San Diego restaurants scramble up hot new summer menus, libations

From breakfast pizza and eggs benedict to watermelon poke and habanero mango BBQ ribs, San Diegans will find what their palate craves anytime of the day or night.

New on the menu

Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza & Grill in Mission Valley has added brunch and a new cocktail program to its menu. Sweet and savory dishes are the options, including toasts (avocado, Nutella or salmon), egg dishes, pancakes and breakfast pizzas. Along with beer and wine, the pizzeria serves libations like the Lavender Lady (gin, lavender cordial, lime and sparkling wine); and the Prickly Pear Sour (Pisco Quebranta, prickly pear puree, lime, egg white and bitters). 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 1620 Camino de la Reina, San Diego. (619) 298-8222. sammyspizza.com

Theatre Box has introduced “Sunday Brunch and the Big Screen,” an over-the-top brunch buffet complete with offerings like chef stations for custom-made omelets and waffles; entrées such as eggs Benedict and roasted herb salmon; and dessert station with peanut butter brownies and cheesecake bites. There’s also a build-your-own bottomless Bloody Marys and mimosa bar for $20. Brunch: $49.99 per adult; $24.99 per child, and includes a movie ticket and a bag of popcorn. 701 Fifth Ave., San Diego. Reservations: bit.ly/SundayBrunchAndTheBigScreen

Bleu Bohème has unveiled a new social hour menu. Available at the bar on the patio, guests can order croque madame, made with Jambon de Paris (coked ham), Gruyere cheese, Dijon, Mornay sauce and a fried egg; or French Press Sangria, a house rosé wine blend with rum, cognac, Grand Marnier, raspberry agave and fresh fruit. 5 to 6 p.m. daily. 4090 Adams Ave, San Diego. (619) 255-4167. bleuboheme.com

Carruth Cellars Little Italy Wine Garden has added woodfired pizza to its menu. Patrons can choose from six unique pizzas such as the Santorni, made with Kalamata olives, Hungarian goat horn peppers, roasted artichoke hearts, mozzarella and feta; or Quattro Carni, with spicy soppressata (Italian dry salami), sausage, bacon, mozzarella, bresaola (air-dried salted beef) and spicy olive oil. Gluten-free and vegan options available upon request. Pizza available from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. 2215 Kettner Blvd., San Diego. (858) 847-9463. carruthcellars.com

Cafe Gratitude has revamped its menu with new additions that include warm weather takes on the restaurant’s standby dishes and unexpected plant-based versions of summer favorites, like poke. Selections include: watermelon poke (black rice, sesame cucumber and sea vegetable salad, edamame, watermelon radish, pickled carrot and cilantro salad, sriracha mayo, avocado, pickled ginger, black and white sesame seeds); ketogenic bowl (marinated oyster mushroom aside, asparagus, broccolini, snap peas, hempseed cauliflower rice, heirloom cherry tomato confit, avocado, green goddess dressing); and chickpea hummus plate (red pepper walnut muhammara, cilantro zhoug, dukkah, sumac, olives, served with vegetable crudités or ciabatta). 1980 Kettner Blvd., San Diego. (619) 736-5077. cafegratitude.com

Urban Plates has kick-started summer with a new menu that uses sustainably sourced fresh ingredients. Highlights include a signature roasted corn, crab and poblano soup, topped with a garnish of chopped cilantro (make it vegan by adding crab); habanero mango BBQ ribs, 12-hour slow cooked ribs drizzled with habanero mango sauce and topped with a scoop of pineapple mango salsa; and strawberry-vanilla angel food cake, layered with fresh strawberries, vanilla diplomat cream, simple syrup and rich strawberry jam. Three locations: Carlsbad, Del Mar and La Jolla. urbanplates.com

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