The Marine Room, La Jolla – SDRW Sneak Peek

The Perfect SDRW Destination

It’s been way too long since our last visit to The Marine Room, so it was wonderful to return this past Sunday.

We were invited to have a sneak peek at their upcoming Fall 2017 San Diego Restaurant Week (SDRW) menu.

So, for those of you who are curious on what to expect, look no further!

Inside the lobby of the Marine Room is a beautiful saltwater aquarium.  The colorful fish definitely set the mood and suddenly I was hungry for seafood…hah!

Just below the main entrance is a short staircase that leads to the reception area and main dining room.  Adjacent to it is a beautiful bar where you can enjoy a cocktail while you’re waiting for your table.

The dress code is typically business casual, although they don’t require a jacket.

Jorgina and I were seated in a prime location overlooking the water’s edge.

A Meal to Remember

It was getting close to sundown when we sat down and boy were we in for a treat!

Yes, this is just some butter, but against the La Jolla Cove, it just looks magnificent!

The freshly made butter was fantastic.  It was super creamy with a touch of saltiness.

It was served with a slice of sourdough, which was just okay… it wasn’t warm at all.

I do wonder if really nice restaurants underdeliver on bread service in order to accent the quality of the upcoming flavors ahead.

Here we go!  A picture perfect shot of the sunset from our table… breathtaking.

Getting Started

We decided to let our waiter, Zak, surprise us with his suggested selections off the upcoming SDRW menu.

This is the prawn appetizer as my starter.

They really highlight the fresh prawns with this dish and give you mini punches of flavor for added fun.

Jorgina enjoyed three wine pairings this evening, starting with this Pinot Gris (unripe peach, pear and apple, with distinctive minerality).

This lighter pair worked well with both the prawns and bibb salad.

I was given the bibb salad, which was fabulous… crisp, sweet, and acidic.

The dressing was remarkable, and it was fun to add in pops of flavor from the feta, pickled beet, and candied pecans.

The Entrees

Our first entree was the Kobe beef cheeks.

Jorgina immediately fell in love with this one.  They slow braise this for 48 hours… wow!

The cheeks are super tender and rich in flavor.  The velvety gelatin from the cheeks was “heavenly”.

Here’s another perfect pairing, this time a 2012 Cab from Alexander Valley (bittersweet cocoa, lush big cherry, hint of leather and olive. velvety tannins).

Jorgina loved this super aromatic cab paired with the beef cheeks.

The diver scallops were plump and seared nicely.

They were lightly dusted and surrounded by a beautiful assortment of veggies.

I really enjoyed these delicate morsels.  There were perfectly cooked and melted in my mouth… yum.

A Sweet Finish

Dessert was a trio of delectable delights!

First up was their passionfruit sorbet with a little mint sugar on top.

The second was their Valrhona chocolate dome with a drunken cherry on top.

Thirdly, we had a Meyer Lemon and hibiscus tart.

The final pairing of the evening was a sparkling Rosa Regale.

Jorgina isn’t typically a fan of dessert wines, but this one was different.  It wasn’t sweet like most dessert wines, but had a crisp effervescence that really hit the spot.

She particularly enjoyed it with the Meyer lemon and hibiscus tart.

And a couple small macaron treats to top off a perfect meal.

High tide was at 8 pm this evening, so it was awesome being right up close.

Overlooking the water, we would occasionally see cool things like logs, fish, and even a seal!

Here’s a quick picture of the main dining room (north side) where we sat.

Final Thoughts

Tonight’s SDRW menu was an excellent representation of what the Marine Room can execute on consistently.  Chef Bernard Guillas and the team are a well-oiled team of professionals who have a passion for delivering experiences to remember.

In addition to a memorable meal and setting, service by Zak was also incredible.  He was super genuine and took care of our every need.

If you’ve been pondering where to go this San Diego Restaurant Week, look no further.

I’d highly recommend you make your reservation quickly because the Marine Room will certainly be in high demand.

(Shoot, I may even have to return right away!)

Wherever you go, just remember to have some fun and enjoy this special time of the year.

Readers, have you already booked reservations for SDRW yet?  If not, where are you considering?

The Marine Room
2000 Spindrift Drive
San Diego, CA 92037

www.marineroom.com

*Please note we were invited to dine here and a portion of our meal was provided complimentary.  No further compensation was received and our opinion remains our own as always.