A simple stroll down 5th Avenue is bound to reveal manifold shades of San Diego culture. Greet the concrete in Hillcrest where the Corvette Diner meets Extraordinary Desserts, and jet set Downtown where Croce's Jazz Bar and Onyx mingle before submitting to The Bitter End. From elegant eateries to edgy nightclubs, 5th Avenue spans endless diversions for entrepreneurs of dining and nightlife in San Diego.
For years, the 5th Avenue strip in Banker's Hill has housed office buildings and quaint casual lunch-stops for businessmen and women on the go. But what about hard working professionals that deserve a whole hour for lunch? Or, innovative professionals who prefer to close deals over an evening of fine dining? August presents the latest addition to 5th Avenue in San Diego: Avenue 5, an upscale neighborhood eatery in Banker's Hill.
On the cusp of Hillcrest charm and Downtown allure, Avenue 5 reinvents dining in Banker's Hill. Avenue 5 radiates with contemporary sophistication. No pretentious ritz, and no eccentric glitz, Avenue 5 exists for a casual coterie with an appreciation for elegance and a demand for style. And outside, the compelling contrast of Victorian mansions and urban condominiums backed by the timeless draw of Balboa Park makes Avenue 5 a new landmark on 5th Avenue.
A classic hotel inspired overhang ushers guests into the Avenue where understated grandeur presides. A modest cocktail lounge dusted with earth tones and defined by floor to ceiling glass overlooks 5th and joins the central bar. The rich wood toned bar spans the length of the restaurant, overseeing hardwood floors and speaking to the bar lounge, dining room, and group dining lounge in the rear. The emphatic bar is humbled by the oversized antique mirror that sits above the stash, keeping a close eye on cocktailers. Subtle steel and careful glass accents invite a modern attitude, while contrasting soft colors and exposed, rustic brick walls keep the restaurant at ease. The disconnect between brick and steel resonates in refined balance atop each white clothed low table and bar stool.
The evident passion of Avenue 5 derives from first-time restaurant team: Colin and Brian McLaggan and Nicolas Carbonne. From bussing tables at acclaimed San Diego restaurants to the launch of their first San Diego enterprise, this dynamic threesome has grown together, with the best of the best in San Diego.
Chef Colin MacLaggan is a local native, with deep roots in the San Diego restaurant scene. Since the early advent of his culinary career, Chef MacLaggan has attended Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute in London, worked with the renowned Chef Jonathan Nicholson at Le Pont de la Tour and Cantina del Ponte, and returned to San Diego to pursue his passion at Mille Fleurs in Rancho Santa Fe, Bertrand at Mister A's in the Gaslamp, Arterra in Del Mar, and many more.
Chef MacLaggan pays close attention to every detail from first site to the last bite, "Presentation being important because we all take the first bite with our eyes, texture helps us identify what we enjoy upon the actual first bite and flavor creates the lasting memory of our experience."
Proprietor Brian MacLaggan puts his innate entrepreneurial spirit to work with a wide assortment of business ventures. Beginning and ending with fine dining in San Diego, MacLaggan paid his dues at Ole Madrid and The Tiki Lounge, created a high-end antique Spanish furniture company, and now returns to utilize his business-savvy mindset for a slice of 5th Avenue.
General Manager Nicolas Carbonne was born and raised in Paris, France--and moved to San Diego in 1986 only to befriend the MacLaggan brothers in the height of youth. From family dinners in Paris to employment in the San Diego restaurant industry, Carbonne developed a fondness for fine dining and hospitality. Carbonne's sincere and warm approach to service is no secret in San Diego, as he was recently awarded Best Waiter of 2007 by San Diego Magazine.
Avenue 5 serves affordable American cuisine with a French flair. An assortment of fresh San Diego ingredients arrayed with French technique makes the simple Avenue 5 menu a hit on 5th.
Discover our picks from Avenue 5's original sample summer menu.
Cold appetizers
Pesce alle erbe aromatiche, marinated tuna in aromatic herbs, heirloom tomatoes, infused oils
Hot appetizers
Dungeness crab cakes, Asian slaw, wasabi tobiko, ginger buerre blanc
Fish
Local halibut, fricassee of mussels, claims, and chorizo, bok choy, saffron essence
Meat
Kurobuta pork loin, colcannon, caramelized pearl onions, grilled peaches
Cheese and desserts
Tuxedo crème brulee, classic vanilla custard with chocolate ganache
Discover what's new on 5th Avenue this August at Avenue 5 in Banker's Hill.
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