Originally established in 2006 by Matt Hoyt, Tim Mays, and Steve Poltz - veterans of the city’s music and arts scene - the venue became a cultural hub for creatives, known for its low-lit ambiance, craft cocktails, and farm-to-table dining. Following Hoyt's death from aggressive cancer in 2021, the restaurant faced an uncertain future until Consortium Holdings (CH Projects) took ownership in Fall 2022, aiming to preserve its legacy while updating it for a modern audience.
CH Projects, led by co-founder Arsalun Tafazoli, has overseen a significant remodel, transforming Starlite into a retro-futuristic space with mid-century modern roots. The original design firm, Bells + Whistles, expanded the iconic sunken bar into a hexagonal shape matching the entryway and added towering rock facades inspired by Carlsbad Caverns. The upstairs patio now features a mossy, space-age design with crater-like fire pits, plants, and a newly uncovered area with a waterfall and extra seating. The redesign maintains core elements like the hexagonal entrance and booths to honor the venue’s history.
CH Projects, led by co-founder Arsalun Tafazoli, has overseen a significant remodel, transforming Starlite into a retro-futuristic space with mid-century modern roots. The original design firm, Bells + Whistles, expanded the iconic sunken bar into a hexagonal shape matching the entryway and added towering rock facades inspired by Carlsbad Caverns. The upstairs patio now features a mossy, space-age design with crater-like fire pits, plants, and a newly uncovered area with a waterfall and extra seating. The redesign maintains core elements like the hexagonal entrance and booths to honor the venue’s history.
The menu, crafted by chef Ted Smith, retains classic dishes such as the Jidori chicken, homemade sausage plate, and Starlite Burger - originally shaped by early chef Marguerite Grifka - while adding prime steaks, seafood dishes, and even a meatball sub. The cocktail lineup keeps favorites like the T. Mays Margarita, Kentucky Colonel, and an updated Starlite Mule, which popularized copper mugs in San Diego during the late 2000s. Longtime general manager Jack Reynolds returns, joined by rehired staff who worked under Hoyt and Mays, ensuring continuity.
Hoyt's passing left his widow, Allison, a schoolteacher, to manage the restaurant, a role she was unprepared for after his hands-on leadership. Facing industry challenges and offers from buyers eyeing the site for condos or a minimal bar, she sought a buyer to sustain Starlite’s identity. CH Projects initially operated it unchanged through 2023 before closing for renovations in early 2024, relocating staff like Smith to other properties such as Born & Raised and The Lafayette Hotel.
Starlite's reopening aligns with CH Projects’ broader efforts to reshape San Diego’s hospitality landscape. In Coronado, the group is converting the 29-room La Avenida Inn, secured through a long-term lease in 2022, into The Baby Grand Hotel, merging vintage style with modern amenities. In Little Italy, CH is developing Dreamboat, a $13 million+ project on Kettner Boulevard, Juniper, and India Streets, featuring a 60-room hotel, a 6,700-square-foot wellness center, two restaurants, a rooftop lounge, offices, and parking. Approved by the San Diego City Council in July 2024, with a final vote pending, construction is planned to begin later in 2025.
CH also manages The Lafayette Hotel in North Park, renovated for $31 million, now home to Lou Lou’s Jungle Room and a forthcoming bathhouse-inspired spa, alongside the La Pensione Hotel in Little Italy, purchased in 2021. Through these initiatives, CH Projects aims to revitalize San Diego's cultural landmarks, blending preservation with innovation, as seen in Starlite's rebirth as a hip, futuristic haven.
Starlite is now hosting soft opening hours at 3175 India Street in San Diego's Middletown with a full grand opening planned for March 24. For more information, visit starlitesd.com and check out the menu below.
Starlite's reopening aligns with CH Projects’ broader efforts to reshape San Diego’s hospitality landscape. In Coronado, the group is converting the 29-room La Avenida Inn, secured through a long-term lease in 2022, into The Baby Grand Hotel, merging vintage style with modern amenities. In Little Italy, CH is developing Dreamboat, a $13 million+ project on Kettner Boulevard, Juniper, and India Streets, featuring a 60-room hotel, a 6,700-square-foot wellness center, two restaurants, a rooftop lounge, offices, and parking. Approved by the San Diego City Council in July 2024, with a final vote pending, construction is planned to begin later in 2025.
CH also manages The Lafayette Hotel in North Park, renovated for $31 million, now home to Lou Lou’s Jungle Room and a forthcoming bathhouse-inspired spa, alongside the La Pensione Hotel in Little Italy, purchased in 2021. Through these initiatives, CH Projects aims to revitalize San Diego's cultural landmarks, blending preservation with innovation, as seen in Starlite's rebirth as a hip, futuristic haven.
Starlite is now hosting soft opening hours at 3175 India Street in San Diego's Middletown with a full grand opening planned for March 24. For more information, visit starlitesd.com and check out the menu below.
Originally published on March 19, 2025.