Merenda Bistro and Wine Bar Opens in Oceanside | Eater San Diego

"Located on the ground floor of the Flats at 1931 South Coast Highway, I learned Merenda is a warm, cozy Southern European bistro and wine bar whose name is inspired by the Italian word for “snacks” and focuses on casual, shareable plates. The rotating, Mediterranean-leaning menu—designed by chef advisor Travis Hayden—centers on house-cured charcuterie and hard-to-find cheeses, crudos, a Niçoise salad, mushroom canelés, and lo scalda nduja, a spicy Calabrian sausage spread served in custom-made ceramic shaped like a whimsical dog with a lit tea candle underneath so the rich paste can be spread on crusty bread. Beverage director Heidi Greenwood curated a wine list emphasizing low-intervention and sustainable selections from Italy, France, Portugal, and California’s Central Coast, with bottles displayed for retail, four wines on tap, and cider and mead from San Marcos-based Raging Cider. The 1,872-square-foot space seats 63 inside and eight outside, plus an 11-seat bar and a private wine room, and features design details by Bells & Whistles including a Portuguese tile mural by a Montreal artist above the kitchen and custom metalwork by a cider master. Co-owners Aaron Crossland, who grew up in Oceanside, and Lauren Crossland-Marr, a food anthropologist, were inspired by a sabbatical in Italy and the cookbook Honey From a Weed; Merenda launches with Thursday–Sunday dinner service (4–9 p.m.) and will add lunch and grab-and-go items next month." - Helen I. Hwang