Food Coma 911

Del Mar Rendezvous

1555 Camino Del Mar, Suite 102
(On the street level of the Del Mar Plaza)
Del Mar, California 92014
(858) 755-2669
www.delmarrendezvous.com

I think you all know by now that I really enjoy eating at Del Mar Rendezvous for some good Modern Chinese food. A past review on their SDRW menu from last year can be found here and a review on their typical menu can be found here. Also, if you didn’t know I am currently giving away a certificate valid during SDRW for a dinner for two valued at $60 here. That’s better than Groupon!

Anyways, just like last year, their 3-course prix fixe menu is $30/person. A real steal in my book for a dinner, got to love SDRW. Luckily I went with my old college roomie Liz and her boyfriend, Leon so we were able to sample quite a bit. We stuck with some of the classics there and checked out some new exclusives as well.

Organic, Fair, Sustianably Produced Jasmine Tea $9.95/teapot

I never have gotten tea here before but was glad to discover that their teas are organic, fair, and sustainably produced which you all know I am a huge fan of. I don’t know many restaurants that offer organic yet alone fair-trade tea. The teapot pours about 6 cups and you can of course get free refills on hot water. They also serve Plum Oolong and Premium Black, as well as decaf options in Midnight Dreams and Lemonade. I want to check out Plum Oolong next time

Course One
Sesame Crusted Seared Ahi
Seared sashimi grade ahi, raw through the center; covered in a wasabi aioli dressing atop a bed of spring mix lettuce with Rendevous’ house vinaigrette

A restuarant favorite among the crowd. Even though it’s an appetizer it’s amazing how much you get. I also love how it is drizzled with their yummy wasabi aioli dressing that gives it a nice kick. The mixed green salad is also refreshing and turns it into a fulfilling appetizer.

Course One
Eggplant in Spicy Ginger Sauce
Eggplant sauteed in a Szechuan chili sauce

Though the picture makes his dish look pretty blah looking, it really isn’t. I love eggplant and can’t cook it well enough to make it soft and melt in your mouth like in the restaurants. Del Mar Rendezvous does a good job and their Szechuan chili sauce is good, not overly salty or spicy. If you want more of a kick to it you should request for some chili sauce on the side to get it to your liking.

Course One
Steamed Pork Dumplings
Handmade dumplings filled with pork and green onion served in a steamer;
with a side of tangy and medium spice dumpling sauce

These are the soup pork dumplings which are always a nice treat. I’m not a snob when it comes to these soup dumplings, but they weren’t doughy and the broth tasted good to me. One thing I miss while eating these was pairing it with ginger. Makes a world of a difference for me and so delicious! Oh well, they taste just as good without them either.

Course Two
Lobster and Corn Chowder
4-6 oz of Maine Lobster tail and fresh asparagus in a creamy corn chowder; served with a deep fried silver thread bun

A SDRW exclusive dish, one of the reason why I love eating at Del Mar Rendezvous during SDRW. They always have at least one exclusive dish and it’s always amazing. This time around, they had three and we ordered all three. Liz loved this soup. Those that are a fan of corn chowder or clam chowder will love this entree. The consistency of the soup was perfect, not too thick or watery in my opinion. Also, I love how they serve it with a deep fried silver thread bun. The bun is super delicious and works really well with the soup. You won’t be wanting crackers after trying the silver thread bun

Course Two
Kung Pao Pork Tenderloin over Sauteed Snow Peas

Another SDRW exclusive dish that was our table’s favorite out of all the dishes. It was prepared so well and not over cooked and tender. The sauce was great too because it wasn’t too thick and didn’t over power the flavor of the meat. So good, I told them they had to add this to their regular menu so I can order it again If you can order only one thing from the SDRW menu, get this. You won’t be disappointed. If for some reason you are, tell them! I know they will redo the order in a heartbeat.

Course Two
Shacha Mussel Claypot
14 New Bedford, Maine black mussels sautéed with white and green onions in a spicy, savory Taiwanese style bbq sauce (Shacha Sauce)

Another SDRW exclusive dish that looked delicious. Leon really enjoyed this dish even though it was served to us too salty. Liz and I were really looking forward to it, but are overly sensitive to salt. They immediately offered to redo the dish, but we were getting so full that we decided not too. Plus Leon didn’t mind it and really enjoyed the dish and cleared the dish no problem.

Course Two
Walnut Shrimp
7 breaded jumbo shrimp sauteed with carrots and peas in a creamy, sweet white sauce; topped with caramelized walnuts and encircled by steamed broccoli

My all time favorite dish from their regular menu. I love how their sauce isn’t heavy on the mayo and the breading is done so well, nice and crisp. I pretty much ate most of it hah, but once again Liz and Leon agreed that is one of the best walnut shrimps they had. Plus, their toasted walnuts are so delicious!

Course Three
Xango

We only ended up getting two desserts because we were so full. Not really a fan of this type of dessert, but this was just screaming at Liz to try. Liz loved it and gobbled it up.

Course Three
Mango Sorbet
A fresh mango shell filled with all-natural, fat-free sorbet and topped with whipped cream

One of my favorite desserts at Del Mar Rendezvous. It’s a light and refreshing treat to end the meal.

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a dinner for two valued at $60 here.

This meal was complimentary and provided by the restaurant. I was not compensated for the review and all the opinions are my own.