The space at 214 State Street, until recently the Project by Corazón Cocina, will soon be home to a branch of San Diego–based steakhouse chain Rare Society. According to an Eater article pegged to last fall’s opening of the second Rare Society outpost, in Solana Beach, the parent company, Trust Restaurant Group, has plans for more steakhouses all along the West Coast. (The “retro-swanky” in the headline comes from Eater.)
This is how Rare Society describes the concept:
Brad Wise’s latest restaurant […] pays homage to the infamous retro steakhouses that once laid claim to the Las Vegas Strip. Keeping alive the echoes of vintage upscale dining, Trust Restaurant Group reshuffled the deck to infuse a touch of modernity into the concept, adding a wood-fired log boiler for meats, a progressive cocktail program, and sustainably-sourced seafoods. Inside the space, white marble, tufted leather booths, and a gold paneled ceiling invoke the lore of Rat Pack gatherings and raucous Sinatra dinner parties, while the outdoor bar and covered patio offer a decidedly lighter atmosphere for beach-going crowds looking for a lively bar scene.
The restaurant highlights premium proteins, grilled atop an open flame using American red oak, in a nod to Chef Wise’s love of the Central Coast–style of cooking. Iconic sides, impeccably crafted cocktails and fine wine, and classic seafood dishes round out the culinary and spirits program. The restaurant seeks to create a new tier of steakhouse—one that fits into the “approachable fine dining” mold.
And the dinner menu from the University Heights location:
The company says it’s shooting for a spring opening. The photo below, from San Diego, presumably offers an idea of what to expect here.
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