Sycuan Casino hasn’t gone totally Vegas, baby.
Casino officials today will announce that the iconic San Diego brands Hodad’s, Phil’s BBQ, Luna Grill and Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop will have locations in the new $247 million hotel resort that Sycuan will open in March.
The fast-casual eateries will be grouped in a marketplace to be called TheUnCommons, and will also include a Sycuan-developed concept, The Hangry Slice pizza place.
Sycuan doubling down on homegrown dining options comes two weeks after it unveiled a partnership with the ultra-trendy Las Vegas-based Clique Hospitality to operate a new, high-end steakhouse, cocktail lounge and party pool bar.
“Sycuan chose top-tier, fast-casual brands that have original roots in San Diego, each offering their unique and iconic dishes that will appeal to a wide range of guests,” said John Dinius, Sycuan’s general manager.
“These brands are well known for consistent quality and a ion for giving back to the local community, and each seemed like a natural fit for The UnCommons.”
For the legion of fans who consistently rank Hodad’s, Phil’s and Lucha Libre among their favorites in town, the only other place to find them all under one roof is at Petco Park. But what makes Sycuan’s decision to bet on the restaurants’ appeal to the gaming crowd unusual is that San Diego-area casinos overwhelmingly opt to create their own dining concepts, rather than collaborating with existing ones.
Of the region’s 10 casinos, only Harrah’s Resort Southern California sports multiple chains — Smashburger, Earl of Sandwich, Starbucks and Robeks — and all of them are national.
When it opened in 2016 as Hollywood Casino, the modest-sized casino said what it lacked in amenities, it made up for with quality dining, including four locally-d eateries. Now rebranded as Jamul Casino, only the Emerald Chinese Cuisine remains; Tres Taqueria, PizzaPort and Ruby’s Diner are grouped as the Jamul Markeplace, offering a “taqueria,” “pizzeria” and “burgers & shakes.” A spokesman for Jamul Casino said the change was part of the overall rebranding of the property.
While they may seem at odds, Sycuan’s dual decisions to go with a splashy Las Vegas hospitality brand to operate its glitzier venues and tap San Diego-centric eateries for its casual offerings dovetail with the casino’s overall strategy for its new resort: To balance attracting a new, hipper clientele with serving — and not alienating — its longtime, loyal customer base.
Along with the casino’s first hotel, a 302-room tower, Sycuan’s resort will feature a luxury day spa, and expansive garden and pool complex, complete with a lazy river, event space and more.
For those new to San Diego, or living under a culinary rock, the iconic brands at The UnCommons represent among the region’s most popular burgers (Hodad’s), barbecued ribs, pulled pork and brisket (Phil’s BBQ), tacos, Cali burritos, quesadillas and Baja specialties (Lucha Libre) and kabobs, falafel and healthy Mediterranean fare (Luna Grill).
“This collection of San Diego’s best will surely solidify Sycuan Casino as a place where guests can visit and enjoy a multitude of dining, gaming and entertainment options,” said Dinius, the GM.
The Hangry Slice, meanwhile, will have menu items and ingredients that include spicy chorizo red sauce, soppressata picante, gluten free cauliflower pizza crust, chicken pot pie pizza, loaded potatoes, sandwiches and calzones.
It will serve, according to a spokeswoman, “pizza slices with attitude.”