Oceanside's culinary scene welcomes a fresh addition as The Victorian at Hill Street opens its doors. Nestled within the historic 1888 Weitzel House, the recently refurbished restaurant invites guests to its California-inspired menu featuring locally-sourced produce and seafood. Owned by Emily and David Rassel, the establishment marries Oceanside's heritage with contemporary dining, as per The San Diego Union-Tribune.
The official opening, announced on the The Victorian at Hill Street's Instagram, is tomorrow. It offers Golden Hour specials from 3 to 4:30 PM and dinner service extending until 9 PM. As an incentive, each guest with a reservation during the opening will receive a complimentary drink, and walk-ins are also welcome. To enhance the mood, @majestic.davies and friends will provide local music over the weekend.
With a respectful nod to its past, The Victorian at Hill Street is the third venture by the Rassels in Oceanside buildings steeped in local lore, following the successful Pour House and Frankie's Cocktail Lounge. The Weitzel House, one of the oldest Queen Anne homes in the area, has been carefully maintained to preserve its status as a registered landmark while being equipped with modernized kitchen facilities and utilities.
Adjacent to the restaurant, the Rassels are revamping a garden courtyard and retail shops where, later this summer, a quick-service market will debut in the space once home to The Miller’s Table. The dinner menu, created by chef de cuisine Lisa Rivera, features intricately crafted dishes. "The food at the Victorian at Hill Street is rooted in the flavors and stories of this community," said culinary director Staci Miller, who oversaw the creation of shareable plates that include an heirloom tomato salad, a Spanish-style seafood stew, and an array of desserts such as Basque cheesecake and chocolate ganache cake, per The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Adding to the culinary experience is the cocktail program, conceived by Ian Ward and Meagan Crumpley, co-owners of The Spiritual Advisors. The drinks menu pays homage to Victorian-era literary figures, with creations like the Jane Austen aperitivo and the Miss Havisham, a concoction of Lillet and lemon lavender tea.
