The Mestre Restaurant Group Celebrates Candelas 10th Anniversary

Candelas Restaurant celebrates ten years downtown in the Gaslamp. To celebrate, they are offering guests special pricing on select menu items and neighbors a discount card to use every time they come in.

San Diego, CA - On June 7, 1999, Candelas opened its doors at 416 Third Avenue and began a flourishing, reciprocal relationship with its downtown neighbors. Ten years later, they are still there with many of the same staff and same guests frequenting their dining room and lounge. "We began with the desire to build relationships with everyone that comes through our doors," said Alberto Mestre, proprietor of Mestre Restaurant Group. "Our commitment to consistency in our food and our dedication to first-rate service has helped those relationships grow into friendships and our business increase prosperity over the years." Of course, behind every successful restaurant is a talented chef with a keen eye on the food, the menu and the presentation of their creations. Chef Eduardo Baeza provides a key ingredient in the secret sauce that has made Candelas a distinguished restaurant among San Diego dining establishments. Baeza stepped into the world of fine dining at the age of 18. His interest in the cooking style and flavors of France led him to Maxime’s, an exceptional French restaurant in Mexico City. There he mastered the art of culinary creation and developed his knowledge of French preparation and presentation. Baeza combined this knowledge with his passion for Latin flavors and brought his knowledge state-side to create the Candelas menu. Today, he continues to deliver innovative Mexican nouvelle cuisine with a style and taste slated for sustained success. When visiting Candelas, guests are impressed by skilled staff in crisp white coats that have an eye on every detail of the dining experience. Swift, unobtrusive servers ensure that glasses never go empty, appropriate utensils are always there and questions never go unanswered. Diners enjoy tantalizing flavors presented with style and grace while flickering candles set the tone for an atmosphere fitting of the restaurant name. Guests leave feeling that all the elements came together through careful planning and practice, which may be why is has become one of San Diego’s favorite date night spots. Candelas shows appreciation for the supportive relationship it has with its neighbors with special recognition and generous happy hour offers. On a typical weekday, between five and seven, you’ll find a handful of downtown residents in the lounge enjoying half price appetizers and the famous homemade Candelas margarita. To commemorate the tenth anniversary, Candelas is offering the tapas-style appetizer platter that has been popular since 1999 for the new price of just $19.99. The platter was created to promote sharing and warmth, which are essential elements in Latin cuisine. "On this special day, we also celebrate our loyal guests, dedicated staff members and quality suppliers for their continuing support as partners in our growth," said Mestre. "We are convinced the next 10 years will provide Candelas with even more opportunities to grow and to bond with the communities we serve." Due to the success of Candelas’ downtown location, the Mestre Group has opened a location in Coronado to share their unique culinary creations and dining style with a new market.

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About Mestre Group: The Mestre Group has two restaurants in San Diego, California that operate under the Candelas name. The first location was opened in the Gaslamp District in 1999 and the second on Coronado Island in 2006.