2 weeks Ago By Kamal Jenkins
The legendary Starlite in Middletown is set to open its doors again after a 14-month hiatus. It has undergone a comprehensive remodel to honor its storied past while propelling the San Diego haunt into a new era. According to The San Diego Union-Tribune, the restaurant nestled between Mission Hills and downtown will serve patrons next week, with the original sunken bar and mid-century modern cool intact.
Formerly helmed by multi-faceted creator Matt Hoyt and music scene veteran Tim Mays, Starlite has become a cultural institution since its opening in 2007. Sadly, the venue faced uncertainty after Hoyt's untimely death in 2021. According to a San Diego Magazine report, the future was in flux until Arsalun Tafazoli, co-founder of CH Projects, stepped in to navigate the establishment into its next chapter, ensuring the legacy of a place that "immediately felt like an institution" would continue, as Tafazoli wrote in a note last year.
Tafazoli, who initially hesitated to take over Starlite, citing the considerable responsibility of such a move, was inspired to preserve the venue as a tribute to Hoyt and the original team. He explained to The San Diego Union-Tribune that the idea of Starlite vanishing sparked the decisive call to action. Under his stewardship, the venue underwent reminiscences of Carlsbad Caverns in its rock-hewn bar and retro-futuristic motifs, complete with a revamped upstairs patio remade into a Flintstone-esque landscape.
Ensuring the balance between old and new, Bells + Whistles, the original design team behind Starlite's aesthetic was brought back to oversee the project. Not all change is external, and the kitchen has received its share of upgrades. Chef Ted Smith brings established favorites and fresh steak selections to the menu.
Despite the new recipe, classic drinks like the Starlite Mule will remain at the bar. "Starlite regulars will still be able to find their favorite drinks, from the T. Mays Margarita and Kentucky Colonel to the signature Starlite Mule," The San Diego Union-Tribune captured Tafazoli's intent to preserve the restaurant's character.
With the reopening imminent, Jack Reynolds, a long-time general manager and honorary fourth owner, is confirmed to return to the helm, as evidenced by a recent update on Starlite's Instagram. The San Diego community also anticipates a fundraising event on April 7 for a scholarship fund in Hoyt's name, a fitting homage to a man and a place so embedded in the city's fabric. View this post on Instagram A post shared by STARLITE (@starlitesd).
