Look for an early 2006 opening of Cenido, a new Latin American restaurant by Brett Miller (Moondoggies, Gringo’s, Jordan Restaurant). Miller is completely gutting and remodeling his first Moondoggies restaurant located at 909 Prospect Ave. in La Jolla. Michael Soriano is doing the interior design for this 250-seat upscale eatery and Tony Adamo from Design Perspectives designed the kitchen. Victor Jiminez is collaborating with g.m. Steve Smith and chef de cuisine Diane Stopford on the menu, which is a combination of Cuban, Argentinean and Mexican dishes.

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D Street LLC inked a deal in October for the former Martini Ranch space located on the corner of D Street and Highway 101 in Encinitas. D Street Bar and Grill opens later this month. Billy Daniels, who many remember from his days as g.m. at Jimmy O’s in Del Mar, is managing partner and Thomas King will serve as g.m. A complete gut and remodel has brought the space back to its original exposed brick walls. An epoxy floor and rich mahogany woods combined with old-fashioned school lights and comfy booths give this neighborhood eatery a warm and casual ambience. The menu is described as “Americana at its best.” It includes cheese steak sandwiches (yes, Daniels is from Philly), burgers, pastas, and steaks. Food will be served from 11 a.m. to midnight seven days a week, 365 days a year (that’s what they say now anyway).

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West Steak and Seafood House opened late last month at 4980 Avenida Encinas in Carlsbad. The nearly 5,000-square-foot freestanding restaurant is part of a new development that also will include the West Inn and Suites, an 86-room hotel, and another restaurant by West Development Group. This 130-seat, high-end eatery will feature certified Angus prime beef, fresh seafood and premium spirits. Until he recently sold it to pursue this venture, managing partner Jim Walsh had owned and operated The Crazy Burro, also in Carlsbad, since 1980. Eugenio Martignago will serve as executive chef. He spent the last 12 years as executive chef at Nick’s Fishmarket in Honolulu.

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VISIONS restaurant, sushi bar and nightclub has opened to huge crowds in the Gaslamp Quarter. Jimmy Di Matteo, the well-known proprietor of Jimmy Love’s, took over the former Momo all-you-can-eat-sushi restaurant earlier this year and enlisted Graham Downes to gut and make over the space. The result is very slick, yet down-to-earth, if that’s possible, ambience. The liberal use of stone, wood and granite is offset by warm colors, sheer fabrics and soft lines to create a very raw but comfortable atmosphere. Executive chef Eric Cares, who comes from the Hyatt Corp., created an interesting menu featuring dishes like “Molasses Marinated Double Pork Chop,” “Roasted Organic Half Chicken” and my favorite, the “Foie Gras Burger.” The restaurant has private rooms that can “curtain off” parties of almost any number where bottle service, your own bartender and anything you like (and I do mean anything) can be played on private flat screen televisions are part of the package. Visions is located at 555 Market St.

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Check out La Playa Cantina and Grill, the newest addition to San Marcos’ restaurant row. It is brought to you by owner John Wingate, executive chef Todd Castner and the rest of the people from En Fuego Cantina and Grill in Del Mar. La Playa took over the former Rockin’ Baja Lobster space and offers more than 3,000 square feet of dining decorated with palapas and authentic Mexican décor. Look for menu items such as “Snapper a la Plancha,” “Mojo de Ajo” and “Pollo Estofado.” For more information visit laplayacantina.com.

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After almost a year of construction, Chris and Mary Cluck have opened Wine Vault and Bistro, a wine and food-pairing restaurant, located at 3731 India St., above Saffron. This event-driven venue — winevaultbistro.com — offers wine dinners and special events nightly.

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Congratulations to The Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla and the Four Seasons Resort Aviara in Carlsbad for being honored with 2006 AAA Five Diamond awards. Only 12 hotels in Southern California received the designation this year.

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KOI Lounge is set to open this month in La Jolla. The property at 7660 Fay Ave. is next to, and owned by, the folks at Zenbu Sushi Bar and Restaurant. Matt Rimel acquired it a few months ago and has been remodeling and decorating the 800-square-foot space in his signature minimalist-with-Asian-accents style. KOI will offer a full bar, appetizers, sushi, dessert as well as truffles, oysters and caviar. The space is ideal as an overflow space for the restaurant as anyone who frequents Zenbu knows it can be a brutal wait at times.

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The Palm Restaurant opens this month in the Julian Building located Downtown at the southeast corner of Sixth Avenue and J Street in the Ballpark District. The restaurant occupies more than 9,000 square feet on two floors. The comfy, saloon-like dining room seats 103 and private dining is available. Famous for prime-aged steaks, lobsters and authentic Italian dishes, it’s also known for its lighthearted caricatures of local celebrities and regular customers. This is the 30th Palm Restaurant location.

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For the person who started the rumor that Arterra Restaurant was closing (and you know who you are), shame on you. Yes, the hotel property recently sold, but the new owners have no intention of closing the restaurant, changing the restaurant or dumbing-down the menu. OK then.

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.