jeans with a studded belt, sported a track jacket under a band t-shirt, or swept your Manic Panic-hued hair so far to the side that your part got caught in your cartilage earring, I have good news: Ocean Beach will get a shot of emo and pop-punk nostalgia when Drink 182 opens this July.
The pop-punk bar and pizza spot comes with bonafide scene points. Co-founder Jay Nightride runs the music production studio Nightride Visuals, has worked with artists like Steve Aoki, Lil Jon, and Fall Out Boy, and also plays in Death Cab for Karaoke, a live karaoke band that performs every month at Soda Bar (among other venues). His partner Tony Jaw is easier to spot—he’s the guy with the sky-high mohawk manning the karaoke booth at Redwing Bar & Grill who’s been in the local bar and hospitality business for over a decade.
Nightride says he’s had the idea for an emo enclave for years, but it wasn’t until after Covid that he partnered with Jaw and got the funding to move forward. “What I was looking to build was a place that I would want to be, where would I want to go to remember these nostalgic songs,” he says.
Pending permits and final inspections, Drink 182 is slated to open the second half of July. The vibe will be dive bar meets emo night, with memorabilia from different bands who have supported the project splashed across the walls, plus a few arcade games, TVs, and (I assume) a decent sound system. The hours are still undetermined, but Nightride says they tentatively plan to be open until 2 a.m. on weekends and Wednesdays for the OB Farmers Market. In the mornings, they’ll serve fresh pastries and coffee from the similarly music-aligned James Coffee Company (whose co-owner David Kennedy is a member of Angels & Airwaves with blink-182’s Tom DeLonge).
But it’ll be the pizza that really stands out—or at least, they hope. “We’re doing New England beach pizza… a really niche pizza that not a lot of people would know about, unless you’re from North Shore, Massachusetts,” says Nightride, a former Bostonian. “It’s a thin crust, very sweet sauce, very simple, fast, go-to-the-beach kind of thing.”
“Beach pizza” is characterized by its rectangular shape, very thin crust, sweet tomato sauce, and slices of Provolone cheese with minimal toppings. Drink 182’s version will feature homemade dough and sauce, as well as freshly sliced Boar’s Head Provolone. And yes, they are aware there are already a lot of pizza options in the area. It won’t be the same, Nightride promises.
“Everybody’s first reaction when they hear ‘pizza’ is like, ‘Oh great, another pizza place in OB,’” he laughs. “But we’re trying to do something different, just enough to differentiate it and give people another option.” If you’re not keen on the style, try one of their “drunkables,” another nostalgic riff they hope the pop-punk and emo crowd will appreciate. And if you still need a reason to give Drink 182 a try, I have more good news—you don’t actually have to break out your old skinny jeans. (In fact, please don’t.)
Drink 182 opens July 2026 at 5049 Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach.

Listen Now: The Latest in San Diego’s Food and Drink Scene
Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].
Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
Tips from the trusted experts at Mauzy Cooling, Heating, Plumbing, and Electrical
San Diego summers can be brutal. But since the hottest period is typically late summer into early fall, San Diegans still have time to prepare. The pros at Mauzy Cooling, Heating, Plumbing, and Electrical are standing by to help homeowners fortify their homes against the elements and ensure their air conditioning is as frosty as the penguins that serve as the company’s mascots.
Many homeowners underestimate the load their AC system faces, especially in the inland valleys where temperatures regularly top 100 degrees. San Diego regularly sees multi-day heatwaves each summer, and a system that struggles on the first day will likely fail by the third. Longer run times, unusual sounds or smells, and uneven cooling from room to room are all signs that your system may not survive the next hot spell.
Systems typically last 12 to 17 years, but there are exceptions. If a system is approaching that, or is already there, a professional evaluation is recommended before summer really heats up. A good rule of thumb: If you can’t remember when your system was last serviced, it’s due.
“As technology changes, systems become smarter and smarter,” says Sean O’Connor, an install manager at Mauzy with 42 years of experience. “There are a lot of people out there who will say a system’s only good for 10 years. I don’t buy that—these systems are built to last as long as they’re taken care of.”
There are also a few steps homeowners can take between services to extend the life of their system. Regularly changing a dirty filter—especially if you have kids or pets—and keeping an outdoor unit clean can help head off problems in the future, says O’Connor.
Also, be realistic about whether it’s time to replace a unit. O’Connor likens pouring money into salvaging a faulty unit with patchwork repairs and replacement parts to “tripping over a dollar to pick up a dime.” When one part fails, others are sure to follow, and newer parts may not be compatible with older units. Mauzy recommends homeowners use the 50% rule: If a repair costs more than 50% of the system’s replacement value, and the equipment is over 10 years old, replacement is usually the better long-term value. And don’t forget the ducting. An older house that was built with heat and later had air conditioning added may not have sufficient airflow, regardless of how good the system is.
Last but not least, homeowners should know who to trust when it comes to their homes. Built on three generations of professional integrity, Mauzy has grown into not just a leader for cooling, heating, plumbing, and electrical services, but a leader in the community known for supporting local nonprofits across an array of causes. To ensure complete peace of mind, Mauzy stands behind a comprehensive 12-point guarantee that outlines its commitment to outstanding service, quality equipment, expert technicians who understand how the local microclimates affect HVAC performance, and no upsells or surprises on the bill.
“We go the extra mile. That’s what sets us apart,” O’Connor says. To get a free quote today, visit mauzy.com.

From surprise revivals to changing dining habits, these are the shifts redefining the local culinary landscape
If absence makes hearts (and stomachs) grow fonder, then shuttered restaurants quickly become the hottest tickets in town—something a number of iconic institutions found out after taking very public hiatuses after historically long runs. For instance, following a lengthy (and extremely flip-floppy) closing process after 92 years in business, Las Cuatro Milpas reopened two blocks away in Mercado del Barrio. Similarly, Carlsbad butcher shop Tip Top Meats reopened in the same location (albeit a smaller space) after the death of founder Joachim “Big John” Haedrich in 2023. Finally, after a whopping decade out of business, Sami Ladeki and chef Alfie Szeprethy brought back Roppongi to its original Prospect Street space, where it was the talk of the town in the late ’90s. All came back under the same proprietors, so they weren’t third-party nostalgia-licensing deals. The algorithm may have ravaged our attention spans away from all but the newest and shiniest, but this proves there’s still hope for our collective prefrontal cortex.
Other local eateries honored their pasts by bringing in new perspectives. The Lion’s Share in Embarcadero, Milton’s Deli in Del Mar, Dudley’s Bakery in Santa Ysabel, and J-K’s Greek Cafe in La Mesa handed over the keys to new owners willing to take on a big task: maintain the soul of icons through particularly rough economic circumstances for restaurants, navigate big feelings from longtime regulars (who often don’t take kindly to change), and make some necessary changes to keep going for another few decades. Taking over a project in process can be a lot harder than starting from scratch. But building that feel-good nostalgia doesn’t happen overnight, so it sure helps to have a well-established playbook of success passed down from those who came before.

It wasn’t just restaurant groups from Los Angeles that decided to put down roots en masse, although San Diego saw plenty of LA transplants recently (Sugarfish, Mr. Charlie’s, For the Win, Katsuya Ko, Bacari). Global brands like Chef Fei, Zuma, and Pepper Lunch have locations of their own on the way, and upscale Canadian eatery Joey joined to the inescapable gravitational pull of Westfield UTC’s culinary cosmos for its first spot in America’s Finest City. Good to see the rest of the world is catching up with what we’ve been seeing the last few years—San Diego is a dining destination already on the rise.
Between the never-ending news cycle of doom and perimenopause brain fog, I’m at the stage in life where I’m more than happy to let someone else make a decision for me, especially when it comes to what’s for dinner. And based on the way a lot of menus look right now, I’m not alone. It seems like half the places I visit offer some version of a prix fixe, omakase, or tasting menu. Restaurants are embracing the curated experience to solve the problem of affordability (a fixed menu reduces food and labor costs, guarantees an acceptable check average, etc.) and critical thinking in one fell swoop. Omakase (meaning “I leave it up to you”) is far from a new concept in high-end Japanese sushi culture, but now that it’s popping up everywhere from coffee experiences to grab-and-go sushi and sandwiches, it’s gone from somewhat niche to nearly omnipresent.

The world got an up-close look at San Diego’s coffee industry when we hosted the premier specialty coffee expo World of Coffee for the first time this April. San Diego’s long and rich coffee history stretches back to the late 19th century. Things percolated fairly quietly for around a century before really picking up steam. Today, there are nearly 200 specialty roasters and cafes across the county, with many earning national accolades like the Good Food Award (Steady State Roasting, 2020; Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, 2023, 2021, 2019, 2017, 2016), Roaster of the Year by Roast Magazine (Mostra Coffee, 2020; Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, 2012), and the Specialty Coffee Association Coffee Design Award for packaging (Rikka Fika, 2026). Now that we’ve moved past the comically insufferable coffee snob era of the early 2000s, even java newbies can feel comfortable walking into pretty much any coffee shop in San Diego, asking questions, trying a few things, and feeling confident they’re going to get great service and a great beverage.
Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
Offering everything from smashburgers to sundaes, the latest food hall from Tiger Hospitality opens its doors this weekend
Omakase and fixed-price menus are one way hospitality businesses are addressing our collective food decision-making fatigue. But on the opposite end of the spectrum, some restaurateurs are offering a bonanza of totally unrelated options for people ordering on a whim. Why not pair a lobster grilled cheese sandwich, açaí bowl, and ridiculously loaded hot dog?
Starting June 27, diners can satisfy their spur-of-the-moment appetites at Global Fork in Little Italy, the latest food hall from Southern California-based Tiger Hospitality.
Six different food concepts will be featured in the 4,685-square-foot, indoor-outdoor space along the Piazza della Famiglia promenade. The space’s inaugural lineup includes a mix of Tiger Hospitality-owned concepts (Cosmos Burger, La Vida, Lobster Lab, and Prik Ki Nu Thai) and outside operators (Seattle-based Moto Pizza and Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream). The space next door, Good Enough Cocktail Club, is another Tiger-backed brand, operated by the team behind Same Same and Amor y Magia in Carlsbad.
Cosmos Burger serves smashburgers stacked with classic toppings, while Lobster Lab focuses on seafood favorites including lobster rolls, shrimp rolls, and lobster mac n’ cheese. Prik Ki Nu Thai adds Thai street food to the mix, with traditional noodle, rice, and stir-fry dishes. And for those looking for something on the lighter side, La Vida offers things like smoothies, salads, and wraps.

Moto Pizza focuses on Detroit-style square pizza with Filipino influences and, despite the name, is not affiliated with Mr. Moto Pizza. Handel’s, which began in Ohio in 1945, will offer dozens of flavors ranging from staples like chocolate and vanilla to rotating specialties packed with candies, cookies, and other mix-ins. (Handel’s already has a number of locations across San Diego, with a La Mesa store coming later this year.)
Some of these vendors already operate at Miramar Food Hall, the other Tiger-owned food hall in San Clemente. And some of them will also appear in Station8, the next food hall slated to open in UC San Diego’s Theatre District Living and Learning Neighborhood later this fall. But if you ask me, reviving the space that housed the Little Italy Food Hall before its closure last February is a far better outcome than leaving empty suites smack in the middle of an area saturated with fantastic food options. Plus, where else can you order a slice of beef adobo pizza alongside squares of caviar toast and a banana split?
Global Fork opens June 27 at 550 W. Date Street, Suite B, in Little Italy. Initial operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, but vendor hours may differ.

Listen Now: The Latest in San Diego’s Food and Drink Scene
Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].
Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
SeaWorld dazzles with a drone show, big-name entertainers, new animal adventures and more
Nights are heating up at SeaWorld San Diego. The quintessential summertime staple on Mission Bay is transforming into a destination for unforgettable day-to-night adventures, bringing back some of its most popular Summer Nights programming and introducing exciting new experiences sure to delight both kids and adults alike.

The 2026 Summer Day to Night at SeaWorld San Diego is the park’s most ambitious season yet. SeaWorld has planned a highly anticipated entertainment lineup that features nine weeks of throwback concerts featuring R&B and hip‑hop favorites from the ‘90s and early 2000s, including Jordin Sparks, Too $hort and Warren G, Ashanti, and an array of boy band heartthrobs performing together as part of the Pop 2000 Tour.
New this season is perhaps the park’s most visible update: a nightly drone show, Ocean of Dreams, which illuminates the sky with hundreds of synchronized sparklers. Drones form sea otters, sharks, dolphins, and a majestic orca that tell a breathtaking 12-minute story of marine life and underwater ecosystems. The show culminates with a spectacular electric neon finale celebrating hope, wonder, and ocean stewardship.
Nighttime visitors are also in store for animal adventures that fuse education with high-energy fun and the dreamy ambiance of nighttime. The park has launched two all-new animal presentations: Shamu’s Celebration: Light Up the Night and Dolphins: Touch the Sky. Shamu’s Celebration: Light Up the Night features vibrant lighting, music, and dynamic choreography that celebrates the power and beauty of killer whales. Dolphins: Touch the Sky showcases playful bottlenose dolphins and the special connection between humans and the natural world. And back by popular demand is fan-favorite Sea Lions Tonite. See the charming pinnipeds splash, play, and parody pop culture in this refreshed crowd-pleaser.

More must-sees: a newly reimagined Shark Encounter, one of the country’s more immersive exhibits highlighting 11 different species up close, SeaWorld’s beloved BMX Blast! stunt show, and high-seas escapade, Pirates Ahoy! The Battle for Mermaid Cove. And don’t miss the park’s all-new Deep Sea Disco, which encourages guests to dance the night away under the glow of the SkyTower, and vibrant closing time laser light display Laser Reef Summer Spectacular.
Amp up the nighttime vibe with local craft beers, curated cocktails, and nostalgic theme park treats with $1 beer all summer long. SeaWorld is the place for day to night summer fun. When the sun goes down, SeaWorld lights up, and inspires guests of all ages to embrace their inner whimsy and see why generations of San Diegans head to SeaWorld to make memories they’ll never forget.