Sublime Alehouse Opening in Del Mar

Fans of the popular San Marcos eatery, Sublime Alehouse, will soon have a much shorter commute to be able to enjoy the distinct flavors that the restaurant offers. Owner James Limjoco recently announced the opening of a second location at 3702 Via De la Valle in Del Mar, the former location of Tommy V’s.

“There are a lot of people who have been travelling all the way up here to enjoy our food,” Limjoco said. “We’re excited to be able to open another location that is more convenient.”   

And if you’re thinking that Sublime Alehouse is just another cliché craft beer, burger joint, think again. The original location, which opened about in late 2011, has gained notoriety for its use of fresh ingredients, an innovative take on classic dishes, and, of course, its wide selection of adult beverages.

“The whole theory behind Sublime Alehouse is somewhat of a farm to table approach,” Limjoco said.” We don’t even have a freezer on-site; we do everything fresh.”

The restaurant has an on-site bakery where all breads and buns are cooked daily, and they butcher the beef for burgers in-house. The chef and kitchen staff also makes all the sauces, spreads and rubs that are used in the recipes. In fact, the kitchen staff is often at the restaurant six hours prior to opening time, to prep for the night ahead.

“What we do well is add the very best ingredients,” Limjoco said. “The food is really focused on clean flavors, rather than pretension. Truffle oil is essentially a flavor, and you see it on these really high-end menus. Well here, we’re going to add the truffle oil, but we’re not going to charge outrageous prices.”

Diners who have come to know and love the original Sublime Alehouse location can rest assured that the new location will not be cutting any corners. In fact, Limjoco noted that he has hesitated in the past to take on investors for fear that the quality of the product, and the way it is created will become diluted.

“My whole premise is integrity. Everything we do has to be intact for this to be successful. Any compromise at all, I won’t do,” he said.

It’s this dedication that has helped Limjoco build Sublime Alehouse into the popular location that it is today. The menu features a number of classic dishes, but done with high-quality ingredients, or prepared in a unique way, to give guests a chance to step our of their comfort zone when it comes to dining.

“The way I kind of look at it is, when you ask people what they want their last meal to be, they never say foie gras, or something really high-end, they always pick the meal that reminds them of their past,” he said. “We create mac and cheese and other comfort food, we just use better ingredients. It’s about cooking with love.”

Another addition that the Del Mar location will have is an extensive wine program. The restaurant will feature more than 100 bottles of wine, but that’s not all. Limjoco has also invested in an argon-treated display case, which can preserve fine wines for up to three weeks. This will allow patrons to try pricier wine variations by the pour, or the glass, rather than purchasing the whole bottle. 

“There are always certain bottles that you want to try, but don’t want to spend the money on, or others in your party aren’t interested in,” Limjoco said. “With this, you can get a little taste, or enjoy a half glass. It is a great way to come and really test your palette and learn about different things.”

For none wine lovers, Sublime Alehouse will also feature 50 beers on tap and a bottle selection of more than 100.

The restaurant’ will seat 350 patrons and has a grand opening scheduled for the weekend of May 30, just in time for the start of the Del Mar Fair.