North Park Urban Solace Seeks Diversity in Simplicity

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What used to be a string of thrift stores, tattoo parlors, and sundry shops, with the exception of a random coffee shop, designated as the one antiestablishment hangouts for locals, college students, poets, drifters, and misunderstood youth, North Park has now become the booming epicenter for the hip and the happening.

With the new addition of hotspots like U-31, Tornado Bar, and the recently revamped Scolari's Office, haute hair salons like Disconnected and urban couture divulged by boutiques like Kate Ross and Mesh, the intersection of 30th Street and University alone carries enough clout on its resume to recruit any scenester for an investigation of this once "underground" district.

One novel appendage, which made its debut back in January, proves that North Park, though celebrated for its dive bars and dark corners, can be classy, casual and creative at the same time - while still paying homage to its local and, of course, artistic roots. Appropriately named for all it encompasses, Urban Solace represents the North Park neighborhood through cuisine, ambience and entertainment.

The outer architecture of Urban Solace, with its intricate dark iron railings which accent the front of the building, is reminiscent of something one might find in the French Quarter of New Orleans and is unique to the city of North Park's predominately new-age neighborhood.

Restaurateur Scott Watkins, who is one of the founders of Urban Solace, quickly found that the neighborhood of North Park was the perfect location for his vision. "We knew the neighborhood was going to be great. All these communities from the '60s and '70s are getting fixed up. I could tell this was going to be a happening spot," notes Watkins.

A veteran of the industry, Watkins is no new comer, and with 14 years of experience in restaurants under his belt creating his own "solace" had been an image in the making for some time. From his experiences it did not take Watkins long to figure out what he wanted in his own establishment. "I don't want my staff to feel like they're walking on eggshells," he says, of managing Urban Solace. "So I [initially] started Urban Solace because I wanted to design a restaurant my way."

Urban Solace's success through Watkins's foresight would not be complete, however, without the talents of his partner and chef, Matt Gordon. Gordon, who started "cooking for rent money," has worked in the industry for 17 years. The two entrepreneurs met while working together in Arizona. Both toyed with the idea in 2002 and it was not long before Gordon put his house on the market to move to sunny San Diego and begin working on a few fresh American and Southern-inspired recipes for the new restaurant.

It is certainly Gordon's innovative culinary instincts that have made Urban Solace an eatery which will no doubt keep folks craving more. With signature dishes like the mouth-watering New York Cheddar Mac n' Cheese, a creamy dish comprised of caramelized bacon, grilled red onion and charred tomato, sprinkled with bread crumbs, or the famous Warm Cheese Biscuits that practically melt in the mouth, served with orange honey butter, one will quickly realize why these dishes deserve the name, "comfort food." To get motivated, Gordon browses old-fashioned American recipes, "like something of a church collection of ladies' recipes," and puts his own spin on them.

Though we may always tell our mothers, "nothing beats your cooking," Gordon is giving the old gals a run for their money with his version of a simple, but delicious recipe for Sweet Potato French Fries, cut fresh daily and served with Maytag blue cheese-buttermilk dressing, or the Grilled Four Cheese Sandwich with a fresh basil and tomato twist, served with (and it wouldn't be a grilled cheese without it) a velvety tomato-fennel soup. Gordon also gets dirty south on dishes like Sassafras Marinated Skillet Shrimp and Chili accompanied by white corn grit cakes.

To complement the cuisine, Watkins and Gordon have hand picked the majority of the wine selection, which features Rhone Varietals - the GSM Grenache is a favorite; as well as the music and the art which graces the Urban walls. Keeping things local, as in local artists, (and what a selection with Ray at Night happening right around the corner) and musicians from the San Diego area, Urban Solace ever honors the 'hood. Locals and visitors alike can catch jazz and other live music on Urban's quaint street-side patio on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, or stop in for the "Bluegrass Brunch" for a live down-south bluegrass band and some serious Bloody Marys - these guys really know how to make em'. Urban Solace also invites one and all to cruise in for "Comfort Hour," where patrons can kick back from 4-6pm nightly for Comfort Hour specials at Urban's warm and elegant mahogany bar, or patio.

And for anyone who has ever thought that North Park is exclusive to its inhabitants, it seems, like Urban Solace, North Park is for everyone. "It's amazing to see the demographic on a nightly basis," says Watkins. "People will come from outside the twenty mile radius to our restaurant." Locals or travelers, the founding duo's revelation applies to anyone who enjoys affordable and understandable American cuisine and an escape where one can revel in the solace of the food, the music and the surroundings.

Gordon, who spent "the '90s where Asian fusion was hitting its brink, where creativity meant four countries on one plate," has created an ingenious, but palatable menu that wont leave guests scratching their heads in confusion. Or in other words, as Gordon sums up Urban Solace plainly, "we're trying to be different by being simple."