Have you checked out Aldea yet? If you haven’t, summer is the right time. If you have, come on back, as the Village newcomer is headed in a new direction this season.
“It’s all about the locals,” owner and La Jollan Steve Horowitz said.
Horowitz opened Aldea in late February at 1251 Prospect St., wanting to offer La Jollans an elevated neighborhood joint (Aldea is Spanish for “village”) with a menu inspired by Mexico and Southern California.
Since then, he’s kept with the mission while heading Aldea in a “more approachable” direction, adding in DJ Nights every Friday in June, other music events and more to encourage La Jolla to keep coming.
It won’t be hard, with more shared plates, taco flights and lower prices up for grabs.
“Come for a margarita, a couple of tacos, sit out on the deck,” Horowitz said.
The DJ Nights kicked off June 7, with Bodo mixing live as diners bellied up to the bar, spread out in the lounge or gathered on the Prospect Street deck.
Aldea will also soon be one of the few late-night options in La Jolla, extending its weekend hours to midnight in the coming weeks.
Also warming up for an imminent launch: new executive chef Augie Saucedo, who will take over the kitchen after his most recent tenure at Estancia La Jolla.
Saucedo has created Aldea’s new summer menu, which will begin service in late June and looks to be “amazing,” Horowitz said. “Amazing is always good.”
Music, menu and more will all land well on the deck this summer, Horowitz said, adding Aldea will also pilot Bloody Mary and mimosa programs.
“We want to be that Sunday afternoon destination,” he said. “We definitely want to take advantage of that deck, as soon as the sun starts to show its face.”
Aldea will also continue its happy hour specials, held 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday (Aldea is closed Mondays), during which “the entire bar is half price” with dollar oysters.
“It’s starting to take off,” Horowitz said.
Friday DJ Nights scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m.: June 21, Depth Drop and June 28, Amzel.
Click here for reservations.
