Alchemy Restaurant
“Snacks and smalls” form the first half of the lineup: bite-size snacks, salads and small plates from $4 to $8. Sweet piquillo peppers stuffed with spicy pulled pork ($4) are a must-have, as are the snapping-crisp fries dusted with Parmesan cheese and served with potent garlic dip ($4). A generous serving of ceviche ($8) veers from tradition with sweet mango pickle and a topping of fried plantains perfect for scooping up the mixture.
On the more substantial side, Alchemy South Park San Diego grass-fed beef burger with Manchego cheese ($10) is sided by a hefty haystack of fries. The Jidori half-chicken — crisp-skinned outside and juicy within ($16) — is one of the better birds in town. And the cocoa-rubbed pork tenderloin is sensibly savory, not sweet, ably paired with a pear chutney and mini-skillet of mashed sweet potatoes served on the side ($17).