Common Stock Hospitality is excited to bring a new neighborhood social dining experience to Bankers Hill through the opening of Books & Records.

Located in the beloved 2,200 square-foot former Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant space, the Common Stock Hospitality team led by Owners Brian Douglass and Anderson Clark (Hillstone Restaurant Group alums and currently behind Common Stock and Farmer & The Seahorse), Culinary Director Sam Deckman and Beverage Director Chris D’Apice, brings a casually sophisticated restaurant to the community.

A neighborhood gathering spot with 19th century roots

With a name harkening back to the long-established neighborhood’s history tracing its roots to the 19th century when the area was primarily occupied by prominent bankers and financiers, Books & Records aims to serve as a neighborhood gathering spot accompanied by live jazz on select nights.

To refresh the roughly 80-seat space, originally conceived by renowned hospitality designer, Paul Basile, the Common Stock Hospitality team began by adding warmth to enhance the restaurant’s bar experience.

New design elements include walls lime-washed in a moody shade of dark cerulean blue, modern wood slatting, green tufted leather booths and various brass elements that complement the space’s original exposed wood trusses and brick floor, providing an industrial art deco aesthetic.

The Menu

Under the culinary direction of Chef Sam Deckman, the Books & Records will feature modern locally-sourced takes on Southern classics drawing from a global palate of flavors.

Organized in a fashion to encourage a progressive social dining experience, guests will move through the menu: from starters including:

Starters

• Wagyu Tartare with smoked tomato vin, szechuan crunch alongside fresh fry bread
• Scallop and Shrimp Aguachile with a tomatillo nuac cham and served with plantain chips
• Charred Broccoli with labneh, chili crunch, yuzu ponzu, peanuts and herbs
• Carbonara Mac with a prosciutto crumble

Main Offerings

• Curry Mussels with enoki mushrooms and condensed coconut milk broth
• Cioppino Linguine made with homemade pasta and a seafood medley in a saffron cioppino broth
• Duck Carnitas that’s been Coca Cola braised and served with salsa macha, salsa verde and shiso pancakes
• Whole Ensesada bass roasted al pastor style with charred pineapple and herbed salad

Classically-inspired cocktails

Behind the bar, D’Apice’s team plans to express a variety of modern cocktail presentations with an emphasis on 1920s pre-Prohibition classics combined with global inspirations.

Expect riffs on classically-inspired cocktails playing off daring nostalgia and made with housemade syrups and cordials with a focus on local spirits and seasonal ingredients.

• Purple Rain with Japanese whisky, house ube cordial and lemon
• Dark Side of the Moon with rum, pimento liqueur, Carpano vermouth and cinnamon smoke
• Bittersweet Symphony with aged gin, Amaro Angeleno, Lillet Blanc and house grapefruit bitters
• Brass Monkey with Monkey Shoulder scotch, Nonino Amaro and Banana Liqueur

See you there

Books & Records is located at 2202 4th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101.

The restaurant will be open from 5PM-11PM. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. More information can be found here.

See you there, San Diego!