Victorian Dining Room Restaurant - Mendocino Hotel
Excellent California Cuisine
By
Carol & Joe Davis
Dining Detectives
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We
needed a get-a-way and decided that with air fares so high, it
was a good idea to take a short road trip. We hadn't been to Mendocino
in over 15 years and had heard that the Victorian Dining Room
Restaurant at the Mendocino Hotel was getting
excellent reviews and decided we had to try it and see for ourselves.
It didn't take us very long to drive north on Highway 101 to Cloverdale
then west on Highway 128 through the pastoral countryside to the
magnificent Mendocino coast. We soon arrived at the Historic Mendocino
Hotel which was established in 1878 during the lumber
boom times when the now lightly populated town had over 20,000
residents.
The
Hotel overlooks the Pacific Ocean and the dramatic Mendocino headlands.
It is right in the middle of town and features luxury suites and
rooms for lodging, as well as multiple options for dining. As
you enter, you will see that the main floor of the hotel is very
charming and romantic. It boasts a fireplace, mahogany bar, Garden
Room where breakfast and lunch are served and the main dining
room which serves dinner. The décor includes antiques,
beautiful 19th century stained glass, original oil paintings and
fine art, which all add to the charm.
The
Victorian Dining Room was lovely. We appreciated that
they had fresh cut flowers and candle lighting on each table which
created a romantic atmosphere. We ordered wine and started out
with appetizers. We really enjoyed their signature starter which
was the Crab and Oysters Mendocino which is their rendition
of Oysters Rockefeller but made with Dungeness Crab,
local oysters, scallop, rock shrimp, smoked prosciutto, spinach
and Grana Padano Pernod cream. This is great to share, as there
are four and they are not too rich.
Next,
we had the Warm Baby Spinach Salad made with grilled
Mendocino trumpet mushrooms, bacon and onion vinaigrette
dressing which was delicious.
You
must also have the Wild Mendocino Mushroom Soup which
is served with roasted garlic baguette and wonderful onion jam.
The soup has an amazing broth and stays piping hot as it is served
in a ramekin. True comfort food.
The
Entrees were also both exceptional! The delicious Seared Scallops
are served with cauliflower puree, Yukon gold potatoes with crab,
fig molasses, and vanilla brown butter. We also loved the Braised
Beef Short Rib with wilted local Swiss chard, glace de viande,
risotto and candied pecan butter. It was perfectly prepared and
so tender! The "Award of Excellence" Wine List features
wines from around the globe as well as many local selections.
We enjoyed the 2008 Handley Cellars Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon
Blanc which paired perfectly with our appetizers and the
2009 Navarro Vineyards Mendocino Pinot Noir which also
paired perfectly with our entrees.
The
Desserts are made in-house and were delicious. We loved the rich
Chocolate Torte with banana brulee, French vanilla ice
cream and chocolate sauce. Our favorite was the Meyer Lemon
Custard Cake served with citrus meringue cookies, vanilla
caramel and whipped crème fraiche. It was amazing! Espressos
and after dinner drinks were the proper finish to our very enjoyable
dining experience. The espresso was hot and strong and we particularly
enjoyed the 2007 Ceago Clear Lake Late Harvest Del Lago Semillon
and the 2004 Sonoma County Estralina Port.
Mendocino
is a great town for a short get-a-way. We enjoyed the magnificent
view of the Pacific Ocean and the sunny weather. This time of
year the local flowers are also spectacular! The shops have become
more upscale and we found some great things to buy at Rainsong,
Circa, Salie Mac, Quilt Shop and Mendocino Preserves. We are pleased
to report that we had a truly great dinner at The Victorian
Dining Room Restaurant at the Mendocino Hotel.
The California Cuisine made with local, fresh, seasonal and organic
ingredients was excellent, the service was professional and friendly
and the Chefs, Stephen and Jackson executed the recipes to perfection.
We won't wait quite as long to return to Mendocino, as it is closer
than you think but takes you away from it all.
Mendocino
Hotel
Victorian Dining Room Restaurant
45080 Main Street
Mendocino, CA. 95460
707-937-0511 / 800-548-0513
www.Mendocinohotel.com