Summer House

Summer House

Corona del Mar, Newport Beach

March 2011

Seared Rare Ahi Salad

Ahi blackened and seared rare, mixed greens, daikon sprouts,

wasabi drizzle, asian vinaigrette (with ginger)

I remember when El Ranchito closed their restaurant at this location. It was one of the few landmarks of CdM with its small, ground-level iron balcony rails with a few bar top tables outdoors and its cute awning on the border of Pacific Coast Hwy. We all wondered what was moving in here. Summer House took over and slowly but surely the diners began moving in here for lunch. I heard about their juicy burgers right off the bat. On this day I felt like a salad; the weather was so hot, I just had to opt for a cooler option than the popular patty and fries. The Ahi salad was good. The salad was boring, but the ahi was tender and fresh, sliced thin. This was a big salad and, again, it was fresh, it was boring, however. 

The Pommes Frites on the other hand were very good. The appetizer included a bunch of fries, which we couldn't even finish. The frites are definitely a good side to split between two people. 

Overall, it was a good experience. I wasn't impressed. I should order the burger next time and give it another shot. This isn't a place you come for incredible food. It's more about the atmosphere. CdM is a lovely place to walk around during the summer and the Summer House is an inviting restaurant to walk into, especially with windows opening up to the street on summer nights. This is a great place to sit and enjoy a glass of wine while catching up with a friend. I'd like to try more menu items here, especially the burger.