Over the holidays, my wife and I decided to take a few days in some place warm. Since we were coming from Chicago, anything is an upgrade.

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After a fun day of flying (ORD-LAX-SAN) and feeling just a bit on the tired side, my wife and I jumped into the National Car Rental shuttle, told the driver that we were a member of the Emerald Club then whisked off to the Emerald Isle. Almost immediately, we chose a white convertible Mistubishi Spyder (with a V6 engine noneless) and left the parking lot as soon as possible. Our destination for the next 6 nights would be the Lowe’s Coronado Bay Resort on Coronado Island, San Diego, CA. The drive to the hotel lasted no more than 15 minutes culminating with a trip over the bay bridge and descending into Coronado Bay. Quite soon we were asking the valet attendant the process for checking into the hotel. He politely us to leave our car near the door and go inside.

The lobby was absolutely beautiful featuring a large double staircase leading to the second floor. I approached the front desk and told the attendant who we were. A few tap-tap-tap’s on the keyboard, swipe of my credit card and a somewhat messy signature by yours truly, we were presented with our welcome packet and quick directions to our room. Our first room (I will get to this in a few minutes) was in building 1 and located on the first floor. Being a corner room, we had a nice view of the bay and bridge. The room had all of the amenities one could ask for: Mini bar, TV, phone, coffee maker featuring Wolfgang Puck’s Neapolitan coffee (nice touch), high speed internet connection (even nicer touch), balcony and yes, a bed. WHEW!

Since my wife and I had only eaten airplane food 6 hours prior (which I enjoyed each and every morsel and she loathed – sure don’t know why – It’s AA’s F domestic product), we were just a tad hungry. Both she and I decided to order some room service. Well, unfortunately the directory of services book was no where to be found and I didn’t want to call room service without knowing what we wanted. I think that housekeeping had overlooked this when setting up for new visitors, oh well. I suspect that there was a rambunctious group of hoodlums that had slept there in prior nights, trashed the place. I suspect that it may have been Quiet Riot, Twisted Sister or even Motley Crew. Ok, maybe not. Just an oversight. What do I do? We are hungry? Well, I slip on my blue Tommy shoes and head into the lobby. JACKPOT! There is a restaurant that is open until 10pm! When I approach the hostess, I ask her if I can order some food for take out. She promptly replies with a cheerful YES! She then asks me how many menus I need. I look around and think to myself, is there someone behind me? Nope, I just smile and reply, “just one”. Her comment goes completely over her head. I order a jumbo lump crap sandwich, chicken relleano sandwich and a pair of ice teas.

Within 5 minutes of arriving in the room with our food, we scarf everything down (including the little parsley garnish and limp pickles) and within 4 more minutes are fast asleep. I do enjoy eating a high calorie meal then falling fast asleep.

At about 1:30am, I awake for the usual reasons (thirsty etc…) and notice that there is a “sound” coming from the bathroom/hallroom area. I remember in my pre-dinner / post-flight haze this very same sound I had heard. I do also remember that it sounded like someone taking a shower or drawing a bath in the adjacent room. I told myself that this SHOULD stop soon. Well, 1:30am it was still going on. At 1:35am I fall asleep again and wake up at 6:30am. The noise is STILL THERE!! By the way, I don’t complain about anything.

My wife and I head off to breakfast where I have the buffet and she has the breakfast burrito. Once we finish breakfast, I saunter over to the front desk and casually ask the very nice attendant about this impressive somewhat disruptive waterfall sounding noise in my room. I actually ask Steve if there is another room in the hotel that he can move us to. This is TOTALLY out of character for me to ask for anything. Steve, tells me that he does have a pool/harbor view. Both of us quickly reply with, “Yes, that would be great.” Now one would expect Steve to give us the new “welcome packet” (keys, mini bar access, map etc…) at this point but he doesn’t. Instead, Steve says to us, “When you are ready to move, call me at XXXX and I will send a bellhop to your room with your new keys and have you moved.”

This blew me away.

Our first night in our second room was sheer paradise. There wasn’t a sound to be found. Not a word to be heard. Not a peep that was speeeeked. (Ok, that is just about as much Dr. Seauss I can recite… Or not…) Translation, this room was incredible. Excellent view, huge tub and yet again, impressive service.

Our first dinner in the hotel was at “Azure Point”, the flagship restaurant for Lowe’s Coronado Bay Resort. Dinner is served “upstairs” and “to the left”. The views that the restaurant offers are some of the best featuring the bay and bridge. Upon being seated by the hostess and our napkins being placed in our lap (a key ingredient that sets apart the “good” from “great”), we are greeted by the semolmmier who introduces himself as “Kurt”. Kurt asks if we are going to be having any wine with dinner and if there was “any assistance” he can give regarding our selection. I said that his wine list was very impressive and I would work through it and ask his opinion on 2 or 3 wines. After a few minutes I decide on 2 choices: 1999 Swanson Alexis Cabernet and something else. Obviously since I can’t remember the other selection, we had the Alexis. The best way to describe it would be, “Smooth, rich and creamy, with a core of chocolate- and vanilla-laced currant, black cherry, anise, leather and coffee, it delivers complexity and concentration, with a sense of elegance and finesse. Drink now through 2009. 4,000 cases made.” (According to Wine Spectator 5-31-2002).

Here is what we had for dinner:

Me:

Appetizer: 3 Pink Tiger Shrimp cocktail. (Trust me, these were the largest shrimp I have ever put in my mouth EVER. I cut one of them into 5 bite size pieces and should have made it 6 or 7)

Entrée: Pan roasted duck breast in port wine reduction with wild mushrooms and chestnuts served on top of fettuccini (Wow. Enough said.)

Desert: 3-cheese selection (Brie, Danish Blue, Mild goat with vegetable ash) and a glass of Dalwhinnie 15 yr. old, Single Malt Scotch Whisky served “neat” (Golden color. Scents of heather and peat dominate the nose. Medium-bodied and extremely smooth and viscous. Flavors of honeyed malt, heather, and peat with notes of sweet grass.)


Wife:

Appetizer: Filet of Kobe Beef tartar

Entrée: Free range roasted chicken with balsamic vinegar and veal demi-glase (sp?), garlic mashed potatoes and baby vegetables

Desert: Kaluah crème-brule with assorted berries.

When the appetizers were served my wife and I noticed that there was a large group of adults and children who appeared to be finishing their dinner. You know the old story, feed the children before 5pm and they will be angels the rest of the night. I think that the parents of the children missed the cut off my 15 minutes or maybe 20. Disaster, DEMONS! From the running up to the window to look at the “ooooh, cool lights” then running back, to the playing what sounded like slap jack (one of my personal favorites), I did the unthinkable. I actually asked my wife if I were being “extra stuffy” by saying that if the kids were finished with dinner they should find some way to occupy themselves (or be entertained by their parents). Translated, be quiet in a very fancy, incredibly romantic, and if I could add quite expensive restaurant. She agreed with me, looked around and caught the eye of our wait staff and relayed the very simple message, “Shusss the kids!”.

About 15 minutes later, we were approached by the manager Rick who explained to us that this group was not originally scheduled to have dinner “so long” and he would try everything he could to delicately tell the parents to quiet their kids. The problem that he was fighting is making a couple mad vs. a group of 20. Well, the group of 20 spends a lot more $$ than we would. Anyway, about 15 more minutes later, he re-explained to us that he was trying anything that he could and as his “token of sorry-ness” he would extend to us complimentary desert. Both of us smiled, said “no problem, we understand” then quickly devoured the desert. For some reason the screams from the rug rats quickly blended into the ambience. Both of us were very impressed how the manager handled the situation. The food service was incredible. I highly recommend eating here. Make sure to eat after 7:30pm. Demons are bad. 

The rest of our 6 night stay has been very enjoyable highlighted with clear skies, warm weather and good site seeing. If you are going to vacation in San Diego, I highly recommend this place.