My family has been coming to Coronado Island for more than twenty years and we simply love the place. It's a quick one hour plane ride from Tucson and the drive is a "not too long" six hours. Coronado has a frozen in time quality to it with the storied Hotel Del Coronado as its cornerstone along with a drug store like the one in the neighborhood you grew up in all the way to the greasy spoon breakfast joint complete with booths too small to fit in and a juke box with "You've lost that Lovin' Feeling" blaring upon arrival.
Last night we visited one of our favorite haunts called " The Rhinoceros Cafe" and once again, we were not disappointed. It's located on Orange Ave. just a few blocks up from the Del and we were quite happy to be able to make a reservation for six at 8:00PM. We were joined by our longtime friends the Hameroff's who have a beautiful home on the island and it would be impossible to say whether the food or the company was superior.
The Rhinoceros has both indoor and cafe like, sidewalk seating and we chose inside. The menu is a bit eclectic but leans in favor of seafood and pasta and after several visits we have yet to be disappointed. My daughter Meghan opted for Penne a La Vodka and it was simply fantastic. Perfectly seasoned marinara with just the right amount of spice and penne pasta prepared to an "al dente" perfection. Cherie and I both ordered the Green Lip Mussels in a light tomato sauce with generous amounts of fresh garlic, thinly slice mushrooms and loads of fresh basil and I must say it was truly off the charts! The mushrooms were an unexpected but scrumptious touch along with a "not too thick and not too thin" broth over a bed of spaghetti and I think I could easily eat another batch for breakfast as I sit here an write about it. Tara was a bit full from the appetizers at the Hameroff house so she ordered the lobster Bisque which was creamy, and slightly sweetened with just the right amount of sherry and tasted like liquid lobster velvet on the tongue. David had the trout which was, to my surprise and delight, pink in color and perfectly prepared.
Unfortunately we did not have room for the Tiramisu desert but I can tell you from past experience it too is sweet and succulent.
Prices are reasonable for an establishment of this stature ranging from entrees' in the teens up to the mid thirty dollar range. The wine list is simple but well populated with some of my favorites and we had a bottle of the Stags Leap 2007 Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon which was as bold and well balanced as ever.
The atmosphere is typical San Diego with folks dining in flip flops and others wearing sport coats to ward off the slight chill and cool ocean breezes we all love so much here in Coronado. I have dined all over the island and there is a lot of great food here but the one place I would recommend you not miss is The Rhinoceros Cafe.
Bon Appetit!
Last night we visited one of our favorite haunts called " The Rhinoceros Cafe" and once again, we were not disappointed. It's located on Orange Ave. just a few blocks up from the Del and we were quite happy to be able to make a reservation for six at 8:00PM. We were joined by our longtime friends the Hameroff's who have a beautiful home on the island and it would be impossible to say whether the food or the company was superior.
The Rhinoceros has both indoor and cafe like, sidewalk seating and we chose inside. The menu is a bit eclectic but leans in favor of seafood and pasta and after several visits we have yet to be disappointed. My daughter Meghan opted for Penne a La Vodka and it was simply fantastic. Perfectly seasoned marinara with just the right amount of spice and penne pasta prepared to an "al dente" perfection. Cherie and I both ordered the Green Lip Mussels in a light tomato sauce with generous amounts of fresh garlic, thinly slice mushrooms and loads of fresh basil and I must say it was truly off the charts! The mushrooms were an unexpected but scrumptious touch along with a "not too thick and not too thin" broth over a bed of spaghetti and I think I could easily eat another batch for breakfast as I sit here an write about it. Tara was a bit full from the appetizers at the Hameroff house so she ordered the lobster Bisque which was creamy, and slightly sweetened with just the right amount of sherry and tasted like liquid lobster velvet on the tongue. David had the trout which was, to my surprise and delight, pink in color and perfectly prepared.
Unfortunately we did not have room for the Tiramisu desert but I can tell you from past experience it too is sweet and succulent.
Prices are reasonable for an establishment of this stature ranging from entrees' in the teens up to the mid thirty dollar range. The wine list is simple but well populated with some of my favorites and we had a bottle of the Stags Leap 2007 Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon which was as bold and well balanced as ever.
The atmosphere is typical San Diego with folks dining in flip flops and others wearing sport coats to ward off the slight chill and cool ocean breezes we all love so much here in Coronado. I have dined all over the island and there is a lot of great food here but the one place I would recommend you not miss is The Rhinoceros Cafe.
Bon Appetit!
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