Opera Cafe & Patisserie in San Diego (Sorrento Valley)

A strange name perhaps, but Opera Cafe delivers a stellar performance!

Jorgina had been wanting to try this cafe for some time now.  She had heard about it from a friend a few months ago.  So, we finally made the trek up a couple Saturdays ago.  We are both certainly glad we did!

Opera Cafe is located right in the heart of Sorrento Valley.  For those of you unfamiliar with San Diego, SV is a high-tech business area that you likely wouldn’t associate with great food.  I suppose Opera Cafe is out to change that notion!

Opera Cafe is bright, airy, and full of color.  You place your order at the counter where you’re tempted by dozens of delectable treats.  The main menus are framed and hung stylishly against the back wall.

The restaurant was pretty busy for a Saturday, but I wouldn’t want to see this place on a busy weekday.  There were a lot of tables both inside and a nice patio with seating as well.

Although it was nice out, we decided to go back inside.  (I secretly wanted to be closer to the dessert case and contemplated throughout lunch what I would have.)

Although their breakfast menu looked delicious, we opt’d for their lunch menu.  We started by sharing their soup of the day which was a potato leek.  The soup was on the lighter side – more brothy and not the rich, creamy type.  It was pretty good in flavor, but I would have preferred it a bit hotter.  Nevertheless it was a good starter for us.

We also got an order of their fries with garlic and saffron aioli.  The fries were nice and hot and the saffron infused aioli gave the fries an interesting twist.  However, we left wondering if the truffle oil infused parmesan fries would have been better.  So, I will have to try those next time!

Jorgina ordered the Croque Madame, which is a French style grilled ham & cheese sandwich.  It’s served on homemade “Pain de mie” with black forest ham, béchamel sauce and melted Gruyere cheese… oh yeah and topped off with an egg sunny side up!  The sandwich was decent, but the edges were a bit burnt, and there could have been more béchamel sauce.  It also came with a side salad.  The unexpected nice surprise was when she switched the standard dijon vinaigrette for their honey lime dressing.  The dressing was not too sweet and not too sour.

I ordered the seafood crepe, which was a thin Crêpe filled with Baby Shrimp, Bay Scallops, Fresh Salmon, Wilted Spinach, Oven roasted Tomatoes, melted Gruyere Cheese and Topped with a White Wine Sauce.  WINNER!!  I was a bit skeptical before I dug in, but the white wine sauce was fantastic.  It was rich, savory, and blended perfectly with the seafood and crepe.  The seafood filling inside was cooked properly as well, especially the salmon.

So, after I devoured my seafood crepe, I immediately jumped back into line to order up my dessert.  I had been eyeing these treats closely since I walked in.   Hmmmm… decisions.

Since I couldn’t decide, I opt’d for the exotic mini sampler!  Yummm.  Sweet variety is dessert bliss.  =)  The mini lemon meringue tart was bomb.  The mango strawberry mousse cake was bomb.  The tiramisu and every thing was… you guessed it… BOMB!  You gotta try these.

And of course for my choco fix, I had to get the Chocolate crunch  – Dark chocolate mousse/flourless chocolate cake/crunchy rice crispy.  Amazing.  The cake was not too rich and had a nice texture from the crunchy rice crispy.

Well, this trip to Opera Cafe certainly hasn’t helped my diet, but if there’s one place where I would want to ruin it, this was it!  It’s been quite a while since I’ve been happily surprised with a double win with savory and sweet in the same meal.  I suggest you do the same… then run a mile.

Opera Cafe & Patisserie
9254 Scranton Rd
San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 458-9050
http://www.operapatisserie.com/

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