Why live life on a strict diet when a lifestyle of gourmet indulgence is so much more fun? Besides, San Diego hardly makes it easy to resist those insistent carb cravings, as new irresistible restaurants seem to open up all across the county, every weekend.

Sure, it’s important to look svelte and stylish at the season’s hottest pool parties, but summer is also a busy time for entertaining friends and escaping on much-needed staycations. Find a happy medium in visiting the best new restaurants in town, while perhaps refraining from ordering that fourth cocktail and second dessert. Just a little tip from one calorie-conscious foodie to another.

As summer heats up, make reservations at one of the many new San Diego restaurants, including Burlap, Café Sevilla, Union Kitchen + Tap, Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen, Company Pub and Kitchen, The Range Kitchen & Cocktails and more. I hope you’re hungry; it’s going to be a flavor-packed adventure through to the fall.

Discover the best new restaurants to try this summer in San Diego.

Burlap in Del Mar
When celebrity chef Brian Malarkey, nightlife mogul James Brennan, and designer extraordinaire Thomas Schoos collaborated on their first project Searsucker, San Diego was put on the map in a major way. And now, the trio is back in action, preparing for the debut of Burlap, a new restaurant and lounge serving “Asian Cowboy” cuisine in an eclectic environment that offers the perfect mix of global sophistication and local cool. While I toured the new digs, Brian Malarkey explained that Thomas Schoos designed Searsucker to represent Malarkey’s own “Urban Cowboy” roots, and that Burlap is now a reflection of the acclaimed designer’s personal world, hand-built with hundreds of artifacts Schoos collected while traveling across the globe.

Café Sevilla in Gaslamp Quarter
After 20 years on Fourth Avenue, Sevilla temporary closed doors last winter to build a bigger and better venue on Fifth. If you’ve missed Spanish tapas, Flamenco dinner shows, and Salsa dance lessons, go check out the new Café Sevilla, which is now open as of July 11. Sevilla remains the same in concept and vibe, yet is now housed in a new three-story venue that radiates with warmth and personality and shines with contemporary appeal without losing its authentic Spanish roots. Many décor highlights, from vintage maps and wall fixtures to the wood framing, were transferred to Fifth from Fourth, while cultural artifacts were imported from Spain. For a taste of Sevilla flavor, remember the made-to-share tapas, including Green Mussels Escabeche marinated in olive oil and lemon then topped with fresh Serrano pepper salsa; and Seafood Crepes stuffed with clams, shrimp, and scallops doused in a light lobster saffron sauce.

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