Design and menu changes are underway at Lucky Buck’s, which will soon feature a beach-bar atmosphere replete with real palm trees, tiki torches, bamboo appointments, additional high-top tables and a full-service bar. The revised concept was created by new managing partner Tom Brown (former co-owner of Bongo Johnny’s in Palm Springs), along with Lucky Buck’s proprietor Lee Bergeron. The restaurant’s burger menu remains in place, with the addition of new sandwiches, island-style barbecue chicken, entrée salads, micro-brewed draft beer and more. The transformation will be complete by early April. 1459 University Ave., 619-297-0660.

Kous Kous in Hillcrest has introduced a new wine list retrofitted to pair more precisely with the restaurant’s exotic Moroccan fare. Wines from California, Washington, Oregon, plus a couple of labels from Morocco, were carefully chosen by owner Moumen Nouri in conjunction with a local sommelier. Additionally, the wines (about 30 total) are sold at half-price by the glass or bottle a couple days a week – reds on Mondays and whites on Wednesdays. 3940 Fourth Ave., 619-295-5560.

Two classes that focus on the often overlooked marriage of beer and cheese will be presented by Taste Artisan Cheese & Gourmet Shop in Hillcrest, which recently beefed up its inventory with several new artisan curds introduced at the recent Fancy Food Show in San Diego. The pairing classes will be held at 7 p.m., April 23, at Taste (1243 1/2 University Ave.) and at 6 p.m., April 27 at O’Brien’s Pub (4646 Convoy). The cost is $40 and $45 respectively. To register, send an email to cheese101@tastecheese.com or call 619-683-2306.

San Diego’s best ocean-view restaurant, The Marine Room, has announced the dates for its summer tide dinners, which gives patrons a ringside view of the waves and swells as they lap against the dining room’s floor-to-ceiling windows. The action occurs from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on May 3-7 and 31; June 1-5 and 29-30; July 1-4 and 28-31; and August 1-2 and 27-30. The regular menu will be available. Reservations are recommended. 2000 Spindrift Drive, La Jolla, 858-459-7222.

Students at the Art Institute of California-San Diego in Mission Valley will present breakfast and lunch on Mondays through Wednesdays, from April 4 to June 18, at the facility’s Palette restaurant. Dinner service begins on July 7. The institute, which recently partnered with The Food Network, is home to two reputable culinary programs that offer Associate of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in culinary arts and restaurant management. The white-linen dining room seats 50 people and “feels like a fine-dining restaurant downtown, but with reasonable prices,” said Niki Domingas, director of public relations and marketing. All proceeds go to the culinary students’ scholarship fund. Reservations are required. 7650 Mission Valley Road, 858-598-1405.

The Oceanaire Seafood Room’s hunky executive chef, Brian Malarkey, has landed a hosting gig for a weekly cooking segment on Fox 6 News’ morning program. Malarkey gained national celebrity last year as a finalist on Bravo’s “Top Chef 3 Miami,” earning a name for himself as one of the country’s most skilled and charismatic seafood chefs. Having also graced the cover recently of the GLT, he will take to the airwaves at 9 a.m. every Friday to share recipe secrets and pair them with wine.