After 12 years as a leading name on the radar of many local diners, the Indigo Grill is about to get a fresh, modern look and an innovative menu to go along with it. The Cohn Restaurant Group is pleased to announce notable San Diego designer, Michael Soriano, has been retained to reinvent the iconic space as it steps up to meet the growing needs of the vibrant and bustling Little Italy neighborhood.
Soriano comes to Indigo Grill with a reputation as one of the prominent names in the design industry. With projects such as Vin de Syrah, Sessions Public, the renovation of The Pearl Hotel and the recently opened Queenstown Public House under his belt, Soriano is well-attuned to the needs of the city and primed to deliver. With this newest venture, he plans to stay true to Indigo Grill’s origins while opening it up into an inviting space to attract both Little Italy locals and visitors alike. Playing off the original aesthetic of the restaurant, Soriano intends to give it a fresh update by incorporating brighter colors along with metal and dark, rich woods. Using these materials, his focus is on creating an overall look that leans towards the minimal and emphasizing the outdoor patio space, giving off a modern vibe to help capitalize on the restaurant’s prime location in the heart of Little Italy.
Joining Soriano in this evolution is Chef Maitland who comes to Indigo Grill with more than a decade of San Diego restaurant experience to his name, including local stints at Arterra Restaurant and Flavor Del Mar and most recently Red Light District Dining Room and Social House in the Gaslamp Quarter. His culinary skills have garnered him numerous awards including Ranch and Coast’s Best Chef and 944 Magazine’s top “Innovators Under 30,” along with an invitation to cook at the James Beard Foundation in New York. Maitland is now anxious to bring the skills he’s learned along the way to this latest endeavor.“Along with many diners in San Diego, I see Indigo Grill as somewhat of an institution in the local dining scene. I look forward to collaborating with Chef Deborah Scott to help reinvent the menu that San Diegans have been coming back to for years,” Maitland explains.
On the reinvigoration of her classic menu, Cohn Restaurant Group Head Chef Deborah Scott says, “After 12 years on the scene, we’re looking forward to giving the menu a face lift of sorts. You’ll see the food grow into modern terms with a new, fresh slant. Jason comes to us with a healthy, clean approach that is particularly relevant to the transition. I look forward to seeing the vision that we’ve both created come to light and am confident that along with Michael we are well-equipped to take this San Diego classic to the next level while remaining true to the restaurant’s roots.”
Among the changes Maitland and Scott plan to make are downsizing portions to create smaller, shared plates at a lower price point. The new menu will also contain many lighter options to go along with Chef Scott's own commitment to a healthier lifestyle. While the revised menu will have a Latin/South American base, the culinary team plans to draw inspiration from many other cultures and regions around the world. Food and drink pairings, craft cocktails, a large variety of local beers, and potentially a margarita cart are all in the works to meet the needs of the neighborhood’s clientele.
For more information on Indigo Grill and the rest of the Cohn Restaurant Group eateries, visit cohnrestaurants.com.
