LIONFISH BRINGS MODERN COASTAL CUISINE TO THE GASLAMP QUARTER

Lionfish, located in the Pendry San Diego, is a modern, cutting edge restaurant located on 5th Avenue that features fresh-catch cuisine and seasonal ingredients, all prepared with innovative twists by homegrown San Diego chef JoJo Ruiz.

Its grand unveiling took place on February 10^th at a gorgeous “black-tie-ish” reception .

The two-level space honors the essence of the city’s lifestyle with a menu that is both hip and healthy, eccentric but not excessive.

Having studied under Michelin star and celebrity chefs, Ruiz has developed a network of fisher-man and produce growers to ensure that the Lionfish kitchen uses only the freshest and most seasonal ingredients.

“From the vibe to the food, this is a restaurant for and by the San Diego community,” Chef Ruiz said.

Guests will marvel at the constantly rotating sushi menu and the restaurant’s trademark nigiri flights that features Hawaiian Big Eye Tuna, Baja Hiramasa and Ora King Salmon. A slew of shared hot and cold plates offer unique options like Crab “Oscar” on Toast, but will still stay mostly true to the classics, such as Seared Scallops served with brown butter, roasted pistachios and preserved lemon.

For with more of a farm-friendly appetite, Lionfish will offer an array of dishes that feature prime meats, such as Dry Aged New York Steak adorned by black truffle bordelaise and a trio of sun-chokes, or the Lamb Tartar, a marriage of fresh lamb, yogurt, fennel and locally-sourced aru-gula, served with baked-to-order Turkish flatbread.

Guests will experience a level of dining that features unparalleled service in a restaurant that is as bustling as the neighborhood that surrounds it.

LionFish, from the mind of San Diego local Andy Masi and Clique Hospitality, will not only be a culinary destination, but it’s also a home for hand-crafted cocktails, all of which are carefully pre-pared by high-end mixologists in the restaurant’s rambunctious bar, which is accessible directly from 5th Avenue.

The bar will be a home for a happy hour that features small bites of the restaurant’s most popu-lar items, as well as drink specials on craft cocktails, beer and wine. Guests hoping for a more traditional dining experience can sit on the stunning and scenic second level of Lionfish, which gives off a slick high-concept design, while still being warm and welcoming.