Gravity Heights (Sorrento Valley) - San Diego, CA

Gravity Heights, the new brewery restaurant concept from Whiskenladle Hospitality, opened to the public last Thursday on January 24, 2019. My coworkers and I have been eyeing the ongoing construction the last few months, hearing it would open November, delayed to December, and finally ready in January!

This is the view of the building from Pacific Heights Blvd. You take a left at the stoplight and there is a large parking lot behind it. It's very close to the tech businesses in this area which include the huge Qualcomm Company. Readers of our blog know how we like to provide full coverage (such as Little Sakana last month) so with my THREE visits, I think we've got you covered!

First Visit (reservation only)

Our CEO forwarded us an invitation sent to neighboring businesses which gave me a sneak peek in mid-January. During this "mock service," diners also got the perk of 50% off while staff and kitchen worked on synchronizing their rhythm. I met three friends for a little catchup session and to explore the new menu in the main dining area. I've attached the current food menu (subject to change) as an attachment to the post. Coworkers of mine also tried this place during soft opening and had plenty of options for their gluten-free needs!

Wild Mushroom Pizza ($15.75) - fontina, burrata, garlic, oregano, chili, red onion, kale 

The choice of pizza was difficult as they all sounded delicious. Our table settled on the Wild Mushroom Pizza per server Taylor’s recommendation. It was to die for, especially the roasted garlic and cheese combination. The kale was slightly crunchy from the oven too which was delightful.

The pizzas are cooked in a smaller wood-fired oven so are served as they are ready. The crust is amazing when it comes out of the oven and made even the pickiest eaters a believer. The plate was a little oily afterwards but eating was pure decadence. I've heard all their pizzas are tasty.

Tuna Crudo ($13.75) - citrus, avocado, cilantro, evoo, baja crema, ginger lime vinaigrette

Gorgeous crudo had a nice saltiness against the sweeter fruits though there was a bit of heat that hit the back of your throat. We mentioned the spicy kick to Taylor and she mentioned it was either a mistake or they were testing it out (supposed to use another oil).

Duck Liver "Bahn Mi" Crostani ($11.95) - roasted pork belly, red onion, cilantro, cucumber, jalapeno, mint, basil

This open faced sandwich had a savory bite. I enjoyed the rich, thicker spread on my tongue though the tender pork belly taste was more hidden under this. The cucumbers made this feel refreshing while the mint flavor was minimal (good for me). Luckily I missed out on the jalapeno in my piece, which I spotted just in time prior to my last bite!

Grilled Sausage Platter ($19.95) - assorted Mastiff Co. sausages, fried peppers, roasted onions, mustards

These had to be the most JUICY sausages I've ever eaten --> they practically squirted every time I cut into one! There were three varieties in our platter including a delicious andouille and my favorite, the cheddar jalapeno sausage. You could really taste that sharp cheddar though all were winners in my book. Mixed in were giant roasted onions that pulled apart easily. The peppers were de-seeded but still had just a tiny bit of heat. I did not try the whole grain mustard.

Moroccan Lamb Lettuc Wraps ($16.50) - green lettuce, tomato, cucumber, dill, hummus, tzatziki, sumac, GH naan

The kitchen must be a meat cooking superstar because even the lamb was plenty moist. Don’t forget about the veggie crunch and the crispy roasted chickpeas as you wrap your own pita! The hummus was thicker and grittier so I wasn't a fan, but my tablemates loved the taste.

Our entire meal ran quite smoothly despite this being their first lunch service! Props to the staff! All in all, everything was stellar and we planned to return for more!

Second Visit

Since it was a brewery, I had to try at least ONE beer. I dropped in last Friday on their second day of business to meet with a friend. We hit their happy hour (between 3-6pm) and it was packed by 4pm. Everyone was just as curious as we were to check out this place!

The service was more scattered that day in the beer garden area. It took a while to order which might have been due to the server change. I got a Torrey Porter taster and felt it was quite light also. I tried the Beachday on my next visit with much more success. It had just enough fruitiness (but not sweetness) to satisfy my alcoholic craving. My coworkers told me they tried a flight here over the weekend but thought the drafts were a bit on the watery side.

Bhel Puri ($10.50) - puffed rice, tomato, mango, red onion, quinoa, cilantro mint chutney, tamarid date chutney

Our server provided this item on the house for my friend. This Indian-inspired dish was a real fun treat! The sweetness mixed with the chew of the puffed rice plus that slightly tangy mint chutney created a great combination! I'd say my only complaint was there was too much fresh cilantro on top!

Third Visit

Our cousin and his wife were in town so we decided to bring everyone to Gravity Heights on a Saturday night of opening week. Yep, visit number three for me and prime weekend dinner time! =)

Here's one view of indoor table seating. Around 6pm, there was already a one hour wait for a table! We settled in the beer garden to drink and wait for our buzzer to ring.

If you need to visit the ladies or gentleman’s room, there's this groovy hallway with merchandise for sale plus this car sticking out of the wall! I’m also a fan that the sink was OUTSIDE of the bathroom so I didn’t need to wait to wash my hands. Am I a dork to think their sink faucets were amazing though? It’s a 3-in-1 faucet bar with the middle spouting water, the left dispensing soap, and the right to dry your hands!

"Mexican Street" Roasted Cauliflower ($11.75) - cotija, cilantro, lime, pickled onions, chili powder

Back in the beer garden with freshly washed hands, I was ready to eat again! My coworker had ordered this cauliflower dish prior which tastes so lovely with the spices and cojita cheese. It’s something I’d order for lunch without hesitation!

Smoked Brisket ($23.95) - mac n cheese, brasied greens, house bbq sauce

The cousin got his meat on with this brisket entree. The crust was beautifully charred and the brisket was tender and moist. He also enjoyed the mac n cheese though I didn't hear a peep about greens from this "meat lover" (per cousin's wife).

Crab Melt ($15.95) - american cheese, piquillo peppers, gem lettuce, old bay mayo

Dennis couldn’t resist ordering the crab sandwich. The cheese isn’t fully melted but you do get a mouthful of crabby filling in each bite plus I like the tart that you get from the peppers. The bread was toasty golden while the fries were thin and crispy.

Other foods: Our group also ordered the delicious GH Dirty Fries ($13.50)  while we were sitting at the firepits (so no pictures due to lighting). The fries weren't as crispy as I had wanted but the smokey meat was fantastic with the slightly sweet bbq sauce and cheese. I stayed away from the peppers! We also orderd the Wild Mushroom Pizza again, which was just as tasty as my first time, but could have used more oven time for a crispier crust.

It's quite lovely in the evenings sitting in the patio with the huge lighted tree, which I read was quite expensive to install and almost died at one point! There are seating areas with a fire pit which can help battle the chilly evenings. If you’re lucky and see one of the picnic tables empty out, grab it immediately! Then BAM, you’ve got “seating” without waiting for a buzzer! We gave our buzzer back once we nabbed this mini table.

Gravity Heights is a little pricier than other restaurants around here but if you want outstanding food, this place does the job! Chef Ryan Johnston and Chef Keith Voight have produced a wonderful menu here as you can tell. I definitely see this as a hot spot for food and happy hour in this business heavy area.