The interior of Sobremesa, a new Lake Murray restaurant. (Photo by Luis Monteagudo Jr.)
When local restaurateur Andrea Carbonaro hosts the grand opening of his new restaurant Friday in Lake Murray, it will be different from the other eateries fashioned by his family.
Sobremesa is a stylish, modern restaurant that focuses on Latin American cuisine, with shareable Latin dishes, many entrees featuring seafood, and handcrafted cocktails.
“We’re excited to introduce flavors that go beyond what people typically experience in San Diego, dishes rooted in real Latin tradition, designed to spark conversation, curiosity and that feeling of being welcomed into someone’s home.”
Menu items include marinated shrimp and refried beans, a seared halibut, grilled half chicken with olive mole sauce and a ribeye carne asada.
That menu is quite a difference from what Carbonara’s family has offered before. The family’s portfolio includes Aromi Italian Cuisine in La Mesa, Trattoria Da Sofia in Kensington and the recently opened Carbonaro’s, an Italian fast-casual eatery on the edge of San Diego State University.
Carbonaro said he wanted to offer a different cuisine simply because, “I love the Latin American food.”
Sobremesa is a family-run business that will be operated by Carbonaro, his brother, Dario Carbonaro, and cousins Mariano Liga and Francesco Mancino.
Family and friendships are a key theme of the restaurant.
Sobremesa, which translates in English to “on the table,” is meant to encourage guests to savor meaningful moments and conversations over their food and drinks.
“Sobremesa has always been about connections,” Carbornaro said.
Adding to the Latin feel, the restaurant has visual touches inspired by the Sonoran Desert. It can seat 130 guests and includes a lounge near the bar and an elevated dining area.
The restaurant is located in a building that used to house Pioneer BBQ.
“I loved the venue, how big it was and how charming it was,” said Carbonaro. He added, “I hope that people that come here are going to enjoy the food and the real Latin American cuisine.”
Sobremesa, 8622 Lake Murray Blvd., will be open Sunday through Thursday, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 3:30 p.m. to midnight. More information can be found via @sobremesasandiego on Instagram.
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Dining and Cooking