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well as the custom "Starlite" chandelier above the bar. at's just enough to keep the old Starlite purists happy. e menu is eclectic and features classic supper club fare. A few dishes I'll be going back for often are e Soup (a riff on French onion), the Caesar, and, of course, the Starlite Burger. Chef Ted Smith, who has a storied résumé and is one of the many Carl Schroeder alums out there, started his professional career at Market Restaurant + Bar. He later worked with us at Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant before Arsalun Tafazoli snagged him for Craft & Commerce some ten years ago. In other words, the food is solid and Ted, now a veteran, is a giant among chefs in this town. Go for the ambiance. Go for the room full of beautiful thirtysomethings. Go for the playlist. But I go there for the food, for Ted, and of course, for my burger fix. starlitesd.com A nyone who knows me knows that I've always been in love with Starlite. Originally opened in 2007, it was the love child of Matt Hoyt and Tim Mays (of e Casbah), whose sense of design and attention to detail created an alluring mid-century–styled cocktail bar and restaurant. is was the place where bohemians showed up — artists, writers, musicians. e hip crowd of the new millennium hung here. Traveling actors from e Old Globe, along with out-of-town bands playing local gigs, all flocked to Starlite for late-night drinks and dinner. Fast forward to 2025. After a one-year closure, Starlite reopened under new ownership with an extensive refresh by CH Projects. Never known for restraint, the CH designers did give the room a big do-over, but they also paid homage to a few of the most important design elements from the original space. ey left the iconic octagonal glass front door and entryway, as What I Loved: A Dining Diary e latest sips, bites, and standout moments from around town BY TERRYL GAVRE Indulge dining STARLITE: PHOTO BY KIMBERLY MOTOS Starlite ranchandcoast.com 72 MARCH 2026 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE