When you have a bustling food and drink area as large as downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, it can get confusing knowing which places are good.  Don’t worry, I’m here for you.  In addition to having lived in the Gaslamp Quarter for 4 years, I’ve also covered several restuarants located in this area such as BiCE, The Neighborhood, South Paw Social Club and Cowboy Star.  I’ve had great success with all these places so I was looking forward to seeing if this week’s restaurant would stack up.  With me were the few, the curious and the thirsty:

Abby-Swim instructor, Disneyland buddy, Stresses about making food for my other food-savvy friends

Amy B-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

David-Technical writer, singer, robot super villain

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Kelsey-Project manager, Advanced level foodie, Has been known to drop it like it’s hot after a few cocktails

Mandy-Writer, Top-shelf level geek girl, lives in my pocket

BRING US ALL THE SANGRIA. Also food.

Cafe 21 began as a small place in Normal Heights which grew, both in popularity and size and eventually opened a spacious location downtown offering world food, local cuisine and live music.  We got our fill of all 3 this evening.

Abby started with a Peach Basil Sangria, followed by a flight of 6 seasonal sangrias.  She was a fan of 4 of them, going on to say that the other two tasted like wood and were overly fermented.   Amy had Persimmon, Grape and Cardamon Sangria, followed later in the night by a classic Sangria.  She enjoyed all of them and said they were each spiced really well.

For food starters, Harry ordered the Fontina Fondue; a Fontina, and Cream Cheese Blend served with House Made Bread Crostinis and Steamed Chef’s Choice Vegetables.   There were disagreements over this dish.  While it was certainly tasty, Kesley and Amy both strongly felt that the consistency of it did not merit the title “fondue” and was more like “Cheese dip”.  Amy felt the dish could’ve also benefited from more dippables.  It was very tasty but I’m more inclined to call it a sort of pub cheese instead of proper fondue.

That’s not ranch dressing, It’s fondue. Well strictly speaking, it’s not fondue either. It’s… It tastes good. Eat it.

David had the Cristo Crepes; Free Range House Roasted Chicken Breast, Handmade Crepes,  Mozzarella Cheese, House made Apricot Jam, and House made White
Wine Apricot Puree, Powdered Sugar.  It was a strange combination of sweet and savory which he found weird but good.

For our main courses, Harry ordered the Apricot braised Lamb Shank in Apricot, Tomato, Onion Sauce, served with Apricot Squash Couscous , and Sautéed Organic Spoon Spinach.  He said it was perfect.  It fell right off the bone with wonderful spices.  David had the Masala Chai Tea braised Short Ribs with Mission Figs, Red Onion Honey Braising Sauce served with Sautéed Green Beans and House Made Curry Potato Gallette.  He said it was delicious with the braising sauce being the real stand out.  Abby got the Curry seared Scallops with Potato Leek Puree and House Yellow Curry Yogurt Sauce.  She said they were amazing.

Amy and Mandy both got Veggie Cabbage Rolls with Isreali cous cous organic tomatoes, garlic onions, carrots and house made tomato sauce.  Mandy was a big fan of the sauce.  Amy also said cabbage rolls offered a nice mix of flavors and were very satisfying.  Kelsey ordered the Flat Iron Steak Flat Bread with Heirloom Tomatoes, House Avocado Pesto Sauce and Mozzarella Cheese.  She thought it was good but could use a bit more variety in the dish.  It reminded her more of a quesadilla.  She also pointed out that the menu online was very  different from the menu offered, in which she found the choices to be a little meh.  I had the Grilled Pear Salad with Mixed Greens, Butter Grilled Fresh Pear, Almond Slivers, Dehydrated Cranberries, Feta Cheese, House Honey Balsamic Dressing and grilled chicken added in.  For a salad, this was full of flavor.  Really nice components making for a light but very satisfying healthy dinner.  I don’t eat light much in this challenge so this was a refreshing change of pace.

It’s a salad that eats like a meal! This is why skinny people are always trying to sell me on this shit!

For dessert, we got all three of the offerings:  a flourless chocolate with vanilla ice cream and raspberry puree, creme brulee cheesecake & A pumpkin cream cake roll.  While I liked all three, I felt the real stand out was the creme brulee cheesecake.  It combined two of my favorite dishes flawlessly.  Less impressive was the flourless chocolate cake, which was served in a cast iron skillet that had clearly cooked too long.  It was burnt and too hot to eat for nearly the entire time we were at the table.  The pumpkin cream cake roll was super tasty but many at the table felt the dish could use a warm element instead of being served cold.

Cafe 21 demonstrates an adept creme brulee technique. The proper way to burn a dessert.

So in closing the final word on Cafe 21 seemed to be a swing and a miss on desserts, some positive reviews for the food but the real ace in the hole at this place is the drinks.  It’s a charming location with a nice staff and minimally invasive live music.  While I won’t be rushing down there again when the first opportunity arises, I certainly would have no problem with winding up there again for dinner and drinks.

Seriously, though.  That wasn’t fondue.

Further reading

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