Ocean Friendly Restaurants: March 2024 Monthly Roundup

New and Renewed Ocean Friendly Restaurants (OFR)

A BIG THANK YOU GOES OUT TO ALL OUR OCEAN FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS!

Stop in for a meal with family and friends to show your support for our Ocean Friendly Restaurants. Visit the Surfrider Foundation San Diego OFR page to see 100+ San Diego County OFR's.

March Ocean Friendly Restaurant Spotlight

Introducing Executive Chef Jose “JoJo” Ruiz, the advocate behind three outstanding San Diego Ocean Friendly Restaurants.

1 Chef "Jojo" Ruiz

2 Serẽa Coastal Cuisine

 

Serea is proud to bring an exquisite sea-to-table dining experience to San Diego in a comfortable yet sophisticated setting.

Located just steps from the beach in the legendary Hotel del Coronado, the restaurant’s key focus is the bounty of the sea. The menu focuses on sustainable seafood, with a coastal cuisine menu that spotlights the best of the region’s oceans, farms and fields, ranging from the California Coast down to the Baja Peninsula.

Creative cuisine with a global flair is prepared by San Diego’s own Chef Jojo Ruiz, who creates elegant, fresh dishes with just a hint of Mediterranean flair.

3 Temaki Bar Sushi

Sushi Meets Surf, Clique Hospitality ‘Rolls’ Out Newest Concept with Sashimi, Nigiri, Classic Handrolls, and Eclectic Sake Program

Clique Hospitality’s latest restaurant concept, ‘Temaki Bar: Handroll, Sushi, Sake’ celebrates traditional sushi-making with Chef JoJo Ruiz, local veteran chef and San Diego native at the helm. At Temaki Bar, we take great pride in Chef Ruiz’s seafood sourcing and sustainability practices that have earned him recognition with the James Beard Foundation as a Smart Catch Leader. Beginning his extensive culinary career as a sushi chef, Chef Ruiz has finally headed back to his roots, and his expertise speaks for itself.

4 Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine

Lionfish is as social as the bustling neighborhood that surrounds it. Located in the Pendry San Diego in the city’s trendy Gaslamp Quarter sits Lionfish, the dynamic, design-driven hotspot on 5th Avenue that honors the essence of the city’s lifestyle. The restaurant offers modern coastal cuisine that features fresh-catch cooking and seasonal ingredients, all prepared with innovative twists.

The menu, featuring both sustainable seafood and prime meats, toys with guest’s tastebuds with its casual, yet complex offerings. 

If you are looking for the freshest and most sustainable seafood in San Diego County, make sure to visit one of these delicious Ocean Friendly Restaurants (OFR) and don’t forget to thank them for being an OFR. 

Partner/Chef Jose “JoJo” Ruiz of Clique Hospitality earned the prestigious accolade of James Beard Certified Smart Catch Leader due to his commitment to sustainable seafood practices in early 2019. Lionfish, Serẽa, and Temaki Bar Sushi are the only restaurants in San Diego, Coronado and Encinitas to have been awarded this recognition. 

According to Clique Hospitality, under Chef Ruiz’s leadership, their restaurants are in full support of the protection of the oceans, beaches and community for generations to come. Chef Ruiz is committed to supporting ocean-friendly sustainable practices and is passionate about significantly reducing waste in his restaurants. He first registered Lionfish as a Surfrider Ocean Friendly Restaurant in 2017!

Chef Ruiz only uses eco-friendly supplies in his restaurants, from biodegradable paper straws to compostable and biodegradable take-out containers and silverware. The use of reusable tableware is the core criteria to become an OFR. 

Chef Ruiz attributes his learning of sustainable practices to Patrick “Paddy” Glennon, founder of the Culinary Liberation (CLF), which brings together a group of chefs to join forces within their respective communities to promote environmental initiatives in the restaurant industry and promote nutritional education.

Chef Ruiz is also involved with the Waste Not San Diego program, which gives restaurants the opportunity to donate excess food to local nonprofits to help feed the hungry. 

“As a San Diego native, JoJo enjoys using only local ingredients and produce available fresh at the farmer’s market. His dishes are infused with the essence of San Diego’s personality and always exemplify his strong commitment to sustainable seafood practices and elevating the local fishing and farming communities through choosing the freshest, locally sourced seafood, meats and produce to be used in his culinary creations,” says Clique Hospitality.

Chef Ruiz and Clique Hospitality have been longtime supporters of Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter. We thank them for their leadership and support to help protect the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches, for all people.

OFR Updates

April OFR Meeting

We haven't had an OFR meeting in a while so mark your calendars for our virtual meeting via Zoom on April 3rd, from 6:30-7:30 PM. We'll discuss all the exciting events lined up for April and go over our Spring Rally plans. Your input is valuable, so make sure to join us for a productive session. 

The Ocean Needs More Friends - Can We Count On You?

Become a Surfrider Foundation Member today by donating here. To find out more about what we do watch Surfrider's 2023 Year in Review.