O'Bistro Cafe quietly closed on 4th of July this past summer with hopes of finding a new location in the Rosecrans area of Point Loma. The bungalow-style space has since been taken over by longtime San Diego restaurateur David Schiffman for the opening of Voltaire Beach House, a bar and restaurant inspired by the seaside beach homes of Nantucket, anticipated to grand open in early January 2017.
Voltaire Beach House is the brainchild of David Schiffman, who has ownership interests in Whiskey Girl, Double Deuce, Florent, The Rabbit Hole and once owned long-shuttered The Range Kitchen & Cocktails in Hillcrest. When a rent spike forced O'Bistro from its space at 4934 Voltaire Street in Ocean Beach, Schiffman decided it was time to tap into the OB neighborhood.
Voltaire Beach House will offer a menu of shareable plates, flatbreads, salads, bowls, sandwiches and burgers designed by Consulting Chef Abe Botello, who gained significant experience working for Matt Gordon's Urban Solace and Solace and the Moonlight Lounge. Chef Abe is also known for his delicious food in his current role as Executive Chef of West Coast Tavern in North Park. Highlights include a fried oysters & shrimp plate, dry rubbed roasted BBQ wings, a seared ahi salad, a short rib dip sandwich and market fish tacos, to name a few. Behind the bar, expect plenty of San Diego craft beers on tap.
General manager Gabriel Shantz lives just a few blocks away. With a background including six years as a bartender at Guava Beach Grill, experience serving as a surf instructor for Safari Surf School along with awards in surfing instructor safety training, Shantz understands the heart and vision for Voltaire Beach Bar to be a local’s neighborhood destination. He earned his Bachelor in Public Administration/Political Science from SDSU and traveled the world before deciding to make OB home.
Schiffman who has been working closely with Shantz and the team to bring the vision to life with a 900 square foot patio for dining alfresco, which will include a firepit for warmth in the evenings. That’s on top of the 3,000 square foot interior including a wrap-around bar, antique copper design elements, rustic paint design anda spiral staircase to inspire feelings of a true beach haven. The liquor license includes full liquor, as well as wine and beer. VBH has an anticipated opening date in January and will be open for breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Hiring is currently underway for all positions and interested parties can send their resume to [email protected] for consideration. For more information, visit voltairebeachhouse.com.
