Grant Grill, San Diego, USA (Inside the U.S. Grant Hotel, Gaslamp)

http://www.grantgrill.com/

From the moment Grant Grill opened its doors in 1951, the San Diego restaurant was a hit…and it wasn’t just the mock turtle soup (allegedly prepared with a generous two fingers of sherry) that kept the plush mahogany booths full.  Blah blah blah.  Go to the website and read all about it if you have an interest.  And you should, cause this place is great!

I've lived in San Diego my whole life and I have never been inside.  Yep, been to the U.S. Grant Hotel before, mainly to pick up customers.  But never for a drink or a meal.

Let's do both RIGHT NOW!

OK, the setting is a business lunch with two lovely ladies to discuss some super important business things and such and whatnot. 

This was the soup du jour, some sort of Tomato with something else, sorry, I didn't order it, and I hadn't planned on blogging this experience either, but when Black Johnny gave me a taste I was totally blown away.  

It was amazing.  

Huge flavors, perfectly seasoned, tomato and a whole lot more going on.  I think I took about 6 spoonfuls, then I picked up my camera and the rest that follows is magic.

4 seconds later it was gone.  And I missed it terribly.  Until the next thing came along....

Unbeknownst to me, the Grant Grill has teamed up with the High West Distillery to make a Manhattan (one of my favorite drinks), premix'd and then age in an oak barrel for 100 days before serving it.  The aging mellows the Rye/Bourbon/Whiskey (whatever you are using) with the vermouth and bitters perfectly, making the drink a singular note on your pallet.  The flavors remain deep, but there is no harshness, no grimace when swallowing.  

Smooth, cold, strong.  Like a Cormac McCartney novel, in drink form.

Yeah, kicks ass.

 A Man's Drink

A Ladies glass of wine

Some kid snuck in and ordered a shirley temple.  Kids....

And then there was this on the table.  Kinda scary.  Must've been died green for St. Patty's??

Let's eat s'more stuff!

Both ladies ordered the salmon.  It looked perfectly cooked and had cauliflower something or other on the side.  I didn't try it, they seemed to enjoy it.

And then my fish sandwich arrives.  Catch of the Day.  I believe it was grouper.

Pan seared, atop was an aioli with lots of garlic and herbs, and then a lightly grilled tomato, super soft bread.  Don't get distracted by the height of the bread.  It was soft and had a slight yeasty sourdough flavor and was a great vessel to get what lies inside the bun into your mouth.

A beatiful sandwich, and the truffle fries didn't hurt it at all either.

I'd eat this meal every day, no prob.

And again?

We then shared a dessert and DIDN'T share a drink.  Someone had a glass of red something, sorry, I don't remember and I don't care cause it wasn't me...  :-O

And whazz up with that broken finger?!?!  You should get that thing checked out lady!  Gross.

This guy enjoyed, very much, the Muscat Port, with our.....

Carrot Cake

Cream Cheese Frosting, Pistachio Nugget, Ginger Ice Cream, Golden Raisin

Incredibly moist and big carrot, cinnamon, nutmeg'y flavor.  The frosting and ice cream playing together on top rounded this plate out perfectly.  Not too sweet but just enough for an after lunch morsel.  Yummmmm.

Awww Baybe, says Claudia

Kinda does look like a baby laying on a chaise lounge.  Nice one CS.

Grant Grill, I'm kind of smitten with you.

A very nice meet and greet, let's get together some time soon.  I'll be thinking about you till then.

With love...

DVA