Now here’s a really interesting newcomer, due to open soon:  Steve Barr, who for many years ran the Winesellar & Brasserie dining room, will open Per Se Restaurant and Wine Bar in Carlsbad at Roosevelt and Carlsbad Village Drive.  No points for originality in naming the place, but lots of moxie to so closely borrow from the Thomas Keller restaurant of the same name in New York city.  We guess that the French Laundry name was already taken.

Crescent Heights,  one of the best new restaurants to grace San Diego’s restaurant scene, has closed as the message states on their answering machine.  Truly a place that will be missed for its food, service and alternative to the Gaslamp’s mostly mediocre  convention oriented places.  For more  closings, read the comments posted on my recent post, Sadly Gone.

The corner of Laurel and Fifth is undergoing yet another makeover with Tracy Borkum’s newest venture, Cucina Urbana.  Good to see that she’s finally changed the name of the restaurant she bought a few years ago.  The original Laurel Restaurant & Bar had a  gorgeous copper bar, understated decor (sure it needed updating) , great food, a very loyal following that came with top critical acclaim.  Borkum did away with that bar for something very white and added many other over-the-top decorative touches that made the room, for many, uninhabitable for eating.  She also went through many chefs trying to find a good food fit.  And, she forgot to change the name which might have helped her given the huge changes she made.   Now, with Cucina Urbana, she’s  soliciting twitterers to help with the menu planning.   We hope she finds success in the Italian venture.

It may be the recession or just fate, but two barely year-old places closed: Mille Feuille Chocolates in Hillcrest and Mukashi in Bankers Hill. Covered in brown paper, the windows at Mille Feuille show only signs that say, “closed, owners relocating”.  The stylish euro-designed room featured fine French pastries but suffered dearly, I think, in a lousy location at Fifth and University where parking is never easy.  Mukashi had the best intentions with a good opening executive chef, only to fall, likely, for many reasons, including so-so service and the competition from Hane Sushi & Bar in the same block.

Up at El Bizcocho changes at the top with chef de cuisine Steven Rojas who left a few weeks ago for Los Angeles.  His molecular-based gastronomic approach to food might not have been the best fit for San Diego, even with a glowing review from Naomi Wise and a terrific explanation by Peter Rowe. Wise was prophetic in her review when she said that she feared the chef wouldn’t stay, all the good ones leave San Diego.  How true her words…we had expected to dine there this week.

Rancho Valencia recently became an Auberge Resort, one of a handful of prime and unique properties.  With new management also a new chef, C. Barclay Dodge who comes with twenty years of culinary experience from training at the California Culinary Academy to apprenticeships at E Bulli in Spain and Jean Georges and Daniel in New York.  He recently moved from Santa Fe where he was chef de cuisine at Terra, the restaurant at another Auberge property, Encantado Resort.  Beginning June 1, to celebrate the property’s  twentieth anniversary, Dodge will have a $19.89 three-course lunch Chef’s Inspiration menu.  Each day there will be a choice of a soup or an appetizer and only one entrée that will be the chef’s choice.  Some examples of Dodge’s “coastal ranch” cuisine: sardines grilled with argan oil and escabeche of summer carrots; chilled English pea soup with fromage blanc and chive blossoms; and Valencia orange-scented lamb shank with house cut noodles and Moroccan pickled carrots.  Buzz hasn’t tried it yet.   For reservations and information: 858-759-6216.

It’s finally official from the buzz that’s been brewing (and from the looks of the cleared tables, no cloths and no setups), Laurel Restaurant & Bar is reinventing its concept and we hope this time it will include a new name.  Possibly small plates, possibly Italian, and likely we will just have to wait and see what happens in the next few weeks when the redo should be done.

The Marine Room features a number of interesting events including a Monday night lobster dinner for $40 and the thrilling high tide dinners June 19 to 24.  The restaurant offers a Fathers Day dinner as well, and with executive chef Bernard Guillas at the helm, the food is always a treat.

New on Fifth Avenue at Laurel Street, Pizzicato a franchise operation that began in Portland, Oregon. There’s also an Encinitas location. They use fresh local ingredients when possible, and Italian Parmesan too.   Haven’t tried either….While we’re on the subject of pizza, Pizzeria Luigi in Golden Hill currently tops my list with its thinner, New York style crust and quality ingredients.  North Park’s Lefty’s Chicago Pizzeria features thicker crust and equally good toppings along with sandwiches, sausages and pasta and opens its second location mid-June in Mission Hills–on Goldfinch– in the former home of Phil’s BBQ.

Just in time for race season and Wimbleton and the US Open, The Grand Del Mar offers five new cocktails in their Lobby Lounge and The Clubhouse Grill from June 1 to September 7.  Cleverly named for tennis and racing terms (Moonball Pimms Caipirinhi and Bearing Out Breeze, among others) you’ve just got to go try them yourself–especially if you love rum, vodka, Pimm’s Cup and tropical juices–creatively mixed, though not all together.

Here’s a great summer camp for kids who love food:  Tender Greens has two five-day cooking classes geared for kids.  June 22 to 26 for ages 7 to 11 and July 27 to 31 for ages 12 to 16.  The classes will be held at the restaurant from 9 to 10:30 am and cost $75.  Kids will learn to make salads and dressings, pizza,  sandwiches and ice cream.  Classes will be taught by executive chef Pete Balistreri and pastry chef Susanna Brandenburg and after all that learning…lunch is included.  Space is limited, for information:  619-226-6254 and ask for Pete or Susanna.

The Better Half , rumors to the contrary, is very much in business.  Chef/owner John Kennedy has revamped the interior to a “Baroque, over the top” look  and tweaked the menu to a French New Orleans style bistro food.  Their wine list list now also includes full bottles and some older vintage wines that Kennedy has on his “Over Achievers” list.  The restaurant is closed Monday.  For more information:  619-543-9340.

We’re hearing Urban Solace will have an Encinitas location in a new shopping center that will house a Whole Foods.  More info soon.

Good news for the  Barrio Logan building that  formerly housed  The Guild.  The planning and architectural firm of M.W. Steele Group bought the building and will occupy much of it,  including the upstairs mezzanine.  Blueprint Cafe and a catering company (owned by a former New York chef)  will use the remaining space.  The 40 seat cafe will serve lunch with homemade/handmade American seasonal dishes and afternoon light fare.  Expect to see it open mid July.  As details are not final, we can’t divulge more names just yet.  Stay tuned.

Diane Powers will open Casa Bandini in the Forum, likely sometime in July.

And we hope it isn’t true that a small Hillcrest eatery, open barely a year and a half, could be closing soon.

Mother’s Day is Sunday and if you’d rather not cook, make reservations at your favorite place or consider any of these:

Buffets and Prix Fixe Menus: For waterfront views, Red Marlin at the Mission Bay Hyatt features a $48 buffet from 10:30am to 3:00pm. For reservations:  619-221-4868.

How about this?  Bondi in the Gaslamp offers a three-course lunch or dinner for $50 and Mom gets a free gift certificate for a massage at Suki Day Spa (worth $160).  For reservations:  619-261-6721.

In Little Italy,  go for a lighter buffet with homemade jams, cheeses and baked goods at  Extraordinary Desserts where they serve it all for $16.95 from 11am to 2pm at the Union Street location.  For reservations:  619-294-7001.

Bertrand at Mr. A’s offers fabulous views of the city and a $39.95 three-course lunch or dinner.  Lots of choices for each course.  For reservations:  619-239-1377.

For$85 treat Mom to The Grand Del Mar’s grand buffet served in their Capella sactuary.  The resort offers many other events for Mother’s Day.  For more information:  858-314-2000.

In Kensington Blue Boheme features prix fixe brunch ($45) and dinner ($55) menus.  For reservations: 619-255-4167.

Vela at the new Hilton San Diego Bayfront offers a prix fixe Mother’s Day menu for both Saturday and Sunday dinner.  If you’d rather do breakfast or lunch, the regular menus will be available.  For reservations:  619-321-4284.

Solana Beach’s Pacific Coast Grill will have a $25.95 buffet selection and fun gifts for mom.  For reservations:  858-794-4632.

Menu: The 3rd Corner in Ocean Beach and Encinitas will add dishes to their regular brunch menu served from 10:00am to 3:00pm.  For reservations: 619-223-2700 or 760-942-2104.

You can make mom her toast at Roseville where their Sunday brunches have an unusual twist–a toast bar that lets you choose breads, toast them to your taste and slather them with everything from lemon curd and peanut butter to a multitude of jams and of course, butter all for $3.  Try the duck confit stuffed crepes ($12) washed down with a blood orange-mint mimosa ($7).  For reservations:  619-450-6800.

Bentley’s Steak & Chop House in Encinitas will serve off their menu with some added specials from 1pm to 8pm.

In Bakers Hill, Avenue 5 rolls out a brunch menu for Mother’s Day and beyond with most items under $13.  Brunch served Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 2pm.  For reservations: 619-542-0394.

Should you decide to stay in, get a wonderful dessert from Heaven Sent Desserts in North Park;  Mille Feuille Chocolates in Hillcrest;  Eclipse Chocolat for unusual flavored chocolates and if you’re lucky a place at their special chocolate brunch, call 619-578-2984.  The Elegant Truffle on Scott Street at Canon in Point Loma creates more than just truffles…cakes, espresso kisses and more.

In Del Mar, the place that morphed from Scalini’s to Pasquales has done it again…now it’s  Flight.  Flight’s new chef is Aaron Martinez who just left Addison where he was sous chef under William Bradley.

A well-known Gaslamp hotel restaurant is hunting for a new executive chef…it’s all about personalities…

Syrah Wine Lounge opens downtown–a wine bar with more than just Syrah–and cheese and meat platters (no kitchen).  Located below the Cohn owned Dakota Grill & Spirits, we’d bet they have a interest in the place.

The building that housed The Guild, has been sold and Buzz is watching to see what will happen with the restaurant space.

And those wondering what happened to the Parallel 33 space in Hillcrest will soon have another restaurant by the same owners as Cafe Bleu at University and Fifth.  Renovations are underway.

For sale:  Twelve year-old La Vache in Hillcrest and the  La Jolla institution,  Sante on Hershel Avenue.

Up in Bankers Hill, another well-known eatery could be undergoing yet another makeover…possibly to Italian?