Colosseo Cucina Italiana’s Paper Plane cocktail is made with mezcal, Amaro Averna, Aperol and lemon juice.
Photo by Solid State Marketing
FLEURETTE
Following the success of the Michelin-recognized Callie, chef-owner Travis Swikard has opened Fleurette in La Jolla, a coastal dining destination celebrating the sun-soaked flavors of the French-Italian Riviera through a Southern California lens. The menu highlights Swikard’s signature cuisine du soleil, from housemade pasta featuring local, seasonal ingredients to refined starters and mains inspired by Provence and the Mediterranean. The experience is rounded out by innovative cocktails from lead bartender James Roe and a thoughtfully curated wine program emphasizing Old World and California selections by lead sommelier Tracy Latimer. Designed by Studio UNLTD, the 120-seat space pairs sculptural materials and soft, wave-like lighting with a greenhouse-style patio and garden that supplies herbs and citrus for the kitchen. Fleurette feels equal parts coastal escape and intimate neighborhood restaurant—go ahead, dig in.
NÓMADA
It’s a fresh chapter for Grand Restaurant Group, which recently debuted Nómada in Carlsbad, its first new concept under chef-partner Alex Carballo and COO Gianina Pickens. Inspired by Carballo’s Sinaloan roots and travels through Mexico, the restaurant offers a regional approach to Mexican cuisine with wood-fired techniques and SoCal coastal sensibility. The menu spans raw bar selections, antojitos, tacos and composed entrees, highlighting local seafood, housemade tortillas and classic preparations from Sinaloa to the Yucatán. A destination-worthy bar program built around agave spirits and Latin American influences mirrors the kitchen’s spirit of exploration. Set within a sprawling indoor-outdoor space designed for gathering, live music and late nights, Nómada marks a confident new era for the family-owned group.
Nómada’s citrusy ceviche is served atop a crispy tostada.
ROPPONGI RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
Roppongi Restaurant & Lounge has returned to La Jolla, reintroducing its signature blend of refined Asian cuisine and immersive design to the space where it first made its mark. Created by celebrated restaurateur Sami Ladeki—who has shaped San Diego’s dining scene since 1989—the restaurant honors its 1998 debut while embracing a fresh, forward-looking vision. The menu brings back longtime favorites like the crab stack, Mongolian shrimp and Tahitian bananas, alongside sushi, wok-fired dishes and shareable plates made with seasonal ingredients. On the beverage side, enjoy craft cocktails, Asian spirits and selections from the extensive wine and sake list. Designed in collaboration with interior designer Stephanie Parisi, the reimagined space blends sculptural architecture, curated art and tactile materials into a setting for a cinematic yet intimate experience. As Roppongi looks to the future while honoring its past, its reemergence proves you can go home again.
Dining and Cooking