North Park's culinary scene in San Diego is about to be treated to an exciting new addition with the official opening of Long Story Short, a locally and seasonally sourced restaurant offering California cuisine. The highly anticipated eatery has chefs Elliott and Kelly Townsend, a talented husband-and-wife duo, at the helm, transforming the space previously occupied by Little Thief Wine Bar & Kitchen into their gastronomic masterpiece at 3017 University Avenue, according to Fox 5 San Diego.
The couple, who recently wrapped up a successful 20-month guest kitchen residency at Vino Carta Solana Beach, have both honed their skills at acclaimed restaurants like Juniper & Ivy and Cowboy Star. The longer-story of this restaurant's origins goes back to when they met at the Art Institute of California San Diego where they each earned bachelor's degrees in culinary management. According to There San Diego, the two chefs have crafted their unique menu based on the local and seasonal ingredients they can source from purveyors such as Chino Farms in Rancho Santa Fe and Saraspe Seafoods out of Seaforth in Mission Bay.
But what sets Long Story Short apart from the rest of the dining establishments in North Park is the undeniable personal touch Chefs Elliott and Kelly bring to their culinary creations. "This is not just a restaurant. It's a collection of things Kelly and I have compiled to tell a story – a story of time, places, and people from our more than 10 years together," Elliott shared with Fox 5 San Diego. "We are from this city, and we love it dearly. The meals we are going to create are an evolution of our relationship, our journey, and what's still to come."
Among the exquisite dishes featured on the menu are dry-aged local bluefin tuna with tamarind dashi and cucumber salad, corn agnolotti with brown butter and huitlacoche, and white sea bass crudo with cochinita salsa and figs. In an interview with There San Diego, Elliott further expressed their passion for the restaurant, stating, "The music is what we listen to, the wine is what we drink, and the food is what we believe you should be eating at this precise moment. Long story short, this is us, and North Park is our home."
Starting on August 16th, diners at Long Story Short can look forward to enjoying dinner service from Wednesday to Sunday at this one-of-a-kind dining destination. The eatery also offers Happy Hour specials and a delectable selection of natural wines from small producers around the world, as well as an impressive beer menu featuring local independent craft breweries.
