For more than 30 years David and Leslie Cohn have set about bringing delicious eateries to Southern California. This journey began with a small diner in 1981, and has grown exponentially over the years to include more than 20 restaurants in SoCal and Maui, Hawaii. The family-owned and operated hospitality company, Cohn Restaurant Group, includes their two children, Jessica and Jeremy, and son-in law Mike. The Gaslamp Strip Club, The Plantation House, and Indigo Grill are a few of the popular San Diego restaurants they’ve created over the years.
In 2014, the family set their sights on Ocean Beach. They knew they needed to create something special that would fit in the bohemian neighborhood. They accomplished this with the opening of OB Warehouse in August of 2014. With Philippe Beltran’s industrial design vision, and a global bites street food menu, they found their niche in Ocean Beach. They’ve already been named Best New Restaurant and Best Restaurant Service in 2015 by Peninsula Beacon, and earned a Medallion Award for Best New Casual Restaurant, among other accolades. The Cohn family’s shared obsession with hospitality ensures each time you dine with them, you’ll leave happy and full.
OB Warehouse Ambiance
Philippe Beltran is the go-to design guy for the Cohn restaurants, and they enlisted him for the OB Warehouse as well. It’s a little bit vintage and little bit industrial, with splashes of global accents. Concrete floors, opened beamed ceilings, rustic distressed walls, and pendulum lights set the stage. Repurposed materials are used throughout the eclectic space, like the oversized tables from an old shoe factory in Portugal that promote communal dining.
An array of vintage artifacts adorn the eatery, like the push carts from India that sit along the walls. A funky, metallic, bisected Airstream trailer from 1965 gives guests a sneak peek into the kitchen. All the pieces in the restaurant are from Philippe Beltran’s international travel collection, and they give the space the gritty, eclectic, and vintage vibe that OB is known for. The OB Warehouse design smacks of originality. What’s more Ocean Beach than that?
OB Warehouse Food
In keeping with the design of the restaurant, the menu is unique, funky, and fun. Chef Amiko Gubbins, previously the personal chef for Lenny Kravitz, designed the menu – global street food with a twist. Mediterranean, Morrocon, Cuban, French, American, and even Canadian inspired eats are represented at OB Warehouse. A few starter favorites include Crispy Artichoke Hearts with lemon ginger sauce; Poutine?”You-Betcha” – short ribs with demi-glace, skinny fries, cheddar curds, and green onions; and Slow Braised Carnitas Sopes with cotija cheese, avocado, house-pickled lime onions, and cilantro.
Chipotle Chicken Flatbread with mozzarella, roasted corn, red onion, and cilantro gets high praise on review sites. Short Rib Pappardelle is a crowd-pleasing entrée with red wine braised short ribs, demi-glace, hemp infused compound butter, crispy carrots and onions, and spinach served over pappardelle pasta. Portobello French Dip Sliders and Grilled Chicken Shwarma are also menu favorites.
After your meal, the Bacon and Bread Pudding offers a spectacular finish. The light bread is topped with sweet and spicy candied bacon and served with a side of maple-whipped cream and sea salt caramel. Other yummy treats include Making Whoopie Pie, Blonde Brownie, and Campfire S’mores. Each dish from the starters to the desserts can be paired with specialty cocktails or mocktails, wine by the glass, or craft beer selections.
OB Warehouse Details
OB Warehouse is a casual restaurant with a full bar that is open only for dinner, except for weekend brunch. It has TVs, Wi-Fi, and outdoor seating. The restaurant is ADA accessible, caters to adults, and welcomes groups. There is street parking only, although there is a nearby paid lot at Newport Avenue and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. This restaurant is not pet friendly. They host monthly promotions like their Mother’s Day Buffet Brunch, or different beer classes.
Weekly specials include Monday Burger & Beer, Tuesday Date Night, and Throw ‘em Back Thursdays. OB Warehouse has daily Happy Hours just prior to the dinner hour. There are extensive house cocktail, wine, and draught beer menus, including a number of local brews to try like Coronado’s Mermaid Red Ale. If you bring your own wine, there is a $15 corkage fee.
For meetings or events, you may reserve private covered patio space for up to 19 guests, main dining non-private space for 20-86, and chef’s table semi-private seated dinner for up to 35 guests. An entire restaurant buyout or cocktail reception for up to 140 guests is also available.
OB Warehouse Neighborhood
Once considered the Haight-Ashbury of San Diego, the Ocean Beach neighborhood is one of California’s last remaining classic bohemian beach towns. The laidback neighborhood is characterized by food-coops, hippie-style boutiques, head and surf shops, and over 50 bars and restaurants. Turn left outside OB Warehouse toward the ocean and you’ll see the best of OB along Newport Avenue all the way to the sandy beaches and the OB Pier. The weekly Farmer’s Market on Newport Avenue every Wednesday brings the close-knit community together to support locals and enjoy the live bands, good food, artisan products, and of course, the beach.