Maybe San Diego will become a “lunch city” after all. After years of watching restaurants open for lunch, then eventually give it up (Chive and Laurel are notable examples), one of Downtown’s corporate big boys is making a pretty gutsy move and making the plunge. Buca Di Beppo at 705 Sixth Ave., just outside the Gaslamp Quarter, is now open every day for lunch. In addition to its regular menu, famous for its huge portions, Beppo will also offer lunch-only items such as panini sandwiches, single serving salads, pastas, entrées and a variety of soups. Reservations are accepted and takeout is available.

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Those with particularly good memories may recall a couple years back an item in this column about some folks who opened a little eatery on C Street called Nutter’s that specialized in peanut butter. Although Nutter’s is now nada, the same couple, Robin and Andrew Schiff — always the innovators — opened a restaurant in North Park called Spread, which features 100 percent organic vegetarian cuisine. Check it out at spreadtherestaurant.com.

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The fellows at Brians’ American Eatery (yes, the apostrophe is in the correct place, it’s owned by two guys named Brian) signed a 10-year lease for the 2,500-square-foot restaurant space located on the ground floor of the St. James Hotel on Sixth Avenue between Broadway and F Street. The space, which you may remember was the site of Vignola in the 90s, the restaurant of Fabrice Poigin, and most recently Café 828. This is the third location for Brians’ American Eatery that specializes in American breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night dining.

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On the heels of the second anniversary of their ultra hip and popular lounge, the owners of Side Bar are breaking ground on Stingaree, described as an “exclusive restaurant and nightlife destination.” The 22,000-square-foot, three-story, state of the art restaurant and event center located at the corner of Sixth and Island avenues in the Ballpark District, will feature a 7,500-square-foot rooftop bar.

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Also opening in the fourth quarter is a new sushi bar-restaurant-event center in Little Italy. This yet-to-be-named venue is the collaboration of Michael Viscuso (On Broadway, E Street Alley, Deco) and Joe Busalacchi (Busalacchi’s, Trattoria Fantastico, Vincenzo Mare, Po Pazzo). The 10,000-square-foot space at Grape and India streets will offer lunch and dinner seven days a week and dancing Wednesday through Saturday.

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Pacifica Del Mar is offering a new “Dine in Tonight” program that allows diners to phone in orders from a special menu and pick up meals to take home. The items offered are selected from the regular dinner menu by the chef based on their “holding ability.” Items are packaged individually for better traveling. For more information, visit pacificadelmar.com.

Terryl Gavre believes the world would be a better place if everyone worked once as a foodserver. She is owner of Café 222, Downtown, and can be reached at (619) 233-4060, Ext. 316, or terryl@sandiegometro.com.