San Marcos CA— Four months after purchasing San Diego’s three Prep Kitchen restaurants, the IAM Hospitality Group announced on Tuesday, the opening of a fourth Prep Kitchen in San Marcos. This addition will evolve the Prep Kitchen brand with the launch of a new menu and modernized design. Prep Kitchen San Marcos is located north of California State University San Marcos at 250 North City Dr., San Marcos, California in Block C at North City.
Designed with a mix of modern contemporary style and a touch of old world charm, the San Marcos location will join its counterparts in La Jolla, Del Mar, and Little Italy as both a practical and indulgent escape, and a gathering place for its neighbors. Owner and restaurateur Deborah Krause has led the updates and design refreshes at each Prep Kitchen location. Prep Kitchen will offers guests an updated culinary experience called “vibe dining,” which incorporates energy and warmth found in the dishes and the ambiance.
“Our Vegas background has exposed us to beautiful design, excellent service and many talented DJs, so we have learned to set the ambiance through all these elements, while our understanding of restaurant operations helps us bring this experience to diners at an approachable everyday eats prices,” said Deborah Krause. “We serve our dishes very socially in the center of the table to encourage guests to engage and share. We are also bringing heightened service to Prep Kitchen extending from the chilled forks offered with salads to the coffee service featuring Intelligentsia artisanal coffee via French Press and served with a ‘bento box’ of gourmet toppings to customize your coffee.”
The opening of the San Marcos location marks the launch of a new menu created by Forbes Five Star award-winning chef and Chief Culinary Officer Joe Elevado (NOBU, Andrea’s at the Wynn) and Corporate Executive Chef Geno Fontanoza (Katsuya Beverly Hills). The menu will juxtapose the familiar farm-fresh fare Prep Kitchen is known for, with more modern and elevated offerings incorporating New American cuisine with touches of Asian influence. It will roll out at the San Marcos restaurant, followed by each of the Prep Kitchen locations.
Chef Elevado’s menu is approachable, yet still pushes guests to sample new flavors and new combinations. Guests will be able to enjoy classic dishes like the impeccably prepared Prep Kitchen Caesar Salad with house-made anchovy dressing, parmesan, and garlic croutons, or dive into something new, like the Smoked Beet and Peach Salad, featuring the signature smoking dome, nuts, goat cheese, and balsamic.
The Prep Kitchen menu consits of small plates, salads, meat, fish and poultry, wood-fired, and vegetables and grains. Stand out dishes include, Wagyu Beef Sliders made with aged cheddar, oven-dried tomato and lettuce; the Crab and Avocado Stack with watercress, pickled onion, remoulade and crostini; Pan Roasted Yellowtail with bok choy, Fresno chili and brown butter; and Creamed Farro with butternut squash, edamame and parmesan.
Prep Kitchen San Marcos operating hours are:

• Cocktails starting at 3pm Monday through Friday
• ocial Hour from 4-6pm nightly and 9pm -12 midnight Friday and Saturday
• Dinner nightly from 5-9pm
• Brunch from 10am-2:30pm on Saturday and Sundays
• Lunch service begins June 21 and will be served 11:30am-2:30pm, Monday through Friday

About Prep Kitchen

Prep Kitchen has been serving distinctive, seasonally driven cuisine since 2009 when it opened its first location in La Jolla, California. The restaurant now serves communities throughout San Diego County at three additional locations in Del Mar, Little Italy, and San Marcos. The Prep Kitchen brand showcases modern, ever evolving menus created by an award winning team of chefs who infuse their inventive personalities into every dish. Each of the locations reflects the vibrant dining scenes surrounding them through unique menu items and warm decor elements.
Open seven days a week, the San Diego eatery offers lunch, happy hour, dinner, and weekend brunch, with well-honed enthusiasm and friendly hospitality.
IAM Hospitality purchased the three existing Prep Kitchens in January 2018, and in June opened the fourth location in San Marcos. IAM Hospitality owners, David and Deborah Krause are committed to bringing a fresh point of view to the brand through menu updates under Chef Joe Elevado’s close guidance, modernized interior design, and continued expansion.