October openings: 16 new restaurants for fall

October isn’t traditionally a big month for new restaurant openings, but diners have a cornucopia of new choices this month. Here’s a look:

Bazille

When Nordstrom reopens at Westfield UTC today, it will feature a new contemporary restaurant named Bazille, with a full bar and patio overlooking the mall. The menu includes sandwiches, salads, pizzas and more. 4321 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla. (858) 457-4575 or restaurants.nordstrom.com

Bivouac Ciderworks, North Park

Founders Lara Worm and Matthew Austin used Kickstarter funds to launch this restaurant, tap room and cider brewery slated to open in North Park in late October/early November. Chef Danilo “DJ” Tangalin (formerly of Tidal restaurant) is designing the “new Californian” menu. 3986 30th St., North Park. bivouaccider.com

Bluewater Grill, Carlsbad

After an extensive remodel, the former Fish House Vera Cruz restaurant location will reopen as Bluewater Grill on Oct. 30. The Orange County restaurant company is known for serving more than 40 varieties of fresh seafood and shellfish, and a weekday small-plates menu with $4 to $6 drink and appetizer specials. The décor will include a refreshed dining room, two dining patios and a take-out market selling fresh seafood and local wines. Founders Jimmy Ulcickas and Richard Staunton own seven other Bluewater locations, including outlets in Coronado and Temecula. 417 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad. bluewatergrill.com

Breakfast Republic, Carmel Valley

Breakfast Republic is known for its quirky breakfast items like cinnamon roll pancakes. Swedish-born restaurateur Johan Engman, of San Diego-based Rise & Shine Restaurant Group, opened his sixth location of this fast-growing San Diego-based chain last weekend in Carmel Valley’s Pacific Highlands Ranch shopping center. 6025 Village Way, Suite F101, Carmel Valley. breakfastrepublic.com

Burgerim, downtown

The Israeli-born gourmet mini-burger fast-food chain will open its first San Diego County outlet later this month. Burgerim, launched in 2011 and now international, makes slider-size 2.8-ounce mini-burgers that come in multipacks with house toppings and sauces. The first location will open in Horton Plaza Park. A second will open this fall in downtown La Jolla. 324 Horton Plaza, downtown. 1271 Prospect St., La Jolla. burgerim.com

Cloak + Petal, Little Italy

A Japanese concept slated to open in late October, Cloak + Petal will serve authentic Japanese fare served in an izakaya-style setting. The 7,500-square-foot location (formerly occupied by Entrada Mexican) has been revamped into a dining room with a crudo and sushi bar and a cocktail bar serving Japanese beers and sake. 1953 India St., Little Italy. cloakandpetal.com

Cross Street Chicken & Beer, Kearny Mesa

Korean-style twice-fried chicken is the main dish at this casual restaurant and bar hosting its soft opening this week in the former Your Story restaurant on Convoy Street. The restaurant will have beers on tap and in bottles, and Asian side dishes and drinks. 4403 Convoy St., Kearny Mesa. facebook.com/CrossStreetCnB

Draft Republic, Carlsbad

Cohn Restaurant Group will open a second location of its craft beer-centric social restaurant/bar on Friday in the old Claim Jumper restaurant space in Carlsbad. Like the original in La Jolla, the new Draft Republic will have a casual, warehouse-style look with 101 beers on tap and a meat-focused menu, plus entertainment options ranging from pool and foosball to table tennis and retro arcade games. 5958 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad. draftrepubliccarlsbad.com

Fishmonger’s Market, Mission Hills

On Oct. 3, Chef/owner Frank “Frankie the Bull” Terzoli opened this European-style sustainable fish market and seafood bar inside the 57 Degrees wine retail and storage complex. Menu specialties include lobster salad, Florida grouper sandwiches, paella and maple-glazed Alaskan halibut. 1535 Hancock St., Mission Hills. (619) 234-5757 or fiftysevendegrees.com

Havana 1920, downtown

Designed to resemble a Cuban speakeasy at the dawn of the Prohibition era, Havana 1920 opened on Oct. 7 in the Gaslamp Quarter. Located one floor above the subterranean speakeasy named Prohibition, this 80-seat restaurant/bar features classic Cuban dishes by chef Anthony Porras (Cuban sandwiches and ropa vieja) and a cocktail menu developed by mixologist Ryan Andrews. 584 Fifth Ave., downtown. (619) 501-1919 or havana1920.com

Himitsu, La Jolla

Earlier this week, Himitsu opened in the 30-seat space formerly occupied by Porkyland in La Jolla. A joint venture between the owners of The Taco Stand and restaurateur Edo Kobayashi, Himitsu serves elevated Japanese food, including nigiri, sushi and izakaya-style tapas prepared by Chef Mitsu Aihara (formerly of Sushi Ota). Open for dinner Mondays-Saturdays. 1030 Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla. himitsusd.com

Nautilus Tavern, La Jolla

Leigh Gibson and Mike Garcia, owners of Pillbox Tavern in Solana Beach, will introduce this new bar-and-grill eatery in La Jolla later this month. Nautilus has two patios and a coastal-chic décor. The menu is billed as coastal American cuisine, and the bar serves 30 craft beers and cocktails. 6830 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. facebook.com/nautilustavern

Nonna, Little Italy

The latest restaurant offering from San Diego’s Busalacchi family is Nonna, which will open later this month in the former Trattoria Fantastica space in Little Italy. The 5,000-square-foot, indoor/outdoor restaurant will serve the family’s Italian comfort food classics (chicken Parmesan, past Bolognese) prepared by chefs Nino Zizzo and Joe Busalacchi. The accompanying Italian bakery Cafe Zucchero has been incorporated into Nonna’s newly renovated space. 1735 India St., Little Italy. busalacchirestaurants.com

Shake Shack

New York’s beloved quick-service burger chain opens its first two San Diego locations this fall. The first will tentatively open on Oct. 20 at Westfield UTC. The second will open around December near the Trader Joe’s shopping center in Mission Valley. Shake Shack is known for its melt-in-your-mouth burgers (served on butter-crisped potato buns), crinkle-cut fries and hand-spun milkshakes. 4545 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla. 675 Camino de la Reina, Mission Valley. shakeshack.com