Things are starting to pick up at the future home of Kettner Exchange in Little Italy. The 8,000-square-foot restaurant, bar, and lounge is the latest concept from San Diego Creative Media, the folks behind Firehouse Pacific Beach and Analog in the Gaslamp.
At the corner of Kettner and Grape, Kettner Exchange will feature a progressive American menu from chef Brian Redzikowski. We’re not really sure what that means or who that is, but apparently he’s a big deal.
They claim that Kettner Exchange will feature Little Italy’s only rooftop patio, but they may have already lost that title with recent opening of Top of the Bay at the nearby Porto Vista Hotel, which also offers rooftop views of the harbor every Friday night.
Also part of the project is Donut Joint, a separate building that will offer fresh gourmet donuts and organic coffee from San Diego roasters Virtuoso. Similar to Donut Bar on B Street, they’ll open at 8 a.m. and close whenever they sell out. It’ll have an outdoor bar-style eating area on the ground floor and another patio upstairs. Sounds like this will be another great hangout for Little Italy residents.
Blue Motif Architecture is behind the contemporary design, which will feature a display kitchen, pivot entry doors, and that cool curved roof you see coming together. Those are the same people who designed Prepkitchen Little Italy—one of our favorite interiors in the city.