Mastro's Restaurants has published an announcement on its website confirming plans to bring its fine dining experience to San Diego in 2025, sparking speculation about whether the new location will repurpose an existing Landry's property, such as Joe’s Crab Shack near The Rady Shell, Chart House in Cardiff, or Peohe’s in Coronado. The announcement follows the Mastro family's ongoing influence in the region, highlighted by their successful launch of Steak 48 in Del Mar, a concept born after the family sold Mastro's to restaurant behemoth, Landry's, in 2013.
Mastro’s Restaurants began in 1999 when Dennis Mastro, his sons Jeffrey and Michael, and longtime partner Scott Troilo opened the first Mastro’s Steakhouse in Scottsdale, Arizona, at Pinnacle Peak and Pima. The family, who had been in the restaurant business since the 1970s, started with concepts like What's Your Beef in Scottsdale in 1978, followed by Barnacle Bill's and Marco Polo, establishing a reputation for quality dining in the Valley.
Mastro's Steakhouse quickly gained acclaim for its high-end menu, featuring 28-day wet-aged USDA Prime steaks cooked in a 1,500-degree broiler and served on 450-degree plates, paired with an extensive wine list and live entertainment. The brand expanded to cities like Beverly Hills, Chicago, and New York, becoming a hallmark of luxury dining. In 2013, the Mastro family sold the chain to Landry's, Inc., which now operates over 600 properties nationwide, including Chart House and Peohe’s, but the family retained their passion for the steakhouse industry by launching new concepts under Prime Steak Concepts.
After the sale, the Mastro family shifted focus to Steak 48, a modern take on the classic steakhouse, starting with Steak 44 in Phoenix in 2014, later rebranded to align with expansions in Houston and Chicago as Steak 48. In October 2023, they opened Steak 48 in Del Mar at 12925 El Camino Real, taking over a 12,500-square-foot space previously occupied by Searsucker in the Del Mar Highlands Town Center. The restaurant, designed with a glass-encased kitchen, an in-house butcher shop, a 3,000-bottle wine vault, and multiple dining areas including private suites, seats 350 guests and has been praised for its approachable yet luxurious atmosphere.
Jeffrey Mastro, who owns a home in Coronado, and Michael Mastro, with a residence in San Juan Capistrano, have deep ties to the area, making San Diego a natural choice for expansion. The Del Mar location has hosted charity events for organizations like the San Diego Opera, reflecting the family’s commitment to community engagement, a tradition they began in the early 2000s with partners like the Foundation for Blind Children.
The upcoming Mastro's in San Diego is expected to feature the brand's signature offerings: USDA Prime Steaks in 16 cuts, fresh seafood with a raw bar and towering display, inventive sushi, exceptional appetizers, and the acclaimed warm Butter Cake. While an exact address and opening date remain undisclosed, speculation is rife that Landry's may convert one of its existing upscale properties in the region.Ìý
Jeffrey Mastro, who owns a home in Coronado, and Michael Mastro, with a residence in San Juan Capistrano, have deep ties to the area, making San Diego a natural choice for expansion. The Del Mar location has hosted charity events for organizations like the San Diego Opera, reflecting the family’s commitment to community engagement, a tradition they began in the early 2000s with partners like the Foundation for Blind Children.
The upcoming Mastro's in San Diego is expected to feature the brand's signature offerings: USDA Prime Steaks in 16 cuts, fresh seafood with a raw bar and towering display, inventive sushi, exceptional appetizers, and the acclaimed warm Butter Cake. While an exact address and opening date remain undisclosed, speculation is rife that Landry's may convert one of its existing upscale properties in the region.Ìý
Joe's Crab Shack, located at 525 East Harbor Drive near The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, is a strong contender. The Port of San Diego, the landlord of the 1.2-acre site, announced in December 2022 that it was seeking a new operator to replace Joe’s Crab Shack after two decades, citing the restaurant’s underperformance despite generating $137,000 in rent in 2022. By October 2023, eight operators had submitted proposals, including well-known national and local restaurateurs, with the San Diego Symphony also expressing interest in integrating the site with The Rady Shell’s operations. The historic San Diego Rowing Club building, which previously housed a Chart House starting in the 1980s before transitioning to Joe’s in 2002, remains on a month-to-month lease as the Port evaluates options, making it a plausible candidate for a Mastro’s conversion.
Chart House in Cardiff, located at 2588 South Coast Highway 101, is another possibility. A 2021 proposal to transform the aging Chart House into a Mastro’s Ocean Club gained approval from the Encinitas Planning Commission on February 4, 2021, after initial pushback. The commission had postponed the decision in 2020, citing concerns over preserving the building’s iconic 1950s pyramid-shaped exterior and requesting changes like native plant landscaping, the removal of a stucco wall in favor of a mock stone wall, and adjusted alcohol service hours - outdoor patio service ending at 10pm, indoor service at midnight, and live music stopping at 11:30pm. Despite the approval, the project never materialized, with lingering concerns about noise for Cardiff residents near Restaurant Row, where establishments like Kraken have faced similar issues.Ìý
Chart House in Cardiff, located at 2588 South Coast Highway 101, is another possibility. A 2021 proposal to transform the aging Chart House into a Mastro’s Ocean Club gained approval from the Encinitas Planning Commission on February 4, 2021, after initial pushback. The commission had postponed the decision in 2020, citing concerns over preserving the building’s iconic 1950s pyramid-shaped exterior and requesting changes like native plant landscaping, the removal of a stucco wall in favor of a mock stone wall, and adjusted alcohol service hours - outdoor patio service ending at 10pm, indoor service at midnight, and live music stopping at 11:30pm. Despite the approval, the project never materialized, with lingering concerns about noise for Cardiff residents near Restaurant Row, where establishments like Kraken have faced similar issues.Ìý
Alternatively, Peohe’s in Coronado at 1201 1st Street, known for its waterfront views of the San Diego skyline and tropical seafood menu, could be rebranded, though its distinct island-inspired identity might complicate such a shift. It’s also possible Landry’s will opt for an entirely new location, though industry insiders believe converting an existing space is more likely, given the company’s history of rebranding to fit market trends, as seen with transformations of other Chart House locations into Mastro’s Ocean Clubs in cities like Newport Beach.
The Mastro family’s dual presence in San Diego County with Steak 48 and now their namesake Mastro's underscores their lasting impact on the steakhouse industry, even after relinquishing direct control of the Mastro's brand. However, Mastro’s strict dress code and premium pricing may face scrutiny in San Diego’s casual dining culture, raising questions about its broader appeal.
As anticipation builds for the 2025 opening, the potential transformation of Chart House Cardiff or Peohe’s Coronado remains a topic of intrigue, with locals eager to see how Landry's will navigate the balance between preserving local dining history and introducing Mastro's luxurious flair.
For more information on Mastro’s Restaurants, visit .
As anticipation builds for the 2025 opening, the potential transformation of Chart House Cardiff or Peohe’s Coronado remains a topic of intrigue, with locals eager to see how Landry's will navigate the balance between preserving local dining history and introducing Mastro's luxurious flair.
For more information on Mastro’s Restaurants, visit .
Originally published on March 13, 2025.Ìý
