Sea180 Restaurant Review in Imperial Beach, California

February 28, 2017

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Luxury Travel Advisor & Founder of Passport To Friday. Follow along on my travels and let me help you plan your dream trip or honeymoon!

I'm Chelsea.

While staying at Pier South Resort last month, we found it completely necessary to eat at Sea180 multiple times. I mean why not? Just as Pier South is a hidden gem hotel in San Diego, so is Sea180. Yes, it is a Cohn Restaurant Group concept and has that great name attached to it, but how had I not been here before?

The things that struck me most about Sea180 were (1) the oceanfront dining located RIGHT on the sand, (2) the variety on all of their different menus (they really thought of everyone), and (3) the level of service.

Here’s my synopsis on my multiple dining experiences at Sea180, but you’re just going to have to check it out for yourself!

Breakfast

Served 7am – 11am daily

This is arguably one of the most well-balanced yet creative breakfast menus I have seen in awhile with something to please everyone. While we stuck to the Fit & Foundry menu items this time around, our eyes definitely wandered elsewhere on the menu.

Feel like keeping it classic & Southern? Try the Biscuits & Gravy with house-made buttermilk biscuits, spicy pork sausage gravy & 2 eggs or the Shrimp & Grits with white cheddar and smoked ham grits, Argentine red shrimp, 2 eggs, white corn & Tamarindo BBQ sauce.

Or maybe you prefer dessert for breakfast? Indulge in the Churro French Toast Stack with crusted french toast, cinnamon whipped cream, maple syrup & tres leches crema or the Banana Fosters Pancakes with rum caramelized bananas, toffee bits & whipped cream.

Perhaps you want to take it south of the border? Dine on the Chilaquiles Rojos with 2 eggs, borracho beans, crispy tortilla chips, roasted tomato salsa, lime crema, cotija cheese, avocado & cilantro or the Huevos Rancheros with 2 eggs, salsa verde, crispy corn tortillas, borracho beans, house potatoes, avocado, cotija cheese, jalapeno crema & cilantro.

Too much gluttony lately and want something healthy? Try the Breakfast Buddha with 2 eggs, stir fried vegetables, quinoa & gigante beans, romesco, avocado & mushroom salsa or the Almond Chia Smoothie with strawberries, banana, acai, dates, chia seeds, almond milk & crushed almonds or the Smoked Salmon Frittata with house-smoked salmon, egg whites, red onion, oven dried tomatoes, feta cheese, capers, dill creme fraiche, apple & herb salad and grilled asparagus.

Or try one of their three styles of Eggs BenedictClassic with Canadian bacon, Crab with Baja stone crab cake & old bay hollandaise, or Cali Veghead with avocado, heirloom tomato & spinach salad and basil pesto hollandaise!

Also we can’t forget the BREAKFAST BEVERAGES! They offer FIVE different types of Cafe Moto Cold Brew, have three different fresh pressed juices, Synergy Kombucha on tap, cold brew cocktails, and of course breakfast cocktails like mimosas, bloody marys, and more.

They get their bread from local Sadie Rose Baking Co, use organic cage free eggs, and coffee from San Diego’s Cafe Moto, so you know you’re getting all the good stuff!

Happy Hour

2:30pm – 5pm daily

The happiest of hours just got better, especially if you score a spot at the glass on the sand. Watch the waves roll in, sip on a good drink and enjoy delicious bites (without breaking the bank), and life is good.

We had the Roasted Garlic Hummus ($6 at HH), Bajaja Calamari ($10 at HH), the Red Sangria & the Champagne Sangria (both $6 at HH). I also tried the Pineapple Margarita with Jalapeno Infused Tequila ($8 at HH) which was delicious and the perfect merriment of flavors!

The happy hour menu is extensive, but some other crowd favorites are the Fire Roasted Brussels Sprouts ($8 at HH), Charred Butternut Squash Arancini ($10 at HH), and the Grilled Sausage Board ($10 at HH). There are also six different $6 draft beers, $6 wines by the glass, and plenty more cocktails on happy hour.

Dinner

Served starting at 5pm nightly

We weren’t starving after happy hour so went with sharing the Spicy Salmon Poke with yuzu ginger vinaigrette, avocado crema, cilantro & crispy rice cracker and BBQ Shrimp & Grits with Mexican prawns, smoked andouille sausage, California grits, wilted kale, house BBQ crispy leeks. The Sea180 staff kitchen was so kind to split our shrimp & grits entree into two identical looking small portions, making it feel like we had our own dish without over-indulging! I’m lactose intolerant so when I decide to take my Lactaid and eat dairy, it better be worth it. Y’all… these shrimp & grits were SO worth it.

Other dishes that looked amazing were:

  • 180 Crab Cakes: Baja stone crab meat, celery root slaw, charred scallion puree
  • Farm Market Chop Salad: Petite greens, radish, garden sprouts, hummus, shaved heirloom carrots, sugar snap peas, pickled mushrooms, red onion, tomato vinaigrette
  • Seared Diver Scallops & Smoked Pork Belly: Vanilla parsnip puree, fingerling potato & bacon hash, king trumpet mushrooms, lemon butter
  • Maine Lobster Roll: Remoulade served in a toasted parmesan brioche roll, apple frisee salad, garlic herb fried
  • Buddha Bowl: Organic quinoa & gigante beans, stir-fried fall vegetables, avocado, mushroom salsa, almond romesco (a lot like the breakfast buddha bowl!)

 

Safe travels y’all!

Chelsea Rose Martin

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Hi, I'm Chelsea Martin, Luxury Travel Advisor & Founder of Passport To Friday. I've been planning bespoke luxury vacations and honeymoons for almost a decade now. I can't wait to help you plan the trip of a lifetime! 

A true Cancer, hotel-slipper-obsessed gal whose IG Explore page is full of dogs.

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