It was in the midst of the Great Recession that Tracy Borkum closed fine dining fixture Laurel Restaurant in Bankers Hill in favor of Cucina Urbana (505 Laurel St.), a concept more in tune with the times. Special occasion California-French refinement (and the attendant price tag) made way for a less fussy, Cal-Italian sensibility that was also affordable (no menu items over $20). A decade on, it’s now clear that while some elegance was sacrificed at the altar of budget, the flavors and culinary sophistication were not.
Read more at http://sdcitybeat.com/food-drink/the-world-fare/fine-dining-in-pizza-form-at-cucina-urbana/