San Diego County’s dining landscape is experiencing a surge of activity with several new restaurant openings and a variety of culinary events planned for the spring and summer.

New Restaurants Arriving in San Diego

Joey Restaurants – Westfield UTC

Joey Restaurants, a casual dining chain originating in British Columbia, will debut its first San Diego County location on April 23rd at Westfield UTC. The 10,600-square-foot restaurant, led by executive chef Matthew Stowe, will offer a globally-inspired menu featuring fresh seafood, steaks, nigiri, pasta, sandwiches, and shareable plates. Cocktails, wine, and beer will also be available. A soft opening is scheduled for April 18-22 at 4489 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 1600, San Diego.

Telefèric Barcelona – Westfield UTC

This spring, Telefèric Barcelona, a family-owned Spanish restaurant brand with locations in California, Arizona, and Spain, will also open at Westfield UTC. The restaurant specializes in authentic Spanish cuisine, including pintxos (bite-sized appetizers), paellas, and a selection of over 100 Spanish wines. The address is 4545 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite E-25, San Diego.

Pastaria Vivi – Encinitas

Chefs Brandon Jennings, William Treff, and Harrison Axelrod will open the first brick-and-mortar location of Pastaria Vivi on April 11th in Encinitas. Building on their success at the Cardiff Farmers Market, the restaurant will offer up to 75 combinations of handmade Northern Italian-style pastas and sauces, available for dining in or takeout. They will also sell artisan gelato, wines, ceramics, and kitchen items.

Culinary Events & Special Dinners

Michelin-Starred Dinners – North County

On April 17th, two North County restaurants with Michelin stars will host exclusive dinners. Valle in Oceanside will present “Fiestival de Puebla,” a multi-course pairing dinner celebrating the cuisine of Puebla, Mexico, with optional tequila pairings, starting at $239. Seatings begin at 5 p.m. at 222 N. Pacific St., Oceanside. Lilo in Carlsbad will celebrate its first anniversary with a collaborative meal by executive chef Eric Bost and chefs Travis Swikard, Tara Monsod, and Jason McLeod, priced at $438. The event will be held at 2571 Roosevelt St., Carlsbad.

Scoop Ice Cream Festival – North Park

The eighth annual Scoop ice cream festival will return to North Park on June 28th. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday.

Wine Spectator’s Grand Tour – Chula Vista

Wine Spectator magazine’s Grand Tour will take place on April 25th at the Gaylord Convention Center in Chula Vista, offering attendees the chance to sample over 200 top-rated wines (rated 90+ points). Tickets range from $250 for general admission to $395 for an extended tasting hour, with a $100 option for those ages 21-30. The event runs from 7-9:30 p.m. at 1000 H St., Chula Vista.

Little Fox & Feeding San Diego

From Wednesday through April 12th, Little Fox in Oceanside will partner with Feeding San Diego. Customers who donate to the organization will receive a scoop of Knoll’s limited-time orange creamsicle flavor, featuring tangelo cream, bruleed tangelo custard, and toasted sugar mascarpone in an orange waffle cone. The address is 1940 S. Freeman St., Suite 100, Oceanside.

Restaurant Updates

The Haven Pizziera – Kensington

The Haven Pizziera, owned by Lauren Passero-Brookes, has relaunched with a redesigned dining room and a new spring menu. New offerings include a seasonal burrata and beet salad, salmone, shrimp pablano pasta, and a guava margarita.

Lucien – La Jolla Village

Lucien, chef-owner Elijah Arizmendi’s fine-dining restaurant, has introduced a new 6-course tasting menu option alongside its existing 12-course menu. Both menus feature seasonal ingredients like Santa Barbara uni and La Jolla yellowtail. Arizmendi will also host a wine dinner with Pride Mountain Vineyards on Wednesday, priced at $375.

Cloak & Petal – Little Italy

Cloak & Petal will open Black Mizu Café inside its India Street building this summer, serving coffee from Torque Coffee and a limited food menu. Executive chef Robert Cassidy will also introduce a Japanese/Pacific Rim-themed brunch menu in the fall. The café will have a separate entrance on the north side of Cloak & Petal at 1953 India St., San Diego.