Cohn Restaurant Group Opens Doors To “Pacific Social” In Carmel Valley
San Diego-based Cohn Restaurant Group has officially announced the debut of Pacific Social, a New American eatery and bar in Carmel Valley. Located within the Village at Pacific Highlands Ranch, the indoor-outdoor restaurant is a vibrant and versatile social hub that caters to its surrounding community with a “come one, come all” mentality.
From the upstairs arcade to the dog-friendly patios with games and the sports-centric bar, CRG employed savvy design and planning to showcase an all-in-one experiential dining destination where food and fun collide.
“Over the past few years, Carmel Valley has witnessed tremendous growth and development that has attracted a diverse blend of families, singles, professionals and retirees,” said David Cohn, co-founder of Cohn Restaurant Group. “Pacific Social lives at the intersection of all these groups and celebrates the notion of coexisting and comingling. We have the capability to host a casual business dinner, family celebration and game-day revelry all at once.”
The Design
To bring the Pacific Social brand to life, CRG tapped the skills of Los Angeles-based designer Lauren Borisoff, whose resume includes heavy-hitters like SLS Hotel and The Bazaar by Jose Andres. Working within the industrial framework of the preexisting property, Borisoff completely overhauled the finishes, optimized spatial flow and curated unique design elements.
Paying homage to coastal San Diego, the dark wood paneling and industrial metal railings were refinished in shades of white to emulate a classic beach house vibe. Blue and turquoise upholstery continue the oceanic theme, along with textural touches of raffia and rope. Patterned wallpaper with yellow roses lends a vibrant touch, while an adjacent wall uses mosaic tile to spell out the phrase “Stop & Smell the Pie.”
This clever tie-in reinforces Pacific Social’s housemade pie program, with sweet offerings prominently displayed near the front entrance in a 3-foot enclosed pie case. Cheeky motifs continue into the restroom areas, with abstract graphic butterfly decals that allude to “social butterflies.” Borisoff created several “Instagrammable” moments throughout the space by way of visual backdrops that encourage guests to share their experience digitally. Playful art and accessories were integrated throughout with an emphasis on vintage and “found” items.
“We wanted the space to appeal to everyone and zoned it for different experiences throughout,” said Borisoff. “The main dining room offers the bar for sports fans and solo diners, while the side patio is a quiet zone – great for dates or catching up.” Another section of the indoor dining room was designed to accommodate larger parties, and a bustling main patio creates an alternative, distinctive space. To satisfy the younger (or young at heart) crowd, an in-house arcade with ten games can be found upstairs.
The Menu
New American with eclectic twists throughout, the menu offers classic comfort foods like Chicken Pot Pie and Fish & Chips, in addition to unique specialties like Braised Pork Shank with Southern-style grits, bacon and braised collard greens with shaved apple. Shared plates follow suit, with staples like BO-beau’s Famous Brussels Sprouts with pancetta, parmesan and balsamic.
Internationally inspired dishes are peppered throughout, like the Mezze Board with roasted garlic hummus, carrot romesco, and charred jalapeno feta, served with crudité and herbed flatbread. Several vegetarian and vegan options are also offered, including the Beyond Burger™. Kids’ options include Fried Chicken Tenders with fries and Mac & Cheese, to name a few. The brunch menu includes a California “Breakfast Burrito” Omelet with carne asada and French fries, Vegetarian Breakfast Tacos with black beans, sweet potato and oyster mushrooms, plus much more.
Cocktails
In addition to an extensive wine list and 32 taps with rotating draft beers, the robust beverage program includes signature cocktails, refreshing spritzes, frozen cocktails and mocktails. Cocktail highlights include the Turmeric Martini, the Japanese Smash made with Toki Japanese whiskey, and the Socialite with sparking rosé, lemon and seasonal berry liqueur.
Lighter options include the Simply Fashionable made with pinot grigio, lillet blanc and peach bitters, the Frosé 4 Days, and the frozen Smoked Paloma made with blanco tequila, mescal, grapefruit, and tajín.
Pie Program!
PIES PEOPLE!!! Pacific Social offers six-inch dessert pies baked fresh on-site daily as the exclusive dessert offering.
Flavors include Spiced Apple, Key Lime, S’mores and Chocolate Pecan Dulce De Leche. Each pie serves one to two Guests, and the compact size is intended to make ordering pie more manageable for smaller parties while also encouraging larger parties to order multiple flavors.
The pie counter offers grab-and-go convenience as well as an effortless solution for holiday entertaining and easy weeknight desserts.
Hours of Operation
Lunch & Dinner
Monday 3:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., Saturday 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Weekend Brunch
Saturday & Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Social Hour
Daily 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
See you there!
