Hot new hangout on Fourth Avenue (Books & Records Facebook)
Restaurant, Bankers Hill

Bankers Hill Newcomer

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

Did you hear about the new spot on Fourth Avenue called Books & Records? We did and never would have guessed it had anything to do with food and cocktails.

The restaurant was launched by Anderson Clark and Brian Douglass who own Common Stock in Hillcrest. They took over the structure previously occupied by Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant.

Yes, the décor incorporates shelving with some books, plus a few records and an old record player. But many of the standout architectural features including a lengthy bar, paned windows and cobblestone flooring were kept intact as main focal points. The overall result inside the 2,200-square-foot space is spacious and inviting and greets with a nuanced mid-century feel.

A menu of upscale dishes (think roasted filet mignon and whole sea bass) complements crafty cocktails and live jazz music on select evenings. Reservations are recommended.

The other two are GP Diner in Encinitas and Mamma Pinsa by Pinsarella in Escondido.

Bravo to all of them for helping to keep San Diego’s food scene in the national spotlight.