We’ll sea: New restaurants dropping anchor near the beach

A wave of fresh eateries is sweeping across the San Diego coastline, and the outlook is swell. From the Embarcadero to PB to Carlsbad, sea (pun intended) what’s new and what’s coming soon.

Little Italy ‘s Loading Dock

This new Little Italy neighborhood bar and grill opened in March, replacing 98 Bottles. Its name is drawn from the docks where the region’s tuna fleet once offloaded its daily catch. The restaurant’s barbecue-centric menu features tri-tip, pulled pork and BBQ chicken sandwiches; salads and flatbreads; cocktails and craft beer. An event space showcases live comedy on Wednesday nights.

2400 Kettner Blvd., # 110, Little Italy 619-255-7885, liloadingdock.com

OB Surf Lodge: Ocean Beach

In March, Social Syndicate opened this ground-floor full-service restaurant (formerly Shades) in Ocean Beach. Louisiana-raised chef Nick Brune has developed a Southern-inspired menu with a focus on brunch service, though breakfast, lunch and dinner are also served. Upstairs is Wonderland, another Social Syndicate restaurant serving lunch, dinner and drinks.

5083 Santa Monica Dr., Ocean Beach 619-955-5475, obsurflodge.com

Breakfast Republic: Ocean Beach

The latest outlet of San Diego entrepreneur Johan Engman’s fast-expanding breakfast empire opened in April in the former O.B. Warehouse space. Breakfast Republic occupies the large building’s second floor. The bottom floor will soon become a Coin Haus, an old-fashioned arcade and pour-your-own beer hall by Cohn Restaurant Group.

4839 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach 619-255-7255, breakfastrepublic.com/ocean-beach

Nautilus Tavern

Nautilus Tavern brings cocktails, local craft beer, burgers and wings to Windansea. Enjoy brunch, lunch and dinner on two patios, or catch a game on big screens inside the bar.

6830 La Jolla Blvd., Windansea, nautilustavern.com

Park 101: Carlsbad

This multilevel, 8,000-square-foot destination in Carlsbad Village - scheduled to open in June - will include a market, shops, a picnic-friendly plaza and four dining and drinking options. Owned and managed by Peter Cich, Doug Sondomowicz and Rob McShea, Park 101 will include both grab-and-go and sit-down options. The park’s market will serve takeout hot sandwiches, juices and coffee, ice cream and house-made doughnuts. Park 101 Barbecue will serve ribs and other meat-centric barbecue dishes. The Garden Pub will offer up to 32 local beers on tap and regional wines. And the Tamarack View Deck will serve gourmet snacks from a rooftop lounge with seats arranged around fire pits.

3040 Carlsbad Blvd., Carlsbad. park101carlsbad.com

Shoreline: Mission Bay

Sometime in 2018, Shoreline Café will open in the long-shuttered Mission Bay Visitors Center at the foot of Clairemont Drive on Mission Bay. Following a renovation, the building will become an airy, counter-service casual eatery serving coffee, juices, beer, wine and grab-and-go food.

2688 East Mission Bay Dr., Mission Bay Park. shorelinemissionbay.com

Portside Pier: Embarcadero

This $13 million multi-restaurant project proposed by The Brigantine will replace the old Anthony’s Fish Grotto, the family-run Embarcadero seafood eatery that closed its doors in January after 71 years in business. Portside Pier - which will be built on the site of the old Anthony’s - would include a Brigantine on the Bay, Miguel’s Cocina, Ketch & Grill Taps and walk-up gelato/coffee bar. The San Diego Port District awarded the property lease to Brigantine last year, but the project ran into opposition in February from the Coastal Commission. Until the issue is resolved, developers aren’t announcing construction plans.

1360 N. Harbor Dr., Embarcadero. tuckersadler.com

Cooper’s Market & Café

The former Shore Thing Café in La Jolla Shores is under new ownership and will soon have a new name and look. New owner Lisa Kennedy plans to revamp the café and sundries shop with a new patio, new décor, new menu and expanded coffee service. The project was slated for completion in late May.

8080 La Jolla Shores Dr., La Jolla 619-756-7770, shorethingcafe.com

Unnamed Pacific Beach project

Back in 2015, the venerable dive bar PB Bar & Grill was sold to the Verant Group, the hospitality collective that runs West Coast Tavern, True North, barleymash and Sandbar. The new owners closed it that spring, and it’s been undergoing a heavy remodel ever since. The concept and its opening date have been kept under wraps, but Verant officials said it will be a restaurant/bar.

860 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach. verantgroup.com

Waterbar San Diego: Pacific Beach

The long-shuttered Joe’s Crab Shack on the boardwalk near Crystal Pier has been razed to make way for a large ocean-centric restaurant/bar with floor-to-ceiling windows and a menu focused on shellfish from the East and West coasts, as well as Baja. Owners are billing it as a “social seafood experience” that’s part social club, part breakfast spot and part dinner house/bar. It’s scheduled to open in August/September.

4325 Ocean Blvd., Pacific Beach. waterbarsd.com