THE WHO, WHAT, WHERE & WHEN:
Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant, Old Town, San Diego,
THE BETTER BITES SAMPLED: (click for full album)
- Ahi Lettuce Cups
- Chef's Daily Soup
- Seasonal Salad
- Smoked Adobo Chicken Fajitas
NOTEWORTHY & INTERESTING FACTS
- Built between 1827-1829 by Juan Bandini
- Every dish is prepared when ordered, with house-made sauces, fresh vegetables and the finest meat and seafood
- Executive Chef Jose Pulido has been at the kitchen helm for 9 years and counting.
- Brothers Ryan and Brandon run the ship as operations director and GM respectively.
- They have a seasonal menu that changes throughout the year with new dishes and specials featuring local ingredients at their peak ripeness.
- The Orchard Garden Terrace (heated) is where I have dined several times now during the day and it makes for some of the best outdoor dinings you will find for a weekend brunch, lunch or early dinner.
- Hitting its high point as a true San Diego hot spot in the 1870's, the hotel soon fell into despair by 1888 and went nearly abandon.
- In 2010 the building was put through a multi-million dollar renovation to restore the building to its current state of amazement. The upper floor is used as a hotel and the lower level, indoor, formal 1870's themed restaurant is called the Grand Sala.
What is it about your menu that makes it so Good? What's the key or secret to making these items so much different than anywhere else?
"We stay with tradition and keep very consistent with our menu items and preparation methods. We make sure to watch the details of every meal we plate. We use the best possible ingredients and source as much as we can from local sources. Our seafood is always fresh and all of our sauces, seasonings and salsa's are made in house daily. We enjoy taking a blend of Mexican staples, American grill fare and seafood and adding slight twists on them. This way our customers see many of their popular favorite dishes but get a different experience than they have had before."
