I’ve been a fan of Chef Sergio Jimenez’s cooking for a long time. Long enough to have followed him through more than a few San Diego kitchens. His new dinner menu at Adelaide Del Mar was already on my radar before I even looked at the menu.
The Chef Behind the Menu
Chef Jimenez got his love for food as a kid, and he worked his way from Stake Chophouse in Coronado, to Mister A’s, AVANT at Rancho Bernardo Inn, and Valle in Oceanside before landing at L’Auberge Del Mar as Executive Chef. What struck me during my meal wasn’t just the food. It was how relaxed and proud he is at Adelaide Del Mar. This menu means something to him. It draws from three places: his Mexican heritage, a nod to dishes he created during his early days in San Diego kitchens, and the kind of cooking that comes from a family with a long history in the restaurant business. That’s a lot of story to put on a plate, and he pulls it off.
What We Ordered
We started with items from the Raw Bar at Adelaide Del Mar, and ordered the Dry Aged Local Yellowtail with macha salsa and tomatillos, Hamachi with lime-cured onions and truffle soy sauce, and Blue Fin Tuna Sashimi with aguachile and citrus. All three were delicious and showed confidence and passion. We also ordered the Parker House Roll with house-made butter. It’s a simple dish, but simple things done well tell you a lot about a kitchen.
For mains, we went with the Catch of the Day at Adelaide Del Mar. It was a beautiful whole sea bream with endive, trout roe, and chives with a tableside citrus beurre blanc pour. The sea bream is the kind of dish that you want to order over and over again. We also got the 16oz Icon XB Farms Australian Wagyu Ribeye, and Japanese Sweet Potatoes (with spiced meringue and pecan lardons) as a side. The wagyu was seasoned and cooked perfectly, and the sweet potatoes were so good that we talked about them on the drive home.
Make the Reservation
Adelaide Del Mar is the outdoor terrace restaurant at L’Auberge Del Mar, one of San Diego’s most recognized coastal resort properties. We watched the sun go down while the tables around us filled with locals and hotel guests who all looked equally happy to be there. The coastal decor and excellent service help add to an enjoyable dinner. If this menu is any indication of where he’s headed, Adelaide Adelaide Del Mar just became one of San Diego’s best dinner reservations.
