Looking for an exquisite yet laid back dining experience that will tantalize your taste buds and soothe your soul? Then are you in luck! Loews Coronado Bay Resort is proudly debuting Crown Landing, a restaurant that will surely become one of your favorite places to dine. After having the opportunity to dine there with my friend Kelly, I can’t wait to return again! (I’m hoping to make plans with my husband Mike this Valentine’s Day, hint-hint.)
Crown Landing: Loews Coronado Bay Resort’s New Restaurant
Featuring “California Coastal Cuisine in a welcoming indoor/outdoor setting with full marina views,” Crown Landing, which serves the freshest seafood available, is unique because it has a quintessential San Diego feel to it. Not only does the menu highlight San Diego’s distinct character and flavors, but the decor does as well. With a light and airy coastal ambiance, Crown Landing’s approachable, down-to-earth setting features a driftwood palate with sea color accents.
Everything from the tables and chairs to the chevron teak walls, which were constructed by Bottles and Wood of San Diego, to the plates, which were made in Encinitas, were locally sourced. There are twenty-five Loews resorts across the United States and Canada, but Crown Landing is exclusive to the Loews Coronado Bay Resort, which was named by USA Today as one of San Diego’s ten best resorts.
Crown Landing Dining:
Convenient Breakfasts, Casual Brunch and Lunches, and Relaxed Dinners
Of its newest restaurant, Loews Coronado Bay Resort says, “One-of-a-kind, locally-inspired food and beverage offerings showcase a commitment to sourcing the freshest seasonal, sustainable ingredients. Inventive chef-driven fare shines a spotlight on San Diego’s distinct character and flavors alongside familiar favorites sure to please every palate. In the spirit of Californian cuisine, special attention is paid to nutritious options and specific dietary needs.”
According to Loews Coronado Bay Resort, “Regional specialties are reinvented through unique techniques and unexpected ingredients, yet are simple and stay true to high-quality standards. Nutritious options are included in the spirit of Californian cuisine, focusing on natural, minimally processed ingredients.”
“We are proud to partner with, and support, San Diego Farmers’ Markets, Susie’s Farm, and Chesapeake Fish Co. We have taken a great amount of time to create handcrafted cocktails, our eclectic wine list, and a selection of bottled and draft beer from the area’s top craft breweries,” said Eric Jenkins, Director of Food & Beverage at Loews Coronado Bay Resort. “Our ultimate goal is to offer a distinctly creative and authentically local beverage & food culture through our new restaurant.”
“We sought out Executive Restaurant Chef Jamie Dunn because his philosophy, technique and background are the perfect combination for this new restaurant,” said Chris Aguirre Loews Coronado Bay Resort Executive Chef. “Our focus is to allow the seasons to guide the menu. Utilizing California’s abundance of fresh produce, the natural flavors ring true for every dish. We created a very honest representation of coastal cuisine while utilizing the resort’s close proximity to Mexico with Baja influences throughout the menu.”
Review of My First Experience Dining at Crown Landing
Before dinner, Kelly and I, along with the other guests in attendance, had the opportunity to try a few of Crown Landing’s signature cocktails, which were delightful and refreshing. In addition to handcrafted cocktails, Crown Landing also offers an exclusive wine list and a selection of bottled and draft beer from San Diego’s top craft breweries.
Adjacent to Crown Landing is the Silver Strand Exchange, a casual and friendly counter service complemented by grab-and-go-items from local purveyors and artisans. At night, Silver Strand Exchange’s fresh juice bar transforms into a mixology station, and we were able to watch chefs prepare the handcrafted cocktails.
Drink Specials Offered at Crown Landing:
- Monday, Thursday, and Saturday: 5-7 pm, $2 off of Craft Cocktails Crown Landing Bar (located in the Silver Strand Exchange)
- Wednesday: Wine Wednesdays, $10 off all wine bottles
- Friday: 5-7 pm, $2 off Local Wines Crown Landing Bar (located in the Silver Strand Exchange)
Kelly and I commented to one another how the drinks were obviously made with fresh ingredients, observing how much more enjoyable that made them taste. Kelly’s favorite cocktail was the Kombucha Collins (Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Health Ade Pomegranate Kombucha, Fresh Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup) while I favored the Health Nut (Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Today’s Fresh Pressed Juice Blend). As I tried the Smoked Walnut Old Fashioned (Basil Hayden’s Bourbon, Demerara Syrup, Walnut Bitters), I thought it was intriguing that Crown Landing serves a modern version of a classic drink. Imbibing handcrafted cocktails is always a treat, but knowing that the cocktails included ingredients that were actually good for us brought the experience to a whole new level! Kelly and I both decided that the Watermelon Margarita (Avion Silver Tequila, Cointreau, Lime, Agave, Watermelon) tasted like summer in a glass. Perfection!
We sampled a few items from the raw bar, including Oysters on the 1/2 Shell and Tuna Poke (nori, crisp rice cracker, soy glaze). Additionally we were served the perfect bite size samples of the Beet Salad.
More often than not my food reviews tend to focus more on the food itself rather than the decor, but I would be remiss if I didn’t emphasize how lovely Crown Landing’s atmosphere is. I loved the tranquil design of the private party room. The large rectangular table, which seats twenty guests, was solid and smooth, and I loved the lighting, which was made from pieces of the old Broadway Pier and then wrapped with Edison bulbs hanging at different length intervals. Stunning yet simple. Kelly and I kept looking up at the ceiling admiring the lighting, and we discussed how lovely the beach decor, driftwood, lanterns, and vases that adorned our table looked.
I was lucky because I had the opportunity to sample eight different menu items, and I can honestly attest that I loved each dish. Everything tasted so fresh and flavorful, and the dishes were each just as visually appealing as they were tasty.
The Surf & Turf Carpaccio (beef tenderloin, lobster, pickled mushrooms, fine herbs, arugula, fresno chili) looked so elegant. Often carpaccio dishes consist of just the thinly sliced beef itself, but this dish’s plethora of flavors blended seamlessly. I especially liked the addition of the fresno chili, which gave the dish just a hint of heat.
Kelly doesn’t normally like squash, but after trying the Roasted Squash (arugula, cranberry, ricotta salata, walnut vinaigrette), she commented that if every other restaurant prepared squash like that, that she could easily become a vegetarian! I agreed!
The Crisp Octopus (fingerling potato, pickled bok choy, spicy garlic aioli) was another delightful surprise. I’ve never had octopus prepared like that before, and now I don’t think I’d want to eat it any other way. The pickled bok choy complemented the dish so wonderfully.
Of all of the dishes I sampled, if someone asked me what’s the one must-try dish to get at Crown Landing, it would be hard to choose, but I’d have to suggest the Shrimp Toast (napa cabbage slaw, candied jalapeños, sesame seed aioli). Wow! I would have never thought to pair candied jalapeños with shrimp and cabbage slaw, but the ingredients melded together in such a way that I savored every bite.
I couldn’t help myself, and devoured every bite of the Duck Ragout (housemade fusilli pasta, grilled radicchio, pecorino romano, balsamic glaze). Crown Landing takes great pride in the fact that they make their own pasta, and when you try it, you’ll agree that you can tell the pasta is housemade. The chef paired it with Coronado Brewing Company’s Islander IPA, which really enhanced the flavor of the duck.
The Lobster Boil (1/2 lobster, clams, mussels, linguica sausage, steamed corn, old bay butter) blew me away, and I was once again impressed with how fresh all of the ingredients were. The individual seafood components tasted exceptional, and they looked magnificent together as well.
Even though Crown Landing’s emphasis is on seafood, there are options on the menu that don’t focus on seafood. The sample of New York Strip (lyonnaise fingerling potatoes, herb butter) that I tried was delicious, and I thoroughly enjoyed the grilled onion that was served with the steak.
For dessert we were served the Spiced Devil’s Food Cake (blood orange sorbet), and they sure weren’t kidding when they said “spiced”. The dessert definitely had a kick to it, which was surprising for a dessert, but the zest from the sorbet was cooling. Such an interesting dessert!
Overall I don’t have a single negative comment to share about my first experience dining at Crown Landing. Kelly made me laugh because her only complaint was that she wished she had worn her “Thanksgiving pants” to dinner because she was so pleasantly full. Next time I return to Crown Landing, I hope to enjoy the “enviable marina views” Loews Coronado Bay Resort’s newest restaurant offers.
♥ Valentine’s Day Information:
DINE COASTAL THIS VALENTINE’S DAY AT CROWN LANDING
WHAT:
Cozy up for a romantic dinner for two on Coronado Bay this Valentine’s Day at Crown Landing. Begin with your choice of two shared starters including tuna tartar, Salt Creek mussels, bacon wrapped scallops, roasted carrot salad and spaghetti squash ravioli. Entrées include seared Loup De Mer, roasted beef tenderloin and stuffed delicata squash. Complete the meal with a spicy devil’s food cake dessert. The three-course menu is $105 per couple and does not include tax and gratuity.
WHEN:
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 5-10pm
WHERE:
Crown Landing
4000 Coronado Bay Road
Coronado, California 92118
For more information call 619-424-4000 or visit www.crownlanding.com.
