The Patio on Lamont preview: A First Look

The Patio on Lamont, A packed opening

Think you need to go downtown to find a classy, hip restaurant? Well look no further than Pacific Beach. That’s right, good old PB. There’s a new kid on the block called The Patio On Lamont, that’s just that. It’s cozy outdoor fireplace and sensual atmosphere is sure to really melt your butter. The innovative menu featuring Asian and Mediterranean inspired world fare, small bites, and fabulous drink concoctions is guaranteed to please your palate.

Owner Gina Champion-Cain has given a breath of fresh air to a neighborhood where the only thing generally associated with patios are ping-pong paddles, and red solo cups. Being local to PB, I can attest to how desperately this neighborhood was in need of a little sophistication. Needless to say, I am very excited to have this little gem opening right in the heart of my neighborhood.

We attended the soft opening of The Patio on Lamont on Thursday night. We were greeted by a slue of people, servers with trays of beautiful little bites, General Manager Sheila Tracy, and the Executive Chef, John Medall (formerly of Red Circle.) The Patio on Lamont was warm and homey, and as we made our way through to the restaurant I was pleasantly surprised to see how unique the place really is. The overall aesthetic gave me the sense of a Restoration Hardware meets World Market eclectic. With repurposed wood, slabs of fallen Torrey Pines, dark grays and golds, the décor is truly beautiful. Almost as beautiful as the food we were served.

A few of the small bites sampled at The Patio on Lamont’s soft opening

Portuguese Garlic Shrimp with linguica, garlic, smoked paprika, and cayenne in a tarte shell. This was such a unique dish. It was buttery and garlicky. The small bits of shrimp were cooked precisely and married so well with the linguica. The garlic, and cayenne gave just enough kick. I would most definitely recommend this one!

Lamb Sliders: feta aioli, oven dried tomato on a brioche bun.

I am not generally a fan of lamb, or anything gamey for that matter. However, this is one of the prettiest little sliders I ever did see. The game changer was the glistening baby brioche bun. So fluffy and buttery. The lamb burger inside was juicy and seasoned to perfection. Even though I prefer my lamb in a pasture with it’s mamma, there was no denying the quality of this mini burger.

Beef and Bleu Flatbread – sirloin, gorgonzola, mushrooms, roasted garlic sauce. This was melt in your mouth aaah-mazing. The sirloin was succulent, and the bleu cheese brought that pungent punch I love so dearly. The mushrooms and garlic were the perfect pair to accent the steak and cheese. Although the crust could have been a bit crustier, I save my judgment for when I try the full order.

Bacon and panko crusted Sea Scallops– roasted sweet corn puree, sautéed swiss chard and Tuscan kale. A spoonful of heaven. This was my favorite bite of the night. It felt so southern. The silky sea scallop was cooked to a tee, and laid upon a puree of silky sweet corn that tasted like chowder. The kale and swiss chard added just the right amount of texture. This is my new favorite way to eat scallops.

Brownie bites on a Stick – little bites of brownie on a stick, these were a crowd pleaser.

Mini Smores – I’m not sure if this is on the menu, but I simply have to mention the mini s’mores one of the servers had. Placed on a wood board, as you took a piece, he would open the cork to a small glass bottle filled with “wood fire” smoke. The smell put you right in front of a camp fire as a kid. It was playful, whimsical, and imaginative, another favorite of the night.

Market Cheese – Anytime there is a table filled with multiple cheeses, fruits, and crackers is a happy time in my book. The Patio on Lamont’s menu offers a Market Cheese platter, a great way to start off any meal, or pair with one of their various wine selections for a relaxing evening with friends.

White peach sangria. Served was a wonderful house made sangria. Fairly sweet, made with a fruity white wine.

Take a look at The Patio on Lamont’s cocktail menu to see some of their other tasty mixed drinks.

It’s a great thing to be in San Diego, sitting on the patio next to a fireplace in the late fall, hard to beat that. Now where’s that server with that tray of s’mores again?

The Patio on Lamont
4445 Lamont Street
San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 412-4648

www.thepatioonlamont.com

Tags: Restaurants