Carlsbadistan

Paon owner Mayur Pavagadh got in a little trouble with the craft brewing press while relaunching his Catch seafood restaurant as a “craft beer American food cocktails” restaurant at 660 Carlsbad Village Drive. A post from February 14, 2013 on beer website The Full Pint pointed out that the name, design, presentation and logo of Pavagadh’s new restaurant 38 Degrees looked oddly similar to a well established craft beer business in Alhambra, California called 38 Degrees. Here’s what they said:

Earlier this week, The Full Pint was tipped off by The Carlsbad Patch that a restaurant called Catch Carlsbad would be rebranding into 38º Carlsbad. Crazier than those string of words, was the fact that the publication Carlsbad Patch assumed that this was an expansion of Clay Harding’s craft beer bar, 38 Degrees Ale House and Grill in Alhambra, CA. . . After Carlsbad Patch was informed there was no affiliation between the two restaurants, we reached out to both Clay Harding of 38 Degrees and Mayur Pavagadhi, the gentleman turning his seafood restaurant into a craft beer restaurant called 38º Carlsbad. Mayur owns other restaurants in the area under the name Paon Carlsbad LLC.

Pavagadh was quoted as saying that he didn’t think there was a problem with the name of his restaurant.

”Craft beer is obviously a very popular market and decided this would be a great venture to get into. I sat down with my partners and did a search for 38 Degrees Carlsbad, and there were no registered marks for it. The term 38 Degrees is the temperature in which we are asked by the beer industry to keep our walk in keg cooler, we felt this was a great name to use.”

According to a second post on The Full Pint, 38 Degrees Ale House and Grill sent several cease and desist letters to Pavagadh’s lawyer with no response. Now, however, it appears that Pavagadh has swapped the numbers on his restaurant and renamed it 83 Degrees Carlsbad.

Those who know will remember that a similar last minute name change occurred at Pavagadh’s Paon restaurant just before it opened. That restaurant’s original name Per Se was already taken by a restauranteur named Thomas Keller. What was it they say about the best form of flattery?

[Link: The Full Pint]

Eastern Front fans of Carlsbadistan’s Relm wine beer bistro will be happy to learn that Relm’s San Elijo location is opening live today (April 10, 2012).

We’re thrilled to announce that our new location in SAN ELIJO HILLS opens today at noon! Come join us! We’re happy to be part of such a great community & look forward to many future good times ahead.

Now there are two, two, count them two places to check out great local art, music, and get your buzz on at the same time. The new Relm is located at 1231 Elfin Forest Road, unit 110, in the heart of that oddly Stepfordy San Elijo Hills.

[Link: Relm]

The U-T San Diego held its first San Diego Latino Champions Award presentation at the Hall of Champions in Balboa Park on Thursday, March 29, 2012 and Carlsbadistan was well represented. Lola’s Market, won the award for Business of the Year.

Ofelia Escobedo and Connie Trejo transformed a family market and deli into a community gathering place where they advocate for youth and maintain the history of the local community.

The U-T could not have picked a better business. Congrats, Ofie and Connie!

[Link: U-T San Diego]

The Village of Carlsbadistan is getting a new dining option this month (and it’s not another Italian restaurant) as Boxd Handcrafted Waffle Food opens for business on what was the dirt lot on the Northwest corner of Carlsbad Village Drive and State Street. The restaurant is scheduled to “Open in April.” We’re looking forward to checking it out as soon as it opens.

[Link: Boxd]

Been wondering what exactly when into the old Blockbuster video store on Carlsbad Village Drive? It’s Carlsbadistan’s newest seafood and sushi restaurant, Catch. Here managing partner Steve Barr tells us all about it. We’ve haven’t checked it out yet. If you have, let us know how it is in the comments.

Catch is located at 660 Carlsbad Village Drive.

[Link: Catch]

One of our favorite ways to go on vacation (without leaving Carlsbadistan) is an evening out at the La Costa Resort and Spa’s Bluefire Grill. And, now there’s one more reason to visit. They have a new Chef de Cuisine.

BlueFire Grill is pleased to announce a new addition to the star culinary team, Chef Gregory Frey Jr. Working alongside Executive Chef Hans Wiegand, Chef Frey is currently focusing on farm-to-table freshness with local purveyors and fresh seafood, including an array of daily specials for your enjoyment. Chef Frey is also working on a fresh seasonal summer menu that will debut soon.

We don’t know a thing about Chef Frey but we are looking forward to that new menu.

[Link: Blue Fire Grill]

The Carlsbadistan based Greek fast casual restaurant company Daphne’s Greek Café (one of the few places left for falafels in Carlsbadistan) is getting a complete upgrade after surviving bankruptcy according to a story on Nation’s Restaurant News. It’s also getting a new name: how does Daphne’s California Greek sound?

William Trefethen, Daphne’s chief executive and principal investor in the group that purchased the 60-unit chain in July, said the brand name will change in February or March to “Daphne’s California Greek” with the tagline “Live Life to its Fullest.” . . The Carlsbad, Calif.-based chain also is working on a revamp of the menu to sharpen its focus on healthful offerings. Beer and wine will be added to the beverage lineup to help build dinner daypart sales. And units will get a brush up of décor, with environmentally friendly touches.

They’re going to start out in Orange County and then upgrade all the restaurants by the end of 2011. We think Carlsbadistan should be second.

[Link: National Restaurant News via OC Weekly]

On the Monday after Thanksgiving the Carlsbadistan Marie Callender’s apparently closed up shop and packed away the signs according to a story in the San Diego Reader.

Next door at the McDonalds, employees said the Marie Callender’s signs were removed right away on that morning. The restaurant obviously did not tell its regular customers. Two hand-written notes were posted on the front door December 8 advising groups that normally meet at the restaurant to go to other nearby establishments for their meetings.

The restaurant, which was shut down by for a few days in November of 2009 after a Thanksgiving day diner smelled sewage in the kitchen, has had a rough time lately. Wish we could say we were going to miss them.

[Link: San Diego Reader]

When we’re in the mood for a slice of authentic New York style pizza we often make the trek to the corner of El Camino Real and Alga for a couple slices of Allen’s New York Pizza.
Allen’s recently relaunched their website and the best part of it? No more treking. The new site features online ordering. Now, Allens fans can order pizza for pick up or delivery from a comfort of their computer or iPhone.

Standard Delivery time is 45-50 min and pickup time is 20-25 min. During busy periods pickup and delivery time may run longer. Should delivery or pickup time be longer that the time stated above a representative from Allen’s will contact you at the number you’ve provided.

Best yet, the delivery is free. Allen’s New York Pizza is located at 6943 S. El Camino Real near the Ultra Star La Cost 6 Cinemas.

[Link: Allen's New York Pizza]

A State of California Alcoholic Beverage Control notice posted near the front door of Carlsbadistan’s La Costa Grill says the “Alcoholic Beverage License Issued for these premises has been suspended. . . for violation of the Alcoholic Beverage Control act.”

The suspension, which went into effect on September 29, 2010, is listed as “indefinite” according to the posted sign. The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control website, however, says the license owned by JRO Restaurant Group LLC (#469390) expired on August 31, 2010.

A flyer posted next to the suspension notice informed would be customers that the “La Costa Grill will be temporarily closed due to a pending transfer of our liquor license. We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to serving you again in the near future.”

No one answered our calls at the La Costa Grill, but we did get a phone message that said, “Happy Holidays. The La Costa Grill will be closed Christmas Day.”

Sounds like updating their phone message is not high on the current priorities list.
Continue reading ‘ABC Suspends La Costa Grill’s Liquor License’