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"At the San Marcos location of Prep Kitchen — the brand’s fourth branch and the first to open since IAM Hospitality Group purchased the concept four months ago — it replaces Stella Public House in Block C at North City and joins Urge Gastropub & Common House and Grit Coffee. Under new ownership the restaurant is launching a revamped menu from IAM’s chief culinary officer Joe Elevado (an alum of NOBU and Andrea’s at the Wynn in Las Vegas) and corporate executive chef Geno Fontanoza (Katsuya Beverly Hills), keeping some familiar Prep Kitchen favorites while adding Asian-influenced dishes such as Wagyu beef sliders and seared scallops with sweet peas, shimeji and shiitake mushrooms, finished with a black garlic vinaigrette; those new offerings will roll out to the other three locations in the coming weeks. Service hours: dinner nightly 5–9 p.m., “social hour” 4–6 p.m. nightly and 9 p.m.–midnight Friday and Saturday; weekend brunch 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. debuts June 16, and weekday lunch 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. begins June 21." - Candice Woo